2025 Week 12 Dynasty Recap: A Glimmer of Hope
For the first time in three weeks over half the league scored 100+ points! Seems a little weird to get excited about when my team was not one of those teams, but I was starting to fear that we as a league were on a downward slope with no ledge and no bottom. That’s not to say this week didn’t have its lows, Rob v Bryar produced both of their lowest scoring games in the new system, and took over the top spot for the lowest scoring matchups ever. But, as if to counter that, Alex v Fred landed on the highest scoring matchups list (#7), and this was Alex’s highest scoring game ever which also landed him on the highest scoring game’s list (#6). So, good job guys! Here are your week 12 results:
Shadow Legion 110.16 over Kade’s Dawgs 104.24
Starting Shedeur Sanders when his top 5 fantasy QB is available almost cost Anthony this one. Fortunately for him, Emanuel Wilson came in off the streets and dominated. Cam Ward got his first start of the season for the Dawgs and he ran with it! His 22.94 points was the second best performance Curt has gotten out of a starting QB this year.
NUKEM 71.16 over The Empire 61.72
With the draft pick selection on the line this game certainly did not disappoint. On Monday night it seemed like Bryce Young was trying to throw the game away, but then he hit TMac for a score and that pretty much sealed the win. There’s really nothing else to add for this one, cause the draft pick possibilities are all below.
Fear Itself 143.32 over Fantasy Fairies 115.26
After Thursday night’s Josh Allen debacle, I thought we were seeing Ryan’s black magic at work once again, but Gibbs made sure that didn’t happen. I should say, Player of the Week Jahmyr Gibbs (49.90), covered for Golden’s injury, and Doubs’ no show, while also scoring enough to cover what we’ve come to expect out of him. The Giants did not have answers for him, and neither did the Fairies. Tale of two teams for Ryan, 18.5+ points from Hunt, Jeanty, Brown and Hurts, but the rest of the team scored 7 or less.
Michael Style 165.38 over Ferocious Felines 126.72
Jonathan Taylor had his second worst game of the season, but it didn’t matter. These other guys, Jaxon Smith Njigba and Amon-Ra St. Brown, picked up the slack, and Wan’Dale Robinson threw himself into the mix for good measure. Alex started 4 receivers and got 95.8 points combined from them, which outscored 4 teams this week. Fred, your team tried, they really did, but what are you going to do? The Henry brothers and Moore all put up 20+, and Stafford was just shy of that. On the bright side, Irving and Jacobs are supposed to be back next week just in time for a playoff run.
ay_Bilat 140.78 over Space Rangers 91.06
Here’s a recap of mine and Trey’s game. Picture my Space Rangers as a dead horse, and Davante Adams and CMC as the guys with the baseball bat. The game was over before Sunday night, but that didn’t stop them from beating that dead horse. Is there a bright side my team can take from this? I guess scoring over 90 with another star out cause you apparently can’t spit in someone’s direction anymore would work. The bigger silver lining is that Burrow was almost ready to go this week, so theoretically he’ll be on the field next week with Chase also back from suspension.
Bolt Battalion 131.14 over Storm Surge 77.06
It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of the storm this week, except Matthew’s two highest picks in the expansion draft, they were happy to sit back and let everyone else do the work. James Cook certainly seems to be back on track and in time for that playoff push which is always nice. On the bright side, Storm Surge, Zach Charbonnet scored in his first game with the new team, so that’s pretty cool.
**A reminder that will remain here for all future iterations of the Playoff Outlook section, the “SOS” categories are ranked 1st to 12th, with 1st being the easiest and 10th being the hardest. I’ve combined the remaining records and remaining points for into one SOS using a z-score, which is that weird number you see. The more positive the number, the more difficult the remaining the schedule, the more negative the number, the easier the remaining schedule.**
Playoff Outlook:
1st seed: ay_Bilat Coach: Trey Record: 10-2
SOS Remaining: -1.158 (2nd)
Remaining opponents: The Empire (2-10), Fantasy Fairies (8-4)
Outlook: Grip on the #1 seed got a little more tenuous with Alex outscoring you this week, but as long as you remain one win ahead of him you should be good. The division and a first-round bye are almost locked up. The best Nathan and/or Ryan could hope to do is tie you in overall and division record, but you’ve got a significant lead in the points tiebreaker, so you’ve unofficially won the East, you can officially secure it by winning either of your final two games. Similar for the first round bye, best Anthony can do now is tie you in overall record and your lead in the points tiebreaker is basically insurmountable.
2nd seed: Michael Style Coach: Alex Record: 9-3
SOS Remaining: -0.855 (3rd)
Remaining opponents: NUKEM (4-8), Bolt Battalion (6-6)
Outlook: Very similar to Trey when it comes to your division. In order for Fred to pass you at this point you would have to lose out, he would have to win out, and he would have to outscore you by 207.65 points, so congrats on being the first crowned champion of the Central division. With your points lead over Anthony you just have to win one game or he needs to lose one and your first round bye should be secure. At this point you would need to win one more than Trey does the rest of the way to land the #1 seed. The importance of the #1 seed this year is avoiding a potential showdown with either Nathan’s team who has shown the ability to explode at the drop of a hat, or with Ryan’s black magic.
