Rob Masterson scores 2,501, a league record, in the 2003 Quarterfinals
Heading into the 2003 playoffs, I’m not sure anyone could have predicted greatness from Masterson’s band of merry men. Forget the fact that after two seasons, he was just 15-15 (8-8 in 2002 and 7-7 after the 2003 regular season), the problem was the Backstreet Boyz were easily the most inconsistent team in the league.
They had begun the year winning their first three, but they dropped their following three contests. They got back on the winning side with a pair of wins in weeks seven and eight, but then they would drop three in a row again, falling to 5-6 on the year. In weeks 12 and 13 (in a 14-game regular season), Rob’s team broke 1,600 twice, earning him his second weekly high score of the season in a 1,691-1,667 win over Burrier in week 13. Yet, in the two weeks prior to those games, he failed to score at least 900 points. Again, inconsistent.
In the final weekend of the regular season, thanks to his season sweep of Burrier, Rob could win his division with a win over Calderon (coupled with a Burrier defeat). Well, Burrier lived up to his side of the agreement when he lost his third straight to Jeff, but Rob would once again fail to hit 900 points, losing to Calderon, 1,662-858. With the loss, Rob would lose the division to Burrier and drop all the way to the 7th seed, where he would face division winning Molly, who was entering the post-season riding a four-game winning streak.
Now despite having one of the league’s best backs (Priest Holmes) and one of the league’s top receivers (pre-Ochocinco Chad Johnson), Rob struggled to get consistent play from other spots like quarterback (Aaron Brooks), wide receiver (Darrell Jackson) and tight end (Randy McMichaels). At the RB2 spot, Rob actually had two decent backs, Curtis Martin (NYJ) and Thomas Jones (Buccaneers), but he was rotating them weekly, which is always a big risk.
These players could easily put up 1,600 points or 800 points, you just never knew. Luckily for Masterson, in the 2003 Quarterfinals, it was the former.
His team went off. By the end of the 1PM games, Rob had already score 1,786 points. He did this, despite the fact, two players from the New York Jets played in a touchdown-less win over the Steelers.
The Colts D led the way with 436 points, holding the Atlanta Falcons to 154 total yards in a 38-7 win.
In Kansas City, the Chiefs rolled over the Detroit Lions. First-Team All-Robio running back, Priest Holmes, produced 406 total fantasy points. Meanwhile, although the Jets didn’t score a touchdown, Curtis Martin got plenty of touches, raking up 388 fantasy points. Rob’s kicker, Doug Brien, counted for the Jets’ only points, scoring 80 fantasy points.
Also, both of Rob’s receivers were playing in the 1 PM games. Seahawks’ wide receiver, Darrel Jackson, had a nice 246-point day, while the Bengals beat the 49ers, 41-38. In that game, Chad Johnson scored 230 fantasy points.
Heading into the afternoon games, it was clear Masterson was going to beat Molly. He was already winning 1,786-336. Sure she had four good players left to play, but Rob still had two players remaining, including his quarterback.
During the afternoon games, three of Molly’s four remaining players, Brett Favre, Richie Anderson and Shannon Sharpe, all produced solid games, combining to score over 600 points fantasy points, but it wasn’t enough. She still trailed Rob, 1,786-1,075.
Even though she still had Deuce McAllister left to play Sunday night, Molly’s season was done. Rob would be advancing. The only question remaining was…could Rob break 2,000? Or better yet, could Rob break Robio’s record of 2,321 points? Masterson had Aaron Brooks going against a 4-9 Giants team Sunday night, followed by Randy McMichael (TE) playing Monday night at home against a solid 10-3 Eagles team.
Well, Monday night ended up just being a formality as Aaron Brooks and the New Orleans Saints rolled over the NY Giants, 45-7. Brooks threw for five touchdowns, scoring a stunning 539 fantasy points. Not only did Rob break 2,000 by Sunday night, he passed Robio up for highest score ever, by four points. The record was his.
The following night, McMichael’s had a solid performance, scoring 176 fantasy points, thus putting Masterson over the 2,500-point mark with a 2,501-1,319 win.
A week later, it appeared that Rob’s luck would be continuing when he was able to avoid taking on Robio, the league’s top seed and highest scoring team, thanks to a stunning upset by Rich Calderon in the quarters. Instead, he would take on Griff, the #5 seed. Yet, his team flopped. They never even came close to duplicating his 2,501 points. Rob fell to Griff, 1,591-1,064.
While I’ll never be stupid enough to call a record unbreakable, this one is going to be tough to overcome. Since Rob broke the 2,500-point barrier, no team has even hit 2,400. Only Matt in 2007 has hit 2,300 points (he scored 2,338).
Below you can find the actual production from each player on Rob’s team in that game.
QB – Aaron Brooks, NO GAME: Beat the Giants, 45-7 STATS: 26-35 for 296 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 3 carries for 11 yards, was sacked once and fumbled once. POINTS: 539
RB – Priest Holmes, KC GAME: Beat the Lions, 45-17 STATS: 16 rushes for 94 yards. Five receptions for 42 yards. Three Touchdowns. POINTS: 406
RB – Curtis Martin, NYJ GAME: Beat the Steelers, 6-0 STATS: 30 rushes for 174 yards. 4 receptions for 54 yards. POINTS: 388
WR – Darrell Jackson, SEA GAME: Lost to Rams, 27-22 STATS: 6 catches for 99 yards, 1 touchdown. POINTS: 246
WR – Chad Johnson, CIN GAME: Beat the 49ers STATS: 6 catches for 91 yards, 1 touchdown. POINTS: 230
TE – Randy McMichael, MIA GAME: Lost to Eagles, 34-27 STATS: 7 catches for 95 yards. POINTS: 176
PK – Doug Brien, NYJ GAME: Beat the Steelers, 6-0 STATS: 2 made field goals, 28 and 41 yards. POINTS: 80
DST – Colts DST, IND GAME: Beat the Falcons, 38-7 STATS: Gave up seven points and 154 yards, produced four sacks and two turnovers, scoring one defensive touchdown. POINTS: 436
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