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Fantasy Index Open (D-ST)

Oklahoma editor wins defenses section

Jason Collington, a lecturer at Oklahoma State University and an editor at the Tulsa World, was one of only a handful who believed that Kansas City would have an elite defense, and that helped him work his way to the top of the heap at that category in the Fantasy Index Open.

If you want to win a competition like the Fantasy Index Open, beating over 200 other forecasters, you’ve got to take some chances. You can’t just trot out rankings that are pretty similar to what happened in 2012 or close to the general consensus for the upcoming season. You’ve got to be right about something that everybody else is missing.

And with that mind, I will intro Jason Collington of Tulsa as the winner in the defensive and special teams categories. He took chances – he chased the dream – and it paid off.

Kansas City was the runaway leader at this position, scoring 35 more points than any other team (using 6 for TDs, 2 for takeaways and 1 for sacks). Only four of the 209 competiters in this competition had the vision to rank them in the top 9 among defense. Collington is one of those guys, and that helped him score mega points.

Collington is an editor for the Tulsa World. He is also a lecturer at Oklahoma State University.

As a refresher, this contest is different than a typical fantasy league. There’s no drafting, rosters or lineups. You’re getting scored on every player. The higher you rank them, the more they count towards your points total.

As an example, Collington ranked Kansas City 7th, so the multiplier number there is 24 (31 minus 7). And 24 x 185 = 4,440 points. Had he put a typical defense in there (say, New England for 124 points) than he would have received 24 x 124 = 2,976 poitns. So Collington created about 1,500 points worth of value for his team, relative to the vast majority of other players.

Three other guys actually ranked Kansas City even higher – Brad Henderson of Lousville (2nd), Miguel Tames of Miami (5th) and Tim Wandling of Rohnert Park, Calif. (5th). But those guys didn’t do well enough with their other picks to keep pace with Collington.

Tames came close, he finished in 2nd overall, fewer than 300 points back. Eric Scolnick from Redmond, Wash. (a half hour from where I’m at) is the bronze medalist in this category.

We’re working our way through the six categories in this competition – QB, RB, WR, TE, K and DEF. The overall winner of the competition – the best of the 209 entries – wins a monstrously huge trophy from the team at Affordable Trophies. They’ve kindly offered to partner on this thing.

The top 2 finishers (the winner and the runner-up) win berths in the Fantasy Experts Poll in the magazine (which runs just the same way but is limited to 20 participants).

Defense is different than the other positions in that injuries don’t play as big of a role. Yes, you get star players getting hurt and whatnot. But it’s not like at the other positions, where when a guy in your top 10 misses half of the season, it totally guts your score. Think Arian Foster at running back. Personnally I did crappy at kicker yesterday, and I’m blaming that on Connor Barth (I had him 8th) who missed the entire season.

Now we’re starting to score it, and that should be completed in about a week. A lot of entries and numbers, and it takes time (and we’ve got other things we’re working on).

At this position, almost everyone finished in the range of 46,000-51,000 points. We’ve got one partial entry at the bottom (a guy who thought he was to submit a top 10 at each position, rather than a top 20).

With Collington, Kansas City wasn’t his only roll of the dice. He had Cleveland as the No. 1 defense overall. That one cost him points; the Browns ranked only 16th in defensive scoring, which was lower than consensus ranking of 13th they finished with. He dropped Houston all the way down to 10th, and that helped him (most people had the Texans in their top 3, and they finished last in defensive scoring). The general consense was that Arizona had a middle-of-the-pack defense, but Collington ranked them No. 3, which also gave him a big boost relative to most of the other competitors.

Averaging all of the picks, Baltimore, Minnesota and Miami were suppose to finish as the 10th, 15th and 17th defenses, but Collington wisely left them off entirely. The Ravens ended up tying for 18th in scoring, while Minnesota and Miami had bottom-10 defenses.

