Mark Twain once uttered the immortal words, "There are lies, damn
lies, and statistics." Mr. Twain must've been a sports fan. Statistics
don't always tell the entire story, but they usually get us started
in the right direction. One of the interesting things about Fantasy
Football is that we play and score the game based entirely on statistics,
yet we often overlook the things that happen right before our very
eyes.
The old saleman's adage goes, "Perception is Reality" That may sell
a lot of widgets but it doesn't cut it in Fantasy Football where
statistics are what counts. When Perception doesn't match Reality,
someone's going to take the fall. Just ask anyone who drafted Mark
Brunell the last 3 years...
So for your perusal, I offer up some interesting facts from the
1999 season that caught my eye. Some of these numbers are impressive,
some are embarrassing, but all shed some light on what might happen
this season.
Knock yourself out,
Joe Bryant
Player Stats (listed alphabetically by last name):
RB Tiki Barber (NYG) caught 66 passes.
RB Michael Basnight (Cin) averaged 5.0 yards per carry.
Detroit QBs Charlie Batch and Gus Frerotte finished
in the top 10 in QB rating.
RB Mario Bates (Ari) scored 9 touchdowns.
RB Donnell Bennett (KC) scored 8 touchdowns.
RB Tim Biakabutuka (Car) averaged 5.2 yards per carry.
QB Drew Bledsoe (NE) was sacked 55 times, 1 shy of
Tim Couch's league lead.
WR Marty Booker (Chi) scored 3 touchdowns on just 19
receptions.
TE Luther Broughton (Phi) scored 4 touchdowns.
WR Tim Brown (Oak) has not missed a start in the last
7 seasons.
WR Chris Calloway (Atl) caught only 22 passes for 314 yards
and a TD.
WR Cris Carter (Min) has not missed a start in the
last 7 seasons. Cris has averaged 13 touchdowns over the last
5 seasons. He tied Wesley Walls with 4th quarter TDs
with 4 this season.
TE Byron Chamberlain (Den) managed 488 yards despite
never starting.
TE Cameron Cleeland (NO) managed only 325 yards and
1 touchdown.
TE Ben Coates (FA) managed only 370 yards and 2 touchdowns.
QB Tim Couch (Cle) may need one after getting sacked
56 times.
RB Corey Dillon (Cin) was stuffed 40 times.
TE Rickey Dudley (Oak) converted 39 receptions into
9 touchdowns.
RB Warrick Dunn (TB) averaged just 3.2 yards per carry
and was stuffed 40 times.
WR Tim Dwight (Atl) made the most of his 32 catches
with 669 yards and 7 TDs.
WR Quinn Early (NYJ) caught just 6 passes despite playing
in all 16 games.
RB Curtis Enis (Chi) was stuffed 40 times.
WR Bert Emanuel (TB) caught just 22 passes for 238
yards and 1 TD.
WR Bobby Engram (Chi) lost 6 receptions due to penalty.
He still finished 7th with 88 receptions.
RB Marshall Faulk (Ind) averaged 5.5 yards per carry
and had 40 runs of 10 yards or more. He also led all players
with 930 yards after the catch.
QB Brett Favre (GB) has not missed a start in the last
7 seasons. He led the league with 595 pass attempts.
QB Jeff Garcia (SF) averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
RB Charlie Garner (SF), weighing just 187 pounds, averaged
5.1 yards per carry.
RB Olandis Gary (Den) makes a pretty good backup (1159
yards and 7 TDs)
RB Eddie George (Ten) has averaged 1,341 yards rushing
per year since joining the league.
QB Elvis Grbac (KC) managed 3,389 yards and 22 TDs.
WR Az-Zahir Hakim (StL) made the most of his 36 catches
with 677 yards and 8 TDs.
PK Jason Hanson (Det) was perfect on field goals inside
the 40 (12 for 12).
WR Marvin Harrison (Ind) was the target on 193 passes
(catching 115). He also led the league with 20 catches 25 yards
or more.
RB Leroy Hoard (FA) has scored 20 touchdowns (19 rushing)
in the last two seasons.
WR Qadry Ismail (Bal) finished with 1,105 yards receiving
and 6 touchdowns. This following seasons in NO and Mia where
he failed to catch a pass.
