Greatest In-Season Turnarounds

Everyone wants a fast start in fantasy football, but not every season goes according to plan. Still, a rough beginning isn’t the end of the story. Some teams bounce back in remarkable fashion—and we honor those late bloomers with the “Best Turnaround” award. This recognition is based solely on the regular season; playoff success (or failure) doesn’t factor into the selection.

Turnaround Trends: A Tale of Two Eras

In the early years of the league, this award often foreshadowed postseason success. From 1999 to 2007, every team that won the award made the playoffs. Six reached the semifinals, four made the finals, and three brought home the championship mug (Robio in 2001, Griff in 2005, Matt in 2007).

But since then? Not so much.

Over the last 17 seasons, no “Best Turnaround” team has reached the finals. Since 2012, these teams are just 2-12 in playoff games, with one team (Matt in 2013) failing to even qualify. Still, regular-season redemption is no small feat. Below is the full list of all-time winners, their stories, and their playoff fate.

1999 – DAVID HIGHTOWER
Griff certainly had a solid case. He sat at 4-6, but finished the season 4-0 to make the playoffs and reach the finals. However, that team also sat at 4-2 through six weeks, so the turnaround wasn’t quite dramatic enough. Instead, the award went to David, who began the year going 2-5, which includes a pair of 600-point weekly low scores. In the season’s second half, he actually had two more weekly low scores, to lead the league with four that first season, but when he wasn’t producing a low score, he was winning and finished the year 5-2, which included a pair of sub-1,000 point wins.

POSTSEASON: At 7-7, Hightower crashed the postseason as the four seed, but the journey ended in the quarterfinals.

2000 – CHRIS CONWAY
The final time you’ll see former league member on this list. This season, Chris became the first person to lose six of his eight games, but still make the playoffs, thanks to a solid 5-1 turnaround. He did this, despite failing to score 1,200 points in four straight games during this run.

POSTSEASON: He entered the playoffs as a 6-seed and took down the 3-seed (Brian). In the semifinals, he nearly took down me (the eventual champ), losing by only 34 points.

2001 – ROBIO MURRAY
In 2001, I began a run of awful starts that somehow turned into successful seasons. In my first season playing as a New Yorker, I struggled hard out of the gate, dropping my first four games, failing to sniff 1,000 twice. In week five, I caught a break and won an ugly contest, 870-741. Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good, as that win luckily kicked off a six game winning streak. I would wrap the regular season up going 9-1 in my final 10 games.

POSTSEASON: I seemed destined to face off with Jason in the finals as the 3-seed, which would be my third straight trip there. While I took care of business in the quarterfinals, I was stunned in the semifinals, falling to 6-seed David (who would lose to Jason in the title game). It would be my first ever postseason defeat.

2002 – ROBIO MURRAY
This season, multiple teams could lay claim to this award. Former league member Rick, in his final campaign, began the year 0-4, before finishing the season winning eight of his final ten, earning the 6-seed. Griff actually began the year 3-0, but then dropped his next six. At 3-6, he was nearly a lock to miss the playoffs, until he rolled off five straight wins to take the 5-seed. He became the first person to lose six straight games, but still made the postseason. However, I granted the award to myself for a second straight year. I started 2-5, failing to top 1,000 twice, producing one weekly low score. Like the year before, I would rally, winning six of my final seven, which included five games over 1,500 and four weekly high scores. I would settle for the three seed.

POSTSEASON: In the playoffs, I beat turnaround candidates (6-seed) Rick in the quarterfinals and (5-seed) Griff in the semifinals. In the finals, I would defeat 1-seed Molly easily, becoming the first person to earn the “Best Turnaround award” and the championship mug.

