Editor's Note: You can now signup for the 2008 NBCSports.com$100,000 Fantasy Challenge., by clicking here.
This article was published last January.
There must be something in the water .
Tom Barnes even thought it was a little bizarre back in 2006 when two residents of his native Quincy, Il both finished in the Top 5 of the $100,000 NBC Fantasy Challenge. The small town, located on the banks of the Mississippi River, has a population of 40,000 people that couldn't even fill up the smallest NFL stadium. Now that he's gone out and won the whole thing himself in 2007, the 51-year-old Barnes is starting to think it could be a Quincy thing.
"It's a huge sports city. For us to have had two Top 5 winners last year, and for me to be the grand prize winner this year, speaks for itself," said Barnes.
His friends from around town actually told Barnes about the game. The local golf course ranger was shocked that the grand prize was $100,000 this year and he knew it was obtainable after his friends won flats screen TVs from NBC Sports last season.
"We're all good buddies; they're the ones that told me about it on our way to the bowling alley," Barnes said. "I think first I'll pay some bills . after that I want to invest in several things and help out our kids. Maybe fix up the house a little bit."
Barnes sat down on Christmas Day to set his lineup for the final weekend of the $100,000 challenge and settled on three Bengals. Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh technically didn't have anything to play for when Cincinnati traveled to Miami to face the 1-14 Dolphins, but Barnes had a feeling. He had been thinking about using the trio for a few weeks but kept changing his mind because of weather concerns.
The loyal Rams fan, who "had a good loaded team that just kept scoring," entered Sunday of Week 17 in 13th place. He says he only wanted to win an iPod and was hoping to sneak into the Top 5 on the final day. None of the three Bengals had scored over 20 points during any week in the challenge playoffs, but they combined for over 60 points for Barnes' squad while lighting up the Miami secondary.
"My TV was on and I was at my computer all day, updating all the scores. By the last game, when I had moved into first place, my doorbell kept ringing. My son had a bunch of college buddies over to help root along with my wife, my daughter and her boyfriend. The phone also never stopped ringing. It was very exciting and by evening I had a tension headache, with the possibility of winning the big one," he said.
Vince Young, Brandon Marshall, Clinton Portis, Chris Cooley and the Chargers Defense anchored the rest of his Week 17 roster that also included Jamal Lewis, Marc Bulger and Rob Bironas. Barnes' team managed 183.7 fantasy points in the final week, propelling him past the "Dirty South Playaz" for a cool 100-large.
"There wasn't much sleeping on Sunday night - too much excitement," said Barnes.
"My main strategy in the playoffs was to make sure that the players that I picked were playing in good weather conditions, if possible. The key for the season was getting into the top 5,000 securely around week 8. By that time, I knew that I had locked up a chance in the playoffs," said Barnes. "Then, the best thing I did was sit down and look at matchups for the next four weeks. I looked at the top players' matchups for the four games ahead. I didn't look into Week 17 as much, because it was hard to project who would be sitting their starters."
Barnes, who also plays fantasy baseball and golf, says "I have been playing fantasy sports for as long as it has been around." He often talks strategy with his buddies and is extremely passionate about his fantasy leagues.
"The contest is by far the best run fantasy football league to enter and to top it off it's even free. There is so much strategy where you can only take one player throughout the year. Rotoworld offers their information quickly and provides information right before the games as to who is active, will start, etc."
Among his strategic decisions was starting Washington QB Todd Collins in Week 16 when the Redskins traveled to Minnesota for NBC's Sunday Night Football. On a night when the majority of players selected Adrian Peterson for the Sunday Night Football Bonus Player, Barnes picked the veteran journeyman Collins. It paid off when Collins picked up 254 yards on 22-of-29 passing and two touchdowns. Peterson, more formally known as Purple Jesus around Rotoworld Headquarters, had a disappointing 27-yard effort.
When asked if he would play again, Barnes answered "I'll play it every year they've got it." People outside of Quincy better start studying.
Editor's Note: You can now signup for the 2008 NBCSports.com $100,000 Fantasy Challenge., by click here.
