Week 14 marked the end of the 2025 regular season in the inaugural Dynasty Nerds App League regular season. Throughout both the NFL and the DNA league, seedings changed, and players dragged their squads to victory or fell in defeat. As you get ready for your own playoffs, we wanted to give you a snapshot of our playoff matchups. Who is hot, who is not, and who is likely to move on to the next round?
Also, in this episode, ahead of our vote amongst the bottom three teams to see who deserves to stay in the league and who is booted, we wanted to give each of these managers a chance to state their case to the Nerd Herd. Why should they be chosen to save, and why does the league want them back?
Click here for the Bottom 3 Save Vote
NFL Week 14 Recap
The Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions got us off to a roaring start. The Lions edged out the Cowboys in this one, but both squads gave us a ton of fantasy goodness. The victory kept Detroit just one game off the pace in the NFC playoff race. In particular, Jahmyr Gibbs stood out from the crowd with his monster day, which included over 100 total yards, 7 grabs, and a whopping 3 TDs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers grinded out a tight victory over the arch-rival Baltimore Ravens. This win was crucial for the AFC North playoff race. The Steelers were buoyed by the first big game from stud WR DK Metcalf in some time. Metcalf reeled in 7 grabs for 148 yards, providing Aaron Rodgers with an explosive playmaker.
The Miami Dolphins kept their playoff hopes alive with a victory over their division rival Jets. The Dolphins got great production out of a pair of RBs. Both De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright went for over 90 rushing yards and a score. Jaylen Waddle also continued his strong showing as the Fins’ No. 1 receiver.
The New Orleans Saints shocked many in the football world with their victory over the division rival Buccaneers in Tampa. The Saints rode their rookie RB Devin Neal to victory. The former University of Kansas star ran for 70 yards and a score to go along with a 14-yard catch in the passing game. The NFC Scouth looks like it will come down to the wire.
The Jacksonville Jaguars took control of the AFC South with their victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts lost more than just the game in this one, as QB Daniel Jones was lost for the season with an Achilles injury. Jacksonville got great games out of Travis Etienne, Brian Thomas Jr., and Jakobi Meyers, who all gave Duval and their dynasty managers great performances.
In a contest between what once upon a time looked like the top 2 QBs in the class, the Tennessee Titans edged out the Cleveland Browns. Shedeur Sanders got the better of the stat game, putting up a monster fantasy game with 350+ yards and 29 rushing yards to go along with 4 total TDs. It simply wasn’t enough as the Titans rode Tony Pollard and his 161 rushing yards with two scores to the victory.
In the biggest beatdown of the week, the Minnesota Vikings stomped the Washington Commanders by the score of 31-0! Sophomore QB Jayden Daniels looked lost, completing less than 50% of his passes, less than 100 yards of total offense, and a turnover. J.J. McCarthy didn’t put up a ton of yards, but he was efficient, leading the Vikings with 3 TD passes and playing turnover-free football.
The Seattle Seahawks took control of the skies by taking down the Atlanta Falcons. Jaxson Smith-Njigba continued his run towards a record-breaking season. His 92 yards and two scores keep him within striking distance of Calvin Johnson’s single-season record for receiving yards in a season.
The Buffalo Bills took care of business, taking down the Cincinnati Bengals. It might not always be the best for fantasy numbers, but it is always fun watching a game played in the snow. Reigning MVP Josh Allen continued his strong play with over 300 total yards and 4 scores playing in the white stuff.
The Denver Broncos kept their hopes of a No. 1 overall seed alive with a win over the helpless Raiders. R.J. Harvey got the better of he battle between rookie RBs as he was able to put up 100 total yards and a TD. For his part, Ashton Jeanty continued his struggles, managing a meager 38 total yards on 12 touches, a far cry from what may have been expected when they took him with their top rookie pick.
In the national game of the week, the Green Bay Packers outlasted the Chicago Bears 28-21. For Chicago, Colston Loveland continued his strong back half of the season, scoring yet another TD. But that wasn’t enough to get past Christian Watson, who turned his four grabs into 89 yards and a pair of scores.
The Rams rebounded nicely from their loss to the Carolina Panthers with a massive 45-17 trouncing of the division rival Arizona Cardinals. L.A. ran roughshod over the Cardinals, behind over 200 rushing yards and 3 scores from Blake Corum and Kyren Williams.
The Houston Texans highlighted a changing of he guard against the Kansas City Chiefs, who are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Patrick Mahomes struggled in this one with no scores and 3 interceptions. Houston got a fantastic performance out of Nico Collins, who blistered the Chiefs for 121 yards on just 4 grabs.
In the final game of the week, the L.A. Chargers took a close game against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. Despite Big fantasy games out of Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown, the Eagles fell to Justin Herbert and company.
Playoff Preview
Bye Week Squads:
Garret Price (22-6) took the title of regular-season king, finishing 2025 with an impressive record. Savy trades and excellent drafting helped Garret build a roster that is strong from top to bottom, from Dak Prescott to Jahmyr Gibbs and Davante Adams. In the final week, Garret surged into the playoffs by taking out rival Rich Dotson’s squad, dropping him from the No.2 to No.4 seed.
With Rich Dotson falling out of the bye week, Doc Mitchell (20-8) climbed back into the second spot. Doc sold out his next two drafts in order to build a deep squad around stud players like Jonathan Taylor and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. He will be a squad to be reconed with in the playoffs.
1st Round Matchups
(3) Peter Monahan (19-9) vs. (6) Mychal Warno (16-12)
Week 1 of the playoffs will be the first time since Week 7 that these two playoff squads have faced off. The last time these two clashed, it was Mychal Warno who came out on top by a score of 146.52 to 133.64. It was the only time this year that the two squads met during the season.
Looking at these teams individually, Peter Monahan’s squad is strong from top to bottom. He brings two legitimate QBs to the table with Josh Allen and Matt Stafford. Pete also happens to be one of the deepest teams in the league at RB with Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs, Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Walker, and David Montgomery to the table. Emeka Egbuka, Courtland Sutton, Nico Collins, and a now healthy Christian Watson give him a strong hand at WR as well. With the grizzled veteran Travis Kelce at TE, he is a squad with no visible holes that can easily be the best in the league on any given week.
Despite being the final team to qualify for the playoffs, Mychal Warno brings a dangerous team to the dance. Jalen Hurts gives him a legitimate QB1 to pair with his choice of Geno Smith or Kirk Cousins at QB2. The return of Bucky Irving helps set this roster up for success. He pairs the Buccaneers’ top back with CMC, Woody Marks, and others. Puka Nacua and Ladd McConkey are a rock-solid 1-2 punch at WR. Mychal pairs these studs with his choice of Tet McMillan and others. Brenton Strange and Mark Andrews also give him a strong pair of TEs.
(4) Rich Dotson (19-9) vs. (5) Jared Wackerly (18-10)
In the game of the week, two of the head honchos of the Dynasty Nerds, Rich Dotson and Jared Wackerly, take each other on in the first round of the playoffs. Just like our other playoff matchup, this is the first time since Week 7 that these two squads have squared off. The first time around, Rich took the contest by a final score of 158.69 to 145.50. Sleeper’s current projections have this one as a nail-biter with Jared favored by a narrow margin of 165.41 to 162.87, so it is anyone’s game. This one has the makings of a classic.
Rich comes into the week with a solid one-two punch at QB with Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert leading the way. The boss has a decent squad at the RB position with Saquon Barkley and Quinshon Judkins. They are joined in his starting lineup by D’Andre Swift. Where Rich separated his team from the pack was at the WR spot. The lineup features some heavy hitters headlined by George Pickens. Rich has some really nice names to go along with Pickens, but they come with some serious injury questions ahead of Week 15. Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze, and Drake London are all currently fighting through injuries. If they play or not could determine the outcome of this contest. Rich’s squad rounds out the TE position with Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedert, Juwan Johnson, and Dalton Schultz. Rich really loves his tight ends.
As you might imagine, Jared Wackerly also brings a formidable lineup to the table. His squad is led by Jared Goff and the returning Joe Burrow. Jared is particularly strong at the RB position. He will be playing De’Von Achane, Chase Brown, Kyren Williams, Rico Dowdle, Chris Rodriguez, and Kyle Monangai. While his depth on paper at WR may not be as good as some, he has a pair of hammers at the top with Ja’Marr Chase and Chris Olave. Behind them, he has some young upside plays like Adonia Mitchell and Tre Tucker. TE is Jared’s biggest weakness with Chig Okonkwo and Pat Freiermuth to choose between.
Pleading Their Case: The Bottom Three Squads Make Their Pitch To Stay In The League In 2026
Matt Cooper (9-19) | @CouchScoutsFF
Q1: What were you going for with your initial draft?
A: I was going for the best player available. I couldn’t pass up Trey McBride when he was available in round 3 with a heavy TEP, even though I’d already selected Brock Bowers. I didn’t necessarily intend to fade QB going into it, but in most cases, I felt like the value was not at QB when I was on the clock, and I was determined not to reach, and I do feel like I ended up with good value there. If my team had stayed healthy, I think the trio of Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, and J.J. McCarthy would have been good enough. As for RB, I knew it was a strong RB draft class, and I hoped to address that through rookie picks or trading for an RB later.
Q2: Where do you think the season got away from you?
A: Honestly, it got away from me pretty quickly. I was aggressively trying to trade for a second RB to complement Omarion Hampton, but I couldn’t stomach paying the prices that people were asking. I dealt with some significant early-season injuries, and my two key rookies (Travis Hunter and Omarion Hampton) took some time to acclimate to the NFL. By the time Hampton broke his ankle and went on IR in week 6, I was already in a significant hole in terms of my record. It was at that point that I decided to shop Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, and Keenan Allen. In the end, knowing I couldn’t contend, I liked the value I was offered for them and pulled the trigger on a trade. I likely would have avoided the bottom 3 had I not made that move, but long-term mediocrity is not what I’m aiming for.
Q3: Did your squad suffer a major injury that tanked your season?
A: Oh yeah, several of them. Brock Bowers was my first round startup pick, and he put up a strong week 1 performance, but got injured in that game. For the next 3 weeks after that, he put up subpar performances while playing through injury, and then missed another 3 weeks after that. Tee Higgins was playing with Jake Browning at QB. During that time, Ceedee Lamb also went down just 9 snaps into week 3, giving me a 0. He then went on to miss the next 3 weeks. Then Omarion Hampton took a long IR stint. Travis Hunter also went down for the season, just when it looked like he was about to break out. Late in the year, when I was pushing to avoid the bottom 3, I dealt with some brief but poorly timed absences from McCarthy, Higgins, and Aaron Rodgers. Lots of bad breaks this season.
Q4: How do you feel about your squad going into next season?
A: I feel great! I’m still #1 in the entire league in Dynasty value, per the Nerds App. In terms of PF and MaxPF, I clearly was not a bottom 3 roster in the league this season, even in spite of my injuries. With some better health and adding two mid-high 1st round picks to the fold this offseason, I have no reason to think my team can’t be a strong playoff contender next year. I certainly have needs to address at QB and RB if I want to be a true title contender, but I’ve got ammo to do it. This roster isn’t a multi-year rebuild.
Q5: Do you have a final plea to the NerdHerd ahead of the elimination vote? Why should you be given a chance to continue into 2026?
A: I love what I’ve built with this team. The results didn’t go my way this year, but I stand behind the process. Bowers, Lamb, McBride, Hampton, Hunter, Higgins, and Fannin are an exciting core to build around. All those guys are age 26 and under. I’m still optimistic about the futures of J.J. McCarthy and Bhayshul Tuten as well.
I’ve got a top 3 rookie pick and another mid-1st from Mychal, as well as multiple seconds and valuable post-NFL draft thirds. I’m confident in my ability to hit on rookies with those picks or leverage them in trades. I have a bright outlook both now and in the future, and the Nerds app agrees with me wholeheartedly. I’m in 1st by a wide margin, with nearly 6,000 points between me and the next best roster and more than 8,000 points between me and either of the other teams that are included in this vote.
John Hammersmith (9-19) | @DynastyHammer
Q1: What were you going for with your initial draft?
A: I didn’t draft this team; I inherited it after the fact. Once I got control, I made some bold moves, trading away a few big-name players in exchange for long-term value. I moved Kenneth Walker for Matthew Golden and a 2026 second. I also made a bigger deal where I sent Amon-Ra St. Brown, James Cook, and Travis Etienne for Jameson Williams, RJ Harvey, Jaxson Dart, Ben Sinnott, and a 2026 second. At the time, I knew it might look rough on the surface, but I said then: Give it three months. And now? Dart is pushing into the top-10 conversation for dynasty QBs, Harvey just posted back-to-back RB1 weeks, Jameson Williams is outscoring St. Brown lately, and Sinnott is set to be unleashed with Zach Ertz hitting IR. I believe my team is clearly better today because of those deals.
Q2: Where do you think the season got away from you?
A: To be honest, I didn’t know there was a risk of elimination when I took over the team. If I had, I might have made a few different moves to compete short-term and avoid falling into the bottom three. But I treated this like I would any orphan roster. I wanted to flip aging assets, find hidden value, and start building something sustainable. I really liked Jaxson Dart and made it a priority to go get him early in the season. That trade, and others like it, were made to make this team better tomorrow, not just today.
Q3: Did your squad suffer a major injury that tanked your season?
A: Losing Malik Nabers early in the season was a huge hit. He was one of the few elite pieces I had, and it took a big chunk out of my weekly ceiling. That definitely pushed me further into seller mode and reinforced the idea of building for next season and beyond.
Q4: How do you feel about your squad going into next season?
A: All that said, I actually like where the team is at now. I feel good about my QBs with Dart and Jordan Love. I think the receiving group is solid with Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Jameson Williams, and some interesting upside guys like Jayden Higgins, Alec Pierce, Matthew Golden, Kayshon Boutte, and Pat Bryant. Tight end is still developing—Isaiah Likely and Cade Otton have been streamable, but I’m hopeful Sinnott becomes the every-week starter I envisioned him as during the draft process. Running back is definitely my weakest position right now. I’ve got RJ Harvey and Kenneth Gainwell holding it down, but I believe Harvey has special traits and is in a great system to maximize them. I’ll definitely look to upgrade that group in the offseason.
Q5: Do you have a final plea to the NerdHerd ahead of the elimination vote? Why should you be given a chance to continue into 2026?
A: As for why I should stay, look, I didn’t draft this team, but I’ve been fully engaged since taking it over. I didn’t sit idle; I made aggressive, forward-thinking moves. I took chances on players I believed in, not just names that would win me a few weeks. And now that the pieces are starting to click, I want the chance to see it through.
This was a classic orphan situation; evaluate, rebuild, and play the long game. I’d love the opportunity to keep building on what I’ve started here. I think I’ve set the foundation for a strong future, and I want to see that vision through.
Taylor Christianson (2-26) | @MySleepers
Q1: What were you going for with your initial draft?
A: I went into the draft looking for value. I’m an active manager and this is a league of active managers, so I tried to identify players whose value was low at the time but was likely to go up at some point in the season like Jake Ferguson, Keon Coleman, and Wan’Dale Robinson (all traded after spikes before Week 4). I also bought “low” on veterans like Derrick Henry, George Kittle, and A.J. Brown so I could compete, but had insulation to sell at the deadline (all traded to contenders by Week 12). I took several rookie draft picks as well, giving my team the flexibility to adapt once the season got underway.
Q2: Where do you think the season got away from you?
A: I started 2-0 and ended 2-26. There were a few early signs that this wasn’t going to be my year and I built a team to withstand whatever the fantasy gods would throw at it, so I started looking to gain value where I could. I turned early-season adversity into flexibility. By being proactive in the trade market, I positioned myself with enough draft capital that I can either draft aggressively or re-enter the veteran market immediately.
Q3: Did your squad suffer a major injury that tanked your season?
Didn’t we all? This was a rough year for injuries all around. Whether it was big names (Lamar Jackson & Joe Burrow), depth guys (Jayden Reed, Joe Mixon, Cedric Tillman) or players who just didn’t pan out for 2025 (Ricky Pearsall & Anthony Richardson). I don’t want to use injuries as an excuse since it’s part of fantasy football. I saw the early signs and took the opportunity to be the first in a seller’s market. With all the injuries, no one was looking to sell, so once I was open to moving talent, a lot of deals went down (mostly) in my favor.
Q4: How do you feel about your squad going into next season?
A: Significantly better than my record suggests.
I’ve accumulated:
- 1.01, 1.06, and 3 Playoff 1st 2026 picks
- 3 extra 2026 2nds & 5 extra 2026 3rds (3rd round takes place after the NFL Draft)
- 3 1st Round 2027 picks
- A strong core of young talent
- A Top 5 QB with a Locked-In QB2
The hardest part of a long-term dynasty arc is assembling the resources to pivot. In a league where GMs face elimination, draft picks will be harder to get. It was a risk to go all in on accruing assets. It was the best way to take my franchise from the middle of the pack to a true powerhouse. Fortune favors the bold, so I jumped in with both feet.
Q5: Do you have a final plea to the NerdHerd ahead of the elimination vote? Why should you be given a chance to continue into 2026?
A: This league isn’t just a lineup competition. It’s a story. It’s content, community engagement, weekly drama, and a chance to build something readers actually want to follow. And I’ve been fully invested in making this league fun and dynamic from Day 1.
I am one of the most active managers in the league.
I made the most trades of any GM (28 total).
I built one of the strongest future asset bases.
I’ve helped shape the articles and the coverage surrounding this league.
And even in a 2–26 season, I never checked out. I kept working. I kept accruing. I kept managing.
This league is at its best when managers care—when they push the meta, create trades, stir up debates, and build narratives that the NerdHerd enjoys reading.
If you want a manager who will keep the league engaging, who will take creative swings, who helps build the world around the game, and who is committed to turning a 2–26 season into one of the most compelling comeback arcs in DNA League history… Then I’d love the NerdHerd’s vote to stay.
I’m ready to show you the version of this team I’ve been building toward.
What Do The Fans Say? Who Stays And Who Doesn’t?
Go to the Google Form below to vote on which GM to save. Requires a valid email. Two voters will be chosen to win Dynasty Nerds t-shirts!
^^ Don’t forget to vote!
Final Thoughts
This inaugural season of the Dynasty Nerds App League has been full of twists, turns, and surprises. Each manager has done his best to shepherd his squad through the tumultuous 2025 NFL regular season. We here at Dynasty Nerds hope that you have enjoyed our coverage of the regular season as much as we have enjoyed playing it. It will be truly interesting to see how the playoffs go forward. Who will you save from the three bottom squads, and who will no longer belong in the league? The choice is yours.
