Fantasy News

January 14, 2017

Fantasy Index Open

Defenses captured by industry veteran

The Fantasy Index Open is open to everyone – regular at-home players, and industry pros. And for the defense position, it was one of the professionals who came out on top: Sam Hendricks, author at Extra Point Press.

Hendricks has been in the industry for years. He is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook. He was the overall winner of the Fantasy Index Open in 2012. And he comes out on top in the defense category of the position this year.

The winner takes home a really huge and really cool trophy from the team at Affordable Trophies. They’ve been partnering with us on this contest for years.

The winner and the runner-up also earn berths in the Experts Poll in the magazine, competing in a similar contest in a 20-man field composed mainly of industry experts.

The scoring for this competition is notoriously complex. Basically, all picks count in varying degrees, and we attach a number to each of the 20 picks made by each of the 222 entries. In short, the higher you rank a player the more his production counts towards your score, with final scoring in the hundreds of thousands.

At the defense position, scoring is based on 2 points for takeaways, 1 for sacks, 2 for safeties and 6 points for touchdowns (takeaway and special teams).

To win in this kind of competition, you have to be right on some big-picture concepts that most others miss. For Hendricks at this position, the Eagles and Texans were his key selections. Philadelphia was lightly regarded on most boards (just 17th, on average) but Hendricks ranked them 5th. So when they had a solid year, ranking 8th, he was more heavily rewarded for that production. At the same time, most were looking for a big season from the Texans (the #6 defense entering the season). But Hendricks didn’t even include them in his top 20, so he benefitted when they weren’t much of a factor (ranking 21st in scoring).

The Jets and Jaguars were 11th and 14th on the consensus board, but Hendricks ranked them 20th and not at all. That helped him when those teams both ranked in the bottom 3 in this scoring system.

Hendricks’ top 4 was solid, including Carolina, Denver, Arizona and Kansas City, which all ranked in the top 7 in scoring. Regardless, his picks put him on top, just ahead of network engineer Michael McAninch and attorney Dan Martinez.

Kent Stewart gets the most improved award for this category. He ranked last (out of 222) at the kicker position, but moved up to 7th in defenses.

The position was rough, on the other hand, on Zach Leavitt and Scott Anderson – two veteran prognosticators out of Colorado. They both ranked in the top 15 in kickers but slipped to last and next-to-last at this position.

Still to come: QB, RB, WR, TE.

FANTASY INDEX OPEN -- DEFENSES (top 10 percent)
Entry	Occupation	Points
Sam Hendricks	Fantasy Writer	32,852
Michael McAninch	Network Engineer	32,404
Dan Martinez	Attorney	32,325
Wade Booth	Admin. Technician	32,323
Steven Torres	Collector	32,185
Phil Montalbano	Project Manager	32,178
Kent Stewart	Auto Manufacting	32,148
Scott Liles	Journalist	32,079
Dana Duffield	Retired Software Engineer	32,016
Adam Holtz	Financial Analyst	32,011
Mark Becker	Marketing	31,938
Michael S. Livengood	Page Designer	31,930
Craig Leedy	Retired	31,883
Jeremy Schwartz	Start Up	31,882
Joe Pizzica	Teacher	31,859
Allen Martirossian	Finance Director	31,853
Michael O'Brien	Fingerprint Examiner	31,838
John Whitney	Pediatrician	31,826
Kevin Cuozzo	Sales Professional	31,782
Tim Wandling	Professor	31,774
Kenneth Yuen	Attorney	31,762
Ken Norman	Minister	31,760

