GWBL - 2025 - WEEK 4
WEEK 4 – 2025 SEASON – GWBL
Well that was a refreshing change of pace. A blowout win by the Patriots on a beautiful Fall day in New England. A total team win “in all three phases” as we used to say around these parts. A win so convincing that even my Patriots-hating-Giants-fan brother-in-law was complementing Drake Maye’s performance. That’s how good it was.
And how about them Red Sox? The wild card chase got sketchy there for a bit but the return of Wilyer Abreu, solid pitching and clutch hitting by the veterans got them over the hump. I was watching the game live Friday night and the atmosphere at Fenway was electric (I rarely use that term unironically). Duran tied it up with a perfect opposite-field hit in the 8th, followed by Chapman stonewalling the Tigers in the top of the 9th. A single by Romy and fireworks from Ceddanne in the bottom of the 9th got the Sox back to the post season. Epic.
What a weekend, it felt like an early Christmas present. A feeling which was heightened by the fact that my 4 year old daughter made we watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Saturday morning. It was 6 AM and I was taking the morning shift (brownie points). Out of nowhere Carra requested that we watch the Grinch. Not the Jim Carey one, not even the newer animated one with Benedict Cumberbatch. She wanted the OG animated Grinch movie from 1966.
I couldn’t say “no”, I love those movies. The Grinch movies and “It’s a Wonderful Life” are the top Christmas movies for me. You gotta love the point in those particular movies where the meaning of it all crystallizes and yanks directly on the heartstrings. In the Grinch, of course, it’s the part where the narrator says:
“And he puzzled and puzzled til his puzzler was sore, then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before….Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
So good, gets me every time. All of which leads me – finally - to the theme this week: what’s puzzled me so far. I’m going to list an item related to each team that I can’t reconcile in my brain. Something that has me puzzling and puzzling til my puzzler is sore. (That’s what she said?) There’s no “T account” for this odd result, no way to balance the debits and credits (shoutout Tim Krumwiede, our old Bryant professor). So let’s get into it, in no particular order:
I LOVE LAMB (Tieg): 0-4
What in tarnation is going on with the Eagles? What a frustrating start for fantasy owners, unless you have Jalen Hurts. AJ Brown has arguably been the biggest victim of the early season swoon. He was pick 3.02 in our draft and typically drafted higher. He’s currently WR 46. In terms of receptions-yards-TDs, AJ Brown’s stat line the past 3 years has been : 88 for 1,496 and 11, 106 for 1,456 and 7, 67 for 1,079 and 7 (in 13 games). This year he’s on pace for 60 catches, 642 yards and 4 TDs. When will they start consistently producing in the pass game?
King Henry’s Court (DMO): 1-3
How is DMO 1-3? And a gimme-win against Tieg away from being winless through the first month. (His 135 was the lowest point total of any team that won in Week 4.) He’s got a stud QB in Baker and an absolutely stacked RB room. Achane, Derrick Henry, Kamara and Javonte Williams. Javonte is arguably the fantasy MVP given his draft capital and somehow DMO is still not winning. He’s also got the TE breakout of the year in Jake Ferguson (14th round pick, but TE1 in our scoring). Not to mention JSN at WR. He has to be due for regression because this doesn’t make sense.
Oshkosh B’Gosh (Kev): 1-3
Why do long running fantasy leagues always develop these seemingly immutable trends? Fantasy sports are supposed to be a game of chance right? Some skill, some effort, but largely chance. The bad luck and the good luck should even out over time. Right? Well it doesn’t. Every long running fantasy league I’m in develops certain dynamics that seem to always hold true. In this league – it’s Kev’s bad luck. A 1-3 start despite scoring the 2nd most points sums it up. 166 this week and still loses. I got a request to do a deep dive into Kev’s bad luck and I might have to dedicate one of the weekly recaps to this phenomenon (although I’m not sure I have enough time). “THE KURSE OF KEV” as it was called in my text with said league member. Cannot believe he lost both Nabers and Tyreek in the same week. How does this happen to him year after year?
