Welcome 2009 FFL Managers

This year, we lost a couple managers (due to unpaid league fees) but we picked up four (Billy Mays' Ghost, Greed, Novastar Assassuns and Donkey Punch) to get the league back up to 14 teams. This was easily the most competitive league I have every played in, with only 2 losses separating the regular season #1 from the #8. Each week, we had exciting games and over half of the playoff berths needed the final game to be determined!

This also marks the first time I've ever won a league championship and certainly not with a team that overpowered everyone, as past league champs have done. It certainly feels good and as I told Stoney a couple weeks ago, with 14 teams, all you need to do is win once every 14 years to break even at this thing.

Hopefully, with the fresh managers we added and the ultra-competitive year, we'll have another great season to look forward to next year. I don't have any plans to expand the league and I'd love to see every one of you back next year. Enjoy the rest of the playoff games and keep an eye out for an offseason E-mail (or two) from me. Thanks for making this another great fantasy football season!

2009 Final Standings

2009 Season Awards

Rookie Manager of the Year - Billy Mays' Ghost. Of the four new managers this year, he had the best finish, which warrants winning this award. Comeback Team of the Year - Stone Ponies. Last year, he just missed the playoffs and early this year I questioned whether he would miss them again this year. He pulled together a long win streak midseason and became a clutch opponent every week, including the final game played! Best Overall Draft - Billy Mays' Ghost. I played around with a new formula this year and he just edged out Dolphins Rising. He built his team from the 12th overall pick and finished 3rd in the league, with only a moderate amount of moves. "Whoopin' Stick" Award - Amaru Star. Week 14, he doubled up his opponent and set the tone in the first week of the playoffs. Beating The Black Mamba by over 120 points may have been the largest margin of victory ever. Yes, EVER! "Steamroller" Award - Stone Ponies. He put together a 7-game win streak in the middle of the season to all but coast into the playoffs. Mover and Shaker Award - Bronson Bombers. He has won this award 4 out of the last 5 seasons. He's definitely working waivers and free agency harder than anyone else! "Razor's Edge" Award - Bronson Bombers. Week 4, he topped League Chump by 1.26 points. Not the closest margin for this award, but enough to win it this year. Best Player Award - Greed. Aaron Rodgers edged out Chris Johnson this year and scored 377.30 points. Not bad for being the 4th QB selected, not to mention in the second round with the 24th overall pick! Single-Game "En Fuego" Award - Amaru Star. Week 14. 227.16 points, second highest score ever in this league. Stone Ponies was the only other team to break 200 this year (he did it twice, but just barely). Manager of the Year - Dolphins Rising. Each year I pencil in the league champion for this award, then look at the top finishers to see if they outmanaged or overcame major obstacles. Stone Ponies was a very close second, but with Dolphins Rising drafting 10th, barely making the playoffs and then going to beat the #1, #4 and #3 seed, each by just a few points...well, he never gave up and came out on top!