And the finals are set, even though Michael still has a DST playing tonight. We will get a 4-seed facing a 7-seed, with Jeff taking on Michael. Officially, these two have the least amount of seasons under their belt. Michael is the league’s newest member and Jeff has been riding solo since 2009, after starting as a solo artist in 2003, before sharing his team with Colby.
MOVING ON TO THE FINALS
#4 FOOTBALL (JEFF)
While we like to credit a good draft for teams being good, let’s not discount the role the waiver wire plays. This week, Jeff got 394 from Goff and 318 from Williams, two players he drafted, but it was two transactions he made that won him this week.
Reminder, it was I who drafted Chuba hubbard, but I cut him in week two. The following week, Jeff, uncontested, picked up the Carolina Panthers for just $3. He turned into one of the best backs in fantasy, leading Jeff back into the playoffs and this week he finished with 450 points, thanks to 165 yards and two scores.
On top of that, he picked up Jerome Ford for $4, out-bidding Colby, who had dropped Ford earlier this year, by $1. Well, Jeff didn’t start Ford, but he kept Colby from starting him and the Browns back had 322 points, while Colby only got 74 from Etienne.
Good choices brings Jeff back to the title game for the fourth time since 2016…which is a league high.
#7 DUDELOVE (MICHAEL)
He’s back! The league’s newest member, the man who replaced Marc, who replaced Molly, is back in the title game for a second time (a place Marc never visited and Molly only did once). While Michael benefited greatly when he picked up Mason before week one, this is a guy who has relied for the most part on his draft decisions. In fact, his kicker and DST are his only starters that he didn’t draft. Yet, he’s just not riding his elite high picks.
This week, Michael got 300+ games from three players. One was a high pick. Gibbs, his first-round pick, finished with 368 in his first contest without Montgomery. Yet, his other 300-point games came from further back in his draft. Purdy was taken in the 9th round as a backup to Love. He failed last week, but this week he finished with 320 points. One round later he snagged a rookie, Brian Thomas Jr., who coming off a 330-point game, scored 324 this week.
This is just a reminder…every round in a draft can produce a game-changing player.
GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
#6 THE GENIUS (MATT)
Yep, this type of defeat is brutal. Matt lost Hurts in the first quarter of the Eagles game with a concussion. He had already scored 88 points. The odds he would have scored 211 more points were good, especially when you see the Eagles scored 33 with their backup QB, although Pickett only finished with 120 points.
Once again, Matt relied on his backs, as Henry and Irving combined for 622 points and the Falcons DST was a good add, giving Neatock 328 points. However, his receivers were a no-show, combining for only 202 points. Granted. Smith might have gotten more if Hurts didn’t go out.
#8 MAGIC NUMBERS (COLBY)
And just like that, the three-year magical run ends. There will be no three-peat for the Magic Man. Josh Allen returned to earth and Colby’s top scorer was his kicker, as Sanders finished with 270 points.
Yet, it was fitting that his season ended with how it went for most of the season, with McCaffrey on IR and Etienne royally fucking Colby. It’s hard to remember such a capable back falling apart like the Jaguars back did this season. Remember, the guy was an All-Robio back last year. Once again this week he split carries and finished with just 74 points. He played in 12 games this year, never sniffed 200 and fell below 100 a total of five times.
LOOKING AHEAD
The challenge in 2025 for teams picking high in the draft is that a lot of the top picks are being kept. Barkley, Robinson, Gibbs, Hall, Hubbard and Williams are all most likely being kept next year.
PICK #1 – DON TAKES DE’VON ACHANE
Again, I have Don keeping both Brooks and Tracy, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to draft another back. In fact, I have him taking another back right now. Don’t discount the idea that Don wouldn’t draft Ashton Jeanty, the rookie out of Boise State, first overall, especially if he ends up in a good home. However, assuming Bob decides to skip on Achane in round two and keepe Jayden Daniels in round seven, it will be tough for Don to pass up the hometown pick. Achane can be inconsistent and the Fins might have a new coach, but the RB is a homerun waiting to happen each carry.
PICK #2 – GRIFF TAKES ASHTON JEANTY
When a lot of good players are being kept, sometimes a team needs to go full-on balls to the wall. For Girff, who I have keeping Brian Robinson in round six and Baker in round 15, could grab the league’s top receiver not named Chase or why not a game-changing QB like Josh Allen. But look for him to drop those balls out and smack them against the wall by taking the rookie back. This kid is good; real good and if he ends up somewhere like Dallas for example, he’s going to be considered an elite back from day one.
