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And the winners are ...
Posted: Friday January 11, 2002 12:43 PM
Garrison Hearst ran for 1,206 yards and scored five touchdowns. |
By Bob Harris, Special to CNNSI.com
The regular season is over and it's time to hand out my 2001 Fantasy Awards!
In case you haven’t been following along this year, here’s how it works: These awards honor those players who have, for better or for worse, distinguished themselves above all others over the course of the entire NFL season (Weeks 13, 14, 15 and 16) -- in the following categories: (this year's First-, Second-, Third- and Fourth-Quarter honorees appear in parenthesis under the appropriate category)
Fantasy MVP
Awarded to the player who performed above and beyond the expectations of Fantasy owners, an impact player who regularly made the difference between winning and losing (First Quarter winner: Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis Rams; Second Quarter winner: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots; Third Quarter winner: Rich Gannon, QB, Oakland Raiders; Fourth Quarter winner: Marshall Faulk).
2001 overall winner: Marshall Faulk, RB, St. Louis Rams
Faulk edged out teammate Kurt Warner for this award on the basis of his incredible Week 16 performance -- a week that happened to coincide with championship week for most of the Fantasy world. In that game, Faulk destroyed the Colts with a four-touchdown (three rushing, one receiving) effort in which he racked up 118 rushing yards on 25 carries and added another 47 yards receiving on seven catches.
In 14 appearances this season, Faulk carried the ball 260 times for 1,382 yards (an average of 5.3 yards per carry) with 12 touchdowns. He also made 83 catches for 765 yards (an average of 9.2 yards per catch) with nine touchdowns.
Fantasy Flop
Awarded to the player we believe came the furthest from meeting the preseason expectations of Fantasy owners. This award is based solely on performance. Players missing significant time due to injury do not receive consideration (First Quarter winner: Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota Vikings; Second Quarter winner: Elvis Grbac, QB, Baltimore Ravens; Third Quarter winner: Eddie George, RB, Tennessee Titans; Fourth Quarter winner: Tim Brown).
2001 overall winner: Elvis Grbac, QB, Baltimore Ravens
How the mighty have fallen. One year after putting together a Pro Bowl season in which he threw twice as many touchdown passes (28) as interceptions (14) and posted the league's only 500-yard passing effort, Grbac failed miserably after moving to Baltimore this year.
Grbac not only finished the 2001 regular season with 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, but opponents have scored 52 points off of his turnovers and coaches estimate he is to blame for 60 percent of those interceptions because of misreads or forced throws.
Ambush Award
Awarded to the player turning in the most surprising Fantasy performance based on preseason expectations, or more precisely, the lack of same (First Quarter winner: LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers; Second Quarter winner: Anthony Thomas, RB, Chicago Bears; Third Quarter winner: Chris Chambers, WR, Miami Dolphins; Fourth Quarter winner: Dominic Rhodes).
2001 overall winner: Chris Chambers, WR, Miami Dolphins
He might not have posted the kind of totals fellow rookies LaDainian Tomlinson and Anthony Thomas, but he wasn't supposed to. Nonetheless, Chamber quickly established himself as the most exciting newcomer of the season by hauling in 48 catches for 883 yards (an average of 18.4 yards per catch) and seven TDs.
Top Comeback Player
Awarded to a player who overcame past non-productivity and/or ineffectiveness due to injury, a weak supporting cast or other adversities to surpass the lowered preseason expectations resulting from their previous problems (First Quarter winner: Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers; Second Quarter winner: Ike Hilliard, WR, New York Giants; Third Quarter winner: Garrison Hearst, RB, San Francisco 49ers; Fourth Quarter winner: Kordell Stewart).
2001 overall winner: Garrison Hearst, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Two years after breaking his left leg in a playoff game at Atlanta in 1999 and missing the next two seasons after developing a circulatory problem following an operation, Hearst ran for 1,206 yards this season. He also caught 41 passes and scored five touchdowns.
"It's the best story of the year, and the best story around here for a while," head coach Steve Mariucci said of Hearst's comeback. "He doesn't amaze me any more. He's got reserves in him that nobody can touch. He knows what he wants, not just out of football, but life. We're all hoping Garrison doesn't make another comeback. We think this one is for good."
The Candy Bone Award
The "Crown Jewel" of these awards! Given to the player who above all others failed to meet preseason expectations due to injury (First-, Second-, Third- and Fourth-Quarter winner: Fred Taylor, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars).
2001 overall winner: Fred Taylor, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Taylor not only won my Candy Bone of the Year award, he redefined it. So much so, that from here on out, this award will be known as the Fred Taylor Commemorative Candy Bone of the Year award. 'Nuff said.
All right gang. … Hope everybody had a successful Fantasy season, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you: There is no offseason.
That’s right, the 2002 season will crank up before you know it and the sooner you start preparing, the better off you’ll be!
Bob Harris is Editor and Webmaster of the TFL Report and Senior Editor for Fantasy Sports Publications
| Related information | |
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 Back Page: 2001 Fourth Quarter fantasy awardsFantasy File: Time to hand out the hardwareFantasy Mastermind Moment: 2001 Fantasy Awards | |
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