FANTASY INDEX OPEN, DEFENSES (Top 10 percent)
RkNameHometownOccupationPoints
1.Jason CollingtonTulsa, Okla.Editor51,436
2.Miguel TamesMiami, Fla.Retail Manager51,158
3.Eric ScolnickRedmond, Wash.Accountant50,927
4.Jim CostelloPortland, MaineMail Processor50,828
5.Dish AdamsLos Angeles, Calif.Fantasy Football Analyst50,775
6.Scott AndersonLakewood, Colo.Office Space Denizen50,747
7.David DiGregorioNorristown, Pa.Postal Clerk (retired)50,337
8.Brad FreemanGeneva, Ill.Attorney50,270
9.Sebastian FalsonePhiladelphia, Pa.Sales Rep 50,128
10.John O'KaneFlemington, N.J.Catholic Priest50,122
11.Jason HoweOakland, Calif.Regional Manager50,035
12.Michael O'BrienBrighton, Colo.Fingerprint Examiner49,944
13.John RuppeFort Myers, Fla.Business Owner49,941
14.Stephen ColemanAurora, Ill.Consultant49,932
15.Matt KonsMilwaukee, Wis.Outside Sales49,893
16.Adam SheetsSanta Rosa, Calif.Self Employed49,827
17.Jake BoegelMinneapolis, Minn.Med Sales49,766
18.Shane ScottToronto, Ont.Teacher49,731
19.Michael LivengoodWard, Ark.Newspaper designer49,725
20.Daniel BowmanLiberty, Mo.Government Worker49,708