3rd seed: Shadow Legion Coach: Anthony Record: 8-4
SOS Remaining: -0.653 (4th)
Remaining opponents: Ferocious Felines (7-5), NUKEM (4-8)
Outlook: Win out and have Alex lose out is realistically the only shot you have at a first round bye. You can also play a little spoiler: If you beat Fred this week and Matthew wins it would put them neck and neck heading into the final week.
4th seed: Fear Itself Coach: Nathan Record: 8-4
SOS Remaining: -1.475 (1st)
Remaining opponents: Kade’s Dawgs (3-9), Space Rangers (4-8)
Outlook: You can’t move up, but you could slide down. Lose out and have Ryan win one game and Fred win out, and you’ll be sitting at the 6 seed likely facing Anthony. Win a game and you should be guaranteed at least the 5 seed with a potential showdown against either Ryan or Fred (or maybe even Matthew).
5th Seed: Fantasy Fairies Coach: Ryan Record: 8-4
SOS Remaining: 1.431 (11th)
Remaining opponents: Bolt Battalion (6-6), ay_Bilat (10-2)
Outlook: Win either game, and you are in the playoffs. Lose out, and you need either Mathew to lose week 14, or Fred to lose out.
6th seed: Ferocious Felines Coach: Fred Record: 7-5
SOS Remaining: -0.339 (5th)
Remaining opponents: Shadow Legion (8-4), Storm Surge (3-9)
Outlook: Win out and you’re going to the playoffs. Win one game or both games and you either need to maintain your slim points lead over Matthew or you need him to lose the same number of games.
Name: Bolt Battalion Coach: Matthew Record: 6-6
SOS Remaining: 1.062 (10th)
Remaining opponents: Fantasy Fairies (8-4), Michael Style (9-3)
Outlook: Win. That’s what you want to keep doing. You have to win at least one more game to have a chance to make the playoffs. If you win out and Ryan loses out, you’re in (points tiebreaker), or if Fred loses out, you’re in, or if Fred loses one game and you can outscore him to take over the points tiebreaker, you’re in. If you win one game, you need Fred to lose out, and you have to pass him for the points tiebreaker. Another words, you REALLY want to beat Ryan this week, AND you are Anthony’s biggest cheerleader this week.
Name: Space Rangers Coach: Lance Record: 4-8
SOS Remaining: 0.225 (8th)
Remaining opponents: Storm Surge (3-9), Fear Itself (8-4)
Outlook: And I’ve added my name to the officially eliminated list, so here’s how people can play spoiler and a look at potential draft outcomes. Spoiler: Nathan could still end up as the 6th seed if he loses out, Fred wins out, and Ryan wins one game, so if he loses this week I could assist in dropping him down another seed next week. Draft Pick: The #1 pick is out of the question. Technically, the #2 isn’t, but I would need to lose out, and I would need Curt to win out, and Rob to win one game. In order to pick higher than Rob I need him to win one more game than I do the rest of the season. In order to get ahead of Joel, I need him to beat me this week and I need to either lose week 14 or if I win that game, I need him to win as well. The lowest I’ll be picking is 5 guaranteed though thanks to Matthew holding the head-to-head wins over myself and Rob.
Name: NUKEM Coach: Rob Record: 4-8
SOS Remaining: 1.629 (12th)
Remaining opponents: Michael Style (9-3), Shadow Legion (8-4)
Outlook: Spoiler: Not much you can spoil from here on, but you could cost Alex or Anthony a chance at a first-round bye by beating them. You could also cost Anthony a higher draft pick by winning. Draft Pick: By winning this week you have made it almost impossible that you’ll end up with the #1 pick, only way that happens now is if you lose out, Curt wins one game, Bryar wins out, and Joel wins at least one game, that would result in a points tiebreaker, which as of right now would land you the #1, but it’s a close race between you and Curt in that category. Your pick is basically at the mercy of the teams above you.
Name: Storm Surge Coach: Joel Record: 3-9
SOS Remaining: -0.305 (6th)
Remaining opponents: Space Rangers (4-8), Ferocious Felines (7-5)
Outlook: Spoiler: You could be looking at an opportunity to knock Fred out of the playoffs in week 14, depending on how this week plays out. And similar to Rob, you could cost Ryan a higher draft pick by winning. Draft Pick: #1 pick is only a possibility if you lose out, and Curt and Bryar both win at least one game, that would remove Curt from the equation and Bryar beat you, so the tiebreaker would go in your favor. A tie between just you and Curt, or just you and Rob, goes in their favor (since you beat both of them). And a tie between you and I would mean that you beat me, so it would go in my favor.
Name: Kade’s Dawgs Coach: Curt Record: 3-9
SOS Remaining: -0.026 (7th)
Remaining opponents: Fear Itself (8-4), The Empire (2-10)
Outlook: Spoiler: Beat Nathan this week and you put him in a position to possibly fall to the 6th seed. Draft Pick: Lose out and the #1 pick is yours. You lost to Joel, and me, so those ties go in your favor. However, you and Rob split your two games, so that tiebreaker comes down to points if it becomes a thing. Basically, if you win a game, the furthest you could fall is the 4th pick and that would be only if I beat Joel, and Rob loses out.
