Technically, this is the one great team each of you had that failed to win it all.

RICH CALDERON – 2019 

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This team became just the second team in league history to win 12 out of 13 games in the regular season. Rich began the year winning his first nine games, which included scoring over 1,600 in six of his first seven games. As great as that team was, there was one other team dominating even more…Robio Murray. Two-loss Rob (six games over 1,600 and three weekly high scores to Rich’s one) faced off against undefeated Calderon and the game wasn’t close, as Rich fell 1,920-1,190.

Calderon would go on to win his final three games, scoring over 1,600 twice more. He was 12-1, the top seed and averaging 1,550 points per game (fourth most ever at the time). Rich’s production would continue in the playoffs as he scored 1,547 in a win over Eric in the quarterfinals and then 1,767 in a semifinals win over 6-seed Neatock. In the title game though, he once again faced me. I crushed the scoring record and had won 12 straight (scoring over 3,700 in two postseason games). As great as Rich’s squad was, they were no match to Murray. Calderon lost 1,900-1,234.

NUMBERS
Rich finished with a 14-2 record (both defeats to me), falling in the title game. He averaged 1,550 in the regular season and added another 4,344 points in the playoffs. He had two weekly high scores, cracked 1,500 a total of 10 times and never dipped below 1,000. He went 5-2 against the top-six in the league.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #9 (highest among no-title teams)

ERIC VOZZOLA – 2022

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Coming off what is arguable the luckiest season in league history, Eric kicked luck to the side and replaced it with domination. This squad began the year scoring 1,999 and 1,878 points in back-to-back weekly high scores. A 1,111 – 993 loss to Jeff in week three felt like a hiccup. Eric would go on to win 10 of his final 11 games on the season to finish 12-2. He earned both the top seed and the scoring crown. After scoring the high score in three of the last four games of the season, he looked poised to repeat.

In the postseason though, the start was sluggish, but 8-seed Masterson failed to show and Eric escaped with a 1,294 – 922 victory. A week after scoring his second lowest point total of the season, Eric scored even less. This time though, his opponent, 7-seed Neatock, showed and pulled off the massive upset, 1,356 – 1,286.

NUMBERS
With his 12 wins in the regular season, Eric became just the third person to do that. He averaged 1,606 points per game, becoming just the second person to break the 1,600 PPG barrier. He had six total high scores (tied for most ever in one season) and his nine games over 1,500 were the second most in the regular season. He had no weekly lows, although he did fail to hit a grand once. He went a solid 6-2 against the top-six in the league. The fail came in the playoffs, as his squad average over 300 points less in the postseason than they did in the regular season.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #10 (second highest among no-title teams)

BOB CASTONE – 2015

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After producing what was at the time, the greatest season in league history (2014), Bob was determined to do it all again. He rolled out of the gate with three wins, scoring 1,683, 1,603 and 1,768 points per game. While the points did dip some, the wins kept on coming. In fact, Bob would win his first eight games, before losing to Griff in week nine; a game where he lost despite scoring 1,670 points. He would win three more and had a chance to become just the second 12-1 team in league history, but he fell to Molly in week 13. For the second straight year, Bob finished as both the top seed and scoring champ, becoming the first person to ever do that in back-to-back seasons.

Of course, heading into the postseason, Bob was not the trendy favorite. That would be Griff, who landed David Johnson off the wire and had won five straight, scoring over 1,500 in four of those wins. Meanwhile, twice in his last four games, Castrone’s club failed to hit 1,100 after losing Le’Veon Bell for the year. Despite this, in the quarterfinals, he scored 1,100 and a lot more, beating 8-seed Burrier in the quarterfinals, 2,002 – 1,124. Yet, the repeat would end in the semifinals, as Colby shocked the world and beat Bob by just 81 points, 1,398 – 1,317. Bob became just the third team to earn both the top seed and scoring crown, but fail to reach the title game.