PICK #3 ROB M TAKES JUSTIN JEFFERSON
For Rob, I got him keeping Chase Brown in round seven (unless Cincy brings a new back in) and Dobbins later, yet I do think he takes another back early in the draft. I just don’t think it will be here. While taking a wideout in round one didn’t work for him this year since he missed the playoffs, it wasn’t that decision that cost him. Look for him to land an elite pair of hands in round one again with Justin Jefferson again. The Vikings wideout is the second best wideout and has finished among the top-8 in every season but the one he got hurt in.
PICK #4 – ERIC TAKES CEEDEE LAMB
I got Eric keeping Mixon in round four and Addison later, so I think he grabs an elite receiver in round one. Now, he had Lamb this year and at times he didn’t look great, yet despite playing with a backup QB for most of the year and dealing with a shoulder injury nearly all seasons, he’s still the fourth best wideout right now.
Pick #5 – BOB TAKES PUKA NACUA
Bob, who for now I have keeping Daniels in round seven over Achane in round two, could use a running back, especially with him keeping Smith-Njigba, but he’s never shied away from ignoring backs till later. Thus, I have him taking the next great wideout with Nacua. He got hurt this year, but when playing, he’s getting elite targets from Stafford and he should get even more with Kupp starting to show his age. He also has a coach who I would trust to find creative ways to get him the ball.
Pick #6 – RICH B KEEPS JA’MARR CHASE
We now hit the keeper section of the first round. Burrier should probably keep James Connor in round four. He’s a top-10 back. However, Chase has been a game changer this year. Right now, has over 4,000 points. No other receiver has over 3,400. Best yet, he’s not even in the prime of his career, as he’s only 24 years old.
Pick #7 – ROBIO KEEPS BIJAN ROBINSON
I could keep Nico Collins, but I know the value of an elite back and Robinson went from good-to-great this season and should only improve. A year after averaging 194 points per game as a rookie, he averaged 260 this season and is capable of challenging Barkley as the league’s top back.
8th Pick – RICH C KEEPS SAQUON BARKLEY
As of this write up, Barkley is averaging 343 points per game. He’s the league MVP. He plays for the Eagles, who have no interest in handing the ball to anyone else and he’ll only be 28 next season. This is a no-brainer.
#9th Pick – COLBY TAKES BREECE HALL
McCaffrey and Etienne are done, so it’s a fresh start for Colby. He could go with Josh Allen in round two and hear no complaint from me, but I like Rice in round six. The Chiefs wideout is coming off a bad injury, but it happened early in the season and he’s a young man who should bounce back nicely. In category two, Rico Dowdle is a solid keep in round eight, unless the Cowboys draft a running back. If that happens, then McConkey in round nine is a solid keep.
In round one, I doubt Hal falls this far, but maybe he will. Hall hasn’t shown the goods yet to justify a top-five overall pick. Plus, who knows who will be the Jets coach next year or their QB. Still, he’s a solid three-down back and if he gets a good coach and a decent QB, he will be able to put up stud numbers.
PICK #10 – MATT TAKES DERRICK HENRY
With Jalen Hurts going back to the draft pool, Matt will need to find a new category one keeper. The best one is Chris Godwin in round seven. In round 12, he will keep Bucky Irving, who looks really good in Tampa, despite sharing carries.
For his first round pick, I’m not sure Matt is dying to draft a 31-year-old running back, but the reality is, Henry still looks great, averaging 290 yards per game and will continue to be a primary back in a great offense next year. If it’s not him, is it Josh Jacobs or James Connor? I doubt it.
PICK #11 – MICHAEL KEEPS JAHMYR GIBBS
I don’t know if Michael will pick 11th or 12th next year in round one, but he’s the lower seed, but it doesn’t matter as I have him keeping Gibbs in round one. Yes, he can keep Nabers in round four and that would be a good keep, but Gibbs is so good and so young and with Montgomery gone this year, he’s going to get a chance to prove how elite he really is.
On top of that, I have Michael keeping Brian Thomas Jr. in round ten.
PICK #12 – JEFF TAKES AMON-RA ST. BROWN
I got Jeff keeping two backs next year. He will keep Kyren Williams in round two and Chuba Hubbard in round 10. That means his backfield is set, but he won’t have a second round pick. Does he wait to take a QB or hope to land an elite wideout later? Would he dare take a TE this early?
I have him going elite wideout. He could go with Tyreek again, but I think he’s had enough of him this year. The guy had more kids this year than touchdowns. St. Brown had a slow start in 2024, but he’s been really damn good down the stretch, showing that he’s the future, while Hill is in the past.