LEAGUE HISTORY

It all started in 2010, when a group of young men decided to rid off girls, social lives, and any other needless distractions that get in the way of fantasy football. In the years following, fantasy football has all but consumed the lives of these men. Stories of listening to fantasy football podcasts during long road trips back from a music concert or flying back from Tahiti to surprise the league for the draft are all but common place in the league. 11 out of the 12 current members have been in the league since 2012. This group of men has dedicated themselves to fantasy football, and in the process seen many changes to the league.

The first season of Year of the Kicker was a 12 team league and it used a snake draft (boring). A unique aspect of the league that remains still to this day is that the league is a 2 qb league with 3 starting wr's, while everything else is standard. As well, 2010 was the only year where the league used standard points. Then, in 2011 the league instituted an auction draft and inflated points. This made draft times much longer and more enjoyable. For a few years, it was tradition to have an auction draft go for about 6 hours until well into the night and then league members would go to Denny's at around 3 am. Milkshakes were on the house at that time.

2011 was the only season in league history where the league did not have 12 teams. In fact, the league only had 8 teams, and there was a second league, which had 10 teams. After this year, a core group of league members emerged in 2012 and the league has had and will always have 12 teams in the league.

2013 was historic in that it was the first year the league enacted prize money to the winning team and the finalist. The first buy in was $20. In 2014, the league had its first ever offline auction draft. We got a friend named David to handle auctioneer duties while the rest of the league bid on players. There is nothing more exciting than outbidding a fellow league member and then walking up to the board to pin your new player under your team on the giant cork board. As a league, we try every year to have the draft be an offline one. Draft day is, and will always be the best day of the year.

2015 was the birth of a short lived era where the league had a trophy called the Seidman. On the last day of senior year in high school the commissioner of the league stole a 1991 national semi finals debate trophy from his English teacher's office. That trophy was named in honor of her, but was later broken and never found again.

2017 was a monumental year because a core league member parted ways with the league. It is important to note that Asher Young helped shape the league (we were never allowed to draft on Friday nights because of The Sabbath). After spending 2 years in Israel and juggling league responsibilities, Asher agreed that he no longer had ample time to dedicate himself to the league. Legend has it that to this day he still carries around an iTouch in his front right pocket.

2018 sparked the league to introduce the FAAB system in thanks to Bobo for suggesting the idea. The FAAB makes the art of picking up free agents much much more strategic. Bid too much and you look like a fool, bid too little and you could miss out on your guy. Through trial and error, the league has a great FAAB system for the years ahead.

February 24th, 2020 marks the day that the league website launched.

There have been many minor changes to the league throughout the years. The league has had league members come and go for short tenures (Josh and David). As well, many small rule changes have been made. Money payout and buy in amounts are always changing. The league used to be very trade heavy but is now not so much for a combination of reasons. Last place punishments were brought into the fold in 2018 to spice up the league. The list goes on and on.

Settling for the status quo is one thing this league will never do. Year of the Kicker will never be just a fantasy league that you're in and just check once a week. People are in other leagues, but every league member will say that this league is without a doubt the most important league they are in. This league is a lifestyle. Improvements for the league are always talked about and voted on by the league. As commissioner, I will never settle for an average fantasy football league: This is Year of the Kicker and this the best league I have or ever will be apart of.