2017 NFL.com Fantasy Football (halfway)

My 17th year playing Fantasy Football has gotten off to a rough start for one of my three teams. It all boils down to several NFL players that are on my team not performing as they did last season. Carolina Panthers quarterback (QB) Cam Newton, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver (WR) Julio Jones, New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas, Chicago Bears running back (RB) Jordan Howard, and the Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens defense have struggled.

Click below to view the halfway point of the 2017 NFL.com Fantasy season for the teams below.

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2017 Highland LavaRockets (halfway)

5-2-0

Last season was a remarkable for the Highland LavaRockets (5-2-0) as they finished with their best record in team history (2001-2016) at 9-4-0 and earned a trip to the 2016 NFL.com Fantasy Football playoffs. The LavaRockets won their division for the 2nd time in team history, but came up short of winning their 2nd league championship. The LavaRockets had been struggling for several years and missed the playoffs three years in a row (2013, 2014, 2015) and were worse before that (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009).

The team has gotten off to a great start, but things didn't look so well heading into week 4 with a 1-2-0 record. They won their first game in week 1 with a 104.20 - 54.30 victory and that's with New York Giants quarterback (QB) Eli Manning securing only 6 points. Manning hasn't had a good season, but the LavaRockets (somehow) continue to win games with him as their starter. Buffalo Bills QB Tyrod Taylor is the backup. Due to Manning having a week 8 bye, Taylor will start.

Houston Texans wide receiver (WR) DeAndre Hopkins, Minnesota Vikings running back (RB) Jerick McKinnon, Philadelphia Eagles RB LeGarrette Blount, and Baltimore Ravens defense helped the team get the W.

The team would lose their next two games. Week 2 saw both McKinnon and tight end (TE) Kyle Rudolph from the Vikings score very little points and the Ravens defense had a -4, which didn't help. 

With the LavaRockets 1-2-0, the team finally picked things up in the scoring department and haven't looked back. Weeks 4 & 5 saw Manning increase his numbers, while McKinnon and Rudolph increased theirs as well. Giants WR Odell Beckham, Jr. was back to playing football as he was recovering from his injury. He too put up some decent points. Beckham would later need season ending surgery due to being injured. He was released.

The team tweaked only two positions as they headed into week 6. The team started Los Angeles Rams kicker (K) Greg Zuerlein over Dallas Cowboys K Dan Bailey, who compared to the #1 K in the league (Zuerlein), Baily has struggled. Bailey had started since week 1 and was released after week 7. The LavaRockets picked up New England Patriots WR Danny Amendola (benched) off waivers and the team benched the Ravens defense (struggling) and started the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, who are #1 in the league. The LavaRockets got a week 6 victory, so the tweaking pulled off.

Due to a week 7 bye, Hopkins was benched and Amendola became the starter, but only scored an awful 1.60 points, but thanks to the Jaguars defense, the LavaRockets got the 79.86 - 62 victory to go 5-2-0 with their fourth straight win.

With a few players on bye for week 8, Amendola will get the start again, despite his awful week 7 performance. Hopkins is back in the lineup, so that should help. The LavaRockets picked up K Robbie Gould off waivers from the San Francisco 49'rs due to Zuerlein having a week 8 bye. The Jaguars will also have a bye, thus the Ravens defense will start. Week 8 could be challenging for the LavaRockets.

QB

They say if it's not broke, don't fix it. I guess the same could be said for Manning being the starting QB for the LavaRockets. He hasn't performed well, but the team continues to get victories with him at the helm.

WR

The LavaRockets have WR Hopkins and Amendola as starters, with Tennesse Titans WR Rishard Williams benched due to a week 8 bye. The Team picked up Los Angeles Chargers WR Travis Benjamin (benched) for some extra insurance.

RB

The team has a great core of running backs (RB) who haven't been talked about yet. New Orleans Saints RB Mike Ingram has been terrific thus far. Ingram is in the flex position, which means a WR or RB can fill that spot. The team currently has no backup RB, thus Ingram would fit that position if need be. His spot would be replaced with a WR in the flex position. Philadelphia Eagles RB LeGarratte Blount has performed well, but hit a slump last week, though he tends to do that. The surprise is RB McKinnon from the Vikings. He's had a wonderful year and continues to put fantasy points up on the board. I don't see any changes to those positions.

TE

Vikings TE Rudolph continues to be the starter and has been since week 1. For the first three weeks of the season Washington Redskins TE Vernon Davis was the backup, but was released heading into week 4 due to poor performance, but the past two weeks (weeks 6 & 7) he's picked up some steam. The LavaRockets picked up Los Angeles Rams TE Gerald Everett, who hasn't done any better than Davis.

K

You can't get any better than having K Zuerlein as your starter. The LavaRockets had K Gould on their team as the starter a few years back when he was with Chicago.

