Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Fantasy Hall of Fame

Bill Simmons reviews the fantasy stats of LaDainian Tomlinson:
So it was unusual that Tomlinson became one of the rare football stars defined by his numbers … or in this case, his fantasy numbers. He played the most crucial fantasy position during our most important fantasy decade, coincidentally submitting the best six-year statistical stretch in modern running back history.
2002: 2,172 yards from scrimmage, 15 TDs, 307 fantasy points (19.2 per game)
2003: 2,370 yards from scrimmage, 17 TDs, 339 fantasy points (21.2 per game)
2004: 1,776 yards from scrimmage, 18 TDs, 284 fantasy points (17.2 per game)
2005: 1,832 yards from scrimmage, 20 TDs, 305 fantasy points (19.1 per game)
2006: 2,323 yards from scrimmage, 31 TDs, 418 fantasy points (25.5 per game)
2007: 1,949 yards from scrimmage, 18 TDs, 303 fantasy points (18.9 per game)
Only Marshall Faulk's four-year run from 1998 to 2001 comes close: Faulk finished with 69 touchdowns and at least 2,147 yards from scrimmage in each season. Tomlinson maintained a similar peak for two extra years. Narrowing it down to the best two-year bursts ever, Tomlinson's combined 2006/2007 numbers (4,272 YFS yards, 49 TDs) match Faulk's best two-year run (4,336 YFS, 47 TDs) and surpass Smith (3,973 YFS, 47 TDs), Shaun Alexander (3,834 YFS, 48 TDs), Larry Johnson (4,292 YFS, 40 TDs) and Terrell Davis (4,262 YFS, 38 TDs), as well as anything O.J. Simpson, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders or Eric Dickerson ever accomplished. Only Priest Holmes beat him during those two goofy seasons when Holmes turned into Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson: 4,397 yards from scrimmage, 51 touchdowns, 125,936,324 times someone said, "Wait, isn't that the guy who backed up Jamal Lewis in Baltimore? What's going on here?"
I love the line about Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson.  That guy was a legend.  It is funny how fantasy football has become such an overwhelming part of the sport.  I mean, it even has it's own TV show in The League.  Well, sort of.

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