Big League Impact Playoff Roundup – Championship Finals
Congratulations to our 2018 Big League Impact Fantasy Football Champion, Jeff Waite and his Team El Jefe! Jeff put together an impressive season, proudly representing Logan Morrison’s league in Minnesota, and averaging 150.92 points per game on the way to his first-ever title. We also like to extend congratulations to our other 16 league winners (asterisks denote city winners): NickFoleon Dynamite* (STL – Wainwright: 142.80), Lutz Roll (MIN – Gibson: 142.33), Dave Pope’s Team* (NYY – Sabathia: 140.67), Iron Eagles (STL – Weaver/Mayers: 140.28), Leon Sandcastle* (CIN – Romano: 139.90), CBass (NYY – Robinson: 138.44), Wacha & Flaherty (STL – Wacha/Flaherty: 137.51), Rick’s Team* (SDG – Hedges: 137.19), Jesse Python* (SFG – Pence: 136.86), SILVERFOX* (NYM – Matz: 135.84), Wrecking Ball (STL – Mikolas/Gyorko/Martinez: 135.21), Gregg’s Team* (ARI – Souza: 131.40), Impersonal Foul (NYM – deGrom: 131.30), The Web (CIN – Barnhart: 130.75), No P(B)unting (ARI – Ahmed: 122.40), and The Legend of JimmyG (NYM – Mesoraco: 119.93). We’ll be reaching out to each of the winning teams directly to follow up with prizes.
Here’s how the championship week played out:
FINAL ROUND RESULTS BY LEAGUE
Arizona (Nick Ahmed’s League)
#4 No P(Bunting) 128.04 def. #6 Daaaaaaa Beard 113.58
No P(B)unting finished off their strong playoff run with a Russell Wilson–led team over Big Leaguer Archie Bradley, whose Christian McCaffrey (29.80) and Matt Ryan (22.46) were weighed down by a weak Devin Funchess (4.30) flex play and eyebrow-raising Jimmy Graham (6.40) over George Kittle (14.40) decision. Archie played an impressive season and will look forward to his shot to win the Arizona title next year. In the mean time, KD takes the crown.
Arizona (Steven Souza Jr.’s League)
#4 Gregg’s Team 184.46 def. #2 AJ’s Squad 132.54
With the second-highest score posted across all leagues, Gregg’s Team put it all on the table, getting huge scores from Baker Mayfield (27.96), Robert Woods (28.40), Jamaal Williams (27.60), and The One Who Won a Many Fantasy Championships, Antonio Brown (44.50). Big Leaguer AJ Pollock did his best to counter-punch with great efforts from Mike Evans (21.00), Elijah McGuire (23.50), DeAndre Hopkins (19.40), and Evan Engram out of the TE position (17.30), but couldn’t catch up to Zack and Gregg, who left 94.88 points on their bench and took the Arizona city title.
Cincinnati (Tucker Barnhart’s League)
#2 The Web 179.00 def. #4 Jokers Wild! 158.52
The third-highest outing came from The Web, who took down Jokers Wild! by choosing from three QBs (Ben Roethlisberger, Nick Foles, and Deshaun Watson) on his roster that each averaged 35.33 points. His Big Ben joined JuJu Smith-Schuster (20.50) and a trio of RBs in Alvin Kamara (26.50), Jamaal Williams, and McGuire to a storybook finish in Cincinnati. Joshua’s Jokers Wild! gave it his best effort, but was one of many who couldn’t pull off the rally when Phillip Lindsay (7.70) went down.
Cincinnati (Sal Romano’s League)
#1 Leon Sandcastle 142.28 def. #2 Reptar Riders 122.82
Leon Sandcastle won the Cincy city crown on the backs of Andrew Luck (23.58), Evans, Hopkins, Williams, and a timely C.J. Uzomah appearance (14.90). A strong Reptar Riders team didn’t get what they needed from Amari Cooper (6.00) and Tarik Cohen (2.90), but will look to repeat their impressive 2018 campaign next year.
Minnesota (Kyle Gibson’s League)
#3 Lutz Roll 194.46 def. #1 Team Wiens 150.52
In Minneapolis, representing third place across all leagues, the #3 seed, Lutz Roll took out stiff competition with the highest score overall in Week 16, blasting top-seeded Team Wiens in the final with a no-mercy squad of Ryan, Thomas, Julian Edelman (19.00), Kamara, Damien Williams (25.00), Zach Ertz (35.00), and Sony Michel (17.60). Congratulations to Patrick for helping the Great North rep its name.
Minnesota (Logan Morrison’s League)
#1 Team El Jefe 178.94 def. #2 Swamp Thang 133.56
Team El Jefe took possession of the championship belt with the fourth-highest output overall with Brown, McCaffrey, Jamaal Williams leading the way. Kudos to Swamp Thang, whose brilliant season came to an end with a very-respectable roster that just couldn’t get the finish thanks to Cohen, a weak day from Tyreek Hill (13.10), and no great options at TE.
NY Mets (Steven Matz’s League)
#5 SILVERFOX 152.42 def. #6 Paul’s Team 129.84
Out in the Empire State, one of two #5 seeds to win capped it off with a city title as SILVERFOX enjoyed a successful end to one of the more remarkable finishes this season. Taking a 7-6 record into the playoffs, Al posted three huge weeks in a row to overcome Paul’s team and his Antonio Brown and Robby Anderson (29.00). SILVERFOX’s bench score of 92.20 contained no QBs, and he won despite playing Stefon Diggs (9.00) and Blake Jarwin (2.80).
