2019 Fantasy Awards

1.) Fantasy MVP

Winner: Lamar Jackson

Runner-Up: Christian McCaffrey
Also Received Votes: New England Patriots D/ST, Dalvin Cook

Securing 50% of the votes to nobody’s surprise, the fantasy MVP was awarded to Lamar Jackson who finished the regular season as QB1 with a 50-point lead over the next highest quarterback. The next highest vote getter was Christian McCaffrey who has proven to be the most valuable running back and will be the undisputed #1 overall pick in leagues next year.

2.) Fantasy GM of the Year

Winner: Raj Sanghera

Runner-Up: Bali & Sammi
Also Received Votes: Ryan Poole, Bryce Coalwell

Securing 33.3% of the votes in a closely contested vote, the winner of the fantasy GM of the year goes to Raj Sanghera, GM of the Sacramento Wolfpack. One season after finishing last place in the entire league, the Wolfpack climb all the way to finish the 2019 regular season as the #2 seed and one of the powerhouse franchises in the league. Now the Wolfpack will enjoy a first round bye and look to get back to the Superbowl after a four year hiatus from the big game.

3.) Breakout Player of the Year

Winner: Lamar Jackson

Runner-Up: Chris Godwin
Also Received Votes: Derrick Henry

Securing 50% of the votes and narrowly edging out Chris Godwin by one vote, the winner is Lamar Jackson for his second category win of the year. This one was a bit surprising as Lamar Jackson started to trend upward in the latter half of 2018, but Chris Godwin’s breakout came out with the absence of Desean Jackson, increased volume share directly opposite of Mike Evans. Currently Godwin is the #1 ranked receiver, but Jackson will take the win here by a close margin.

4.) Best FA Pickup of the Year

Winner: Lin Sanity – Devante Parker

Runner-Ups: Dr. Jenious – Austin Hooper & MD Nuts – Baltimore D/ST
Also Received Votes: UPS – Darren Waller & Banana Boat – Taysom Hill

Securing 33.3% of the votes and eding out both Austin Hooper and Baltimore D/ST by one vote each, the winner is Lin Sanity’s pickup of Devante Adams. This was not the first time Devante Parker was picked up by a team, but was dropped and then picked up again later in the season by Lin Sanity who utilized him late in the season to go on a tear. Surprisingly, Parker has climbed up to WR14 at the end of the regular season and is amidst a breakout season with 6 touchdowns through the first 13 weeks. Look for this guy to climb the draft boards next year.

5.) Trade of the Year

Winner: UPS/Bruce trade of Chubb, Tate, Waller and Stafford for Rivers, Freeman, Hopkins and Boyd

Runner-Ups: Spartans/Kitties trade of Prescott and Crowder for Gordon and Cousins & Jenious/Goat trade of Guice and Henry for Hardman and Singletary.
Also Received Votes: Warriors/Bruce trade of Carlos Hyde for Julian Edelman.

Winning in a landslide with 58.3% of the vote was the hallmark trade of 2019 which included a massive eight players in the trade including two first rounders and a second rounder. This trade was done by two frustrated teams who were going nowhere fast and caused quite a commotion in the league channels. However the trade ended up being the right move for Bruce who was able to ride Chubb into a third consecutive playoff appearance.

6.) Game of the Year

Winner: Craters tie Pool of the Dead 80.7-80.7 in Week 11.

Runner-Up: Kitties defeat Banana Boat 134.9-117.4 in Week 5.
Also Received Votes: Rubber Duckies defeat MD Nuts 93.3-46.8 in Week 7.

Winning by a close margin of one vote with 50% of the votes, the game of the year goes to the only tie of the year. It is rare to see a tie in the fractional scoring era, but the Craters and Pool pulled it off. Both teams were desperate for a win in close competitive races but late Monday night heroics by Mike Williams tied the game and brought victory to nobody. Ultimately the tie ended up helping the Pool of the Dead who edged out all 7-6 teams in the wildcard hunt and prevented the Craters from forcing a three way tie in the division lead which might have sent a different team to the playoffs.

7.) Never Say Never GM of the Year

Winner: Roberto Centeno

Runner-Up: Bryce Coalwell
Also Received Votes: N/A

With 66.7% of the votes and the most improbable path to the playoffs which depended on three successful game results outside of their own individual game, the Pool of the Dead secured the category win and the sixth and final playoff seed.

8.) Draft Steal of the Year

Winner: Lamar Jackson (Round 9)

Runner-Up: DJ Chark (Round 14)
Also Received Votes: N/A

With 58.3% of the votes, Lamar Jackson secures his third fantasy award of the season leading all players and was narrowly voted over the only other player securing any votes in DJ Chark Jr. The nominees were strong and there were many great steals throughout the draft, but the voters determined that drafting the MVP in the 9th round was the best value of the year.