NUMBERS
Bob finished 11-2 and averaged 1,507 points per game, back when doing that still seemed important. He would top 1,500 a total of nine times, but he only managed one weekly high score. He finished 5-2 against the top-six.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #12 (third best non-title team)

JEFF GREENBLATT – 2016

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This season was a classic season we’ve seen a lot over the years, where two teams standout above and beyond the rest. In this case, one team earned the top seed, while the other finished second, but earned the scoring crown. In 2016, the second place scoring king was Calderon. He would go on to win nine games, finishing first in points, behind six 1,500-pt games in the regular season and four weekly high scores. Meanwhile, Jeff would just win…a lot. He won his first three, then six in a row between weeks 5-10. He also topped 1,500 six times and had two weekly high scores. He would finish the regular season with 11 wins and finish second in scoring, only 429 points behind Calderon. If these two didn’t face off in the finals, it would have felt like a crime was committed.

Well, we got what we deserved…barely. In the quarterfinals, Jeff only scored 905 points, but lucky for him, his opponent, 8-seed Burrier scored only 840. In the semifinals though, Jeff bounced back and defeated me, 1,816 – 1,496. As for Caldron, he put it on cruise control, easily defeating both 7-seed Eric and 5-seed Bob. In the finals, Calderon got 394 from Le’Veon Bell and a stunning 414 from Doug Baldwin. Jeff had to overcome 16 from Jeremy Hill and just eight points from his defense (Titans). It was too much, as Rich won 1,846 – 1,180.

NUMBERS
In the regular season, Jeff did finish with just two defeats and averaged 1,499 points per game. He finished with eight games over 1,500 and three weekly high scores. He never had a weekly low score, but he did have one game under 1,000 (which he won). Against the elite, he went 5-3.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #14

ROBIO MURRAY – 2008

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Obviously my 2010 team could make a good argument for this write up. That team lost in week one and then won their next 12 games, becoming the first team to go 12-1. They scored over 1,700 in both the quarterfinals and semifinals, but fell flat in the finals, losing to Bob, 1,283 – 948. Yet, as impressive as that run was, that team only had one weekly high score and topped 1,500 just twice in the regular season (finishing third in points scored).

In 2008 though, that team should have won it all. Sure, I only won seven games that year, but that was due to a slow 2-4 start. My team scored over 1,500 in seven of my final nine games, earning a weekly high score six times. I entered the playoffs only as the 5-seed, but I was the league scoring champ. I scored 1,641 in the quarterfinals and 1,760 in the semifinals, cruising to the finals against Don, who was a 7-seed, who finished fifth in points scored. He didn’t win three games in a row all year, but still managed to knock off both the 2-seed and the 1-seed to get to the finals.

There, I made two awful decisions. I decided to bench the top back in football, DeAngelo Williams for Brian Westbrook, due to matchups (Westbrook was a top-five back). I also picked up Tarvaris Jackson, because he had a great matchup, while my starting QB, Kurt Warner was at New England playing in possible snow. However, I decided to stick with Warner. If I make one decision different, I win that game. While Westbrook had a fine game, Williams rushed four 199 yards and four scores. Meanwhile, Warner finished with negative points while Jackson went for over 300. I ended up losing to Don by 175 points. Still haunts me to this day.

NUMBERS
Again, officially my 2010 team is ranked higher (as the 22nd best team), but I’m going with this 2008 squad. They averaged 1,464 points per game (earned the scoring title) and finished with nine games over 1,500 and six weekly high scores (tied for most ever). I went 4-2 against the elite, failing to hit 1,000 just once).

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #29

GRIFF COOMER – 2004

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Coming off five seasons where he reached the finals three times, Griff was looking to do something different in 2004. In those previous seasons, he was good, but he was never the favorite entering the playoffs. In this season, he split his first two games and then won his next six, topping 1,700 twice. Down the stretch, he only finished 3-3, but when it was all said and done, he won 10 games in the regular season for the first time. He won his division, earning the top overall seed. While he officially only finished fourth in points, he was just 567 points behind the scoring champ.

