Fantasy Index Blackout

January 13, 2023

Mark Christie wins 2022 Blackout Championship

Congratulations to Mark Christie of Fairport, N.Y., our Fantasy Index Blackout champion for the 2022 season. He wins a free subscription to everything we publish for the 2023 season -- Fantasy Football Index magazine and the SuperFanatic newsletter package -- and he will be invited to join the professional fantasy analysts in the 2023 Fantasy Football Index magazine Experts Draft. Click through to see the overall Top 50 for the year.

Christie finished 35.75 points ahead of runner-up Steve Klitzner of Miami -- a difference of about 1 percent.

Want to do battle with the experts and have your picks published in Fantasy Football Index magazine? Then do what Mark did: Outwit hundreds of entrants in Fantasy Index Blackout or the Fantasy Index Open. (Results for the 2022 Fantasy Index Open will be published soon.) Both competitions are free of charge and open to all comers.

Christie had a remarkably consistent season. He vaulted to 14th in Week 3, and for the remainder of the year he was never lower than 6th in the standings. He took the overall lead Week 14 and held it to the finish.

We asked Christie how he did it, and he had a lot to say:

"The first couple weeks I probably picked more 'chalk' players as we learned who teams and players were this season. Week 3 was a big one -- I've always tended to favor the running QBs and Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson put up huge numbers. The one I really remember was Week 4, when most of the Lions WRs were out. I subbed in T.J. Hockenson late in the week, and he had a career day. As you mentioned, I was in the top 6 most of the year after that. T.J. was a regular feature in my lineups most of the way, as was Amon-Ra St. Brown. He was one of those guys who never seemed to be blacked out but always had great matchups. Aside from that, I always used the stud guys like Austin Ekeler, Christian McCaffrey, and Patrick Mahomes whenever they were available. Week 17 was the big one, as I had just a 1 point lead over the guy in 2nd place. I probably changed my lineup a million times during the week, but decided to take both Justin Fields and Jared Goff banking on a high scoring game and sticking with my guy Ekeler even though Dalvin Cook was tempting me. It all worked out, and that gave me the breathing room heading into week 18."

We encountered a couple of hiccups along the way. The terrifying Week 17 injury to Damar Hamlin led the NFL to abandon the Bills-Bengals game, causing all players in that game to receive zeroes. Tee Higgins appeared in more than one third of Blackout lineups that week, and many other players were affected. And we had a self-inflicted wound in Week 9, when we failed to properly account for the switch from daylight saving time to standard time. That caused rosters to lock an hour too early, which hurt a handful of contestants who otherwise would have entered or changed their rosters.

Blackout is free to play. We pay for the programming and spend several hours each week working on it because we want to play it ourselves. With that said, we think the game has gotten a little stale, and we're contemplating changes for next year. In the comments, please tell us how you would change/improve the game next year -- and don't forget to congratulate Mark!

Fantasy Index Blackout - Top 50 overall for the 2022 season
Rk	Pts	Team	Owner	Hometown
1.	3550.20	Renegades	Mark Christie	Fairport, NY
2.	3514.45	Steve K.	Steve Klitzner	Miami, FL
3.	3511.55	#EvilGenius	Ken Edwards	Salinas, CA
4.	3507.55	Crushers	James Zabloudil	Plainfield, IL
5.	3505.85	Bob R.	Bob Reck	Mukwonago, WI
6.	3480.35	Steven H.	Steven Hecker	Powell, OH
7.	3478.90	Ralph C.	Ralph Cunningham	Owasso, OK
8.	3473.60	Travis P.	Travis Perry	Coeburn, VA
9.	3467.30	Mike T.	Mike Taylor	Meridian, ID
10.	3464.30	18 rocks	Brad Dengler	Morton, WA
11.	3459.40	DT BOMBERS	Dennis Thomas	Royal Oaks, CA
12.	3457.15	CRAIG MACHINE	Craig Smith	Humble, TX
13.	3452.35	Henne to Manningham	Michael Garves	La Crosse, WI
14.	3450.30	Bellview Bashers	Treavor Phipps	Salem, IN
15.	3450.25	SHAMROCKS	Robert Cassidy	Florence, OR
16.	3440.70	Steven T.	Steven Torres	Nipomo, CA
17.	3439.20	SA Maddogs	Micahel Espinosa	Helotes, TX
18.	3436.10	FIUSER0824	Victor Kitzes	Black Diamond, WA
19.	3431.25	David D.	David DiGregorio	Norristown, PA
20.	3428.65	Manifest Density	Mike McIlraith	Livingston, TX
21.	3426.40	Paulie's Playhouse	Paul Grubb	Timnath, CO
22.	3421.15	Scott K	Scott Kaliska	Winnipeg, MB
23.	3420.60	For Who? For What?	Steve Knight	West Chester, PA
24.	3418.90	Last Call	Steve Brun	Beavercreek, OH
25.	3416.30	Matt G.	Matt Garves	La Crosse, WI
26.	3411.50	O Club	John Sokolosky	Wilburton, OK
27.	3410.80	Joe Kapp	David Weissmiller	Mount Carroll, IL
28.	3409.55	Gamebreakers	Gary Bauer	Marinette, WI
29.	3409.40	BUCXPRESS	Robert Buckmann	Mount Dora, FL
30.	3404.85	PDXHawkFan	Eric Liljenberg	Portland, OR
31.	3399.80	DeutschlandEXPRESS	Paul Deutsch	Sioux Falls, SD
32.	3390.80	Saquon Destroy	Michael Livengood	Ward, AR
33.	3386.30	Troy's Boys	Larry Weinhauer	Andover, NY
34.	3385.40	CCBluecats	Bud Henry	Dallas, TX
35.	3382.35	Headbangers	Chad Henslee	Nederland, TX
36.	3381.65	Dam Guy	Dave Garner	Mossyrock, WA
37.	3380.50	Mighty Grimmace's	Todd Blinn	Obetz, OH
38.	3379.80	Flash	Cody Hager	Portland, OR
39.	3374.25	Team Schads-FI	Tim Schadelbauer	Farmingville, NY
40.	3372.70	Miles	Brent Miles	Pasco, WA
41.	3369.25	Relm	Rob Elmlinger	Cincinnati, OH
42.	3366.20	The Crushers	Joe Clifford	Cumberland, RI
43.	3365.80	Benton's Bullies	Benton Hitt	Lorton, VA
44.	3364.35	Brian B.	Brian Bruge	Niles, MI
45.	3359.40	Math Mania	Steven Math	Austin, TX
46.	3356.25	Los Pollos Hermanos	Dave Sjogren	Leland, NC
47.	3354.90	Sophie's choice	Dennis Snyder	Modesto, CA
48.	3352.40	Rookie Tom	Thomas Mignone	Odenton, MD
49.	3351.35	Cardiac Kids	Scott Armbruster	Penfield, NY
50.	3350.95	@AngryMoose1	Ben MacLeod	Concord, NH

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My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T. Sparks, Nev.

You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B. St. Charles, Mo.

I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L. Mequon, Wisc.

The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S. Olympia, Wash.

Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L. Madison, Wis.

I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G. Bartlett, Ill.

Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D. Wellington, Fla.

Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C. Tulsa, Okla.

A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M. London, Ontario, Canada

I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C. Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M. Imperial, Neb.

I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M. Elma, N.Y.

I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W. Holt, Mich.

I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M. Lynnwood, Wash.

You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W. Aylett, Va.

And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S. Grand Junction, Colo.

This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R. Queen Creek, Ariz.

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