The 2017 fantasy football season has been one of the most tumultuous in recent history. Early-round busts such as Mike Evans and DeMarco Murray provided nothing more than angst and frustration, a six-game suspension for Ezekiel Elliott riddled many with anxiety and injuries to stars like David Johnson and Aaron Rodgers led to pandemonium among leagues far and wide.

But for those still battling, their seasons were built on resilience and tenacity.

Finding ways to overcome the adversity we faced is a daunting task. Laborious trips to the waiver wire became a staple for many, and sifting through the player pool in search of hidden gems to salvage the year was intense. Congratulations to those who withstood the fantasy hurricane. We know it wasn’t easy.

Those who are standing on the edge of a championship should give thanks to those unsung heroes who carried you this far, and there is no more obvious a place to start than the quarterback position. There will be no thanks given to Rodgers, who missed seven games with a broken collarbone, or to Drew Brees, who took a back seat to the Saints’ new run-first offense.

Matt Ryan was a major disappointment, and rising stars like Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota left their owners unsatisfied. Tom Brady would have been deserving of gratitude, but the step back he took over the past three weeks left his owners sweating their playoff hopes in ways no one expected.

In 2017, fantasy football championship rosters will be adorned with names like Blake Bortles, Nick Foles and Case Keenum. These quarterbacks are your true heroes. None were likely drafted back in August, yet each of them has proven to be the fantasy sherpa needed to carry us to the mountaintop.

Keenum shined brightest as he took over for the injured Sam Bradford and led Minnesota to an 11-3 record. For his owners, he averaged 268 yards with 13 touchdowns over his past six games leading into the fantasy playoffs. Bortles was equally spectacular to close the regular season with 301 yards per game and seven touchdowns over his past three. And Nick Foles picked up those who lost Carson Wentz without missing a beat, throwing for four touchdowns in a Week 15 of salvation.

The season rarely ends as you would expect it, and unheralded players can finish as giants among men. The winning roster may not look pretty, but its owner should be lauded for getting the job done. Something to remember when your league champion uses his winnings to buy that Drew Stanton jersey.

Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 4-6 p.m.