Speaking of, Coomer was handed quite a challenge in the quarterfinals when he had to face 8-seed Colby, who actually was the scoring champ. The game was tight, but Griff pulled out a 47-point win. In the semifinals, he easily dispatched 6-seed David. He headed into the finals not having topped 1,400 in either playoff game, but maybe he was building up to something.

In the finals, he was facing 10-win Bob, who had won seven straight, finishing with 10 wins in the regular season. Griff was the top seed; Bob was the hot team entering the playoffs. Who would pull out the victory? The game would be a low scoring affair, but with seconds to go in the final game, Bob led by 19 points, but a Trent Green completion put Griff in the lead 1,218 – 1,216. The next play, he downed it, which cost Coomer -2. The game was tied. A tie meant a Griff win. Yet, on the final offensive play of the game for the Chiefs, Green threw an interception, costing Griff -47 points. Game over. Bob won, 1,216 – 1,169. Griff would lose in the title game for the fourth time in six seasons of this league’s existence.

NUMBERS
This season is the 34th best season ever, thanks to 10 wins and a 1,401 points per game average. Griff went a solid 4-1 against the elite, scoring over 1,500 four times, while dipping below a grand once. He had no weekly high scores, but he had no weekly low scores either.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #34

ROB MASTERSON – 2011 

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When Masterson entered his 10th season in the league, the man was desperate to change the narrative. Through nine seasons, Rob had yet to reach a title game and had actually missed the playoffs in five of the previous seven seasons. The 2011 campaign started off well, with Rob winning three of four, scoring over 1,600 in his first three games. He would go on to win three off his next four again, but in week nine, for the second time that year, he scored over 1,600 and lost. In his final four, he would win three of his next four, topping 1,500 seven times in 13 games.

With the regular season over, Rob had nine wins, averaging a stunning 1,530 points per game, which would have been the second most points ever scored in a regular season if it wasn’t for the fact Rob was stuck playing second fiddle to Molly that year. Her squad also dominated, winning 10 games and averaged 1,536 points per game. Masterson would miss out on his first scoring crown by just 69 points.

Heading into the postseason, we looked destined for a Molly and Masterson final. Yet, this being fantasy football…there are no guarantees. Molly, the top-seed, would lose to 8-seed Don by just 55 points and Rob would suffer a brutal defeat to Bob, 1,625-1,623. At that time, it was the closest playoff game ever and the third time Rob scored over 1,600 that season and lost. What made it worst was the way it happened. You can find that brutal recap HERE.

NUMBERS
Masterson’s 2011 team is ranked as his highest. The nine wins are the second most he’s ever had and his 1,530 points per game, remain the highest. And remember, he did this in an era where teams didn’t average over 1,500. Unfortunately, due to Molly’s success, Rob had to settle for second in the standings and second in points scored. Still, he had three weekly high scores, eight games over 1,500 and went 4-3 against the elite.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #38

MATT NEATOCK – 2014

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Matt, who has four championships in this league, tends to be hit or miss for his career. In fact, he has more seasons ranked in the bottom 50 (six) than he has ranked in the top-50 (four), but one season broke that trend. That would be 2014, although it didn’t begin as anything special. Through four weeks, Matt was 2-2, hadn’t broken 1,500 and actually scored 666 in a week four defeat to Bob. Yet, the following week, his boys awoke, he scored 2,275 in a week six victory. That would ignite a four-game winning streak where Neatock averaged 1,854 PPG. Down the stretch, he hit some speed bumps, going just 2-4, failing to hit a grand once, but also topping 1,500 three times. When the season wrapped, he was 8-5, sitting in third place, third in scoring.

