With the fantasy season winding down as most leagues enter their first or second week of the playoffs, it’s a great time to look back at the year and rekindle the memories of what your team was able (or not able) to accomplish. To get that done, what could be better than a Top 10 list? (Note: This list only covers games prior to Week 15).
Evan Bleier is a freelance writer based out of wherever he can plug in his laptop. You can send him questions, comments and Buffalo wing suggestions @itishowitis or "like" CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
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Top 10 Fantasy Football Moments of 2013
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No. 10. Week 12: Jamaal Charles vs. San Diego Chargers
The Chiefs lost the game, but it wasn’t because of Charles’ play as he rumbled his way to 115 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries. As he has often done this year, Charles also helped out with the passing game and chipped in four catches for 42 yards.
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No. 9. Week 4: Tony Gonzalez vs. New England Patriots
He wasn’t the first and he certainly won’t be the last, but Gonzalez torched the sieve-like secondary of the Pats for 12 catches, 149 yards and two scores. If Gonzalez does indeed retire after the season, his Week 4 performance will probably go down as the last stellar game of a great career.
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No. 8. Week 14: LeSean McCoy vs. Detroit Lions
In nearly six-inches of snow during blizzard-like conditions, Shady McCoy was able to gash the Lions for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 30 touches. The Chip Kelly offense has been a Godsend for McCoy and he has certainly re-established himself as one of the top backs in fantasy.
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No. 7. Week 9: Tom Brady vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
After struggling mightily through the season’s first eight weeks, Brady was able to right the ship and get things going in the right direction by completing 23 of his 33 passes for 433 yards and four scores. Brady has been markedly better since that game and it may have saved the season for many of his owners.
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No. 6. Week 6: Knowshon Moreno vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
In a game that Vegas projected as being one of the biggest beat-downs of all-time, Moreno only rushed for 43 yards. However, three of his rushes resulted in touchdowns and he also tacked on seven catches for 62 yards in an all-encompassing performance that solidified his fantasy value for the year.
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No. 5. Week 3: Antonio Brown vs. Chicago Bears
Even though the Steelers got pounded 40-23, Brown came through for his owners in a big way with nine grabs for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Brown has been one of the few bright spots for Pittsburgh and he should remain a fixture of their offense moving forward.
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No. 4. Week 5: Tony Romo vs. Denver Broncos
He did have a costly turnover that probably cost the Cowboys the game, but Romo’s fantasy owners were likely able to look past it considering he threw for 505 yards, five touchdowns and a two-point conversion for good measure during a shootout with Peyton Manning.
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No. 3. Week 8: Calvin Johnson vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Lions were able to squeak by the Cowboys 31-30 thanks in large part to Johnson hauling in 14 of his 16 targets for 329 yards and a touchdown. Johnson did put the ball on the ground once, but who’s counting?
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No. 2. Week 13: Eric Decker vs. Kansas City Chiefs
In what was by far his best game of 2013 and will likely go down as the best game of his career, Decker erupted for four touchdowns and 174 receiving yards on eight catches while helping to lead his team to an important victory over the division rival Chiefs.
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No. 1. Week 1: Peyton Manning vs. Baltimore Ravens
Everyone expected Manning to be good, but the Broncos QB put the entire league on notice by tossing seven touchdown passes (a new league record) while compiling 462 passing yards against the defending World Champs. Manning set the tone early in 2013 and never looked back.