DEFENSE

Who would've thought the Jaguars would have the #1 defense? They've proved that with knitting a victory or two for the LavaRockets.

CONCLUSION

The LavaRockets are on the path to taking their division and heading to the 2017 NFL.com Fantasy Football Playoffs. They're currently 2nd in their division, but tied for first place. They're ranked #6 out of 16 teams. Out of those 16 teams, five have a 5-2-0 record, including the LavaRockets. If the playoffs started today the LavaRockets would be in.

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2016 NFL.com Fantasy Football

My 16th year of playing NFL.com fantasy football has concluded and the Highland Executions (10-4-0) and the Highland LavaRockets (9-4-0) made the playoffs. The Executions bowed out in the first round, but clinched their 5th division title in their 16 year history. The LavaRockets won their 2nd division title in their 15 year history. The team lost in their NFL.com fantasy football league championship game. The Highland GraveDiggers (8-5-1) came up short from making the playoffs, and it was all due to a tie instead of a win.

Click below (logo) to view that teams 2016 NFL.com Fantasy Football results.

Highland Executions (10-4-0)

2016 Division Champions

Ranked: 2nd out of 12 teams (regular season)
* Ranked 1st out of 4 teams (division)

* 16th season

* 4th best record in team history

* Broke 4-year playoff drought

* Lost 1st round of playoffs 

  

Highland GraveDiggers (8-5-1)

Ranked: 6th out of 12 teams (regular season)

* 15th season

* 4th best record in team history

* Missed Playoffs

Highland LavaRockets (9-4-0)

2016 Division Champions

Ranked: 4th out of 12 teams (regular season)

Ranked: 1st out of 4 teams (division)

* 15th season

* Best record in team history

2016 Highland LavaRockets

2001-2016

Highland LavaRockets (9-4-0) had a remarkable year. The team almost matched their 2010 season, which saw them win their first division and league championship with a 9-5-0 record. The difference this year was the LavaRockets came up short (to say the least) and lost in the league championship game 79.80 - 115.80. They did manage to end their 15th season with the best record in team history. Heading into the season, the LavaRockets had missed the playoffs 3-straight years. With a league championship at the tip of their fingers, they managed to become 2-time division champions.

The LavaRockets kicked their season off with four straight wins. Week 1 (82.30 - 78.20), Week 2 (126.05 - 81.65), Week 3 (87.50 - 78.10) and Week 4 (98.25 - 55.40). None of those games were close, besides week 1, but the LavaRockets started out 6th in their league out of 12 teams. After their first win, the team jumped to 4th place. Week 3 saw the team take the 2nd place spot, which they held until week 5.

The LavaRockets were on a roll, until their slip in week 5. They lost against the team they were tied with for 2nd place, 75.75 - 118.18. The LavaRockets dropped to third place in their league. All season the team held onto their division lead.

Week 6 the team got back on track, but fell in week 7 with a 80.80 - 91.40 loss. With their loss in weeks 5 and 7, the team didn't change their roster. Carolina Panthers quarterback (QB) Cam Newton was out due to an injury, thus the back-up was Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blake Bortles, but he had a bye. The LavaRockets scrambled and picked up Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill off waivers. Tannehill wasn't playing good at this point in the season, but was the best starter on waivers. 

Tannehill only put up 5.50 points while Panthers wide receiver (WR) Ted Ginn had -1.50 and the Denver Broncos defense (D) played terrible, putting up 4.00. The LavaRockets' week 7 loss came with Newton on a bye and Bortles as the starter, which he played well, but starting Buffalo Bills running back (RB) LeSean McCoy only scored 1.10 points, which hurt the team. With a good performance by McCoy, the team could've won week 7, but instead, the team headed into week 8 being 5-2-0 and being 4th in the league, but still leading in their division.

The team notched victories in weeks 8 & 9, but came up short in week 10 against the 2nd place team, whom they'd also lose the league championship to. The LavaRockets lost 85.15 - 100.20, but still were division leaders and 3rd in the league.

With a devastating week 10 loss, the LavaRockets rolled it off their shoulders and came back with a week 11 victory to place 2nd in their league and captured their 2nd division title, and making the playoffs.

The team came up with another victory in week 12, but lost their final game of the season against the 2nd place team in their division. The LavaRockets were glad they had secured a playoff spot with two weeks left in the season.

The team once again faced the 2nd place team in their division heading into the playoffs, which they had a 1-1-0 record against during the season. The LavaRockets had a 9-4-0 season record while their quarterfinal opponents were 7-6-0.

Heading into the quarterfinal game, the LavaRockets thought about playing Bortles as the starting QB, but decided they had been on a good roll, and Newton started to pick things up during this time. In the end, it was the right move.

