It is with great honor and humility that I accept the 411fantasy.com 2009 Expert of the Year award. I have so many people to thank, but I’ll try and narrow it down to a handful of key contributors, without whom I could not have accomplished such a monumental achievement. But before I do, a brief look into what I’m really thinking

Now then, a shout out to:

- WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker in Week 6 for rewarding my double-dip pick of both wide-outs against the Titans, a 59-0 romp.

- WR Greg Jennings and RB Matt Forte, for actually showing up in Week 8 in a season full  of disappointments.

- RB Ricky Williams in Week 11 for coming through in his first NFL start in over a year and first 20+ carry game since the 2005 season.

- WR Miles Austin in Week 15 for backing up my Namath-esque prediction earlier in the week.

So many players, so little bandwidth, but I can’t forget to mention Jonathan Phillips of Roto Experts and Jeff Boggis of Fantasy Sports Empires for their unsolicited smack-talk over the final few weeks to keep me sharp. This is as much yours as it is mine, fellas… Okay, not really, but thanks anyway!

Speaking of unsolicited, I would like to take a trip down memory lane to revisit comments made by 411 co-founder Jeff Thitoff during my championship run.

"I get no respect! I get no respect at all"

* Week 2: “Enjoy this moment, Conn – this is a marathon, not a sprint…and I’m not even warmed up yet.” …. Still waiting.

* Week 6:  Silence (a first for everything) upon my second 1st place finish.

* Week 8: After posting my third top score of the season, Thitoff writes, “It’s good for business if the co-founder of the site is at the head of the class, but it makes it tough to talk to him. He’s looking at various tattoo designs with the word ‘guru.’ ”

* Week 14:  I received my first compliment, “Our own Adam Conn smarted his way to 21 points and jumped to the top of the “Expert of the Year” contest.” That statement was followed by this passive-aggressive nugget, “Zack O’Malley Greenburg from Forbes…. would be leading the contest with a 15.86 average.”

Despite my cruise-control run through Weeks 15-17, every subsequent article by Thitoff included a needling reminder that O’Malley would be leading the pack had he enough entries to qualify. I maintain the law of averages would have caught up to him – stay tuned….

* Then finally this gem last Tuesday, “At this point, I could allow for Conn to say something…. (But) quite frankly, I didn’t really want to talk to him.”

Folks, that’s just jealousy.

Our dear friend and Senior Writer Adam Helbling thinks my win is tainted because he claims he is smarter than me. In most other areas, perhaps, but to him and the rest of the nay-sayers I offer this; Don’t hate – Elevate, dominate, celebrate; In that order.

The teleprompter reads that I should share a sincere moment.

It has been a pleasure to compete with each and every one of you and we could not have successfully completed another season without you. We’re thrilled to provide a forum where the top-dogs around the country can test their wits against one another, amicably and professionally. We very much hope that all of you will return and hope to generate a larger interest to make this even a tougher field.

Many thanks to everyone for making this possible and 411fantasy.com wishes you all the best in 2010.

The 411

Last year Conn finished seventh overall, one of three Experts to claim two Top 10 spots in as many years. Michael Cooper of Cooper Sports Radio placed seventh this season a year after his fourth place finish and Jared Smola of Draft Sharks placed ninth a year removed from his fifth place finish. I think we have our three favorites for 2010…. Last year Roto Experts dominated the field with five representatives in the Top 10. This year Fantasy Phenoms’ Peter Davidson (tied for 3rd) and Jason Sarney (10th) held a majority…. 411fantasy.com hopes to increase the field from 35 to 50 next season…. Thitoff is still bitter.

Email Conn-tastic here

Jim Caldwell threw a curveball at the field of experts, pulling out the Indy starters late in the third quarter of the Colts-Jets game, but scores across the board were higher than the previous week.

I humbly announce the high score in Week 16 belonged to yours truly – with a 23. Zack O’Malley Greenburg from Forbes continued to shine and tied for second with Michael Jones from Football Diehards with 19 points.

The top experts from Week 16:

1. Jeff Thitoff, 411 fantasy.com

T2. Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Forbes; Michael Jones, Football Diehards

T4. Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms; Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible

T6. Adam Helbling, 411fantasy.com; Mark Strausberg, Roto Experts

T8. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires; Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters; Robin Lundberg/Nick Stevens, The Flex Position

11. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com

In the overall standings, 411’s Conn slipped – but just a little. He still has the lead heading into the final week, but it’s “insert your own overused cliché here.”

