Monkeys Capture 5th Title

December 29, 2025

The Monkeys celebrate their 5th championship ring in franchise history with Evan becoming the winningest GM in CTDB history - breaking a 3 way tie with Greg of Gang Green and Jon formerly of the Dirty Birds. As players packed up their belogings, there was a jubilant calm in the front office. CTDB celebrates its 25th season and the Monkeys franchise has 20% of those rings. Not bad. You know they want to run it back again next year. 

For their 5th title, Chunky Monkeys authored one of the league's great single-season turnarounds and in interviews, it was clear that GM Evan was particularly pleased with this title run. "We came into the year with a lot of question marks and for us to be able to celebrate this title is special. It's of course also special to play against your cousin. Hats off to the Jail Yard Boyz for establishing themselves as title contenders so quickly - that's two finals appearances in 4 years I think!"

After some back and forth earlier in the week, this one wasn't quite the nail biter some of the previous championship games have seen. The final score was 145 to 117 but in some ways, the score just the punctuation to a story arc that began the year before. The real narrative was written in the wreckage of 2024's disasters, the calculated risks of early-season trades, and the wheeling and dealing the Monkeys have become known for.

THE DEPTHS OF 2024

2024 was a bad year for the Monkeys. They traded away their long time superstar, Saquon Barkley, in hopes of getting younger while also getting better. Travis Etienne and Rashee Rice were acquired to be two cornerstone players with ascending keeper-quality talent. Instead? Etienne was so disappointing he didn't even make it to keeper consideration in 2025. Rice's legal troubles resulted in a six-game suspension to start 2025. The move that was supposed to rebuild the foundation instead did the opposite. Of course, Saquon had a career year in 2024 helping propel the Phreaks to their first ever championship title. The wounds took awhile to heal on that one.

2025 didn't start out much better. The Monkey had question marks abound - Rice was scheduled to miss 6 weeks, Brock Bowers, the vaunted first pick over hot rookie runningback Omarion Hampton, got injured in week 2, Jayden Daniels quickly proved that betting on an unproven, mobile quarterback was exactly that - a risky bet. And of course RB1, Chase Brown was, as the kids would say, meh. The Monkeys did find surprising strength in their receiving room - Jaxon Smigh Njigba, George Pickens and Rome Odunze willed the team to a winning record to start the season. However, the quarterback play was mid and the running back room was led by a mediocre Chase Brown and saw three different RB2s (Jerome Ford, Trey Benson and Bhayshul Tuten) in the first 3 weeks. It was a frankenstein roster held together by receiving talent.  

The Monkeys, uncertain on whether their early scoreboard success would hold up - decided to pull the trigger on a deal to shake up their running back woes: acquiring Tre'Veyon Henderson from Battle Angel (Will), sending out an ascendant George Pickens and young Bhayshul Tuten in return.

It took a few weeks but Henderson did eventually become the RB2 (RB1 in some weeks) that the team was looking for when it traded for him. While he wouldn't be the playoff hero—that honor belongs elsewhere—but he gave the Monkeys more than enough stability in the running game to pair with a dominant passing game (buoyed by Rashee Rice's return in week 7) that led the team to the second overall season with a bye week to start the playoffs.  

THE ROAD TO THE FINALS

With Rice's return in the second half - the Monkeys finished with the second best record which allowed them and and Gang Green to watch from their homnes as the first playoff bracket unfolded. #4 Jail Yard Boyz demolished #5 A Squad Called Blitz (Thien) 151-120 in Round 1, while #6 custom J (Joshua) upset #3 Philadelphia Phreaks (Ping) 130-119 in the biggest surprise of the postseason.

The semifinals saw Jail Yard Boyz upset top-seeded Gang Green (Greg) 144-119, avenging the regular season dominance while the Monkeys dispatched custom J 120-72 in a beatdown that served as a warning shot.

It set up for an exciting title game: second seed versus fourth seed. Cousin versus cousin. Victor's second finals appearance in franchise history. The Monkeys' quest for championship number three since 2013.

CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

The week started poorly for the Monkeys. Jameson Williams scored 4.7 points on Thursday while vaunted rookie, Omarion Hampton, countered with 16 points for the Boyz. Then Sunday happened. Drake Maye, the Patriots' rookie quarterback, delivered a five-touchdown masterpiece worth 45 points. The performance was so dominant that New England pulled him early, leaving fantasy points on the table. Maye didn't just win his matchup—he ended it.

Then there's Chase Brown, the playoff legend of 2025. Over the final two games, Brown found the end zone five times, including two touchdowns and 28 points in the championship. If there is a definition of a league winner, Chase Brown was it for the Monkeys. A starting staple who was middling at best during the regular season - Brown delivered when it mattered.

But the true storyline might be Luther Burden. A late-round flier who spent most of the season on the bench, Burden finally got the call when Rashee Rice and Brock Bowers were ruled out for Week 17. Coming off a 2 week injury hiatus, GM Evan called his number as soon as he was cleared to play. His response? Eight catches for 138 yards and a touchdown, good for 24 points on Sunday night. The performance was more than enough to keep the Sunday night explosion from Brock Purdy at bay. Inside sources tell us that Burden has so impressed the front office, there are conversations ongoing on how to keep Burden on the squad for next year.

Not everything was perfect. Taysom Hill's goose egg at tight end stung. The aforementioned Brock Purdy's own five-touchdown explosion (46 points) made the match closer that it seemed but entering Monday night, the Monkeys had a 30+ point advantage with Kyle Pitts to go. While Pitts had scored 40+ points a few weeks earlier, the lead was significant. As it turned out, the long time-Monkey delivered a championship-crushing 3 points. Game over. Crown secured. Thank you Mr. Pitts. 

WRAPPING IT UP

This is the Chunky Monkeys' fifth ring in the last 25 years and it might be the sweetest. This was far from the dominant Monkeys '06 lineup featuring LT, Larry Johnson and Peyton Manning. It had full of holes, required constant patching with trades and waiver wire pick ups. But it was enough to go from a 4-10 record to a title run. We'll see who estalishes themselves for next year but for now ... 

Let's savor the offseason and the fact that we're able to celebrate 25 years of fantasy football friendship. To everyone's good health, happy friends and families, and productive careers - catch the damn ball, indeed.

See everyone in the next draft room next September!

2026 KEEPER POWER RANKINGS & ROSTER DEEP DIVES

TIER 1: ELITE 

1. Chunky Monkeys (Evan) The defending champs are loaded for a repeat. Brock Bowers (2nd overall pick) is a top-3 dynasty TE locked in for years. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is entering his breakout age-23 season. Rashee Rice (despite the suspension) showed WR1 upside before his legal issues. Tre'Veyon Henderson represents long-term RB super star value and Drake Maye just put the league on notice with that five-TD finals performance.

The only debate is whether Chase Brown's playoff heroics (five TDs in two games, including 28 points in the championship) earn him a spot over Maye. It's a legitimate dilemma, but the organization has a history of building around elite quarterbacks. We'll see. Either way, five elite keepers under age 25. The new dynasty has officially started.

Projected keepers: Bowers, JSN, Rice, Henderson, Maye or maybe Brown?

2. Jail Yard Boyz (Victor) Victor might have lost the finals, but his keeper situation is sneaky elite. Brian Thomas Jr. is needs to prove that he is WR1 building block he was traded to be but Nabers, Ja'Marr Chase are two receiving superstars that likely will form a top 2 receiving room in the league. Brock Purdy just proved he's an elite fantasy QB (46 points in the finals) and and the team also has Justin Herbert. Bucky Irving still has that RB1 upside but has some time share issues that the team needs to sort out. 

