Coach of the year
What’s it for?
The coach that has had the finest coaching performance, consistently making good decisions as well as making bold decisions that paid off.
The Nominees
1. Nigel Wells (ADRZ): Doesn’t take a genius to figure this one out. Coach Wells guided ADRZ to their best season in team history (11-3). In a year where points were spread over 2 more teams than usual, this team was the only double digit win team on route to a regular season title. They were top 5 in points left on the bench, 2nd in total scoring, and did a good job coaching the side on the way to a very consistent season.
2. Naithan Stubbs (Gridiron Gang): This is probably the best performance of Coach N. Stubbs’s career. Along the way he made some brave decisions that were absolutely crucial to their season, starting players like Austin-Seferian Jenkins (23pts), Derek Carrier (who?), Thomas Rawls (23pts), Branden Oliver, Spencer Ware (17.5pts) and Shaun Draughn. What’s more, this team was top in points left on the bench after being bottom (or near) in the category in the last few seasons. Here’s a stat for you – from Week 1 to 9 they only left 29.40 points in their bench.
3. Dave Stubbs (Bear Necessities): Another fine season from Coach D. Stubbs. Feels like we’re back in 2009/10 with both Stubbs succeeding doesn’t it? They can only hope so. They were 6th in points left on the bench, which is actually impressive considering they scored the most points in the league this year. That’s incredible, considering all the injuries this team has been through. Despite the points left on the bench, they’ve really extracted everything they could from this roster.
4. Viv Nathwani (The Dream Team): This team has just been a model of consistency all year, and it’s all down to Coach Nathwani. Many criticised the team, but hey, warranted or not the coach got the points out of them. From Week 6 onwards this team never dropped below 90 points. In that span, they went over 100 5 times. They also have another feather in their cap, as they were 3rd in coach score, very rarely leaving more than 10 points on the bench each week.
General Manager of the year
What’s it for?
The GM that assembled the best roster. A good draft was further reinforced by shrewd roster decisions when it came to waivers, free agency, and trading.
The Nominees
1. Ben Sherwood (IKNAN): GM Sherwood’s draft could easily go down as one of the best in history. Ok, maybe it didn’t deliver the best possible team, but going completely off map with a unheralded strategy is bold. When you couple that with the fact it was a moneyball-esque system, it’s even more impressive. However, the only downside is once this team lost Arian Foster the GM was never able to find consistent RBs. That was the design of the roster, but it was often a source of weakness.
2. Dave Stubbs (Bear Necessities): Right from the get go I liked this team. They had a good draft, in which they made the bold decision to draft TE Rob Gronkowski in the 1st round. Once again their waiver pick-ups throughout the year good and they needed to be with all the injuries the team would suffer. Dion Lewis, Chris Johnson, Charcandrick West, Brandon Marhsall and Jonathan Stewart were expert decisions.
3. Naithan Stubbs (Gridiron Gang): You all know it by now, this GMs plan was #BradyOrBust. GM Stubbs had a good draft, but he was very busy on the transactions, leading the way with 57 roster moves in total (the next closest was The Tuckfards with 55, but GG only had 8 DEF & K moves, while TTU had 21 of those). With some great one week additions (ASJ, Rawls, Carrier) and some more permanent ones (Floyd, Draughn) and a trade (Johnson), GM Stubbs showed why he’s the 5 time GM of the year.
4. Viv Nathwani (The Dream Team): A lot of people doubted this roster, especially after a slow start, but I was always a big fan. McCoy, Murray, Bryant, Olsen, Forsett, Williams were all highlights for me. They also did a good job with the waiver wire, highlighted by picking up Palmer (which may be the add of the season) and Michael Crabtree. This roster was one of the most consistent of the year.
League Commissioner Award
What’s it for?
This award is for outstanding contribution to the league off the field, as well as sportsmanship, dedication, and passion for the league.
The Nominees
1. Ben Sherwood (IKNAN): Ben put his hat into the ring for Team Ambassador this year, and he has done an excellent job. With his new role has come a new found dedication and passion to the league, which I predicted would happen before the season started. He’s made appearances on many episodes of the LOC Report this season, and also contributed some fantastic articles without being asked.
2. Phil Merritt (The Tuckfards): So this coach’s main Achilles heel trying to win this award is his sportsmanship. But no one can doubt his dedication or passion (despite rumblings of a potential retirement). He’s also made many appearances on the LOC Report.
3. Tom Barnes (Tom’s Tyrants): After no one was elected to the EDOTLOCCA role, it was down to Commissioner Stubbs to appoint someone. The first man he asked was Tom, replacing the first EDOTLOCCA of 4 years, Ollie Burdett. Tom’s done a tremendous job of stepping into the role, providing excellent support to the Commissioner, writing his own weekly articles, helping out on draft day, and making an appearance here and there on the LOC Report
4. Pat Allen (Patistan): Finding a 4th nominee was tough for this category, but I chose Pat. Despite not knowing much about fantasy football, the dedication he has shown to the league in his rookie year is laudable. He made an appearance on the LOC Report, and always shows good sportsmanship.
