Monkeys Capture 5th Title

December 29, 2025

As the Monkeys celebrate their 5th championship ring in franchise history, there's a jubilant calm in the front office. CTDB celebrates its 25th season and the Monkeys franchise has 20% of those rings. Not bad. Let's run it back again next year. 

The 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.