Projected keepers: Ja'marr Chase, Malik Nabers and then some combination of Josh Jacobs, Brian Thomas Jr., Bucky Irving or maybe one of the two young QBs,

3. Philadelphia Phreaks (Ping) Ping acquired Jalen Hurts in that trade with Victor, pairing him with an embarrassment of riches. Saquon Barkley had an off year but is still an elite RB1. Jahmyr Gibbs is still very much a young, top 3 RB talent. Justin Jefferson proved that no receiver is QB proof but he still is very much a WR1. Then there's Puka Nacua, the stud waiver wire acquisition that has become a top 5 pick. The roster continues to scream "win now" 

Projected keepers: Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Puka Nacua and then a decision between rookies Judkins or Egbuka. The Phreaks have a lot of options.

TIER 2: STRONG BUT NEEDS SOME WORK

4. A Squad Called Blitz (Thien) The "stuck in the middle" team that scored 17,49 points (5th in league) but got demolished in Round 1. The runningback room is top notch: Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson form an elite RB duo that most teams would kill for. CeeDee Lamb is still a top-5 WR. Drake London offers that elusive elite receiving talent. Then there's another young rookie RB in RJ Harvey.

Projected keepers: Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, CeeDee Lamb, RJ Harvey, Drake London

5. Gang Green (Greg) The #1 seed that fell short. This roster is still all-world but age is catching up.  Greg tends to be loyal to his players with few acquisitions from the waiver so suspect we'll see continued stability from Gang Green. Derrick Henry, and Christian McCaffrey will likely form the cornerstone of the Gang Green keepers but age and injury loom large for both. Then there's Josh Allen who is QB1 still, burgeoning young TE Colston Loveland, Garrett Wilson who will be fully recovered next year. There's some question marks rounding out this keeper team and we suspect that Gang Green will re-tool the lineup soon - question is how.

Projected keepers: Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey and then question marks

6. custom J (Josh) Another powerhouse franchise that has still an elite keeper talent stable. Achane and McBride are the easy leaders to build around. But what will Custom J do with Lamar Jackson who had a very strange year or is there something to Trevor Lawrence who had some show out weeks? Does Ladd McConkey continue to get the rope he needs to be a WR1 on the team. Woody Marks showed ability and he probably will get a long look. Like Gang Green, there's a lot of talent likely a lot of movement coming this off-season.

Projected keepers: Lamar Jackson, Trey McBride, De'Von Achane, Ladd McConkey ... then probably a trade or two in the works this off season.

TIER 3: RETOOL MODE

7. Battle Angel (Will) The team that missed playoffs at 13-15. This is also the team that traded Tre'Veyon Henderson to the Monkeys and might spend years regretting it but only if Pickens falls back to earth.  Patrick Mahomes is an elite keeper but only if healthy. There are major questions marks there. George Kittle has similar issues. We suspect this is Kelce's last stop in the NFL and the Angels. The Angels may have uncovered new keeper talent in former Monkeys, Travis Etienne and Chris Olave. Kyren Williams will continue to offer stability but is no longer the talent he was viewed as prior. The roster has name-brand players who underperformed or got injured—if everyone's healthy, this could be a playoff team again. There's going to be a lot of change for the Angels this off season.

Projected keepers: Patrick Mahomes, George Kittle, Kyren Williams, Chris Olave.

8. City of Angels Masterminds (Marcus) Marcus' Cowboys fandom shows up everywhere: Dak Prescott, Brandon Aubrey, Jake Ferguson all rostered. But injuries killed this team and GM Marcus also isn't particularly active on the waiver wire. The keeper foundation exists: Breece Hall (if healthy) is an elite RB1 especially if his team dynamic changes next year. James Cook and Ashton Jeanty round out a potential top 3 RB running room. Terry McLaurin is a consistent WR2 and Dak is Dak, perpetually underrated. The .357 winning percentage masks the fact that when healthy, this roster has upside. Marcus needs to upgrade his receiving room but has pieces to build from.

Projected keepers: Breece Hall, Ashton Jeanty, James Cook, Terry McLaurin and Dak Prescott

TIER 4: FULL REBUILD

9. LA Buffy (Roger) Last place in scoring tied for worst record (7-21, .250). GM Roger only made 11 moves all season - there's a lot more to do if Buffy wants to have a chance in 2026. DK Metcalf suspended 2 games. James Conner (IR). David Njoku (O). Marvin Harrison Jr. (Q). There's questions throughout this roster - MHJ, DK Metcalf, DeVonta Smith and Nico Collins all have some comnbination of talent and question marks. Buffy just needs to have them peak at once. 

