Dynasty Film Review: Week 17 (Fantasy Football)
Borg and Betz share their Christmas greetings as “Corporate sips on eggnog,” and discuss holiday traditions, festive attire, and the “Griswold” spirit. Borg will be wearing his staple Ken Griffey Jr. shirt, and Betz looks forward to his girls’ response to their gifts: a sled and a trampoline.
Borg previews the segments of the Weekly Rewind and Dynasty Christmas Wishes, where the Ballers look forward to 2026 and share a wish for each team. ChristmasFootball.com will temporarily bring you to The Fantasy Footballers site, as the Ballers dangle the domain name in front of Netflix who apparently want to make Christmas Football a regular occurrence. Before we get into the Weekly Rewind, remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Weekly Rewind
Trevor Lawrence
Betz watched Trevor Lawrence, who has had “unbelievable” play recently, particularly against Denver. Borg praises OC Liam Cohen’s red zone designs and use of motion to give Lawrence “easy buttons.” Additionally, the offense is leveraging the use of his legs, including in the red zone. He is now viewed as a solid Top 12 QB (around QB 10-12), moving up from the QB 15-18 range he held earlier in the season. Betz believes there will be a higher ceiling when Travis Hunter returns.
Chris Olave
Borg reviewed Olave’s film from Week 16, where he had 16 targets. After averaging a few scores early in his career, he has eight TDs in 15 games this year. Perhaps the bigger story is the number of games played this season. The concussions early in his career had Olave considering retirement at one point. The duo of QB Tyler Shough and OC Kellen Moore has revitalized his value. His usage on crossing routes and his ability to read defenses have become evident in this offense. He remains a high-end asset, currently valued around WR 15-16 and entering his prime at 25 years old.
Dynasty Christmas Wishes
Before jumping into each team, Borg shares his Christmas wish for his Dynasty League Final, where his team (co-managed with Jeremy) has Puka Nacua, JSN, and Tetairoa McMillan. The stacked roster continues with a number of players they can’t count on due to injury, like Jayden Daniels, Jordan Love, and Josh Jacobs. The TE situation is even worse with a choice between Travis Kelce and Luke Musgrave. Borg’s Christmas wish is to get 80 points between Puka and JSN, and it could happen.
AFC East
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Patriots: Borg wishes for a young “Seam” TE (like Terrence Ferguson) that could stretch the field to pair with Drake Maye. Betz wishes for a true “1” for the passing game, along with investments in the offensive line to enhance the run game.
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Bills: Borg wants a true “Alpha” WR who can beat man coverage, as Keon Coleman has struggled to separate. Betz thinks winning the Super Bowl could be the worst thing for this wish, as the front office may be emboldened by their dependence on Josh Allen to carry the team moving forward.
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Dolphins: Borg wishes for stability at QB (perhaps a trade for Mac Jones) and addressing WR depth beyond Tyreek Hill. Betz believes that McDaniels’ scheme is still good, but the Dolphins just need the signal caller who can run it and get the ball downfield.
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Jets: Depth at WR is Borg’s wish for the Jets, and he notes that WR is a pervasive need across this entire division. Clarity at QB and better utilization of young playmakers like Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell.
AFC North
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Steelers: For fantasy, Borg wants them to move on from veteran stop-gaps to find high-end firepower for the postseason. Betz poses the question of Rodgers’ return, and Borg quips that as long as Kenneth Gainwell is still there, he is in!
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Ravens: Borg and Betz want more explosive WR to help Lamar Jackson as he transitions into a more pocket-focused role.
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Bengals: Betz wishes that Cincinnati would do whatever is necessary to keep Joe Burrow happy. Borg likens Chase Brown to Kyren Williams in this offense as the Ballers consider whether or not he will get extended. Continued O-line investment is necessary to keep Burrow protected.
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Browns: Making Harold Fannin the focal point of a “Ravens-esque” offensive identity is Borg’s wish. Reducing the drop-back passing would be a positive move given the ceiling of the current QB situation.
AFC South
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Jaguars: Borg wants to “clear the deck” at RB to see Bhayshul Tuten get a full workload, though a Travis Etienne extension seems likely.
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Texans: Committing to a high-volume “three-wide” set with Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel. Betz feels things are trending in that direction, given the recent roster moves the Texans have made to surround C.J. Stroud with weapons.
