Sign, sealed, delivered this season was an absolute blast.  The NFL season provided a ton of content to talk about.  Recently the Raiders organization fired general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce.  As a Raider fan the presence of new minority owner Tom Brady has been felt, and I AM EXCITED!  No more mediocrity, at least Brady gives us hope. I chose to keep that hope alive.

We aren’t here to focus on the Raiders, although I could talk about them endlessly. The Scott Fish Bowl (SFB14) and the fantasy football regular season have come to a close. While the playoffs should be thrilling, it’s always a bit bittersweet when the fantasy season ends—though this year, it’s more bitter for me. But that’s a topic for another time.  This was my first time participating in the SFB14, and I had a blast! Congratulations to David Sobutka for being the in-season number one team and Chris Charles for leading the playoffs. When I first learned about the rules for SFB14, there was a lot of chatter about how kick returners could significantly contribute to scoring points. Honestly, I laughed at the idea of drafting a kick returner. However, as I researched throughout the season, I quickly realized that kick returners are a valuable asset to any team. Their impact can help boost overall performance.  Soon, we will crown the 2024 Boost Your Return Game Champion, also known as the Boosty Award. But first, let’s take a look at how the new dynamic kick rules fared in the NFL. 

In 2024, there were a total of 928 kick returns. In Week 1, there were 57 returns, while in Week 13, that number increased to 72. Notably, in Week 13, eight teams did not allow a single kick return to their opponents. The Saints were often targeted for return opportunities, but the Commanders had the highest number of kick returns against them at 74. In contrast, teams like the Vikings and Rams allowed only 14 kick returns throughout the entire season, while the Colts excelled in keeping opponents from returning kicks, allowing just 13. The second year of the dynamic return will be interesting to observe.  When analyzing the teams, it’s essential to highlight standout players like Raheem Blackshear. He kicked off the season with an impressive 40-point performance in Week 1 of SFB14, although many fantasy managers found those points sitting on their benches. Let’s be honest: if you started Blackshear from the beginning, your fantasy team was likely facing challenges. Consistency is crucial in life, and the same holds true for fantasy football—just ask Bob Lung.  In the return game, there was only one player who consistently delivered performances, and he is the 2024 winner of the Boosting Your Return Game award. Ladies and gentlemen, your Boosty Award winner is…

KaVontae Turpin, also known as “Spin Cycle,” was not only consistent in SFB14 but was also one of the leading scorers, averaging 20.4 points per game. Looking back to draft day, did you have Turpin on your radar as a player who would score over 347 fantasy points? Be honest! I certainly didn’t. I passed on him in every round. For context, my favorite player, Bijan Robinson, averaged 25.3 points in SFB14.  Despite his slight build, Turpin was a powerful asset for any fantasy team, contributing effectively each week. This experience has taught me to value kick returners more highly in the upcoming season. Unless Scott and his team decide to change the rules and make offensive linemen valuable assets in fantasy, I’ll definitely keep this in mind.  Anyway, congratulations on another successful season, and a big shoutout to KaVontae Turpin for enhancing your return game!