The ultimate Super Bowl fantasy team

In honor of it being Super Bowl week, and to pay homage to those players who rose to the highest heights on the sport’s biggest stage, I’ve trawled back through Super Bowl history to collate the ultimate fantasy Super Bowl roster. To get as many players in as possible, I’ve gone with a more modern roster make up, made up of the following positions, with scoring based on 1 point per reception and standard D/ST and Kicker scoring:

• Quarterback
• 2x Running Backs
• 3x Wide Receivers
• 1x Tight End
• 1x Flex
• 1x SuperFlex
• Defense/Special Teams
• Kicker (as they really do matter in the big game)

Note: I purposefully decided not to roster any player more than once, otherwise a certain Jerry Lee Rice Sr. would take up 3 separate spots on this all-time team, thanks to his other worldly Super Bowl performances.

QB: Steve Young (San Francisco 49ers), Super Bowl XXIX – 41.9 points

Young set a Super Bowl record with 6 touchdown passes in the 49ers’ 49-26 rout of the Chargers, leading to the highest ever fantasy score by a quarterback in a Super Bowl. He passed for 325 yards and added a further 49 on the ground as the 49ers eased to their 5th Lombardi trophy. This was the first Super Bowl in which both teams scored in all four quarters, and the combined aggregate score of 75 points and the ten total touchdowns both remain Super Bowl records.

RB1: James White (New England Patriots), Super Bowl LI – 47.9 points

Would you have guessed this one? White has the honor of putting up the single highest fantasy score in Super Bowl history, as he dominated the touches in the Patriots’ epic comeback victory over the Falcons, including scoring the winning touchdown in overtime. White amassed 139 total yards (29 rushing, 110 receiving), 3 total touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 receiving), a 2 point conversion in the 4th quarter and a Super Bowl record 14 receptions as the Patriots famously came back from a 28-3 deficit in the third quarter.

RB2: Roger Craig (San Francisco 49ers), Super Bowl XIX – 38.5 points

The original dual-threat running back, Craig scored 3 total touchdowns in the 49ers’ second Super Bowl win over the Dolphins. Craig had 135 total yards and had the game icing touchdown in the third quarter as the 49ers cruised to a 38-19 win.

WR1: Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers), Super Bowl XXIX – 43.9 points

Rice was money in all three of his Super Bowl appearances for the 49ers, but his highest fantasy score came in 1995 against the Chargers. He had 10 catches for 149 yards plus 3 touchdown receptions, including one on the third play of the game, that helped the 49ers to a 49-26 romp and their fifth Super Bowl triumph in 14 years.

WR2: Ricky Sanders (Washington Redskins), Super Bowl XXII – 39.9 points

Sanders, alongside MVP Doug Williams, combined to produce one of the most famous quarters in Super Bowl history, where Washington scored 35 points and put up 356 yards of offense in the second quarter against the Broncos. Sanders himself caught 5 passes for 168 of his 193 total yards and both his touchdowns in the second quarter as Washington turned around a 0-10 first quarter deficit to lead 35-10 at half time and ultimately won 42-10.

WR3: Antonio Freeman (Green Bay Packers), Super Bowl XXXII – 33.6 points

Freeman’s performance is somewhat forgotten in Super Bowl lore as the John Elway/Terrell Davis narrative is the deservedly lasting memory. Freeman had 9 receptions for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the opening score and game tying touchdown in the 4th quarter, though his drop on the Packers’ final drive in Denver territory was a killer as the Broncos held on to win their first ever Super Bowl.

TE: Dan Ross (Cincinnati Bengals), Super Bowl XVI – 33.4 points

Though ultimately ending up on the losing side as the 49ers began their Super Bowl dynasty, Dan Ross set a Super Bowl record with 11 receptions. That record stood for over 30 years and still remains a record for a tight end in the Super Bowl. As well as the 11 catches, Ross had 104 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns as the Bengals lost 26-21 to the Joe Montana/Bill Walsh 49ers.

FLEX: Marcus Allen (Los Angeles Raiders), Super Bowl XVIII – 34.9 points

It’s nice to see a non-quarterback MVP make the final fantasy roster. Allen set a Super Bowl record with 191 rushing yards in the Raiders’ 38-9 victory over the Redskins, adding 2 touchdowns on the ground in the third quarter. His 74-yard touchdown run remains one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history.

SUPERFLEX: Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers), Super Bowl XIX – 37.1 points

Montana’s second Super Bowl ring was earned as he threw for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns as the 49ers comfortably beat Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins 38-16. Montana added a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter as he totaled 59 rushing yards on the day and took home the MVP award.

D/ST: Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl XXVII – 35 points

There was stiff competition for this spot, with 4 teams in history recording 30 or more fantasy points in the Super Bowl, including the historic ‘85 Bears (31 points) and ‘00 Ravens (30 points) defenses. However, the Cowboys had the top score thanks to a defensive performance that included 2 defensive touchdowns and a massive NINE total turnovers (5 fumbles, 4 interceptions). Throw in 4 sacks and 17 points allowed and it makes up 35 total points and the ultimate fantasy Super Bowl defensive effort.

K: Don Chandler (Packers), Super Bowl II – 16 points

We go way back in the way back for the top fantasy kicking performance in the Super Bowl era. Don Chandler had ice in his veins as he kicked a perfect game with 4 field goals and 3 extra points, with his 43-yard effort just before the half his longest kick. The Packers ran out comfortable 33-14 victors over the Raiders, with Chandler scoring in all 4 quarters.