RB Edgerrin James (Ind) led all backs with 368 carries,
41 runs over 10 yards and 48 stuffs.
WR Shawn Jefferson (Atl) made the most of his 40 catches
with 698 yards and 6 TDs.
WR James Jett (Oak) has seen his TD total fall from
12 in 1997 to 2 last year.
QB Brad Johnson (Was) led the league with 43 pass plays
over 25 yards.
WR Kevin Johnson (Cle) finished with 986 yards and
8 TDs.
WR Keyshawn Johnson (TB) has increased his receptions
and yardage in each of his 4 seasons.
QB Rob Johnson (Buf) has finished the last 3 years
with QB ratings over 100.
PK John Kasay (Car) was perfect on field goals inside
the 40 (15 for 15).
RB Napoleon Kaufman (Oak) averaged 5.2 yards per carry.
RB Terry Kirby (Cle) scored 9 touchdowns.
RB Dorsey Levens (GB) set career highs in rushing touchdowns
(9), receptions (71) and receiving yardage (573) despite playing
in just 14 games. He also was a perfect 6 for 6 in TDs inside
the 3.
PK Olindo Mare (Mia) was perfect on field goals inside
the 40 (27 for 27). He led all kickers with 39 FGs.
RB Curtis Martin (NYJ) gained 1,464 yards rushing,
but managed only 5 TDs. He also carried the ball 367 times (2nd
behind Edgerrin James) and was stuffed 41 times.
WR Derrick Mayes (Sea) set career highs in receptions
(62), yards (829) and touchdowns (10).
WR Ed McCaffrey (Den) has averaged 8 TDs over the last
4 seasons.
QB Steve McNair (Ten) rushed for 8 TDs despite playing
in just 11 games. He was a perfect 5 for 5 in TD rushes inside
the three.
QB Cade McNown (Chi) averaged 5.0 yards per carry rushing.
WR Herman Moore (Det) managed only 16 receptions and
197 yards (and 2 TDs) last season.
WR Rob Moore (Ari) has seen his receptions dwindle
from 97 (in 1997) to 37 last season.
WR Johnnie Morton (Det) quietly pulled down 80 catches
for 1,129 yards and 5 TDs.
WR Randy Moss (Min) had 19 catches 25 yards or more.
RB Adrian Murrell (Ari) averaged only 2.9 yards per
carry and failed to score a TD.
WR Terrell Owens (SF) managed only 754 yards receiving
and 4 TDs.
PK Doug Pelfrey (Cin) has has seen his FG accuracy
slide the last four seasons. He finished 1999 by hitting only
66.7% of his attempts.
RB Michael Pittman (Ari) averaged 4.5 yards per carry.
QB Jake Plummer (Ari) finished with 9 TDs against 24
interceptions for a QB rating of 50.8.
WR Jerry Rice (SF) still led his team in receptions
(67), receiving yards (830) and receiving TDs (5).
PK Wade Richey (SF) led the league in accuracy by connecting
on 21 of 23 attempts.
WR Andre Rison (KC) managed only 218 yards and did
not score.
TE Michael Roan (Ten) caught 3 TDs on just 9 receptions.
WR Marcus Robinson (Chi) had 18 catches of 25 yards
or more.
TE OJ Santiago (Atl) managed only 174 yards and did
not score.
WR Bill Schroeder (GB) quietly ended the year with
1,051 yards and 5 TDs.
WR Darnay Scott (Cin) set career highs in receptions
and yardage while scoring 7 TDs.
TE Shannon Sharpe (Bal) managed just 222 yards and
did not score.
TE David Sloan (Det) set career highs in receptions
(47), yards (591) and TDs (4)
RB Antowain Smith (Buf) managed only 3.7 yards per
carry and finished with 614 yards.
RB Emmitt Smith (Dal) has missed just 5 games in his
10 year career. He has averaged over 1,500 combined yards and
14 TDs the last two seasons.
WR Jimmy Smith (Jac) managed to score only 6 TDs despite
catching 116 passes for 1,636 yards. He led all receivers with
86 catches for 1st downs.
RB Robert Smith (Min) rushed for 1,015 yards in 13
games, but only scored 2 TDs.
