Fantasy Football 2014 Awards

It takes a lot of Luck to win a fantasy football championship. Ain't that the truth.

Bleacher Report reviews its season awards, simultaneously loving and lamenting what the Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck gave us this year.

Also, you had to have DeMarco Murray stay healthy for a full season for once. You needed him to play days after hand surgery. You needed to avoid the (off-the-field) troubled stars. You needed Odell Beckham Jr. to keep living the dream. You needed sleepers and waiver gems while skirting the busts and chokers.

You needed luck, as always. Fantasy owners found that out literally and figuratively in 2014.

Here are B/R's picks for the fantasy players and performances of the year in a 10-part slideshow.

I'll Love You Forever MVP: RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

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There is little more satisfying than scoring the season's No. 1 running back in fantasy football. This is the anti-Alanis Morissette irony, more like snow on Christmas morning than rain on your wedding day.

Not only did DeMarco Murray's NFL-leading 1,745 yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 54 receptions and 395 receiving yards give him the honors for fantasy football's most valuable player, but he also did it with some dramatic toughness. See, the bad irony was going to "sette" in with Murray: Your MVP was going to need your fantasy Super Bowl week off due to a broken hand and subsequent surgery.

Nope.

Murray, who has never played 15 games in a season, much less a full 16-game schedule, wrapped it up and strapped it up just a few days after hand surgery. He came through with a yeoman's effort of 22 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown against Indianapolis.

Head coach Jason Garrett gushed about the performance to Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News, as we previously chronicled in B/R's Biggest Takeaways from Sunday:

"

This day with DeMarco Murray is going to be one that Ill never forget. The mind-set and mentality that he had, starting in the locker room last week, on the plane ride, when I saw him the next day, after the surgery—he just didn't waver. 'I'm playing, coach. Coach, I'm playing.' It was with a look that was so determined that its impact on our team was so strong. It's not easy to do what he did. It was pretty darn special.

"

It was special enough to buy him fantasy's love and respect for all eternity, especially if you were on the right side of things in Week 16. Even Brennan Clay has come around on Murray, according to TMZ.com. 

Now, you may kiss the bride. Hopefully, it's not raining for you.

Honorable Mentions

QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

WR Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

TE Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Least Valuable Player: RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

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We won't get into the debate of what the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson did to his son or the moral and ethical implications of his manner of discipline. We will focus on why he didn't help anyone's fantasy team. 

There are many reasons people want to see justice served. We will stick to the fantasy football discussion. 

Peterson was a No. 2 overall pick, per FantasyPros.com's ADP, who finished with one game played and just 75 yards rushing.

It wasn't just the fact Peterson played an unspectacular game either. There was non-stop news about his status. There was always a dangling carrot he might return down the stretch for fantasy owners.

It never materialized and Peterson was one empty hole on fantasy rosters for most of the season. Heck, he was still owned by 59 percent of CBSSports.com leagues Wednesday morning. That is almost as much as Matt Asiata, who replaced Peterson and scored two touchdowns in the pivotal Week 16.

Dishonorable Mentions

QB Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns

RB Ray Rice, Free Agent

WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings

TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

Told You So Player of the Year: QB Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Fantasy owners love being right on players. Fantasy analysts are no different.

We won't bore you with the myriad of players our analysis was off on—wink, wink, nudge, nudge—but we will trumpet Andrew Luck's breakthrough season as the one we got so very right. Our preseason QB Blueprint at B/R expected Luck to emerge as a fantasy monster after two good-but-not-great seasons.

We loved the diversity of weapons at his disposal, his performance in the Wild Card Game comeback last January and the fact that a mediocre running game was going to place the offensive burden on his capable shoulders. We also loved that he was going to be available late in Round 3 or thereafter of drafts, per FantasyPros.com's ADP.

How right was that? Well, Luck was merely the No. 1-scoring fantasy player through Week 16 with 4,601 passing yards and 38 touchdowns.

You're welcome.

Honorable Mentions

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (veteran sleeper drafted as a backup)

RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (contract year)

WR Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles (sleeper/Comeback Player of the Year)

TE Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (ageless wonder)

I Hate Your Face Performance of the Year: QB Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

OK, Andrew Luck owners are regurgitating their Cheerios over that previous slide. It isn't all daisies and unicorns with him this season.

What was a great fantasy MVP-like season derailed for Luck and his owners in Week 16. Luck wasn't a lady. He was a rat bastard. 

When fantasy owners needed him most, he posted the same number of fantasy points as us in standard CBSSports.com leagues: zero. He threw two interceptions and just 109 yards before leaving Sunday's blowout at the Dallas Cowboys.

It was an unpredictable and unforgivable performance in a year that gave us so much.

Dishonorable Mentions

QB Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

RB Zac Stacy, St. Louis Rams

WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings

TE Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos

Clutch Performance of the Year: WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

There is no denying Odell Beckham Jr. has become a darling of the NFL. He dances. He makes acrobatic catches during the game. And, most important, he comes through for fantasy owners when they need him most.

Beckham is a mere rookie, but he is already a fantasy legend.

Going for 19 (11 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown), 30 (12-143-3) and 26 points (8-148-2) in the fantasy postseason in CBSSports.com standard-scoring leagues will do that for you. The PPR numbers are even more ridiculously awesome (30, 42 and 34). You might also throw in the yardage bonuses and those for the long touchdowns.

Beckham was the monster to end all monsters.

He is the first rookie in NFL history with at least 130 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in three consecutive games, per the NFL. What a way to perform for fantasy owners in the clutch.

It wasn't just the way he clutches passes either.

