2002 Cafe Awards

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As we set our sights on the 2003 fantasy football season, it’s time for one last look at the year that was. So without further ado… the envelopes, please!

Offensive Fantasy MVP: Even though he missed the last two weeks of the season, when many fantasy owners needed him most, Priest Holmes is the easy choice for this award. Holmes ran for 1615 yards, caught passes for another 672, and found the endzone a spectacular 24 times. Looks like that 2001 season wasn’t a fluke after all…

Defensive Fantasy MVP: Few defenses have ever been as dominant as Tampa Bay’s was last season, and Derrick Brooks epitomized that dominance. Brooks may not have had quite as many tackles as Zach Thomas, or as many sacks as Jason Taylor, but fantasy owners know just how great the impact of Brooks’ seven touchdowns was. Five interceptions from the linebacker position didn’t hurt, either.

Fantasy Rookie of the Year: 1508 yards rushing, 33 receptions for another 364 yards, and 17 touchdowns… Not bad numbers for a player who was only used sparingly in the opening weeks of the season. Other rookies, such as Jeremy Shockey, also brought smiles to the their owners’ faces, but none was as good as Broncos RB Clinton Portis.

Draft-Day Steal: A late-round flyer in many early drafts, Clinton Portis turned out to be the bargain of the year, and the decisive factor in many leagues. Owners with the foresight to pick him up while others were drafting Olandis Gary or Mike Anderson essentially wound up with a free first-rounder.

Disappointment of the Year: Yes, Kurt Warner was slowed by injuries last season, but even when healthy he looked pretty atrocious. Eleven interceptions and only three scores? Not quite the numbers you’d like to see from the first-round pick you hoped would carry your team. Whether or not Warner can return to dominating form will be one of this season’s key questions.

In Your Face Award: Absolutely nobody expected the Houston Texans to stand a chance in their season opener against Dallas, and many were predicting a laugher. The expansion team had the last laugh, though, pulling out a 19-10 upset and setting the tone for a very respectable inaugural campaign.

Young at Heart Award: At age 40, most wide receivers are comfortably retired (or, in Steve Largent’s case, passing bills in Congress instead of catching passes). Not so Jerry Rice, who had his best season since 1996 playing alongside fellow senior citizens Rich Gannon and Tim Brown. Rice often outperformed defensive backs nearly twenty years younger, and played a huge part in Oakland’s march to the Super Bowl. Hats off to a man who seems immune to both the effects of aging and tricky coverage schemes.

Worst Judgment: Oh my, there was a lot to choose from in this category, from Dwayne Rudd’s costly helmet toss to poor officiating in the playoffs. The absolutely worst decision of all, however, was made by the NFL itself in refusing to allow Colts QB Peyton Manning to wear black high-tops in a game against Baltimore as a tribute to the late Johnny Unitas. Yes, rules are rules, but sometimes the situation calls for those rules to be set aside. Honoring one of the all-time greats is definitely such a situation. Perhaps Manning should have taken a page from Terrell Owens’ playbook and used a sharpie hidden in a sock to color his shoes black.

Unfulfilled Potential Award: Panthers fans and fantasy owners alike were looking forward to DeShaun Foster’s arrival in the league, but knee surgery unfortunately caused the UCLA standout to miss the entire season. Foster is expected back in July, but whether he’ll ever again play at the level he was once capable of remains to be seen. We’re certainly pulling for him.

Next Big Thing Award: Rookie wide receivers seldom make an immediate impact, but Charles Rogers just might be an exception to that rule. Talented and athletic, Rogers could step right in as a leader in Detroit’s offense. At the very least, Rogers and Joey Harrington will be an entertaining duo to watch this year.