GALSFLL LAMAR JACKSON (Lamone): 3-1
Lamone’s definitely on the other end of the spectrum from Kev. Always seems to land on the favorable side of what should be a 50/50 split. This about flipping a coin 100 times - it’s SUPPOSED to land on heads 50 times. But it doesn’t. For Lamone it lands on head 60 times in fantasy. This week being one of them – how the fuck do you start Kenneth Gainwell against the strong Minnesota defense and get 37 points? How does that happen? Jaylen Warren was a late/unexpected scratch too. This was the week after he beat me in our Westford league by 1.7 points because the Lions D somehow sacked Lamar Jackson 7 times. And Jahmyr Gibbs scored on a trick play. Shouldn’t luck even out over time?
Chase is On the Case (Ken): 4-0
How is Quinshon Judkins doing this? He didn’t go to OTAs. Wasn’t at a single mini camp or summer practice. Didn’t play a snap of a preseason game. His career was in jeopardy. And now he’s the best rookie RB in an absolutely loaded class. How? Puts up 20 against the Packers vaunted D (although I guess they might not be). Follows that up with 26 against the Lions D, which shut down Lamar/Derrick Henry. He’s also barely playing more than 50% of the snaps (cool sleeper feature btw). How is he so good when the Browns are so bad?
Two Joe’s One Kupp (Tone): 2-2
Why can’t anyone cover Puka Nacua? I get it, he’s very good. He’s a great blend of athleticism, route running, strength, football savvy, etc. Defenses have to account for Davante Adams, fine. But how the fuck does this guy do this every year and no one can stop it? Why hasn’t any defense pulled the Bill Belichick and designed the whole gameplan to stop this guy? Not letting him run free to the tune of 13 catches and 170 yards. He has 20+ every week this season. He’s on pace for over 2,100 yards!! Is anyone going to do anything about it?
Deebo Baggins (Frader): 3-1
How is Keenan Allen still in the NFL? This guy just won’t go away. He’s over 33 years old and in his 13th NFL season. It’s one thing to see a Deandre Hopkins trajectory where he bounces around the last few years of his career and flashes once in a while. Becomes a bit player on contending teams but is never someone to really consider for fantasy. Not Keenan Allen though. Not only does he continue to earn chances, but he’s killing young NFL WRs. Last year he stymied Rome Odunze, who is breaking out without him around. This year he’s murdered Ladd McConkey, who we’ll get to later. I don’t get it.
She Wants the Young Caff (Dyl): 2-2
I can’t tell if the Raiders offense is good or not. They threw all over the Pats (+360 yards), but only scored 20 points. Jeanty was essentially a non factor. Then in Week 2 they got bumrushed and Geno throw for 180 yards and 3 picks. Jeanty was again a non-factor. They put up some garbage time in Week 3 (Tre Tucker WTF) but yet again, Jeanty was a non factor. Then week 4 came, it was supposed to be a high scoring affair. At home against the lowly Bears defense. Anddd Geno throws for 117 yards. Jeanty finally broke out, but can you actually depend on anyone here? Bowers is hurt, Meyers just scored 7 for Dyl in a plus-matchup, Jeanty is 1 for 4 on good weeks. I don’t know.
Brown ^ 2 (Keetz): 1-3
How did the Chargers lose to the GIANTS? The previously 0-3 Giants. With a rookie QB and a rookie RB. Oh yeah and their best player tore his ACL in the 2nd quarter. How? Just when you think the NFL couldn’t get any more unpredictable, something like this happens. Justin Herbert comes in and plays his worst game of the year: 217 yards a TD and 2 picks. 14 fantasy points. I guess the Giants have a good pass rush? And West Coast teams have a hard time playing in the East Coast at 1PM? Who knows.
Tom’s Retirement Tour (Commish): 3-1
What is happening to Ladd McConkey??? Just last January he was torching the Texans in the playoffs. 9 catches for 197 yards and a TD. He was a revelation his rookie season and everything seemed perfect for him heading into this season. ANNNNNND ITS GONE. Keenan Allen has come in and stolen a third of his target share (see above), while Quentin Friggin Johnston has stolen another 3rd. He’s been relegated to WR3 on his own team….. how? He’s got 8 fewer targets than Allen and 10 fewer than Johnston. GTFOH.
