Fantasy Focus Football – Championship Weekend RECAP + Last Minute Miracles (Dec 29, 2025)

Overview

This episode of Fantasy Focus Football, hosted by Field Yates, Stefania Bell, and Daniel Dopp (with regular contributors Mike Clay and Tyler Fulghum referenced), delivers an in-depth Week 17 recap—the finals of the fantasy football season for most leagues. The team highlights the week's biggest fantasy winners, heartbreaking duds, notable last-minute heroics ("Monday night miracles"), key injuries, and field questions from listeners sweating over Monday Night Football outcomes. The hosts maintain their signature blend of sharp analysis, humor, and camaraderie to help fans process the dramatic close to another fantasy campaign.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Championship Heroes – Biggest Week 17 Winners

[03:29] – [09:33]

• Drake May (QB, ARI)

  • “Do you guys think five passing touchdowns is good when you don’t play from like the 10-minute mark in the third quarter on?” – Field Yates [03:42]
  • 5 passing TDs, 90% completion rate, 99.8 QBR (single-highest since metric tracked)
  • Finished as QB2 for the season behind Josh Allen
  • Stefania: "It's his poise. He doesn't get rattled." [05:00]

• Derrick Henry (RB, BAL)

  • Stefania highlights his “beyond his years” performance: 45.6 points, tied for 4th highest of 2025
  • “When you're a 32-year-old running back and you can post 45.6 fantasy points… He may have single-handedly won you your fantasy football championship.” [05:53]

• Trey McBride (TE, ARI)

  • Daniel: “One of the best tight end seasons we've ever seen… 10 catches, 76 yards, a TD, 23.6 fantasy points; set NFL record for most receptions by a TE in a season.” [07:50]
  • Field jokes about wanting the Cardinals to invest entirely in special teams to ensure continued “garbage time” for fantasy glory: “God, I love garbage time. Thank you very much.” [10:36]
  • Stefania: “He took week 16 personally. That's not going to happen twice.” [11:02]

• Michael Wilson (WR, ARI)

  • Stepped up with Marvin Harrison Jr. limited; 5–89–1
  • “Michael Wilson, who you grabbed off waiver wire … 19.9 points, unbelievable run since week 11.” – Daniel [08:48]

• Chase Brown (RB, CIN)

  • Daniel: “Monster weeks—did not score fewer than 15 points since week 8… only Derrick Henry had more RB points in the playoffs.” [18:33]
  • Stefania: "A tale of two halves. How many people dumped Chase Brown before watching him excel for someone else?" [19:06]

2. Finals Heartbreak – Week 17 Losers & Disappointments

[11:27] – [19:49]

• Josh Jacobs (RB, GB)

  • Field: “Played through pain, practiced fully, you have to play him… But 1.3 points, complete dud. Tough way to finish.” [11:27]
  • Stefania advises there were warning signs (“every time he goes out, one or two hits to that knee and it swells up…”), but: “He played through a lot. Always dangerous.” [13:38]

• Kenneth Walker III (RB, SEA)

  • Stefania: “Running back 6 in week 16 … only to be RB26 in Week 17 because it was Zach Charbonnet’s time to shine. Just a dud when you needed him.” [14:38]

• Jameer Gibbs (RB, DET)

  • “He has fallen off right at the time you needed him the most. That offensive line has struggled in a major way… it feels like the biggest dud.” – Field [46:27]

• Other Mentioned Duds

  • DJ Moore, D’Andre Swift, Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Barkley, James Cook, Jalen Hurts, Steelers RBs, Pat Freiermuth, Amari Cooper, Jameer Gibbs, Lad McConkey, Tedro McMillan, and Carolina WRs in general. Specifically, a sharp warning on Jalen Hurts’ and Josh Allen’s matchups, which disappointed as predicted.

3. Milestone Performances & Notable Stats

[07:50] – [29:49]

• Brock Purdy (QB, SF)

  • “Brock Purdy was ridiculous… seeing the field perfectly, second most fantasy points during fantasy playoffs in the Super Bowl era.” – Daniel & Stefania [23:42], [25:18]
  • Delivered QB2 and QB1 weeks, flexing clutch playoff production.

