Championship History

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

Beneath is a brief history of the League Championship Trophy

Year   Champion              Runner Up                          Third Place Game
2019   Tommy Poitras      Austin Hill                          Kyle Russ, Adam Spinella
2018   Kyle Russ              Austin Hill                          Adam Spinella, Carter Bennett
2017   Adam Spinella      Craig Davis                         Kyle Russ, Carter Bennett
2016   Austin Hill            Tommy Poitras                    Kyle Russ, Adam Spinella
2015   Andrew Tolbert     Craig Davis                        Adam Spinella, Austin Hill
2014   Kyle Russ             Adam Spinella                     Taylor Snow, Craig Davis
2013   Craig Davis           Russell Bloom                     Kyle Russ, Austin Hill
2012   Austin Hill            Russell Bloom                     Kyle Russ, Craig Davis
2011   Austin Hill             Craig Davis                         Kyle Russ, Adam Spinella
2010   Adam Spinella       Carter Bennett                     Taylor Snow, Craig Davis
2009   Adam Spinella       Carter Bennett                     None
2008   Ryan Hill               Adam Spinella                     None


2017

1. Craig Davis 383
4. Carter Bennett 290
                                            1. Craig Davis 302
                                            3. Adam Spinella 345
2. Kyle Russ 410
3. Adam Spinella 514



2016

1. Austin Hill 404
4. Kyle Russ 386
                                             1. Austin Hill 430
                                             2. Tommy Poitras 379
2. Tommy Poitras 379
3. Adam Spinella 266



2015

1. Adam Spinella 294
4. Craig Davis 389
                                              4. Craig Davis 331
                                              3. Andrew Tolbert 356
2. Austin Hill 217
3. Andrew Tolbert 440



2014

1. Adam Spinella 306
4. Taylor Snow 227
                                               1. Adam Spinella 224
                                               2. Kyle Russ 473
2. Kyle Russ 297
3. Craig Davis 266



2013

1. Craig Davis 421*
4. Kyle Russ 421
                                               1. Craig Davis 395
                                               2. Russell Bloom 282
2. Russell Bloom 452
3. Austin Hill 359



2012

1. Austin Hill 368
4. Craig Davis 218
                                                1. Austin Hill 400
                                                2. Russell Bloom 394
2. Russell Bloom 448
3. Kyle Russ 420



2011

1. Craig Davis 400
4. Kyle Russ 348
                                                1. Craig Davis 448
                                                3. Austin Hill 463
2. Adam Spinella 433
3. Austin Hill 581



2010

1. Taylor Snow 241
4. Carter Bennett 425
                                                4. Carter Bennett 336
                                                2. Adam Spinella 405
2. Adam Spinella 384
3. Craig Davis 335



2009

1. Adam Spinella 627
2. Carter Bennett 413


2008
Ryan Hill won championship outright

Russell Bloom: Ownership Profile

I AM YOUR GOD

Russell Bloom

29-27 (.518) Overall Record

Season      Record       Finish        Postseason                         PF (rank)         PA (rank)
2015 -       4-10           8th             None                                  4489 (8th)       5184 (7th)
2014 -       6-8             t-5th           None
2013 -       10-4           t-1st           Lost in Championship
2012 -       9-5             t-1st           Lost in Championship
Joined in 2012


Keepers History:

2015 - QB Ben Roethlisberger, QB Tony Romo
2014 - RB Adrian Peterson, QB Robert Griffin III
2013 - RB Adrian Peterson, QB Robert Griffin III
2012 - RB Adrian Peterson, RB Matt Forte


Trivia:
-One of only two members to make the championship in first two seasons (Spinella).
-9-5 Record in 2012 was lowest for any regular season wins leader.
-Career 2-2 Postseason Record.


Trade History:

-October 15, 2015: Russell Bloom trades RB Shane Vereen and WR A.J. Green to Adam Spinella for RB Chris Johnson, WR Sammy Watkins and WR Mike Wallace.


Head-to-Head Records:
vs. Spinella: 4-4
vs. Tolbert: 5-3
vs. Snow: 4-4
vs. Davis: 5-4 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Austin: 5-5 (1-1 postseason)
vs. Russ: 4-5 (1-0 postseason)
vs. Bennett: 4-4


Abridged History:

Sometimes the best way to make an entrance is to brashly introduce yourself to the league. That's exactly what Russell Bloom did in 2012, establishing himself as the enemy of many folks in the league. Bloom changed his team name several times throughout the season, custom-making his name to tactically strike his opponent where it hit them deep. Inheriting a team from Ryan Hill that included top running back Adrian Peterson, Bloom was poised for early success. After drafting rookie Robert Griffin III and Calvin Johnson in his first two rounds, the team appeared to have the top fantasy prospects at each position. Peterson and Johnson didn't disappoint, leading the league in points at their position; Griffin finished 4th despite missing a few games due to injury. Bloom achieved a 9-5 regular season record and a share of the outright best record with Austin Hill. Those two did battle in a devastatingly close title game, won by Hill 400-392.

Once again, Russell Bloom's brazen tactics and successful pedigree brought him success and pissed off his opponents in the process. Despite numerous injuries to Robert Griffin and fielding two poor quarterback replacements, Bloom snatched up 10 wins during the regular season, tied for the best record in 2013. The running back trio of Peterson, DeMarco Murray and Alfred Morris steadied the team, with Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall racking up top-ten receiver performances. After being swept by Austin Hill in three meetings during his first season in the league, Bloom struck back and beat Hill in all three of their meetings in 2013. But for the second straight year, Bloom came up short in the title game. While 2012 was a close contest, 2013 was far from it. Bloom's squad put up only 282 points and were routed by Craig Davis and I Just Cam.

2014 proved how difficult it is to sustain success in this league, as Bloom fell outside of the playoffs for the first time since he took ownership of a team. Once again keeping Adrian Peterson and Robert Griffin, both faced unforeseen consequences that removed them from the lineup. Peterson was suspended for essentially the entire season after whipping his son with a switch; Griffin was once again injured and then watched from the sideline as Colt McCoy ran the offense. It didn't matter that Bloom rolled with the top-scoring runner DeMarco Murray, elite receivers Calvin Johnson, Randall Cobb and Odell Beckham, or 4th-ranking quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. After starting 4-3 despite the treacherous string of unluckiness to hit the roster, Bloom lost four in a row. He only jumped above 400 points in an outing twice, certainly not enough high-powered scoring to earn a postseason appearance.

