League Winners

League winners are players who played a significant role in bring you a league title. Most likely, these were players who outperformed their average draft position (ADP). If you had a player help win your league who doesn’t appear on this list, let me know in the comments or on Twitter @fantasybeast15. 

QB – Matt Ryan

Ryan was drafted as the QB19 in 2016 drafts. He finished as the QB2 behind only Aaron Rodgers. Ryan threw for 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns and averaged 21.7 fantasy points per game. You could have gotten him in the 12th round or later!

QB – Dak Prescott

Prescott finished the season as the QB6, but was drafted as the QB21. Prescott’s six rushing touchdowns helped him vault his way into the top ten quarterbacks. He had an incredibly efficient season with a 67.8 completion percentage and a 23:4 touchdown to interception ratio. You could have had Prescott for a 13 round pick or added him off of waivers.

RB – LeGarrette Blount

Blount was drafted as the RB36 in 2016 drafts and finished the year as the RB7. He led the league in rushing touchdowns with 18 and rushed for 1,161 yards. You could have had Blount for a ninth round pick, the same cost as Seahawks kicker, Steven Hauschka. 

RB – Jordan Howard

Howard was drafted as the RB64 in 2016 drafts, almost 14 rounds later than teammate Jeremy Langford. With the assistance of a Langford injury, Howard took over the lead role and finished the year with 201.1 fantasy points. He averaged 14.5 fantasy points per game after taking over the starting job in week four, and you could have added him off of waivers.

WR – Jordy Nelson

Nelson was taken as the WR8 this year behind players like DeAndre Hopkins, Allen Robinson, and Dez Bryant. Nelson led the league in receiving touchdowns and was incredibly consistent scoring double-digit PPR points in every game except one. You could have had the WR2 for a mid-second round pick.

WR – Michael Thomas

Thomas was selected as the WR51 this year and was taken behind teammates Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead, and Coby Fleener. While Cooks finished eighth among WRs in 2016, he cost a third round pick. Thomas finished ninth among WRs and cost just a 13^th round pick.

WR – T.Y. Hilton

Hilton was selected as the WR17 this season and finished as the WR5. Donte Moncrief’s injury-plagued season boosted Hilton’s targets and led him to a top five fantasy season at his position. You could have had Hilton for a late third-round or early fourth-round pick.

TE – Travis Kelce

Kelce was taken as the TE4 this season and finished as the TE1. He had a brilliant end to the fantasy season, finishing with over 100 receiving yards in five of his last six games. Kelce cost a fifth round pick at your draft, but his consistency down the stretch made the selection worth it.

League Winners Honorable Mention

Quarterbacks

Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Colin Kaepernick

Running Backs

DeMarco Murray, Melvin Gordon, Le’Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliot, David Johnson, LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, Jay Ajayi, Spencer Ware, Tevin Coleman, Rob Kelley

Wide Receivers

Rishard Matthews, Davante Adams, Adam Thielen, Tyreek Hill, Mike Evans, Michael Crabtree, Terrelle Pryor, Cameron Meredith,  Jamison Crowder

Tight Ends

Cameron Brate, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Dennis Pitta

League Losers

League losers are players who played a significant role in eliminating you from title contention. Most likely, these were players who did not live up to their average draft position (ADP). If you had a player lose you your league who doesn’t appear on this list, let me know in the comments or on Twitter @fantasybeast15. 

QB – Cam Newton

Newton was selected as the QB1 and finished the year as the QB18. Newton threw for 16 fewer touchdowns and ran for five fewer touchdowns this season than last season. Any time a player records 21 fewer touchdowns from one season to the next, chances are there will be disappointed fantasy owners.

RB – Todd Gurley

Gurley was taken as the RB1 and third overall player. Gurley’s 3.2 yards per carry certainly hurt him as did the horrendous Rams offense. Scoring opportunities were down for Gurley this year and led to just six rushing touchdowns, the same number as Matt Asiata, and fewer than players like Isaiah Crowell and Robert Turbin.

WR – Allen Robinson

Robinson was drafted as the WR6 and finished the year as the WR29. Robinson only snagged six touchdowns this season after catching 14 the year before. Touchdown regression, plus sub-par quarterback play led to a tough season for Robinson who finished with just four more receiving yards than David Johnson.

WR – DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins was the WR4 in 2016 drafts, but finished the year as the WR36. He had just five games with double-digit fantasy points and went over 100 yards just twice. With possibly the worst quarterback in the NFL for most of the season, it is hard to place the blame on Hopkins, but either way, it led to a fantasy season to forget.

TE – Coby Fleener

Fleener went off the board as the TE6 in drafts, but finished the year as the TE12. He caught just three of Drew Brees’ 37 passing touchdowns and reached double-digit fantasy points just twice.

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