A season later (2001) I created the Highland GraveDiggers (100-95-1)- .512 (51%) winning record, and Highland LavaRockets (92-100-4)- .470 (47%) winning record and have kept all three teams since. GraveDiggers won their league championship in 2005 and 2014. The LavaRockets have only won once back in 2010. GraveDiggers made it back into the playoffs in 2014 and fought for the NFL.com league championship and actually won it with a 8-6-0 record, barely making the playoffs (#4/10 teams). It was a very exciting season for the team, lead by San Diego QB Philip Rivers.
==============================================
NFL Fantasy League 2014: A Look Back
The Executions (7-7-0) had a rough start and finished 2-5-0 for the first half of the 2014 season. This includes Denver Bronco's QB Payton Manning as the starting QB for the entire season. The Executions added St. Louis Rams WR Brian Quick off waivers to try and jump start their 1-4-0 record, later he'd become injured and out for the season. With a mid-season 2-5-0 record, The Executions grabbed both Miami Dolphins RB Lamar Miller and Baltimore Ravens RB Justin Forsett off waivers for week 7. Both performed decent that week, but the Executions still lost their game. With the signing of Cincinnati Bengal WR Mohamed Sanu off waivers (Miller, Forsett, and Sanu were good pick-ups), the Executions finally got a win after previously losing 4 weeks in a row. By week 9, and a very disappointing San Francisco 49'er TE Vernon Davis, the Executions placed San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates as the starter, who was becoming red hot at this point in the season. With the acquisition off waivers of the Miami Dolphins defense (previously had San Diego's defense) the Executions won 3 straight games with the team having a 5-5-0 record at week 10. Week 12 the Executions signed New England Patriots WR Brandon LaFell off waivers. LaFell made an impact for two straight weeks helping the Executions finish their 14th season at .500 at 7-7-0 and in 5th place out of 10 teams.
2014 PLAYOFFS-
The team didn't make the playoffs, but did head into the consolation bracket and fought for the 5th place spot out of 10 teams and won 77-64. The Executions pummeled their first opponent 76-37, with the help of Cincinnati Bengals RB Jeremy Hill, this was the week Peyton Manning was sick and was having hip issues.
The Executions didn't have a great season, but coming back from a 2-5-0 record and finishing 7-7-0 wasn't easy. The year before (2013) they finished 6-7-0 (13 games were played, league rules), so they did one game better this year.
The Highland Executions are 3-time NFL.com League Champions (2000, 2005, 2011) and 4-time Division Champions (2000, 2005, 2007, 2011).
TEAM HISTORY (2000-2014)
Highland Executions
Est. 2000
Overall Record: 109-100-1 (210 games)
Winning Percentage: .521 (52%)
Playoff Record (including Consolation): 11-5-0
Playoff Winning Percentage: .687 (69%)
3-time NFL.com Fantasy League Champions (2000, 2005, 2011)
4-time NFL.com Fantasy League Division Champions (2000, 2005, 2007, 2011)
City: Highland, MI
Stadium: Ford Field: Detroit, MI
Coach: Jesse Richardson
Best Record: 12-2-0 (2007)
Worst Record: 4-10-0 (2010)
Division Champions-
2000, 2005, 2007, 2011
NFL.com League Champions-
2000, 2005, 2011
-------------------------------
*2000*
11-3-0 (Central Division & NFL.com League Champions)- NFL.com
Note: 2001 NFL.com became a pay only Fantasy League. I switched over to Yahoo.com.
*2001*
7-7-0 (Lost in 2nd round of playoffs; finished season 5/10 teams)- Yahoo.com
*2002*
4-10-0 (Missed playoffs for the first time in team history; finished 8/10 teams)- Yahoo.com
*2003*
6-8-0 (Lost in 2nd round of playoffs; finished 7/10 teams)- Yahoo.com
*2004*
6-8-0 (Lost in 1st round of playoffs; finished 6/10 teams)- Yahoo.com
Note: 2005 NFL.com returned to being a free Fantasy League. I switched back.
*2005*
8-6-0 (Central Division & NFL.com League Champions)- NFL.com
*2006*
8-6-0 (Lost in NFL.com League Championship game)- NFL.com
*2007*
12-2-0 (Central Division Champions, but lost in first round of playoffs)- NFL.com
*2008*
6-7-1 (Missed playoffs, 2nd time in team history)- NFL.com
*2009*
8-6-0 (Missed playoffs 2nd straight year)- NFL.com
*2010*
4-10-0 (Missed playoffs 3rd straight year, worst record in team history 12/12)- NFL.com
*2011*
11-4-0 (Central Division Champions & NFL.com League Champions,)- NFL.com
*2012*
5-9-0 (Missed playoffs)- NFL.com
*2013*
6-7-0 (Missed playoffs 2nd straight year 7/12)- NFL.com
*2014*
7-7-0 (Missed playoffs 3rd straight year, finished 5/10 consolation bracket)- NFL.com
=============================================
Highland GraveDiggers (8-6-0) You'd think by looking at the GraveDiggers record they didn't have a great year. WRONG! Shockingly, they finished 4th out of 10 teams and squeezed into the 2014 NFL.com fantasy league playoffs. Not just that, but they lost two straight games heading into the 1st round.