Andrew Tolbert: Ownership Profile

ELI'S EXTRA CHROMOSOME

Andrew Tolbert

23-33 (.411) Overall Record

Season      Record       Finish        Postseason                        PF (rank)        PA (rank)
2015 -       9-5             3rd             Won Championship         5535 (2nd)      4998 (4th)
2014 -       5-9             7th             None
2013 -       3-11           8th             None
2012 -       6-8             6th             None
Joined League in 2012


Keepers History:

2015 - QB Tom Brady, RB Jamaal Charles
2014 - QB Tom Brady, QB Andy Dalton
2013 - QB Tom Brady, WR Dez Bryant
2012 - QB Tom Brady, WR Andre Johnson

Trivia:
-Posted first winning season in fourth year in the league.


Trade History:

-October 2, 2014: Andrew Tolbert trades QB Andy Dalton, RB Andre Ellington, RB Reggie Bush and RB Andre Williams to Adam Spinella for QB Eli Manning, RB Chris Johnson, RB Knile Davis and WR Percy Harvin.
-September 11, 2014: Andrew Tolbert acquires RB Trent Richardson, WR Torrey Smith and WR Justin Hunter and gives up RB Bishop Sankey, WR Michael Floyd and WR Wes Welker in a three-way trade with Craig Davis and Adam Spinella.
-October 8, 2013: Andrew Tolbert trades RB Danny Woodhead and WR Mike Wallace to Adam Spinella for QB Andy Dalton and RB Jonathan Franklin.


Head-to-Head Records:
vs. Bloom: 3-5
vs. Spinella: 4-4
vs. Davis: 3-6 (1-0 postseason)
vs. Snow: 4-4
vs. Austin: 4-5 (1-0 postseason)
vs. Bennett: 5-3
vs. Russ: 2-6


Abridged History:

2012 saw the league debut of Andrew Tolbert, taking over for a franchise that collectively had never been in the postseason under its former owners. While expectations were low for Tolbert, he did inherit a team with Tom Brady, a franchise cornerstone and obvious keeper decision. Despite having FOUR top-ten receivers (Andre Johnson, Dez Bryant, A.J. Green and Reggie Wayne) and superstar running back Arian Foster, Tolbert couldn't get a consistent effort out of the rest of his roster. Winning 6 games was a solid feat in his first season -- it was only 3 fewer than the best record in the league. But Tolbert let his personal fanhood for the Cowboys get in the way of his franchise's success. He selected Dez Bryant as his keeper heading into 2013, leaving his team without a franchise running back.

Tolbert started 2013 by drafting C.J. Spiller with his first pick, passing on the likes of Russell Wilson, Doug Martin and LeSean McCoy. As Spiller finished 21st in the league in running back points, he proved to be a giant bust that contributed to Tolbert's free fall into last place. After trading for Andy Dalton, who finished a top-six quarterback in the league, in the middle of the season Tolbert would lock in the Bengals QB as his second quarterback keeper, foregoing the strategy of keeping a wide receiver. Despite having three elite pass-catching targets (Bryant, A.J. Green, Julius Thomas) and two top-twelve quarterbacks, Tolbert started the season 0-8 and finished 3-13 in his second season.

With the top pick coming to him in the draft, once again Tolbert swung and missed. After making the late-summer decision to keep Andy Dalton instead of Dez Bryant, Tolbert passed on Russell Wilson with the first pick despite knowing Wilson would be an upgrade over Dalton. Instead he took Jamaal Charles, the outstanding runner who saw his usage decline greatly in 2014. His second pick netted Reggie Bush, who failed to top 45 points in a single outing. Tolbert also attempted a few trades to bring in some youth and speed up the winning process, but they didn't work. Mid-way through the season, Tolbert cut bait with the keeper he took over Russell Wilson, instead taking back Eli Manning (whom his team name is made in mockery of), the handcuff to his first-overall pick Knile Davis, an embattled Percy Harvin and a washed-up Chris Johnson. He focused on the future by giving Blake Bortles a chance, auditioning him for a shot at a keeper selection.

The next year, Tolbert won.

Taylor Snow: Ownership Profile

TEAM SNOWMAN

Taylor Snow

63-78 (.447) Overall Record

Season      Record       Finish        Postseason                    PF (rnk)          PA (rnk)
2019 -       7-7            t-6th            None                            5372 (4th)       5408 (9th)
2018 -       3-11           8th              None                            5563 (4th)       5983 (7th)
2017 -       5-9             t-6th           None                            4596 (4th)       4663 (3rd)
2016 -       6-8             6th              None                            5445 (1st)       5228 (7th)
2015 -       7-7             5th              None                            4851 (6th)       4942 (3rd)
2014 -       8-6             t-3rd           Lost in 1st round
2013 -       5-9             t-6th           None
2012 -       5-9             t-7th           None
2011 -       6-8             5th              None
2010 -       11-4           1st              Lost in 1st round
Joined League in 2010


Keepers History:

2019 - QB Aaron Rodgers, RB David Johnson
2018 - RB David Johnson
2017 - RB David Johnson
2016 - RB David Johnson
2015 - QB Philip Rivers, RB C.J. Anderson
2014 - QB Colin Kaepernick, QB Philip Rivers
2013 - QB Colin Kaepernick, RB Ray Rice
2012 - RB Ray Rice, WR Larry Fitzgerald
2011 - RB Ray Rice, WR Larry Fitzgerald
2010 - RB Ray Rice, WR Larry Fitzgerald

Trivia:
-11 wins in 2010 is most ever by a first-year franchise owner after start of league.
-Only owner in league history to be winless in 2 or more postseason appearances.
-Only owner in history to not select a quarterback as a keeper three seasons in a row.
-Career 0-2 postseason record.

Trade History:
None


Head-to-Head Records:
vs. Bennett: 12-8 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Russ: 8-12
vs. Davis: 7-15 (2-0 postseason)
vs. Spinella: 7-14 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Austin: 7-12
vs. Ryan H: 5-2
vs. Tolbert: 4-4
vs. Bloom: 4-4
vs. Poitras: 2-5
vs. Varney: 2-0
vs. Worth: 0-2



Abridged History:

Taylor Snow joined the fantasy league in 2010 after a summer with Commissioner Spinella in Ithaca, New York. His initial work was less daunting than any other newcomer to inherit a team, as he inherited a playoff team from the previous season. What was difficult for Snow was figuring out how to make his keeper selections. Quarterbacks Roethlisberger and Stafford, running backs Ray Rice, Knowshon Moreno and Ahmad Bradshaw, and wide receivers Wes Welker, Larry Fitzgerald and Reggie Wayne were all in play. Snow boldly decided on Ray Rice and Larry Fitzgerald, a positional combination that usually leaves owners in difficult shape. Snowman unconventionally ignored the quarterback position in the draft, and his strategy paid off throughout the regular season. Snow was loaded with runners like Arian Foster and Peyton Hillis to give him a consistent source of points. After winning the regular season outright, postseason troubles caught up to him at the quarterback position. Starting Kerry Collins and Jon Kitna in a postseason game, Snow was upset by the 7-8 Team Bennett in the semifinals, a disappointing end to his first season in the league.