FANTASY INDEX OPEN -- DEFENSES (alphabetical listing)
Entry	Points	Rank	Hometown
Aaron Green	31,500	47	Maple Grove, Minn.
Aaron Lance	30,969	127	Yakima, Wash.
Adam Bergeron	30,688	171	Salem, N.H.
Adam Holtz	32,011	10	Rochester, Minn.
Adam Locke	31,393	57	Lynnwood, Wash.
Adam Renzoni	30,981	122	Buffalo, N.Y.
Adam Sheets	31,260	67	Santa Rosa, Calif.
Adam Taylor	31,138	92	Media, Pa.
Adam Thygeson	30,907	138	Oregon City, Ore.
Allen Martirossian	31,853	16	Ashburn, Va.
Andrew Leahy	30,896	140	Audubon, N.J.
Andrew Southworth	31,319	63	Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Andy Richardson	30,969	128	Port Chester, N.Y.
Anthony Difranceisco	30,910	137	Turnersville, N.J.
Arden Vos	31,507	44	Edmonton, Canada
Barry St Peter	30,727	164	Pittsfield, Mass.
Ben Weisner	30,405	205	Wausau, Wis.
Bill Dallesandro	31,498	48	Huntington, N.Y.
Bill Rehor	31,115	100	Culver City, Calif.
Bob Adelman	31,613	32	St. Louis, Mo.
Brack Varnon	31,752	23	Houston, Texas
Brandon Barnes	30,919	135	Portland , Ore.
Brent Miles	30,705	166	Pasco, Wash.
Brett Watts	30,759	156	Florence, S.C.
Bruce Alwine	31,393	58	Havertown, Pa.
Bruce Boase	31,217	77	Ogden, Utah
Charles Raifman	30,930	133	Short Hills, N.J.
Chris Brooke	31,076	105	San Diego, Calif.
Chris Durham	31,059	107	Yuma, Ariz.
Chris Erickson	30,478	195	Sparta, Wis.
Chris Hertzberg	29,814	220	Austin, Texas
Chris Sullivan	31,003	117	Ottawa, Canada
Chris Weber	31,404	56	Appleton, Wis.
Chris Winder	30,129	215	San Ramon, Calif.
Chris Wright	31,137	94	Lynchburg, Va.
Craig Barltrop	30,416	203	Adelaide, Australia
Craig Leedy	31,883	13	Sacramento, Calif.
Curt Goldgrabe	30,433	200	Boise, Idaho
Dale Gander	31,186	82	Sun Prairie, Wis.
Dan Martinez	32,325	3	Yuba City, Calif.
Dana Duffield	32,016	9	Rochester, Minn.
Daniel Bowman	31,231	74	Liberty, Mo.
Daniel MacDonald	30,420	202	Torrance, Calif.
Darrell Sooy	31,176	85	West Chester, Pa.
Dave Cohen	31,034	111	Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dave Pizzica	31,617	31	Springfield, Pa.
Dave Renstrom	31,555	40	Apple Valley, Minn.
Dave Sjogren	30,927	134	Vienna, Va.
Dave Wilde	31,534	41	Mukwonago, Wis.
David Battersby	30,816	145	Bellevue, Wash.
Dennis Thomas	30,720	165	Watsonville, Calif.
Dominic Romeo	30,798	147	Sacramento, Calif.
Don P McKendry	30,796	149	Orland Park, Ill.
Don Pavelka	31,169	86	Plainview, Minn.
Doug Brown	30,300	208	Fort Gratiot, Mich.
Dr. Billy Friedrich	30,975	126	Raleigh, N.C.
Drew Englebright	30,187	214	London, U.K.
Ed O'Hair	31,216	78	Katy, Texas
Edward Burke	30,262	212	Philadelphia, Pa.
Ellis Kilgore	31,046	109	Von Ormy, Texas
Eric Gustitus	30,471	196	Exeter, Pa.
Eric Titus	31,572	36	Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Fabrizio Danova	31,161	89	Los Angeles, Calif.
Frank Read	30,705	167	Pittsburgh, Pa.
Frank Rotella	31,642	28	Sewell, N.J.
Frank Shinnick	30,516	192	Milford, Mass.
Gary Allen	30,958	129	Charleston, S.C.
Gary Borges	30,522	189	Toronto, Canada
Gary Fortier	30,003	217	Marietta, Ga.
Geoff Greggs	31,568	37	Roy, Wash.
George Taylor	30,554	186	Moosup, Conn.
Gerald M. Hoehn	30,981	123	West Liberty, Iowa
Grant Hubbard	30,864	143	Rochester Hills, Mich.
Greg Heminway	31,218	76	Sacramento, Calif.
