BIGFFBL's very own fantasy guru
2004 All Fantasy Teams
Now, for the moment that everyone has been waiting for! Here is your 2004 All Fantasy Teams! All of the stats that I use are for the fantasy regular season (first 14 games), as playoffs are never included in any kind of awards. So here we are.....the Fantasy Superior's 2004 All Fantasy Team!
First Team
Quarterback: Here's a no brainer. Ever since this season started, we knew that we were going to see something special out of Peyton Manning. He started out the season being fairly quiet, or not really being under the radar. But by the time midseason came around, he was the toast of the league, not to mention fantasy leagues either! During the fantasy regular season, he averaged 31.5 points per game. A BIGFFBL record for a QB. He finished the season with 49 TD passes, an NFL record.
Running back #1: This guy also started out the year with a bang and was on record pace until he got injured in week 9. Up until then, Priest Holmes was averaging 27.1 points per game. He was on pace for 30 TD's and over 2000 all purpose yards. Even though he did get injured, this guy propelled many fantasy teams to a hot start. For the regular season of fantasy, Holmes was still a top 10 back even though he missed over 5 games.
Running back #2: LaDainain Tomlinson started out the season very slow, hampered by some injuries, but he came back in a big way to be a top 3 back on the season. He had a streak of 12 or 13 games straight with a touchdown. On top of Drew Brees having the year he had, and Tomlinson being healthy by week 5 or 6, he helped many fantasy teams out there end the season with a bang.
Wide Receiver #1: Terrell Owens has always been quite the player.....and persona. Many of us were entertained by his different dances throughout the year, especially mocking Ray Lewis was a personal favorite of mine. But his fantasy stats spoke for themselves. He averaged 21.3 points per game and he was first in TD's scored (14), 4th in receptions (75), and second in yards (1176). This guy single handily made Philadelphia a great team.
Wide Receiver #2: Joe Horn has been the most steady fantasy receiver over the last 4 years. This guy never has a "bad" year and this year was no exception. In fact, he indeed had his best season ever. During the fantasy regular season he averaged 19.5 points per game and led all receivers in receptions (81), and yards (1184). He still had a respectable amount of TD's with 9 also.
Tight End: Here is a no brainer as well. This guy came absolutely out of nowhere. He ended last season on a hot streak and it sure carried into this season. Antonio Gates led all TE's with 17.2 points per game and in TD's (11). He was the target of Drew Brees 103 times, proving his great stats this season. Gates was the reason that so many fantasy teams out there were a step up from everyone else. Having that great tight end proves to mean so much when the difference between the number one TD (17.2 a game), and the 12th TE (6.8 a game), was over a 10 points difference.
Kicker: Adam Vinatieri has been quite the story over the years for New England. He has no many game winning kicks not only in the regular season, but playoffs as well. His storybook career continued into this year with a career year. Vinatieri averaged 11 points per game and had 11 FG's over 40+ yards.
Defense/Special Teams: Buffalo came into the year with a few new guys on the defensive side. It took this team a month or so to come together and when they did, boy did it pay off for fantasy owners out there! Buffalo averaged 12.2 points per game to tie for the lead for most points by a defense. They had 7 scores including 5 kick returns. They also tied for third with 38 sacks. Towards the end of the year, Buffalo had three weeks in a row with over 30 points, making them an easy pick for the All-Fantasy First Team.
Second Team
Quarterback: Duante Culpepper 27 PPG
Running Back #1: Tiki Barber 21.7 PPG
Running Back #2: Edgerrin James 21.1 PPG
Wide Receiver #1: Mushin Muhammad 18.5 PPG
Wide Receiver #2: Marvin Harrison 18.3 PPG
Tight End: Tony Gonzalez 15.3 PPG
Kicker: David Akers 10.1 PPG
Defense: Baltimore 12.2 PPG
Third Team
Quarterback: Donovan McNabb 26.0 PPG
Running Back #1: Shaun Alexander 20.4 PPG
Running Back #2: Brian Westbrook 21.5 PPG
Wide Receiver #1: Chad Johnson 18.2 PPG
Wide Receiver #2: Javon Walker 18.2 PPG
Tight End: Jason Witten 13.5 PPG
Kicker: Shayne Graham 8.9 PPG
Defense: Chicago 11.8 PPG
Honorable Mention
QB: Drew Brees - 19.3, Marc Bulger - 18.6, Jake Plummer - 17.3
RB: Curtis Martin - 20.1, Dominick Davis - 21.1, Michael Pittman - 19.7
WR: Tory Holt - 17.7, Reggie Wayne - 17.4, Drew Bennett - 16.3
TE: Jermaine Wiggins - 12.3, Alge Crumpler - 11.9, Eric Johnson - 11.7
K: Jeff Reed - 8.1, Elam - 8.3
Defense: Indiianaopolis - 12.0, New England - 11.8, Pittsburgh - 11.5
Other awards
Fantasy Player of Year: QB - Peyton Manning
Comeback Player of Year: QB - Donovan McNabb
Rookie Player of Year: WR - Michael Clayton (14.8 PPG)
2004 All Surprise of Year Team (the "who would have thought" players)
QB: Drew Brees - 19.6 PPG
RB1: Curtis Martin - 20.1 PPG
RB2: Michael Pittman - 19.7 PPG
WR1: Drew Bennett - 16.3 PPG
WR2: Brandon Stokley - 15.8 PPG
TE: Antonio Gates - 17.3 PPG
That just about wraps it up for the 2004 All Fantasy Teams this year. If you are the guy who drafted some of the players on this list, feel proud for doing so as these players have helped many teams out there win their fantasy championships!
Next up.....the 2004 All Fantasy Bust Teams!
-Jugs