Tue Jan 4th 2022

Year-end Awards

We've finally come to the end of the fantasy season, the longest season ever with the new seventeen-week season. I hope your dynasty teams were more successful than mine. I did not win a single championship this year, even though I put together some really competitive rosters. There's no time for pouting, though. As a Dynasty Freek, I use week eighteen and the NFL playoff weeks to evaluate my teams, adjust my dynasty rankings, consider what I can learn from my good and bad calls on players, and make a plan for improving my rosters.

Until the NFL Super Bowl, I evaluate my teams and myself as a dynasty manager. In that time, I'll share with you what I have learned about my teams and myself and post articles to help readers learn from me and learn how to evaluate themselves and their teams as I do.

This week, I thought I would have some fun by presenting some post-season awards to players, giving me a chance to talk about the dynasty values of some of the most and least productive players in the 2021 season. I present to you now my 2021 post-season awards.

Rookie of the Year  - Ja'Marr Chase

• The rookie of the year award goes to Ja'Marr Chase, who set the record on Sunday for the most receiving yards by a rookie, breaking Justin Jefferson's record from the previous season. Chase capped off the dynasty season with a three-touchdown 266-yard day, carrying fantasy managers to championships on Sunday. The Bengals clinched the AFC North division with their big win over Kansas City and didn't look stupid for drafting a wide receiver instead of an offensive lineman with the fifth pick in the first round last year. Chase was my #1 ranked rookie in last year's rookie drafts. He's not only lived up to that expectation, but he's also far exceeded it. He's become my #1 ranked dynasty wide receiver.

Surprise Rookie of the Year - Elijah Mitchell

• The surprise rookie of the year award goes to Elijah Mitchell, who was drafted in the third and fourth round of rookie drafts last year, and managers who took a chance by drafting him have been richly rewarded. I had Mitchell ranked as my #42 rookie in the class because I was super high on Trey Sermon, who I ranked #12 in the class. For Mitchell to earn a role with the team, he would have to beat out Raheem Mostert, and a player the 49ers drafted three rounds ahead of him. All the stars aligned, though when Mostert got injured the first game of the season and the preseason games proved that Sermon failed to grasp the playbook and was unable to do what's required of running backs in the Shanahan system. Mitchell scored 19 fantasy points in the first game of the season after Mostert was injured, and the rest is history. Mitchell went from the 42nd ranked rookie to the 17th ranked dynasty running back in my eyes this season, and a player I traded Christian McCaffrey away for in a package deal netting me Mitchell, Rashod Bateman, and pick #11 in the 2022 rookie draft. 

Young Breakout of the Year - Deebo Samuel

• The young breakout of the year award goes to Deebo Samuel, who finally stayed healthy for most of the season, and he finished the season as the 3rd highest scoring wide receiver in the league. Samuel was my #2 ranked rookie wide receiver in the 2019 class, just behind A.J. Brown and the #5 ranked rookie overall. I loved him because of his run-after-the-catch ability, which was on full display this season when he not only caught 73 passes but also had 53 carries. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry and 17.9 yards per catch. This season, Samuel's average depth of target is 8.4, so he averages 9.5 yards after the catch. Shanahan figured out how to use Deebo, and his productivity this season moved him ahead of Brandin Aiyuk on the 49ers and in my dynasty rankings, where he now stands at #8 while Aiyuk is #26.

Veteran Breakout of the Year - Cordarrelle Patterson

• The veteran breakout of the year award goes to Cordarrelle Patterson, who had the best fantasy year of his nine-year career at age 30. Patterson's production tapered off at the end of the season, but his ridiculous output at the start of the season carried fantasy teams into the playoffs. Like Deebo, Patterson was used as a running back and wide receiver, so much so that fantasy platforms gave him duel eligibility, which made him even more valuable on dynasty rosters. Headed into week 17, Patterson was the 8th highest scoring fantasy wide receiver and running back. Such production from a 9th-year player who has never come close to this production before is almost impossible. He's scored 68 more points than his previous best season in 2013, his rookie year, and 145 more points than what he averaged per season between his rookie year and this year. He only signed a one-year deal with Atlanta, so his dynasty value is still in question. Even after this incredible season, I only moved him up to #44 in my wide receiver rankings. If he signed a long-term deal with Atlanta, I'll move him up quite a bit, but not much further given his age.

