Championship Weekend Hobby Preview

Wow, what a weekend! Some of the best two weeks of football I can remember. 

First, let’s unpack what happened, and then we’ll preview next week’s games.

QBs Going Home

Josh Allen

If you read me last week, I just didn’t think the Broncos had a chance in this game… and I still think that analysis was correct.

If Allen had played a normal game, I think they win semi-comfortably. This is the first time I can remember a big playoff loss feeling like it was directly his fault.

Interestingly, his market hasn’t dropped much. He’s still considered the best player in the NFL, so there seems to be a high floor for his pricing.

Here’s his PSA 10 Prizm, where pricing is down only 10% or so:

Bo Nix

Well, what a bummer. Winning a massive game and then breaking your ankle puts a damper on your hobby market.

And yes, he’s dropped off. Before the game, I saw several Silver Prizms sell for around $100 on eBay.

Right now?

I’m seeing sales in the $60 - $80 range. It’s a tough break, but I certainly wouldn’t sell right now. It’s clear he’s in an awesome situation, and I bet before next season starts, there’ll be a ton of hype around him. 

CJ Stroud

Oh my. OH MY. So, his pricing was already really low, so it didn’t drop much. However, I think it’ll take a MONUMENTAL effort for him to be truly hobby-relevant again after his latest performances. 

Caleb Williams

Overall, he’s one of the season’s big winners. I don’t think many had them getting this far, let alone playing a superior Rams team (basically) to a draw. There might not be a more exciting player down-to-down, and he’s just getting better.

Yes, he lost, but his pricing is still on a major upward trajectory. The sentiment (based on pricing) is more “he’s got a great future” than “bummer, he lost.” I wonder if in the coming weeks he’ll start to fall, and you can grab him before the hype of next season starts up. Worth monitoring.

Brock Purdy

There hasn’t been a ton of movement on his stuff, so it’s hard to tell what the trend will be. He’s not expensive, and there’s been a lot of talk about how injury-riddled this team is. So, I don’t think this means much for his hobby.

If you like Purdy, this is still a stacked roster when healthy, so keep an eye on pricing the next few months and I bet you can find some deals.

This Week’s Games

Patriots @ Broncos (+5)

What a strange game! The Patriots are big favorites, rightfully so, going against Stidham, who has 1 career win to his name. If the Broncos pull it out, Stidham would go up significantly, but there’s an obvious ceiling on his pricing. If you’re a gambler, you could pick up a card and see if it triples in value. If they lose, he goes back to obscurity.

Drake Maye, of course, has been skyrocketing the entire season. Of course, that continues with a win.

My Take: If Stidham isn’t terrible, the Broncos have a chance. The recipe is a ferocious pass rush against the Pats weak O-line, similar to how the Texans game played out (if only Stroud wasn’t terrible). 

Still, I think the Pats are overwhelmingly likely to win this game. Maye is too good to lose against a backup at this stage (although I’m sure plenty said that about Nick Foles vs Tom Brady!).

I’d only buy Maye right now if you think they can win the Super Bowl. His pricing is insane.

Rams @ Seahawks

With a Super Bowl trip on the line, both QBs stand to gain in the hobby. Here’s what’s happened to Darnold already:

There’s less for Stafford on the line as he’s already won one, but he’d improve for sure. There’s also Puka Nacua, who I mention each week because he’s so good, and his prices keep rising. He’s one of the very few non-QBs to move the needle, and a big game here continues that rise. (It was mentioned on the broadcast that Puka rated as the #1 player in all of football based on their system)

My Take: I saw this today:

In the two games these teams played, the total score was Rams 58, Seahawks 57. The Rams had 830 yards and the Seahawks had 829.

I know the Seahawks looked so much better last week than the Rams did, but they’ve been basically equals in the 2 games they've played against each other. The Seahawks’ ferocious defense hasn’t slowed down Stafford.

I also think Stafford’s less-than-stellar game last weekend had to do with awful conditions in Chicago. With the weather in the mid-40s and no rain, I think he’ll be back to playing like himself.

So, I would lean Rams here. Stafford vs Darnold just has me thinking the Rams will figure out a way. 

Quick Hits

News From Around the Hobby

+ Yes, With a ‘B’ - “Trading card singles topped $2.62 billion in sales on eBay in 2025.” First place with the highest sales value? Jordan at $70.5 million. He really is the GOAT.

+ Rookie Move - “As a result of countless late-season promotions to the Major Leagues, the 2026 rookie class across all of Topps' products has the potential to be one of the stronger groups in recent years.” Top 3 of Anthony, Caglianone, and Basallo ain’t a bad start.

+ Stidham Mania - “ In a 48-hour window after the Broncos’ win over Buffalo, more than 2,500 Jarrett Stidham cards were sold in fixed price auctions on eBay.” One, ummm, optimistic flipper spent $2k on a National Treasures RPA. Fortune favors the bold, I guess.

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