That lack of a quarterback bogged Snow down in 2011 much more than in the previous season. With no legitimate keeper to target at the position, he once again hung onto Ray Rice and Larry Fitzgerald. Ben Roethlisberger and Sam Bradford got the nod, and both disappointed mildly. Snowman struggled to get big points throughout the season, only topping the 400 point plateau four times in the fourteen-week regular season while dipping below 300 three times.

For a third straight year, Snowman entered his fantasy season with Ray Rice and Larry Fitzgerald as his keepers. Spurning Roethlisberger after a difficult campaign was a mistake in retrospect, and Rice started to slow during the 2012 campaign. It was a season to forget for Snowman, who never amounted to much. One bright spot was the finding of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who became a keeper for Snowman heading into the future.

2013 started with Kaepernick and Rice as a really strong tandem. Rice was expected to be a great pass-catching option out of the backfield, while Kaepernick was a dual threat that played behind an outstanding offensive line. Both players disappointed. Rice finished 25th among running backs, while Kaepernick was 14th in quarterbacks and showed some troubling signs of regression. Philip Rivers and Matt Forte were both solid players, finishing in the top-three at their position. Team Snowman did not make the postseason and won only 5 games in 2013. Perhaps the biggest dilemma facing Snow was the impending keepers decision. With Kaepernick, Rivers, Rice and Forte he had three legitimate keeper options.

Snow ended up going with the two quarterbacks, opting to go with the safer route based on who was available. He ended up reuniting with Forte during the draft, and plucked Lamar Miller and Jordy Nelson as well. What helped Snow turn the corner and get back to the postseason after a three year drought was not the high-level picks. Snow nailed the little things, finding diamonds in the rough that he milked the entire season. Kelvin Benjamin was a late round pick, and the rookie put up exceptional numbers. Waiver wire additions Justin Forsett and C.J. Anderson both finished in the top-fifteen among running backs in total points. An 8-6 record and a postseason appearance were admirable finishes for Snow. The season came to a disappointing end when he lost a low scoring affair to Team Spinella 306-227.

Craig Davis: Ownership Profile

CAM AND THE SNOWMEN

Craig Davis

86-55 (.609) Overall Record

Season      Record       Finish        Postseason                           PF (rank)           PA (rank)
2019 -       8-6             5th             None                                    5593 (1st)         5035 (4th)
2018 -       5-9             7th             None                                    5477 (5th)         6168 (8th)
2017 -       11-3           1st             Lost in Championship          5233 (2nd)        4607 (2nd)
2016 -       7-7             5th             None                                    5369 (2nd)        5198 (6th)
2015 -       7-7             4th             Lost in Championship         4902 (5th)         5008 (5th)
2014 -       8-6             t-3rd          Lost in 1st round
2013 -       10-4           t-1st          Won Championship
2012 -       7-7             t-4th          Lost in 1st round
2011 -       13-1           1st             Lost in Championship
2010 -       10-5           t-2nd         Lost in 1st round
Joined in 2010


Keepers History:

2019 - RB Le'Veon Bell, RB Christian McCaffrey
2018 - RB Le'Veon Bell
2017 - RB Le'Veon Bell
2016 - QB Cam Newton
2015 - QB Cam Newton, RB LeSean McCoy
2014 - QB Cam Newton, RB LeSean McCoy
2013 - QB Cam Newton, RB Jamaal Charles
2012 - QB Cam Newton, RB LeSean McCoy
2011 - QB Philip Rivers, RB Maurice Jones-Drew
2010 - QB Philip Rivers, RB Maurice Jones-Drew

Trivia:
-Only franchise to never post a losing season.
-2011 season set record for highest single-season win percentage (.928) in league history.
-2011 season tied league record for wins (13; Ryan Hill, 2008).
-Six win decrease from 2011 to 2012 (13 to 7) is biggest consecutive season decrease in league history.
-Career 4-5 Postseason Record.


Trade History:

-September 11, 2014: Craig Davis acquires WR T.Y. Hilton and WR Michael Floyd and gave up RB Andre Williams, WR Torrey Smith and WR Justin Hunter in a three-way trade with Andrew Tolbert and Adam Spinella.


Head-to-Head Records:
vs. Bennett: 16-6 (1-0 postseason)
vs. Russ: 14-7 (2-2 postseason)
vs. Snow: 15-7 (0-2 postseason)
vs. Austin: 11-11 (0-2 postseason)
vs. Spinella: 8-13 (1-2 postseason)
vs. Tolbert: 6-3 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Bloom: 4-5 (1-0 postseason)
vs. Poitras: 4-4
vs. Ryan H: 4-4
vs. Varney: 1-0
vs. Worth: 1-0


Abridged History:

Craig Davis joined the fantasy league for the 2010 season, and he hasn't looked back since. Initially skeptical of the scoring system and its unique features, Davis quickly learned to master the system and earned himself a postseason birth in his rookie season. Despite inheriting a poor roster, Philip Rivers and Maurice Jones-Drew provided adequate keeper selections and a foundation for the roster. David went 10-5 and tied for second with Adam Spinella, getting the two to face off in the first round. Jones-Drew was hurt and missed the matchup, and replacement Mike Tolbert added a nice negative-two points in his stead. Spinella also got a huge performance from Aaron Rodgers as Davis was knocked out in the first round, 384-335.

Rivers and Jones-Drew returned in 2011, the historic campaign that resembles the 2007 New England Patriots. Davis went a wondrous 13-1 in the regular season, dropping a game to Kyle Russ in Week 12. Davis had all the confidence in the world, despite amassing 450 points only three times in the regular season. After exacting revenge on Russ in the first round of the playoffs, Davis lost the championship game in stunning fashion. Facing Austin Hill's Drew Brees-led squad, Davis had a comfortable lead heading into Monday Night Football. Despite having clinched a division title and having the game at hand, Brees was left in deep into the 4th quarter that Monday night to chase the passing record, which he achieved that game. It was enough to push Hill from behind to beat Davis for the title. If you still ask Craig about that Saints game today, he'll complain that Sean Payton lost him a championship.

