The Glorious Rise and Fall of J.T. O’Sullivan

There are few things in life more perversely satisfying than watching something that’s value has been grossly inflated start to deteriorate. Whether it’s the price of a bank stock or the self-esteem of a girl who thinks she’s much hotter than she really is, it’s always fun to see something get cut down to size. It’s just human nature.

That’s why I reveled in J.T. O’Sullivan’s epic 131 yard, 0 TD, 3 turnover performance (in one half!) yesterday against the lowly Seahawks. That’s why I laughed uncontrollably after O’Sullivan got benched in favor of Shaun Hill, and especially after hearing that the Niners will be using the bye week to reassess their quarterback situation.

Prior to Sunday’s game, O’Sullivan’s numbers hadn’t exactly been gaudy – he’d been throwing for an average of 221 yards and a little over 1 TD per game – but they were much better than they had any right to be, especially during an NFL season in which no NFL QB has been able to light it up the way Brady or Romo did last year. And let’s not forget: the Niners have been really effing bad, too.

See, O’Sullivan’s greatest strength as a fantasy player – the fact that he’ll hold onto the ball forever, throw into double coverage, basically anything to make a play downfield – is the biggest reason why he’s not a good actual player. Let’s be honest: without Martz, O’Sullivan would be just another marginal player, no better or worse than Dan Orlovsky or Jeff Smoker or whoever the Lions are currently starting. But because Martz coaches like he’s a long-time fantasy GM who was inexplicably given the shot to run an NFL offense, O’Sullivan has been a fantasy force.

But that’s all over now. In possibly the worst performance by a QB since Randy Fasani went 5-for-18 for 46 yards and 3 INTs, it all ended for the man known as J.T. O’Suckedagain. Mike Singletary ain’t putting up with that crap.

As of last week, it looked like O’Sullivan was the kind of guy who could win you a fantasy championship. O’Sullivan owners likely – and smartly – avoided drafting a QB until the late rounds, opting to use their high picks on the Matt Fortes and Roddy Whites of the world. Now? Those owners are scouring the waiver wire for a replacement. Good luck. Let me know how Joe Flacco works out for you. Really, I wish you two all the best.