ALPHABETICAL LISTING
NameHometownOccupationPointsRank
Aaron SucovMonmouth Junction, N.J.Student47,585188
Adam HoltzRochester, Minn.Financial Analyst48,516126
Adam LockeLynnwood, Wash.Teacher48,772111
Adam RenzoniBuffalo, N.Y.Government49,64724
Adam SheetsSanta Rosa, Calif.Self Employed49,82716
Adam ThygesonPortland, Ore.Teacher48,92799
Alan KasterGreen Bay, Wis.Server/Prep Cook47,207201
Alessandro MiglioSan Pablo, Calif.Programmer / Writer48,135155
Andy GoughDallas, TexasIT Project Manager48,091159
Andy RichardsonPort Chester, N.Y.Fantasy Football Writer49,35050
Austin LeeSan Francisco, Calif.Filmmaker47,730178
Bill MasonHuntersville, N.C.Plant Operator49,61127
Bill RehorCulver City, Calif.Writer49,37348
Bob AdelmanSt. Louis, Mo.Sales49,49638
Bob BuchnerCoral Springs, Fla.Attorney49,18170
Bob StoneOdenton, Md.Finance47,648182
Bob TeccaBuffalo, Minn.IT Manager49,30054
Brack VarnonHouston, TexasWaiter49,22957
Brad FreemanGeneva, Ill.Attorney50,2708
Brad HendersonLouisville, Ky.Customer Service49,67522
Bradley WolfrumAlpharetta, Ga.Small Business Owner49,56134
Brant HollenbeckLansing, Mich.Sales46,258207
Brent MilesPasco, Wash.Minor League Baseball48,391135
Brett SanbornRochester Hills, Mich.Sales47,753176
Brian CarlsonLexington, Ky.Accountant49,42544
Brian GeorgeBillings, Mont.Mover/Shaker48,390136
Brian LaskiewiczRandolph, N.J.Attorney49,18468
Brian SauberDenver, Colo.Engineer48,037166
Brian StainesMars, Pa.Math Teacher49,47141
Bryan SweetCookeville, Tenn.Insurance Agent47,441193
Chad EisenhowerReading, Pa.Sales49,12682
Chris BlacksmithLas Vegas, Nev.Cab Driver49,19864
Chris DurhamYuma, Ariz.Teacher48,573120
Chris LingenRochester, Minn.Elementary Principal48,458129
Chris WhitneySan Jose, Calif.Pediatrician46,240208
Chris WinderPleasant Hill, Calif.Teacher49,29156
Clifford QuinnAnnapolis, Md.Coach49,18967
Cory BoniniSan Diego, Calif.KFFL.com48,524123
Craig RobinsonCombined Locks, Wis.Horticulturulist49,16674
Curt GoldgrabeBoise, IdahoExecutive Director48,856106
Dan FryeHouston, TexasSales Manager48,99094
Dan SchneierWest Orange, N.J.Consultant48,350138
Dana DuffieldRochester, Minn.Engineer48,744114
Daniel BowmanLiberty, Mo.Government Worker49,70820
Darrell DukeSpring, TexasSales Manager47,301199
Dave BernhardMadison, Wis.University Administrator48,755113
Dave CohenBrooklyn, N.Y.Media48,498127
Dave IampieriForest Hill, Md.Teacher48,94495
Dave ReadCranberry, Pa.Sales Engineer49,10884
David AikenheadLancaster, Calif.Teacher48,285146
David DiGregorioNorristown, Pa.Postal Clerk (retired)50,3377
David J ThorntonDenver, Colo.Management47,603186
Dean TuffieAliquippa, Pa.Accountant48,909102
Dennis ThomasWatsonville, Calif.Program Analyst47,361197
Derek MathisNorth Charleston, S.C.Insurance Salesman49,17072
Dish AdamsLos Angeles, Calif.Fantasy Football Analyst50,7755
Don PavelkaPlainview, Minn.Accountant49,06985
Doug PawlakKnoxville, Tenn.Engineer47,792173
Ed O'HairKaty, TexasRetail47,535191
Ed WeissParsippany, N.J.Accountant48,565121
Eddie TietchenSicklerville, N.J.Letter Carrier49,55435
Edward WinkloskyOakland, Calif.Attorney49,04088
Eric BuchholzDestin, Fla.Stay-at-home Dad49,29255
Eric GustitusExeter, Pa.Title Searcher48,493128
Eric HotzFremont, OhioGraphic Designer47,587187
Eric ScolnickRedmond, Wash.Accountant50,9273
Eric StancliffMount Airy, Md.Police Officer47,736177
Gary AllenCharleston, S.C.Engineer49,64725
Gary StehlyHilliard, OhioIT Analysis47,540190
Geoff MalemanRedondo Beach, Calif.Public Relations49,66923
