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OIL All-Decade Team (2006-2015)
It's hard to believe the OIL has completed 10 seasons. When we started this league, no one thought it would go beyond pad 14 at Camp Liberty, Victory Base Complex, Baghdad, Iraq. No one could have imagined what'd it have become, but we're all proud of it. Over the next year, we'll be recapping the first 10 years of the OIL, both on and off the field.
On the field, we've compiled the all-decade team. There was no set criteria. Most of the choices were made based on their contributions to championship teams over the league's first decade. Only one selectee failed to win an OIL Bowl, but his contributions simply cannot be ignored. We'll be announcing the inaugural class of the OIL Hall of Fame in the new year, but for today we have best lineup possible based on the first 10 seasons.
On the field, we've compiled the all-decade team. There was no set criteria. Most of the choices were made based on their contributions to championship teams over the league's first decade. Only one selectee failed to win an OIL Bowl, but his contributions simply cannot be ignored. We'll be announcing the inaugural class of the OIL Hall of Fame in the new year, but for today we have best lineup possible based on the first 10 seasons.
QB: Peyton Manning,
Champion 2006; 2012; 2013; 2014,
Record-holder: Most Points in a Season (2013)
This one was easy. Manning won the very first OIL Bowl with Lucky Enuf in 2006. He was a constant contender every year after that and, after sitting out the 2011 season, he won three consecutive championships with the Arrogant Americans, Dogs of War, and War Pony. His four titles and season points record make him the QB here even if he does have an 83-87 record (excluding 2011). His record is bogged down because he endured 2-11 and 3-10 seasons when he was a first-round pick and surrounded with inferior talent.
WR: Andre Johnson,
Champion 2008; 2010; 2014,
Runner-up 2009
Andre Johnson won three championships (with Lucky Enuf, the Arrogant Americans, and War Pony) and he just missed another title in 2009 with the 'Mericans. He's played in every OIL season thus far and was a constant contributor to playoff teams.
WR: Calvin Johnson,
Champion 2010; 2015
Calvin Johnson has won two championships (with the Arrogant Americans and War Pony), but it feels like he won more. "Megatron" was such a difference-maker that he was often traded away for a king's ransom. That may have hurt his title chances, but it didn't harm his legacy.
WR: Larry Fitzgerald,
Champion 2010; 2015
Larry Fitzgerald, like Megatron, seems like someone who should have more than two rings (Arrogant Americans and SoonerJack). He was already in the NFL for a couple years before the OIL began and yet he's still a mainstay on a championship team in 2015.
RB: LaDainian Tomlinson,
Record-holder, Most Points in a Season (2006)
Although he never won a championship, LaDainian Tomlinson is arguably the greatest fantasy RB in history. His 2006 season still holds the OIL record for most points by a RB. Sadly, Cliburn's 'Mericans couldn't give him a championship during his prime.
RB: Steven Jackson,
Champion 2007; 2008; 2009; 2011
Steven Jackson is a four-time OIL champion, and he was a key player on all four championship teams. Often overlooked because of his losing teams in real life, S-Jax is criminally underrated in OIL history.
TE: Antonio Gates,
Champion 2008; 2014,
Runner-up 2007
Antonio Gates changed the game, both in the NFL and in fantasy football. He is a somewhat controversial pick though. Rob Gronkowski holds the OIL records for most points in a game and most points in a season. But Gronk has played less than half the seasons Gates has, and Gates has two championships to his name. His consistency over 10 years gives him the edge.
W/T: Randy Moss,
Champion 2009,
Record-holder: Most Points in a Season (2007)
Randy Moss did most of his damage pre-OIL, but his 2007 through 2009 seasons are enough to land him on this list. He set the OIL record for most points in a season in 2007 and he won a championship in 2009.
W/R: Darren Sproles,
Champion 2010; 2012
Runner-up 2009
Darren Sproles may not make this list for other leagues, but he's been a PPR superstar in the OIL. Couple that with his return yardage points and you've got a key contributor to two championships and one runner-up finish (all three with the Arrogant Americans).
What do you think?
How would your lineup differ? For a list of all OIL champions (and notable non-champions), head to the Record Book and scroll to the bottom.
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