NY Mets (Jacob deGrom’s League)
#4 Impersonal Foul 116.10 def. #2 Pete Montoni’s Team 97.14
Impersonal Foul won their league with a pair of RBs in McCaffrey and Damien Williams, and Pete Montoni’s Team suffered Todd Gurley’s scratch and couldn’t get anything from Lamar Miller or Tyler Boyd. Pete will be paying more game-time attention next year, but in the mean time, we celebrate Lee Becker and his fantastic 2018 campaign.
NY Mets (Devin Mesoraco’s League)
#5 The Legend of JimmyG 119.84 def. #2 Mike’s Team 107.64
Our 2018 Cinderella story comes from The Legend of JimmyG, who pulled off the upset and managed to take the league trophy thanks to consistent scoring and an David Njoku delivery (16.30). Mike’s Team couldn’t overcome Philip Rivers’ only dud this season (3.34) against the Baltimore D, but should be proud of his effort this year.
NY Yankees (CC Sabathia’s League)
#1 Dave Pope’s Team 143.54 def. #2 Shake-N-Bake 120.22
Across the way in the Big Apple, Dave Pope’s Team captured the city title and fourth place overall with a balanced performance against Shake-N-Bake, who lost Lindsay and didn’t get enough out of Nick Chubb (13.50) or Travis Kelce (10.40). Congratulations for an outstanding season by Dave, whom we’ll see next year.
NY Yankees (Shane Robinson’s League)
#1 CBass 128.90 def. #2 Prestige Worldwide 121.36
Across the room, CBass finished off his one-loss season with a close matchup against Prestige Worldwide, who didn’t have Aaron Jones to help him, and could only watch frustratingly, as Kyle Rudolph put up 33.20 points. Congratulations to both squads, who entertained us from the weekly awards boards all year long, and especially to Richard.
San Diego (Austin Hedges’ League)
#3 Rick’s Team 176.96 def. #4 Dez Nuts 172.12
In the highest-scoring and second-closest affair across all Big League Impact matchups, Rick’s Team snuck past league host Austin Hedges, who frustratingly chose the wrong TE, leaving Rudolph, Chris Herndon (20.20), and 96.00 points on his bench. Rick got double-digits from all of his players, including Watson’s 38.46, and made it through playoffs without his top pick OBJ to secure the inaugural San Diego title.
San Francisco (Hunter Pence’s League)
#1 Jesse Python 133.60 def. #2 Rollin with Mahomes 131.42
The closest final overall came down to the wire in the City by the Bay with a drama-filled dogfight between top-ranked Jesse Python and Rollin with Mahomes, who looked like a lock for the comeback and a season full of prescient waiver-wire pickups (including Jamaal Williams in Week 16) until Philip Lindsay’s season-ending injury spelled an appropriate finish to their incredible season. Big ups to Steve and Scott, who finished strong and took no prisoners.
St. Louis (Waino’s World)
#1 NickFoleon Dynamite 158.04 def. #2 Adam Wainwright 136.06
Big League Impact founder Adam Wainwright fell short in his effort to snag another title, trying to cap off a dream season against top-seeded Rich Garrett and his NickFoleon Dynamite squad. Both 10-3 teams duked it out in the final, and Rich earned the city trophy and runner-up in the BLI Championship with Woods, Kamara, Chris Carson (23.60), Njoku, Davante Adams (24.10), and the Tennessee D (13.00). Next year can’t come soon enough for this table, who put together an exciting and entertaining 2018.
St. Louis (Michael Wacha and Jack Flaherty’s League)
#2 Wacha & Flaherty 129.26 def. #5 Oh Saquon You See 103.90
Michael Wacha and Jack Flaherty finished out their season in championship fashion with a strong week from Watson and Evans, and represented all of our Big Leaguers with a big win in St. Louis. Wacha & Flaherty’s bookend year didn’t even need their first-pick Todd Gurley against Oh Saquon You See, who looked to be the third #5 seed to win, but was one of many teams to leave C.J. Anderson and his 23.20 points on the bench. Congratulations to Michael and Jack!
St. Louis (Luke Weaver and Mike Mayers’ League)
#1 Iron Eagles 151.44 def. #3 Air B&B 121.82
Undefeated Iron Eagles cruised his way through the final to win big against Brock and Brian of Air B&B fame, even with Tom Brady (6.04) over Big Ben. An incredible season from Yale, who finishes in fifth place overall.
St. Louis (Miles Mikolas and Jedd Gyorko’s League)
#4 Wrecking Ball 149.18.84 def. #3 baseball.edu 117.72
Finally in STL, Wrecking Ball showed how great waiver moves and sound strategy can pay off big with a title-winning performance, upsetting baseball.edu and leaving Ertz, Leonard Fournette, McGuire, and DaeSean Hamilton on their 99.10 bench. Outstanding seasons from both teams, and we’ll be anticipating another one out them next year.
We hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your support this year. Through fun and competition, we’ve been able to combat extreme poverty, and we provided clean water, sustainable farming and food, medical aid, baseball fields, scholarships, help for victims of sex trafficking, a secondary school, backpacks full of school supplies, safe cribs, diapers, and milk to thousands and thousands of people in need who would not have otherwise received it. We’ve transformed many communities around the world and have supported the tireless work of organizations whose work we believe in and are proud to call our partners. Thank you for being a part of the Big League Impact circle and supporting our continued belief:
That Together, We Will All Make a Big League Impact!