• Christian McCaffrey (RB, SF)

  • “#1 in fantasy points, 12 games of 20+ points, 15 of 16 with at least 15 points.” – Daniel [27:21]
  • Stefania: “Everyone worried how much draft capital to spend… more than delivered.” [28:19]

• Chris Olave (WR, NO)

  • Field: “Rare for a sub-.500 team to hit such vibes… what a season: career-high in catches, TDs, and yards.” [28:53]

• Chase Brown & Cincinnati Teammates

  • “Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase… teammates showing up when it counts. Jamar with two TDs, 25 points.” – Field [31:05]

• Stefon Diggs

  • “Continue to do Stefon Diggs things … 6 for 101 and a touchdown for 22.1 points.” [37:27]
  • Field: “Only player over 30 in the top 25 of receiving yards this year.” [40:22]

4. Injury Updates

[19:53] – [22:22]

• Harold Fannin Jr. (TE)

  • Groin injury re-aggravated on a TD – scheduled for MRI. “Looked headed for a huge day, then couldn't return.” – Stefania [20:22]

• Luther Burden (WR, CHI)

  • Quad injury on the final play; “not serious” per Schefter but Stefania warns, “quad injuries critical for WRs, at least week 18 in doubt.” [21:07]

• Other injuries mentioned: Rams’ Trent Williams (LT), George Kittle (TE) both missed Sunday Night Football.

5. Monday Night Football – Miracles and Sweats

[50:51] – [54:03]

• Preview: Rams vs. Falcons

  • Key fantasy plays: Stafford, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts.
  • “I have a huge MNF sweat… I'm down 33, have Stafford, Bijan, and London; opponent has Puka. I need at least 55 points!” – Daniel [52:09]
  • Stefania notes Drake London not fully healthy (PCL injury), cautions expectations. [51:16]

• Fantasy Community Stories

  • Multiple listeners wrote in with their Monday Night Miracle hopes: ex. “Kyren Williams needs 55 points for me to win.” Team takes hope from past 50+ RB games (like Derrick Henry’s big day). [60:31]
  • Hosts express solidarity and humor about how these sweats define fantasy football’s dramatic finish.

6. Listener Mailbag

[58:22] – [61:43]

• Advice on MNF scenarios for viewers with various point gaps and starters; general consensus is cautious optimism for those leading with top PPR options or needing reasonable output.
• Fun side chat: Are we back in on Kyle Pitts next year? Stefania: “Tried to get rid of him, but he's back.” [58:47]
• Emotional notes on third-place “woulda-coulda” games. Daniel: “I beat both teams in the finals, in third place. So upset.” [57:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Garbage Time Glory:
  "God, I love garbage time. Thank you very much." – Field Yates, on McBride’s final-drive heroics [10:36]

• On Monday Night History:
  “There was never a more important Monday night miracle than in week 17.” – Stefania Bell [03:10]

• After a Crushing Dud:
  "He probably went out there, dipped his toe in the pool, was like, nope, too cold. Not going to do too much today." – Stefania Bell, on Josh Jacobs [13:38]

• On Perseverance:
  “Never wrong, only early.” – Daniel Dopp (for the many who stuck with players who flashed late) [18:10]

• Brock Purdy’s Ascendance:
  “He is in his bag right now. Seeing the field perfectly. He just looked like he had total control.” – Stefania Bell [25:17]

• Fantasy Community Camaraderie:
  “You guys make this job a dream—wouldn’t be possible without you. We’re fans and fantasy players just like you.” – All hosts [62:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Biggest Winners Recap (May, Henry, McBride, Wilson): 03:29 – 11:27
• Biggest Losers Recap (Jacobs, Walker, Gibbs, Duds): 11:27 – 19:49, 41:48 – 50:51
• Chase Brown, Awards Preview: 18:00 – 19:49, 28:05 – 28:44
• Injury Report: 19:53 – 22:22
• Studs and Duds Rapid Fire: 23:09 – 41:48
• Monday Night Football “Sweats” & Listener Questions: 50:51 – 61:43
• Closing Reflection & Listener Gratitude: 61:43 – End

Final Take

This championship week episode packed everything fantasy managers crave: celebration for those who rode veterans (Derrick Henry, McCaffrey), gratitude for this year’s breakouts (McBride, Chase Brown), and sympathy for those stung by untimely duds. The group’s playful banter, candid admissions of their own fantasy fates, and mailbag Q&A brought a satisfying and cathartic close to the fantasy season—along with high hopes (and nervous energy) for those awaiting those elusive Monday night miracles.

Stay tuned for Wednesday’s "Way too Early 2026 Lookahead" and Friday’s Awards Show!