Borg and Betz bring us the final Fantasy Footballers Dynasty Podcast of the year! Betz brings the energy for those who have won their dynasty championships, recounting all the hard work over the years. This work includes scouting, rookie picks, trades, and critical waiver wire moves like getting Puka Nacua or Tyreek Hill-type players in those small windows. Unfortunately for Borg, he has yet to taste a dynasty championship, and was yet again denied this season due to facing Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs, giving him a virtual ‘goose egg.’ Betz admits he experienced the same pain (as did I).
Borg takes solace in the main league of record, where he co-managed the championship with Mike, with a worst-to-first turnaround. The Ballers discuss worst-to-first situations in the NFL, where this season, there will be three potential candidates picking within the top ten. Borg points our attention to these teams as they typically end up with 12 wins or winning the division, similar to the Patriots this season.
Borg set the stage for the episode where they will preview the 2026 offseason, including free agents, players in a committee (i.e., RBs), and fringe players that many of us are trying to figure out. Are they a “Stash or Trash?” A Rookie Review episode will be coming in January as Dynasty Season opens up.
Before we get into the Weekly Rewind, remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Weekly Rewind
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Chase Brown
Chase Brown is a significant winner this season in Borg’s view, overcoming a start to the season worthy of a “bust” label. Betz didn’t have a lot of Brown going into the season, and felt good about it early. However, he pivoted and made some acquisitions of Chase Brown, who helped him win a title. Borg traded Brown for TreVeyon Henderson after the NFL draft was completed, looking to maximize the perceived value. After slow starts, Borg admits that while Henderson looks to be the better long-term asset, Brown was the player needed to win this year.
Brown has dominated the goal-line work, seeing 73% of the team’s carries inside the five-yard line. Borg compares his current usage to prime Austin Ekeler, providing a high fantasy floor through pass-catching. Betz advises us to consider the ability to handle a higher workload in college as a legitimate skill. Players like Brown, who demonstrate this skill, should have higher values in rookie drafts. At nearly 26 years old, he is entering the final year of his contract, but Betz believes he will get an extension. As a high-end RB2/low-end RB1 for 2026, he is a “hold” if you have him, but not necessarily someone to go after.
Luther Burden III & Colston Loveland
The Chicago Bears hit on their rookies with Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III. While the context of facing an injury-riddled defense is important, Betz doesn’t believe it should impact the takeaway of the rookie performances on SNF. Betz sees the usage of both players, including designed plays where each of them was the first read, as an encouraging sign of coaching staff belief. Borg specifically calls out Burden’s YAC ability and how it converts modest gains into chunk plays, and we will see a bit more of that in the deep dive below.
Loveland’s rookie season finish is statistically comparable to Rob Gronkowski’s rookie year in terms of fantasy points. Burden currently leads all rookie WRs with 2.98 yards per route run (min. 200 routes), a stat that projects future WR success. The Bears have a massive “cheap window” for the next two years with Caleb Williams, Loveland, and Burden all on rookie deals.
Stash or Trash?
Borg introduces the “Stash or Trash” segment, designed to help managers clean up the end of their benches by identifying which fringe players have 2026 upside and which should be cut for rookie draft picks.
QB – Daniel Jones, Malik Willis, Mac Jones, Anthony Richardson
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Borg reminds us that for the past decade, a third of the league has turned over its starting QB. There isn’t a strong free-agency class this season, but a weaker QB class in the draft compounds the issue.
- Daniel Jones: Betz sees Daniel Jones as the most coveted QB, but due to his Achilles injury, he expects him to return to the Colts as a “bridge” since he already knows the scheme.
- Malik Willis: Labeled as a “must-stash” QB with significant fantasy upside if/when he starts. His improvement in Green Bay makes him a prime candidate to be acquired by a desperate team for a starting role in 2026, potentially making more money than any of us expected a year ago.