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Colts: One more legitimate look at Anthony Richardson is a “selfish” wish for Borg and his holdings of AR15. A bridge year with Daniel Jones and AR15 together is the real wish, and Betz thinks they will have to do this anyway, given Jones’ success this season.
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Titans: An offensive-minded head coach to maximize Cam Ward’s rookie development is Borg’s wish. However, Borg hopes that the coach isn’t poached from a pairing that we like (e.g., Chargers OC Greg Roman). Borg believes Grant Udinski of the Jaguars will get some calls this offseason. Klint Kubiak from Seattle is another option.
AFC West
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Broncos: “Pat Bryant time”—fully unleashing the rookie receiver in year two. Those who drafted him took the “wait and see” approach, yet he appears to have been breaking out over the last few weeks. Betz believes Bryant has a good fit as the secondary WR in this offense.
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Chargers: Borg wishes for the health of the elite O-line (Rashawn Slater/Joe Alt) and a sentimental return for Keenan Allen. Betz, however, feels that the end is here for Keenan.
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Chiefs: A top-tier RB (like Breece Hall in free agency) to take the pressure off Patrick Mahomes. Betz doubles down on this need as it is not sustainable to have Mahomes as the consistent leading rushing in games, exposing him to contact. The Chiefs tried to trade for Hall at the deadline, but it didn’t happen.
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Raiders: Borg’s selfish wish is for Jack Bech to become “a thing,” but a complete organizational “house cleaning” is necessary. Borg hopes they do not do the “Raiders thing” and win a game late in the season to ruin their draft position. Avoiding reaching for a QB without a top pick is paramount.
NFC East
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Eagles: Betz wishes for a long-term backup plan for AJ Brown and a more consistent offensive scheme. There is widespread suspicion that Kevin Patullo is no longer calling the offense, given the shifts in route concepts, so perhaps the Eagles are on their way to an improved scheme already. Borg thinks an infusion of young WR talent could be beneficial.
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Cowboys: Borg’s wish: a long-term extension for George Pickens to solidify him as a Top 10 Dynasty WR. At the time of this writing, Pickens sits at 88-1432-9 with two games left to play. Betz thinks he will close out the season strong, facing Washington this week and the Giants in Week 18. Teams are going to come calling, but Betz doesn’t see Jerry Jones letting Pickens leave the building. Borg poses the question: Emeka Egbuka or George Pickens, and both chose Pickens.
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Commanders: Borg wishes for an infusion of youth into the playmaker group and unleashing TE Ben Sinnott (his snaps have been steadily increasing). Betz sees their situation as a steep uphill climb to success, given the state of the NFC.
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Giants: Borg’s wishes for these two things: Upgrading the O-line for Jaxson Dart and finding a fresh coaching staff. Part of making this a reality is the battle for the first pick, and they face the Raiders this week. Who will ruin their chance at the #1 pick?
NFC North
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Packers: Condensing the target tree so fantasy managers can rely on specific players week-to-week is Borg’s wish. Betz believes that the Packers have a good thing in Tucker Kraft (when he returns) and this run game. This could make the offense and opportunity distribution more condensed and predictable.
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Bears: Year 2 breakouts for Luther Burton and Colston Loveland under the Ben Johnson era are the desires for 2026. Peppering these two with targets is an increased possibility, as the Bears are likely to run it back with the offense in 2026. The state of the defense will likely drive the front office and coaching staff to spend their draft capital there.
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Lions: Borg wishes the Lions would reorganize the offensive staff to maintain the elite efficiency seen lately. The return of Sam LaPorta is also on the wish list.
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Vikings: Betz wants to be the most bullish on the Vikings this offseason. Betz’s wish is for more reliable QB play (JJ McCarthy) and O-line health to support passing production to Justin Jefferson. There is still faith in Kevin O’Connell and his ability to develop QBs.
NFC South
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Buccaneers: Baker has regressed against Man coverage (4.7 yards per attempt, less than 55% completions rate). Borg wishes for better answers for man coverage and health for the veteran WR core. Borg believes Mike Evans has one more year in him.
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Panthers: Borg’s wish: Jalen Coker emerging as a dominant slot presence. Betz has seen flashes that remind us why the Panthers were excited about him since returning from the quad strain earlier this season.
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Falcons: Borg pleads for the organization to “break up” with the current front-office philosophy. This includes coaching staff changes, not re-signing Kyle Pitts (despite recent success), and extending Drake London. The QB situation is similar to the Colts’; they are probably compelled to run it back with Kirk Cousins until Michael Penix Jr. is able to return. Betz loves the use of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier together, as it is creating more explosive opportunities for Bijan.
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Saints: Saints fans should wish for the franchise to build around Tyler Shough as a “cheat code” affordable QB starter. Offensive line and RB are the offensive priorities, and Kellen Moore is making the organization look smart for selecting him as their HC.
NFC West
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Seahawks: Heavy investment in the offensive line to fix a bottom-five rushing attack. The Seahawks have been bottom five in almost every rushing success rate metric. Borg does not believe they retain the services of Kenneth Walker in 2026, but it still appears they will lean on the run. Betz sees an effective run game as a necessity for Sam Darnold‘s continued success in the play-action pass game.
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Rams: Borg wants to see Terrance Ferguson evolve into a high-volume TE “PPR monster.” Davis Allen and Colby Parkinson are each still under contract for another year, but there is still a belief that he could become a top-tier TE in the next year or two. Betz cites the use of 12 and 13 personnel in the evolution of this offense as an element to his path to success.
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49ers: With San Francisco clearing the deck at WR with Brandon Aiyuk coming off the books, and Jauan Jennings in the final year of his contract, the path to the WR1 on the roster could be clear for Ricky Pearsall. The wish is that he stays healthy to take over as the primary target in the Shanahan system. Betz notes he unlocks a part of the downfield, and he has seen enough in this system to believe in his future success. This is one specific wish that I share.
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Cardinals: Another wish I resonate with is trading Kyler Murray (to the Jets or Vikings) to give both the player and the team a fresh start. The Cardinals are currently picking sixth in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they have lost seven in a row. There are enough pieces for the team to move in the right direction. Cleaning house is necessary, and Borg sees this as a potential destination for Klint Kubiak should he become available.
Week 17 Film Deep Dive
Tyjae Spears had a solid game in a timeshare with Tony Pollard against the Kansas City Chiefs. Coming in at RB 12 for Week 16 in PPR scoring, Spears went for 52 yards and a score on 13 carries, and 5-53-0 on five opportunities through the air. We should really take a look at Spears, considering the salary cap situation going into 2026. Tony Pollard could become a cap casualty with a $7.25M savings on the cap if he is cut pre-June 1st. This savings and the evidence of Spears’ productivity in this offense should at least enter the consciousness of the front office as they figure out how to better support Cam Ward. Spears has had a bit of an injury history, but when healthy, he can bring some explosiveness to the offense.
On these two plays, some key elements are evident. First, his processing speed and how it translates to change of direction and quickness are major contributors to what he brings to this backfield. His cutback ability and his burst are extremely valuable if the offense is consistently able to stretch the defensive front laterally. Success in Mid and Outside Zone runs can set up opportune cutback lanes or designed Zone wrinkles like Tight and Belly Zone runs.
We see more of #Titans RB Spears' agility and processing speed to avoid Chris Jones, who is blowing up the backfield. pic.twitter.com/T240Rd5axl
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) December 23, 2025
One limiting factor for Spears is that I am not seeing a lot of extended vision, beyond what’s right in front of him. We saw an excellent response to Chris Jones blowing up the backfield, but it seems his vision isn’t seeing the whole picture beyond that. As an example, I think of Nick Chubb in his prime and how he seemed to have vision of the field like a chess board. For Chubb, it appeared that he could infer the picture of the backside of the field based on the absence/presence of defenders and blockers in his vision. Bijan Robinson is the best current example of this today, and it is evident that Spears needs some development in this area.
Spears does appear to be a great player in space. He had a massive catch and run on a screen, and he is routinely involved in the passing game. This, combined with those Zone runs creating space via cutback angle, will maximize his skillset. If the offense evolves in their schematics and execution in 2026, we could see some upside on the level of Cincinnati’s Chase Brown (currently RB 10).
Spears is an opportunity for dynasty managers moving into 2026. Year after year, the “new hotness” of rookie RBs often makes RBs like Spears dispensable, thus making them obtainable at an inexpensive rate. This could be an underrated move that costs little to nothing moving into 2026.
