Building a Champion: Xuande

Three Championships in just five years - in this instalment of the annual 'Building a Champion' series, we break down how Xuande built their 2024 Championship Team. We specifically cover the 8 players they started during the Championship week that got them over the line.

There are quite a few differences from their 2022 Championship Squad, with only 3 players on both teams. Xuande had a 10-4 record in 2024 - with no bye, they defeated 3 strong teams to reclaim their place atop the league.

The total capital Xuande spent on their roster was:

3 1st Round Picks 1 2nd Round Pick 1 3rd Round Pick $0 FAAB

1 11th Round Startup Pick Zach Ertz

Truly incredible value. Let's dive in:

QB: Josh Allen

Drafted 3.4 in 2018

Possibly the best draft pick in league history, Allen in the 3rd round remains incredible value. The Buffalo QB went on a tear to finish the season, including a 51.88 point performance in Week 14. Allen was the #2 overall QB, and instrumental in Xuande's winning run.

RB: Chase Brown

Drafted 2.12 in 2023

Another great value, Brown did little in their rookie year but was an RB1 in the 2024 season with a great second half in particular. Xuande drafted them after a Championship in 2022, getting very late value in a strong draft class. Brown should be a solid addition to Xuande's RB room for the coming years.

RB: Rico Dowdle

Added from waivers for $0 in 2023

Emerging as Dallas' starting RB in 2024, Dowdle was picked up for nothing by Xuande off of waivers last year. Dowdle didn't put up huge performances and ended as a low RB2, but was not injured and provided a solid floor, especially in relief of other RBs.

WR: Keenan Allen

Traded for with HChishty in 2023 - acquired Keenan Allen and Kareem Hunt for 2024 1st

Losing CeeDee Lamb for the Championship game, Xuande started Keenan Allen. Allen didn't have a great year, but had spikes of production - including a big game in the semi-finals that helped get Xuande to the final game.

WR: A.J. Brown

Traded for with jerrr in 2019 - acquired Ronald Jones, A.J. Brown and 2021 1st (Trey Sermon) for Zach Ertz

In hindsight, the trade for Brown was one of the best trades of the league's history. Now, Ertz is at the tail end of his career; but in Week 5 of 2019 he was a top-5 TE and a possible piece that could win a Championship. Brown was still in his rookie year hitting around 50% of snaps, and only began to blow up after Week 12. The 1st round pick that Xuande got back perhaps didn't get the best value in the end, but Brown alone more than justifies the trade. He put in another good year, finishing as the WR14 overall and with great performances in the fantasy playoffs.

TE: George Kittle

Drafted 11.9 in the 2018 Startup Draft

Drafted in the same round (but after) other TEs Delanie Walker, Eric Ebron, Jimmy Graham and Jordan Reed; Kittle was an incredible value in the 11th round for Xuande. Kittle was the TE1 this year at 31 years old, and has 6 top 5 TE performances on his resume - perennially underrated but always productive.

FLEX: Jameson Williams

Drafted 1.06 in 2022

Williams has had a tumultuous start to his NFL career, between injuries and off-field incidents. However, in this great 2024 Ben Johnson Detroit offense Williams had some big games - including a pivotal Championship performance of 22 points to get Xuande over the line.

FLEX: Tyjae Spears

Drafted 1.12 in 2023

Spears has not become a reliable starting NFL RB yet, but with an injury to Tony Pollard Spears was a pivotal piece for Xuande in the last few weeks of the season, especially with David Montgomery and Jordan Mason going down with injuries.