- Mac Jones: Viewed as a potential starter for teams like Miami, as he is considered more competent than many backup-level starters seen in 2025. He is under contract with the 49ers, which would likely require a trade to get him a starting opportunity.
- Anthony Richardson: Depending on the state of Daniel Jones‘ rehab, he remains a high-upside hold who could start Week 1 for the Colts.
- Nasty Boys:
- Betz sees Jacoby Brissett as a hold with the possibility that the Cardinals may part ways with Kyler Murray.
- Justin Fields is a hold based on a possible new destination due to the way his contract is set up. The Jets can move on in 2026 pretty easily.
RB – Breece Hall, Javonte Williams, Brashard Smith, Tony Pollard
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- Breece Hall: Perhaps the biggest free-agent domino at 24 years old, he is unlikely to stay with the Jets. Betz sees the Chiefs as a “dream” landing spot, and Patrick Mahomes needs the support.
- Bucky Irving: Borg and Betz cite a down season for Irving, but provide the much-needed context of the offensive line woes, the injury absence, and the off-field mental health circumstances impacting his season. While they still prefer Breece Hall due to his projected massive free-agent contract and high-end talent, they advise against being “super down” on Irving.
- Javonte Williams: Expected to re-sign with Dallas after a resurgent year where the Cowboys leaned on him as their clear lead back. However, there is the element of Malik Davis, who is likely to return as a restricted free agent. Jaydon Blue is likely a non-factor given his lack of playing time and day-three draft status.
- Brashard Smith: Chiefs RB Smith is a priority stash for Borg, as he is currently the only RB under contract for them in 2026. However, the Ballers revisit the possibility of Breece Hall landing with the Chiefs, which throws a massive wrench in any possibility of seeing his upside.
- Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears: While productive, Tennessee may cut Pollard to save $7 million in cap space, potentially elevating Tyjae Spears. Betz mentions they have made a lot of investments in the offensive line. Additionally, Borg notes that the Titans are trending in the right direction, averaging 25 points over the last month.
- Nasty Boys:
- The San Francisco RB2 is always a recommended stash per Betz. Current 49ers RB2, Brian Robinson Jr., is slated to be a free agent in 2026.
- Ray Davis is a ‘stash’ for Betz until after free agency and the draft plays out.
- Isaiah Davis was a ‘trash’ candidate for Betz, given the unattractive team situation with the Jets. However, Borg has faith in his ability and postulates a situation where they utilize him in a committee similar to Jalen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. Borg convinces Betz to change his position to ‘stash,’ given Davis still has time on his rookie deal.
- Rachaad White is a hold through free agency to see what kind of deal gets done.
- Jonathon Brooks is a hold only in leagues with deep benches (e.g., 30+ roster spots). The odds are highly leveraged against him turning into anything.
WR – George Pickens, Wan’Dale Robinson, Alec Pierce, Chiefs, Bills, Texans, Jaguars
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- George Pickens: As the top WR free agent, there is heavy speculation that he could end up with the Cowboys.
- Wan’Dale Robinson: Borg highlighted Robinson earning a massive target share (140+ targets). With the 11th-most receiving yards going into week 17, he is viewed as an elite slot weapon regardless of where he signs.
- Alec Pierce: Predicted to receive a surprisingly large contract in free agency due to the rising market for deep-threat receivers. Given the barren-looking future of their WR room (Pittman on the decline as his last contract year arrives, Josh Downs with one year left under contract, Ashton Dulin looking limited to special teams), it could make sense for the Colts to retain Pierce, given they are currently 12th in cap space.
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WR Rooms of Interest:
- The Chiefs’ WR room does not have a clear outside WR that can win 1-on-1 without scheme assistance. Jalen Royals is a ‘stash’ for Borg, but he is still just seen as a Rashee Rice clone.
- The Bills, similar to the Chiefs, are desperate for a true WR1 outside of Khalil Shakir. Based on Betz’s “follow the money” logic, Joshua Palmer is the only recommended ‘stash.’
