Week 10

EDITORS NOTE 11/16 at 1:37 PM EST: After this column was published I received MULTIPLE pieces of feedback about my list of keepers forcing me no choice but to update said list to not only include rounds 1-10 but also to make sure that everyone knows that it was an ABSOLUTE TRAVESTY that Michael Pittman Jr. wasn't included on the original list. I would like to formally apologize to Michael Pittman Jr. because I agree his stature and overall blahness fits in well on the original list. Does it get any better than a Sunday Morning edition of The Notes! Church, NFL Football, and The Notes. You are welcome. And since you are so full of joy, how can we not celebrate Notes favorite and Commish HOFer Jameis Winston and his return to a starting NFL QB today! I mean I am not sure there is a more entertaining and wholesome player in the league. I mean how awesome is this guy. Just look at his press conference this week:

Although I hate to correct him but technically it's a Generalissimo reference since Hamilton is a knock off of the world class musical produced to commemorate The Commish's 2019 beautiful Championship run. Either way, how much joy does this guy play with.

And if that isn't enough, check out this gem. In this case the guy is spot on. 100% correct.

So in short I love Jameis Winston. Great person, great energy, full of joy. You know he is sort of like the Anti KRABS. And speaking of KRABS, I ran into him Friday night at the UNC Basketball game. And he proceeded to give me his best "Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer" impersonation as he waxed poetic about all of the trades in the league and how that will manifest in the future.

Your world frightens and confuses me...

I am not exactly sure what KRABS's point was Friday night (other than he sometimes wants to get out of his BMW and run into the hills), but it is clear that the addition of the ability to trade next year's draft picks is going to increase the number of trades in the league. The past 5 years there was an average of 4.6 trades and this year that more than doubled to 10.

• 2025: 10 Trades

• 2024: 4 Trades

• 2023: 7 Trades

• 2022: 3 Trades

• 2021: 4 Trades

• 2020: 5 Trades

I do think there are some unique factors that elevated that number in 2025, some of which may continue and some of which are probably an anomaly.

1. The Standings Got Separation Pretty Quickly: Things went wrong pretty quickly and dramatically for a number of teams and not only did records between the top and bottom get pretty split fast, it became fairly obvious to 30%-40% of the league that 2025 wasn't going to be their season. It feels unlikely that teams are going to lose their first 6 draft picks before the end of October on a regular basis.

2. The Draft Pick Trades Are Still New: I had one manager even tell me he didn't know we could trade draft picks, so yeah. I think that there is probably a degree of novelty to it as the pressure mounts for teams in the top of the standings to not stand still. But I think what people will remember as the Novelty wears off is that a) Draft Picks are a lottery. Yes obviously it increases your chances, but you are just as likely to pick Josh Palmer as you are to pick Josh Allen. Just because you have an extra third round pick doesn't mean you will pick the right player b) winning a championship is really hard. Just because you trade for Ceedee Lamb and Patrick Mahomes doesn't mean you are going to win. They could get injured, they could stink in Week 17, they could have the stench of KRABS wear off on them. Fantasy Football is still a highly variable game. So I think you will still have some people pull an Austin Powers as they evaluate the full picture of the league:
   

   
   

3. The Keeper Pool is Really Weak: This is something that I am actually curious to see how it will progress because go take a look at rounds 11-16. It's a wasteland. Being liberal, these are the only players that I think may even remotely have keeper value. And I am being very liberal here:

   • Michael Penix Jr. (I am only adding him here to not hurt Aaron's feelings)

   • Quinshon Judkins (stud, but will he get suspended)?

   • Javonte Williams (been good this year, but is it real)?

   • Colston Loveland (I mainly just want to add him because KRABS dropped him)

   • De'Von Achane (best keeper in the league)

   • Drake Maye (The Future)

   • Bhayshul Tuten (Maybe? Probably not)

   • Nico Collins (pretty much stinks this year, but has done it in the past)

   • Jordan Mason (is this guy even a starter on his own team)?

   • Isiah Pacheco (I have no idea why I am putting him on this list)

   • Mason Taylor (Maybe?!?)

   • Jordan Love (See Collins, Nico)

   • Woody Marks (interesting, check back in the future)

   • Bo Nix (I guess)

   • Jaxson Dart (might be onto something here)

   • MICHAEL PITTMAN JR

4. Adding list of keepers that I think have some semblance of potential value in rounds 1-10:

   • Caleb Williams (maybe?, I guess he has been better this year)

   • Jaylen Warren (I lived this experience. I don't recommend it)

   • Braelon Allen (I guess he could be something if Breece Hall is traded or cut)

   • Cam Skattebo (Even with the injury he is still probably a sure fire keeper in the 10th)

   • Courtland Sutton (Hasn't really been great, but 8th round is still probably after he would be drafted)

   • Ladd McConkey (considering how many people tried to trade me for him I am going to put him in the yes bucket)

   • Chase Brown (Probably still a value, but don't feel great about it)

   • Brian Thomas Jr. (The shine has worn off)

   • Trey Benson (We literally haven't seen anything yet, his value could change dramatically over the balance of the year)

   • Brock Bowers (probably one of the top 5 keepers in the league)

   • Jaxon Smith Njigba (do you guys remember that KRABS traded him in the preseason? Ouch)

   • Tyler Warren (An absolute crime he isn't on my roster)

   • Tucker Kraft (I guess we have to put him on the list, but I still don't get it)

   • Jaylen Waddle (oddly I guess we have to put him on the list too)

   • RJ Harvey (I doubt it)

   • Sam LaPorta (been inconsistent and doesn't feel like great value)

   • Jayden Daniels (remember when we thought this was a top 5 keeper?)