Gilberto BacaFresno, Calif.Civil Engineer49,02291
Greg HeminwaySacramento, Calif.Finance Director49,20762
Hank DaBruzziOakdale, Minn.Construction48,763112
Harriett HuntAtlanta, Ga.Teamleader48,417133
Henry GoersBartlett, Ill.Teamster Machine Operator48,523124
Henry KarsenLecanto , Fla.Professional Handicapper48,221149
Ian AllanSeattle, Wash.Fantasy Football Analyst49,14079
Isaac McNallyBillings, Mont.Evangelist48,259148
Jake BoegelMinneapolis, Minn.Med Sales49,76617
James SutterSan Carlos, Calif.Plumber49,67621
James WimmersLincolnton, N.C.Data Analyst49,58629
Jamie AlbertsSturgeon Bay, Wis.Banker49,52436
Jason CollingtonTulsa, Okla.Editor51,4361
Jason HoweOakland, Calif.Regional Manager50,03511
Jason PilonColumbia Heights, Minn.Office Grunt48,060164
Jason SpannSt. Louis, Mo.Software Engineer48,348140
Jeff FellSarnia, Ont.Manager48,522125
Jeff FossettNewburgh, Ind.Manager47,124203
Jeff RicheyFlower Mound, TexasPhone technician49,48939
Jeff SlawsonBuffalo, N.Y.Auto Worker48,130156
Jeffery LebeoufCrowley, La.Postmaster48,065163
Jeremy SchwartzEdison, N.J.Student48,202151
Jim CostelloPortland, MaineMail Processor50,8284
Jim DiLorenzoGrayslake, Ill.Production Planner47,754175
Jim KangasViroqua, Wis.Business Analyst49,17971
Jim NienaberGeorgetown, OhioSelf Employed49,21060
Joe VlcekVirginia Beach, Va.Environmental Engineer49,01392
John D. SmithMount Laurel, N.J.Warehouse Manager49,43643
John DugginsGreenville, S.C.Finance48,172154
John IsettIndian Rocks Beach, Fla.Real Estate49,06186
John MarinoBinghamton, N.Y.Gun Shop Owner47,435194
John MooreSea Isle City, N.J.Real Estate Agent47,116204
John O'KaneFlemington, N.J.Catholic Priest50,12210
John RichmondPeoria, Ariz.Enforcement Officer48,295144
John RobertsHonolulu, HawaiiArchitect49,18469
John RuppeFort Myers, Fla.Business Owner49,94113
Jon Elliott HansenReno, Nev.Craps Dealer48,192153
Jonathan MoraMiami, Fla.Network Technician47,882171
Joseph MichelangeloOceanside, N.Y.Consultant48,838108
Juan NovoMiami, Fla.Sales47,771174
Justin MorrisMidland, Ont.Analyst48,614119
Keenan RavertyNorth St Paul, Minn.Banker48,261147
Keith MasonSumter, S.C.Buyer48,082160
Keith McGrailTinley Park, Ill.Teacher48,925100
Ken YuenArlington Heights, Ill.Attorney49,03989
Kent BaileyPuyallup, Wash.Construction Estimator48,093158
Kevin CuozzoBoston, Mass.Payroll47,297200
Kevin HallAllen, TexasAccountant48,93797
Kevin SmithPhiladelphia, Pa.Student48,349139
Kevin WeaklandTracy, Calif.Information Technology49,38647
Kirk KennedyPink Hill, N.C.Teacher47,643183
Lou SanicolaMenomonee Falls, Wis.Truck Driver48,218150
Louis Dale GanderSun Prairie, Wis.Manager49,22558
Manny De JesusGilbert, Ariz.Insurance Agent49,56632
Marc PriceKelowna, B.C.Law Firm Manager47,907170
Mark BurnsRunnemede, N.J.Sales Manager49,16276
Mark FaberColumbus, OhioBarter48,93198
Mark KundrotasAtco, N.J.Retirement Services48,347141
Mark StoeckerMansfield, TexasAttorney49,48340
Matt BeckerReading, Pa.Sales48,922101
Matt HayesWinder, Ga.Pastor49,41045
Matt KonsMilwaukee, Wis.Outside Sales49,89315
Michael CabazaCherry Hill, N.J.Firefighter48,736116
Michael CrowOrion, Ill.Systems Engineer48,890103
Michael KoltonGreen Bay, Wis.Teacher48,442132
Michael LivengoodWard, Ark.Newspaper designer49,72519
Michael McAninchNaperville, Ill.Network Engineer47,354198
Michael McClearyRoseville, Calif.Insurance49,50437
Michael McIlraithLos Angeles, Calif.Student49,20563
Michael MurilloTampa, Fla.Writer47,802172
Michael O'BrienBrighton, Colo.Fingerprint Examiner49,94412
