The 2013 Fantasy Football Guru Awards

The 2013 fantasy football season was without question one of the strangest and most unpredictable ever. It saw the continued rise of the quarterback position, a new-found faith in running backs and an enormous impact from several rookies. Furthermore, one of the top overall scorers wasn't even drafted in most leagues! Now that this wild campaign is done, it's time to hand out the hardware for the top statistical accomplishments. So without further ado, here are my seventh annual Guru Awards.

Michael Fabiano

Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs:
Almost 30 percent of NFL.com fantasy football championship teams fielded Charles, who led all running backs in fantasy points with an impressive 308.00 this season. The superstar runner out of Texas also averaged a ridiculous 33.2 fantasy points for owners during the course of the fantasy postseason (Weeks 14-16).

(Runner-up: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos)

1 / 10

Fantasy MVP

Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs:
Almost 30 percent of NFL.com fantasy football championship teams fielded Charles, who led all running backs in fantasy points with an impressive 308.00 this season. The superstar runner out of Texas also averaged a ridiculous 33.2 fantasy points for owners during the course of the fantasy postseason (Weeks 14-16).

(Runner-up: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos)

Associated Press

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns:
During the course of the traditional fantasy season (Weeks 1-16), Gordon finished tied with Calvin Johnson among wide receivers with an impressive 219.20 fantasy points. He went nuts in the stat sheets with a combined 498 yards and three touchdowns during a record-setting two-week stretch that headlined his rise to super stardom.

(Runner-up: Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles)

2 / 10

Breakout player of the year

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns:
During the course of the traditional fantasy season (Weeks 1-16), Gordon finished tied with Calvin Johnson among wide receivers with an impressive 219.20 fantasy points. He went nuts in the stat sheets with a combined 498 yards and three touchdowns during a record-setting two-week stretch that headlined his rise to super stardom.

(Runner-up: Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles)

Associated Press

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears:
Jeffery, who was dropped in a lot of leagues after a slow start, emerged into an absolute beast for fantasy leaguers in the second half. He had double-digit points in seven of his final nine starts of the fantasy season, including a ridiculous 249-yard, two-touchdown performance in a win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13.

(Runner-up: Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis Rams)

3 / 10

Sleeper of the year

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears:
Jeffery, who was dropped in a lot of leagues after a slow start, emerged into an absolute beast for fantasy leaguers in the second half. He had double-digit points in seven of his final nine starts of the fantasy season, including a ridiculous 249-yard, two-touchdown performance in a win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13.

(Runner-up: Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis Rams)

Associated Press

Julius Thomas, TE, Denver Broncos:
Thomas went under the radar in most 2013 drafts, as he had an average draft position (ADP) of just 142.21 -- that made him a 15th-round pick on NFL.com. He went on to perform more like an elite tight end, scoring the third-most fantasy points at the position during the fantasy season despite missing a pair of games due to injury.

(Runner-up: Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers)

4 / 10

Super sleeper of the year

Julius Thomas, TE, Denver Broncos:
Thomas went under the radar in most 2013 drafts, as he had an average draft position (ADP) of just 142.21 -- that made him a 15th-round pick on NFL.com. He went on to perform more like an elite tight end, scoring the third-most fantasy points at the position during the fantasy season despite missing a pair of games due to injury.

(Runner-up: Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers)

Associated Press

Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers:
A bruising runner out of Alabama, Lacy became the featured back in Green Bay and absolutely thrived in the role. Despite the fact that he totaled a combined 20.9 fantasy points in his first four games of 2013, Lacy would go on to finish among the top 10 running backs in the entire league based on fantasy points overall.

(Runner-up: Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers)

5 / 10

Rookie of the year

Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers:
A bruising runner out of Alabama, Lacy became the featured back in Green Bay and absolutely thrived in the role. Despite the fact that he totaled a combined 20.9 fantasy points in his first four games of 2013, Lacy would go on to finish among the top 10 running backs in the entire league based on fantasy points overall.

(Runner-up: Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers)

Associated Press

Trent Richardson, RB, Indianapolis Colts:
I couldn't have been more wrong about Richardson, who was a first-round pick in most 2013 drafts but played more like a late-round flier. He failed to rank among the 30-best players at his position based on fantasy points, and was bested by his teammate Donald Brown when it came to overall production while with the Colts.

(Runner-up: C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills)

6 / 10

Bust of the year

Trent Richardson, RB, Indianapolis Colts:
I couldn't have been more wrong about Richardson, who was a first-round pick in most 2013 drafts but played more like a late-round flier. He failed to rank among the 30-best players at his position based on fantasy points, and was bested by his teammate Donald Brown when it came to overall production while with the Colts.

(Runner-up: C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills)

Associated Press

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns:
Gordon wins his second Guru Award, as he was a steal in 2013 drafts. Remember, he was suspended for the first two weeks of the season due to off-field issues -- that made his stock fall in most leagues (ADP: 132.68). Gordon would finish the fantasy season tied with Calvin Johnson for the most fantasy points among wideouts.

(Runner-up: DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles)

7 / 10

Draft value of the year

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns:
Gordon wins his second Guru Award, as he was a steal in 2013 drafts. Remember, he was suspended for the first two weeks of the season due to off-field issues -- that made his stock fall in most leagues (ADP: 132.68). Gordon would finish the fantasy season tied with Calvin Johnson for the most fantasy points among wideouts.

(Runner-up: DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles)

Associated Press

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos:
The talk surrounding the Broncos backfield in the preseason was all about rookie Montee Ball, but it was Moreno who would emerge into a real fantasy superstar. He finished the fantasy season with over 1,500 scrimmage yards, a combined 12 touchdowns and the fourth-most fantasy points (224.20) overall at the position.

(Runner-up: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers)

8 / 10

Waiver pickup of the year

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos:
The talk surrounding the Broncos backfield in the preseason was all about rookie Montee Ball, but it was Moreno who would emerge into a real fantasy superstar. He finished the fantasy season with over 1,500 scrimmage yards, a combined 12 touchdowns and the fourth-most fantasy points (224.20) overall at the position.

(Runner-up: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers)

Associated Press

LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles:
It seems like ages ago, but McCoy didn't even finish among the 20-best running backs in the league based on fantasy points last season. He came back with a vengeance in 2013, though, as McCoy rolled up nearly 2,000 scrimmage yards, 10 total scores and the second-most fantasy points among runners during the fantasy season.

(Runner-up: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers)

9 / 10

Comeback player of the year

LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles:
It seems like ages ago, but McCoy didn't even finish among the 20-best running backs in the league based on fantasy points last season. He came back with a vengeance in 2013, though, as McCoy rolled up nearly 2,000 scrimmage yards, 10 total scores and the second-most fantasy points among runners during the fantasy season.

(Runner-up: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers)

Associated Press

Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs - Week 15:
Charles rushed for a mere 20 yards against the Oakland Raiders in Week 15, but he destroyed them as a pass catcher with 195 yards and four scores. The superstar runner would finish with a combined five touchdowns and 51.50 fantasy points in a performance that led countless owners to a championship appearance.

(Runner-up: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos - Week 1)

10 / 10

Performance of the year

Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs - Week 15:
Charles rushed for a mere 20 yards against the Oakland Raiders in Week 15, but he destroyed them as a pass catcher with 195 yards and four scores. The superstar runner would finish with a combined five touchdowns and 51.50 fantasy points in a performance that led countless owners to a championship appearance.

(Runner-up: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos - Week 1)

Associated Press

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