Sobe hoping to take next step in third TTFFL go-round

AKRON — Nikolche Sobevski is happy with the way things have gone for him during the first two years of his Tiger Township Fantasy Football career, but he’s by no means satisfied.

The newest member of the Canton-based league has wasted little time making his presence known, qualifying for postseason play in each of his first two seasons. This year, Sobe hopes to take his early success one step further. Rather than just making the playoffs, he’d like to do some damage once he gets there this time around.

“There’s definitely pressure, but it’s more of an internal pressure,” Sobe told Chibby’s Corner earlier this week. “Knowing that I’ve made the playoffs these last two years, I think it’s time to make the next step and not be the Cincinnati Bengals of this league.”

However, “the next step” is a lot easier said than done. Sobe, who went 8-5 last season before ultimately finishing in either fifth or sixth place (depending on who one asks) in the final league standings, bowed out in the first round of the playoffs in both of his career appearances. In his debut season in 2015, the University of Akron product only mustered up 60.7 points (an all-time league playoff low) in a quarterfinal loss to eventual champion Pat Teynor. Last fall, Sobe dropped a much more dramatic affair to David Devine, 134.7-132.8.

So, while Sobe has certainly proven that he hasn’t needed much time to become acclimated to the competitive ways of the TTFFL, he’d like to have a little more to show for himself and his abilities as an owner.

He believes 2017 is the perfect year to get that started.

“Having two drafts under my belt really makes me feel like I know what I’m doing,” Sobe said. “The first two years, while I have made the playoffs, people have noted that I’ve played some wonderful defense. I think it’s time for my offense to lead my fantasy prowess.”

Indeed, Sobe has found some unique ways to win early on into his tenure. While he enters the new season, one that kicks off with the TTFFL Draft on Aug. 19 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with a career 15-11 record in the regular season, he owns the league’s highest-ever mark in Evan Julian’s patented “luck percentage," yet the lowest in Julian’s “possible win percentage.” Simply put, Sobe has found a way to win a bunch of games that he probably shouldn’t have. The small sample sizes clearly play a large role in those numbers, though.

Lucky or not, Sobe has done a nice job of rolling with the punches the other 11 members of the TTFFL have thrown at him so far. His reasoning behind that is one that would make any true competitor proud.

“I’ve played in plenty of leagues where the top-half of it is filled with the competitive people,” Sobe explained. “The bottom-half just doesn’t give a (crap). The whole way through everybody is competing week in and week out (in the TTFFL) and it’s definitely more of my style. I like people that actually try to improve their teams every day.”

Sobe began his 2016 campaign with five consecutive wins, jolting up the standings and putting himself in the driver’s seat for a potentially massive season. But a 1.2-point loss to Grant Seanor in Week 6 led the former Little Caesar’s big wig to a 3-5 conclusion to his regular-season. In fact, that drop off may have potentially started another trend that could describe his club. In both 2015 and 2016, Sobe may have started out well, but his group has found ways to stumble down the stretch.

The self-proclaimed “TTFFL Rottweiler” enjoyed a massive season out of rookie Ezekiel Elliott to help carry much of the offensive load for his corps in 2016. Receivers Jarvis Landry and Terrelle Pryor were also effective for much of the year. However, big-money guys like Philip Rivers and Todd Gurley didn’t earn their keep, causing Sobe’s good-looking roster to trip up late in the season.

Still, Sobe says he’s comfortable in his new surroundings, despite what his critics have said about him since practically his initial interactions with the league. Few will forget his fine performance in the kitchen at the draft during his rookie season, nor the bold, quick-triggered decisions he’s made on social media in the past.

From an outside perspective, it seems as if not a whole lot gets Sobe rattled. Perhaps that’s why he has experienced the kind of winning pedigree he’s had so far in the TTFFL.

“My organization is really just concerned about itself,” Sobe said. “I’m not worried too much about outsiders saying their peace. At the end of the day, we have to perform. We have to go out and get those points to really make a name for ourselves.”

While Sobe will enter just his third year in the TTFFL this fall, he isn’t shying away from some big expectations. For one, he knows his quick starts in the past few years have helped shape the league’s view of him as being the real deal.

More than that, though, Sobe is putting his own emphasis on success in the postseason. After all, winning during that time of year is the quickest and most effective way to gain some respect around these parts.

As Sobe begins a prove it-type season, he does so with a lot of confidence and the same chip on his shoulder that has motivated him since Day One.

“I think above all else, (a championship) would mark that I’m here and I’m here to stay,” Sobe said. “I’m not just the new guy anymore; I’m not the revolving 12th member. It would definitely mark my place, for sure.”