- The Texans are transitioning to younger options like Jaylen Noel and Jayden Higgins, despite owing Christian Kirk a lot of money. Tank Dell may still be on many IRs as a “courtesy hold.” These young players are ‘buys’ for Betz.
- Jacksonville has a lot of “question marks,” and Borg isn’t making any moves with this WR room. Clarity is what Borg seeks, but Parker Washington is one asset he is willing to move if others are interested. Washington is a ‘stash’ for Betz as Borg reminds us of the translation of high-level success in college kick returns. Travis Hunter is a variable that could shift things greatly upon his return.
TE – Kyle Pitts Sr., Dallas Goedert, Juwan Johnson, Terrance Ferguson
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- Kyle Pitts Sr.: His value has rebounded. He is viewed as a top-6 Dynasty TE again and could be a massive breakout if he signs with a team like the Chiefs to replace a retiring Travis Kelce. Remember, he is still only 25 years old.
- Dallas Goedert: Likely a “salary cap casualty” in Philadelphia; Betz projects the Eagles to move on a year early rather than a year late.
- Juwan Johnson: A favorite “fringe TE1” to hold. He is expected to lead the Saints’ TE room next year as Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill potentially depart.
- Terrance Ferguson: Identified as the best “value” trade target. He has elite athletic testing and second-round draft capital, but has been buried on the Rams’ depth chart behind veterans.
Week 17 Film Deep Dive
Most fantasy leagues have concluded, and that will have some taking a cognitive break from dynasty fantasy football until draft season. Some will bask in their success while others will deconstruct their decisions and debrief their fantasy shortcomings. If you are a dynasty champion, congratulations! Enjoy and appreciate the “perfume” of your success, but don’t drink it. If you fell short, it’s time to be truthful with where you stand and figure out the path forward: rebuild or retool?
For all parties, the focus should soon turn to the future, the next draft class, the trades to make to position yourself appropriately, and the necessary research to bolster your decisions. While most will focus on this draft class, as they should, draft picks have the “unknown” of how they will translate into the NFL. Due to this fact, it is valuable to shift some of your attention to existing NFL youth so you can be prepared to strike when the hype of the 2026 draft overshadows them.
Isaac TeSlaa
That brings me to Isaac TeSlaa. He is one of the NFL youths (I can only hear Joe Pesci’s voice when I say that word) that I am referring to. Buried in the depth chart of the Detroit Lions, TeSlaa had a modest rookie year production: 15/26 for 221 yards and six TDs. Earning only 26 targets across 16 games played certainly points to a destination of obscurity, but his red zone usage is intriguing.
Of his total targets, 10 of them came in the red zone. While this is low (T-55), he has converted six of these opportunities into TDs. This has him tied for 16th in TDs to WRs, and he holds the 4th-highest red zone TD conversion rate (54.55%, min. five red zone targets). For additional context, his teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown has had 30 red zone targets yet only converted 10 into scores (33.33%). Also, among rookies, TeSlaa has the most red zone TDs despite having far fewer snaps than the likes of Tyler Warren, Oronde Gadsden, Chimere Dike, Emeka Egbuka, and Colston Loveland.
Isaac TeSlaa needs to be considered as a fantasy asset for his RZ upside going into 2026. ARSB and JaMo shall surely keep his value suppressed, but the scoring upside is evident. pic.twitter.com/WCRWp1Q3CN
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) December 30, 2025
The natural question to ask is, “Is this sustainable?” We know that TDs are notoriously “unsticky” as a stat, but the Lions would be remiss if they didn’t build on what TeSlaa has shown to this point. We can see what he brings to the table on these TDs in this clip. We see several samples where he can “climb the ladder,” body be damned. I love this type of toughness with contested catch ability in these situations. The concentration and boundary awareness are impressive, too. There is ample evidence of his catch radius in all areas around his frame, whether in front, behind, above, or below. Perhaps the best thing I am seeing in these clips is the Lions’ willingness to scheme him open. Honestly, this is the type of treatment that made Mark Andrews such a dominant red zone presence for Lamar Jackson, and it is of great value for fantasy.
