Top 5 takeaways from week 17

Featuring Luther Burden III, Trey McBride, and more.

December 29, 2025

Yooo!

Hope you all dominated your championship matchups this weekend!

I went 2 for 2 in my leagues. One of those leagues is a $500 dynasty league where I’ve now won 3 out of the first 5 years. I’d say that’s…

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Alright, now let’s dive into 5 of the most important takeaways from week 17.

Giddy up.

TE - Trey McBride (ARI)

  • Trey McBride made NFL history in 2025 by setting the record for most receptions by a tight end in a single season with 117 catches, delivering a standout performance that included 10 catches for 76 yards and a TD in Week 17 against the Bengals.

  • McBride's 2025 fantasy season was exceptional, scoring 242.9 points in half-PPR formats, which is particularly impressive given that he achieved this mostly with Jacoby Brissett as his quarterback, highlighting his individual talent and potential.

  • Looking ahead to 2026, McBride's fantasy stock is extremely high, with experts suggesting he could become a fringe first-round draft pick due to his breakout season and the potential for further growth if the Cardinals can improve their quarterback situation.

  • Our take: I drafted McBride at the 3.11 in my league’s 2022 rookie draft. Just a reminder that there are no throw-away picks!

RB - Derrick Henry (BAL)

  • Henry delivered a vintage performance in Week 17, carrying the Ravens to a 41-24 victory with a career-high 36 carries for 216 yards and four touchdowns. His physical running style and ability to dominate in crucial moments were on full display, particularly with a game-sealing long touchdown run.

  • Despite being considered a 'down year' by his standards, Henry is still on pace for over 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns, demonstrating his continued elite status as a running back. His burst and role in critical game situations remain undiminished.

  • The article suggests Henry will be one of the best value running backs in 2026 drafts, highlighting his consistent ability to produce massive performances in December when fantasy leagues are typically decided.

  • Our take: There are some players we, as a dynasty community, need to stop overthinking. Derrick Henry is one of those players. Managers who had patience during his early-season struggles have been rewarded.

RB - Christian McCaffrey (SF)

  • Christian McCaffrey was cited as the definitive example of a running back who delivered exactly what managers hoped for, combining another big Week 17 outing on the ground with a season-long receiving profile that rivaled high-end wide receivers in catches, yardage, and touchdowns.

  • His receiving production alone, approaching a hundred receptions and strong yardage totals, would make him an extremely valuable fantasy asset even if he were classified as a wide receiver, and that comes on top of his heavy and efficient rushing workload.

  • Drafting him in any format this season correlated strongly with reaching and often winning fantasy championships, underscoring that elite dual-threat usage can still dominate in modern scoring environments when paired with a strong offensive ecosystem.

  • From a dynasty lens he remains one of the few running backs who can justify a premium valuation despite positional age concerns, as his role, efficiency, and versatility continue to set him apart from nearly every other back in the league.

  • Our take: Similar to Henry, don’t overthink this. Use CMC’s age as your buying opportunity for next season.

WR - Luther Burden III (CHI)

  • Luther Burden III just delivered a true breakout Week 17 performance with heavy target volume, efficient catch rates, explosive yardage, and a touchdown that showcased how dangerous he is after the catch in a high-scoring game environment.

  • Analysts highlighted that his team is scheming touches for him at multiple depths of the field, dialing up vertical shots and creating opportunities in soft zone coverage, which points to a sustainable usage profile rather than a one-week fluke.

  • In dynasty formats he is being actively debated as a potential top-20 wide receiver, with arguments that his after-the-catch ability and offensive design could eventually push him into an Amon-Ra St. Brown style role as the engine of the passing game.

  • His long-term ceiling hinges on continuity with his offensive play-caller and his quarterback’s development, but the combination of elite efficiency metrics when on the field and the realistic possibility of an even larger target share if veteran teammates move on makes him a premium buy-high in wide receiver-heavy dynasty builds.

  • Our take: Burden is a super interesting case study. He has really come on the last 3 weeks, and some of the underlying stats are very impressive (3rd overall in YPRR behind only Puka and JSN). But he still sits far below Egbuka (WR9) and Odunze (WR13), who have both fallen off as the year has progressed. Burden was WR39 entering this week, and it will be interesting to see how much he rises this offseason. I’m buying where I can.

QB - Caleb Williams (CHI)

  • Williams had a significant performance in the high-scoring game, throwing impressive touchdown passes including a 35-yard score to Luther Burden III and a 36-yard touchdown to Colston Loveland during the first half.

  • The rookie quarterback demonstrated resilience by driving the Bears downfield in the final moments of the game, getting his team to the 2-yard line with just four seconds remaining, though ultimately unable to complete the game-winning touchdown.

  • Williams was part of a historic NFL moment, participating in the first game where the score was tied at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 points, showcasing his potential in an incredibly competitive and dynamic matchup against the 49ers.

  • Our take: Caleb is having a crazy year (in a good and bad way):

    • The good: he’s QB6 overall and has made a TON of clutch plays this year with his arm and legs.

    • The bad: He is 33 out 34 QBs in completion % (57.94%). Only J.J. McCarthy has been worse. He missed 3 or 4 wide-open throws last night (including a potential game-winner). If he can clean that up, he’s a legitimate QB1 candidate.

That’s all for tonight!

See ya pizza,

Joe

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