INDIANAPOLIS — After Week 5, I had just one win to four losses.
After Week 7, I was 2-5. And by the end of Week 9, I had a woeful record of 2-7.
Why was this so hard? What could be so difficult about picking a decent FanDuel fantasy lineup every week?
My opponent, fellow Colts.com writer Kevin Bowen, seemed unstoppable. At that point, he was just two wins away from clinching the season series with a little less than half of the season left.
But then I began my comeback.
Kevin did, indeed, claim the season title — but not after I reeled off three straight wins to pull within two games in the standings at 5-7.
And after Sunday's action, another three-game winning streak got me to within one game of Kevin for the first time since after Week 1, as I finished with a respectable 8-9 record for the 2016 season.
What was the secret ingredient for success? Well, David Johnson, for one. While Kevin went for the No. 1 wide receivers in many of his lineups, I elected to pick Johnson — who turned out to be a points machine just about each and every week — and try to spend the rest of my money wisely in other places.
I found a lot of success — or luck? — picking defenses throughout the second half of the season, as I went with the hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a couple occasions (getting me about 20 points each time), and my pick of the Minnesota Vikings' defense on Sunday against the Chicago Bears gave me just enough to pull out my final win.
Is an 8-9 record worthy of anything? A participation trophy? A pat on the back? Nah, probably not. But at least now I know in my mind that, come next season, I should have a better grasp on this entire process, and should wipe the floor with Kevin.
So here's the full results from the Week 17 of the regular season, in which Kevin and I actually had five of the same players in our lineups, but the aforementioned Vikings defense (which scored an amazing 22 points; 10.5 points above its minimum value) put me over the top.
As always, you can send me any chatter, questions, "LOLs" or anything else to @AWalkerColts on Twitter, and stay tuned in the next few months as we bring you more fantasy-related content here at Colts.com.
Week 17 Results
Andrew's Week 17 FanDuel Lineup:
QB: Aaron Rodgers ($8,800; vs. Detroit): 34.2 points (22 minimum value; 12.2 total value)
RB: David Johnson ($9,300; vs. Los Angeles): 5.9 points (23.25 minimum value; -17.35 total value)
RB: Jacquizz Rodgers ($5,200; vs. Carolina): 8.4 points (13 minimum value; -4.6 total value)
WR: Jordy Nelson ($8,200; vs. Detroit): 9.6 points (20.5 minimum value; -10.9 total value)
WR: T.Y. Hilton ($7,800; vs. Jacksonville): 12.5 points (19.5 minimum value; -7 total value)
WR: Jermaine Kearse ($4,500; vs. San Francisco): 5.5 points (11.25 minimum value; -5.75 total value)
TE: Travis Kelce ($6,800; vs. San Diego): 1.3 points (17 minimum value; -15.7 total value)
K: Stephen Gostkowski ($4,700; vs. Miami): 10 points (11.75 minimum value; -1.75 total value)
DEF: Minnesota Vikings ($4,600; vs. Chicago): 22 points (11.5 minimum value; 10.5 total value)
= 109.4 total points (-40.35 in total FanDuel value; -4.48 per player)
**
Kevin's Week 17 FanDuel Lineup:**
QB: Aaron Rodgers ($8,800; vs. Detroit): 34.2 points (22 minimum value; 12.2 total value)
RB: David Johnson ($9,300; vs. Los Angeles): 5.9 points (23.25 minimum value; -17.35 total value)
RB: Jacquizz Rodgers ($5,200; vs. Carolina): 8.4 points (13 minimum value; -4.6 total value)
WR: Mike Evans ($8,400; vs. Carolina): 15 points (21 minimum value; -6 total value)
WR: Jordy Nelson ($8,200; vs. Detroit): 9.6 points (20.5 minimum value; -10.9 total value)
WR: Michael Floyd ($4,600; vs. Miami): 11.1 points (11.5 minimum value; -0.4 total value)
TE: Travis Kelce ($6,800; vs. San Diego): 1.3 points (17 minimum value; -15.7 total value)
K: Josh Lambo ($4,500; vs. Kansas City): 9 points (11.25 minimum value; -2.25 total value)
DEF: Cleveland Browns ($4,000; vs. Pittsburgh): 6 points (10 minimum value; -4 total value)
= 100.5 total points (-49 in total FanDuel value; -5.4 per player)
WEEK 17 WINNER: Andrew (8-9)
WEEK 17 PICK OF THE WEEK: QB Aaron Rodgers, Andrew and Kevin (34.2 points; 12.2 total value)
WEEK 17 JOKE OF THE WEEK: RB David Johnson, Andrew and Kevin (5.9 points; -17.35 total value)
REVIEW: Week 17 Guys To Pass On
Andrew:
RB Le'Veon Bell ($10,000; vs. Cleveland): 0 points (25 minimum value; -25 total value)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. ($8,800; vs. Washington): 6.9 points (22 minimum value; -15.1 total value)
RB Ezekiel Elliott ($8,800; vs. Philadelphia): 0 points (22 minimum value; -22 total value)
WR Julio Jones ($8,300; vs. New Orleans): 19.1 points (20.75 minimum value; -1.65 total value)
ANDREW'S RECORD:4-0
ANDREW SAVED YOU: 63.75 in total value
Kevin:
QB Ben Roethelisberger ($8,300; vs. Cleveland): 0 points (20.75 minimum value; -20.75 total value)
RB Le'Veon Bell ($10,000; vs. Cleveland): 0 points (25 minimum value; -25 total value)
RB Ezekiel Elliott ($8,800; vs. Philadelphia): 0 points (22 minimum value; -22 total value)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. ($8,800; vs. Washington): 6.9 points (22 minimum value; -15.1 total value)
KEVIN'S RECORD: 4-0
KEVIN SAVED YOU: 82.85 in total value
REVIEW: Week 17 Sleepers
Andrew:
RB: Jacquizz Rodgers ($5,200; vs. Carolina): 8.4 points (13 minimum value; -4.6 total value)
RB Darren McFadden ($4,500; vs. Philadelphia): 5.7 points (11.25 minimum value; -5.55 total value)
WR: Jermaine Kearse ($4,500; vs. San Francisco): 5.5 points (11.25 minimum value; -5.75 total value)
ANDREW'S RECORD: 0-3
ANDREW COULD'VE GIVEN YOU: -15.9 in total value
Kevin:
RB Jalen Richard ($5,300; vs. Denver): 0.3 points (13.25 minimum value; -12.95 total value)
RB: Jacquizz Rodgers ($5,200; vs. Carolina): 8.4 points (13 minimum value; -4.6 total value)
WR Michael Floyd ($4,600; vs. Miami): 11.1 points (11.5 minimum value; -0.4 total value)
KEVIN'S RECORD: 0-3
KEVIN COULD'VE GIVEN YOU: -17.95 in total value