The GraveDiggers started out with San Francisco 49'rs QB Colin Kaepernick over San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers, after Kaepernick's performance from last season. High hopes were for 49'rs RB Frank Gore and 49'rs TE Vernon Davis heading into the 2014 fantasy season. That wasn't the final outcome.
After the first 3 weeks the GraveDiggers were 2-1-0, but Kaepernick fantasy point wise wasn't doing nearly as good as Rivers, so a risky change was made, one that would pay off, as Rivers started every week besides the teams bye week, including the playoffs. At this point TE Davis was benched for Tennessee Titan's TE Delanie Walker.
Week 5 the GraveDiggers scooped up Baltimore Ravens RB Justin Forsett, which probably was the biggest pick up off waivers of the season for the GraveDiggers.
Mid-way through the season (week 7) the team had a record of 5-2-0 and 3rd in their league. Cincinnati Bengals WR Mohamed Sanu was picked up off waivers, which would become a huge value for the GraveDiggers.
Week 8 the GraveDiggers did some changes on defense, and released the Carolina Panthers defense, which was expected to have a good season, but didn't turn out that way. They started the Indianapolis Colts defense and picked up the Green Bay Packers defense, which was a better move.
The GraveDiggers got caught in a web by losing 3 straight games in weeks 7, 8, and 9. The team picked up Cincinnati Bengals RB Jeremy Hill off waivers. Hill would start the next 5 weeks and help the team into the playoffs and eventually help win the teams 2nd league championship. The GraveDiggers were 6-4-0 heading into week 11.
The final three weeks were critical for the GraveDiggers. With the Green Bay Packers becoming the starting defense and the addition of Indianapolis Colts TE Coby Fleener (Titans TE Walker was injured for a bit), these two moves helped the GraveDiggers win three straight games in weeks 10, 11, & 12, and have a winning record of 8-4-0 and still in 3rd place in their league. Top four teams make the playoffs.
The GraveDiggers would lose their final two games and ended the regular season at 8-6-0 and in 4th place, barely making the playoffs by being 1 game up on the 5th place team. WR Sanu, TE Fleener, and RB Hill had slumped a bit during those final two weeks.
2014 Playoffs-
This had to be the most exciting playoff in the past 14 years that I've been playing fantasy football. The 1st round (Semi-Finals) I defeated the #1 team in our league, whom had a record of 12-2-0. I thought my playoff venture was over, especially losing two games in a row heading into the playoffs. Thanks to a great performance by both Seattle Seahawk's RB Marshawn Lynch and RB Hill (and a bad day for opposing Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers) I defeated the #1 team in our league by 6 points.
The GraveDiggers headed to the championship game and were facing the #2 team in their league, whom had a 12-2-0 record as well. The GraveDiggers switched up the Colts defense for the Packers defense, which was a smart call, as the Packers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Colts got crumbled by the Dallas Cowboys. That was the only change the GraveDiggers made. At the end, QB Rivers, RB Lynch, and RB Hill all had big games, thus defeating the #2 team by 6 points (just like last game) and became the 2014 NFL.com league champions for a 2nd time in 13 years. Their last league championship was in 2005.
Highland GraveDiggers are 2-time NFL.com League Champions (2005, 2014) and 2-time Division Champions (2005, 2010).
TEAM HISTORY (2001-2014)
Highland GraveDiggers
Est. 2001
Overall Record: 100-95-1 (196 games)
Winning Percentage: .512 (51%)
Playoff Record: 8-7
Playoff Winning Percentage .533 (53%)
2-time NFL.com Fantasy League Champions (2005, 2014)
2-time NFL.com Fantasy League Division Champions (2005, 2010)
City: Highland, MI
Stadium: Ford Field: Detroit, MI
Coach: Jesse Richardson
Best Record: 9-5-0 (2005)
Worst Record: 4-10-0 (2008)
Division Champions
2005, 2010
NFL.com League Champions
2005, 2014
------------------------------
*2001*
7-7-0 (Lost 2nd round of playoffs; finished 6/10 teams)- Yahoo
*2002*
9-5-0 (Lost 2nd round of playoffs; finished 5/10 teams)- Yahoo
*2003*
8-6-0 (Lost 2nd round of playoffs; finished 4/10 teams)- Yahoo
*2004*
7-6-1 (Lost 2nd round of playoffs; finished 4/10 teams)- Yahoo
Note: NFL.com returned to being a free Fantasy League. I started playing on NFL.com
*2005*
9-5-0 (Western Division & NFL.com League Champions)- NFL.com
*2006*
9-5-0 (Missed playoffs for the first time in team history)- NFL.com
*2007*
8-6-0 (Missed playoffs 2nd straight year)- NFL.com
*2008*
4-10-0 (Missed playoffs 3rd straight year, worst record in team history)- NFL.com
*2009*
6-8-0 (Missed playoffs 4th straight year)- NFL.com
*2010*
8-6-0 (Division Champions, lost 3rd place game)- NFL.com
*2011*
5-9-0 (Missed playoffs, placed 3/4 division, 8/12 league)- NFL.com
*2012*
4-10-0 (Missed playoffs 2nd straight year)- NFL.com
*2013*
8-6-0 (Lost 1st round of playoffs; finished 5/12 teams)- NFL.com
*2014*
8-6-0 (NFL.com League Champions; 4/10 teams)- NFL.com
Note: Most exciting playoff series in fantasy history, defeated two 12-2-0 teams, won both games by 6 points.
