Week Fifteen Aftermath: STAR WARS Edition

OK, so I’m in kind of an odd mood this week with the weekly aftermath. This week, we pay tribute to George Lucas who has found yet another way for me to buy the STAR WARS series in some fashion. After buying the VHS, VHS Special Edition, DVD, DVD Special edition, I now feel like I have to buy the Blu-Ray set as well.

That’s amazing.

Is there anything else you could buy five times that’s pretty much the same?  George Lucas must be sitting out home, counting his money and strategizing on how to further ruin the Indiana Jones series.

So, with special focus on STAR WARS and my inability to stop buying it, let’s spin it around the league in the weekly aftermath.

The Master Yoda Award (Week Fifteen Fantasy MVP)

He might be a little short for a stormtrooper, but Drew Brees was simply amazing this week. His 412 yard, five touchdown performance single handedly won games for thousands of owners this week. While most of the attention this year has been put on Aaron Rodgers and his fantastic year, Brees isn’t far behind.

The Anakin Skywalker Award (Week Fifteen Fantasty LVP)

It wasn’t all his fault, but Eli Manning really let his owners down this week. With countless owners putting all their faith in him to wrap up a playoff spot, Manning responded with a 257 yard, three interception clunker.

Lineup Fun

“That’s no moon, it’s a space station.”
(the virtually unbeatable lineup of the week)

QB Drew Brees NO  = 412 passing yards, five touchdowns
RB CJ Spiller BUF  = 91 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB LeSean McCoy PHI  = 102 rushing yards, three touchdowns
RB Reggie Bush MIA = 203 rushing yards, two touchdowns
WR Calvin Johnson DET = 9 catches, 214 yards, two touchdowns
WR Roddy White ATL = 10 catches, 135 yards, two touchdowns
WR Lance Moore NO = 5 catches, 91 yards, two touchdowns
TE Brent Celek PHI  = 5 catches, 156 yards, one touchdown

“Evacuate in our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances.”
(the dominant underdog lineup of the week) 

QB John Skelton ARI = 313 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception
RB Donald Brown IND = 161 rushing yards, one touchdown
RB Kahlil Bell CHI  = 108 total yards, one touchdown
RB Lance Ball DEN  = 105 total yards, one touchdown
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey OAK = 8 catches, 155 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Greg Little CLE = 5 catches, 131 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Malcom Floyd SD  = 5 catches, 96 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Ed Dickson BAL  = 3 catches, 36 receiving yards, one touchdown

“Let the wookiee win.”
(you probably lost if your lineup looked like this) 

QB Eli Manning NYG = 257 passing yards, three INTs
RB Roy Helu WAS  = 53 rushing yards, 16 receiving yards
RB Kevin Smith DET  = 43 rushing yards
RB Marion Barber CHI = 33 rushing yards
WR Victor Cruz NYG = 5 catches, 44 receiving yards
WR Wes Welker NE = 4 catches, 41 receiving yards
WR Jordy Nelson GB = 2 catches, 29 receiving yards
TE Greg Olsen CAR  = 2 catches, 15 receiving yards

Gut Checks

I’d be worried if…

I have Marshawn Lynch in my championship game this week. While it’s tough to bench him the 49ers just don’t give up anything to running backs.

I have Aaron Rodgers as my championship quarterback. The Packers play late Sunday, so they’ll know at that point if they need to win to preserve the #1 seed. If the 49ers lose, there’s going to be little for them to play for this week and next.

I have Kevin Kolb or Josh Freeman as my dynasty quarterbacks – they’ve both taken a big step back.

I expect consistency from Chris Johnson. Admiral Ackbar said it best…

I’m hoping Marion Barber can rebound this season. Not happening.

I think Aaron Hernandez is the new Rob Gronkowski.

I’m expecting a big finish from Larry Fitzgerald. It’s actually pretty sad. We know what he can do with a great quarterback, but nobody knows when he’ll have that again.

I think Josh McCown is my championship sleeper.

I have Peyton Manning in my dynasty league. It’s going to be a very interesting offseason.

I have Cedric Benson in my dynasty league – he just looks tired and 3.9 yards per carry isn’t cutting it.

I’ve given up on Demaryius Thomas in my dynasty league after his brutal injury. He’s posted an 18/338/3 line over the past three weeks.  That’s not bad.

I’m Tebowing a lot at the office.

I’m relying on Greg Olsen in my league. After a nice start, he’s really cooled dramatically.

I expect anything relatively consistent from Darrius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore or Jacoby Ford the rest of the way.

I’m playing the 14-1 DLF team in the Dynasty Experts League Championship game.

A Look Ahead to a Hot Name on the Week Sixteen Waiver Wire

1. Yoda, RB Dagobah

He’s hard to spot behind the line of scrimmage, but he’s crafty enough to take it to the house on any play.

Really though, we’ve mentioned just about everyone worth mentioning over the last month and been ahead of the curve on guys like Kahlil Bell, Lavelle Hawkins and Lance Ball.

Good luck if you’re in the championship round.  If you don’t think you have a chance and consider your team the underdogs, watch this clip below and remember that sometimes underdogs come through, too.

The force will be with you. Always.