The Fantasy Hit List

As much as we all pretend we build our fantasy teams are based solely on data, trends, matchups and depth charts, there is an undeniable emotional element involved. If you have ever played in a league with the same crew for multiple years, you know exactly what I am talking about. For instance, I know my colleague here at FanHouse, Sean Lalley, will always want Larry Fitzgerald, probably draft Chad Johnson, and will sniper any young running back that looks poised to slip into a starting role. On the other hand, if Curtis Martin, Tiki Barber, and Torry Holt played until age 75, they would probably all end up my team.

We grow attached to guys who have helped us win... and vice versa. On the contrary, we grow to despise the players who sink our teams as if they pushed our grandma to the ground in an effort to steal the last seat on a busy subway car. They are evil and we do not forget this. Thus, the following comprises a sampling of some of the guys who have burned fantasy teams beyond repair over the years. In other words, this is our fantasy hit list.

Corey Dillon - We'll date ourselves here a little, but back in 2003 fantasy team-killin' Corey Dillon came off a 1,300-plus yard and seven-touchdown rushing season with all the hype of a new Vampire Weekend album. Much like the band, Dillon proved to be totally overrated, providing owners a whopping 541 yards and two teeders.

Michael Clayton – The ultimate sophomore slump. Clayton came out of nowhere his rookie year, posting almost 1,200 yards, 80 catches, seven scores, and making a nice little name for himself in Tampa Bay. Fast forward one season and Clayton caught freaking 32 balls for 372 yards and no touchdowns. And he still sucks to this day.

Randy Moss – Moss was nobody's favorite corn-rowed G in 2006 when he left fantasy owners eating a hot turd platter consisting of 42 catches, 553 yards and a lousy three touchdowns.

Mike Shanahan – Everybody always talks about the Mike Shanahan surreptitious backfield situations as if they are so perplexing. To me, it's obvious; Mike Shanahan has dominated his personal fantasy league at his wife's office for years by screwing over anyone who ever started a Broncos running back.

Laurence Maroney – How is that third-rounder working out for you guys this season? With two promising seasons right out of college, Maroney looked like he had a franchise tag headed his way one day. Fast forward to 2008 and he is done for the season after a whopping 83 yards and an injured reserve tag instead. As much as I love me some Sports Guy, never ever take fantasy advice from Bill Simmons.

LaMont Jordan – Lamont Jordan circa 2006 added ulcers to ambitious fantasy owners after a tremendous 2005 season where he strutted for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns while catching 70 passes for another 563 yards and two scores. After complaining his way out of the Jets organization, Jordan's career exploded in Oakland like a Roman candle, but ended like a wet match. He returned after the big Oakland debut season with 479 yards and two touchdowns on the ground with just 15 catches for another 100 and change. Pundits suspect In-and-Out Burger led to Jordan's ultimate demise, but nobody knows for certain.

Daunte Culpepper – While a lot of the guys on this list angered me deeply over the years, I never personally hated any of them, but nor did they singlehandedly destroy my team like Daunte Culpepper in 2005. In retrospect, Culpepper owners should have known better and stuck a fork in his season earlier, but back then, fantasy owners weren't quite as nimble in ditching a first- or second-rounder. It didn't make sense how he could go from totally dominant to putrid in one season (pardon me Mr. Dembinsky, Mr. Moss would like a word with you). Still, I will never forgive Daunte Culpepper, unless he singlehandedly wins a Super Bowl in Detroit. Otherwise, I'll die with an arch-nemesis.

Larry Johnson – Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to the new tyrant of the fantasy s**t list. Unfortunately, I told myself to stay away from LJ this season, but in one league I took the bait like a banjo minnow in the third round. He burned fantasy owners by getting suspended this season (and getting injured last season). Furthermore, he now sits on the waiver wire, leaving us all to wonder if and when he will play over the course of the next month, before his double hearing and getting suspended again, or if Jamaal Charles will just take over now for good. In a just world, the Chiefs would respect their organization and its reputation by opting for the latter.

So, who is on your list?