Honorable Mentions

QB Eli Manning, New York Giants (Thank you, ODB!)

RB Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

WR Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos

TE Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

I'll Love You Forever Draft Sleeper: WR Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos

John Grieshop/Getty Images

Sleepers are always the buzz word of the fantasy preseason. Everyone wants to get their hands on one. Most of them don't pan out. After all, if they are true sleepers, they are picked late for very good reasons.

The Denver Broncos' Emmanuel Sanders was one that came through.

The offseason free-agent acquisition didn't score a huge deal, but he scored the right one. He got to play with Peyton Manning coming off the best season in quarterback history. Sanders was in the right place at the right time.

Those that scored Sanders in drafts had to love the way he started (six catches for 77 yards in Week 1) and finished (6-70-2 in Week 16). All told, he wound up being a top-five fantasy wideout in standard scoring, per FFToday.com.

Sanders' 95-1,331-9 campaign nearly trumped what he did in 2012 and 2013 combined (111-1,366-7). It's good to be (playing with) the king.

Honorable Mentions

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (preseason backup QB pick)

RB Arian Foster, Houston Texans (preseason rags to fantasy riches)

WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants (if he kept the faith early)

TE Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (ageless wonder)

I'll Never Draft You Again: RB Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

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Again, like Adrian Peterson, we will stay out of the discussion of the off-the-field indiscretions with regard to Ray Rice. We will focus on the fantasy production, err, frustrating lack thereof.

Rice used to be a first-round pick, albeit one that was past his prime and slowing/breaking down as a running back. Now, he will have a hard time being picked up this winter by an NFL team, much less be picked in fantasy.

You knew he was going to serve a suspension of some length at the start of the season. However, no one could have projected what happened amid that ban. It was an NFL and media circus with ramifications beyond fantasy or Rice's future.

Rice did not play a game this season. The jury is out whether he will play again.

Regardless, you should avoid him in fantasy.

Dishonorable Mentions

QB Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns

RB Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WR Percy Harvin, New York Jets

TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

Waiver-Wire Gem of the Year: RB Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Here is a line we have used a lot lately: Fantasy giveth, and fantasy taketh away. This applies to the Baltimore Ravens' running back situation.

We knew the Ravens were going to be a run-first team. We knew someone was going to be productive in their backfield.

Ray Rice? Uh, nope.

Bernard Pierce? Maybe...come on...meh, shoot.

Rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro? Please! Oh, dang it.

How about journeyman Justin Forsett? Ding ding. Winner, winner chicken dinner. Circle gets the square.

Forsett put his name into the discussion for a first-round pick in fantasy football for 2015 with an age-29 breakout of 1,147 yards, eight rushing touchdowns and 42 receptions for 246 yards. He didn't act his age, rushing for a surprising 5.3 yards per carry.

He fizzled down the stretch, but you had to love what he did off waivers for you. It is not easy to find top-eight fantasy backs (per FFToday.com). You found one at minimal cost by merely sprinkling in some faith and resolve, something Forsett has had to have throughout his nondescript NFL career.

Honorable Mentions

QB Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

RB C.J. Anderson, Denver Broncos

WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

TE Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts

Bust of the Year (Non-Injury/Suspension Category): RB Zac Stacy, St. Louis Rams

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There were warning signs on the St. Louis Rams' Zac Stacy. No, there were blaring alarms and sirens. Still, there were people who ignored them and wanted to make Stacy a late first-round pick.

Tre Mason was drafted out of Auburn below Stacy on the depth chart. He was playing games in the defensively rugged NFC West. He was a running back for a team that lost its quarterback, Sam Bradford, and had to deal with scraps under center. Stacy was a plodder, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry in his breakout rookie season in 2013.

Still, fantasy owner after fantasy owner stubbornly picked him. They are regretting that decision.

Stacy is our pick for the Bust of the Year in the non-injury or suspension category. He was worthless, and only because he is no darn good. Blame the schedule, Mason's midseason emergence or the lack of a viable starting quarterback playing for the Rams, if you want. The reality is Stacy is nothing more than roster depth...and that is in NFL reality, not fantasy terms.

Dishonorable Mentions

QB Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

RB LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

WR Pierre Garcon, Washington Redskins

TE Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

Fantasy Football Rookie of the Year: RB Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Last but not least we come to the first-year fantasy stars. The pick here is going to anger some, but only because of the megastar popularity Odell Beckham Jr. created for himself in New York City.

Fantasy football owners always know the score. Running back is still where it is at. If there is a rookie who has a shot at being a first-round pick next year, it is the Cincinnati Bengals' Jeremy Hill.

Hill's 1,024 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in a timeshare are impressive enough. The fact he put away a pretty talented young running back in Giovani Bernard in a season-long position battle is perhaps most complimentary of Hill's ability.

Hill, at 6'1" and 238 pounds, is the perfect power back in offensive coordinator Hue Jackson's power-running scheme with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is a godsend to fantasy owners who stick faithfully to drafting 1,000-10 running backs late in Round 1 of fantasy leagues.

Sure, Beckham stole our hearts in the fantasy postseason and stole the show as the NFL Rookie of the Year, perhaps, but no one should consider picking him in the first round in fantasy over veteran receivers in more productive and consistent offenses. We cannot say the same about Hill going forward, no matter what you think of Bernard's potential.

Honorable Mentions

QB Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

RB Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams

WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WR Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers

TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For a complete review of the rookie class and keeper options, see B/R's Offseason Fantasy Football Guide for Dynasty and Keeper Leagues from Tuesday.

Follow @EricMackFantasy

Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.