Fantasy vs Reality

During many football discussions, I have come across this argument several times.

"He's good, but he's just a good fantasy player."

After struggling to keep my brain from exploding, I say,

"What is the difference? Don't fantasy points come directly from the game?"

Then I get an hour of BS about how you can be some clutch awesome player, but not put up good fantasy numbers.

Here's the deal people. There is no difference between fantasy production and on the field production. If you're a good player you will be both a good fantasy player and a good on the field player. Peyton Manning is literally amazing. Last year, he played AMAZING despite having no supporting cast aside from Reggie Wayne. Because the Colts didn't win, Peyton Manning is automatically at fault to some people. This is when people turn their brains off and refuse to admit he's a top 5 QB. He can't win! He's got a losing playoff record! Peyton Manning can go 50/50 500 Yards and 5 TDs and he would be "just a good fantasy player" to most football fans.

This needs to stop. Football is a sport consisting of offense, defense, and special teams. 3 parts that are not related. 11 guys are on the field at any give time for each unit. QB is one of those 10. While QB is more important, it is not always the QBs fault for a win or loss. There was a game between the Jets and Dolphins when Marino was playing where he threw for 400+ yards and 6 TDs and the Dolphins lost 62-45. Is it really Marino's fault? Is he really just a "fantasy" QB who can't win? Should he have played LB and picked off the opposing QB?

Special teams has a huge effect too. This past season, the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers (had to get that in there) played the Atlanta Falcons during the regular season. The Packers, trailing by 7, were lead on a 90 yard drive by Aaron Rodgers. The drive was capped off by a 10 yard TD pass to Jordy Nelson on 4th down. The score was tied at 17. There is under a minute left when the Packers kickoff. Falcons return man Eric Weems gets a big return to the 30 and when he is tackled, Packers LB Matt Wilhelm grabs his face mask. 15 yards were tacked on. Matt Ryan completed a couple of easy passes and he kicked a FG to win the game in regulation. Aaron Rodgers did everything right to tie the game, but his special teams failed him. True, Rodgers could have done more during the game to win, but it was a tightly contested matchup.

Just because a QB is on the losing end of a game, doesn't mean he is bad. When the Colts and Patriots play, is the losing QB suddenly bad and "just a fantasy player"? Of course not. So remember this the next time you get into a debate with someone on football. Romo, Rodgers, Manning, Brady, Brees, etc., are all great QBs. And no. Mark Sanchez is neither clutch nor better than those guys.