Greg Resin	31,164	88	Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Henry Goers	30,445	199	Bartlett, Ill.
Ian Allan	30,735	160	Seattle, Wash.
Ian MacEwen	31,138	93	Akron, Ohio
Jacob Floriolli	31,010	115	Chico, Calif.
Jacob Wilson	31,210	80	Crandall, Texas
Jacques Dugger	31,654	27	Westland, Mich.
James Carvin	31,568	38	Mt. Laurel, N.J.
James Frauel	30,734	162	Walworth, N.Y.
Jamie Alberts	31,416	53	Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
Jared Smola	31,286	65	Rochester, N.Y.
Jason Flatley	30,598	182	Cohoes, N.Y.
Jason Mattern	31,123	99	Wintersville, Ohio
Jason Pilon	31,503	46	Roseville, Minn.
Jay Harding	31,131	95	Portland, Ore.
Jay Wimmers	31,383	59	Lincolnton, N.C.
Jeff Friedrich	30,678	174	Greenville, N.C.
Jeff Zwiers	31,364	61	Bellingham, Wash.
Jeremy Marzofka	30,788	152	Seattle, Wash.
Jeremy Schwartz	31,882	14	Edison, N.J.
Jesse McGuigan	31,001	118	Pittsburgh, Pa.
Jim Costello	30,603	180	Portland, Maine
Jim Coventry	30,735	161	Chicago, Ill.
Jim Kovac	31,347	62	Tucson, Ariz.
Joe Loeb	31,031	112	Aloha, Ore.
Joe Pizzica	31,859	15	Wynnewood, Pa.
John D. Smith	30,462	197	Willow Grove, Pa.
John Dent	31,125	97	Ann Arbor, Mich.
John Duggins	30,495	194	Greenville, S.C.
John M. Smyczynski	30,979	125	Buffalo, N.Y.
John Moore	30,942	132	Sea Isle City, N.J.
John Ruppe	30,609	179	Fort Myers, Fla.
John Whitney	31,826	18	San Jose, Calif.
John Yarsinsky	31,305	64	Marlton, N.J.
Johnny Bazzano	31,254	68	Santa Rosa, Calif.
Jon Hansen	30,683	172	Reno, Nev.
Jonathan Mora	30,541	187	Chicago, Fla.
Josh Shupien	30,660	175	Tacoma, Wash.
Ken Norman	31,760	22	Chanhassen, Minn.
Ken Valis	30,984	121	Gaithersburg, Md.
Kenneth Jones	30,287	209	New Orleans, La.
Kenneth Yuen	31,762	21	Arlington Heights, Ill.
Kent Stewart	32,148	7	Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Kenzie MacNeil	30,767	155	Halifax, Canada
Kevin Cuozzo	31,782	19	Concord , Mass.
Kevin Smith	31,016	114	Philadelphia, Pa.
Kirk Kennedy	29,907	219	Beulaville, N.C.
Kyle Soppe	30,704	168	Bristol, Conn.
Kyle Wells	31,113	101	Lynnwood, Wash.
Larry Weinhauer	30,773	154	Andover, N.Y.
Marc Mayfield	30,733	163	Longview, Texas
Mark Becker	31,938	11	Los Angeles, Calif.
Mark Burns	31,178	83	Runnemede, N.J.
Mark Christie	31,521	43	Fairport, N.Y.
Mark Maloney	30,264	211	Andover, Minn.
Mark Stoecker	30,914	136	Mansfield, Texas
Matt Menghi	30,588	183	Niantic, Conn.
Matty Strothman-Evans	30,790	151	Winston-Salem, N.C.
Michael Crow	30,429	201	Orion, Ill.
Michael Kolton	30,958	130	Green Bay, Wis.
Michael McAninch	32,404	2	Naperville, Ill.
Michael Menke	31,191	81	New Berlin, Wis.
Michael O'Brien	31,838	17	Lakewood, Colo.
Michael S. Livengood	31,930	12	Ward, Ark.
Miguel Tames	31,125	98	Miami, Fla.
Mike Balliet	30,797	148	Milton, Pa.
Mike Clark	30,393	207	Las Vegas, Nev.
Mike Clay	30,601	181	Cheshire, Conn.
Mike Freeman	31,407	55	Hamilton, Canada
Mike Lenett	31,106	104	Silver Spring, Md.
Mike McIlraith	31,529	42	Fort Worth, Texas
Mike Nease	31,601	33	West Chicago, Ill.
Mike Taylor	31,213	79	Meridian, Idaho
Mike Whitla	31,051	108	Ottawa, Canada
Moishe Steigmann	31,177	84	Milwaukee, Wis.
Monte McDonald	30,701	169	Las Vegas, Nev.
Nathan Bileck	30,522	190	San Diego, Calif.