With a 84.40 - 78.70 (5.70 points) win, the division champions were heading into the semi-finals and facing the 2nd best team in the league. The LavaRockets, somehow, someway, pulled off a 4.95 point victory to head to the league championship game. The lineup was kept the same, with Cleveland Browns WR Terrelle Pryor being benched for returning rookie and New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas, whom was sidelined the previous week with an injury. Pryor scored 1.90 points while Thomas scored 11.20.

LavaRockets (4th place) had a huge hill to climb to defeat the 2nd place team in the league. The LavaRockets were knocked to the curb and lost 79.80 - 115.80 in the championship game. Even if the LavaRockets started Bortles, they still would've lost 95.25 - 115.80. All the other players played well, but Newton had a so-so day, while the Denver Broncos defense played horrible, racking only 1 point. The other team just had more fire power.

The team had a nearly perfect season, with some bumps in the road, but the team had a good playoff run. Last season the LavaRockets were 8-6-0 and missed the playoffs for the third straight year.

============================================

Prior to the start of the 2016 season, the LavaRockets drafted QB's Newton and Bortles, which Bortles out performed Newton in terms of total fantasy points. 336.00 to 314.00. Newton started the entire season, excluding the bye week and when Newton was injured and Bortles was on a bye.

RB's McCoy and Indianapolis Colt Frank Gore lead the way with a decent core of RB's. Arizona Cardinals RB Chris Johnson was benched and let go due to a season ending injury heading into week 5.

The team picked up New Orleans Saints RB John Kuhn for insurance, but released him after week 7.

McCoy was injured, thus the LavaRockets picked up Buffalo Bills' back-up RB Mike Gillislee, which was a bold move, but one that paid off. Gillislee scored 15.40 points to help the team in a week 8 victory. The team held onto him until the start of week 11, due to not needing him anymore. Gillislee was released and the LavaRockets picked up the Baltimore Ravens defense off waivers in time for the Broncos going on a bye.

McCoy returned to the lineup for week 9 and helped the team earn another victory. The LavaRockets picked up N.Y. Jets RB Bilal Powell, whom was benched.

The Buffalo Bills had a bye heading into week 10, which meant both McCoy and Gillislee wouldn't be playing. Powell become a starter along with Washington Redskins RB Chris Thompson, whom the team picked up off waivers. Thompson had put up some decent points in previous weeks, but only scored 1.60 points, while Powell was impressive with 14.90, helping the LavaRockets with a week 10 victory.

From week 11 and into the teams championship game, both McCoy and Gore continued to be starters. Both continued to stack up points, until the championship game, where Gore scored 6.40 points while McCoy earned 20.50.

The LavaRockets had a good group of RB's, but wide receivers (WR) was another story. N.Y. Jets Brandon Marshall, Carolina Panthers Ted Ginn, and Jacksonville Jaguars Allen Hurns were the starting WR's heading into week 1. Dallas Cowboys WR Terrance Williams was benched. Williams shined off and on through the season.

The trio above started for the first four games, mostly due to the team being 4-0-0. None put up remarkable numbers, but Marshall had two good weeks during the four game stretch.

Due to the Jaguars (Hurns) having a week 5 bye, Williams got his first start of the season and scored 7.00 points. Sadly, the team lost that week.

After the week 5 loss and WR Ginn scoring -1.50 points, he was released and the team picked up Chicago Bears WR Eddie Royal, who had been dealing with an injury, thus Williams continued to be a starter and put up 7.50 points in week 6.

With the Cowboys (Williams) having a bye heading into week 7, the team scooped up rookie, and New Orleans Saint Michael Thomas, who was a huge grab. 

Marshall, Hurns, and Thomas were starters for the next 4 weeks. The trio would go 2-2-0. With Williams in a slump and Royal never being a starter while injured, Royal was released heading into week 9. The next week Williams followed.

Needing some insurance, the LavaRockets picked up WR's DeSean Jackson (Washington Redskins) and N.Y. Jets Quincy Enunwa off waivers. Both players were benched.

The LavaRockets faced a problem heading into week 11. The Jets had a bye, meaning Marshall and Enunwa wouldn't be playing, this left Thomas and Hurns as the only WR's. The team went to the waivers and picked up Miami Dolphins WR Kenny Stills. The Dolphins were struggling at this point in the season, but thankfully, things later picked up. 

Stills and Hurns didn't help much, but the team came up with a victory and won their division, securing a playoff spot.

It took 12 weeks to do it, but the LavaRockets finally had a decent core of WR's. Marshall (bye week) returned to the lineup, along with Thomas, but the team picked up Terrelle Pryor off waivers. The Cleveland Browns WR was quietly sitting on waivers. Hurns was performing poorly and was benched along with Stills. Stills was benched due to there not being any room on the starting roster. All three WR's put up big points in week 12, helping the team clinch a victory.

