One Year Wonders
This undrafted Jaguars rookie accumulated 1,070 rushing yards, 49 receptions, 344 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns in 2020 before injuries derailed his promising career.
James Robinson
In only his second NFL game, this Dolphins rookie recorded 18 carries for 203 yards and two touchdowns, adding four catches for 30 yards and two more scores during Miami’s historic 70–20 demolition of Denver.
DeVon Achane
Playing only 15 games in 2021, this Steelers pass rusher recorded 22.5 sacks, tying Michael Strahan’s official single-season NFL record and earning Defensive Player of the Year.
T.J. Watt
Just days after I acquired him, facing the New York Giants, this explosive Detroit running back completely changed the outcome of a fantasy matchup by producing a nearly unstoppable 55-point performance.
After his Colts committed five turnovers in a 40–21 loss to San Francisco during the 2001 season, Jim Mora famously responded to a question about January football with just one word. (You have to say the line)
"PLAYOFFS!?!?"
This Falcons pass rusher led the entire NFL with 15.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2016, earning first-team All-Pro honors but never recording more than five sacks in another season.
Vic Beasley
This quarterback completed 22 of 28 passes for 381 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in 2023, becoming the first visiting quarterback ever to post a perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field.
Baker Mayfield
This Cowboys cornerback led the NFL with nine interceptions in 2023, returning five for touchdowns to establish a new single-season record for pick-sixes.
DaRon Bland
In a snowy victory over San Francisco, this quarterback recorded 148 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 18 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown and a seven-yard receiving touchdown, creating the scoring swing that cost me a 10 game streak in first place.
Josh Allen
Following a 2002 loss that dropped the Jets to 2–5, this head coach rejected the idea that his team might quit by emphatically reminding reporters, “You play to win the game!”
Herm Edwards
After totaling only 44 receptions across his first six NFL seasons, this Browns tight end suddenly erupted for 79 catches, 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015.
Gary Barnidge
During Green Bay’s 34–24 victory at Dallas in 2019, this running back accumulated 19 carries for 107 yards, seven catches for 75 yards and a franchise-record-tying four rushing touchdowns.
Aaron Jones
In a 15–12 victory over the eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos in 2015, this Raiders defender tied the franchise’s single-game record by sacking Brock Osweiler five times.
With a trip to the 2022 fantasy championship hanging in the balance, this All-Pro 49ers tight end erupted for approximately 35 points against Washington and single-handedly brought my season to a heartbreaking end.
George Kittle
During the Jets’ memorable appearance on Hard Knocks in 2010, this energetic head coach concluded a fiery, profanity-filled speech by inviting his players to “go eat a…snack.”
Rex Ryan
Originally drafted as a quarterback, this converted Browns receiver broke out in 2016 with 77 receptions for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns, but never recorded another 500-yard receiving season.
Terrelle Pryor
This Chargers receiver caught a franchise-record 18 passes for 215 yards against Minnesota in 2023—and also threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams.
Keenan Allen
This Cardinals linebacker entered a December 2020 matchup with only five sacks all season, then established a franchise record with five sacks and three forced fumbles in a 26–7 victory over the Giants.
Haason Reddick?
Fantasy football can be cruel: this running back scored only 2.8 points in my championship lineup, then produced a massive 55-point performance the next time he faced my team. This back rushed for 22 carries, 153 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns
Joe Mixon
After the Giants managed minus-10 passing yards in a 29–3 loss to Chicago in January 2022, this head coach defended his team’s culture during an 11-minute postgame answer by insisting, “This ain’t some clown show organization.”
Joe Judge
This former Lions sixth-round pick briefly became Philadelphia’s leading receiver in 2020, producing an NFL-best 435 receiving yards over his first five games as an Eagle and finishing the season with 539 yards and four touchdowns.
Travis Fulgham
Benefiting from Atlanta’s determination to contain DeAndre Hopkins, this Texans receiver erupted for 14 receptions, 217 yards and three touchdowns in a 53–32 victory during the 2019 season.
Will Fuller
Taking advantage of Dallas playing without Tyron Smith in 2017, this Falcons defensive end recorded six sacks and a forced fumble in a 27–7 victory, with five of those sacks coming against replacement tackle Chaz Green.
Adrian Clayborn
With Brenton Strange injured only minutes earlier, my matchup appeared to be over, until this Chiefs receiver delivered a decisive 20-yard reception in the final 2 minutes against Jacksonville that gave me just enough points to steal the victory.
Hollywood Brown
After his team fell to 2–5 in 2021, this first-year head coach used a widely mocked flower metaphor, explaining that “there’s growth under the soil” and that everyone needed to continue watering and fertilizing the roots. His team ultimately finished 9–8 and made the playoffs.
Nick Sirianni