2003 – ROBIO MURRAY
And for a third straight season, it’s me. However, if I could split the award, I would. Rich Calderon began his first season in the league losing…a lot. After splitting his first two, he dropped five straight and sat at 1-6. He would rally though, going 5-2 in his final seven games, including three weekly high scores. He became the first person to begin a season 1-6 and make the playoffs. I, on the other hand, started the year dropping my first four, sitting in dead last. In week five, I would earn a weekly high score, hitting 2,099 points, producing my first win. I would go on to win eight of my final nine, topping 1,500 six times and earning three weekly high scores. The reason why I earned the award over Rich’s impressive turnaround is because he barely earned the 8-seed, while my turnaround landed me the top-spot, becoming the first person to start the year 0-4 and earn the top seed.

POSTSEASON: Calderon would get his revenge in the quarterfinals, become the first 8-seed to knock off a 1-seed, beating me 1,953-1,535. I became the first person to score over 1,500 and lose a playoff game. Calderon would fall the following week in the semifinals to eventual champ, Burrier.

2004 – RICHARD BURRIER
Like the previous three seasons, I began the year poorly, dropping five of my first eight, but I had no magic left in the tank after trading away Warrick Dunn and Tiki Barber. Instead, the best turnaround went to the defending champ. Burrier began the year with a defeat in week one and by week six, he was just 2-4. Yet, his boys would get rolling and win three straight and seven of his final eight contests, which included four games over 1,500 and two weekly high scores. He would finish 9-5 and win his division for a second straight season.

POSTSEASON: As the three-seed, Rich’s chase for a second straight crown would end early in the quarterfinals, falling to 6-seed David, 1,274-1,190.

2005 – GRIFF COOMER
Three teams competed for this award in 2005. Neatock was just 4-5 through nine weeks in the league’s first 13-game season. He would rally and finish 4-0 and earn the 2-seed. Colby also had an impressive swap, beginning the year 1-4, before winning five of his final eight games, earning the 7-seed. However, the award was handed to Griff. He sat at 2-4 through six weeks, but finished the year winning six of his final seven, including four games over 1,500 and two weekly high scores.

POSTSEASON: With his eight wins, Griff secured the top spot for non-division winners (the 4-seed) and proceeded to keep the winning ways going. He took down 5-seed Molly, then 8-seed David (who upset 1-seed Don). In the finals, Griff took on a fellow turnaround team (Colby) and walked away with an easy 1,143 victory. He became the second team to earn this award along with a championship mug.

2006 – ROBIO MURRAY
I’m back…for a fourth time in just the league’s first seven seasons. This award was undisputed, as I began the year 3-5, but finished 4-1, including three straight weekly high scores. I would finish 7-6, winning my division and earning the 3-seed.

POSTSEASON: In the quarterfinals, I easily eliminated 6-seed Griff and then took down Masterson, who had upset the 1-seed (Burrier) the previous week. However, in the finals, my squad came up way short and I feel to 6-seed Don, 1,627-844. I became the first person to face only the 6-seed, 7-seed and 8-seed in the postseason.

2007 – MATT NEATOCK
Bob began the year 1-3 and ended up winning seven of his last nine. Yet, Neatock brought home the prize, overcoming a 1-4 start, by winning six straight. He did drop his final two games to finish 7-6, one game behind Bob, so one could argue Castrone should have earned this award.

POSTSEASON: Sitting as the 5-seed, Matt took down Eric, who was making his first postseason trip as the 4-seed. In the semifinals, Matt eliminated 3-seed Bob and in the finals, he brought home the mug, defeating 7-seed Calderon, 1,444-811. He became the third person to earn best turnaround and also win the championship.

2008 – RICH CALDERON
There weren’t a lot of great turnarounds in 2008. Molly started the year 2-3 and finished it by winning her final eight games to earn the 1-seed. However, if anyone deserves this award over Calderon, it’s me. I shook off a 2-4 start, winning five of my final seven. Most impressively, in all five wins I produced the weekly high score, giving me six on the season. I would finish with seven wins, earning the 5-seed. In the end though, I awarded Calderon the award. He began the year 1-3, failing to hit 1,200 in all three defeats. However, he would go on to win seven straight and eight of his final nine (his only defeat was to me). He would win his division (over me) with nine total wins.

