Forgotten Field Generals:

I first organized a fantasy football league and commissioned it by hand with paper, pen, calculator and newspapers in 1989. For seven seasons, I managed waiver wire phone calls, recorded lineups, totaled matchups and mailed the results to league mates. Finally, one of the owners purchased software to manage the league that cut my duties in half. I still have hard copies in three-ring binders of every league for the past thirty-five years…I am a little anal when it comes to fantasy football and relish chronicling the past. 

The storied history of the NFL enthralls me. It is stimulating to look into the past and relive amazing moments: I own many DVDs of past Super Bowl Champions and often rewatch random games on YouTube from past eras. As a fantasy diehard and self-proclaimed fantasy football historian, I have featured eleven one-year wonders, who are largely overlooked in history.

Enjoy my fellow Fantasy Football Diehards!

Don Majkowski, Green Bay Packers, 1989

Fantasy Points: 346

FPPG: 21.7

I’ll never forget the summer of 1989. I just graduated college, and rented an apartment on the second floor in a three-family house with two other friends. One of my roommates and I commuted 45 minutes to work at Norwalk Parks & Recreation as counselors for children under 14. My life changed forever when we organized a fantasy football league while driving: I have been addicted to the hobby ever since. 

We knew so little about the game that six quarterbacks were selected in the first round of our fantasy draft. Of course, no one drafted Don Majkowski, and a roommate picked him up off the waiver wire after Week 1. Over thirty-five years later, I still fondly remember the Majik Man’s enchanted season.

In 1988, the Packers posted a 4-12 record and only the most rabid fans expected a better team in coach Lindy Infante’s second campaign. At 25-years old, Majkowski orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, leading the Pack to a 10-6 mark. He passed for 4,318 yards (NFL best), tossed 27 touchdowns, rushed for 385 yards, scrambled for five touchdowns and was named Second Team All-Pro. Unfortunately, Green Bay just missed the playoffs, and the Majik Man never duplicated the fairy-tale campaign.

Despite playing only six seasons in Green Bay, the dual-threat gunslinger is a member of the Packers Hall of Fame. “It’s an honor to be in such a special group…and be around all the great players in team history. I’m blessed to be a part of (the Packers),” the former Green Bay signal caller stated in an interview with Rich Palzewic in 2019. (gopresstimes.com). Majkowski is also remembered and appreciated by long-time fantasy footballers.

During his second season in the Motor City, Mitchell posted the magnum opus of his career. The former Miami pitcher led the Lions to a 10-6 record and playoff berth. With Moore, Perriman and Sanders, Mitchell flourished and concluded the campaign as the second-best signal caller in fantasy football. He posted a 92.3 passer rating, paced the league in yards (4,338) and finished third in touchdowns (32). While he never replicated his noteworthy 1995 campaign, many fantasy footballers rode Mitchell’s left arm to championships.

Erik Kramer, Chicago Bears, 1995

Fantasy Points: 279

FPPG: 17.5

In 2016, I read about the personal challenges Eric Kramer underwent during his post-career. It saddened me. Surprisingly, the news also brought back wonderful recollections of his unforgettable season. My initial recall of Kramer is from 1991 when he led the Lions to their first playoff victory since the 1950s, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 38-6 in the Divisional Round. After two disappointing seasons in Detroit, he signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears.

While Scott Mitchell was drafted in fantasy leagues, Kramer was a waiver wire gemstone in 1995. I secured his services after an impressive opening game performance against the Vikings: He tossed three touchdowns as the Bears scored 31 points on the road. He continued to tear opponents apart all season and assisted my fantasy team to an undefeated season at 14-0. Regrettably, I lost a heartbreaker in the semi-finals of the playoffs…a painful memory.

Nearly thirty years later, Kramer owns the two most prestigious single-season passing records in Bears’ history: He established a franchise record for touchdown passes with 29 and posted the top single-season passing yards mark with 3,838. From a fantasy perspective, he finished as the sixth-ranked signal caller, scoring well over 300 points. Looking back, it is surprising that two quarterbacks charted their finest fantasy season in the same year. Neither Mitchell nor Kramer came close to replicating their success and production again.