The team suffered a loss heading into the playoffs. The Browns (Pryor) had a bye, while Thomas and Marshall didn't put up much of any points. Benched Stills (2.10) and Hurns (0.00) wouldn't have made a difference in the loss.

Stills found himself in the starting lineup due to Thomas being injured heading into the quarterfinals of the playoffs. Marshall, Stills, and Pryor were the starters and grabbed a victory.

Pryor scored 0.30 points and was benched in favor of Thomas' return to the lineup. The duo of Stills and Thomas put up some impressive numbers in the semifinals, seeing the duo score 11.20 points. A bench Pryor scored 1.90 while Marshall earned a low 1.60.

The trio were starters in the championship game, but the outcome wouldn't have mattered. Thomas and Stills performed well, but Marshall scored a low 2.80 points. Hurns scored 0.00 (benched) Pryor scored 3.60 (benched) while Enunwa itched 4.40 points (benched).

LavaRockets drafted TE Delanie Walker (Tennessee Titans) and Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys) at the start of the season.

Witten took over the starting position in week 3 due to Walker being injured. Witten was released after week 4 due to poor performance. Walker returned for week 4 and was the starter until week 13, due to the Titans having a bye. The LavaRockets went out and scooped up Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate, which was a good pick-up. He scored 14.60 points, but was replaced in week 14 when Walker returned. The team was solid through the entire season at the TE position.

The team drafted New England Patriots kicker (K) Stephen Gostkowski, who for the past several years has been wonderful (point wise), but his stats took a hit this season, but again, the LavaRockets had depth at the kicking position. Minnesota Vikings Blair Walsh was drafted as the back-up. 

The Vikings released Walsh and so did the LavaRockets. The team went to the waivers and picked up Philadelphia Eagles K Caleb Sturgis, which was a surprise. Blair finished the season (not on any team) at #31 while Sturgis finished #5 in fantasy football.

The LavaRockets didn't start Sturgis until the Patriots had their bye in week 9. Sturgis remained the starter for the rest of the season.

Defense wins championships (that's what they say) and the LavaRockets came close with the Broncos being the starting defense, excluding the bye week. Washington Redskins was the back-up defense.

Player of The Year: RB LeSean McCoy (Buffalo Bills)

Biggest Disappointment: WR Allen Hurns (Jacksonville Jaguars)

===========================================

TEAM HISTORY (2001-2016)

Highland Lava Rockets (9-4-0)

Est. 2001

15th season
Overall Record: 109-110-4 (223 games)
Winning Percentage: .497 (49%)
Playoff Record (including Consolation): 15-6
Playoff Winning Percentage: .714 (71%)

1-time NFL.com Fantasy League Champions (2010)
2-time NFL.com Fantasy League Division Champions (2010, 2016)

Best Record: 9-4-0 (2016)
Worst Record: 3-11-0 (2001)

Division Champions- 2010, 2016
NFL.com League Champions- 2010
--------------------------------------


*2001* 

3-11-0 (Missed playoffs, finished 10/10 in league)- Yahoo.com

Note: Worst record in team history
 
*2002*
7-7-0 (Missed playoffs, finished 7/10 in league)- Yahoo.com

*2003*
9-5-0 (Lost 2nd round of playoffs, finished 4/10 in league)- Yahoo.com

*2004*
6-8-0 (Lost 2nd round of playoffs, finished 6/10 in league)- Yahoo.com

*2005*
8-5-1 (Lost in Divisional Playoffs)- NFL.com
Note: In 2005 NFL.com returned to being a free Fantasy League. I started playing on 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, finished 7/12 in league)- NFL.com

*2012*
8-6-0 (Lost 1st round playoffs, won 3rd place, finished 3/10 in league)- NFL.com

*2013*
5-9-0 (Missed playoffs, finished 9/10 consolation bracket)- NFL.com

*2014*
8-6-0 (Missed playoffs, 2nd straight year, finished 5/10 consolation bracket)- NFL.com

*2015* 
8-6-0 (Missed playoffs, 3rd straight year, finished 7/16 consolation bracket)- NFL.com

*2016*
9-4-0 
(Division Champions, lost NFL.com League Championship Game, finished 4/12 in league)- NFL.com 
Note: Best record in team history

15 Years: NFL.com Fantasy Football

My 15th year of playing NFL.com Fantasy Football (free) is finally here. I started playing back in 2000 with the Highland Executions (109-100-1)- .521 52% winning record, whom actually won their first league championship that year. They also won it in 2005 & 2011. I received a special letter from (then) NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on June 11th 2001. Of course the letter was personalized and signed (copied) and dated. He basically congratulated me (like many others) for winning their NFL.com league championship.

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