Comeback Award
What’s it for?
A great in-season turnaround or a great turnaround from a previously bad year.
The Nominees
1. Dave Stubbs (Bear Necessities): If coach D. Stubbs goes onto win the Corona Bowl, it may replace Tom’s Tyrants 2014 and Gridiron Gang’s 2010 seasons as the most dramatic comebacks of all time. This was a team that started 0-4 in their division. We know the bar is usually around 8-6 to make playoffs, so they had to win 8 of their last 10 to make playoffs. That’s exactly what they did.
2. Tom Barnes (Tom’s Tyrants): I’m convinced Coach Barnes thinks that the Comeback award is the most prized award in the LOC. How else can you explain it? Last year they were 2-5, came back on a momentous run and won it all. This year they thought they could one up themselves, going 2-6. All they needed was one more win this season and they would have done it again, but alas they came up one short (to the delight of many in the LOC I’m sure).
3. Nigel Wells (ADRZ): 2014 was a lost season for Coach Wells, it’s no secret. Going 5-9, good for their second worst record in team history, it wasn’t a good years. They missed the draft (due to reasons out of their control) and the roster never felt like his all season long. But he more than made up for it in 2015, becoming the kings of the regular season, and perhaps the 2015 champion.
4. Ross Nunn (The Romosexuals): You’re probably thinking why is Coach Nunn nominated? He didn’t have a great turnaround this season or the last. But this comeback is for un-retiring. The last time this coach was patrolling the fantasy side-lines was in 2010 when Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, Junior Seau (RIP) were playing. That’s a loooooong time ago, but he hasn’t missed a beat, having a good first season, and he was 1.7 points away from going 7-7.
Overachiever Award
What’s it for?
The team that exceeded all expectations or overcame a lot to get where they are.
The Nominees
1. Ollie Burdett (Burdettinators): It’s an odd year, the teams we expected to do well did, and no one really came out of nowhere. Coach Burdett however will be the first to say that 7-7 is probably a generous record, but he sure did earn it. For large stretches of the season this roster was arguably the worst in the league. If you can come out at 7-7 despite that, you’re doing something right.
2. Ross Nunn (The Romosexuals): Coach Nunn turned up on draft day with nothing but himself and his phone. I know some people like to wing it, but this is next level. Little preparation took place, and throughout the season they adopted coaching techniques from the IKNAN school of fantasy football, yet they still turned in a decent season.
3. Nigel Wells (ADRZ): Coach Wells is one of the good coaches of the league, but until now no one could make the case he is one of the best. I’ve long been a supporter of Coach Wells, and always thought he was much better than the rep he got. Now he has the record to support it, and with 2 playoff appearances he might finally gain some respect.
4. Phil Merritt (The Tuckfards): Every year we talk about how The Tuckfards roster doesn’t look good, yet they turn in good year after year. This is their first losing season since 2009 and the first time they’ve missed the playoffs since 2010. Once again some of the names on this roster would have made most coaches stomachs curdle, but not Coach Merritt, and he got another decent season out of his side.
Luck Award
What’s it for?
The team who seemed to have luck on their side for most of the season, as fantasy skill and talent sure can’t explain it!
The Nominees
1. Nigel Wells (ADRZ): ADRZ had a great year, definitely. ADRZ was the second highest scoring team, absolutely. ADRZ conceded far less than every other team, you bet your sweet ass they did. ADRZ’s side conceded a mere 1218.74 points this season. The next closest was 1295.40. Everyone else was north of 1300 with some having as much as 1562.80. Look, there’s a good chance ADRZ would have made playoffs even if they had conceded more, but they wouldn’t have won 11.
2. Phil Merritt (The Tuckfards): I’m just going to write some names down. Doug Baldwin. Gary Barnidge. James Jones. Percy Harvin. Travis Benjamin. Antonio Andrews. Ryan Fitzpatrick. Derek Carr. None of these players were on anybody’s fantasy radar this season. And yet, here we are, all of these players were fantasy relevant for The Tuckfards at one point in the season. And for that sir Merritt, you have earned a nomination for the Luck Award.
3. Pat Allen (Patistan): Now you might be slightly confused as to how a 5-9 team, that was plagued by injuries, inconsistency, and general poor play for a lot of the season, might possibly be up for the Luck Award. Well, I’ll tell you. Of Coach Allen’s 5 wins, 4 of them came when they scored less than 100 points. To make it better, in 3 of those 4, they scored 85, 83 and 73. Yep, pretty lucky if you ask me.
4. Ross Nunn (The Romosexuals): Coach Nunn is up for the Luck Award for similar reasons as the Overachiever Award. He didn’t do any preparation on draft day, yet came out with a good team. He adopted the IKNAN school of coaching, and it somehow got them to 6 wins. It’s fair to wonder where this team would had the coach paid more attention, but 6 wins is still pretty good all the same.
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