The Sanderson Gazette - 2025-12-23 - The Stage is Set

Semifinals Recap

Don't let the seeds fool you - Rabbit and Schertz have been the best teams since week eight whether you look at points per game or expected winning percentage. Now they'll meet for the Sanderson Cup.

Rabbit def. Richie, 130.08-109.15

Rabbit scored 130 points or more for the seventh time this year as he cruised to the Blingabowl. Chase Brown (30.33) and George Pickens (23.23) led the way, and 15.00 and 11.30 from Jonathan Taylor and Eddy Pineiro, respectively, on Monday night, cemented his victory.

Richie got a huge game from Alec Pierce (23.47) on Monday, and Trevor Lawrence (31.45) also did his darnedest to carry his team to another playoff win, but it wasn't enough.

Schertz def. Kevin, 118.05-97.40

Schertz's Joe Burrow (31.05) led all scorers in the other semifinal, which had very little drama. Ka'imi Fairbairn (17.40), Omarion Hampton (15.83), and De'Von Achane (15.30) all had good games for Schertz, as well.

Kevin got 28.60 from Jared Goff, but every other offensive player on his team except for Tony Pollard (10.20) fell below expectations.

Weekly Awards

Team Blangums

Rabbit's 130.08 was the top score this week.

Slapped Heartbeat

Kevin's 97.40 was the only sub-100 total in the semifinals.

Weekly MVP

Joe Burrow's 31.05 showed why Schertz traded for him (more on that below).

Dud of the Week

There was really only one player who was an outright dud this week, and he comes from the top scoring team! Trey McBride (3.60) could very well have cost Rabbit a place in the Blingabowl if the rest of his team hadn't come through .

Start of the Week / Misplay of the Week

None of the games were close enough to merit either of these.

Season Postmortems

Richie, 8-6 (0.571), 1,245.76 points (88.98 average), 6th place, 5.69 expected wins

Richie put together one of the most memorable non-champion seasons we've seen in a while. He put up the third lowest score in Blingaleague history back in week two and fell to 3-4 after week seven, but never gave up. And from week eight on, he was fifth in the league by both points per game and expected winning percentage and made the playoffs for the second straight year. Defeating Rob in the quarterfinals and putting up a good fight against Rabbit in the semis put a nice little bow on his season, as well.

Trade acquisitions Brock Bowers (5th), Travis Etienne, Jr. (8th), and Quentin Johnston (13th) all could be good keepers. And don't overlook Trevor Lawrence (9th) with the way he's finishing 2025, either.

Kevin, 12-2 (0.857), 1,532.09 points (109.44 average), 2nd place, 8.64 expected wins

Kevin set a new record for longest winning streak and won more games than he ever has before, so bowing out in the semifinals has to sting a little.

He can't keep Jahmyr Gibbs any more, but he does have the option for another year of Ja'Marr Chase (1st). He also stashed Jaxson Dart (13th) all year long. And Rico Dowdle (10th) outplayed his draft slot by a ton this year. The bottom line is that Kevin should be fine going into 2026.

The Year in Trades

Week 1

Trade between Dave and Scott

Dave received:

  • Pick 1.01 - from Scott
  • Jayden Daniels - from Scott - keeper cost: 6th

Scott received:

  • Pick 6.01 - from Dave
  • Bijan Robinson - from Dave - ineligible to be kept

The consensus at the time was that Dave made a major steal with this trade, but it played out the complete opposite. Bijan Robinson carried Scott's team to the playoffs and currently leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage, while Dave's target at 1.01, Ashton Jeanty, had an up-and-down rookie year.

In addition, Scott's pick at 6.01 was Travis Kelce, who quietly had the third most points among tight ends, while Jayden Daniels only played in eight games due to injuries. Scott was the clear winner here, and this trade set the tone for both team's seasons.

Trade between Richie and Rob

Richie received:

  • Brock Bowers - from Rob - keeper cost: 5th

Rob received:

  • Pick 2.05 - from Richie

Bowers battled injuries in the first half of the season, but came on stronger in the second half as Richie's team rallied to a playoff berth. He still was not worth a second round pick, though.

However, the same can also be said of Harrison, whom Rob took at 2.05, so this trade was basically a wash, with neither team winding up thrilled with their return.

Trade between Matt and Mike R.

Matt received:

  • Pick 16.03 - from Mike R.

Mike R. received:

  • Pick 16.06 - from Matt

I have no idea why this trade happened. Matt took a kicker (Jake Elliott) and Mike took a defense (Washington). Neither mattered.

Trade between Ed and Matt

Ed received:

  • Zach Charbonnet - from Matt - keeper cost: 7th
  • Kyle Williams - from Matt - keeper cost: 11th

Matt received:

  • Cedric Tillman - from Ed - keeper cost: 9th
  • Rachaad White - from Ed - keeper cost: 9th

Ed and Matt already had Kenneth Walker III and Bucky Irving, respectively, so they made this trade to acquire the appropriate handcuffs. Matt actually used White while Irving was out, so I guess this trade counts as a win for him.

