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The NHL Awards are given out each year at the annual National Holley League Honors for Outstanding Owners Who Have Excelled At Some Aspect Of Fantasy Football Banquet Presentation Charity Gala Benefit Lunch. Originally a pet project of then-intern Will, created using a now-defunct feature of the ESPN fantasy site, various awards and trophies are doled out each year to recognize owners and players who had noteworthy performances – some positive, some negative – either in single-game efforts or over the course of a full season. Over the years, this has grown into a labor of love and one of the hallmarks of the league, and it is here in this space that we honor every past winner and gaze upon all the potential hardware up for grabs year on year.
The Awards are broken down into two main categories – those which are objective and based on statistics and hard numbers, and those which are subjective (pulled out of the ass of the co-commissioners based on how they were feeling that year). There are also some awards which have been retired, which are also displayed below.
Objective/Stats-Based Awards
Objective/Stats-Based Awards
Commissioner’s Championship Award For The Best Team This Year
Given to the winner of the league title every season, with the compliments of Comissioner Roger Stern-Bettman.
Winners:
2024 – NoKe
2023 – Nerd Herd
2022 – Franco’s Italian Army aka MagicMikeIII
2021 – NoKe
2020 – NoKe
2019 – Council of Steel
2018 – You Betcha
2017 – You Betcha
The Bridesmaid Award
Given to the league runner-up - hey, at least you get something shiny.
Winners:
2024 – Nerd Herd
2023 – God's Country
2022 – Knute Rockme
2021 – Hair43HOF
2020 – Kale Kings
2019 – Fork Tender
2018 – NoKe NoKe
2017 – NoKe NoKe
The Duke Of Sealand Cup
Originally gifted to the league founders in recognition of their services to the great country of Sealand by Duke Harold himself, two cups are given each year to the champions of the Wayne and Keenan Divisions.
Winners:
Wayne Division Keenan Division
2025
2024 NoKe Franco's Italian Army
2023 Knute Rockme Franco's Italian Army
2022 Knute Rockme Franco's Italian Army aka MagicMikeIII
2021 NoKe LLL
2020 NoKe Kale Kings
2019 Council of Steel Fork Tender
2018 You Betcha Foot Jive Monster Mash
2017 NoKe NoKe The Full Monty
The "Dude, Come On" Award
So named to hopefully encourage the recipient to step up their game from the season's last-place finish.
Winners:
2024 – BlahBlahBlah
2023 – Council Of Steel
2022 – Mr. Rodger's Love Child
2021 – BlahBlahBlah
2020 – One Man Band sponsored by Three Dog Night
2019 – ESPN.com (corrupted the league standings)
2018 – Team T. Holden
2017 – Team R. Holden
The Troy State Run 'n' Gun Award
Named in honor of the Troy State basketball team that once beat a team from DeVry University 252-147 (yes, that DeVry, and yes, that was the score), this is awarded to the team with the highest single game score all year.
Winners:
2024 – Destroyers (199)
2023 – All You Need Is Love (177)
2022 – Knute Rockme (202)
2021 – Destroyers (192)
2020 – BlahBlahBlah/National Holley League® (203 - TIE)
2019 – Bridesmaids No More! (204)
2018 – Foot Jive Monster Mash (220)
2017 – NoKe NoKe (185)
The Little Sisters of the Blind “Wimpy, Wimpy, Wimpy” Award, presented by Hefty ™ brand trash bags
Conversely, this award is presented to the owner whose team puts up the lowest single game score in the season.
Winners:
2024 – BlahBlahBlah (64)
2023 – Council of Steel (62)
2022 – Koo Fighters (76)
2021 – God's Country (47)
2020 – One Man Band sponsored by Three Dog Night (59)
2019 – BlahBlahBlah (76)
2018 – Team T. Holden (66)
2017 – Team R. Holden (70) / NoKe NoKe (0)*
The Belichek/Carroll Memorial “Run Up The Score” Award
Like the awards’ namesakes, this is given to the owner whose team wins by the largest margin of victory, to the point where it was probably unnecessary.
Winners:
2024 – Destroyers (+92)
2023 – NoKe (+83)
2022 – NoKe (+91)
2021 – Destroyers (+101)
2020 – National Holley League® (+97)
2019 – Kale Kings (+74)
2018 – Foot Jive Monster Mash (+105)
2017 – Team Rockme (+90) / It Ertz Wentz Eifert (+138)*
The "Soda Can” Award
Given to the owner who, like a soda can, was crushed the worst, suffering the largest margin of defeat.
Winners:
2024 – The Richmond Will Holleys (-92)
2023 – Nerd Herd (-83)
2022 – God's Country (-91)
2021 – God's Country (-101)
2020 – One Man Band sponsored by Three Dog Night (-97)
2019 – God's Country (-74)
2018 – Stehlar Stars (-105)
2017 – Team T. Holden (-90) / NoKe NoKe (-138)*
The Deus Ex Machina Award, presented by WD-40
Given to the owner who, probably through divine intervention, managed to squeak out a win by the smallest margin this year. (No corresponding award for losing, since there’s no shame in a close contest.)
Winners:
2024 – Destroyers (0 points, won on tiebreak)
2023 – Franco's Italian Army (+1) / Nerd Herd (+1) - TIE
Created in 2023
The Travis Bickell Memorial "Taxi Squad" Award
Given to the owner who should have paid more attention to their rejects and outcasts, as their bench outscored their own starting lineup by the biggest margin this year.
Winners:
2024 – not awarded
2023 – Council Of Steel (-23)
Created in 2023
The Mike Krzyzewski “Cupcake Schedule” Award
Awarded to the owner with the fewest points scored against them this season.
Winners:
2024 – Hillbilly Blitz (1708)
2023 – Nerd Herd (1645)
2022 – Koo Fighters (1676)
2021 – Knute Rockme (1723)
2020 - Hair43 (1658)
2019 – BlahBlahBlah (1604)
2018 – Team Rockme (1727)
2017 – NoKe NoKe (1507)
The John Shaft Memorial "You Know What You Got" Award
The opposite, this award is given to the owner who had the hardest schedule, measured by the most points scored against them this season.
Winners:
2024 – Cream Of The Crop (1982)
2023 – All You Need Is Love (1900)
2022 – Mr. Rodger's Love Child (1919)
2021 – Council Of Steel (1945)
2020 - Don't Stand So Close To Me (1876)
2019 – God's Country (1854)
2018 – Team T. Holden (1909)
2017 – Team R. Holden (1844)
The Brady-Crosby-Curry "Oh, Of Course He Did" Award
Given to the owner that led the league in scoring for the season. The award is so named since they probably also won a lot, like the namesakes.
Winners:
2024 – Nerd Herd (2020)
2023 – NoKe (2002)
2022 – Franco's Italian Army aka MagicMikeIII (2121)
2021 – LLL (2080)
2020 – NoKe (1915)
2019 – Council Of Steel (1997)
2018 – Foot Jive Monster Mash (2282)
2017 – You Betcha (1837)
The America Online "You've Got Mail" Award
Given to the owner that mailed it in the most this year, scoring the fewest points of the season.
Sad Winners:
2024 – BlahBlahBlah (1584)
2023 – Council Of Steel (1488)
2022 – Mr. Rodgers' Love Child (1606)
2021 – BlahBlahBlah (1558)
2020 – One Man Band sponsored by Three Dog Night (1609)
2019 – BlahBlahBlah (1539)
2018 – Team T. Holden (1550)
2017 – Team Stehle (1484)
The Moneyball Award
Given to the owner with the most waiver wire acquisitions in the regular season.
Dilligent Winners:
2024 – Franco's Italian Army (98 transactions)
2023 – Franco's Italian Army (124 transactions)
2022 – Franco's Italian Army aka MagicMikeIII (146 transactions)
2021 – Hair43HOF (10.5 pages)
2020 – NoKe (16 pages)
2019 – Bridesmaids No More! (62 players added, 4 players traded)
2018 – NoKe NoKe (44 players added)
2017 – Team Rockme (28 players added)
The "You Got Rocked" Award
Named in honor of the People’s Champ, this award is given to the owner who has a player with the highest individual score all year, or the owner with the best eyebrows – dealer’s choice.
Winners:
2024 – Hillbilly Blitz (WR Jamarr Chase, 55)
2023 – All You Need Is Love (WR Jamarr Chase, 52)
2022 – Two Duncan Donuts (RB Joe Mixon, 54)
2021 – Destroyers (WR Jamarr Chase, 55)
2020 – Kale Kings (WR Tyreek Hill, 57)
2019 – Watermelon In Easter Hay (RB Aaron Jones, 48)
2018 – Council Of Steel (WR Amari Cooper, 49)
2017 – It Ertz Wentz Eifert (Ravens D/ST, 69)
drawA "nataS liaH" ehT
This is awarded to the team with the player that scored them the most negative points, making the score go backwards – just like the name of the award.
:srenniW daS
2024 – Council Of Steel (WR Chris Olave, -1) / God's Country (WR Xavier Worthy, -1)
2023 – NoKe (K Graham Gano, -2)
2022 – Council Of Steel (Dolphins D/ST, -2)
2021 – Knute Rockme (Lions D/ST, -2)
2020 – NoKe (QB/WR Kendall Hinton, -4)
2019 – Kale Kings (49ers D/ST, -4)
2018 – Anybody's Guess Who? (WR Quincy Enunwa, -1)
2017 – It Ertz Wentz Eifert (Ravens D/ST, -3)
The "Make The Grade" Award, powered by Scamazon Core Advanced Metrics
Given to the owner with the most efficient lineup, as decided by some sort of terrifying A.I. program that will surely rule us all in a few years’ time.
Winners:
2024 – Rockme Mama (4 weeks)
2023 – BlahBlahBlah / Council Of Steel / NoKe (3 weeks - TIE)
2022 – Two Duncan Donuts / Franco's Italian Army (4 weeks - TIE)
2021 – LLL (4 weeks)
Created in 2021
The Financial Oversight Award, presented by Enron
Given to the winner of the annual Dash For Cash, now brought to you instead by Edison Performance Dynamics.
Winners:
2024 – Pack Rat Spider Banana
2023 – BlahBlahBlah
2022 – BlahBlahBlah
The award was formally created in 2022, but the achievement was tracked previously. We retroactively recognize those winners here:
2021 – Destroyers
2020 - One Man Band sponsored by Three Dog Night
2019 - Kale Kings
2018 - Anybody's Guess Who?
2017 - Foot Jive Monster Mash
The "I Think I'll Eat Some Worms" Participation Medal
Nobody loves me, everybody hates me...honoring the NHL's annual Mr. Irrelevant.
Winners:
2024 – RB Jaylen Wright, MIA
2023 - RB D'Onta Foreman, CHI
Created in 2023
The "Cash Is King" Keeper Award
Given to the owner who made the savviest keeper decision in the offseason, justifying their big draft day spend on their favored player of choice.
Winners:
2024 – NoKe (WR Justin Jefferson)
Created in 2024
The Fistful of Pennies Award
Conversely given to the owner who banked it all on the wrong horse, getting nothing but a “What If” dream while burning untold draft capital on the year’s worst keeper.
Sad Winners:
2024 – BlahBlahBlah (RB Christian McCaffery)
Created in 2024
The Duane "Dog" Chapman Memorial Golden Handcuffs
Maybe not the gameday bling you want to see your top star wearing, this award is given to the owner who lost the most total games due to suspensions and/or legal trouble.
Justice-Involved Winners:
2025 – somebody (1+ player-games)
Created in 2025
The Blue Medical Tent Award
Truly the most feared structure on any sideline, this miniature replica is awarded to the owner who lost the most players due to injury over the course of the season, either due to their own management incompetence, or due to banishment by the decree of the independent medical observer.
Wounded Winners:
2025 – somebody (1+ player-games)
Created in 2025
The Jeff Feagles Memorial Most Valuable Punter Award
Shane Lechler, Ray Guy, and Don Chandler, stand aside – this stud booted the rock with such efficiency and finesse that his efforts this year earn him a place in the halls of league infamy.
Winners:
2025 – somebody (P Punter)
Created in 2025
SUbjective Awards
SUbjective Awards
The Tom Brady/Mike Piazza Memorial "Legal Larceny" Award
Given to the shrewdest of owners, who went hunting at the bottom of the cheat sheet on draft day for those hidden gems and diamonds in the rough. By the way, did you know Mike Piazza was a 62nd round pick?
Winners:
2024 – Destroyers (QB Jayden Daniels, Rd. 10)
Created in 2024
The Laine Holden Memorial "Are You Sure About That?" Draft Award
Named in honor of our very own Laine, in memory of their 2014 draft decision to pick K Chandler Katanzaro with the 3rd overall pick in the draft, this award is given to the owner who makes the most questionable draft day decision.
Sad Winners:
2024 – God's Country (TE Dalton Kincaid, Rd. 3)
2023 – God's Country (Patriots D/ST, Rd. 1)
2022 – BlahBlahBlah (K Chris Boswell, Rd. 6)
2021 – BlahBlahBlah (K Justin Tucker, Rd. 5)
2020 - God's Country (RB Davonta Freeman, Rd. 15)
2019 - XFL Hype Train (League VP Will for botching the draft transfer from Fleaflicker to ESPN)
2018 - You Betcha (QB Aaron Rodgers, Rd. 2)
2017 - Foot Jive Monster Mash (WR Golden Tate, Rd. 4)
The Draft Day Devotion Award, brought to you by Super SaverTM Coupon Mailers
Given to the owner who not only shows outstanding commitment to their Day One roster, but is also able to capitalize on that allegiance by delivering exceptional results all year long.
Winners:
2024 – Hillbilly Blitz
Created in 2024
The Ryan Leaf Memorial Enema
Excluding keepers, this medical procedure is given to the unfortunate owner that misread the tea leaves (see what I did there?) and picked the wrong players – perhaps we might refer this owner to our very own Bob Kilcullen, for some in-house pre-draft player evaluation.
Winners:
2024 – Pack Rat Spider Banana / Cream Of The Crop / The Richmond Will Holleys
Created in 2024
The Metta World-Peace/Chad Ochocinco Memorial Award
Given to the owner with the best team name, as decided on by a panel of experts (Will and Kirk).
Winners:
2024 – The Richmond Will Holleys
2023 – Ukelele Apology Video For Party Rocking
2022 – Family Federation for World Peace and Unifications North American Representative
2021 – 80% Mental, 40% Physical, 30% Luck
2020 - National Holley League®
2019 - Bridesmaids No More!
2018 - Holley's Holdouts
2017 - Al Davis Genius
The Brandon Weeden Memorial Rookie Of The Year Award
Given to the best performing first-time fantasy owner.
Winners:
2024 – Hillbilly Blitz*
2023 – not awarded
2022 – Two Duncan Donuts
2021 – 80% Mental, 40% Physical, 30% Luck
2020 - Kale Kings*
2019 - not awarded
2018 - Anybody's Guess Who?/Stehlar Stars
2017 - NoKe NoKe
The Avery-Suh Memorial Sportsmanship Award
Usually given to the owner that does the shiesty-est thing during the season.
Shameful Winners:
2024 – Pack Rat Spider Banana and Rockme Mama (jointly awarded)
2023 – All You Need Is Love
2022 – not awarded
2021 – Kale Kings
2020 - Don't Stand So Close To Me
2019 - not awarded
2018 - NoKe NoKe
2017 - NoKe NoKe
The Ernest Shackleton Memorial "Spirit of the NHL" Award
Given to the owner that truly embodies the sprit of the league, as the commissioners envisioned it.
Winners:
2024 – BlahBlahBlah
2023 – God's Country
2022 – Council Of Steel
2021 – BlahBlahBlah/Council Of Steel
2020 - God's Country
2019 - God's Country
2018 - Fork Tender
2017 - Team R. Holden
DEfunct Awards
DEfunct Awards
Alternative Draft Site Ghost Team Award
Given to the team with the best record…on Fleaflicker. Everyone basically abandoned those teams after the 2019 draft, and they were left floating, lonely and rudderless, through the fantasy football oceans without a single roster adjustment after draft day.
Winner:
2019 – Council Of Steel
Biggest Mover Award, foolishly brought to you by TD Ameritrade
In 2019, ESPN Fantasy sold the naming rights to a proto-AI graphic listing the weekly projected standings of each team, complete with TD Ameritrade branding. Thusly, we found it appropriate to recognize the owner who exceeded the computer’s poor predictions.
2019 Most Improved – Council Of Steel (proj. #8, finished #2)
2019 Biggest Disappointments - XFL Hype Train (proj. #1, finished #7) / God's Country (proj. #3, finished #10)
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