To borrow from the popular John Lennon holiday classic, so, this is Week 17.
What a way to close the book on another fantasy football campaign and the inaugural Dynasty Nerds App League season. These fantasy playoffs delivered everything we hope for as content creators and fans of the game: monster performances, brutal busts, and just enough chaos to remind us that our months of hard work and analysis comes down to a few lucky bounces of a prolate spheroid. (That’s the name given to the shape of a football. You can look it up.)
As the confetti settles and the final standings lock in, this week serves as both a victory lap for all the Champions and a postmortem for everyone else. If we at Dynasty Nerds played any part in helping you win a Championship this season, then let me say congratulations and thank you for being a loyal follower. There’s nothing we enjoy more than knowing what we do here helped someone bring home a dynasty title.
Savor it. Enjoy it. After that? It’s rookie season!
Another dynasty year over, and a new one just begun.
🔗 Keep Building Your Dynasty
NFL Week 17 Game Recaps
Cowboys 30, Commanders 23
As you sat on your living room floor with a sore back and a screwdriver, assembling your daughter’s where-the-hell-are-we-going-to-put-this princess castle, Dak Prescott delivered the gift of 307 yards passing and 2 touchdowns as Dallas beat the rival Commanders. Malik Davis cleared the century mark (103), Javonte Williams scored on the ground, and KaVontae Turpin had the play of the day with an 86-yard TD catch. Washington stayed alive thanks to Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s 105 yards and 2 TDs, but it wasn’t enough in a loss that represented the star at the top of a sad, droopy Charlie Brown Christmas tree, epitomizing the Commanders’ 2025 forgettable season.
Vikings 23, Lions 10
If you were hoping for big fantasy performances by Detroit’s offense, you likely went to bed early after screaming, “aw, fudge” into the cold winter’s night, only to have your mouth washed out with a bar of soap.
Detroit and Jared Goff face-planted in the turnover department, which meant Minnesota didn’t need passing fireworks. That’s a good thing, as Max Brosmer only threw for 51 yards. Jordan Addison hilariously led the day with a single 65-yard rushing TD, and Aaron Jones added 53 yards and a score to keep the chains moving. Amon-Ra St. Brown (8-68) at least came through for his managers, while Justin Jefferson ended the fantasy season as the hope of getting the PlayStation 5 you begged for, only to find your mom bought you a used Xbox 360 instead. Just 4 catches for 30 yards? In this economy?
Broncos 20, Chiefs 13
In case you weren’t tired enough from waking up before the crack of dawn on Christmas Day with your too-excited-to-sleep kids, this game did a great job of putting hard-working moms and dads everywhere to sleep. In the end, Denver won a hard-fought road game in Kansas City, controlling possession and moving the ball slowly and efficiently. Bo Nix led the Broncos with both a passing and rushing touchdown, and rookie R.J. Harvey delivered the game-winning receiving score. Without Rudolph to guide their sleigh, Kansas City’s offense struggled, finishing with just 139 total yards.
Yes, Patrick Mahomes would be Rudolph in this analogy.
Texans 20, Chargers 16
Houston clinched their 3rd-straight playoff berth with a gritty road victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. C.J. Stroud connected on two explosive early touchdown passes to rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and the Texans defense made crucial stops late to preserve the lead. Justin Herbert was running for his life most of the game behind a battered and patchwork offensive line, foreshadowing what may happen in the playoffs.
Packers 24, Ravens 41
You know the old viral video of the little boy excitedly opening a Nintendo 64 on Christmas morning? That was fantasy football managers everywhere who started Derrick Henry during championship week. Henry rushed for 216 yards and 4 touchdowns in a rout of the Green Bay Packers, putting a quick end to many matchups before they even really began.
With Jordan Love out, backup and free-agent-to-be Malik Willis made some money for himself in a good showing, but it wasn’t enough to overcome King Henry. The loss locked Green Bay into the #7 playoff seed.
Dolphins 20, Buccaneers 17
In a battle of cities where there won’t be snow at Christmas, Miami edged Tampa Bay. Quinn Ewers threw two touchdowns, including his first career touchdown pass to someone named Theo Wease Jr. outdueling Baker Mayfield. On the heels of another multiple interception game from Mayfield, the end-of-season spiral continues for the Buccaneers.
Patriots 42, Jets 10
League MVP candidate Drake Maye was outstanding in this game, throwing five touchdowns passes on highly efficient passing. Pre-season hype darling Efton Chism III even got in on the act, scoring his first career touchdown. For the Jets, Breece Hall gets an “E” for effort, becoming the Jets’ first 1,000 yard rusher since Chris Ivory back in 2015.
Browns 13, Steelers 6
Break up the Cleveland Browns! Cleveland played spoiler in the AFC North and defeated their hated rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Rookie Shedeur Sanders threw the game’s lone touchdown to rookie Harold Fannin, Jr. as the Browns’ defense held Pittsburgh out of the endzone. The NFL would like to thank Cleveland for their service, as the Steelers’ playoff hopes now hinge on a Sunday Night Football matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Ratings!
Saints 34, Titans 26
But really, break up the Saints? Winners of four in a row, New Orleans completed a comeback victory after trailing the Titans early. Tyler Shough continues to look impressive while Chris Olave, Juwon Johnson, Audric Estime all enjoyed big games.
On the other side for the Titans, the arrow continues to point upward for first overall pick Cam Ward. Ward has gone 4-straight games throwing for two touchdowns, and he is growing into a rhythm with fellow rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor.
Giants 34, Raiders 10
A highly-anticipated matchup for all the wrong reasons, New York’s victory over Las Vegas may be a case of winning the battle but losing the war in a race for the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jaxson Dart threw for over 200 passing yards and added 2 scores on the ground, while Wan’Dale Robinson surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the season. For the Raiders, who were in total tank mode, Tyler Lockett scored the lone touchdown, in case you needed the points for your 2019 best ball championship roster.
Seahawks 27, Panthers 10
Sam Darnold kept it clean and efficient while Seattle’s real fireworks came from Zach Charbonnet bulldozing his way to 110 yards and 2 scores. Jaxon Smith–Njigba continued his monster season with 9 receptions. Although a 2,000 yard season now seems out of reach, he will finish the season in rarefied air.
Carolina’s offense, on the other hand, lacked any oxygen whatsoever. Bryce Young threw for just 54 yards but at least salvaged a rushing TD, while Rico Dowdle led the backs with 59 on the ground. Tetairoa McMillan finished his fantasy campaign as the WR15 overall, seemingly hampered to the greater woes of the Panthers passing game.
Jaguars 23, Colts 17
This was a “survive and advance” win for the Jaguars where Trevor Lawrence’ arm moved the ball, but the splash plays came elsewhere. Lawrence had two rushing scores, much to the chagrin of Travis Etienne managers everywhere. Parker Washington continued his outstanding play with 8 receptions for 115 yards, again much to the chagrin of Brian Thomas Jr. managers.
For Indy and Philip Rivers? So long, sweet prince, and thank you for all the many, many fantasy points over the years. Next Christmas, please stay at home and surround yourself with the love of your grandchildren and not blitzing NFL linebackers.
Eagles 13, Bills 12
In a game full of material for the angsty sports-talk radio crowd, the Eagles won this one despite Jalen Hurts only throwing for 110 yards. Josh Allen has not looked himself as the season draws to a close, but he salvaged his fantasy day with two late rushing touchdowns. The Bills had a chance to win it at the end but missed on a two-point conversion attempt. Brandin Cooks joined Tyler Lockett and Philip Rivers by celebrating Old Timers week in the NFL with 101 receiving yards in the loss.
Bengals 37, Cardinals 14
Joe Burrow and Cincinnati dominated this one from start to finish like a big brother playing Madden against their little sibling. Chase Brown had 101 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns while Arizona’s best punch was Michael Wilson with 5 for 89 and 1 score.
However, for fantasy managers, the fourth quarter brought the garbage time goodness. Trey McBride started quietly but finished with 10 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, putting a stamp on his dominant TE1 overall finish.
49ers 42, Bears 38
In what was the game of the week and one of the best of the season, Brock Purdy outdueled and outlasted Caleb Williams. This game quickly turned this into a track meet with Purdy passing for 303 yards and 3 passing touchdowns. San Francisco kept stacking points and making fantasy managers very happy behind Christian McCaffrey’s 140 yards and a score. Chicago’s passing attack returned serve throughout the night with Luther Burden III (8-138-1) and Colston Loveland (6-94-1) having big games, but the Niners held on at the end in a big matchup for NFC Playoff positioning.
Falcons 27, Rams 24
Like Vanessa Williams, Bijan Robinson went and saved the best for last. In the final game of the fantasy football season, Bijan did his best Derrick Henry impression and set off league chats everywhere. By finishing with 195 yards rushing, 34 receiving, and 2 touchdowns, Robinson tilted matchups and provided more than a few Monday Night Miracles.
Atlanta built a big first-half lead and weathered a furious L.A. comeback attempt. Though the Rams cut it close late and even tied the game, Atlanta sealed the victory with a late drive capped by a field goal.
Dynasty Nerds App League Championship Game Recap
Doc Mitchell (222.26) defeats Garret Price (172.31)
The difference between the two teams in the final was just over 50 points, or to measure it another way, nearly exactly one Derrick Henry. Yes, #NerdHerd, sometimes the hard-hitting analysis I provide can be as simple as “Look, Doc had Derrick Henry and Brock Purdy, and the two of them alone scored nearly 95 points.”
For Garret, there’s really nothing here to be upset about. There’s nothing he could have done differently. Sometimes in this game, you just run into a buzzsaw. This season, that buzzsaw was Doc’s stout squad.
Both managers should be commended for their wall-to-wall title runs. Their two squads have been dominant from the start, and I’m sure they’ll both be right there in the hunt in 2026.
Championship Interview | Doc Mitchell (2025)
What was the biggest risk (draft pick, trade, etc) you took this season that actually paid off?
I’d say the biggest risk that I took was moving off of Joe Burrow.
When I drafted this team, it was with the idea that I would compete in the first year. Burrow going down early forced my hand. I moved Burrow and a 2nd for Baker Mayfield and Kittle. Injuries hurt this a bit, but they helped get the job done.
Similarly, which move deserves the most credit for your title (draft, trade, or waiver add)…?
I would say that the move that deserves the most credit was going after depth. The starting requirements in this league are crazy with so many flex spots. With that in mind the best move I made was trading my 2026 1st for Jake Ferguson, Wan’dale Robinson and a 2nd. I started both of those players all year and later moved the 2nd for another flex player.
Who was your team’s MVP that carried your team when it mattered most?
I would say I had a pair of Co-MVP players. Jonathan Taylor and Jaxson Smith-Njigba carried me on a weekly basis. We are literally talking about the WR & RB 1 overall on the year. That was a hell of a turn between the 3rd and 4th in the start-up.
What’s your biggest lesson from this championship run?
My biggest lesson from this season was depth, depth, and more depth. Having to start 12 players in a 12-team league puts legitimate strain on your roster, especially during bye weeks. I guarantee that I squeezed out a couple wins by having Wan’dale and Ferguson in my flex in bye weeks. That helped me tilt the 2nd-seed bye away from Rich and helped pave my way to the title. It’s been a blast!
Turn Out the Lights, the Party’s Over…
The #NerdHerd has spoken, and they’ve chosen to keep Matt Cooper while eliminating Taylor Christianson and John Hammersmith.
Exit Interview with Taylor Christianson
What was the one move (draft pick, trade, etc) this season you’d undo if you could?
I wouldn’t make the trade for Joe Burrow. I think with Baker Mayfield, I could have kept competing early in the season. With my drafted team, I likely would have finished middle of the pack and wouldn’t have been eliminated.
When did you know the season was slipping away?
I lost Burrow, Reed, and Pearsall right away. I decided to go for the full rebuild to try and capitalize on the early trade market. I traded away short-term depth for high-end assets, which should pay off nicely (for someone else) in the coming years.
Which player on your roster changed your opinion the most, good or bad?
Keon Coleman was a hard sell in the moment after his big Week 1 performance. A contending 1st in this class—at the time—seemed risky. But I took the deal and looking back, a 1st for Coleman was probably a strong move for the future.
(Time for Keith’s patented Rant of the Week — sigh, I’m the dummy who traded his 2026 1st for Keon Coleman. I don’t want to talk about it…)
What advice would you give the new manager taking over your team?
I didn’t intend to make a lot of these selections. In this league, managers want to get their guy. That creates leverage points and the patient managers like Garret Price and Keith Ensminger will capitalize on this. Use the OTC leverage to be an instant contender while everyone stocks up on their favorite rookies.
Even if Carnell Tate looks great, Rashee Rice and a starting veteran is the process I’d lean into for this league. Now that clear rebuilds are shown to result in elimination, no one will be looking to sell production in season. Good luck! This roster has the assets to be a serious force for the future.
Bonus Keith rant: Before we close, I want to be sure to give Taylor his due. Although Matt Cooper received the most votes overall, Taylor received the most votes by his fellow Dynasty Nerds’ staff members. Ball recognize ball. We’ve all been where Taylor ended up, and he played it perfectly by selling every asset he could for as much as he could for when he did. Props to him and his constant churn to better his roster despite knowing he could be voted out.
Exit Interview with John Hammersmith
What was the one move (draft pick, trade, etc) this season you’d undo if you could?
If I could undo one move, it would absolutely be the big trade I made early in the season. I traded Amon-Ra St. Brown, James Cook, and Travis Etienne in exchange for Jaxson Dart, RJ Harvey, Ben Sinnott, Jameson Williams, and a second-round pick. At the time, I was operating under the assumption that I was building for the future, as I was unaware that the loser would be voted out. In hindsight, that move clearly hurt my chances to compete this year, and had I known the full stakes, I likely would have approached that decision differently.
When did you know the season was slipping away?
I expected the season might slip away fairly early, based on the direction I chose with my roster. When I saw myself consistently falling into the bottom third of the standings, it confirmed what I had already anticipated going into the year. Those moves were part of a longer-term plan, not a sign of giving up. Unfortunately, once I was in that position, there wasn’t a realistic way to pull out of the spiral this season. My goal was to continue making thoughtful moves to show I was actively managing the team with a clear strategy.
Which player on your roster changed your opinion the most, good or bad?
The player I changed my opinion on the most was Jordan Love. Early in the season, I had an opportunity to trade him, along with a small add-on, for Joe Burrow. I chose not to make that deal because I believed Love had legitimate upper-echelon fantasy quarterback upside. As the season progressed, it became clear that while Love is solid, he profiles more as a back-end QB1 or strong QB2 rather than a true elite option. By holding instead of selling at peak value, I missed an opportunity that is no longer available.
What advice would you give the new manager taking over your team?
My advice to the new manager is to lean into the assets I’ve acquired and use them intentionally. The roster has a strong young foundation with players like Dart, Harvey, and Sinnott, who I believe are positioned to take meaningful steps forward. In addition, I left behind extra draft capital, including an early third-round pick that will come after the NFL Draft, which is often a great value window. Use those tools, trust the youth movement, and continue building with a long-term mindset.
When Two Doors Close…
With the elimination of two managers, we’re excited to officially announce the two new managers who will be joining us in 2026. Matt O’Hara and Steve Pintado, welcome to the Dynasty Nerds App League. We’ll have more on these two soon enough.
For now, enjoy those hard-earned championships, and on behalf of everyone else in the Dynasty Nerds App League, thank you for following us this season.
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