Here’s how they look heading into the final week:

1. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com – 14.75

2. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires – 14.38

3. Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms – 14.31

4. Michael Jones, Football Diehards – 14.25

5. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters – 14.19

6. Dave Richard, CBS Sports – 13.92

7. Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible – 13.79

8. Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com – 13.67

9. Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio – 13.57

It should be noted that Zack O’Malley Greenburg from Forbes would be leading in the overall contest, if he was eligible for the prize. He wasn’t invited until midway through the season, and participants have to compete in at least 13 weeks to be eligible for the prize. Greenburg’s average is 15.56 for the season.

All these odd occurrences meant lower scores overall for the experts. Apparently the safest bet you could have made would have been a sawbuck on Peter Davidson from Fantasy Phenoms.

Davidson took top honors for the week as he continued his rise up the charts. A score of 16 by Davidson this week gave him a league-high total of 49 over the last three weeks and vaulted him into contention (fifth overall).

Russ Bliss finished second for the week and is third in the overall competition.

The top experts from Week 15:

1. Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms

2. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters

T3. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com; Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com; Matt Schauf, Rapid Draft

6. Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible

T7. Dave Richard, CBS Sports; Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports; Robin Lundberg/Nick Stevens, The Flex Position; Paul Bourdett, Roto Experts

And the leaders, with average score, in the season-long competition:

1. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com – 14.80

2. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires – 14.33

3. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters – 14.13

4. Dave Richard, CBS Sports – 14.09

5. Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms – 14.07

6. Michael Jones, Football Diehards – 13.93

T7. Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio; Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms – 13.57

T9. Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible; Jared Smola, Draft Sharks – 13.46

11. Mike Gilbert, Roto Experts – 14.00

12. Jared Smola, Draft Sharks – 13.33

T13. Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com; Eric Karabell, ESPN; James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth – 13.00

Zack O’Malley Greenburg from Forbes will end up being a few weeks short of qualifying for the overall championship – but his average score of 15.13 is the best since he joined in Week Eight.

BY JEFF THITOFF

The 14^th week of the NFL season is, in all likelihood, the last week of your regular season or “playoff week” in your fantasy league. The 14^th week also proved to be significant in the experts contest: it was “moving week.”

Without touting ourselves too much, it was a banner week for all of the 411fantasy.com experts – one of us won the weekly contest, one of us took the lead in the annual competition and one of us is writing this article. Okay, it was a banner week for two of the three 411fantasy.com experts.

411’s Adam Helbling racked up 23 points to pace the field in Week 14, and our own Adam Conn smarted his way to 21 points and jumped to the top of the “Expert of the Year” contest.

Zack O’Malley Greenburg from Forbes continued to shine with 21 points and Peter Davidson from Fantasy Phenoms also scored 21.

WEEKLY 14 LEADERS

1. Adam Helbling, 411fantasy.com

T2. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com; Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Forbes Magazine; Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms

T5. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires; Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio

T7. Michael Jones, Football Diehards; Mike Gilbert, Roto Experts

T9. Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com; Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible; Eric Karabell, ESPN

T12. James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth; Robin Lundberg/Nick Stevens, The Flex Position

 TOP 10 SEASON LEADERBOARD

1. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com – 14.93

2. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires – 14.64

3. Michael Jones, Football Diehards – 14.43

4. Dave Richard, CBS Sports – 14.40

5. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters – 14.07

6. Mike Gilbert, Roto Experts – 14.00

7. Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms – 13.93

8. Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio – 13.85

9. Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible – 13.58

10. Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms– 13.57

Zack O’Malley Greenburg from Forbes is not eligible for the annual contest, by no fault of his own. We didn’t invite him until the deadine passed. Pretty shrewd move by us – he would be leading the contest with a 15.86 average.

BY JEFF THITOFF

Russ Bliss from Fantasy Football Starters maintained his hot streak and tied RotoExperts’ Mike Gilbert for the top score in Week 12 of 411fantasy.com’s “Expert of the Year” competition.

Bliss and Gilbert each scored 20 points, and over the last four weeks Bliss has averaged 17.5 points. Adam Conn (411fantasy.com) and Mike Jones (Football Diehards) finished a point behind the leaders. Jamey Eisenberg (CBS Sports) scored 18 to finish 5^th for the week.

WEEK 12 LEADERBOARD

T1. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters; Mike Gilbert, Roto Experts

T3. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com; Michael Jones, Football Diehards

5. Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports

6. Patrick Welsh, Fantasy Pros 911

T7. Adam Helbling, 411fantasy.com; Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Forbes Magazine; Mark Strausberg, Roto Experts; Matt Wirkiowski, Roto Experts

T11. Dave Richard, CBS Sports; Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires; Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms; Jonathan Phillips, Roto Experts

 Dave Richard stayed in front of the year-to-date contest, but 411’s Conn and Russ Bliss closed the gap. As a special note – Zack O’Malley Greenburg from Forbes Magazine wasn’t added until Week Eight, making him ineligible for the title. However, he is averaging 15 points per week – which would be second overall.

