Corvallis, OR: Just 5 humble observations from a humble man about the 2011 SCUFFLE Immersion Season.
1) We experienced an offensive explosion:
*stats used are from weeks 1-14
Last year, in 2010, there was exactly one player that broke the 200 point barrier, and that was RB Arian Foster with 209.60. This year, we had 6 players break the mark, including a rookie QB of all things (Cam Newton – 221.07) and a TE (Rob Gronkowski – 202.42). Leading the way was QB Aaron Rogers, who simply DESTROYED the old mark with 265.58 points, giving Batavia the highest scorer for the 2nd year in a row. Rounding out the group was QB Drew Brees (229.66), QB Tom Brady (214.49) and RB LeSean McCoy (200.60).
Despite the individual efforts, a broader look across the league reveals that in 2010, the league average for regular season points was a 2025.20. Meanwhile, this season experienced a 1976.58 average, a 50 point drop. That is to be expected, however, given the addition of 4 teams. With another year of experience under our belts, I might expect this figure to go back up.
2) The rookie class was more relevant this year … or was it?
*stats used are from weeks 1-17
Granted, we didn’t actually have a rookie draft last year, but when asking myself about the rookie class of this year versus last year, my first reaction was that this year was a year filled with much more fantasy success than last year.
But was it? Certainly, Panther QB Cam Newton had probably the greatest fantasy rookie season of all time, finishing with 268.63 points. The rookie leader in points last season was none other than DT Suh, with 183.50, an astonishing 85 points behind (in other words, how many Suh scored this season – ouch). But what about after that?
Lets look at the top 100 overall players. In 2011, 5 rookies broke the top 100: 3 offensive and 2 defensive. In 2010, 6 rookies broke the top 100, 1 offensive and 5 defensive.
On the defensive side of the ball its no contest – 2010 had S TJ Ward with 172.00, S Eric Berry with 165.60, CB Devin McCourty with 161.20 and CB Alterraun Verner with 148.30. 2011 had only CB Patrick Peterson with 153.36 and DE Jabaal Sheard with 146.25.
The offensive goes the complete opposite way. Besides Newton, teammates QB Andy Dalton (152.22) and WR AJ Green (145.00) represented 2011. The top offensive player (by far, which is actually pretty pathetic) and the only one to break the top 100 was Tampa WR Mike Williams with 158.70.
But there are more rookie contributors outside the top 100, surely. And given 12 teams with 30+ players each, a look at the top 300 players would be more accurate. Well, looking at the top 300 players, 2010 had 19 rookies and 2011 had 21 rookies. Although a 10% increase, still, nothing significant.
The final verdict: I just wasted a buttload of my time. The whole Cam Newton thing skewed (at least my mind) towards 2011, but it’s basically a wash. Rookies only represent about 7% of the top 300 players – just under 2 per team.
3) Age is just a number
Just ask any of the Immersion ageless wonders of the 35 year and older club: Charles Wooden, Tony Gonzalez, and London Fletcher (don’t ask Peyton Manning).
In a year when tight ends had the most press of all time when freaks of nature like Gronk and Graham are breaking records and creating all sorts of matchup problems for defenses, Tony Gonzalez, at 35, quietly had maybe his best season in the last 3 years by finishing as the 3rd highest TE this season. In his 15th season, he is probably an average of 10 years older than any other TE in the top 10.
On the defensive side of the ball, London Fletcher has been a consistently good LB most of his 14 year career. Last season he managed another great year, finishing as the #5 LB, but I thought Biloxi was crazy for trading for this guy and paying him the $10.40, thinking he’d never match his production. Despite being 36, he totally proved me wrong, finishing only 4 points behind last season’s total, and the #7 LB. Simply amazing. (An almost identical story is Brian Urlacher, but he’s “only” 33)
Good DBs – CBs especially – don’t usually put up monster stats (unless they get return yards). Their role more depends on having the opposing offense gameplan around them. They might have a good statistical year and then disappear for 2 years. Charles Woodson somehow defies this rule every single year. If somehow teams didn’t know who he was before 2009 (they did), they would after that year as he led ALL defenders in fantasy points, breaking the 200 point mark and becoming the first CB since Deon Sanders to win the Defensive POY award. Then, instead of disappearing, he finishes in the top 5 CB the next 2 seasons, topping it off with a #3 spot this year. Amazing.