Projected keepers: Marvin Harrison Jr., Nico Collins, DeVonta Smith, DK Metcalf, maybe James Conner if he comes back healthy? 

10. Crunch Bunch (Eddie) Also 7-21 (.250) but has better talent to build from. The difference? Injuries absolutely decimated this roster. ASB, AJ Brown, Tet McMillan give the team a base to build from but Eddie needs to find new running backs. Kenneth Walker disappointed with committee work alongside Zach Charbonnet. Alvin Kamara looks cooked. Aiyuk was a bust. Chubb was a bust. Yikes,

Projected keepers: Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, Bo Nix, possibly Kenneth Walker III

This offseason will be marked with decisions and questions for every CTDB team.

CTDB Week 6 Recap: Polar Opposites

Week 6 was the definition of a split-screen. On one side, heavyweights erupted: Victor’s Jail Yard Boyz detonated for a season-high 170.2, Will’s Battle Angel broke 140, and Thien’s Blitz rolled to 137. On the other, Ping’s Phreaks and Roger’s Buffy struggled to even clear 90. The result is a standings table starting to separate: Boyz unbeaten at 9-0, a cluster of playoff contenders in the middle, and Crunch Bunch sliding deeper into the basement.

Matchup Recaps

Gang Green 115.7 def. Chunky Monkeys 111.6

This one lived up to the projection (130.6 vs 121.1) but finished as a grinder. Greg leaned on his core of Josh Allen (21.2) and Christian McCaffrey (20.6) to offset Derrick Henry’s muted day (13.5). For Evan, Jayden Daniels (29.8) was spectacular, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (23.5) continued his ascent, but black holes from TreVeyon Henderson (2.7) and Mason Taylor (0.7) sank the rally. A last minute fumble Daniels ruined the Monkeys' chances of taking home a win but given their injuries, the monkeys are happy with their record so far this year. With Rashee Rice due back in Week 7, help is on the horizon, but Brock Bowers’ absence until Week 9 looms large.

Battle Angel 141.3 def. LA Buffy 92.7

Will’s squad finally flashed its ceiling. Patrick Mahomes (40.1) looked unstoppable, Kyren Williams (27.1) piled up yardage and scores, and newly acquired George Pickens (23.8) proved the trade with the Monkeys is already paying dividends. For Roger, it was misery across the board: Baker Mayfield (26.2) was solid, but support collapsed — Diggs (7.2), Deebo (3.4), and Waller (8.2) were all non-factors. Buffy drops to 4-8, while Battle Angel is suddenly back in the playoff chase.

A Squad Called Blitz 137.4 def. Philadelphia Phreaks 90.8

This was a demolition. Blitz’s $55 FAAB splash on Rico Dowdle (31.9) was an instant jackpot, paired with Matthew Stafford (27.5) to push Thien over 137. The Phreaks, meanwhile, saw everything go wrong. Jalen Hurts (13.2) was pedestrian, Emeka Egbuka exited with a hamstring injury, and even reliable stars like Justin Jefferson remain shelved. With Egbuka sidelined and Jefferson not back yet, Ping suddenly faces a WR crisis.

Custom J 139.2 def. Crunch Bunch 119.1

Josh’s deep roster flexed its muscle. Jaxson Dart (27.6) delivered with both arm and legs, De’Von Achane (23.6) reminded us of his explosiveness, and waiver add Jacory Croskey-Merritt (21.2) was a steal. Eddie kept it competitive behind A.J. Brown (16.4) and Kenneth Walker (12.6), but Alvin Kamara (2.1) and Theo Johnson (3.7) cratered any hopes of an upset. At 3-9, Crunch is stuck in the basement.

Jail Yard Boyz 170.2 def. City of Angels Masterminds 101.7

Victor’s undefeated run continued with pure dominance. Ja’Marr Chase (32.2), Josh Jacobs (30.6), and Justin Herbert (30.6) all smashed, while trade acquisition Brian Thomas Jr. (17.7) looked every bit the WR1-in-waiting. Marcus had little resistance: Dak Prescott (20.5) was steady, but Breece Hall (5.9) and James Cook (5.7) flopped. At 9-0, the Boyz are officially the team to beat, with a +147 PF margin over Crunch.

Thematic Takeaways

• BTJ is back. The Boyz’ blockbuster deal with Ping already looks like a masterstroke as Brian Thomas Jr. posted season-highs across the board.
  
  
• Egbuka’s injury reshapes the Phreaks. Without him and Jefferson, Ping has to rethink his WR plan. 
  
  
• Vidal hype incoming. Though not a monster box score yet, Kimani Vidal is trending toward bell cow usage for the Monkeys while Hampton heals.
  
  
• JSN’s ascent. Smith-Njigba is suddenly looking like a weekly WR1, bailing out Evan’s injury-hit lineup.
  
  
• Boyz juggernaut. 170 points speaks for itself — depth, trades, and stars all firing.

Waiver & FAAB Watch

• Dowdle ($55, Blitz): Immediate smash, RB1 upside.
  
  
• Gainwell ($19, Gang Green): Handcuff with flex utility.
  
  
• Haskins ($17, Buffy): Depth add, but didn’t swing Week 6.
  
  
• Vidal ($7, Monkeys): Could turn into a key stretch-run starter.

Standings Pulse

• Boyz (9-0): Unstoppable, clear tier above.
  
  
• Gang Green (6-3) & Custom J (6-3): Strong playoff locks.
  
  
• Monkeys (7-5): Hanging on, but fragile until reinforcements arrive.
  
  
• Crunch Bunch (3-9): Dead last, fading fast.

Closing Note

Week 6 gave us everything: season-high blowups, crushing injuries, and a clear separation between the league’s true contenders and those sliding toward spoiler roles. The Boyz keep the crown, but with chaos everywhere else, playoff positioning battles are just heating up.

Week 5 Recap: Regression Week

CTDB Week 5 Recap: Injuries, Trades, and Rookie RBs Arrive

Week 5 saw the standings compress even further, a monster upset, and a blockbuster deal that could reshape the playoff race. At 7–3, both the Jail Yard Boyz and Chunky Monkeys remain tied atop the standings, but several contenders are circling. Let’s get into it.

Matchup Results

Jail Yard Boyz (126.4 FPTS, Proj 127.6) def. A Squad Called Blitz (101.4 FPTS, Proj 129.85)

Hurts (26.3) and Chase (27.5) once again carried the Boyz to victory, but this was their last ride together — the Boyz swung a massive deal, shipping Jalen Hurts and Quentin Johnston to the Phreaks for Brian Thomas Jr. The deal wasn’t finalized in time for Week 5, so both squads will roll out their new lineups starting in Week 6. Blitz wasted a 35.4-point explosion from Matthew Stafford as WRs Ridley (2.5) and Jeudy (0.0) vanished.

City of Angels Masterminds (131.0 FPTS, Proj 125.2) def. Crunch Bunch (108.4 FPTS, Proj 116.0)

Dak Prescott (38.6) put on a Sunday Night show, Breece Hall (25.5) punished defenses, and rookie Xavier Worthy (18.1) chipped in to power the Masterminds. Crunch Bunch fell flat with Kamara (6.9) and Kenneth Walker (9.1) disappointing. Emari Demercado (11.6) at least showed promise as a recent $11 FAAB pickup.

Gang Green (119.25 FPTS, Proj 131.0) def. Custom J (112.3 FPTS, Proj 113.5)

Josh Allen (27.8), Davante Adams (23.2), and McCaffrey (21.6) carried Gang Green through. Custom J, meanwhile, got hit by a nightmare injury week: Lamar Jackson, Tyreek Hill (season-ending knee), and Ricky Pearsall all went down. Achane (21.6) and rookie Woody Marks (10.8) showed sparks, but this team is suddenly reeling.

Philadelphia Phreaks (150.0 FPTS, Proj 135.2) def. Battle Angel (135.2 FPTS, Proj 110.2)

The Phreaks lit it up with Gibbs (27.9), Jefferson (26.3), and Nacua (24.4) all smashing. Quinshon Judkins (13.5) looks like a locked-in RB1. The big story is their incoming reinforcements: they’ll debut Jalen Hurts and Quentin Johnston in Week 6 thanks to the blockbuster with the Boyz. For Battle Angel, the long-awaited George Pickens breakout (33.4) finally came, paired with Justin Fields (27.1), giving them their best offensive week yet — still not enough to win.

LA Buffy (163.75 FPTS, Proj 109.7) def. Chunky Monkeys (84.45 FPTS, Proj 104.6)

Buffy stunned the Monkeys with a massive output behind Kyler Murray (34.5), Stefon Diggs (27.4), and Montgomery (27.1). On the other side, the Monkeys cratered. Drake Maye (14.9) and Rachaad White (21.1) weren’t terrible, but their WRs flopped. Help is coming, though: Rashee Rice returns in Week 7 to shore up the WR depth. The bigger worry is Brock Bowers, who may be sidelined until Week 9.

Week 5 Themes

Injuries Continue to Cloud the Landscape

• Custom J: The most devastated — losing Lamar, Tyreek, and Pearsall in one week.
• Jail Yard Boyz: Omarion Hampton (15.9 before injury) will miss multiple weeks, forcing depth plays.

Rookie RB Renaissance

• Quinshon Judkins: 110 yards + 2 catches, keeps rolling.
• Ashton Jeanty: Heavy usage with Bowers out.
• Woody Marks: Growing role, chipped in 10.8 this week.

WR Roller Coaster

• Jefferson (26.3) is untouchable.
• Diggs (27.4) rebounded huge.
• Quentin Johnston (15.2) continues steady value — now switching teams.
• George Pickens (33.4) finally looked like the WR1 Battle Angel traded him to be.

Waiver Wire / FAAB Highlights

• Chunky Monkeys: Spent $10 on Rachaad White, looks like a good get with White seeing majority of carries in week 5.
• Crunch Bunch: Paid $11 for Demercado, rewarded with 11.6.
• Boyz: Scooped Troy Franklin ($2) and Harrison Butker ($2).
• Masterminds: Brenton Strange ($5) joins as a speculative TE stash.

Standings Snapshot (Through Week 5)

1. Jail Yard Boyz (7–3) – Lose Hurts/Johnston but gain Brian Thomas Jr.
2. Chunky Monkeys (7–3) – Awaiting Rice’s return; Bowers injury looms large
3. Philadelphia Phreaks (6–4) – High scorer of Week 5, adding Hurts + Johnston in Week 6
4. Gang Green (6–4) – Stars steady the ship
5. Custom J (6–4) – Injuries derail early-season juggernaut
6. City of Angels Masterminds (6–4) – Prescott/Breece combo peaking
7. LA Buffy (4–6) – Big upset keeps playoff hopes alive
8. A Squad Called Blitz (4–6) – Inconsistent, WR corps fading fast
9. Crunch Bunch (3–7) – Running out of time
10. Battle Angel (2–8) – Showed life, but playoffs nearly out of reach

Final Take

Week 5 wasn’t just about wins and losses — it was about reshaping the season. The Boyz–Phreaks trade (Hurts + Johnston for Brian Thomas Jr.) could alter the balance of power, with Ping loading up for a title push. Meanwhile, the Monkeys will tread water until Rashee Rice returns, but the Bowers injury lingers like a storm cloud. Custom J’s rash of injuries may have slammed the door on a championship run. With so much volatility, Week 6 might be the most important slate yet.

