Duke Viveros Wins 2023 NFFC Silver Bullet & $50,000

[Greg Ambrosius]

We have saved this last NFFC National Championship announcement for last because this one still isn't final. All standings aren't final until Thursday after all Elias stat changes are made. Elias makes their final stat changes of the week on Wednesday nights, so let's see if there are any stat changes before making this one official.

But as of today, Duke Viveros of Highland, California is our 2023 NFFC Silver Bullet Championship winner and he has won the $50,000 grand prize. However, Matt Shepherd is just 0.05 points behind Duke for first place and he fell behind Duke on Sunday in the most unprobable way. Matt's team jumped up 24 spots on Sunday as it scored 234.35 points, but two kneel-downs at the end of the game by Patrick Mahomes cost Matt two-tenths of a point and could be the difference in this national title. Crazy ending, but great job to both of you.

Duke was battling for several national championships over the last three weeks and was in the Top 2 in the NFFC Primetime and the Rotowire Online Championship through Week 15. He was also 3rd overall in the NFFC Silver Bullet at that time and then moved into 1st place after Week 16 when his team scored 148.65 points. He posted a 176.05 point week in Week 17 to secure the title, but Matt came from the back of the pack to catch him and then pass Duke. Matt had Mahomes, Isiah Pacheco, Rashee Rice and the Chiefs' Kicker going in that Sunday afternoon game and they scored over 90 points between them, but the two kneel downs by Mahomes proved to be costly.

Duke drafted this NFFC Silver Bullet team in Las Vegas on the First Weekend and won the league title and $5,000 with 2,166.95 points. His MANKIND NATION team entered the Championship Round 3rd overall and it scored 186.80 points in Week 15 to remain in third place. But it took the lead in Week 16 and held onto the title in the closest race EVER in NFFC history. How could anything be closer than five-one-hundredths of a point?? Wow.

Duke becomes our fifth different champion in the industry's only single-entry, season-long national championship, joining Mike Santos, Lane McVey, Thomas Libretti and Joe Lostrangio. We finished with a record 252 teams as we filled all 21 leagues. We may look to expand this contest slightly next year as the single-entry format has proven to be a popular one, and a tough one!!

Matt Shepherd will win $10,000 for his runner-up finish if there are no stat changes to either roster. Rounding out the Top 5 were Kyle Padberg ($7,500), Michael Bell ($5,000) and Matt Modica ($3,000). We paid the Top 10 overall in the Championship Round. There were a total of 65 teams that made it to the Championship Round in 2023.

Duke was led in Week 17 by CeeDee Lamb's 41.20 points on Saturday night, while teaming up with Dak Prescott's 27.75 points. Other big contributors to this championship team were the Chiefs' kicker (26.10 points) and David Njoku's 18.40 points. He sure got a lot of great contributions in the Thursday and Saturday games!!!

Great job everyone and congrats to everyone who won prize money in this contest.

Here's the final standings:

2023 NFFC Silver Bullet Championship Round Final Standings:
1 Duke Viveros MANKIND NATION Silver Bullet Las Vegas (1) 9/2 @ 4:00 pm PT #2841 666.28
2 Matthew Shepherd SILVER MORONS Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/8 @ 1:00 pm PT #3469 666.23
3 Kyle Padberg Justin Fields MVP Silver Bullet Online 9/4 @ 9:00 pm ET #3071 657.65
4 Michael Bell One Man Wolfpack Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/8 @ 1:00 pm PT #3389 641.91
5 matt modica modica Silver Bullet Online 8/26 @ 9:00 pm ET #2796 636.97
6 Douglas Gruber Dougs Dawgs Silver Bullet Online 8/30 @ 9:00 pm ET #2982 631.05
7 Michael Leone Reezy - Davis - Leone Silver Bullet Online 9/2 @ 9:00 pm ET #3278 630.79
8 Adam Kleeberg Kleeberg SB Silver Bullet Online 9/4 @ 6:00 pm ET #3406 630.74
9 rick post Kettle One Silver Bullet Online 9/5 @ 9:00 pm ET #3218 629.84
10 Michael Lins PT Silver Bullet Silver Bullet Online 9/2 @ 9:00 pm ET #3278 629.7
11 Robert Zirkel RZ Silver Bullet 9-8-23 Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/8 @ 1:00 pm PT #3389 623.3
12 NICHOLAS Crapanzano Call me Asparagus Silver Bullet Online 9/4 @ 9:00 pm ET #3071 620.81
13 PETER OVERZET SHIP CHASING SINGLE BULLET Silver Bullet Online 8/16 @ 9:30 pm ET #2215 613.74
14 John Pausma JP SB Silver Bullet Online 8/29 @ 9:00 pm ET #3074 609.21
15 Shawn Gundy TheRECKONER Silver Bullet Online 8/26 @ 9:00 pm ET #2796 608.58
16 ANDREW SCHELLENBERG ClutchLikeSchelly SB 8.16.2023 Silver Bullet Online 8/16 @ 9:30 pm ET #2215 602.29
17 Michael Cole ALABAMA ABANDONED Silver Bullet Online 8/30 @ 11:00 pm ET #3143 595.04
18 KJ Duke Zefurs Silver Silver Bullet Online 9/4 @ 9:00 pm ET #3071 594.72
19 Mark Milazzo Milazzo Silver Bullet Las Vegas (1) 9/2 @ 4:00 pm PT #2841 594.66
20 Jason Esteybar Fantasy Pimps Silver Bullet Online 9/3 @ 9:00 pm ET #3347 590.74
21 Aaron Jones Jones SB Silver Bullet Online 9/9 @ 10:00 pm ET #3512 589.96
22 Michael Esposito Esposito SB Silver Bullet New York 9/2 @ 7:00 pm ET #2809 585.27
23 Scott Engel The King and The Captain Silver Bullet New York 9/2 @ 7:00 pm ET #2809 583.41
24 chris corcoran theillmessiah silver Silver Bullet Online 9/1 @ 7:00 pm ET #3221 579.89
25 Gregg Zwickel Zwickel Silver Bullet Online 8/26 @ 9:00 pm ET #2796 578.94
26 Andy Saxton Saxton Silver Bullet Online 8/16 @ 9:30 pm ET #2215 578.37
27 William Imken Imken Silver Bullet Online 9/9 @ 10:00 pm ET #3512 576.91
28 Marc Winokur Too Tall Jones SB Silver Bullet Online 9/5 @ 9:00 pm ET #3218 576.55
29 James Wimmers Riverbottom Nightmares Silver Bullet Online 8/30 @ 11:00 pm ET #3143 575.57
30 Ron Stewart Silver B w Nick Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/8 @ 1:00 pm PT #3469 574.73
31 Tony Saccucci Sac Silver Bullet Silver Bullet Online 9/3 @ 1:00 pm ET #3015 571.38
32 Justin Kueber Kueber Silver Bullet Online 8/30 @ 9:00 pm ET #2982 570.41
33 Scott Schonewolf Schonewolf Silver Bullet Online 8/30 @ 11:00 pm ET #3143 568.94
34 Kacy Kliment Martian Monster Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/9 @ 1:00 pm PT #3468 566.06
35 William Dandridge Purple Reign Silver Bullet Online 9/4 @ 9:00 pm ET #3071 562.96
36 James Gabal Gabal Silver Bullet New York 9/2 @ 7:00 pm ET #2809 561.84
37 Craig Katz STALLIONS Silver Bullet Online 9/7 @ 1:00 pm ET #3542 561.68
38 David Webb bourne silver Silver Bullet Online 9/1 @ 7:00 pm ET #3221 558.96
39 Gary Broad Nickypalmer 5 Silver Bullet Online 9/3 @ 9:00 pm ET #3347 558.39
40 Joey Brown Dilly Dilly Silver Bullet Online 9/6 @ 9:00 pm ET #3173 558.35
41 Greg Mcclure Mcclure Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/9 @ 1:00 pm PT #3468 557.93
42 Greg Link Legion of Doom Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/8 @ 7:00 pm PT #3397 550.13
43 Matthew Zozula TangoandCash Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/8 @ 7:00 pm PT #3397 549.43
44 PAUL HANEK AngryLittleElfBullet Silver Bullet Online 9/6 @ 9:00 pm ET #3173 548.63
45 Brian Owens Owens Silver Bullet Online 9/2 @ 9:00 pm ET #3278 545.28
46 Brian Ng Ng Silver Bullet Online 9/1 @ 7:00 pm ET #3221 544.9
47 Thomas Knox King Robert's Warhammer Silver Bullet Online 8/29 @ 9:00 pm ET #3074 544.41
48 Thomas Greenwald THE VALHALLA OF DECADENCE Silver Bullet Online 9/5 @ 9:00 pm ET #3218 542.62
49 Jim Will Dead Money Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/9 @ 1:00 pm PT #3468 542.56
50 Joshua Stratton Team Stratton Silver Bullet Las Vegas (1) 9/2 @ 4:00 pm PT #2841 542.49
51 Brad Kroupa Kroupa Silver Bullet Online 9/7 @ 1:00 pm ET #3542 537.42
52 Stephen Goodwin Stevoswerve Silver Bullet Online 9/7 @ 1:00 pm ET #3542 537.2
53 Aaron Smith Smith Silver Bullet Online 9/4 @ 6:00 pm ET #3406 535.13
54 Adam Ronis Ronis Silver Bullet Online 9/4 @ 6:00 pm ET #3406 534.66
55 Michael Fonte Filler silver bullet Silver Bullet Online 9/3 @ 9:00 pm ET #3347 532.08
56 Jeffrey Kozlowski Kozlowski Silver Bullet Online 9/9 @ 10:00 pm ET #3512 528.79
57 John Riccio Longjohns SB Silver Bullet Online 9/1 @ 7:00 pm ET #3221 527.17
58 Jason Smith Windy City Warriors Silver Bullet Online 9/3 @ 1:00 pm ET #3015 526.56
59 Mike Sanda Sandman Silver Bullet Online 8/30 @ 9:00 pm ET #2982 522.46
60 Nina Dulacki Birdie Time Silver Bullet Online 9/6 @ 9:00 pm ET #3173 513.59
61 Curtis Hirsch Fairways & Greens Silver Silver Bullet Online 8/29 @ 9:00 pm ET #3074 510.79
62 frank nunes nunes Silver Bullet Online 9/3 @ 1:00 pm ET #3015 509.33
63 Brent Krutzig The Man Comes Around Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/8 @ 1:00 pm PT #3469 502
64 TRAVIS STIFTER STIFTER Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/8 @ 1:00 pm PT #3389 494.92
65 Jeff O'Dell O'Dell SB Silver Bullet Las Vegas (2) 9/8 @ 7:00 pm PT #3397 485.88