Dave Richard, CBS Sports – 15.38

Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com – 14.83

Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters – 14.50

Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires – 14.33

Michael Jones, Football Diehards – 14.17

Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms ; James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth;  Jared Smola, Draft Sharks and Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms– 13.50

Eric Karabell, ESPN and Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio – 13.45

Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports – 13.42

Matthew Stafford? Brady Quinn? No one could have seen that coming, and no expert did.

Out of all of the participants, Matt Schauf from Rapid Draft came up with the highest score (18). Steve Sheiner of FanBall and Peter Davidson of Fantasy Phenoms both had 15 points and Michael Cooper from Cooper Sports Radio finished fourth with 14 points.

The Week 11 leaderboard:

1. Matt Schauf, Rapid Draft

T2. Steve Sheiner, FanBall; Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms

4. Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio

5. Patrick Welsh, Fantasy Pros 911

T6. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com; Eric Karabell, ESPN; Jared Smola, Draft Sharks; Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms

10. James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth

T11. Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com; Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible; Robin Lundberg/Nick Stevens, The Flex Position; Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters

In the overall standings, Dave Richard from CBS Sports is still in front – but Conn was able to narrow the gap. The leaders and their average scores in the season standings:

1. Dave Richard, CBS Sports – 15.43

2. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com – 14.45

3. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires – 14.27

4. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters – 14.00

5. Eric Karabell, ESPN – 13.80

6. Michael Jones, Football Diehards – 13.73

T7. Jared Smola, Draft Sharks and Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms – 13.55

8. Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio – 13.45

9. James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth – 13.44

10. Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms – 13.36

11. Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible – 13.30

12. Ginny Loveless, Football Diehards – 13.09

T13. Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports and Steve Sheiner, FanBall – 13.00 

Richard (16.67 average) leads Jeff Boggis (15.0) from Fantasy Sports Empires. Our own Adam Conn is third at 14.70.

The top score for the week was a 23 by Ross Mandel from NFL Draft Bible. Mike Jones (Football Diehards) scored 21 for the second consecutive week and Jared Smola of DraftSharks matched Jones and eclipsed the 20-point mark for the first time this season.

TOP WEEKLY PERFORMANCES:

1. Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible

T2. Mike Jones, Football Diehards; Jared Smola, Draft Sharks

T4. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters; Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms

T6. James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth; Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms; Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports; Patrick Welsh, Fantasy Pros 911

T10. Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com; Dave Richard, CBS Sports; Ginny Loveless, Football Diehards; Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio; Mike Gilbert, RotoExperts; Steve Sheiner, Fan Ball; Paul Bourdett, RotoExperts

OVERALL STANDINGS

1. Dave Richard, CBS Sports (16.67)

2. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires (15.0)

3. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com (14.7)

4. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters (14.4)

5. Mike Jones, Football Diehards (14.3)

6. Eric Karabell, ESPN (14.0)

7. James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth (13.75)

T8. Jared Smola, Draft Sharks and Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms (13.7)

10. Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible (13.67)

11. Ginny Loveless, Football Diehards (13.6)

12. Jay Clemons, Sports Illustrated (13.5)

T14. Jamey Eisenberg, CBS and Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio (13.4)

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape.

Richard came out and put up the highest score in the history of the contest: 26. As an added jab at Conn, the record score was previously owned by Conn.

Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Sports Empires) finished second, followed by Mike Gilbert (RotoExperts). ESPN’s Eric Karabell was fourth while Mike Jones (Football Die Hards) and Russ Bliss from Fantasy Football Starters were tied for fifth.

The Week Nine leaders:

1. Dave Richard, CBS Sports

2. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires

3. Mike Gilbert, Roto Experts

4. Eric Karabell, ESPN

T5. Michael Jones, Football Diehards; Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters

7. Ginny Loveless, Football Diehards

T8. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com; Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Forbes; Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms

T11. Tony Cincotta, Fantasy Pros 911; Jonathan Phillips, Roto Experts; Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible; Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports; Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms

T16. Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com; Jared Smola, Draft Sharks; James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth

Obviously, Richard stayed in the overall lead for the 411fantasy.com “Expert of the Year” title. Boggis jumped to second, followed by Conn, Karabell and Bliss:

1. Dave Richard, CBS Sports

2. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires

3. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com

4. Eric Karabell, ESPN

5. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters

6. Michael Jones, Football Diehards;

7. Jay Clemons, Sports Illustrated

T8. Ginny Loveless, Football Diehards; Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms

10. James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth

11. Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio

12. Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports

13. Jared Smola, Draft Sharks

14. Mike Gilbert, Roto Experts

15. Brad Evans, Yahoo

16. Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms

17. Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible

T18. Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com; Steve Sheiner, FanBall

20. Tony Cincotta, Fantasy Pros 911

The new form is here. Knock off all three of the 411fantasy.com experts and gain entry into the Hall of Fame.