Michael PhillipsWest Hartford, Conn.Attorney48,94196
Michael SarmentoSan Jose, Calif.Sales manager48,870104
Michael StancoClermont, Fla.Wrestler49,11283
Miguel TamesMiami, Fla.Retail Manager51,1582
Mike BallietMilton, Pa.Laborer49,58230
Mike CarlsonSacramento, Calif.Fantasy Football Pro47,727179
Mike ClayFleetwood, Pa.Fantasy Football Writer49,02390
Mike CraigKokomo, Ind.Electrician49,19665
Mike GreenDes Moines, IowaRetail Manager49,57531
Mike McIlraithFort Worth, TexasMechanical Engineer48,292145
Mike NeaseWest Chicago, Ill.Fantasy Football Writer48,200152
Mike ToddOtis, Ore.Realtor49,14478
Mike WellsGood Thunder, Minn.Professor49,56533
Mitch WurstCincinnati, OhioTechnical Manager48,843107
Moishe SteigmannMilwaukee, Wis.Teacher49,59528
Nathan KlineTopton, Pa.Testing Technician49,15877
Nathan PriestWaynesboro, Pa.Tech Support47,643184
Nathan RobertsPiketon, OhioElectrical Technician49,00593
Paul HazenGranada Hills, Calif.Acquisitions49,13780
Paul KucharSchaumburg, Ill.Educator47,024205
Peter SteinkeRedmond, Wash.Realtor47,702180
Rey DiazMiami, Fla.Information Technology48,375137
Rich HodgesTacoma, Wash.Retail47,143202
Richard BrisacherLos Angeles, Calif.Flag Football Coach48,011167
Richard JacksonBerkeley, Calif.Attorney48,449130
Richard LoppnowEphrata, Wash.Pastor47,664181
Richard MeadorsSeymour, Ind.Radio Producer48,784110
Rick CalabroStaten Island, N.Y.Financial Advisor48,806109
Rob DammersRingwood, N.J.Systems Analyst47,416196
Rob ReiberRandolph, N.J.Teacher48,052165
Robert CowartDallas, TexasProject Manager48,303142
Rocky PetrellaPhiladelphia, Pa.Buyer49,32053
Ronald John RobuckTempe, Ariz.Programmer49,13381
Russell DitnesJamison, Pa.Amateur Fantasy Expert49,16973
Rustin PaulNew York, N.Y.Attorney47,430195
Rusty StephensDallas, TexasSales Manager48,414134
S. LindMonmouth Junction, N.J.Doctor48,862105
Sam HendricksLynchburg, Va.Fantasy Football Author47,627185
Scott AndersonLakewood, Colo.Office Space Denizen50,7476
Scott BradyCollegeville, Pa.Contract Administrator48,296143
Scott KopischkeMenomonee Falls, Wis.Sales engineer49,21659
Scott LilesRussellville, Ark.Gentleman Adventurer49,19566
Scott MartinLa Crescenta, Calif.Provider Reimbursement Specialist48,738115
Scott SachsHuron, OhioHeadhunter48,122157
Sebastian FalsonePhiladelphia, Pa.Sales Rep 50,1289
Shane ScottToronto, Ont.Teacher49,73118
Shiaw ChiSan Jose, Calif.Attorney48,076161
Stephen ColemanAurora, Ill.Consultant49,93214
Stephen FisseMandeville (New Orleans), La.Program Analyst48,539122
Stephen McKenzieRed Wing, Minn.Books Are Fun Sales Rep49,39646
Steve HoytBuffalo Grove, Ill.Teacher46,313206
Steve MoyerAlameda, Calif.Investment Realtor49,45542
Steve TortoraWallingford, Conn.Manager47,953168
Thomas OliverNashville, Tenn.Financial Planning49,20961
Tim LloydNewton , N.J.Machinest47,534192
Tim WandlingRohnert Park , Calif.Professor49,61326
Todd VoorheesChula Vista, Calif.Public Affairs Manager48,673118
Tom DeskovitzSouth Lyon, Mich.Advertising Executive48,444131
Tom OverbergerBedminster, Pa.Guidance Counselor49,32251
Tommy LibrettiNew York, N.Y.Building Super30,771209
Tony ZellerDundalk, Md.Cook49,05087
Travis BillmanDacula, Ga.Pastor47,570189
Travis GrayWellington, Fla.Teacher49,32252
Treavor PhippsSalem, Ind.Pipefitter48,692117
Troy TretolaPort Saint Lucie, Fla.Coach49,16375
Ty TietjenBrandon, S.D.Math Teacher48,068162
Victor KitzesMaple Valley, Wash.Sales47,943169
Zach LeavittHighlands Ranch, Colo.Accountant49,36049



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