The rivalry for Davis was always with and always has been with Team Spinella. The two winningest teams in the league's history were both in danger of missing the postseason in 2012, battling each other for the fourth and final spot. Davis snuck ahead of Spinella by virtue of a tiebreaker and garnered himself the 4th overall seed. Led by his 2011 keeper success story Cam Newton (who led the team to a 13-1 record), the sophomore slump was very real. A poor season for other keeper LeSean McCoy hurt Craig personally and in fantasy as well. Davis may have gotten into the postseason to keep his playoff streak alive, but he was embarrassed in the first round by the eventual champion Austin Hill. Davis put up only 218 points as he was knocked out by the eventual champion for the third-straight season.

Losing to the champion three years in a row is never an easy pill to swallow. 2013 proved to be the year Davis finally got over the hump. After choosing to keep Jamaal Charles over LeSean McCoy, David had McCoy fall into his lap again in the second round of the draft. The two ended up being the top-two scoring running backs in the league in 2013. Cam Newton regained his form as an elite fantasy quarterback. Late-round fliers on Josh Gordon and Eric Decker proved fruitful; Gordon led all receivers in points and Decker had 56 points in the championship game. But prior to that championship victory over Russell Bloom, there was the most controversial finish in the history of the league. A postseason matchup between Davis and Russ (the old fella that ended Craig's unbeaten season in 2011) was a thrilling duel, and it ended in a dead-on tie, 421 to 421. The first tie in league history, the tiebreaker went to Davis, but it wasn't without controversy. Davis went on to win the title, and that's all the history books will recognize.

The title defense was not as easy as Davis had hoped. Cam Newton once again battled consistency issues, finishing with his worst fantasy season of his career. Outside of LeSean McCoy and a solid year from Alfred Morris, the team had little to no running back depth. A mid-season trade to acquire two high-powered receivers flamed out -- both Torrey Smith and Michael Floyd were off the roster by the end of the season. Davis made the postseason by going a respectable 8-6 during the regular season (keeping his postseason streak in tact) but put up an embarrassing 266 points against Kyle Russ in the first round.

Carter Bennett: Ownership Profile

TEAM AMERICA

Carter Bennett

78-96 (.448) Overall Record

Season      Record       Finish        Postseason                          PF (rank)        PA (rank)
2019 -       7-7            t-6th           None                                   4932 (7th)       5234 (7th)
2018 -       9-5             3rd             Lost in 1st Round               6016 (2nd)      5463 (2nd)
2017 -       7-7             4th             Lost in 1st Round               4509 (6th)       4920 (8th)
2016 -       5-9             t-7th          None                                   5005 (4th)       5132 (5th)
2015 -       4-10           t-7th          None                                   4783 (7th)       5168 (6th)
2014 -       3-11           8th             None
2013 -       7-7             5th             None
2012 -       5-9             t-7th           None
2011 -       2-12           8th             None
2010 -       7-8             4th             Lost in Championship
2009 -       12-4           t-1st           Lost in Championship
2008 -       10-7           t-3rd           None


Keepers History:

2019 - QB Matt Ryan, RB Alvin Kamara
2018 - QB Matt Ryan
2017 - QB Drew Brees
2016 - QB Marcus Mariota
2015 - QB Matt Ryan, QB Ryan Tannehill
2014 - QB Matt Ryan, QB Nick Foles
2013 - QB Matt Ryan, RB Maurice Jones-Drew
2012 - QB Andy Dalton, WR Mike Wallace
2011 - QB Peyton Manning, QB Matt Cassel
2010 - QB Peyton Manning, RB DeAngelo Williams
2009 - QB Peyton Manning, RB DeAngelo Williams

Trivia:
-Six-year playoff drought is longest streak for an owner in league history.
-Lost both championship games to Adam Spinella.
-2011 season: lowest single-season win total (2) and winning percentage (.166) in league history.
-One of two teams to go from championship to last place in successive seasons (Ryan Hill, '08-'09).
-10 wins in 2008 season is most by team to miss postseason.
-Career 2-3 Postseason Record.


Trade History:
None


Head-to-Head Records:
vs. Spinella: 11-15 (0-2 postseason)
vs. Russ: 9-14
vs. Austin: 9-16 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Snow: 8-12 (1-0 postseason)
vs. Davis: 6-16 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Poitras: 5-3
vs. Bloom: 4-4
vs. Ryan H: 4-4
vs. Tolbert: 3-5
vs. Varney: 2-0
vs. Worth: 1-0



Abridged History:

2008 was a difficult season for Bennett to swallow, dropping to 5th place down the stretch despite winning 5 of his final 7 games. A head-to-head loss to Kyle Russ in the final week was a brutal blow for Bennett, but the 10 wins in the first season certainly was not a difficult pill to swallow. With Peyton Manning as an obvious keeper, the future looked bright for Bennett -- and the next few seasons brought two championship appearances.

That championship run in 2009 for Bennett saw him tie for the league-lead in wins with 12, anchored of course by Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and a great receiving corps. Bennett went on a seven-game win streak in the meat of the season, breezing through his bye weeks to sit at 10-2 at one point in the year. However, a demoralizing loss in the championship to Adam Spinella by 214 ruined any title hopes Bennett had.

2010 was much of the same for Carter's team. Even though he finished the regular season 7-8, Bennett did just enough to squeak into the playoffs, beating out the Clough Road rivals of Austin and Ryan Hill. The first round brought a wonderful upset for Bennett as well, knocking off top-seeded newcomer Taylor Snow when Snow started quarterbacks Jon Kitna and Kerry Collins. Getting to the championship game once again, Bennett faced a familiar foe: Adam Spinella. Things looked strong for Bennett, with Spinella's top scorer per-game Michael Vick out with an injury. The result was brutal for Bennett however, as Vick's replacement Tim Tebow put up 80 points, and Bennett's second quarterback Matt Cassel only landed 3. That was the difference in the game, finishing 405-336 in Spinella's favor. Bennett also may have sealed his fate with a horrible keeper decision, sticking with Chief QB Matt Cassel over running back LeSean McCoy heading into next season.

After back-to-back title game appearances, Bennett's fate changed for the worse in the offseason between 2010 and 2011. Bennett held onto Peyton Manning as his keeper, hoping Manning would be able to come back from offseason surgery on his throwing arm. When Manning could not recover and missed the entire season, it sent Bennett's entire fantasy year down the drain. Bennett threw the season away, but did so in unwise fashion. He released Manning, which allowed Team Russ to swoop in and take Peyton as his own keeper. The 2011 keeper selection for Bennett, Matt Cassel, was benched a year after throwing 27 TDs and 7 INTs. Bennett finished with the worst record in league history that year, going 2-12.