--------------------
Highland LavaRockets (8-6-0) The LavaRockets missed the playoffs, but did place 5th in the consolation bracket. The team got off to a rough start, but managed to finished above .500 (.571) The team was banking on starting New England Patriots QB Tom Brady, New York Jets WR Eric Decker, and Jets RB Chris Johnson. Only one of those three would actually become fantasy value. That person wasn't the starting QB at the end of the season, that being Brady. The LavaRockets started out 0-2-0, with a lineup of QB Brady, Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles, RB Johnson, WR Decker, Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas, and Seattle Seahawks defense just to name a few players. With the addition of Indianapolis Colts defense and Chiefs back-up RB Knile Davis, the LavaRockets were back at .500 heading into week 5 at 2-2-0.
Mid-way through the season (week 7) the LavaRockets were starting Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and benched Brady. They picked up Baltimore Ravens RB Justin Forsett and started Broncos WR Wes Welker, whom the LavaRockets had hoped would perform well upon his return. It wasn't the outcome the team had hoped for. They also started the Indianapolis Colts defense, while benching a disappointed Seahawks defense.
Week 10 the team had won two straight games and were hovering at .500 at 5-5-0. The team did get a small boost with the addition of San Diego Charger's WR Malcom Floyd, who'd turn out to be a good addition to the team. They also picked up the Miami Dolphins defense, while benching the Colts defense.
Heading into week 13 the team was 7-5-0 and eyeing the NFL.com league playoffs. They had hoped the pick-up of Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans would help in that department. But with a loss and a win (weeks 13 & 14) the team fell short of the playoffs, with the top 4 getting in.
Highland LavaRockets are 1-time NFL.com League Champions (2010) and 1-time NFL.com Division Champions (2010).
2014 Playoffs
The LavaRockets didn't make the playoffs and missed the final slot by 1 game. They did head to the consolation bracket and actually won both games to place 5th out of 10 teams this season. They defeated their first opponent 61-47 and their second and final 73-47. Both series were easy wins for the LavaRockets.
TEAM HISTORY (2001-2014)
Highland Lava Rockets
Est. 2001
Overall Record: 92-100-4 (196 games)
Winning Percentage: .470 (47%)
Playoff Record: 11-5
Playoff Winning Percentage: .687 (69%)
1-time NFL.com Fantasy League Champions (2010)
1-time NFL.com Fantasy League Division Champions (2010)
City: Highland, MI
Stadium: Ford Field: Detroit, MI
Coach: Jesse Richardson
Best Record: 8-5-1 (2005)
Worst Record: 3-11-0 (2001)
Division Champions- 2010
NFL.com League Champions- 2010
--------------------------------------
*2001*
3-11-0 (Missed playoffs; finished 10/10 teams)- Yahoo.com
*2002*
7-7-0 (Missed playoffs; finished 7/10 teams)- Yahoo.com
*2003*
9-5-0 (Lost 2nd round of playoffs; finished 4/10 teams)- Yahoo.com
*2004*
6-8-0 (Lost 2nd round of playoffs; finished 6/10 teams)- Yahoo.com
Note: NFL.com returned to being a free Fantasy League. I started playing on NFL.com
*2005*
8-5-1 (Lost in Divisional Playoffs)- NFL.com
*2006*
6-6-2 (Missed playoffs)- NFL.com
*2007*
7-7-0 (Missed playoffs 2nd straight year)- NFL.com
*2008*
4-9-1 (Missed playoffs 3rd straight year)- NFL.com
*2009*
6-8-0 (Missed playoffs 4th straight year)- NFL.com
*2010*
9-5-0 (Division & NFL.com League Champions)- NFL.com
*2011*
6-8-0 (Lost in Divisional Playoffs; 7/12)- NFL.com
*2012*
8-6-0 (Lost 1st round playoffs; won 3rd place, 3/10)- NFL.com
*2013*
5-9-0 (Missed playoffs; placed 9th in consolation bracket; 9/16)- NFL.com
*2014*
8-6-0 (Missed playoffs; placed 5th in consolation bracket; 5/10)- NFL.com
Note: 2nd year straight of missing playoffs
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