Vinny Testaverde, Baltimore Ravens, 1996

Fantasy Points: 330

FPPG: 20.6

In the Eighties, the Miami Hurricanes were must watch football on Saturdays, and in 1986, Vinny Testaverde’s Heisman campaign propelled him to the First Overall Pick in the NFL Draft. Sadly, the Buccaneers were a terrible team, and the former Hurricane could not turn the franchise around. He tossed a dreadful 63 interceptions during his first three years in Tampa Bay and played another three before landing in Cleveland.

Three years later, Browns owner Art Modell moved the franchise to Baltimore, and hired Ted Marchibroda, who had led the Colts to the AFC Championship Game the year before in 1995, as the new coach. In 1976, Marchibroda trained, and tutored, QB Bert Jones to the Associated Press MVP Award, and in 1995, QB Jim Harbaugh produced his most productive season with 17 touchdowns under the coach’s wings.

In 1996, Testaverde, who had never ascended to elite fantasy status, would benefit from Marchibroda’s leadership and guidance. Baltimore employed one of the underrated receiver duos in the league with Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander, and Testaverde possessed the experience and arm strength to take advantage of the playmakers. Finally, skills, experience, coach, teammates and system elevated the Ravens’ signal caller among the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

In a keeper league, I had retained the services of Erik Kramer and drafted Gus Frerotte as my backup in 1996. After four games, Testaverde passed for 816 yards and tossed five aerial strikes. Frerotte had not met expectations, and I grabbed the Ravens’ veteran off the waiver wire. For the rest of the year, Testaverde started in my lineup. When the curtain closed, he established career highs in passing yards (4,177) and touchdowns (33). He also rushed for 188 yards and two scores. Testaverde finished the campaign as the second most productive fantasy quarterback, and I captured a third fantasy championship.

Steve Beuerlein, Carolina Panthers, 1999

Fantasy Points: 346

FPPG: 21.6

’m old enough to remember the Carolina Panthers expansion draft in 1995. With the first pick, the Jaguars (that’s right, Jacksonville) selected Steve Beuerlein. The former Notre Dame product was a fourth-round selection of the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 and enjoyed some success in the City of Angels during his first two years in the NFL. As per many Raiders’ players, Beuerlein had a contract dispute with owner Al Davis and missed the entire 1990 season.

For two years afterwards, Beuerlein languished on the bench in Dallas before signing as a free-agent in Phoenix. Coach Buddy Ryan and Beuerlein had a combative relationship, and Ryan exposed him to the expansion draft. After two uneventful campaigns in Jacksonville, Beuerlein travelled to Carolina to back up Kerry Collins. When Collins stepped away from football in 1998 because of personal challenges, Beuerlein ascended to the top of the depth chart, firing 17 touchdown passes and passing for over 2,600 yards.

In the offseason, the Panthers hired former 49ers’ coach George Seifert, who had won two Super Bowls in San Francisco. In 1999, the organization employed the right man to turn the team around. Did the franchise have a roster capable of orchestrating Seifert’s offensive scheme? During training camp, Beuerlein defeated Jeff Lewis for the starting job. Few fantasy diehards foresaw that the Panthers’ offense would ascend to new heights behind the journeyman passer. Seifert unleashed a dangerous aerial attack with WR Mushin Muhammad (1,253 & 8 TDs), WR Patrick Jeffers (1,082 & 12 TDs) and TE Wesley Walls (1,082 & 12 TDs). The 34-year old had the skills and experience to distribute the ball to all of his prodigious playmakers.