Film Review Matchup Edition: Cooper Dejean
Philly fans have been extremely blessed to have two of the best CBs in football in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Typically, dynasty fantasy football focuses on offensive players because those are the direct levers we pull when setting our rosters from week to week. However, when selecting players, it is just as important to consider the matchups. Seasoned fantasy managers are likely considering high-level matchups (considering overall production vs the Denver or Houston defenses this season), but how often are you looking at specific matchups like slot receivers against a specific slot CB?
That brings us to Cooper DeJean. The guy is disgustingly sticky, and he is one of the best tackling DBs in the league. On 404 slot coverage snaps he allows a passer rating of 58.6 behind only Jalen Pitre of the Houston Texans, 0.69 yards allowed per snap (2nd), and only allows a reception every 12.6 snaps (2nd). All of this is with 92+ slot snaps more than the top-ranked DB in each category. Keep in mind, he has done this against some of the game’s best route runners in the slot.
| Player | Slot Rts vs PHI | Slot Tgts | Slot Recs | Slot Yds | Szn Slot Yds | Szn Slot Y/G | Y/G vs All Others |
| Puka Nacua | 10 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 580 | 41.4 | 42.9 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 540 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| CeeDee Lamb* | 25 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 332 | 27.6 | 31.4 |
| Keenan Allen | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 335 | 22.3 | 23.9 |
| Ladd McConkey | 25 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 410 | 27.3 | 24.1 |
| Deebo Samuel | 12 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 308 | 22 | 22.6 |
Admittedly, Vic Fangio’s scheme is a significant contributor to limiting opposing slot production, but DeJean’s impact as the Nickel should not be ignored. Let’s take a look at some examples of what DeJean brings to the equation.
In Week 15, DeJean spent a lot of time covering Ladd McConkey. On this play, DeJean demonstrates his athleticism and coverage ability. Even though McConkey was able to get to a stacked position, a good speed turn by DeJean allows him to stay attached to this deep Post. DeJean is able to track McConkey while turning to track the ball as the route is running out of space to the boundary. Justin Herbert makes a solid throw given the need to escape pressure in the pocket, but DeJean is able to break up the slightly underthrown ball.
Another awesome PBU where he triggers on Odunze's break, and undercuts a rounded Dig route show high-speed mental processing, excellent athleticism, and great execution. pic.twitter.com/laCDI4btng
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) December 23, 2025
On this play against Rome Odunze, we get to see some of his high-level discipline in communication and execution of coverage. DeJean can often be seen directing responsibilities when there is motion, and I seldom see miscommunication when he is involved. Odunze runs a mid-level Dig route from this motion, but at the top of the route, he projects his break by sitting back as opposed to snapping down. DeJean keys on this tell and is able to undercut this route for a PBU due to his angle selection.
DeJean’s impact goes beyond his coverage ability, athleticism, and football IQ. He also brings toughness, which can be seen in his tackling ability as well. Against Denver in Week 5, DeJean shows a Man coverage look when the outside WR motions inside. He sells the Man look well with his hips and head square to the WR. On the snap, he bails into a shallow zone, but the routes on that side of the field are beyond it. At this point, he would be defending air, but he keeps his eyes on Nix, who breaks the pocket as Evan Engram separates from his block to the flat. DeJean triggers on this action with anticipation, making a beeline for Engram as he turns to look for the checkdown. As soon as Engram tried to turn upfield for the ball, DeJean wrapped him up for a TFL.
Then there is this. @cooperdejean is one of the better tackling CBs in the open field. We all remember when he dropped Derrick Henry in 2024. In this clip we see his mental processing speed and anticipation once again. He is on Engram for a TFL before he can make a move. pic.twitter.com/UFZwWM5XSO
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) December 23, 2025
Why do these elements matter for your lineup decisions? Many NFL teams have begun to utilize their premier pass catchers in the slot at an increased rate. The intent is to get their best route runners into a matchup advantage against the “third-best CB” and the possibility of a two-way go. If one of your premier receiving options is matched up against a top slot defender, adjust your expectations of their performance. Slot DBs with high-level play speed like DeJean, in addition to his coverage and tackling abilities, may cap production in an unexpected fashion.
Matchups are everything in fantasy. It is worth your while to identify these matchup modifiers and consider them in the total lineup context. Possibility of a subpar performance due to matchup? Does this create more need for a ceiling elsewhere? Identifying a matchup like this does not necessitate a full fade for starts, but these are questions we need to consider. Hopefully, this helps with what look for on film along with the stats for future week-to-week lineup decisions.