Resurrection of the Year - James Conner

• The resurrection of the year award goes to James Conner, who had the best year of his career since 2018. Conner's dynasty value sputtered since the 2018 season, and the Steelers neglected to sign him to a second contract. The Cardinals took a chance on him, signing him to a one-year deal this offseason, and he has drastically outperformed his $1,750,000 contract. His fantasy production has come from touchdowns, where he's tied for second in the NFL with 14 rushing touchdowns this season, but he's been involved in the passing game too, with 31 receptions this season. Like Cordarrelle Patterson, his dynasty value has a ceiling until the Cardinals decide whether to sign him to a long-term deal. He and Chase Edmonds' contracts expire at the end of this season, so they'll have some tough decisions to make. They worked well as a tandem this year and carried the team while the other was injured, but the Cardinals will likely not sign both of them to contracts next year unless they're both willing to take lower-than-market deals. After Conner's resurrection season, I don't think he'd be willing to give the team a break. For now, he sits as my #23 running back because I believe he will re-sign with the Cardinals, not Edmonds. If he does not, I will lower him in my rankings considerably.

Overachiever of the Year - Brandin Cooks

• The overachiever of the year award goes to Brandin Cooks, who had a top-24 season again on a terrible team with bad quarterbacks, though Davis Mills did improve as the season progressed. Cooks' production felt a little up and down this year, but he was far more consistent than dynasty managers realize. He played fifteen games this season and scored more than 15 fantasy points in five of them and more than 10 points in nine. He averaged 12.2 points per game, making him a startable WR-2 every week in fantasy lineups. He's holding steady at #26 in my dynasty wide receiver rankings, which feels like where he has been ranked for the last few seasons no matter who his quarterback is.

Disappointment of the Year - Miles Sanders

• The disappointment of the year award goes to Mile Sanders, who had every chance in the world to break out this year but could not do it. It's unbelievable that Sanders did not score a touchdown the entire fantasy season. He's far and away the NFL player with the most touches without a touchdown. Meanwhile, Jordan Howard has three touchdowns, Kenny Gainwell has four, and Boston Scott has seven. Philadelphia was the most run-heavy team in the NFL this season, and even then, Sanders could not produce. Sanders was my second-ranked rookie in the 2019 class behind Josh Jacobs, significantly higher than other analysts ranked him. As a result, I drafted him on a lot of my teams. His lack of production is a big part of why some of my teams failed this season, making him the player I am most disappointed in this season. My disappointment has caused me to drop him down to #29 in my dynasty running back rankings. I've kept my faith in him for too long, and he can only drop in value from here out.

Dynasty Riser of the Year - Dawson Knox

• The dynasty riser of the year award goes to Dawson Knox, who moved from the 26th ranked tight end to the 7th ranked tight end in my dynasty rankings. Knox finished the season as the 7th highest scoring tight end this season, and I expect him to have similar production in the years to come. What excites me the most about his dynasty future is his involvement in the red zone and his being paired with Josh Allen. Knox finished tied for first in touchdown receptions among tight ends this season, and he could have had even more, were it not for some drops and a few called back by penalties. Knox was first among tight ends in red-zone targets with 22 and tenth in the NFL among all players. He's still building rapport with Josh Allen, and I believe he'll become a more targeted player in the offense overall next season. I snagged Knox of the waiver wire in several leagues before the 2021 season began, and I'm delighted that I did.

Dynasty Faller of the Year - Robby Anderson

• The dynasty faller of the year award goes to Robby Anderson, who fell from #32 in my wide receiver rankings to start the season to #59 at the end of the season. Anderson is one of my most rostered players. I saw him as a perfect WR-3 when the season began. Two years ago, I bought into the Matt Rhule-Temple narrative, and it worked. He finished the 2020 season as the 24th highest scoring receiver. I bought into the reuniting with Sam Darnold narrative this season, but it did not work. I expected 2021 rookies to out-produce him this season but still thought he would finish among the top 36 wide receivers. Instead, he was the 52nd highest scoring wide receiver headed into week 17. This season, the Carolina offense was a mess while they played without Christian McCaffrey and rotated quarterbacks, but that's not an excuse for how unproductive he was. I could see myself being roped back into a new narrative if Deshaun Watson gets traded to Carolina, but apart from that, I will need Anderson to prove something for a significant stretch of games to move him back up my rankings.

Most Valuable Player - Cooper Kupp

• The most valuable player of the year award goes to Cooper Kupp, who had a historic fantasy season scoring 69 more points than the second-highest scoring wide receiver (more than four points per game). Kupp's quick connection with Matthew Stafford was apparent in the season's first game, and it just didn't stop. The future is bright for Kupp with Stafford and coach McVay. Even though he's 28 years old, I have moved him up to the 4th ranked wide receiver in my rankings, ahead of other older wide receivers Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, and Stefon Diggs. Kupp does not win with speed or quickness. He wins with route running and football intelligence, and those skills don't diminish much with age. I begrudgingly give him this award even though he singlehandedly knocked me out of three semi-final games on his second touchdown catch on Monday night two weeks ago.

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