Fantasy: How the Eagles saved, ruined seasons on Christmas
Any well-run fantasy league concluded Monday night, when the Philadelphia Eagles topped the Oakland Raiders 19-10.
It was a miserable ending for most who needed fantasy points from the final game to mount a championship comeback. There were just two offensive touchdowns, scored by Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper and Eagles running back Jay Ajayi, while Derek Carr and Nick Foles threw for 140 and 163 yards, respectively, and combined for two touchdowns and three interceptions.
For many, the 2017 fantasy football season came down to the final play from scrimmage.
How good is the @Eagles' defense?
— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2017
They end games with TDs. #FlyEaglesFly#OAKvsPHI pic.twitter.com/ejpaDurex3
For those still haunted by it, I apologize.
Down by three points in the final seconds, the Raiders fumbled during a desperate series of laterals. Defensive end Derek Barnett recovered the ball and scampered into the end zone.
The play was a bonus six points for fantasy managers deploying the Eagles' defense - an adequate choice against a Raiders team with a high of 24 points scored in their previous five outings.
The unexpected and ultimately meaningless defensive score swayed fantasy results dramatically.
WOW. The Eagles just won me my fantasy Super Bowl!!! Shout out to @RyanPhillippe
— Jerry Ferrara (@jerryferrara) December 26, 2017
Whoever lost their Fantasy Super Bowl on that Philadelphia Eagles defensive fumble TD. You must be sick.
— Yankee Man (@MyBoyJeter) December 26, 2017
I was up 8 points in my PPR fantasy championship game last night and the guy I was playing had the eagles D/ST. The last play the raiders started lateraling and the play caused a fumble and TD as time expired and I lost by .6 ..............
— Connor Beecham (@connor_beecham) December 26, 2017
This was the score of my Fantasy Football Championship BEFORE the last play of week 16. He has the Eagles D...#FantasyFootball pic.twitter.com/U1hLF2j5Um
— Jed Lloyd (@lloydjed) December 26, 2017
Fantasy chip cause of my @Eagles defense with that TD in the final seconds #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/RpOZEUQFsm
— cooper (@coopervogel) December 26, 2017
But there was more heartbreak to come.
With no time left on the clock and the Eagles holding a nine-point lead, the next logical step would've been to have Jake Elliott, fantasy's 12th-ranked kicker despite missing Week 1, convert the PAT.
Instead, they did the unthinkable, lining up in victory formation and simply taking a knee to finish the game.
Eagles decide not to kick XP at the end, @RandyScottESPN loses in our 16-team fantasy league championship by one point. He had Jake Elliott.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) December 26, 2017
Lost Carson Wentz in the first week of my fantasy football playoffs.
— Karthik Venkataraman (@TheSuperKman) December 26, 2017
Lost Antonio Brown the second week.
Still only lost the championship game by Jake Elliot’s FG for the Eagles to beat the Raiders.
It was a good run... it was a good run.
This furthers my hate for the Eagles.
My friend lost his fantasy title cuz the Eagles didn’t kick the PAT. 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/Q8DHQAGBX3
— Anthony Garcia (@SportsAnthony) December 26, 2017
Fantasy Football Name Idea: "The King That Kneeled"
— Andrew Mulholland (@andrew78259) December 26, 2017
Based on the GoT character King Torhen Stark who was called "The King That Kneeled" This parallels how I won off of the eagles kneeling the ball and I am the champion of the league. :) Best Christmas Ever
Tonight the @Eagles decided to kneel instead of kicking the PAT after scoring their final touchdown. This kneel cost their kicker one fantasy point.....the point I needed to win my game and go on to the championship......at least go win the Super Bowl after ending my season.
— Dominic Heberlein (@dominicbears) December 26, 2017
For anyone stuck in a Week 17 championship, enjoy a lot more Justin Hunter and Roosevelt Nix-level fantasy production.
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