Steve Maier Wins 2022 NFBC Draft Champions & $30,000

[Greg Ambrosius]

Steve Maier of Oak Creek, Wisconsin won the 2022 NFBC Draft Champions National Championship and the $30,000 grand prize after topping a record field of 4,815 teams. Steve moved into the Top 10 in late August, finally moved into the lead with two weeks to go in the season and then held on by the narrowest of margins over the last 14 days to win the title.

This was easily the closest race we've ever had in the NFBC Draft Champions National Championship as Steve edged Mike Mager by just seven points. When you consider that each category has 4,815 points in it and that there are 48,150 available points then seven points is just .00015 of a percentage. Amazing margin of victory by Steve and another tough runner-up finish for Mike Mager, who has now finished in the Top 5 of the DC overall standings a couple of times.

But it was a great win for Steve, who first joined the NFBC in 2016 and who once competed live with us in the Chicago Auction Championship. He has finished as high as 8th overall in the 2019 Rotowire Online Championship and this is now his first NFBC national title. He had six Draft Champions teams this year and this was his only one that won a league title, but it paid off in more ways than that.

Steve won his league title with 130.5 points (87%) and then won the overall title with 43,334.5 points, which was 90 percent of all available points. In the 11 years of this national contest, that's the sixth highest winning percentage of available points, which shows you how tough this contest was in 2022.

Mike Mager won $8,000 for his runner-up finish, while Sanjay Jaggi finished third and won $6,500. Rounding out the Top 5 were Tim Horne ($5,500) and Angelo Straface ($4,500). We paid the Top 46 finishers in the Draft Champions National Championship and the Top 3 in each league. Great job everyone and congrats to all of our prize winners.

Also a BIG THANKS to everyone who continued to draft during the 99-day lockout. It didn't look good at times, but everyone kept drafting and hoping for the best. In the end, we got a full season and a great season at that, so thanks again.

Okay, here were the final standings:

2022 NFBC Draft Champions National Championship Top 100 Teams:
1 Steve Maier D.B. Quartermaster 43,334.50
2 Michael Mager Bronx Yankees DC2 43,327.50
3 Sanjay Jaggi Jaggi 43,297.00
4 Tim Horne Horne 42,964.50
5 Angelo Straface Straface 42,925.50
6 Nate Anderson Alan Jackson 42,747.50
7 nickolaus sackett LA Dogo 400.1 42,293.50
8 Kristopher Reed Fresh Ripe Peaches 42,194.00
9 Robert Young OK Pearly 42,152.00
10 Robert Klein Klein DC3 42,142.00
11 Michael Smirlock Aquatica Avengers 41,933.50
12 Neil Petersen DC Team2 41,772.50
13 Tom O'Bryan Charlie.18 41,727.50
14 David DiDonato Definitely not draft champion 41,700.00
15 Steven Dittes Golden Sombreros 41,689.00
16 Brad Miller Thundering Ninnies DC-O 41,430.00
17 Bob Mazur Mazur-Cameron 41,414.00
18 MICHAEL MORRIS MORRIS 41,372.00
19 brody john john 41,188.50
20 MATTHEW MARTINGALE Lord Redbricks 41,170.50
21 Russell Reisner Balco Prairie Dogs VII 41,025.50
22 Richard Kulaski Kulaski 40,899.00
23 John Fish Pile of Dial DC 15 40,880.00
24 Matthew Ramon EAGLE FANG DC8 MTM 40,573.00
25 Russell Withers Draft Chumps XI - Z 40,529.00
26 Jeff Tudor Surrender Dorothy! .7 40,386.50
27 Brian Slack old custer 40,381.50
28 Eric Albright EA Sports 40,225.50
29 carter gill gill 40,088.50
30 Jason Weir DC5 39,902.50
31 Rian Lange Aggressive Mediocrity DC5 39,755.00
32 Griffin Benger Quantrill Physics 39,599.50
33 Zachary Waxman Waxman 39,552.50
34 Ronald Vackar JRam Liam deGrom 39,509.50
35 Dustin McComas Swinging for the Fences 39,454.50
36 John OBrien Squat Cobblers 7 39,393.00
37 Steven Weimer DC13 - Coller Diano 39,360.00
38 Dave Bristow TB6 39,243.00
39 Jean Carlo Torres Torres 39,235.50
40 Sammy Reid Reid DC150 39,202.50
41 William Whitlock New Phetchaburi Road 39,125.50
42 Jack Kitchen Lets Go Brandon! 39,116.50
43 Dan Iverson Fighting Tornados 39,093.00
44 Seth Trachtman Trachtman Daugherty Carpenter 39,087.00
45 Robert DiPietro CIRO DC1 39,083.50
46 Dane Nelson Fb2k 39,081.50
47 Kyle Pantalone Pantalone 39,076.50
48 Seth Trachtman Trachtman DC4 39,013.00
49 Benjamin Schottenfels The Lowe End Theory DC5 38,996.50
50 Brock Boner Boom Roasted 38,978.50
51 ROBERT ORR ORR 38,903.50
52 Mike Burton Juiced Ball ERAs DC14 38,864.00
53 Michael Mager Bronx Yankees 400 DC2 38,802.00
54 Josh Cutler Cutler 38,801.00
55 Matt Moline Your Mom -DCg 38,769.50
56 Dustin McComas Crazy Closer Prices DC 38,701.00
57 Tim Sansome Sansome DC.10 38,669.50
58 Philippe Dussault The Robot DC5 38,606.00
59 David Mirza Mirza 38,579.00
59 Eric Albright EA Sports DC 3 38,579.00
61 Michael Mager Bronx Yankees DC3 38,536.00
62 Brian Slack spam risk 38,490.00
63 Eric Albright EA Sports DC 9 38,403.50
64 Michael Mager Bronx Yankees DC4 38,383.00
65 Fred Spinder MADDIE LUCKIEST 38,369.00
66 Aaron Lawson Big Sandy 38,348.50
67 James Wilson Lawd Of WAR DC1 38,326.00
68 Todd Hoppe Mt Hood Hop 38,277.00
69 Sanjay Jaggi Jaggi 38,246.50
70 Jack Kitchen Lets Go Brandon! 38,198.00
71 Tony Saccucci TOS3 38,174.00
72 Dennis Spink Spink 38,166.50
73 Aaron Lawson Lawson 38,152.50
74 Alan Holmes Thurman15 38,150.00
75 AARON SYLVAIN SYLVAIN 38,125.50
76 Kelly Uganski Long Gone 38,109.50
77 Bruce Carlson Carlson 38,107.50
78 Bill Snyder Snyder 38,107.00
79 Anthony Mezzatesta Quarantine and Chill DC-3 38,090.50
80 Kirk LeValley LeValley 38,056.50
81 Robert Klein Klein DC5 38,031.50
81 DAVID DEFILIPPO Someone Might Be Gaining On U 38,031.50
83 Leonard Ringle Draughtsman 5 38,024.50
84 Russell Reisner Balco Prairie Dogs I 38,009.50
85 VIRGIL JULES JULES 37,929.50
86 Mike Massotto Baseball Furies-Premature 37,912.00
87 Ronny Mor Cali Cartel DC 37,893.00
88 matt modica dc 2.2 37,829.00
89 Chris Read Granny 37,788.50
90 Danny Bronski The Laughing Man 37,772.50
91 Clark Olson Hell Bent For Leather 37,749.50
92 Dustin McComas Harper and Early Bats 37,681.00
93 Gary Durbin Chubby 2 Fleet 1 37,674.50
94 Dan Kenyon DOUGHBOYS 37,640.00
95 CORY JAMES JAMES 37,632.00
96 Seth Trachtman Trachtman DC5 37,583.00
97 Adam Mayer Mayer 37,551.50
98 Zachary Waxman Waxman 37,541.50
99 Matt Dozier Dr. Lizs Brainiacs 37,535.50
100 Dion Stavrakas Rachel Luba OnlyFans 37,490.00

[Greg Ambrosius]

Steve Maier drafted from the 12th spot in his March 14th slow draft league. Here is Steve's winning team:

D. B. Quartermaster:
1 12 Robert, Luis OF D.B. Quartermaster
2 19 Machado, Manny 3B D.B. Quartermaster
3 42 Alcantara, Sandy P D.B. Quartermaster
4 49 Buxton, Byron OF D.B. Quartermaster
5 72 Gausman, Kevin P D.B. Quartermaster
6 79 Chisholm Jr., Jazz 2B D.B. Quartermaster
7 102 Gallegos, Giovanny P D.B. Quartermaster
8 109 Winker, Jesse OF D.B. Quartermaster
9 132 Adames, Willy SS D.B. Quartermaster
10 139 Hoskins, Rhys 1B D.B. Quartermaster
11 162 Stephenson, Tyler C D.B. Quartermaster
12 169 Gallen, Zac P D.B. Quartermaster
13 192 Bednar, David P D.B. Quartermaster
14 199 Wong, Kolten MI D.B. Quartermaster
15 222 McKenzie, Triston P D.B. Quartermaster
16 229 Gray, Jon P D.B. Quartermaster
17 252 Rodriguez, Julio OF D.B. Quartermaster
18 259 Luzardo, Jesus P D.B. Quartermaster
19 282 Sano, Miguel CI D.B. Quartermaster
20 289 Gray, Josiah P D.B. Quartermaster
21 312 Senzel, Nick OF D.B. Quartermaster
22 319 Jansen, Danny C D.B. Quartermaster
23 342 Pena, Jeremy UT D.B. Quartermaster
24 349 Bender, Anthony P D.B. Quartermaster
25 372 Patino, Luis P D.B. Quartermaster
26 379 Margot, Manuel OF D.B. Quartermaster
27 402 Smith, Kevin 3B D.B. Quartermaster
28 409 Keller, Mitch P D.B. Quartermaster
29 432 Kwan, Steven OF D.B. Quartermaster
30 439 Barrero, Jose SS D.B. Quartermaster
31 462 Contreras, Roansy P D.B. Quartermaster
32 469 Duran, Jarren OF D.B. Quartermaster
33 492 Graterol, Brusdar P D.B. Quartermaster
34 499 Howard, Spencer P D.B. Quartermaster
35 522 Wright, Kyle P D.B. Quartermaster
36 529 Pratto, Nick 1B D.B. Quartermaster
37 552 Munoz, Andres P D.B. Quartermaster
38 559 Castillo, Diego 2B D.B. Quartermaster
39 582 Bard, Daniel P D.B. Quartermaster
40 589 Moniak, Mickey OF D.B. Quartermaster
41 612 Perdomo, Geraldo SS D.B. Quartermaster
42 619 Lopez, Jorge P D.B. Quartermaster
43 642 Duran, Jhoan P D.B. Quartermaster
44 649 Helsley, Ryan P D.B. Quartermaster
45 672 Alberto, Hanser 2B D.B. Quartermaster
46 679 McCarthy, Jake OF D.B. Quartermaster
47 702 Adams, Riley C D.B. Quartermaster
48 709 Garcia, Aramis C D.B. Quartermaster
49 732 Pasquantino, Vinnie 1B D.B. Quartermaster
50 739 Leclerc, Jose P D.B. Quartermaster

[Greg Ambrosius]

We paid the Top 46 overall this year in the NFBC Draft Champions National Championship. Here's the prize pool:

2022 NFBC Draft Champions National Championship
Overall Prizes:
1 $30,000
2 $8,000
3 $6,500
4 $5,500
5 $4,500
6 $4,000
7 $3,000
8 $2,500
9 $2,000
10 $1,750
11 $1,500
12 $1,400
13 $1,300
14 $1,250
15 $1,150
16 $1,100
17 $1,050
18 $1,000
19 $900
20 $850
21 $800
22 $750
23 $700
24 $650
25 $600
26 $575
27 $550
28 $525
29 $500
30 $475
31 $450
32 $425
33 $400
34 $375
35 $350
36 $325
37 $300
38 $275
39 $250
40 $225
41 $200
42 $190
43 $180
44 $170
45 $160
46 $150

