The Dynasty Aftermath: Week Twelve

Ken Kelly

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Welcome to DLF’s Dynasty Aftermath. This Tuesday staple has long been one of our signature pieces as we have a little fun after a tough week at the Dynasty League Football office. You’ll find this article will review the week’s happenings in a variety of ways and help set you up for the coming weeks as we spin around the league in the way we know best. After twelve weeks, the contenders are starting to further set themselves apart from the pretenders in both reality and fantasy.

Let’s take our weekly spin around the league!


Week Twelve Fantasy MVP

As always, there were lots of candidates for the award this week, including Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Tony Romo and a host of others. Let’s go with Dez Bryant, who has now posted back-to-back games with 145 receiving yards. This week he also had not one, but TWO touchdown receptions to go along with the yardage total. Bryant now has three 100 yard games in his last five starts and four touchdowns in his last three games. Many have waited for Dez to finally emerge as a legitimate WR1. Is the wait finally over?


Week Twelve Fantasy LVP

After his six catch, 83 yard, one touchdown performance last week, Vernon Davis was gushing about just how good Colin Kaepernick was. Many dynasty owners felt this was the start of a re-focus of the 49ers to get the talented tight end back involved in their offense – they were rewarded by Davis posting no catches this week on a single target. After the game, Davis wasn’t gushing so much.

Ouch.


Lineup Fun The virtually unbeatable lineup of the week…

QB Robert Griffin III WAS  = 311 passing yards, four total touchdowns, 29 rushing yards, one interception
RB Arian Foster HOU = 102 rushing yards, five catches, 15 receiving yards, two total touchdowns
RB Ray Rice BAL = 97 rushing yards, eight catches, 67 receiving yards
RB Bryce Brown PHI = 178 rushing yards, four catches, 11 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Dez Bryant DAL = 8 receptions, 145 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Andre Johnson HOU  = 9 receptions, 188 receiving yards
WR Calvin Johnson DET = 8 receptions, 140 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Charles Clay MIA = 6 receptions, 184 receiving yards, one touchdown

The dominant underdog lineup of the week…

QB Chad Henne JAX = 261 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis CIN = 138 total yards, one touchdown
RB Michael Bush CHI = 60 rushing yards, two touchdowns
RB Shane Vereen NE = 42 rushing yards, two catches, 91 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Mohamed Sanu CIN = 5 catches, 29 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Davone Bess MIA = 7 catches, 129 receiving yards
WR Cole Beasley DAL = 7 catches, 68 receiving yards
TE Rob Housler ARI = 8 catches, 82 receiving yards

The unexpectedly horrible lineup of the week…

QB Josh Freeman TB  = 256 passing yards, no touchdowns
RB Ronnie Hillman DEN  = 9 rushing yards
RB Fred Jackson BUF = One catch, 24 total yards
RB Matt Forte CHI = 46 total yards, two catches, one injury
WR James Jones GB = No catches
WR Mike Wallace PIT =  1 catch, 9 receiving yards
WR Danny Amendola STL = 1 catch, 38 receiving yards
TE Vernon Davis SF = No catches


Gut Checks

I’d be worried if…

I had hopes for Ronnie Hillman helping my dynasty team down the stretch. John Fox doesn’t like to use rookies, but few saw Knowshon Moreno getting the start this week. Just keep in mind we’ve all been excited about Moreno before and been burned relentlessly. His surprise start was great for those who picked him up as we suggested last Tuesday, but his play has as much to do with John Fox not trusting Hillman to pass protect for Peyton Manning as anything else.  That being said, it’s Moreno’s job to lose.

I’m still holding on to super bust Robert Meachem.

I have Fred Jackson on my dynasty team. Little by little, CJ Spiller is starting to take over all the meaningful touches.

I’m counting on any Cardinals (including Larry Fitzgerald) for the stretch run. One has to wonder if Fitzgerald regrets signing that extension.

I’m all of a sudden wanting to sell LeSean McCoy because of Bryce Brown’s big coming out party. Look, it was a great game from Brown, who showed all the talent of a former high school star. However, let’s keep in mind the Panthers entered the game in the bottom half of rush defenses and had given up the 27th most fantasy points to running backs this year.  Fumbling twice with less than twenty carries is also troublesome.  However, that was still a great night from Brown – it just makes you wonder why the Eagles don’t just run more often. Brown is a great stash, just don’t blame us for not telling you that a long time ago.

I’m counting on consistency from James Jones. With Greg Jennings due back, the only receivers sure to get their targets seem to be Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb.

I’m expecting Alex Smith to get his job back any time soon. It’s pretty amazing that a quarterback with a 70% completion rate and a quarterback rating over 100 is seen as a liability to the offense, but that’s the case with Smith.

I had Mike Holmgren on my dynasty GM team.

I’m counting on Antonio Gates as my TE1. It’s just not happening.

I have Darren Sproles on my dynasty team. It remains to be seen just what type of role he’ll end up having this year, but the other backs have really stepped up enough to eat into some of his time.

I was expecting Steven Jackson to just ride off into the sunset. All of a sudden, Daryl Richardson looks like an afterthought.

I have Vernon Davis as my TE1. It’s odd he’s not a much more prominent part of the game plan, but it won’t be an issue unless the 49ers start losing.

I expect Beanie Wells to have another two touchdown game or stay healthy for the rest of the season. I’d put the odds on either of those at 3:1.

I own the Seahawks D/ST. It’s great to see Leon Washington run back a kick, but that defense won’t be nearly as good if they lose their top two cornerbacks to suspension.

I’m counting on any Bears player other than Brandon Marshall.

I’m needing Marcel Reece. It looks like Darren McFadden will soon be making his much anticipated return.

I think Greg Little is still this super prospect. Look, I’ve never been big on him and have yet to see anything in two years that tells me he’s going to be this future star in the league.

I have Blaine Gabbert anywhere close to my roster.

I’m counting on Miles Austin down the stretch. It just seems like he’s destined to miss time yet again.

ken kelly