2012 was marginally better for Bennett, but it did not provide him enough to get into the playoffs. Keepers Andy Dalton and Mike Wallace were solid for their expectations, but it was clearly the worst collection of keepers any team had seen in league history. Bennett (now naming his squad Team America) drafted well in 2012: Matt Ryan was selected with the first pick and became a franchise cornerstone for years to come. Bennett was held back by extreme turmoil at the running back position: he finished the season with only one running back in the top 25 in points (Ahmad Bradshaw, 18th).

While Ryan was to be the face of the franchise in 2013 and moving forward, Bennett squandered his second keeper pick, taking Maurice Jones-Drew, and first pick in the draft, as Arian Foster ended up missing the majority of the season. An unlucky break to be sure; Bennett had other players in place that would have made for a solid season if his top two running backs had not been hurt. The most pleasant surprise of the season was the emergence of Nick Foles in the Philadelphia Eagles offense. A great waiver wire pickup for Bennett, he banked on that statistical output benefiting his fantasy team in 2014.

Matt Ryan and Nick Foles. Finally Bennett had two high-powered quarterbacks to bank on in 2014. Unfortunately, Bennett's team never fulfilled that potential. Nick Foles got hurt and appeared to lose his starting spot and confidence in the process. First-round pick Doug Martin struggled mightily, finishing 45th in running back points. Without a single running back or wide receiver in the top ten statistically at their position, Bennett once again fell to last place in the league, finishing 3-11.

Kyle Russ: Ownership Profile

THE RUSS BUS

Kyle Russ

91-83 (.523) Overall Record

Season      Record       Finish        Postseason                         PF (rank)         PA (rank)
2019 -       8-6             4th             Lost in 1st round               5135 (6th)        5181 (6th)
2018 -       7-7             4th             Won Championship         5419 (6th)       5546 (4th)
2017 -       10-4           2nd            Lost in 1st round                5353 (1st)       4811 (5th)
2016 -       8-6             3rd             Lost in 1st round               4926 (8th)       4915 (2nd)
2015 -       5-9             6th             None                                  4907 (4th)       5344 (8th)
2014 -       9-5             2nd            Won Championship
2013 -       8-6             t-3rd          Lost in 1st round
2012 -       8-6             3rd             Lost in 1st round
2011 -       7-7             4th             Lost in 1st round
2010 -       5-10           t-7th          None
2009 -       6-10           5th             None
2008 -       10-7           t-3rd          None


Keepers History:

2019 - QB Carson Wentz, QB Baker Mayfield
2018 - QB Carson Wentz
2017 - QB Russell Wilson
2016 - QB Russell Wilson
2015 - QB Peyton Manning, QB Russell Wilson
2014 - QB Peyton Manning, RB Marshawn Lynch
2013 - QB Peyton Manning, RB Marshawn Lynch
2012 - QB Peyton Manning, QB Tony Romo
2011 - QB Tony Romo, RB Cedric Benson
2010 - QB Tony Romo, RB Brandon Jacobs
2009 - QB Tony Romo, QB Jay Cutler


Trivia:
-9 Wins is tied for lowest mark for League Champion (Austin Hill).
-Current 8 season drought since winning double-digit games is longest of all-time.
-Only current owner to post back-to-back seasons with double-digit losses.
-Has won a league-record four third place games (4-0 in such games)
-Career 4-6 Postseason Record.


Trade History:

-November 25, 2008: Kyle Russ trades RB Darren McFadden, RB Warrick Dunn, WR Donald Driver to Allen Khayat for RB Brian Westbrook, RB LenDale White and WR Santonio Holmes.
-October 15, 2008: Kyle Russ trades RB Brian Westbrook and WR Marvin Harrison to Adam Spinella for RB Steve Slaton and WR Antwaan Randle-El.


Head-to-Head Records:
vs. Bennett: 14-9
vs. Snow: 13-8
vs. Austin: 13-15 (2-1 postseason)
vs. Spinella: 11-18 (3-1 postseason)
vs. Davis: 9-14 (2-2 postseason)
vs. Tolbert: 6-2
vs. Bloom: 5-4 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Ryan H: 6-2
vs. Poitras: 5-4 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Worth: 1-1
vs. Varney: 0-1


Abridged History:

Kyle Russ started his ownership in 2008 on a low note, leaving September at 1-3 and ending up 3-5 at one point. A late-season trade for Brian Westbrook turned around his fortune however, as Russ went on 5 of his final 6 games to surpass Team Bennett (capped off by a head-to-head victory) for a top-four spot in the league and an overall 10-7 record. That run included a season-high 570 point outing and two wins over cross-town rival Austin Hill. It may not have been an incredibly successful season, but the quarterback tandem of Jay Cutler and Tony Romo seemed poised for a run in the future.

2009 was a bit of a step back, winning only 6 games in the face of a plethora of injuries. Russ held three quarterbacks throughout the year that were all healthy: Tony Romo, Jay Cutler and Brett Favre. Still he was unable to get the rest of the roster to work: Brian Westbrook and Willie Parker battled injuries throughout the season. After a disappointing campaign from Cutler, Russ was faced with a difficult keeper decision: does he roll with Cutler again, keep the oft-injured Westbrook or retain another one of his disappointing running backs?

Last place is where Russ found himself in 2010. Once again, injuries played a big role in his season. Keeper selection Tony Romo played in only six games, Russ released his other keeper Brandon Jacobs, and a litany of average or slightly-above-average players made it difficult for Russ to discern what matchups to use on a weekly basis. Stepping up biggest was team's top scorer Cedric Benson, who propelled himself into the conversation of being a keeper selection for the next season.

In 2011, Russ broke a two-season playoff drought by snatching up the 4th seed with a 7-7 record. Kyle started the season strong, going 4-0 and quickly asserting himself as a serious contender. Despite a mild disappointment from keeper Cedric Benson, Russ used a balanced attack to get into the postseason and endure a rocky finish. The highlight of his 2011 was being the only one to defeat Team Davis in the regular season, knocking him down in Week 12, 424-395. The win came as a big surprise, as it was his only win during the final five weeks of the regular season. Perhaps the biggest move Russ could have made set him up for success in future seasons, and was made during the postseason. Russ added the injured Peyton Manning to his roster, allowing him to keep Manning for next season as a potential keeper.