Meanwhile, Bob dominated with 10 wins, a top seed and a scoring crown. Colby was not too far behind with nine wins, second in scoring. Yet, in the playoffs, Colby fell in the quarterfinals to Griff, while Matt took care of business against Masterson (1,471 – 1,099). In the semifinals, Matt faced Molly, who failed to score 1,000, allowing Neatock to advance to the finals where he would face Bob, who easily dispatched Calderon and Griff.

In the finals, Bob was considered the heavy favorite, but Matt ended up keeping it tight. In fact, we all remember what happened. Matt entered the fourth quarter of the final game with Demaryius Thomas and the Broncos kicker. He was down a single point. Yet, his two players failed to register that single point, thus Matt suffered a 1,495-1,494 defeat. The only one-point loss in postseason history. How brutal was that defeat. It’s all HERE.

NUMBERS
Matt’s 2014 team is ranked third best by his squads; better than both his 2018 and 2007 championship teams. He won eight games, finished third in both the standings and in points. He topped 1,500 eight times, including once in the playoffs and finished with two weekly high scores. However, he also failed to hit 1,000 twice and had two weekly low scores. He went 4-4 against the elites (top-six).

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #41

MICHAEL EVANGELIST – 2021 

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Michael’s best season, based solely on my math, was his team last year. They won eight games, finished third in the standings and second in points, averaging 1,347 PPG. He reached the finals, before falling to Colby by just 100 points. That’s the closest he’s come to winning a mug. Yet, his best chance to win the title was the one team that failed to make the playoffs. His 2021 team.

That squad did not look special and it wasn’t. In fact, Michael dropped his first three and through eight weeks, he was just 2-6. He would go onto win his next four games and get to .500, before falling to Calderon in week 13. At 6-7, Michael was in a need-to-win situation in the season’s final week. Yet, he failed to remove an injured Dalvin Cook from his starting lineup and replacing him with Mattison, his handcuff he had on his bench. Well, Mattison scored over 300 fantasy points on the bench in a game Michael lost by 209 points.

Now, why does this matter? Well, instead of Michael earning the 8-seed, Eric got it. Then Eric proceeded to become the first 8-seed to win it all. At the time, I did the math, using Michael’s roster and if he would have gotten into the playoffs as the 8-seed, Evangelist, like Eric, would have easily won the championship as the 8-seed, as Eric’s three foes only scored 1,128, 955 and 1,226 points in the three playoff games.

NUMBERS
Again, because this team didn’t make the playoffs, it officially is Mike’s worst team, sitting at #187 all-time. They topped 1,500 just twice and had no weekly high scores. He also never dipped below 1,000, never had a weekly low score, but he went just 2-6 against the elites.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #187

RICHARD BURRIER – 2011

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Picking a team as the Rich’s “greatest to not win a title” is no easy task. His 2020 squad averaged 1,484 points per game, which is the most his team has ever averaged. Yet, that happened during the era of scoring. Perhaps his 1,427 PPG way back in 2004 was more impressive. In 2006, his team finished 10-3 and earned the top seed. That’s the only season Burrier won double digit games in the regular season and the only time he’s finished first. Yet, that squad averaged just 1,274 per game, which was only fifth best.

Thus, I’m going to go with his 2011 team. That squad came out of the gate swinging. Rich’s boys won their first three games, toping 1,600 in all three contests. Through seven weeks, he was in first place, sitting at 6-1. However, things went south after a week eight weekly low score. In fact, Rich would only win one of his final six games. He would finish 7-6, but that was good enough to actually win his division. The problem was, despite averaging a solid 1,444 points per game, which was fourth best, both Molly and Masterson were dominating that year, with both of them averaging over 1,500 (only the second and third folks to do that).

Yet, both Molly and Masterson were stunned in the quarterfinals, which meant the three-seed Burrier, who took down Matt, 1,760-1,617 in the quarterfinals, was the best team still standing. In the semifinals, he eliminated 8-seed Don and in the finals. He would face a 7-seed Bob team that finished below .500 in the regular season; meaning Rich would become the first team in the postseason to not face a team with a winning record in the regular season. Unfortunately, Castrone did what he always did and showed up in the finals, defeating Rich 1,590-1,293. This was the only time Burrier reached the title game since he won it all back in 2003.