Week 4

Trade between Ed and Scott

Ed received:

  • Baker Mayfield - from Scott - keeper cost: 4th
  • Emeka Egbuka - from Scott - keeper cost: 7th
  • Javonte Williams - from Scott - keeper cost: 9th

Scott received:

  • CeeDee Lamb - from Ed - ineligible to be kept
  • Kenneth Walker III - from Ed - keeper cost: 3rd
  • Dak Prescott - from Ed - keeper cost: 7th

Scott took advantage of Ed's desperation for wins while Lamb was hurt and used the Cowboys WR and QB (Prescott) to glide into the playoffs. (Walker, funnily, ended up back on Ed's team and screwed him over, but more on that later.)

Mayfield and Egbuka never played a game for Ed (see below), but Williams was quite good. This trade was probably a win for Scott, but not by a large margin at all.

Trade between Mike R. and Richie

Mike R. received:

  • A.J. Brown - from Richie - keeper cost: 1st
  • Rashee Rice - from Richie - keeper cost: 6th

Richie received:

  • Travis Etienne, Jr. - from Mike R. - keeper cost: 8th
  • Quentin Johnston - from Mike R. - keeper cost: 13th

This trade immediately hurt Mike and, of course, Ed while helping Richie.

In the long run, it's hard to say who got the better side of this deal; Richie got some wins he definitely needed while Rice was out, but then Rice was awesome when he returned for Mike. Etienne was really solid all year long, though, so Richie has to be happy with that, even if Johnston was inconsistent and occasionally injured.

Trade between Ed and Rob

Ed received:

  • Josh Allen - from Rob - keeper cost: 2nd
  • R.J. Harvey - from Rob - keeper cost: 4th
  • Keon Coleman - from Rob - keeper cost: 8th

Rob received:

  • Alvin Kamara - from Ed - keeper cost: 2nd
  • Baker Mayfield - from Ed - keeper cost: 4th
  • Emeka Egbuka - from Ed - keeper cost: 7th

It looked like Rob got a huge steal in the first few weeks after this deal, as Mayfield and Egbuka were outstanding. But both fell off a bit for various reasons, while Ed turned Allen into other players.

This is a win for Rob, due to the First Fundamental Law of Blingaleague Transactions, which states that Ed must lose every trade, but again, not a huge one.

Week 6

Trade between Babel and Dave

Babel received:

  • Quinshon Judkins - from Dave - keeper cost: 5th
  • Geno Smith - from Dave - keeper cost: 9th
  • Luther Burden III - from Dave - keeper cost: 9th

Dave received:

  • Josh Jacobs - from Babel - keeper cost: 1st
  • D.J. Moore - from Babel - keeper cost: 4th
  • Evan Engram - from Babel - keeper cost: 8th

Babel cashed out for keepers early, and Judkins was looking like he might be on the short list of best 2026 values... until he suffered a gruesome leg injury in week sixteen. He still might be a good keeper, though, and Burden also came on stronger as the year went on, so he's a possibility, too.

Jacobs played well for Dave, but Moore's best games didn't come until Dave was sitting at home for the playoffs. This was a pretty balanced trade in hindsight.

Trade between Ed and Pat

Ed received:

  • Derrick Henry - from Pat - keeper cost: 1st
  • Caleb Williams - from Pat - keeper cost: 7th
  • Kareem Hunt - from Pat - keeper cost: 9th

Pat received:

  • Josh Allen - from Ed - keeper cost: 2nd
  • Zach Charbonnet - from Ed - keeper cost: 7th
  • Keon Coleman - from Ed - keeper cost: 8th

This is the rare trade that Ed probably won. Williams played well enough to be part of a bigger trade later (see below), Henry finished the season well, and Hunt turned into a reliable starter for a bit.

Allen had some great games for Pat before getting traded again, but Charbonnet and Coleman were mostly worthless.

Week 7

Trade between Dave and Richie

Dave received:

  • Denver - from Richie - keeper cost: 9th

Richie received:

  • Kyle Monangai - from Dave - keeper cost: 9th

Dave wanted a defense for a playoff push (that ultimately failed). Richie got a running back who scored in double figures for six of the next ten games. While Monangai wasn't a fixture in Richie's lineup, this trade, like Dave's pre-draft one, really shaped the season for the two teams involved.

Week 9

Trade between Ed and Rob

Ed received:

  • Tetairoa McMillan - from Rob - keeper cost: 3rd
  • Cam Skattebo - from Rob - keeper cost: 9th

Rob received:

  • Courtland Sutton - from Ed - keeper cost: 4th
  • Ollie Gordon II - from Ed - keeper cost: 9th

Rob traded a promising, if somewhat expensive, potential keeper for a steadier veteran WR, while Ed preferred the future-oriented side. Sutton and McMillan were roughly equal from week nine on, so calling either side a winner would be misleading. Neither was disappointed with their end.

Week 10

Trade between Pulley and Rob

Pulley received:

  • Alvin Kamara - from Rob - keeper cost: 2nd
  • Jason Myers - from Rob - keeper cost: 9th

Rob received:

  • Isiah Pacheco - from Pulley - keeper cost: 3rd
  • Blake Grupe - from Pulley - keeper cost: 9th

Rob anger-traded Kamara following a rough game. Pulley gave up on Pacheco, who was injured and not great when healthy. This trade had basically no impact on the 2025 season, so we'll move on.

Trade between Ed and Matt

Ed received:

  • George Kittle - from Matt - keeper cost: 1st
  • Lamar Jackson - from Matt - keeper cost: 1st
  • Tory Horton - from Matt - keeper cost: 9th

Matt received:

  • Caleb Williams - from Ed - keeper cost: 7th
  • Brandon Aiyuk - from Ed - keeper cost: 9th
  • Javonte Williams - from Ed - keeper cost: 9th

After defeating Matt and ensuring he wouldn't make the playoffs, Ed raided his roster of some of its best players. While Kittle was great, Jackson was worse than Caleb Williams over the rest of the year. Ed wouldn't have made the playoffs anyway, but it's mostly clear that Matt won this trade on the keeper potential of the two Williamses.

Trade between Dave and Pat

Dave received:

  • Malik Nabers - from Pat - keeper cost: 1st
  • Josh Allen - from Pat - keeper cost: 2nd
  • David Montgomery - from Pat - keeper cost: 5th

Pat received:

  • Ashton Jeanty - from Dave - keeper cost: 1st
  • Jayden Daniels - from Dave - keeper cost: 6th
  • Michael Pittman, Jr. - from Dave - keeper cost: 8th

Dave was 6-3 and looked to be in solid playoff position, while Pat was desperate to right his sinking ship. Allen had two monster games post-trade (though Dave lost one of them to miss the playoffs), so it's appropriate to say Dave won this trade, but like a few above, not by a ton.

Week 12

Trade between Mike R. and Rabbit

Mike R. received:

  • Tyler Warren - from Rabbit - keeper cost: 8th
  • Tyrell Shavers - from Rabbit - keeper cost: 9th

Rabbit received:

  • Trey McBride - from Mike R. - ineligible to be kept
  • A.J. Brown - from Mike R. - keeper cost: 1st

Mike fell out of playoff contention and wanted Warren as a keeper, clearly not caring that he had to overpay for it. Rabbit happily took the opportunity to upgrade his already-legendary team at two positions.

Mike might not even wind up keeping Warren, while Rabs is in the Blingabowl. The latter is the clear victor here.

Trade between Ed and Schertz

Ed received:

  • Romeo Doubs - from Schertz - keeper cost: 9th

Schertz received:

  • Joe Burrow - from Ed - keeper cost: 4th

Ed was looking ahead to a must-win week fourteen in which he wasn't going to have enough WRs to start. Schertz took a chance on Burrow looking like his old self after he returned from injury. Doubs scored zero in week fourteen, while Burrow was just named weekly MVP for the semifinals. Schertz won this trade by leaps and bounds.

Trade between Ed and Scott

Ed received:

  • Kenneth Walker III - from Scott - keeper cost: 3rd
  • Jayden Higgins - from Scott - keeper cost: 9th

Scott received:

  • R.J. Harvey - from Ed - keeper cost: 4th
  • Elic Ayomanor - from Ed - keeper cost: 9th

Ed needed to win out, and Harvey had yet to have his bye. Had Ed just stuck with Harvey and played a fill-in, he'd have won in week thirteen, and then Harvey outscored Walker by a lot the next week, so Ed would have won week fourteen, too. He would have made the playoffs over Richie at 8-6, too. Ed's lost a lot of trades before, but this one might have quietly been the worst.

Trade between Derrek and Kevin

Derrek received:

  • Jordan Addison - from Kevin - keeper cost: 6th

Kevin received:

  • DK Metcalf - from Derrek - keeper cost: 3rd

Kevin and Derrek made a last-minute deal that gained the former a win-now player and the latter a keeper. Metcalf outplayed Addison to end the year, so Kevin got what he wanted, but again, so did D. Ultimately, this was a pretty even trade.

Blingabowl XVIII Preview

Pralines & Dick (Rabbit, 12-2, 1st) vs. schertzopotamus (Schertz, 8-6, 5th)

Rabbit leads all-time series, 12-4.

Matthew Stafford (@ATL). George Pickens (@WAS). Jaylen Waddle (vs. TAM). Jonathan Taylor (vs. JAC). Trey McBride (@CIN). Zay Flowers (@GB). Chase Brown (vs. ARI). That's what the highest-scoring team in Blingaleague history looks like: no weaknesses.

Schertz is certainly capable of pulling an upset, though. Joe Burrow (vs. ARI) has been great, De'Von Achane (vs. TAM) has not scored in single digits all year, and Nico Collins (@LAC) might be better than any of Rabbit's individual WRs. But make no mistake: a Schertz win would definitely be an upset.

Pick: Pralines & Dick.

Third-Place Game Preview

The Chocolate Donuts (Kevin, 12-2, 2nd) vs. Barftastic (Richie, 8-6, 6th)

Kevin leads all-time series, 8-7.

Pick: Barftastic.

Closing Thoughts

Happy holidays, everyone!