League Prizes
$150 League:
1 $1,000
2 $350
3 $150

$400 DC:
1 $3,000
2 $1,100
3 $400

$1,000 DC:
1 $8,000
2 $3,000
3 $1,000

$2,500 DC:
1 $20,000
2 $7,500
3 $5,000

$5,000 DC:
1 $40,000
2 $20,000
3 $7,500

[Greg Ambrosius]

Steve Maier becomes our 12th different champion of the NFBC Draft Champions National Championship since we started this in 2011. No one has ever won this national championship twice, which tells you how hard this draft 'n hold format really is.

Here's a look at the overall champions in the Draft Champions National Championship:

2011 - Terry Passalacqua
2012 - Steve Wells
2013 - Richard Van Fleet
2014 - Bill Cook
2015 - Eric Sorenson
2016 - Yoram Banter
2017 - Mark Hesters/Dave Vidaver
2018 - Dorian Kinman
2019 - Lindy Hinkelman
2020 - Rob DiPietro
2021 - Thomas Olownia
2022 - Steve Maier

[Greg Ambrosius]

The first four teams in the final overall standings all drafted from a different spot in the draft order. Eleven different draft spots are represented in the Top 25. Looking at the Top 25 overall teams, here's where they drafted in 2022:

No. 1 - 4 teams
No. 2 - 0 teams
No. 3 - 2 teams
No. 4 - 3 teams
No. 5 - 2 teams
No. 6 - 1 team
No. 7 - 2 teams
No. 8 - 0 teams
No. 9 - 5 teams
No. 10 - 2 teams
No. 11 - 1 team
No. 12 - 2 teams
No. 13 - 0 teams
No. 14 - 1 team
No. 15 - 0 teams

Nos. 1-5: 11 teams
Nos. 6-10: 10 teams
Nos. 11-15: 4 teams

Number 9 was the favored spot for the Top 25 teams with five teams drafting there. Eleven teams drafted in the Top 5 spots, while only four teams from the back-end of the draft finished in the Top 25. Interesting mix.

[Greg Ambrosius]

This was the first year that we hosted a $5,000 NFBC Draft Champions league and the second year that we hosted a $2,500 Draft Champions League. Both leagues were organized by Mike Massotto and the start times had to be adjusted because of the 99-day lockout. These were still a lot of fun and both got done in just a couple of days. Let's honor the champions of these great high-dollar Draft Champions leagues:

Danny Bronski of Portland, Oregon won the first league title and the $40,000 prize in our debut NFBC $5,000 Draft Champions League. He finished 17 points ahead of Dalton del Don with Mike Massotto finishing third. Dalton won $20,000 and Mike won $7,500. Here's those results:

NFBC $2,500 Draft Champions League 1:
1 Danny Bronski The Laughing Man 120
2 Dalton Del Don Del Don 103
3 Mike Massotto Baseball Furies-MTM UltimateDC 102.5
4 Joseph Martens runningonempty 102
5 Alan Mitchell Big Bucks no Hammies sb 99
6 robert cramutola DC-5000 87.5
7 kc cha deadmoneyQ 83

Clark Olson won the second annual $2,500 Draft Champions league and the $20,000 prize as he finished 2.5 points ahead of Robert Cramutola, our 2022 NFBC Main Event overall champion. This is the second straight year that Bob finished second and won $7,500. Tyler Jung finished third to win $5,000. Here's those results:

NFBC $2,500 Draft Champions League 2:
1 Clark Olson Hell Bent For Leather 112.5
2 robert cramutola DC-2500 110
3 Tyler Jung EightSocks 101.5
4 Stephen Marshall The Herd Super DC 3.19 95
5 Danny Bronski War with the Eskimos 92
6 RYAN WELBORN FoleyDC2500 91
7 matt modica dc. 3.15 90.5