   • Travis Hunter (I really just want to remind everyone how brutal it was when he got hurt. Absolute salt in the wound)

   • Rashee Rice (this one is somewhat interesting)

   • Emeka Egbuka (this one is too, but would have preferred it in the 8th vs. the 5th)

   • Rome Odunze (remember when the Bears had like 90 points and Odunze had 0 fantasy points?)

   • George Pickens (thats a hard NO for me Bob)

   • TreVeyon Henderson (maybe?)

   • Omarion Hampton (I could wish)

   • Trey McBride (actually could make an argument he has value in 3rd)

   • Jonathan Taylor (I mean I think Oddsmakers are actually predicting that he will be kept in the second. I mean wouldn't you?!?)

Point being that is a less than inspiring list. There really isn't alot of people that I would really be going out of my way to trade for on that list other than Achane and Judkins and ironically they are both on a team that is stinking in 2025. So the intersection of strong keepers with teams doing well in 2025 didn't really materialize. And with the en vogue culture of taking Rookies and Hype Players 7 rounds too early I have a feeling this trend may not be an anomaly. But I still maintain that the biggest path to victory is hitting on your draft picks in rounds 11-16 and having the patience to see it pay off. Which is easier said than done.

So what is the conclusion here? Adding Draft Pick Trades has definitely added a new factor that we are going to have to evaluate but I think it may have swung a little too far in one direction in 2025 and I think it may swing back the other way in the future. But its clear that these trades are here to stay and will be a factor in future league outcomes for sure! Change is good and you know the saying:

Ok let's get to the EVC's recap of Week 10 of the Dream Job league!

So as my dad mentioned above, I had the unfortunate pleasure of being harassed by KRABS and The Sauce at the UNC Basketball game Friday night. I was minding my own business before these two approached me "actin a fool". I was so traumatized by the experience that I need to take a week long break from the column. I will be back next week better than ever.

And KRABS, let's be honest, you are going to blow your 8-2 "super team" somehow.

Until next week…….

-Executive Vice Commish

Before we get to this week’s awards, check out this week’s episode of Gridiron Heights. 

Season 10, Episode 10:

Manager of the Weak

Well things haven't gone as plan for This is the Way, but come on Week 10 was a low point.

Live footage of Aaron:

Starting Ollie Gordon when he got 1 carry and -3 yards? COME ON MAN. George Holani was starring you straight in the face on the waiver wire, at least he scored a TD. The scary thing here is that he only scored 69 points with the Seattle defense scoring 21 points. If he hadn't had gotten those 21 points he would have been tied for 15th lowest weekly scoring output in league history (modern scoring rules, i.e. not counting 2001). COME ON MAN.

Move of the Week

Week 10 was a must win for Billy up against a struggling icon team. Billy didn't exactly set the scoreboard on fire, but he got the win and the biggest factor was his move to pickup Juwan Johnson while Travis Kelce was on bye. Johnson had 92 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown and 15 points in an 11 point victory. It won't get the headlines, but little moves like this are exactly why Billy has been a common participant in the Playoffs the past few years. Congrats to Billy for winning the Week 10 Move of the Week!

MVP

Jahymr Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, Josh Allen, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield

I know that the EVC was talking some mondo trash about KRABS above, but it's hard to talk trash about his Week 11 MVP Jonathan Taylor. In a week where multiple Running Backs went Nuclear (Gibbs, Achane, and Henderson) Taylor dropped a cool 46 points in Week 10 and basically won his matchup before the 1 PM games even kicked off. If Taylor has just an average week he probably loses because the rest of this team sucked. But when you have a player that is scoring 3 Touchdowns basically weekly at this point you definitely are cooking with gas. Congrats to Jonathan Taylor for winning the Week 10 MVP!

Manager of the Week

In Week 9 we tasked Umphlett with a goal to beat VZ for America. He accomplished this task very well. And not only did he whoop VZ by 49 points, he scored the 8th most points in league history and the 2nd most this season. That is really impressive and Umphlett has now scored 150+ points 3 times (the second most in league history, tied with Brent W).

Congrats to Umphlett and the entire Jerry's Belt Buckle franchise for winning the Week 10 Manager of the Week!

Until Week 11...

-The Commish

P.S. Will end with this motivational and inspirational interview