Even if Washington continues down the path that seems to be heading toward and last-place finish in the NFC East, three of its players have already made the playoffs.

Tight end Chris Cooley, cornerback Fred Smoot and kicker Shaun Suisham can thank fantasy football for getting them into the postseason in 2008, where they will be joined by the lone female-piloted team in the league run by Cooley. The women are Cooley’s wife and quarterback Jason Campbell’s girlfriend.

(It’s worth pointing out that Cooley affectionately refers to his kicker — in real life and on his fantasy team – as “Shizam,” not to be confused with Kazaam. I, on the other hand, would’ve opted for “Sweetums.” For the record, Suisham is pronounced “Swee-sham.”)

The league’s consolation bracket does at least boast better names, led by the Chocolate Assassins (rookie tight end Fred Davis) and Lionel Richie Boys (Campbell). Safety Reed Doughty and fullback Mike Sellers round out that group, leaving receiver Santana Moss and rookie quarterback Colt Brennan with nothing more for which to play.

As we previously reported, the champion will take home a trophy donated by Dave Mitri of Fantasy Trophies.

Fantasy Trophies founder Dave Mitri seems to be making a good business decision by giving one of his handmade products away for free. According to the Washington Times, Mitri is shipping “The Throwback” — the company’s best selling model — to Washington tight end Chris Cooley to be awarded to the winner of Cooley’s fantasy league.

“It’s pretty cool. We’re excited to get it,” Cooley told the Times. “And I will also be excited to award it to myself when I win the league.”

Cooley has distinguished himself among professional as one of those most supportive of and interested in the fantasy game. He gained notoriety when a video of the draft for his league — which also includes several of his teammates as well as Cooley’s wife and the girlfriend of Washington quarterback Jason Campbell — became a YouTube hit earlier this year.

Mitri has been building his fantasy trophies for nearly 16 years and says he has played fantasy sports since 1991. According to the Times article, he has recently grown his business and is now generating publicity at merely the price of one statue ($329). He told the Times that he was drawn to Cooley’s league by the draft video.

“What was cool about his video is that anyone who watched it wouldn’t necessarily know he was a professional athlete,” Mitri was quoted as saying. “He’s totally the kind of guy I could see in my league. I think he’d really get the humor in this, and I’m totally sure that when they get it, they will be blown away.”

In case you haven’t seen the video referenced above, you can check it out below. A few of the highlights for fantasy folks include Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer apparently going fifth overall, the Hallmark moments of Cooley and Campbell drafting each other and these guys being much worse than you are at trying to pick players who have already been drafted. I’d say that Cooley could be the average participant in one of my leagues, but I’d never voluntarily include a guy who subscribes to the slightly askew style of wearing a ballcap.