The 2008-2009 Fantasy Football Awards

How was your Fantasy Football Season?

Hopefully, all went well for everybody. It didn't go so well for me because I had Fantasy Football Bust Central this season, but it's that time to hand out some Fantasy Football Awards, rewarding the best and the worst from this season.

So let's get this started!

Best Quarterback of the Season

In a close battle with Drew Brees, the winner is:

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Phillip Rivers had a phenomenal season, finishing with 4,500 yards and 37 touchdowns. He averaged about 23 points a game this season.

Worst Quarterback of the Season

This was also a close battle and it is a tied decision. The winners are:

Brett Favre, New York Jets and Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Just one week into the fantasy season and about eight percent of everyone's fantasy football season was ruined after their first-round pick, Tom Brady, was injured and ruled out for the season.

Though there were many other players that could have been picked up, Tom Brady's value last season was absolutely incredible. And irreplaceable.

Brett Favre. He went from being a top-five quarterback last season to an average Fantasy Football pickup. He went from fantasy starter to fantasy backup in many leagues. If he was your number one starter, odds are you didn't have such a hot season (such as me).

Though he had some extremely good outings with the Jets, he was highly inconsistent, making 45 fantasy points one week, and just seven in his next outing. Good example, eh?

Sleeper Quarterback of the Season

Matt Cassel, New England Patriots

Going into the Fantasy Football season, had Matt Cassel been picked up before week one?

Stats show just under one percent owned Matt Cassel. By the end of the season, he was owned in 97 percent of the leagues out there.

The question is, which three percent didn't have him? His numbers were above average and he finished in the top-ten in Fantasy Football points.

The only other quarterback you could have considered the Sleeper of the Year would have been Chad Pennington, but at least he had started a game before this season. Matt Cassel? He hadn't started a game since High School.

Enough said.

Best Running Back of the Season

DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers

DeAngelo Williams ended his 2008-2009 campaign with 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns. Including two receiving touchdowns, that totals 20 touchdowns for the season.

He started as a backup running back going into the season, but finished as a must-start as the Panthers got hot going down the stretch of the season. If you had Williams on your team, you were highly rewarded.

Fantasy Football Running Back of the Year goes to DeAngelo Williams.

Worst Running Back of the Season

Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts

Chances are, if you had Joseph Addai on your fantasy football team, you regretted it. Unless you had a solid backup-turned-starter after Addai's absence, you had a tough time getting settled at the running back position.

He started out 100 percent owned and dropped to about 47% owned. If you were one of the 47 percent who owned him, my question to you is, why?

I hope you didn't get stuck with him.

Sleeper Running Back of the Season

Steve Slaton, Houston Texans

Many people had high expectations for the Texans' Steve Slaton.

Not many expected him to explode to the surface this early in his career. He had a phenomenal rookie season along with Tennessee Titans rookie running back Chris Johnson, but Slaton finished above all rookie running backs in yards and finished with 10 total touchdowns.

These were numbers people didn't expect so early from the Texans' young star.

Is it too early to say, "Texans, Playoffs, Next Season?"

Best Wide Receiver of the Season

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

If you had Fitzgerald on your roster, you were highly rewarded. He led wide receivers arguably in every major category.

There was no competition for first place in total Fantasy points for wide receivers. He finished with 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging about a touchdown a game with 106 yards—the only receiver averaging 100+ yards a game.

Good numbers!

Worst Wide Receiver of the Season

Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals

Ocho Cinco? More like Ocho Zero.

He didn't even reach ocho cinco fantasy points for the season. He went from a round three-plus fantasy pick to just a warm spot on your bench. Hopefully he was holding his spot well, unless you could get rid of him.

If you were stuck starting him, you probably were rewarded once this season during the Bengals' few wins. Other than that, you bombed with Chad Johnson.

However, with Carson Palmer returning next season (probably), don't be afraid to pick up Johnson next season. Just have him as a top 20 receiver, closer to 20.

Sleeper Wide Receiver of the Season

Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers

Not many had incredibly high expectations for Vincent Jackson this season, but behind star quarterback Phillip Rivers, Jackson had a solid season with 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns.

Even with his good numbers, the fantasy world didn't settle well with Jackson, only starting him in roughly 50 percent of the leagues. He was probably better than your other wide receivers, so you should have started Jackson.

Tight End of the Season

Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs

Always one of the bright spots in the Kansas City Chief's roster, Tony Gonzalez had a solid season, leading tight ends in just about everything. The only tight end with over 1,000 yards, and the only tight end with over 10 touchdowns.

Yep, sounds just like Tony!

Worst Tight End of the Season

Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns

He went from a top five to a top 10 tight end at the beginning of the season, but by the end of the season, backup NFL tight ends were beating Winslow in stats. Winslow ended up maybe as a top-30 tight end.

Chances are, if you wasted roster space on Winslow, you highly regretted it.

Sleeper Tight End of the Season

Owen Daniels, Houston Texans

Still not many people know who he is.

All you should know is by next season, he could be a top-5 drafted tight end, and he should be in your draft top-ten for Tight Ends. He ended with just under 900 yards for the season, but not many touchdowns.

His numbers should improve heading into next season.

Best Defense of the Season

Baltimore Ravens, D/ST

Like always, if you had the Baltimore Ravens Defense, you were highly rewarded.

Chances are, you knew that when you had them on your draft list. Very solid season from Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and the crew. Many people consider this defense the best in the league at this moment in time.

I'm not a doubter. I agree with this statement.

Worst Defense of the Season

San Diego Chargers, D/ST

Passing Game. Check.

Running Game. Halfway Check.

Tight End. Check.

Defense. Nope.

The loss of Shawn Merriman going into this season severely hurt the San Diego Chargers' defense. An almost certain top five defense ended up finishing at the bottom of a top 20 defense.

No pressure means no sacks. No pressure means no interceptions.

The good news for you fantasy owners who had the Chargers, Darren Sproles! Other than that, tough break.

Don't doubt them next season, though!

Sleeper Defense of the Season

Arizona Cardinals, D/ST

The most solid inconsistent defense probably in Fantasy Football history.

They could allow 47 points a game, 50 points a game, then they had the 6 games against the NFC West. Those games helped Arizona's stats a great deal.

Arizona's defense playing the NFC West is similar to an empty-net-goal in hockey. It's nothing more than helping the stats out!