Whenever I go by my sister’s house, it’s usually for food or…food! I’m only kidding, I love my sister and her kids and I always love hanging out there (but I also go for the food). Anyways, I’m there on a Sunday afternoon and I’m doing none other than sitting on the couch and watching football. Attached like glue to my thighs is my laptop and the only windows up are: Fantasy Football, ESPN, Yahoo Sports, Pro Sports Blogging and Game Tracker. So do I have an addiction to Fantasy Football? I wouldn’t call it an addiction, because after February my mind becomes clear of Fantasy Football for about 5 months. But during the months of July thru February, I will gladly call myself an addict.
Back to my story. So I am sitting on the couch and as I am pulling at my hair because Frank Gore is giving me another Dud week, my nephew comes up to me and asks me, “Themi, can you teach me how to play Fantasy Football?” Immediately I got this feeling that put me over the clouds. I was so excited that FINALLY my nephew comes to me to ask me about Fantasy Football.
I started to talk to him about how it all began and the many ways to play Fantasy Football. I went into detail and started showing him the leagues that I was in so he can get a taste of what it looks like. After about 2 hours of Fantasy Football 101 taught by yours truly, my nephew went from being benighted to well.. even more confused. I think I jumped from Fantasy Football 101 to Fantasy Football 500 on him real quick.
After I talked to my nephew, it got me thinking. What were the greatest fantasy performances?! So I did some research and made a list of the top 5 Fantasy Football performances in the last decade.
5th (Tie)
Priest Holmes
Remember this guy! Very exciting and explosive runner which brought so much excitement to the Kansas City Chiefs. 2002, week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks, Holmes went for over 100 yards receiving and 100 yards rushing in the game (197 rushing, 110 receiving). He had a total of 307 yards and 3 touchdowns which was good for 48 points (based of ESPN standard scoring).
5th (tie)
Fred Taylor
Think back to the year 2000, week 12. New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Stealers. He ran through, around, and over the Steelers for 234 rushing yards, 14 receiving and 4 total touchdowns. This marked the most rushing yards allowed by the Steelers in their history. Congratulations Fred Taylor! Too bad you couldn’t do anything for me the last two years I had you.
3rd (Tie)
Mike Anderson
2000, week 14 was the biggest game of Mike Anderson’s career, considering the fact that the year 2000 was his only good year. Mike Anderson took New Orleans to school with a 251 yards rushing, 4 yard receiving and 4 touchdown performance which was good for 48 points. Even though Mike Anderson is not a Hall of Fame player, he was a Hall of Fame Fantasy player that week that brought many tears of joy!
3rd (Tie)
Michael Vick
Rising from the dead years between the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles, Michael Vick turned in a performance worth remembering. In 2010 week 10, if you were an owner that had a 40 point lead going into that Monday Night and thought you were going to win, THINK AGAIN! With 333 passing yards, 80 rushing and 6 total touchdowns, Vick drew 49 fantasy points. Vick’s improbable performance likely had several fantasy owners jumping for joy, and several others drowning in their own tears.
2nd
Shaun Alexander
In 2002 week 4, Shaun Alexander put in a performance for the ages. Taking on the Minnesota Vikings in Seattle, Alexander scored 5 touchdowns in the first half the game, setting an NFL record. With 139 rushing yards, 92 receiving and totaling 5 touchdowns, Alexander received 52 Fantasy points for his outing. Maybe that’s why Minnesota began focusing on their rush defense since then!
1st
Clinton Portis
Ahhh! What to say about Mr. Portis. Clinton Portis was an absolute beast of a running back. Portis rushed for over 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Broncos, averaging 5.5 yards per carry in that span
In 2002 week 4, Clinton Portis turned in the best fantasy performance in the last decade with 218 yards rushing, 36 receiving and 5 touchdowns which was good for 54 fantasy points. The 5 touchdowns at age 22, gives him the record for the youngest player ever to score 5 touchdowns in a game.
Hopefully someone can top 54 fantasy points this season so that we can add another exciting moment with the rest of 2011. Aaron Rodgers almost turned in a top 5 performance by throwing for 408 yard, rushing for 36 and totaling 6 Touchdowns and 1 INT. Close! Very very close!
Twitter: Themisk22
E-mail: Themisk22@yahoo.com
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Written by Themis Katris
Hey my name is Themis Katris, go by the name Themi. I am 100% Greek and live in Chicago. I am a die hard Bulls and Bears fan and an avid fantasy football player. I graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science. I am currently working at a Law firm which focuses on property taxation and will be starting law school at John Marshall this January. In my spare time I watch ESPN or the NFL network, play basketball, workout and hangout with friends. I love and spend numerous hours each week researching and analyzing players and NFL matchups.
Any questions, comments or opinions on Fantasy Football, please do not hesitate to shoot them my way.