WR Rod Smith (Den) has seen his TDs slide from 12 (in
1997) to 4 last season.
RB Duce Staley (Phi) still managed 1,273 yards rushing
on a team that was always behind.
RB James Stewart (Det) scored 13 rushing TDs despite
starting just 7 games.
QB Kordell Stewart (Pit) has seen his passing TDs slide
from 21 (in 1997) to just 6 last season.
RB Fred Taylor (Jac) has 23 career touchdowns in 25
games played (21 starts).
WR Yancey Thigpen's (Ten) 1998 and 1999 seasons combined
are still worse than his 79 reception, 1398 yards and 7 TD effort
with Pittsburgh in 1997.
RB Thurman Thomas (Mia) managed only 152 yards rushing
and did not score.
WR Amani Toomer (NYG) quietly finished the year with
1,183 yards and 6 TDs.
TE Wesley Walls (Car) finished the year with 822 yards
and 12 TDs at age 33.
RB Ricky Watters (Sea) still combined for nearly 1600
yards (1,210 rush; 387 receiving).
RB Tyrone Wheatley (Oak) scored 11 TDs which is 1 more
than his 4 seasons in New York.
RB Ricky Williams (NO) got stuffed 43 times (2nd to
Edgerrin James)
TE Roland Williams (StL) made the most of his 25 receptions
by scoring 6 TDs.
Offensive Team Stats:
San Francisco led the league with 2,095 rushing yards and
a 5.0 yard per carry average.
Four teams managed less than 1,250 yards rushing: Cle (1,150),
Atl (1,196), Ari (1,207) and Det (1,245)
Cincinnati led all teams with 2,020 kickoff return yards
Baltimore Ravens only fumbled 4 times rushing the ball.
Washington led all teams with 23 rushing TDs.
11 teams ended the season with single digit rushing TDs: Atl
(9), Bal (9), Chi (4), Cle (9), Det (8), Mia (8), NE (9), NO
(9), NYJ (7), Phi (5), Sea (5), TB (7).
St. Louis led the league with a 25.1 KO return average.
St. Louis' 66 touchdowns were twice as many as the following
14 teams: Ari (27), Chi (31), Cin (33), Cle (28), Den (32),
Mia (30), NE (32), NO (27), NYG (32), NYJ (33), Phi (29), SD
(25), SF (33), TB (27).
Chicago Bears led the league with 684 pass attempts and 404
completion.
St. Louis led the league in most passing categories including:
pct (64.7), yards (4,580), yds/att (8.64), TDs (42), rating
(106.6).
Indianapolis allowed a league low 14 sacks.
Five teams allowed over 50 sacks: Det (64), Cle (60), Bal
(56), NE (56), Car (51)
Kansas City led the league with 706 punt return yards.
Philadelphia managed only 2,405 yards passing (5.07 per attempt),
both league lows. 3 Teams attempted 8 or more long FGs (50+
yards): Den (5 of 8), Det (4 of 8), Was (3 of 9).
Defensive Team Stats:
St. Louis was stingy against the run allowing only 1189 yards
and 4 rushing TDs. Other defenses that allowed a rushing TD
every two games or less were: Bal (6), Dal (6), Jac (6), Mia
(6), NE (6), SD (8), TB (8) and Ten (8).
Cleveland and Cincinnati were running backs dream come true
as they allowed 29 and 22 rushing TDs respectively.
Philadelphia caused runners to fumble 18 times. KC (17) and
Ten (17) were not far behind.
Buffalo was the only team to allow less than 3,000 yards passing
(2,889 yards allowed).
6 Teams allowed 4,000 or more passing yards: SF (4,295), Min
(4,252), Det (4,100), Chi (4,079), Cin (4,027), Ten (4,000).
Tampa Bay allowed only 11 passing TDs. Buffalo was nearly
as good allowing just 12. San Francisco wasn't close as they
allowed 36 scores through the air.
5 teams managed to snatch 25 or more interceptions led by:
Sea (30), StL (29), Phi (28), GB (26) and KC.
Cleveland was the only team to end the season with single
digit interceptions (8).
Players that improved their stats in the last 8 games:
