Its Closing Time - A (short) Year in Review

(Nothing in this post was created using any sort of generative AI)

As the calendar moves into the new year, that means the fantasy season has come to a close and a new one has started. We crowned a new champion this year, as the exciting playoffs did not turn out how I had predicted. I will be going over some of the bigger things that happened this year to close out and transition into the new year.

The Pollard Express become the 3rd new Champion

Lol no idea why it only says 99% prob a weird thing with the desktop version

The Pollard Express were our 2025 dynasty league Champion as they comfortably beat Tony Dorset 162-144.88. The Express came into this Postseason as the 3rd seed, just missing out on the week 14 bye, but that did not matter. They narrowly squeezed by the Mahomies over Mahoes by a margin of just 4 points. Then facing the 2-seeded Zahilarious in the second round, The Express completely manhandled them putting up 151 and winning by 26 fantasy points. The run was ultimately completed by beating the 4-seeded Tony Dorset by the previously mentioned 18 point margin. Funny enough, The Express were the 3 seed, and also tied for 3rd in the preseason polls. Congrats to them on their championship!

As for the non playoff teams, Walk me Jeanty has won the consolation bracket for the 2nd year in a row. This means they will be awarded the 4.01 in the draft. Last year they scooped up Harold Fannin Jr. He was quite productive finishing as TE5 in our league. They now have another opportunity to grab a rookie to help them finally reach the playoffs for the first time.

Final Standings + one fun (or not fun) thing about their season (bottom 4 in regular season order)

1. The Pollard Express (Champion)

2. Tony Dorset (highest weekly score: week 5 217.88 5th all time)

3. PooShiesty9 (Least draft picks remaining: 5)

4. Njigbas in Paris (most points for: 2250.78 3rd all time)

5. Mahomies over Mahoes (Most draft picks accumulated: 14)

6. CMC Revenge Year (Total Fantasy points leader: Christian McCaffrey)

7. I'm done my Kraft (2 separate 1% comebacks)

8. Walk me Jeanty (winner of consolation bracket)

9. Rome Wasnt Built in a Day (Most trades made: 15)

10. Skattebroken (Winless regular season)

    
    

Trades That Shaped the League Year

Trading has always been a major part of this league and that was absolutely no different this year. Some really big names this year were passed around this league that people did not expect. Right before the rookie draft, the 2024 champion Tony Dorset traded away Ceedee Lamb (and the 1.10) for Chris Olave and three 1st round picks (two of which became Omarion Hampton and Treveyon Henderson). This trade has been talked about on numerous occasions simply because it might have been the biggest trade up to that point. But this year was loaded with big trades. After just 3 weeks of 18 points/game from Emeka Egbuka, Rome Wasnt Built in a Day traded their recently draft rookie (plus two 2nds) to The Pollard Express for Ricky Pearsall (plus two 1sts). This move shocked the league as the rebuilding Rome franchise traded away their young rookie. In addition to trading Emeka Egbuka after only 3 games, they ended up trading Pearsall (plus two 1sts and a 2nd) for Ashton Jeanty, the FIRST pick in the rookie draft. To make things even crazier, Jeanty was traded AGAIN! This time the Rome franchise sent him away (plus Deebo, Godwin, a 1st and a 3rd) for Quinshon Judkins and Malik Nabers (plus a 2nd). These are some really big names being thrown around in trades like their nothing players. Emeka was an early star helping The Express get early wins securing their playoff spot early in the season, while Ricky Pearsall spent most of the season injured doing nothing for both the Rome and Mahomies franchises.

A couple other big names that got traded this year were Derrick Henry and David Montgomery getting traded away from the winless Skattebroken franchise for draft picks. Those players were sent to PooShiesty9 in hopes of fixing his lack of depth at running back. It helped a little bit, but they ended as a 2nd round exit this year, finishing 3rd.

Rookie Draft Class Went Crazy This Year

The Rookie Draft class this year produced several very productive players this year that helped out many teams this year. Each of the 4 players drafted in the lottery (Jeanty, Hampton, McMillan, and Judkins) all finished with an average of at least 13 points per game and the highest in that group being 16.9 points per game from Hampton (9 games). The rest of the 1st round was filled with banger selections including Travis Hunter, Treveyon Henderson, Tyler Warren, RJ Harvey, and Emeka Egbuka. All of whom have had significant production for the teams that drafted them. Outside of the 1st round, there were a few rookies that shined too like Luther Burden as of recent, Colston Loveland, Cam Skattebo (led rookies with 17.9 ppg in 8 games), providing some help to their teams. Rookie class went quite deep as several undrafted rookies had some meaningful performances. Oronde Gadsden, Kyle Monangai, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Woody Marks all had games with at least 20 fantasy points showing some potential. Even rookies like Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, Devin Neal, Ollie Gordon, Dylan Sampson, Gunnar Helm, had some flashes this year (rip to the people that drafted Kaleb Johnson and Matthew Golden). This was a very strong rookie class with lots of players contributing the whole year, and some showing potential through just a few games. It will be exciting to see them develop next season.

Trash Talk

Trash talk and rivalries were on the rise this season. As people have gotten more comfortable with their teams and the dynasty format, trash talking was at an all time high this year. One big example coming in the DMs between Rome Wasnt Built in a Day and Tony Dorset. After a 25 point win in week 5 for the Rome franchise, I took to the DMs to taunt the Dorset management by sending a screenshot of 4 players that popped off saying "Hope this doesn't give you nightmares."

One of the few weeks my team was really good

I thought this was absolutely hilarious after a big win to boost me to 3-2, but they were able to get their revenge later in the year. During the last regular season game we matched up again, with me having the smallest of small chances of getting into the playoffs, but was crushed. A 85 point loss to officially push me out of the playoffs was all the revenge they needed after my taunting back in week 5. I hope there is an increase in trash talk next year.

Looking Ahead to Next Season

Each team should now be thinking about the offseason and how to make their teams better before the season starts up again in 9 months. The Pollard Express will be looking to make league history as the first team to win back to back championships, while another team will be looking to get away from history. Skattebroken lost an insane 14 games in a row. A completely WINLESS season. They look to move anywhere up from rock bottom (maybe they could use some help with fixing their franchise wink wink). With the start of a new season comes the rookie draft in early May, meaning a whole new group of players joining the league shaking up every roster in the league. A reminder that the draft is now in linear format instead of snake. Additionally there will be league meetings and votes on possible new rules. The biggest being league expansion and if we should add 2 new teams to this league (keep an open mind (looking at you Colin)). I will have an article for possible new rule changes and a separate one for how expansion would possibly work. Lastly, I just want to thank everyone in this league for another great season. I had a ton of fun again and I hope everyone else did as well. I love writing these article for the league and I love how much everyone enjoys them. We really have a fantastic fantasy league and I am grateful for that. Thank you guys and let's have another great year!