You know what? Kickers are sort of a different beast but I’m still going to throw David Akers into this group. At 37, he managed to break at least 3 all-time single season kicking records and be the only fantasy kicker to be worth owning over any other schmuk.
Despite this list, George Blanda is still not impressed.
4) Show me the money
Its no secret that there are some overpaid players still getting paid premiums by their owners; namely, DE Jared Allen and LB Patrick Willis. There is no doubt that they are arguably the best players at their respective positions, and they are getting paid like it by being the 2 highest paid defenders in the entire league (by far). But are they worth it?
Short answer (because I’ve already written too freaking much): Yes.
Jared Allen is an obvious yes because if you didn’t notice he finished as the #2 DE last season, you surely didn’t miss the fact he was the highest scoring fantasy defender this season, nearly breaking the sack record.
One might look at Patrick Willis’ and realize he was only the #14 ranked LB this season. Well, he was hurt and effectively missed 4-5 games, but when healthy, his ppg was the nearly the highest in the league, 2nd only to D’Qwell Jackson. He was the #3 LB through week 14 and that earns him a solid “Yes” in my book.
5) What was I thinking …
Because I was the beneficiary of at least 2 of these “oops” moments, I took a notice to some “what was I thinking” moments of players being dropped that actually turned out to be really good. There’s probably more, but I’m not taking the time to find them. Add a comment if you wish.
Laurent Robinson, WR, DAL – cut by the Chitons in the offseason, Robinson got his chance when Miles Austin was hurt and he did not disappoint, finishing as the #18 WR with Biloxi despite missing a couple games.
George Wilson, S, BUF – cut early by the Doctors who already had some $25+ locked into safeties, Wilson was 1 of 3 safeties who simply dominated the stats in Buffalo, and was the #1 safety for most of the year, until missing 3 games to end the regular season. Still finished #6 for Marshfield.
Sione Pouha, DT, NYJ – drafted in the 4th round by North Point and then promptly cut, Pouha was picked up by Batavia to back up Suh. Instead, he ended up taking over the starting gig and finished as the #5 DT. I, for one, rue the day that I did not bid enough on him, as I ended up as the lowest scoring DT team in the entire league.
D’Qwell Jackson, LB, CLE – also drafted in the 4th round, by Kamino, he was also promptly cut. In the FA bidding process, Marshfield edged out Fransburg by a mere cent, and then had to watch as Jackson exploded for 187.45 points, and finished as the #1 LB in the league.
© 2012, Jason Enright. All rights reserved.
Great work, Jason! I really enjoyed reading this. For me, I had the oops move of cutting Fred Jackson and putting Marshawn Lynch into the expansion draft. Of course, both sucked in 2010. Then, in the offseason leading up to 2011, I was unable to get a decent RB2. So when Run DMC took his $45 check to the bench, I was left without a viable RB2 for the SECOND SEASON IN A ROW. Jackson was a beast until he got hurt, and Lynch played his best season ever. But taking a freaking cap hit on Jackson sucked, as I was essentially paying some of his salary so he could light it up for the Dragons. I mean, it all worked out okay, obviously, but I will once again be in the market for a starting RB this offseason.
Good points. I just looked back and you were only paying Jackson and Lynch $4 each dude – ouch!
There is probably a ton of stuff I missed, but I sure wasnt going to re-investigate everyone. Most of that info was just what I found while looking at my team and trying to figure out what I’m going to do next season.
Great article! Fun to read, and,”Despite this list, George Blanda is still not impressed,” is gold.
My team was bad, but I like to think that injuries sunk me (mainly 2010 studs like Charles, Mayo, Tuck, Terrell Thomas, etc). If I were to choose my own “what was I thinking” moment it would be in who I DIDN’T pick up.
In week 5 I needed a RB in both of my leagues and the decision came down to veteran Tashard Choice and rookie Demarco Murray. My FFL sources reported that Murray was still having trouble picking up the blitz and that Choice would be the guy on passing downs and thus the player to target. So I picked up choice and didn’t put a taxi squad bid on Murray. In week 6 Felix Jones goes down, Murray is annointed the starter and my taxi squad bid was immediately met by the Chitons. We all know how week 7 played out and now Rothfus has the ‘Boys’ starting RB on his roster for all of a buck going into 2012. Ouch.
Yeah, I had quite a few injuries myself (Berry, Britt, Williams, etc). Seemed like a really horrible year for it. Glad all those new rules are working.
At least you had him on your radar. I boldly ignored both.