Only 15-percent of managers started Isaiah Likely, including out inaugural winner, Brack Varnon of Pearland, TX. The Giants' break out TE was one of the five top scoring players that contributed to Brack's massive 253.00 points.
Week 2 of the Blackout competition is LIVE!
Another season of NFL football is upon us, and if this week was any indication, it’s going to be a fun one. We saw the highest scoring Week 1 game ever, the highest scoring opening Sunday and tied the most points ever scored in the opening week. I looked back at the available Week 1 write-ups to see how the Blackout and it's winners have fared in Week 1:
| Blackout Scores in Week 1 2017-2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Higher than 2026 scores in bold) | ||||
| Year | Winner | Winning Score | Perfect Score | NFL Total |
| 2026 | Brack B Varnon, Pearland, TX | 253.00 | 329.60 | 791.00 |
| 2025 | Steven Wik, Lancaster, NY | 194.80 | 258.90 | 688.00 |
| 2024 | Andrew D, Portland, OR | 233.00 | 301.90 | 676.00 |
| 2023 | Derek Ellingson, LA Quinta, CA | 256.90 | 340.10 | 653.00 |
| 2022 | John Wulf, Williamsville, NY | 229.25 | 292.65 | 662.00 |
| 2021 | Mark Becker, Los Angeles, CA | 228.40 | 326.10 | 741.00 |
| 2020 | Jeff Turner, Villa Rica, GA | 275.50 | 326.10 | 778.00 |
| 2019 | Article is missing | 734.00 | ||
| 2018 | Michael Livengood, Ward, AR | 249.10 | 343.80 | 717.00 |
| 2017 | Jennifer Pelton, Akron, OH | 195.60 | 396.55 | 644.00 |
While it may not have been historic, Brack’s roster got the job done and leaves him in the driver’s seat for the overall scoring contest. Crowd favorites like Lamar Jackson (QB2), Derrick Henry (RB1) and Justin Jefferson (WR2) carried his team but Likely really put him over the top. The Buffalo Bills Defense chipped in nine points. Considering how difficult defense turned out to be this week, that was clutch. I was inclined to call that the difference maker but the team in 2nd was one of only four managers to select the ST1, the Cincinnati Bengals. So, the flowers on that score go to the team starting out in the second position, The Watchdog, aka Peter Richmond of Fredericksburg, VA. Here’s a look at Brack’s winning roster:
| Week 1 Highest Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brack B Varnon, Pearland, TX | ||||
| (Maximum-points picks in bold) | ||||
| % Started | Pos | Name | Team | Score |
| 26.86% | QB | Lamar Jackson | BAL | 30.20 |
| 57.37% | QB | Joe Burrow | CIN | 18.70 |
| 23.94% | RB | Derrick Henry | BAL | 35.30 |
| 32.70% | RB | Jonathan Taylor | IND | 27.10 |
| 39.27% | WR | Justin Jefferson | MIN | 31.20 |
| 22.48% | WR | Nico Collins | HOU | 21.20 |
| 17.52% | WR | Ladd McConkey | LAC | 19.20 |
| 15.47% | TE | Isaiah Likely | NYG | 27.80 |
| 37.37% | TE | Tyler Warren | IND | 10.30 |
| 21.17% | PK | Evan McPherson | CIN | 15.00 |
| 5.99% | PK | Chase McLaughlin | TB | 9.00 |
| 42.77% | ST | LA Chargers | LAC | 1.00 |
| 4.67% | ST | Buffalo | BUF | 7.00 |
| Total | 253.00 | |||
The Blackout was bound mostly by the rules of out Week 1 challenge, “Out with the Old”, which eliminated players from all 2025 division winners from the contest. So, it was mostly luck that nine of the top scoring players were Blacked Out. Yes, I reached out to block Josh Allen, Trey McBride and the Lions’ studs, but never in a million years would I have chosen to exclude Bryce Young (QB3) or Jalen Coker (WR1!). I also have no shares of Coker, so no victory laps for me this week, but next week is no holds barred, so stay sharp!
| Week 1 Perfect Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Blackouts in | ||||
| % Started | Pos | Name | Team | Score |
| 2.34% | QB | Tyler Shough | NO | 33.30 |
| 26.86% | QB | Lamar Jackson | BAL | 30.20 |
| 23.94% | RB | Derrick Henry | BAL | 35.30 |
| 4.38% | RB | Kenneth Walker | KC | 34.10 |
| 5.84% | WR | Christian Watson | GB | 32.70 |
| 39.27% | WR | Justin Jefferson | MIN | 31.20 |
| 29.49% | WR | Chris Olave | NO | 28.20 |
| 15.47% | TE | Isaiah Likely | NYG | 27.80 |
| 0.29% | TE | Mike Gesicki | CIN | 18.80 |
| 21.17% | PK | Evan McPherson | CIN | 15.00 |
| 0.29% | PK | Chad Ryland | ARI | 14.00 |
| 0.58% | ST | Cincinnati | CIN | 18.00 |
| 9.64% | ST | Detroit | DET | 11.00 |
| Total | 329.60 | |||
The crowd hit on the Jackson/Henry stack and any questions about Kyler Murray’s ability to feed Jefferson were put on hold when Carson Wentz took over early and brought a big bag of JJ’s favorite snacks, targets and touchdowns. On balance, the rising tide lifted all boats, but the bottom of the roster is where things so often go wrong for the Crowd. Only three total points from the two most popular defenses this week.
| Week 1 Wisdom Of The Crowd Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Maximum-points picks in bold) | ||||
| % Started | Pos | Name | Team | Score |
| 57.37% | QB | Joe Burrow | CIN | 18.70 |
| 26.86% | QB | Lamar Jackson | BAL | 30.20 |
| 32.70% | RB | Jonathan Taylor | IND | 27.10 |
| 30.95% | RB | Chase Brown | CIN | 18.80 |
| 51.09% | WR | CeeDee Lamb | DAL | 15.40 |
| 39.27% | WR | Justin Jefferson | MIN | 31.20 |
| 29.49% | WR | Chris Olave | NO | 28.20 |
| 37.37% | TE | Tyler Warren | IND | 10.30 |
| 21.46% | TE | Sam LaPorta | DET | 9.80 |
| 44.82% | PK | Ka'imi Fairbairn | HOU | 7.00 |
| 21.31% | PK | Jake Bates | DET | 7.00 |
| 42.77% | ST | LA Chargers | LAC | 1.00 |
| 25.99% | ST | Houston | HOU | 2.00 |
| Total | 206.70 | |||
Thanks again for participating in the Fantasy Index Blackout. Don’t get discouraged if you’re off to a rough start, this is a game of runs and early season deficits do not mean much. The most important thing you can do to get back in the hunt is to participate every week! Let me know in the comments who you hit on, who surprised you and if you have any ideas for weekly challenges. I’m looking for a good balance of clever word play and easy-to-implement!
—Ben Prator