NUMBERS
Overall, Rich’s team finished 9-7 (earning the 3-seed) and averaging 1,444 points per game (4th best). He produced one game under 1,000, which was also a weekly low score. He did top 1,500 a total of seven times (once in the playoffs) and had one weekly high score. He went 4-4 against the elite that year.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #50

COLBY HALL – 2018

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Colby twice has had good teams reach the title game, but in both 2005 and 2015, he was a major underdog against Griff and failed both times to win that final game. Now, officially, Colby’s 2014 team remains the highest rated of his non-title teams. That squad won nine games, finished second and averaged 1,496 points per game (also second). Yet, 2014 belonged to Bob. Colby seemed destined to lose to Castrone in the finals, but of course, he didn’t even get there, losing in the quarterfinals.

Thus, we’re going to go with Hall’s 2018 campaign. Back in 2001, a former league member crushed it in points, averaging 1,558 points per game. It would be another decade before anyone even cracked 1,500 per game for a season. By the time 2018 rolled around, the record had stood for 17 years and looked untouchable.

Through eight weeks, it certainly didn’t look like Colby was going to sniff it. He sat at 3-5, failing to even win back-to-back games at that point. However, his three wins were impressive, scoring 2,004, 1,717 and 1,632 in those victories. Overall, he had scored over 1,300 in all but two games and was averaging 1,509 per game; second to Marc. Yet, in the season’s final five weeks, Colby’s boys took off. He would win four of his final five games. In those wins, he had scored 1,737, 1,642, 1,911 and 2,021. Just like that, Colby broke the all-time regular season scoring title, averaging a stunning 1,584 points per game. Sure, he only won seven games, but in 2018, that was good enough for third place.

Heading into the playoffs, he may not have been a dominant favorite, but he looked capable of taking down anyone. Unfortunately, he couldn’t take down Don. The 6-seed upset Colby in the quarterfinals, 1,357-1,291. The 1,291 points was Colby’s third lowest of the season.

NUMBERS
Again, Colby’s 2014 team is ranked higher than his 2018 squad. That team won nine games, averaged 1,496 and finished in second place. They had seven 1,500-pt games and one weekly high score. Overall, it’s considered the 51st best season in league history. Yet, his 2018 team isn’t far behind (four spots back). They won seven games and finished in third. Averaged 1,584 for the season (then a league record). That squad had seven 1,500-pt games, including a pair of 2,000-pt efforts, which counted as two weekly high scores. The only downside is that team went only 2-6 against the elite (top-six) and had one weekly low score on the resume.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #55

DON VOZZOLA – 2007

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Typically, a team with a title has that championship season as its best. Don is the exception. His championship runs are ranked #93 and #105, but his 2007 squad is his best at #66. That year he was defending his first title and while he scored well out of the gate, he actually dropped his first two games. Through seven weeks, he was just 3-4, with two games over 1,500. However, in his final six, he won five games, including a 2,228-point effort in a week nine win over Burrier. When the regular season wrapped, Don had won eight games, won his division and earned his only career scoring crown. with both Griff and myself out of the playoffs, there was no clear favorite, so why not 2-seed Don?

Well, a year after 7-seed Don knocked off 2-seed Calderon in the quarterfinals, Rich returned the favor and as the 7-seed in 2007, eliminating 2-seed Don, 1,604-1,436.

NUMBERS
Don won eight games and averaged 1,421 points per game. That was the most that season and the second most for Don’s career (he averaged 1,446 PPG in 2018). He did have one game under 1,000 and one weekly low score, while only going 2-5 against the elite, but he also had five games over 1,500 and one weekly high score.

CURRENT SEASON RANK: #66