🚨 CTDB Trade Alert: Hurts Reunited with the Phreaks 🚨

 

In a blockbuster move that has stunned the league, the Jail Yard Boyz (7-1, 1st place) traded QB Jalen Hurts and WR Quentin Johnston to the Philadelphia Phreaks (4-4, 5th place) in exchange for QB Brock Purdy and WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Trade at a Glance

• Jail Yard Boyz receive:

  • QB Brock Purdy (SF)

  • WR Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX)

• Philadelphia Phreaks receive:

  • QB Jalen Hurts (PHI)

  • WR Quentin Johnston (LAC)

Context

Jail Yard Boyz (7-1, 1st place)

The Boyz shocked the league by moving on from Hurts — but with Justin Herbert already rostered, the writing was on the wall. Herbert immediately steps into the starting QB role, softening the blow of losing a fantasy MVP candidate.

So why take Purdy? Likely as insurance. With San Francisco’s offense banged up and whispers of a QB controversy, Purdy is a volatile stash — but he provides depth in case Herbert goes down.

The real prize for the Boyz is Brian Thomas Jr.. With rookie Malik Nabers out for the year and Bucky Irving banged up, they needed WR upside. Thomas has disappointed so far, but his elite usage profile suggests a breakout could be coming just when the Boyz need it most.

Philadelphia Phreaks (4-4, 5th place)

For the Phreaks, this trade is about star power and familiarity. GM Ping Shen made it clear Hurts wasn’t just a target, he was a homecoming:

“The Phreaks extend their thanks to Brock and Brian for their efforts, and we welcome Jalen back to the team with open arms. The Phreaks simply aren’t the Phreaks without Jalen Hurts.”

Paired with Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Justin Jefferson, Hurts gives the Phreaks a lethal top-four. Adding Quentin Johnston on top — who’s emerged as Herbert’s WR1 in L.A. — makes this roster arguably the scariest in the playoff chase.

Player Outlooks

• Hurts (to Phreaks): A locked-in top-3 QB who boosts both floor and ceiling.

• Quentin Johnston (to Phreaks): Emerging as a true WR1 with Herbert, adds immediate and long-term juice.

• Brian Thomas Jr. (to Boyz): A high-upside, buy-low gamble who could be peaking come playoff time.

• Brock Purdy (to Boyz): A depth add. Useful if healthy, but Herbert is the starter.

Keeper Implications

• Boyz: Herbert is the clear QB keeper moving forward. If Thomas Jr. hits, this deal could age well.

• Phreaks: Reunite with Hurts as their long-term franchise QB. Johnston could be a WR2 keeper alongside Jefferson and Gibbs.

Trade Grades

• Jail Yard Boyz: B-
  They sold a Ferrari but had another one in the garage (Herbert). The trade hinges entirely on whether Brian Thomas Jr. rebounds.

• Philadelphia Phreaks: A
  They land the best player (Hurts) and the hottest breakout WR (Johnston). This is the kind of deal that flips playoff odds.

Bottom Line

The Boyz are betting depth and breakout potential over star power, trusting Herbert to carry the QB torch.

The Phreaks, meanwhile, just reloaded in a massive way. With Hurts reunited and Johnston added to Jefferson, Barkley, and Gibbs, they might have just assembled the most dangerous roster in CTDB.

Week 4 Recap - Revenge of the Rookie RBs

 CTDB Week 4 Recap: Rookie RBs Rise, Undefeateds Fall

League Headlines

No More Undefeateds: The marquee showdown between Chunky Monkeys (115.05) and custom J (96.75) ended in an upset — and with it, the league has no more perfect teams. Ironically, the matchup of two heavyweights produced two of the lowest scores of the week.

Rookie RB Renaissance: Omarion Hampton, Ashton Jeanty, Quinshon Judkins, Woody Marks — the long-hyped rookie RB class finally delivered in force, reshaping Week 4 outcomes.

Ping’s Power Play: The Philadelphia Phreaks (171.1) stormed back into relevance with the league’s highest score of the season.

Injury Carnage for Custom J: What was supposed to be a battle for supremacy turned into a nightmare. Lamar Jackson left early with a hamstring, Ricky Pearsall went down, and Tyreek Hill suffered a season-ending dislocated knee. Josh is still 6-2, but his roster has been gutted.