That Peyton Manning pickup carried Russ (now renamed Team Shiva) in 2012. With Manning and Romo at the helm, Russ drafted wisely at the running back position. He added Marshawn Lynch, DeMarco Murray and C.J. Spiller, the best running back trio in the game that season. Russ struggled elsewhere, fielding poor receivers and getting little-to-no production from the second tight end slot. In what was a unique and even year in the league, Russ won eight games and got the third seed in the playoffs. He lost to brash newcomer Russell Bloom in a close contest, once again foiled by a zero-point performance from the second tight end slot.

Another 8 regular season wins, another third-place finish. 2013 saw once again a hot start, going 6-0 to being the year before losing 5 of the final 6 games. It was the same-old, same-old for Russ, who ended up drawing a first-round matchup with Craig Davis. These two have engaged in many classic battles through the years, but none like this. In controversial and unnerving fashion, Russ and Davis fought to a dead-on tie, 421 to 421. Per league rules, the home team wins (in postseason play, that's the team with the better regular season record). As a result, Russ's season came to a stunning conclusion and led to one of the more awkward exits in recent memory. To make matters worse, the opponent that would've been waiting for Russ in the title game put up a measly 282 points, a number that would have given Russ a league championship had he made the title game.

Hell bent on vengeance in 2014, Russ came out swinging by drafting Russell Wilson to pair with Peyton Manning. While Russ did whiff on early-round draft picks Ben Tate and Ryan Mathews, he was top-heavy enough to bulldoze his way through the regular season at 9-5, good for second in the league. Manning, Wilson, keeper Marshawn Lynch and wide-out Demaryius Thomas were consistently putting up high numbers, which offset the rest of the unpredictability his roster brought. Free agent acquisition Matt Asiata was also big; it allowed him a low-price replacement to the injured Mathews and the released Ben Tate. After avenging his 2013 exit to Davis with a convincing first-round postseason victory, Russ demolished Team Spinella in the championship to win the 2014 league title, his first in the seven years of the league.

Austin Hill: Ownership Profile

AUSTIN CHILL

Austin Hill

102-72 (.586) Overall Record

Season      Record       Finish        Postseason                               PF (rank)        PA (rank)
2019 -       8-6             3rd             Lost in Championship             5341 (5th)      4930 (3rd)
2018 -       10-4           2nd            Lost in Championship              6231 (1st)      5473 (3rd)
2017 -       6-8             5th             None                                        4586 (5th)      4601 (1st)
2016 -       9-5             1st             Won Championship               4966 (6th)      4896 (1st)
2015 -       10-4           2nd            Lost in 1st round                     5602 (1st)       4936 (2nd)
2014 -       6-8             t-5th          None
2013 -       8-6             t-3rd          Lost in 1st round
2012 -       9-5             t-1st          Won Championship
2011 -       9-5             3rd            Won Championship
2010 -       6-9             t-5th          None
2009 -       11-5           3rd             Lost in 1st round
2008 -       10-7           t-3rd          None


Keepers History:

2019 - QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Ezekiel Elliott
2018 - RB Leonard Fournette
2017 - TE Rob Gronkowski
2016 - RB Adrian Peterson
2015 - QB Drew Brees, TE Rob Gronkowski
2014 - QB Drew Brees, QB Matthew Stafford
2013 - QB Drew Brees, QB Matthew Stafford
2012 - QB Drew Brees, QB Matthew Stafford
2011 - QB Drew Brees, RB Chris Johnson
2010 - QB Drew Brees, RB Chris Johnson
2009 - QB Drew Brees, RB Chris Johnson

Trivia:
-3 Championships is tied for most all-time (Spinella).
-9 Wins is tied for lowest mark for League Champion (achieved twice) (Russ).
-9-5 Record in 2012 was lowest for any regular season wins leader.
-First owner to select a TE as a keeper (Rob Gronkowski, 2015 and 2017).
-Career 8-5 postseason record


Trade History:

-October 9, 2012: Austin Hill trades QB Andrew Luck to Adam Spinella for QB Kevin Kolb and RB Mikel Leshoure.
-October 12, 2010: Austin Hill trades RB Knowshon Moreno and RB Justin Forsett to Adam Spinella for QB Matt Schaub and RB Cadillac Williams.
-November 27, 2008: Austin Hill trades RB LaDanian Tomlinson, RB Joseph Addai and WR Donald Driver to Adam Spinella for RB Marshawn Lynch, RB Chris Johnson, WR Hines Ward.
-October 15, 2008: Austin Hill trades QB Donovan McNabb, RB Ricky Williams and TE John Carlson to Justin Worth for RB LaDanian Tomlinson, RB Matt Forte and WR Anquan Boldin.

Head-to-Head Records:
vs. Bennett: 18-7 (1-0 postseason)
vs. Russ: 15-13 (1-2 postseason)
vs. Snow: 12-7
vs. Davis: 11-11 (2-0 postseason)
vs. Spinella: 9-18 (2-1 postseason)
vs. Poitras: 6-4 (1-1 postseason)
vs. Ryan H: 5-2
vs. Tolbert: 5-4 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Bloom: 5-5 (1-1 postseason)
vs. Varney: 2-0
vs. Worth: 2-0



Abridged History:

The Inaugural Season of the Bro League for Fantasy Football saw three teams tie for third place with 10 wins. Among them was Austin Hill's team, seemingly taking the most up-and-down route to a strong campaign. Austin lost 5 of his last 7 games, and two head-to-head losses to his brother and eventual champion Ryan were painful. Perhaps no game has ever been more painful than the two-point loss to Ryan in Week 3, Austin's first loss of the season and a game that ended up propelling Ryan to the championship. The season was not a failure by any means. Hill was able to keep his roster sound for years to come by drafting Drew Brees; a great pick-up and a keeper for over seven years.

2009 saw Austin improve his team from 10 wins to 11 and once again make the postseason. Keepers Drew Brees and Chris Johnson (as well as Matt Forte) were a huge part of the team's success throughout. Hill finished strong, winning the final five games of the regular season. He also exacted a measure of revenge on his brother, sweeping him in three matchups and pushing him from first-to-worst.

Brees and Johnson both returned in 2010, and Austin made another charge late in the year as he sought for a postseason birth. This charge, however, was down the standings, as Hill fell to 4-8 by Week 13. He still ended up finishing just one game out of the playoff race, and a four-point loss to Team Bennett on Week 10 ended up being what put Carter in the playoffs and kept Austin out. It's hard to believe such a loaded team missed the playoffs, featuring the QB tandem of Brees and Matt Ryan, and such running backs as Chris Johnson, Jamaal Charles, Matt Forte, Brandon Jacobs, Marshawn Lynch and Ryan Mathews.