There is a reality we must acknowledge: TeSlaa has no chance to rise to a WR2 in this offense. Amon-Ra is going nowhere, and Jameson Williams is locked in until at least 2028. TeSlaa is unlikely to eat into the target share of either of these two, but with Kalif Raymond likely to exit, there could be a bump in snap share. With that said, I can’t imagine his red zone opportunity diminishing in 2026, at least not when he has shown such upside here. Sam LaPorta could become an issue, but I am willing to bet the Lions will grow TeSlaa’s role more next season. All these “obstacles” to his upside are great to suppress his price as we approach the next draft season. Be ready to buy low.
Luther Burden III
Mike celebrated his championship wins on the December 30th episode of the main show, and some of the success was attributed to Luther Burden III. Mike believed in him the whole season, and he was rewarded handsomely. Burden had been steadily increasing his involvement in the offense since returning from an injury in Week 9, and it culminated in a dominant championship week finish. Per PFF, he ranks third among all receivers in yards per route run (2.67), passer rating when targeted (124.5), and yards after the catch per reception (7.1). Burden also ranks eighth in PFF receiving grade for December (83.1). He put up 138 yards and a score, converting nine targets into eight receptions in the ‘barn burner’ at Levi Stadium.
In this Week 17 performance, Burden confirmed some of the pre-draft praise he was receiving, but also rebutted some of the critiques. Coming out of Missouri, he was lauded for elite YAC ability and versatility. There was plenty of evidence to support this during the game, but especially so on this play. Burden was used in motion frequently, which created mismatch or leverage opportunities, and sometimes both. Ben Johnson uses him as the ‘chess piece’ Burden was lauded for in college. Putting him in motion equips Caleb Williams with information while also creating space for Burden. With this space and a declaration of Man coverage by the defense, the quick pass to the flat allows Burden to leverage his short-area quickness against the less agile CB Chase Lucas, who gets put in a spin cycle trying to make the tackle.
This use of @lutherburden3 continued to create leverage and decision-making delays in the defense. This one in particular, Burden takes advantage by stacking and breaking on this Corner route. Late hands and boundary awareness on display to complete this catch. pic.twitter.com/EWsiqorciZ
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) December 30, 2025
More ‘chess piece’ usage is seen on the second play, where Williams hits Burden on a deep Corner route. The motion of Burden as the snap is made forces the two defenders to make the ‘right’ communication/decision as far as coverage responsibilities. Speeding up the clock for defenders in this manner can create offensive opportunities due to rushed, poor decisions or simple, but slight missteps, creating leverage advantages. The latter was created for Burden, who exacerbates it by attacking the defender’s leverage before exploding vertically to a stacked position. With the single-high safety concerned about Walker’s Post route on the other side of the field, he is not in a position to help, leaving the deep left of the field wide open. Burden shows ‘late hands’ and sideline awareness as he tracks this deep ball for a 27-yard chunk.
Burden’s versatility with Johnson’s offensive genius and Williams’ capability are a nasty combination that gives me confidence in Burden’s upside. Although some injuries provided this opportunity, Ben Johnson is unlikely to try putting this genie “back in the bottle.” In some leagues, there could be a small window of opportunity with a sliver of doubt as to what things look like when the receiving corps is at full strength. Contenders at the back of the 2026 draft could try offering a 2026 first to get him. You may end up throwing something else in there, but remember, buying a known asset is better than gambling on someone who has yet to play an NFL snap.
As we wrap up the regular season with Week 18, I will surely be watching the action at Soldier Field between the Lions and Bears to watch these two rookies build on their varying degrees of 2025 success.