POSTSEASON: Unfortunately for Calderon’s postseason ride would end too soon. As a two-seed, he would fall to 7-seed Don, 1,505-1,133.

2009 – BOB CASTRONE
There were a handful of folks who could lay claim to the “Best Turnaround” award. Calderon began the year 1-4, but finished 6-2, to earn the 5-seed. Don began his season 2-4, but the defending champ finished 5-2, earning the 7-seed. Eric began the season 1-3 and was 3-7 through ten weeks, before winning his final three games and earning the 8-seed. However, the winner of this award was Bob. He became the season with a defeat, failing to hit 1,000. Through seven weeks, he was just 2-5, with two games under 1,000 and a weekly low score. Yet, there wouldn’t be any more defeats in the regular season. He would win his final six games, topping 1,600 in his final three, producing a high score in his final two. He finished with eight wins, earning the 2-seed.

POSTSEASON: Bob kept the good times rolling in the quarterfinals, topping 1,900, crushing Don. However, despite scoring 1,534 points in the semifinals, he lost to 3-seed Griff, who scored 88 more points.

2010 – COLBY HALL
There were lots of fascinating numbers in the 2010 season. I lost my first game, then won my next 14 contests. Masterson won his first game, then proceeded to only win once more all year. Jeff lost his first three, won his next four, then ended the year losing his final six. However, the battle for best turnaround came down to two people. Burrier began the season 1-5, but he finished the year 4-3 and making the playoffs as an 8-seed. However, I couldn’t give the award to a person who became the first team to win five games and make the playoffs. Thus, Colby got the honor. He began the year just 2-4,  which included two weekly low scores. Yet, he flipped the script and won six straight before dropping his final game. He did that in a division that featured two nine-win teams.

POSTSEASON: As the six-seed, Colby upset 3-seed Matt, 1,726-1,311 and 4-seed Bob opened up the door for him to pull up another upset, by only scoring 1,163 points. Unfortunately for Colby, his boys only scored 1,015 and he lost in the semifinals.

2011 – COLBY HALL
Colby became the second person to earn this award in back-to-back seasons. The only person to give him a run for this award was Don, who started the year 0-3 and was just 2-5 through seven weeks, before winning four of six to earn the 8-seed. Not bad. Meanwhile, Colby also started 0-3 and was just 2-6 through eight weeks, including two weekly low scores. However, thanks to facing three weekly low scores, Mr. Hall won his final five games to earn seven victories and the 5-seed. He also won the “Luckiest Team” award this year, which goes to the team that faces the least amount of points that season.

POSTSEASON: Colby would dominate his quarterfinals game, finally taking down Griff in the postseason, scoring 2,197 points in the process. Unfortunately, he should have saved some points for the semifinals. He lost to 7-seed and eventual champ, Bob, by only 21 points (1,201-1,180).

2012 – ROB MASTERSON
Rob earned his first ever “Best Turnaround” award in 2012. He won his first game, because back then, that’s what he did. However, he would drop his next five games, which included two weekly low scores. There didn’t seem to be much hope, yet Rob’s fortune changed and he would win six of his final seven games, topping 1,500 three times (one weekly high score). He actually became the first person to win this award, despite not reaching .500 in the regular season (he finished 6-7).

POSTSEASON: He earned the six-seed, but was stuck facing the league’s top scorer in the quarterfinals. 3-seed Eric went on to eliminate Masterson easily, 1,649-1,269.

2013 – MATT NEATOCK
Neatock’s first five games were adventurous. He lost in week one, producing the week’s low score. In weeks 2-3, he lost, as his opponents scored the weekly high score in each contest. However in weeks 4-5, his foes scored the week’s lowest point total, handing Matt two wins. Five games and all had either a weekly high or weekly low score. Anyhow, Matt would drop his next three and through eight weeks, he was just 2-6. In week nine, his boys awoke, scored 2,207 points in a win over Griff. It would spark a four-game winning streak. Unfortunately, Matt would lost to me by just 15 points in the season’s final week, becoming the first person to earn this award, but not make the playoffs. The only playoff team that sorta had a turnaround was Molly, who was 3-4, but finished winning 4-2.

