SCN Challenge: Joe Burrow Card Slips as Standings Shift

SCN Challenge standings shift after Week 8

The NFL season is nearing the halfway point, and the SCN Challenge is moving through another busy stretch of the regular season. The hobby game features 10 content creators, each managing five cards in a portfolio format that tracks performance much like fantasy football.

After a relatively quiet week on the waiver wire heading into Week 8, the latest standings brought more movement across the board. Some portfolios gained ground on strong card market runs, while others were dragged down by recent declines.

Alex Llanso extends his lead

Alex Llanso, known as CleverCubanCards, remains in first place and now holds a commanding lead. His strong position was helped by the earlier sale of a 2025 Tyler Shough Gold Leather /50 PSA 10 before the Shough sell-off, which produced a profit of more than 250 percent. He then rolled those gains into a Josh Allen Red/White/Blue Rookie Prizm.

Llanso's portfolio also benefited from a move into Brock Purdy as Purdy climbed toward the top of the MVP odds. That combination has helped create separation at the top of the standings.

Doug Plagens and Jason Otero climb

Doug Plagens was one of the biggest movers of the week. His Sam Darnold rookie card was the top weekly winner in the challenge, rising 83.7 percent and pushing him up the rankings.

Jason Otero also posted a strong week thanks to continued gains from his 1997 Peyton Manning Metal Universe PSA 9 rookie card. That card is now up 297 percent for the season, giving Otero one of the most impressive individual card runs in the challenge.

Trent Litjes and the week's biggest drops

At the other end of the standings, Trent Litjes took the biggest hit of the week. He dropped from third to sixth as both his 2025 Tyler Shough Prizm Silver Auto and Bijan Robinson 2023 Prizm Silver Auto continued to slide.

The second-biggest faller was also in the upper half of the standings before Week 8. The portfolio took a hit from the continued downturn in the 2020 Donruss Optic Joe Burrow Blue Hyper PSA 10, even as a 2025 Topps Chrome Patrick Mahomes Blue Wave /150 PSA 10 continued to show strong gains.

Related coverage includes Joe Burrow Card Slump Tests Patience in SCN Challenge.

Joe Burrow becomes the key waiver wire hold

The biggest question on the waiver wire this week centers on Joe Burrow. The 2020 Donruss Optic Blue Hyper PSA 10 remains under pressure, and the decision has been to wait out the market rather than make a move.

Burrow's on-field production has been strong. He is currently fourth in passing yards, fourth in QBR, and first in passing touchdowns. The Bengals are 5-2 and sit a half-game behind the Steelers in the AFC North. Baltimore, one of Cincinnati's biggest rivals for both the division and a wild card spot, is also without Lamar Jackson for the rest of the season.

Despite that production, Burrow's card market has not matched the football results. He currently sits third in the MVP market, but the 2020 Donruss Optic Blue Hyper PSA 10 is down 30.8 percent. Over the last month, Burrow's market has fallen 15.82 percent even as his play has remained at an MVP level.

Why the card market and football results are out of sync

The disconnect between Burrow's performance and his card prices is the central storyline for this portfolio. On the field, the Bengals quarterback is delivering one of the strongest seasons in the league. In the market, the card has been volatile and has not yet reflected that production.

The most recent sales show how uneven the pricing has been. The last 10 sales were $125, $185, $182.50, $105, $150, $232.50, $163, $175, $182.50, and $249. That range points to a clear ceiling, but it also shows that the card has reached sales above $250 earlier in the year.

For now, the challenge portfolio is staying patient. The hope is that Burrow's card market eventually catches up to the on-field story, but the recent movement has made the ride a volatile one.

Updated SCN Challenge picture

With Week 8 in the books, Alex Llanso remains the clear leader, Doug Plagens and Jason Otero are among the week's biggest risers, and Trent Litjes has taken the sharpest fall. The standings continue to reflect how quickly the hobby market can shift when a single card surges or slips.

The challenge continues to track how each portfolio responds to the NFL season, and the Joe Burrow card remains one of the most closely watched pieces in the group.