Name: The Empire Coach: Bryar Record: 2-10
SOS Remaining: 0.464 (9th)
Remaining opponents: ay_Bilat (10-2), Kade’s Dawgs (3-9)
Outlook: Lose out and the #1 pick is yours. Your tiebreakers are as follows: You lost to Rob both times, tiebreaker is yours, you lost to me, tiebreaker is yours, you beat Joel, tiebreaker is his, and you beat Curt in the first matchup. You also have more points-for than all of us except Joel, so in the event of a 3-way tie where head-to-head is unable to factor in, you would not have that tiebreaker working in your favor. If you lose this week you would be guaranteed at least a top 3 pick (top 2 if Joel beats me).
**FINAL LOOK AT THE TOP TEN, AND THE TOP 5 POSITIONAL RANKINGS**
TOP TEN
1) RB Christian McCaffrey (ay_Bilat) 270.60
2) RB Jonathan Taylor (Michael Style) 266.50*
3) QB Josh Allen (Fear Itself) 246.46*
4) RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Fear Itself) 235.00*
5) QB Patrick Mahomes (ay_Bilat) 225.88*
6) QB Jalen Hurts (Fantasy Fairies) 215.16*
7) WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba (Michael Style) 215.00*
8) RB De’Von Achane (Ferocious Felines) 208.00*
9) RB Bijan Robinson (Space Rangers) 200.10*
10) RB James Cook (Bolt Battalion) 192.70*
*Means they’ve already had their bye week
QB
1) J. Allen (Fear Itself) 246.46 *
2) P. Mahomes (ay_Bilat) 225.88 *
3) J. Hurts (Fantasy Fairies) 215.16*
4) D. Prescott (Shadow Legion) 178.18*
5) B. Nix (Bolt Battalion) 170.62*
RB
1) C. McCaffrey (ay_Bilat) 270.60
2) J. Taylor (Michael Style) 266.50*
3) Jahmyr Gibbs (Fear Itself) 235.00*
4) D. Achane (Ferocious Felines) 208.00*
5) B. Robinson (Space Rangers) 200.10*
WR
1) J. Smith-Njigba (Michael Style) 215.00*
2) G. Pickens (ay_Bilat) 186.90*
3) A. St. Brown (Michael Style) 180.80*
4) P. Nacua (Fear Itself) 170.00*
5) J. Chase (Space Rangers) 154.20*
TE
1) T. McBride (Kade’s Dawgs) 161.70*
2) T. Warren (The Empire) 118.00*
3) T. Kelce (ay_Bilat) 108.60*
4) J. Ferguson (Kade’s Dawgs) 92.70
5) T. Kraft (Storm Surge) 92.30*
K
1) B. Aubrey (Space Rangers) 109.00*
2) J. Myers (Shadow Legion) 108.00*
3) C. Little (Michael Style) 95.00*
3) K. Fairbairn (Storm Surge) 95.00*
5) W. Reichard (Kade’s Dawgs) 93.00*
D
1) Seattle (Shadow Legion) 105.00*
2) LA Rams (Space Rangers) 103.00*
3) Denver (Storm Surge) 91.00*
4) New England (Michael Style) 86.00
5) Minnesota (Kade’s Dawgs) 63.00*
Here’s a look ahead at next week:
ay_Bilat (10-2) vs The Empire (2-10)
Trey has a hold on this series 8-4. Many an important divisional game has been played between these two, especially in the first two years, but that will no longer be the case. Important is also not a word I would use to describe this specific matchup either.
Michael Style (9-3) vs NUKEM (4-8)
The father-in-law (Rob) runs the table in this series 7-5. I’m sure Alex is looking forward to exacting some revenge.
Shadow Legion (8-4) vs Ferocious Felines (7-5)
The final first time matchup for Anthony. The one thing you need to know about Fred is that he’s made the playoffs in every season except last year, and you’re currently standing on the tracks where the train is coming through.
Fantasy Fairies (8-4) vs Bolt Battalion (6-6)
And final first time matchup for Matthew. Ryan is on the opposite end of the playoff spectrum from Fred in that he’s never made the playoffs, and all he sees right now is a speed bump that he needs to get over to finally cross that finish line.
Fear Itself (8-4) vs Kade’s Dawgs (3-9)
Nathan is up 8-6 in this one. For just about every year that Nathan was running the East, Curt was the one nipping at his heels. Those days are long gone, but I’m sure Curt wouldn’t mind trying to get this series one game closer to even.
Space Rangers (4-8) vs Storm Surge (3-9)
Father beat son in both matchups last year giving him a 2-0 mark in the series. Don’t think for a second I’ve forgotten. I don’t care what those records are next to our team names, or what it’ll do to my draft pick, I’m going to give you everything I’ve got.
That’s all for this week, good luck to you all in week 13!