[Greg Ambrosius]

This was the first year that the NFFC Silver Bullet had an entry fee of $1200 and a top grand prize of $50,000. The top league prize also increased to $5,000, which was nice. The Top 10 teams in the Championship Round earned prize money. Here's the payouts for the 2023 NFFC Silver Bullet:

2023 NFFC Silver Bullet Overall Prizes:
Overall Prizes
1 - $50,000
2 - $10,000
3 - $7,500
4 - $5,000
5 - $3,000
6 - $2,000
7 - $1,750
8 - $1,500
9 - $1,250
10 - $1,000

League Prizes
1 - $5,000
2 - $2,400
3 - $600

[Greg Ambrosius]

Duke Viveros becomes our fifth different overall champion of the NFFC Silver Bullet Championship, beating a field of 252 unique owners. We now have five national champions in what is going to be a growing contest for years to come. Here they are:

NFFC Silver Bullet Champions:
2019 - Mike Santos, Coyote Miscreants
2020 - Lane McVey, Gypsy Kings
2021 - Thomas Libretti, MooseOnaHill
2022 - Joe Lostrangio, D1E 4 D1S
2023 - Duke Viveros, MANKIND NATION

[Greg Ambrosius]

Duke Viveros drafted from the 9th spot in this NFFC Las Vegas Silver Bullet Championship League, which was held on September 2nd. This was a fun league and Duke won the league title and the overall title from it. Here were his draft results:

MANKIND NATION
1 9 Lamb, CeeDee WR MANKIND NATION
2 16 Ridley, Calvin WR MANKIND NATION
3 28 Metcalf, DK WR MANKIND NATION
4 45 Mixon, Joe RB MANKIND NATION
5 52 Cook, James RB MANKIND NATION
6 69 White, Rachaad FLEX MANKIND NATION
7 76 Moore, Elijah WR MANKIND NATION
8 93 Tagovailoa, Tua QB MANKIND NATION
9 100 Collins, Nico WR MANKIND NATION
10 117 Meyers, Jakobi WR MANKIND NATION
11 124 Njoku, David TE MANKIND NATION
12 141 Prescott, Dak QB MANKIND NATION
13 148 LaPorta, Sam TE MANKIND NATION
14 165 49ers, San Francisco TDSP MANKIND NATION
15 172 Hubbard, Chuba RB MANKIND NATION
16 189 Ravens, Baltimore TK MANKIND NATION
17 196 Ingram, Keaontay RB MANKIND NATION
18 213 Ferguson, Jake TE MANKIND NATION
19 220 Renfrow, Hunter WR MANKIND NATION
20 237 Seahawks, Seattle TDSP MANKIND NATION

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here were Duke's winning Free Agent pickups in this NFFC Silver Bullet championship team:

MANKIND NATION
Week 2 - Josh Reynolds 15
Week 2 - Nick Westbrook-Ikhine 3
Week 4 - C.J. Stroud 155
Week 5 - Jaleel McLaughlin 390
Week 6 - Houston Texans TK 5
Week 7 - Detroit Lions TDSP 75
Week 7 - Cleveland Browns TK 3
Week 9 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers TDSP 8
Week 10 - San Francisco 49ers TDSP 88
Week 10 - New York (NYJ) Jets TK 3
Week 11 - New York (NYJ) Jets TDSP 75
Week 11 - Miami Dolphins TDSP 75
Week 11 - Arizona Cardinals TK 15
Week 12 - Kansas City Chiefs TK 8
Week 13 - Bailey Zappe 37
Week 13 - Denver Broncos TK 5
Week 13 - Joe Flacco 37
Week 14 - Kansas City Chiefs TK 3

Not a bad pickup in Week 14!!!