2025 Week Eight Recap

Well, we are officially in the back half of the 2025 season. Perhaps it's just being jaded, sitting atop the standings every week, but I feel like this year has less parity than ever before. North vs South aside, two teams are already locked into the playoffs, and two teams who are already looking forward to next year. It's come down to a race for the final four spots between 6 teams.

Lotta shit happening this week and after last week's 3000 word recap, I am keeping it short and sweet this week.

Alright, let's go.

WEEK 8 PAYOUT WINNER Run Forrest Run! - Team with the RB with the most combined rushing and receiving yards

Probst, 357 rush yards

It happened. Probst has finally won a weekly payout! His last weekly payout was in week 2 of 2022, data per Probst. Chase Brown with 73, Kimani Vidal with 117, Rhamondre Stevenson with 34 and Breece Hall with 133. Not only did Probst win the payout this week, but he has vaulted himself into serious contention. We are starting to see some players hit their stride as we head into the back half of the season, which has propped up some teams that may have been out of contention previously.

START OF THE WEEK

Mahomes + Rashee Stack

Worzie has not received a lot of love this year for his performances, so this is overdue. Throughout the season, the Commish has stolen the spotlight - for good reason with an elite A+ season - but Worzie's team has also entered elite status. Mahomes is back to doing his Mahomesian things, which is annoying as fuck to watch. And with Rashee back, the Chiefs are back to being the Chiefs. Not sure if Mahomes is force-feeding Rashee to make up for lost time, but it's working. Over the past 5 weeks, Worzie's team is averaging 163pts per week, and his team is only getting better; a buzzsaw that no one wants to see in the playoffs.

BLUNDER OF THE WEEK

Nick Continuing to Start Caleb Williams

It's one thing to admit defeat amid the mass casualties Nick's team has faced. Injuries are unpredictable and can flip your season. What is inexcusable is continuing to start Caleb Williams, who is currently the 19th-ranked QB by fantasy point per game, this season. It reminds me of a stubborn coach who wants to validate their belief that a player is good when he is not. Reference 2023 Bill Belichick and Mac Jones, for example. But, It is borderline irresponsible and a disservice to Nick's team that he spent 97 FAAB and zero on Dak, Love, Stafford, nor Darnold. Although Nick did spend $3 on Daniel Jones, but dropped him a week later. The truth is, Caleb is a great athlete, not a great quarterback, and definitely not a good fantasy football quarterback. Sure, he can show flashes from time to time, but so does Tua, Justin Fields, and Trevor Lawrence. Right now, though? He is just another busted Bears quarterback.

Update: Nick picked up Aaron Rodgers, and he looks to be starting. Caleb is playing against Cinci defense this week. I can feel the tension building in that locker room.

GAME-CHANGING PLAY OF THE WEEK

Baker & Rachaad

Spencer's team is fighting against a lull right now, but he was presented an opportunity to beat Cheeno last week as the matchup was low scoring. Baker had a great matchup against the Saints but he found himself struggling throughout the game. The plays like you'll watch below are the difference makers when it comes to winning and losing.

Just heartbreaking when it happens to you. A single inch in multiple situations can break your week apart. In the same game, Rachaad White had a handful of opportunities to get into the endzone, but failed to do so. I'll spare you the time of watching what occurred in the image below as it was a tough watch.

You add on a couple inches to each of these plays and that's an extra 12pts which would have sealed the win over Cheeno.

As best said by Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday, "You find out life’s this game of inches. So is football. Because in either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small -- I mean one-half a step too late, or too early, and you don’t quite make it. One-half second too slow, too fast, you don’t quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They’re in every break of the game, every minute, every second."

Better yet, watch the video instead. For anyone who has played football, it's burned into their memory.

THE LEAGUE POWER RANKINGS

1) Goodell 2.0: Start of a dynasty?

2) Me & Mahomies: Sneaky-dangerous.

3) Meat Log ▲2: Contender status despite the record.

4) LBJ = GOAT ▼1: At-risk for Pretender status.

5) Aiyuken ▼1: Top of North, which doesn't mean much.

6) El Cap ▲2: El Cap navigating the rough seas.

7) PAC 2 Champion ▼1: Bad team, okay record.

8) Mile High Magic: Frisky???

9) (Vacant)

10) Footsteps Falco & Romo's Reckoning: on to 2026.

MATCH-UP FOR WEEK 9

Cheeno (8-8) vs. Ryan (5-11)

It's muddy in the middle, so let's highlight two of the playoff contenders. While Cheeno sits at the top of the North, Ryan sits last in the South. But the difference between these two teams is only a couple weeks of wins. Ryan could flip the script and jump into a true playoff hunt with a win this week. For reference, Ryan has averaged 144.10pts over his last five weeks, to Cheeno's 134.73pts.

Week 9 Predictions

Commish went 5-0 in week eight, overall 22-13.

Commish vs. Spencer: Commish

Nathan vs. Jon: Nathan

Nick vs. Probst: Probst Jared vs. Worzie: Jared Cheeno vs. Ryan: Ryan

WEEK 9 WEEKLY PAYOUT

North vs South Rivalry Week - Team that scores the highest points in their division AND wins their weekly matchup. Pays $20 to both the North and South teams

North vs South is back! While the rivalry lives on, the North has yet to put up a fight against the South. I've never had to put this stipulation in before, but should the South sweep the north, I will pay the entire South $20 per person. Make it happen. Technically, it goes vice versa, but no chance that it happens.

Good luck to everyone in week 9, except you, Spencer. Your fantasy world is spiraling into an epic collapse, and I look forward to contributing to that. Bolt up.