Burden of Proof: Giovanni Claims the Crown

Week 17 – Fancy Football IX

Crown recap

Congrats to Giovanni Vincenzo, your Week 17 king at 168.6! He threaded the needle with a balanced 12.7 chalk rating and a lineup built on timely contrarian hits. The difference-makers: Luther Burden III (30.8 at just 5.7% drafted), Wan’Dale Robinson (25.3), Ja’Marr Chase (25.0), and a savvy pivot to Tyler Shough (24.9, 5.7%). Anchored by steady contributions from Colston Loveland (21.4) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (16.2), Giovanni outlasted a crowded chase pack and set a new personal season-high.

So close you could taste it

Charlie Weller finished just two points back (166.6) with his best score of the year, powered by Christian McCaffrey (31.1), Stefon Diggs (25.1), Trevor Lawrence (24.1), and a sharp value in Parker Washington (22.0). A light day from Saquon Barkley (6.8) likely kept the crown just out of reach. Jim Chrystal (166.3) rode a monster from Brock Purdy (40.9) and a smash from Chase Brown (32.1), but low outputs from DJ Moore (1.7) and Ashton Jeanty (9.3) were the speed bumps.

Chalk, pivots, and pain points

• The week’s nuclear play was Derrick Henry (48.6) at only 2.9% drafted. Ben Weller was one of the few brave enough and he rode it to sixth and a fifth straight top-half finish.
• Popular hits: Purdy (40.9), Chase Brown (32.1), Rhamondre Stevenson (27.2), Trey McBride (23.6).
• Popular traps: Drake London (1.4), DJ Moore (1.7), Saquon (6.8), and the goose egg from Taysom Hill hurt a lot of lineups. The week’s most-drafted play, Ashton Jeanty (34.3%), was merely fine at 9.3.
• Quiet edges: Giants D/ST (18.0) popped for those who went there, while Jets and Packers D/ST both posted -3, sinking a couple builds.

Standings ripple

• Eric Wilde stays atop the table and extends to W9 after another top-half showing.
• Dan Cecchin and Evan Devoe remain in the hunt, both stacking wins (W2 and W5, respectively).
• Giovanni jumps to 22nd and snaps a four-week skid with his new season-best.
• New personal highs also for Charlie (166.6) and Kristyn Morrison (162.0).
• The commissioner, Zachary Wand, hits L4, and Nick Inzerillo’s slide reaches L7.

What we learned

Late-season youth is real: Luther Burden III, Chase Brown, Drake Maye (32.4), and Colston Loveland all swung contests, while leaning too hard into brand-name chalk backfired. In a week with multiple viable paths, Giovanni’s mix of modest chalk and sharp contrarian darts was the winning recipe for the crown.