Standings Shakeup: Jail Yard Boyz and Chunky Monkeys are tied atop the table at 7-1, but every week feels more volatile with injuries stacking and rookies breaking out.

Matchup Breakdown

Matchup of the Week: Chunky Monkeys (115.05) def. custom J (96.75)

Proj: 116.5 vs. 131.8 | Result: -1.5 vs. -35.0

It wasn’t pretty, but it was decisive. Drake Maye (29.55) did just enough for the Monkeys, while Trey Benson (19.9) looks poised to claim the Arizona backfield post-Conner injury. For Josh, everything went wrong: Lamar (14.15) struggled before exiting, Ricky Pearsall (7.2) got hurt, and Tyreek Hill (13.4) may be lost for the year. This matchup didn’t just hand Josh his first loss — it may redefine his season.

Philadelphia Phreaks (171.1) def. LA Buffy (119.95)

Proj: 128.6 vs. 109.2 | Result: +42.5 vs. +10.8

Ping unleashed an offensive avalanche. Jahmyr Gibbs (31.5), Justin Jefferson (30.6), and rookie Quinshon Judkins (22.6) led the way to the league’s highest score of the year. Roger’s LA Buffy got strong production from Baker Mayfield (25.75) and Deebo Samuel (17.1), but this was never close. Ping has now climbed back to .500 and looks very much alive in the playoff chase.

Jail Yard Boyz (141.4) def. Battle Angel (124.1)

Proj: 134.3 vs. 123.1 | Result: +7.1 vs. +1.0

Victor kept rolling thanks to Jalen Hurts (37.3) and Omarion Hampton (25.0), who immediately seized control of the Chargers’ backfield. Will’s Battle Angels showed fight behind Patrick Mahomes’ explosion (38.0) and George Pickens’ true breakout (29.4), but came up short. For Will, the Pickens performance is a much-needed offensive spark, even in defeat.

City of Angels Masterminds (165.4) def. Gang Green (139.05)

Proj: 121.4 vs. 134.1 | Result: +44.0 vs. +4.9

Marcus finally showed what a ceiling week looks like. Jared Goff (40.15) and Ashton Jeanty (33.5) were the engines of a 165-point eruption, the second-highest score of the season. Greg’s Gang Green wasn’t bad — Josh Allen (29.3) and CMC (22.1) both delivered — but Marcus rode his rookies to a convincing win and breathed new life into his campaign.

Crunch Bunch (117.95) def. Battle Angel (111.0)

Proj: 122.8 vs. 123.1 | Result: -4.9 vs. -12.1

Eddie’s Crunch Bunch leaned on Jordan Mason (23.6) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (17.2) to outlast Will’s Angels in a low-scoring slugfest. Mahomes and Pickens gave Will the firepower, but duds from Chris Olave (9.1) and Hollywood Brown (5.4) sank him. Eddie escapes with a narrow win and steadies his record.

FAAB Watch

Chunky Monkeys: Continued depth churn, adding Kaleb Johnson ($5) and Tory Horton ($1).

Custom J: Added Tre Tucker ($0) after losing key WRs.

Crunch Bunch: Grabbed Evan McPherson in the kicker shuffle.

Trades: Big move of the week — Chunky Monkeys sent George Pickens + Bhayshul Tuten for TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson immediately scored in his Monkeys debut, while Pickens posted his breakout in Battle Angel’s lineup.

Standings Snapshot (After Week 4)

1. Jail Yard Boyz (7-1)
2. Chunky Monkeys (7-1)
3. custom J (6-2)
4. Gang Green (5-3)
5. Philadelphia Phreaks (4-4)
6. City of Angels Masterminds (3-5)
7. Crunch Bunch (3-5)
8. A Squad Called Blitz (2-6)
9. LA Buffy (2-6)
10. Battle Angel (1-7)

Final Word

Week 4 marked a clear pivot point: the rookie RB class has arrived, Custom J is reeling from injuries, and Ping reminded everyone what a high ceiling looks like. As we move into the midseason grind, volatility is high, depth matters more than ever, and the gap between contenders and pretenders is starting to crystallize.