A new leader in the overall standings and a familiar face claims the weekly competition and the most impressive debut we’ve ever had highlighted Week Eight of 411fantasy.com’s experts competition.

First, the weekly winner – for the third time this season – 411fantasy.com’s own Adam Conn. It’s good for business if the co-founder of the site is at the head of the class, but it makes it tough to talk to him. He’s looking at various tattoo designs with the word “guru.”

The rookie participant is Zack O’Malley Greenburg from Forbes magazine. He tied for second in the weekly contest. Who was he tied with? Our new leader…

Dave Richard from CBS jumped to first place, ahead of Conn and Jeff Boggis from Fantasy Sports Empires.

The Week Eight leaderboard:

1. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com

T2. Dave Richard, CBS Sports; Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Forbes Magazine

4. Jay Clemons, Sports Illustrated

T5. Ginny Loveless, Football Diehards; Tony Cincotta, Fantasy Pros 911; Matt Wirkiowski, Roto Experts

T8. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires; Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio; Eric Karabell, ESPN; Jared Smola, Draft Sharks; Jonathan Phillips, Roto Experts

T13. Michael Jones, Football Diehards; Ross Mandel, NFL Draft Bible

T15. Patrick Welsh, Fantasy Pros 911; Robin Lundberg/Nick Stevens, The Flex Position; Adam Helbling, 411fantasy.com

And the overall standings:

1. Dave Richard, CBS Sports

2. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com

3. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires

4. Jay Clemons, Sports Illustrated

5. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters

6. Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio

7. Eric Karabell, ESPN

8. James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth

T9. Michael Jones, Football Diehards; Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms

11. Brad Evans, Yahoo

T12. Ginny Loveless, Football Diehards; Jared Smola, Draft Sharks; Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports

15. Steve Sheiner, FanBall

16. Patrick Welsh, Fantasy Pros 911

T17. Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com; Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms; Paul Bourdett, Roto Experts; AJ Mass, ESPN

Click here for the WEEK NINE ENTRY FORM.
Only one member in the 411fantasy.com Hall of Fame so far. Any amateur that knocks off all three of the 411 experts gains entry. Good luck.

Rapid Draft’s Matt Schauf was third for the week. Patrick Welsh (Fantasy Pros 911) and Sarney’s co-worker Peter Davidson (Fantasy Phenoms) rounded out the top five.

The top experts for Week Seven:

T1. Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms; James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth

3. Matt Schauf, Rapid Draft

T4. Patrick Welsh, Fantasy Pros 911; Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms

T6. Steve Sheiner, FanBall; Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio; Michael Jones, Football Diehards; Ginny Loveless, Football Diehards; Mike Gilbert, Roto Experts

T11. Dave Richard, CBS Sports; Jay Clemons, Sports Illustrated; Eric Karabell, ESPN; Brad Evans, Yahoo

In the overall competition, Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Sports Empires) and 411’s Adam Conn remained 1-2 in the standings. Dave Richard from CBS continued his surge and moved to third, followed by Russ Bliss (Fantasy Football Starters) and the aforementioned Jason Sarney of Fantasy Phenoms.

The top overall performers thus far:

1. Jeff Boggis, Fantasy Sports Empires

2. Adam Conn, 411fantasy.com

3. Dave Richard, CBS Sports

4. Russ Bliss, Fantasy Football Starters

5. Jason Sarney, Fantasy Phenoms

6. Steve Sheiner, FanBall

7. James Rathbone, Fantasy Football InDepth

8. Jay Clemons, Sports Illustrated

T9. Michael Cooper, Cooper Sports Radio; Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports

11. Eric Karabell, ESPN

T12. Michael Jones, Football Diehards; Brad Evans, Yahoo

T14. AJ Mass, ESPN; Jared Smola, Draft Sharks

16. Patrick Welsh, Fantasy Pros 911

T17. Jeff Thitoff, 411fantasy.com; Ginny Loveless, Football Diehards; Paul Bourdett, Roto Experts; Peter Davidson, Fantasy Phenoms

The new form can be found here. Deadline to submit your entry is Sunday at 10 AM ET. Any amatuer that defeats all three of the 411fantasy.com experts gets a spot in our Hall of Fame. Our charter member is going to be inducted…stay tuned.