In five games, Beuerlein posted 300 or more yards passing, and eight times, he tossed three or more touchdowns. The veteran signal caller led the league in passing yards with 4,436, finished second with 36 aerial strikes and concluded the campaign as the second-most productive fantasy quarterback. Beuerlein’s remarkable crusade is sandwiched between Collins and Jake Delhomme in Panthers history, and regrettably, his production transpired the same year as Kurt Warner and the Greatest Show on Turf. Beuerlein’s stupendous season has been discarded to the dustpan of history.

Jeff Garcia, San Francisco 49ers, 2000 & 2001

Fantasy Points: 360 & 325

FPPG: 22.5 & 20.3

I know the title of the article states one-year wonders; nevertheless, there are exceptions to rules, and I could not cherry-pick one of Jeff Garcia’s back-to-back stellar seasons…both make the list. Coming out of San Jose State, the NFL bypassed the former Spartan, who was considered too small at 6-1 and 195 pounds. Garcia took his skills north and played in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders. After Doug Flutie signed with Toronto as a free agent, Garcia earned the starter's role in 1996. The following year, he won the Most Outstanding Player award in the Western Division, and in 1998, led the Stampeders to a Grey Cup victory and was named the game’s MVP. Afterwards, he signed with the 49ers and finally, procured a roster spot in the NFL.

In 1999, the Steve Young era came to an abrupt conclusion when the lefty suffered another concussion on a blindside hit on Monday Night Football against Arizona. Garcia replaced the future Hall of Famer and started 10 games, throwing 11 touchdowns, recording 11 interceptions and posting a 2-8 record as a starter. In the Draft, the 49ers selected two quarterbacks (Giovanni Carmazzi and Tim Rattay); yet, Garcia beat out both in training camp, and he would not relinquish the role for the next four seasons.

How good was the dynamic signal caller? Garcia was a deadly short passer with a quick release. With guts and hutzpah, he easily avoided pass rushers, buying time with his legs and running for first downs. The 49ers’ playmaker foreshadowed the modern mobile signal callers in the league. In both seasons, Garcia netted a Pro Bowl invite and led the 49ers to the playoffs. Amazingly, he finished second and first in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks with 360 and 325 points respectfully. He also established a franchise mark with 4,278 passing yards in 2000, which was finally broken by Brock Purdy in 2023.

Garcia is more than a footnote in NFL history by completing 30 touchdown passes in back-to-back seasons—one of only 10 players to accomplish the feat. I never owned shares of Garcia in two keeper leagues because I did not foresee fantasy greatness. The infuriating feeling of losing in a championship game by a Garcia-led team still haunts my fantasy football recollections.

Two years before that fateful day, Green Bay Packers General Manager Ron Wolf drafted Aaron Brooks in the Fourth Round of the 1999 Draft. The Virginia product was not even among the Top 10 prospects by Joel Buchsbaum, who wrote “Very athletic. Has periods when he throws the ball like a first-round pick. Very erratic passer. An enigma.” Brooks spent a season backing up Brett Favre before docking in New Orleans. When Jeff Blake suffered a season-ending foot injury in 2000, Brooks stepped into the spotlight for the final five regular season games.

When the next season kicked off in 2001, Brooks called signals and opened the campaign with a three-touchdown outing in Buffalo. Unlike my blunder bypassing Garcia, I acquired the dual-threat signal caller in one league and relished watching him perform. At 6-4 and 204 pounds, he owned a strong arm and rifled throws down the field. In five games that season, he tossed three touchdowns and four times, eclipsed 300 yards passing. Brooks added a career-best 358 yards rushing and scored once. He concluded the campaign eighth in fantasy points scored among quarterbacks and in three consecutive campaigns, finished in the Top 10. In six seasons in New Orleans, he ranked Top 10 in Total Offense and passing yards four times and passing touchdowns and passes completed on three occasions. More importantly, he graded among the Top 10 fantasy field generals every year from 2001 to 2004. Well deserving of a roster spot on the one-year wonder team.

Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns, 2007

Fantasy Points: 292

FPPG: 18.3

As a lifelong Broncos fan, I love watching the 1986 and 1987 AFC Championship Games (The Drive and The Fumble) between Denver and Cleveland and reverently remember those breathtaking Browns' clubs with QB Bernie Kosar, RB Kevin Mack and RB Earnest Byner. Since the new millennium, Cleveland has not recaptured the glory of their storied past, only making the playoffs three times since the turn of the century.

In 2007, coach Romeo Crennel nearly led the Browns to a playoff appearance, winning 10 games. Cleveland had a powerful running game with Jamal Lewis (1,304 yards and 9 TDs) and two prodigious playmakers in the aerial assault with WR Braylon Edwards (1,289 yards and 16 TDs) and TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. (1,106 yards and 5 TDs). Undeniably, quarterback Derek Anderson profited off the incredible trio of weapons at his disposal. 

Anderson entered the league the same season as Aaron Rogers and Alex Smith. As a senior at Oregon State, he earned second team All-PAC 10 honors, throwing for 29 touchdowns and over 3,600 yards. He had NFL traits: “Excellent size. He has an NFL arm and can throw with velocity and touch. Strong in the pocket and can move around and step up to elude the rush,” according to the Pro Football Weekly scouting report. Not even ranked among the Top 10 prospects by many scouting organizations, the Ravens selected Anderson in the Sixth Round of the 2005 Draft. After his release, the Browns acquired his services off waivers.

In training camp the next summer, Anderson battled Charlie Frye and rookie Brady Quinn for the starting position: Frye won but was so ineffective in the opening game against the Steelers that Crennel pulled him and inserted Anderson. The following week against the Bengals, the 24-year old pitcher led the Browns to a 51-45 victory and completed 20-of-33 passes for 328 yards and a whopping five touchdowns.

I immediately plucked Cleveland’s new starter off the waiver wire: In fantasy football, I never hesitate acquiring a quarterback who flashes early in a season. When the campaign concluded, he was named to the Pro Bowl after passing for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns. Amazingly, he also scored three rushing touchdowns to boost his fantasy value, finishing as the seventh most productive signal caller. Anderson never completed double-digit touchdowns or close to 3,500 yards passing in a season again. However, he earned a paycheck for 11 more NFL crusades and retired as a member of the Bills in 2018.

Matt Schaub, Houston Texans, 2009

Fantasy Points: 312

FPPG: 19.5

In late October of 2019, Matt Schaub started a game for the Falcons versus the Seahawks after years predominately on the bench. Heavily invested in the Falcons' aerial assault on fantasy teams, I watched the 15-year veteran complete 39 passes for 460 yards and a touchdown. Throughout the afternoon, Schaub’s super season a decade earlier flashed into my stream of consciousness. 

During his first two campaigns as a Texan, Schaub failed to meet the expectations of the organization and fans. In 2009, coach Gary Kubiak, who coordinated the Broncos' offense under Mike Shanahan, kicked off his fourth season at the helm in Houston, and Schaub finally blossomed as a starter. The stars aligned and the Houston rifleman became a fantasy stalwart: He led the league in completions (396), attempts (583), passing yards (4,770) and passing yards per game (298.1). He also fired 29 touchdowns and earned a Pro Bowl invite. Among fantasy quarterbacks, Schaub ranked fourth in points scored by the end of the crusade. He remained a Texan for another four seasons, but did not reproduce those outstanding numbers. From 2014-19, Schaub started only three games and is mostly remembered as a postscript in the annals of fantasy football history.

Even probing Kelly’s numbers through today’s lens, it is mind blowing to gaze at his passing totals as a rookie in 1984: He passed for 5,219 yards, tossed 44 touchdowns, rushed for 493 yards and scored five times. I still get giddy reflecting on those high-scoring Gamblers’ teams. If interested in watching Kelly firing away for Houston, there are full games posted on YouTube…I promise that you will not be disappointed. 

Fantasy Points Key: 

Passing Yards x .04

Passing Touchdowns x 4

Rushing Yards x .10

Rushing Touchdowns x 6