Fortunes turned around quickly for Hill in 2011, who waded through all the difficult keeper decisions and held onto Brees and Chris Johnson once again. The 9-5 record Hill amassed in the regular season was not indicative of the high-powered offense he possessed, barely trailing the 13-1 Craig Davis for total points scored. Those high point totals came late in the season for Austin: he put up over 450 points in 3 of the final 4 weeks of the season (regular and postseason). After hanging over 580 points on 2nd seeded Team Spinella in the semifinals, Austin went head-to-head with the one-loss Davis for the title. It came down to Drew Brees, Austin's star quarterback, who had the Monday Night Football slot. Despite having clinched a division title and having the game at hand, Brees was left in deep into the 4th quarter that Monday night to chase the passing record, which he achieved that game. It was enough to push Hill from behind to beat Davis for the title. It was the first title for Austin and sweet revenge for the epic 536-502 loss from earlier in the year.

It's hard to call a trade that helps you win a title a bad one, but that's what everyone in the league has done. Hill made the controversial decision to trade his third-string quarterback Andrew Luck to Team Spinella for Kevin Kolb and a much-needed running back, Mikel Leshoure. Hill dominated throughout the season, finishing for the top spot in the league during the regular season after benefiting from the breakout of The Muscle Hamster Doug Martin. The top-ten quarterback pairing of Stafford and Brees made Luck (who was inconsistent early) expendable for Hill, but it was a very short-sighted decision. While many look back at this season as "the one where Austin gave away Andrew Luck" it was also the one where Austin became back-to-back champion. He won the closest championship matchup in league history, beating Russell Bloom 400-392.

2013 was the pursuit of the three-peat for Austin Hill, and he chugged through the regular season just as he always did. Sporting the most vile picture in the history of the league, Hill allowed his quarterback tandem of Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford to carry the team once again. Eddie Lacy and Chris Johnson posted top-ten performances at running back as well. In the first round of the playoffs, Hill saw himself in a championship rematch against Russell Bloom, who was looking to exact revenge for the nail-biting finish from a year ago. Bloom outlasted Hill 452-359 to put an end to the three-peat bid.

Hill took a step back in 2014 as his running back play slipped to its lowest level in his ownership. Other than Arian Foster, he lacked a top-20 back, and had only 2 in the top 50 (Fred Jackson and Tre Mason). Running with a wide receiver almost permanently in the flex spot, Hill had five regular-season performances with under 300 points. The question facing him going forward was what to do with the keeper position: should he keep Brees and Stafford together or hang onto Arian Foster while he has him?

Adam Spinella: Ownership Profile

TEAM SPINELLA

Adam Spinella
League Commissioner

111-62 (.642) Overall Record

Season      Record       Finish        Postseason                             PF (rank)        PA (rank)
2019 -       9-5             2nd            Lost in 1st Round                  5475 (3rd)      4702 (1st)
2018 -       10-4           1st              Lost in 1st Round                 5962 (3rd)       5357 (1st)
2017 -       7-7             3rd            Won Championship             4913 (3rd)       4831 (6th)
2016 -       8-6             4th             Lost in 1st round                   4967 (5th)       5007 (4th)
2015 -       10-4           1st             Lost in 1st round                   5174 (3rd)       4663 (1st)
2014 -       11-3           1st              Lost in Championship
2013 -       5-9             t-6th           None
2012 -       7-7             t-4th           None; lost on tiebreaker
2011 -       11-3           2nd            Lost in 1st round
2010 -       10-5           t-2nd          Won Championship
2009 -       12-4           t-1st           Won Championship
2008 -       12-5           2nd            Lost in Championship


Keepers History:

2019 - RB Todd Gurley, RB Nick Chubb
2018 - RB Todd Gurley
2017 - QB Aaron Rodgers
2016 - QB Aaron Rodgers
2015 - QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Andrew Luck
2014 - QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Andrew Luck
2013 - QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Andrew Luck
2012 - QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Michael Vick
2011 - QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Michael Vick
2010 - QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Michael Turner
2009 - QB Aaron Rodgers, RB LaDanian Tomlinson

Trivia:
-5 Championship appearances are most all-time.
-3 Championships is most all-time.
-Made Championship game each of first three seasons
-.642 Winning Percentage is highest in league history
-24 Wins in two season span; 34 in three season span; 45 in four season span are all most all-time.
-6 Double-digit win seasons is most all-time.
-111 Career Wins is most all-time.
-11 Postseason appearances is most all-time
-First in the league to 100 win mark.
-The only original member of the league to post only one season below .500 (2013).
-Six win decrease from 2013 to 2014 (5 to 11) is the biggest consecutive season increase in league history.
-Career 8-7 postseason record.


Trade History:

-October 3, 2017: Adam Spinella trades RB Mark Ingram, RB LeGarrette Blount and QB Sam Bradford for RB DeMarco Murray and QB Jared Goff
-November 16, 2016: Adam Spinella trades RB Ryan Mathews to Tommy Poitras for WR Stefon Diggs.
-October 15, 2015: Adam Spinella trades RB Chris Johnson, WR Sammy Watkins, and WR Mike Wallace to Russell Bloom for RB Shane Vereen and WR A.J. Green.
-October 2, 2014: Adam Spinella trades QB Eli Manning, RB Chris Johnson, RB Knile Davis and WR Percy Harvin to Andrew Tolbert for QB Andy Dalton, RB Andre Ellington, RB Reggie Bush, and RB Andre Williams.
-September 11, 2014: Adam Spinella acquires RB Bishop Sankey, RB Andre Williams, and WR Wes Welker and gave up WR T.Y. Hilton and RB Trent Richardson in a three-way trade with Craig Davis and Andrew Tolbert.
-October 8, 2013: Adam Spinella trades QB Andy Dalton and RB Jonathan Franklin to Andrew Tolbert for RB Danny Woodhead and WR Mike Wallace.
-October 9, 2012: Adam Spinella trades QB Kevin Kolb and RB Mikel Leshoure to Austin Hill for QB Andrew Luck.
-October 12, 2010: Adam Spinella trades QB Matt Schaub and RB Cadillac Williams to Austin Hill for RB Knowshon Moreno and RB Justin Forsett.
-November 27, 2008: Adam Spinella trades RB Marshawn Lynch, RB Chris Johnson, WR Hines Ward to Austin Hill for RB LaDanian Tomlinson, RB Joseph Addai and WR Donald Driver.
-October 15, 2008: Adam Spinella trades RB Steve Slaton and WR Antwaan Randle-El to Kyle Russ for RB Brian Westbrook and WR Marvin Harrison.


Head-to-Head Records:
vs. A. Hill: 18-9 (1-2 postseason)
vs. Russ: 18-11 (1-3 postseason)
vs. Bennett: 15-11 (2-0 postseason)
vs. Snow: 14-7 (1-0 postseason)
vs. Davis: 13-8 (2-1 postseason)
vs. R. Hill: 5-2
vs. Bloom: 4-4
vs. Tolbert: 4-4
vs. Poitras: 2-6 (0-1 postseason)
vs. Worth: 2-0
vs. Varney: 1-0


Abridged History:

The 2008 Inaugural Season saw Team Spinella come up just short to owner Ryan Hill despite leading the league in total points. After making two big trades mid-season to rework his roster, Spinella's moves were not enough to overcome the team assembled by Ryan, whose team was taken by Autopick. Spinella set the foundation for years of success by drafting Aaron Rodgers in his first season as a starter, as well as riding a running back tandem of LaDanian Tomlinson and Michael Turner through the postseason. The reason Spinella finished in second place: two head-to-head losses to eventual league champion Hill, including a seven-point loss in week nine.

With Rodgers and Tomlinson as keepers (and Michael Turner getting retained as well), Spinella was able to burn through the league with a 12-4 record and his first ever league championship. While the combination of Rodgers and Turner was formidable, Spinella won the championship by winning the waiver wire, with pickups such as Rashard Mendenhall, Michael Crabtree, and Jamaal Charles. Charles had a triple-digit performance in the championship game, which propelled Spinella over Team Bennett.

In 2010, Spinella won his second championship in as many years and scored his third straight championship game appearance. The regular season finished 10-5 for Spinella, championed by an incredible string of games put together by waiver wire pickup Michael Vick. Vick's darling season for the Eagles propelled Spinella to the title, as he held two explosive quarterbacks and a solid overall roster. Once again, Spinella met Carter Bennett in the championship game, knocking him off 405-336 after a huge performance from Tim Tebow, the injury replacement to Vick.

Looking to make 2011 the year of the three-peat, Spinella made the obvious choice of keeping Rodgers and Vick as his keepers. It didn't fail him, as he went 11-3 in the regular season for his best season to date. But Spinella battled a below-average receiving corps all season, and it finally caught up to him in the postseason. Running into Austin Hill in the first round, Spinella lost despite putting up 433 points. Hill's quarterbacks Brees and Stafford combined for 207 points and a 581-433 victory.

Beating Davis in the playoffs two seasons prior, then finishing as the two top teams in the 2011 regular season meant that the rivalry was budding in 2012. Unfortunately, both battled injuries and subpar performances. Spinella lost keeper Michael Vick early in the season, and it was a blow to his playoff hopes. Instead of charging towards the top of the standings, he pulled off undoubtedly the most memorable trade in league history: Kevin Kolb and Mikel Leshoure for Andrew Luck. This trade changed the course of his franchise, and the league, for years to come. It didn't pay off for Spinella right away -- too many injuries to his roster (Darren McFadden, Michael Turner, Julio Jones) kept him at .500, finishing 7-7. It was Spinella's rival, Craig Davis, that got the tiebreaker over Spinella to make the postseason.

Injuries, injuries, injuries. That was the motto of the 2013 season for Spinella, as one keeper and two of his first three draft picks all missed considerable time. Aaron Rodgers' collarbone injury disrupted the franchise now built around its two-QB core. Julio Jones and Doug Martin both missed more than half the season as well. Despite solid running back pickups elsewhere, Spinella went 5-9, the worst mark he had achieved. The setback was clear, but with Rodgers and Luck at the core of the roster, 2014 looked incredibly promising.

Keepers Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers finished 1st and 2nd in the league in scoring. The first two picks of the draft, Eddie Lacy and Le'Veon Bell, were 6th and 2nd in running back points themselves. The top-heavy roster of Team Spinella certainly had enough firepower to bombard their way through the regular season with a strong 11-3 record. Other injuries and roster shuffling led to many moving pieces coming in and out of the lineup. A key trade was to gain running back stability, which netted Spinella Andre Ellington to anchor the running back group. An injury to Ellington at the end of the season, plus typical late-season unpredictability cost Spinella a shot at another championship. He was routed in the title game by Kyle Russ, a disappointing end to what was a dominant regular season.

Spinella nailed the draft in 2015; his kepeers of Rodgers and Luck were great pick-ups, DeMarco Murray and Mark Ingram played phenomenally, and rookie Todd Gurley ended up as a top-four RB that season. Despite the need for constant roster tinkering, Spinella went 10-4 again in the regular season, even stumbling out of the gate with a loss against the poor Tolberts. But after two resounding regular season victories over Craig Davis, with 400+ points in each, Spinella stumbled in the first-round of the postseason against Craig, putting up 294 points in a game that should've been very winable. The absence of Andrew Luck and a first-quarter injury to Todd Gurley heavily dented his hopes of winning, but that playoff game remains an embarrassment. Two straight fantastic regular seasons followed by disappointing exits.

2016 saw Spinella ensure this would not happen again... or so he hoped. The league shifted towards only one keeper, and Spinella knew that Rodgers would forever be his man. On a team build around great quarterback play (Rodgers, Andy Dalton, and Philip Rivers were all top-fifteen that season), Spinella was one of three teams to go 8-6 that season. Constant running back injuries to the likes of Arian Foster, Eddie Lacy, and Lamar Miller curtailed the end of his season, and again he put up only 266 points in the first round of the playoffs. Three straight seasons with duds, due to injury, in the playoffs. Spinella knew he was the best team and he was due a championship. He just needed a little bit of luck from the injury Gods.

Well, in 2017 he didn't get it. Spinella kept Rodgers, who completed only five games on the season. Deshaun Watson, his fantastic value snag at the tail end of the draft, suffered a torn ACL in Week 8. What was Spinella to do? Behind the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo and Jameis Winston, Spinella started seven different quarterbacks that season, by far a league record. He also had three of the top-eight receivers in the league (DeAndre Hopkins, Tyreek Hill, and Jarvis Landry) to lead his core. Spinella started the season 5-3, but finished the season with four straight losses and a 2-4 record in his last six. Both of those wins came in the narrowest of margins: a controversial tiebreaker victory over Ryan Hill and a ten-point survival over Carter Bennett. After dropping his last four and limping into the postseason at 7-7, Spinella exploded in the playoffs behind the play of Todd Gurley and the recently-added Nick Foles. Spinella trounced the regular season leader Kyle Russ 514-410 in the first round, and then dismantled Craig Davis in the championship. The win marked the third league crown for Spinella.