Everyone that’s played fantasy football has likely experienced this moment, when it feels like you were walking down the sidewalk only to find a $10 bill sitting there. Of course you want to do the right thing. You look around, ask the folks near you if they accidentally dropped money from their pocket.
When no one claims it, you smile a bit. First, you did the right thing by seeking a return of the $10 bill to its rightful owner. There’s nothing to feel shameful about. Second, that $10 is now yours. It doesn’t matter if you’re unemployed or among the 1 percent — you get excited over free money. That money can be used for many things, such as a couple of ice cream scoops at the parlor or a few iTunes singles for those adamantly against stealing music.
That $10 you didn’t start the day with is now yours. All yours. And no one can take it away.
That’s how I felt as the NFL entered Week 9 of the 2005 season. In my No. 1 league’s draft year, a die-hard Penn State fan drafted Larry Johnson with the last overall pick, the equivalent of Mr. Irrelevant. Of course, Johnson was the backup to Priest Holmes, who was considered one of the NFL’s best backs at the time.
But Holmes was on the decline of his career. He and Johnson were splitting carries that 2005 season, with Holmes’ game-high just 84 yards. Holmes didn’t have the same burst and Johnson was showing a lot of promise. I was hoping the die-hard Penn State would let Johnson go, so I could snatch him just in case something happened. You never know in the NFL. One play you’re on top of the world. The next, your knee is in a clunky brace in need of an operation.
Holmes started that Week 8 game against San Diego. It didn’t end well for the star from the University of Texas. Then-Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman tackled Holmes, which led to a spinal column injury that ended Holmes’ season. This effectively made Johnson Kansas City’s starter for the remainder of the season.
But let’s back up for a second: Remember my hope Johnson would be dropped? Yes, it happened the week of Holmes’ injury. For whatever reason, this die-hard Penn State fan felt it was appropriate to drop Johnson even though both running backs were splitting carries to the point where Johnson was a legitimate flex option if needed.
I scooped up Johnson in a heartbeat. I wasn’t happy that Holmes was out for the season — you should never take pleasure in an NFL player’s physical pain. But I’ll admit, I was happy to have someone of Johnson’s caliber, who could hopefully rack up the amount of points needed to take my team to the promised land.
Johnson was the missing piece, indeed. I started that season 4-4. I then reeled off six consecutive wins in the regular season, followed by three playoff victories to win the league’s championship. For the second time in three years, I was able to have my name engraved on our league’s trophy. There’s no better feeling than that (well, yes there are plenty, but you get the idea).
Much like the NFL, you never know what will happen in fantasy football. Just ask Jamaal Charles and his fantasy owners this past year. In what was poised to be a monster year, Charles tore his ACL against the Lions in the second of week of the season. It’s not fair, but that’s the reality of this game we all know and love.
This story is a good example of keeping your ear to the waiver wire. What someone might be OK to part with could be beneficial for you.
Here’s the ultimate kicker: Two years later I drafted Johnson in the first round of the 2007 draft. After a couple of weeks of dullness, I offered a trade to that same die-hard Penn State fan: Johnson, Eli Manning and Plaxico Buress for Tom Brady. Yes, the Tom Brady that threw for 4,806 yards and 50 touchdowns that year. (Yes, I remember these things because it’s quite possible evident I have no life.)