Nathan Priest	30,985	120	Waynesboro, Pa.
Nick Heuton	30,778	153	Carroll, Iowa
Nick Petrevski	31,739	25	Los Angeles, Calif.
Patrick Wentz	30,236	213	Columbus, Ohio
Paul McCann	31,577	35	Hopewell, Pa.
Pete Collins	31,369	60	Orland Park, Ill.
Pete Gould	30,031	216	Nottingham, U.K.
Pete Richmond	31,426	51	Alexandria, Va.
Phil Mazurowski	30,582	185	Huntingdon, Pa.
Phil Montalbano	32,178	6	Napa, Calif.
Ponce Hatch	30,533	188	Haddon Township, N.J.
Ray Calisto	31,632	30	Fishers, Ind.
Rey Diaz	30,870	142	Miami, Fla.
Rich Dooley	30,399	206	Arlington, Va.
Richard Fechter	30,272	210	Coral Gables, Fla.
Richard Jackson	31,556	39	Berkeley, Calif.
Richard Loppnow	31,242	72	Ephrata, Wash.
Richard Spinella	31,415	54	North Providence, R.I.
Rick Stark	31,223	75	Manchester Center, Vt.
Rick Wiegan	31,446	50	Chesapeake, Va.
Riley May	30,690	170	Denver, Colo.
Rob Milelli	31,239	73	Cherry Hill, N.J.
Rob Reiber	30,452	198	Randolph, N.J.
Robert Yang	31,277	66	Simi Valley, Calif.
Rocky Petrella	30,902	139	Philadelphia, Pa.
Roy Sherman	30,744	157	Columbia, Tenn.
Russell Dawson	31,045	110	El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Rusty Stephens	31,108	103	Atlanta, Ga.
Ryan Deal	30,586	184	West Mifflin, Pa.
Ryan Murphy	31,110	102	East Berlin, Pa.
Sam Dugan	31,599	34	Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sam Hendricks	32,852	1	Lynchburg , Va.
Scott Anderson	29,714	222	Lakewood, Colo.
Scott Kopischke	30,737	159	Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Scott Liles	32,079	8	Mountain Home, Ark.
Scott Sachs	31,143	91	Huron, Ohio
Scott Sintkowski	31,248	70	Waterford, Mich.
Scott Wilkinson	31,127	96	Portland , Ore.
Seamus McGuigan	30,744	158	Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sean Chi	31,169	87	New York, N.Y.
Shane Scott	31,747	24	Toronto, Canada
Shelby Teagardner	30,414	204	Pittsburgh, Pa.
Steve Blenker	30,871	141	Cheektowaga, N.Y.
Steve Math	30,643	177	Austin, Texas
Steve Moyer	31,448	49	Oakland, Calif.
Steve Tortora	30,500	193	Wallingford , Conn.
Steve Weber	31,421	52	Paso Robles, Calif.
Steven Alessandrini	31,504	45	Flanders, N.J.
Steven Schindhelm	31,635	29	Milwaukee, Wis.
Steven Torres	32,185	5	Nipomo, Calif.
Stewart Kuehne	30,794	150	Redmond, Wash.
Terence Larro	31,024	113	Woodland Hills, Calif.
Thomas Oliver	30,680	173	Silver Spring, Md.
Tim Wandling	31,774	20	Rohnert Park, Calif.
Todd Voorhees	30,952	131	Chula Vista, Calif.
Tom Deskovitz	31,008	116	South Lyon, Mich.
Tom Groome	31,153	90	Duncannon, Pa.
Tom Morande	30,823	144	Tinley Park, Ill.
Tom Overberger	31,250	69	Bedminster, Pa.
Tommy Libretti	30,998	119	Malverne, N.Y.
Tony Mavreles	31,244	71	Reading, Pa.
Trevor Ross	30,799	146	Edmonton, Canada
Trey Quinn	29,961	218	Annapolis, Md.
Troy McGovern	30,519	191	Melbourne, Fla.
Tyson Traveller	31,061	106	McKinney, Texas
Victor Kitzes	31,697	26	Maple Valley, Wash.
Vince Corbin	30,630	178	Naperville, Ill.
Wade Booth	32,323	4	Tulsa, Okla.
William Trostle	30,659	176	Fort Rucker, Ala.
Zach Leavitt	29,728	221	Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Zach Nizolek	30,981	124	Kansas City, Mo.

—Ian Allan

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