POSTSEASON: None

2014 – RICHARD BURRIER
There weren’t any amazing turnarounds in 2014, but three teams did start the year 1-3 and make the playoffs. Calderon salvaged his 1-3 start by winning five of his final nine games, earning the 8-seed (where he lost to 1-seed Bob in the playoffs). Griff was 1-3, before winning six of his final nine, despite producing two weekly low scores. He earned the 7-seed and lost in the semifinals (also to Bob). Yet, the winner. of the award was Burrier. He actually began the year 0-3, but then nearly dominated, winning eight of his final 10, which included two games over 2,000 (both high scores).

POSTSEASON: Rich finished 8-6, earning the four seed, but his great turnaround did not continue into the playoffs, as he fell to Molly, 2,013-1,281.

2015 – JEFF GREENBLATT
The battle for best turnaround came down to Griff and Jeff. Mr. Coomer split his first eight games, then rallied to win his final five contests. That’s a decent turnaround, although no shame in being .500. Jeff was nowhere near .500 to begin the season, dropping five of his first seven games. Yet, despite not breaking 1,500 or producing any high scores, he rallied to win four of his final six games. His 6-7 record was good enough to land him the 7-seed.

POSTSEASON: Unfortunately, Greenblatt would face off with Griff, who had been dominating the previous five weeks (four games over 1,500, two weekly high scores). This quarterfinals matchup wasn’t even close, as Jeff fell, 1,847-997.

2016 – ERIC VOZZOLA
The season was a struggle for Eric early on, as he dropped his first four games. Yet, he crushed Bob in week five, 1,792-897, and that finally turned this ship around. That would be the only time Eric would top 1,500, but it didn’t matter, as he finished the year winning six of his final nine games. For a fourth straight year, the team that earned “Best Turnaround” finished 6-7.

POSTSEASON: Like Jeff and Burrier before him, the turnaround did not continue in the postseason, as Eric fell to 2-seed Calderon, 1,878-1,144.

2017 – GRIFF COOMER
There was only one good turnaround in 2017 and that belonged to Griff. Two years removed from winning his second title after a decent turn around, Griff dropped his first three games and heading into week nine, was really struggling. He sat at 2-6, with three games below 1,000 and two weekly low scores. However, a low scoring 1,111-966 victory over Marc fixed what ailed him. He would win four of his final five to finish at 6-7.

POSTSEASON: Griff was handed the blessed 7-seed, known for many of the league’s greatest upsets, but this season, there would be none. He fell to Matt, 2,218-1,444.

2018 – DON VOZZOLA
Don actually won his first two games of the 2018 season. In one game, he scored the weekly high score. The following week, his opponent would produce the weekly low score. However, Don would go on to lose his next six contests, three times while facing the week’s high scorer. At 2-6, Don looked toast, yet he would somehow manage to win four of his next five games, topping 1,500 three straight games, including a. 2,019-point effort in week 11. The wins got him to 6-7, which was good enough to earn him the 7-seed.

POSTSEASON: It had been six years since a team that won “Best Turnaround” actually won a playoff game, but Vozzola put an end to that streak when upset 3-seed Colby in the quarterfinals by just 66 points. However,  the magic ride would end in the semifinals, when Don lost a game to 5-seed Calderon, despite the fact he scored 1,606 points.

2019 – BOB CASTRONE
Masterson could lay claim to a turnaround award, after starting the year 3-4, he finished the season winning five of his final six games. Yet, the award went to Bob, who started the year 0-4, never sniffing 1,300 in any contest. Yet, in a stunning unforgettable game, Bob beat Masterson, 2,507-2,105. It remains the highest combined score in a game and Bob’s 2,507 points broke Rob’s single game record of 2,501 points… a record he held since 2003. That win spark Castrone boys, as he would win seven of his next eight, before falling in the season’s final week. At 7-6, Bob secured the 5-seed.

POSTSEASON: Unfortunately for Bob, Rob would get his revenge and did something he rarely does…win in the quarterfinals. Bob fell, 1,603-1,158.

2020 – COLBY HALL
A few teams could stake a claim for this award in 2020. Don began the season 0-4, but finished 6-3, which is impressive, but he failed to qualify for the playoffs. Burrier began the year 0-3 and finished 7-3, which is very impressive, as he earned the 6-seed. However, I gave the award to Colby, who had earned just two wins through seven weeks of the season, but he would rally to win four of his final six contests, which was good enough to earn him the 8-seed.

POSTSEASON: The 8-seed can win games in the playoffs, but not this year, as 1-seed Calderon eliminated Colby, 1,417-1,137.

2021 – ROB MASTERSON
This one was tough, as two teams really deserved this award. Calderon began the year winning two of three games, but then dropped six straight. He was 2-7, having scored just 779 points in week nine. Yet, somehow, some way, he discovered victories, as he would win his final five games, becoming just the third team to lose six in a row, but still make the playoffs as a 5-seed. However, the award would go to Masterson. Not only did he begin the year 1-4, he was just 3-16 in his last nineteen games in the league. He had no reason to have hope. Yet, he wouldn’t taste defeat again in the regular season, rolling off nine straight victories, earning him his first ever career top-seed.

POSTSEASON: By earning the top-seed, Rob was ready to show the league that this year… would be different. It wasn’t. He lost to 8-seed Eric in the quarterfinals, 1,441-1,128. Vozzola would go on to become the first 8-seed to win a championship.

2022 – RICHARD BURRIER 
There was only one solid turnaround in 2022 and that belonged to Burrier, who earned his third “Best Turnaround” award for his career. He started off 1-4, which included one weekly low score. In week six, he escaped with a 971-959 victory that finally sparked his squad. He would finish 8-1, which included two weekly high scores, helping him secure the 3-seed.

POSTSEASON: Unlike so many teams that won this award over the last decade, Burrier managed to actually win a playoff game, avoiding the upset by defeating 6-seed Calderon, 1,108-920. However, his run would end in the semifinals to the eventual champ, 4-seed Colby, 1,501-1,300.

2023 – ROBIO MURRAY
I cemented my place as the king of the turnaround, by earning this award for a fifth time. It could have been eight, as there are three other times I could make a good argument for my team to earn that award in other years. Anyhow, I had my standard 0-4 start, but this 0-4 was awful. I failed to score 1,000 three times and had two weekly low scores. However, a 1,888-681 domination of Griff in week five got me going. I would win seven of my final 10 games. I produced three weekly high scores, including the final two of the regular season.

POSTSEASON: I was only the 6-seed, but I had topped 1,500 in three straight and had the weekly high in two straight, but none of that mattered, as I couldn’t put up a fight against 3-seed Michael, falling 1,581-1187.

2024 – BOB CASTRONE
Coming off back-to-back seasons where he missed the playoffs (a first for his career), it looked like Castrone was going for the non-playoff three-peat, as he dropped six of his first nine games. Yet, an easier schedule down the stretch helped Bob turn things around. He would win his final five games (three against non-playoff teams) to get to 8-6, earning the 5-seed.

POSTSEASON: Like so many other teams who won the “Best Turnaround” award, the good fortune didn’t continue into the playoffs, as Bob fell to 4-seed Jeff, 1,610-1,555.

AWARDS BY TEAM:

Robio – 5 awards (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2023)
Rich B – 3 awards (2004, 2014, 2022)
Bob – 3 awards (2009, 2019, 2024)
Colby – 3 awards (2010, 2011, 2020)
Griff – 2 awards (2005, 2017)
Rob M – 2 awards (2012, 2021)
Matt – 2 awards (2007, 2013)
Don – 1 award (2018)
Eric – 1 award (2016)
Rich C – 1 award (2008)
Jeff – 1 award (2015)
Michael – None

FINAL RESULTS: