The Dynasty Aftermath: Week Three
Fantasy football…the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Dynasty.
With 75 million people playing worldwide, fantasy football has boldly gone where no one has gone before. It’s growing each and every year and in honor of this universal phenomenon, we channel our inner “Trekkie” for this week’s edition of the Dynasty Aftermath. Let’s spin around the league in the way we know best.
In Star Trek, there are a whole host of characters in each and every episode. However, the four main characters in the series are Captain Kirk, Spock, Dr. McCoy and Scotty. When thinking through Star Trek and comparing it to fantasy football, I couldn’t help but wonder just who the main cast will be this year? If you were to take any quarterback (Kirk), running back (Spock), wide receiver (McCoy) and tight end (Scotty) to make your ultimate fantasy football cast, who would they be? Going into the season, I’d likely have gone with Cam Newton, Adrian Peterson, Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski as my four choices. If you ever wondered just how fast things change, look no further than that. Peterson is already out for the year and Gronkowski has barely played. Things change faster than warp factor ten, folks.
Take a gander at some of the NFL leaders in the major statistical categories and you can tell just how unpredictable the first three weeks of the season have been. Captain Kirk Cousins is second in the league with 989 passing yards. The rushing leader is LeGarrette Blount and I’d bet most would guess ten players before guessing Blount correctly there. Isaiah Crowell is a close second and that doesn’t seem possible, either. The receiving leader is none other than Marvin Jones. The tight end position is the only one with any sense of normalcy, as it’s led (in terms of yardage) by Greg Olsen at the moment. Do any of us really believe Cousins, Blount, Jones and Olsen are going to lead us to “The Final Frontier” and lead the league when all is said and done? Likely not, but it just goes to show how crazy the beginning of the year has been. In short, it feels like we’ve been stunned with a phaser.
So, now what?
All I’m saying is anything great takes some time. Week three results typically cause novice fantasy players to panic and start making unnecessary or unguided moves if they find their team sitting at 0-3. Every team is flying through an asteroid field right now and nobody really knows how this is going to shake out at the end. Small sample sizes in dynasty leagues are dangerous and they’re magnified at the beginning of any season. Things will even out in the end. Just Takei a break and relax. Sorry, had to do it. The occipital area of my head seems to have impacted with the arm of the chair and forced me to make puns.
[arve url=”https://youtu.be/Xk6Y79vduEE”]
With all that being said and done, we present the Dynasty Aftermath. Expect some Star Trek references.
Week Three’s Fantasy MVP
I wrote in this column last week about never trusting the “I told you so guy,” who retweets their predictions and claims to always be right. Well, I can tell you I was flat wrong about someone this week with total certainty. You see, I believed Marvin Jones would be a decent WR2/3 type who could get you a game with five catches, 80 yards and a score or one who could just as easily post three catches for 25 yards as a good option for Matt Stafford, but hardly an elite one. It’s safe to say I really undervalued what his presence on the Lions would do to his value. In short, it’s skyrocketed after his blistering start this year. Sunday’s six catch, 2o5 yard, two touchdown effort only cements his status not as a WR2/3, but more as a WR1/2. He may be wearing a blue shirt, but he’s not going away no matter what planet he lands on.
Week Three’s Fantasy LVP
Few could have predicted the breakout from Marvin Jones, but nobody could have seen what would happen (or not happen) with Kelvin Benjamin this week. Fantasy football’s overall WR1 had no catches on ONE target in a game where Cam Newton attempted 35 passes. What!?! It’s a total outlier and likely won’t happen again, but this was a massive disappointment for Benjamin owners. It’s like he was taken by the Borg. Please bring him back!
[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]
Lineup Fun
The Unbeatable Lineup of the Week
“Resistance is futile.”
QB Aaron Rodgers GB = 205 passing yards, 22 rushing yards, four touchdowns
RB LeSean McCoy BUF = 110 rushing yards, three catches, six receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB DeMarco Murray TEN = 114 rushing yards, five catches, 41 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Tevin Coleman ATL = 42 rushing yards, three catches, 47 receiving yards, three touchdowns
WR Marvin Jones DET = Six catches, 205 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Emmanuel Sanders DEN = Nine catches, 117 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR TY Hilton IND = Eight catches, 174 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Travis Kelce KC = Six catches, 89 receiving yards, one touchdown
The Underdog Lineup of the Week
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
QB Trevor Siemian DEN = 312 passing yards, five rushing yards, four touchdowns
RB Darren Sproles PHI = -1 rushing yards, six catches, 128 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Christine Michael SEA = 106 rushing yards, two catches, five receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB LeGarrette Blount NE = 105 rushing yards, two touchdowns
WR/RB/QB/S Terrelle Pryor CLE = 35 passing yards, 21 rushing yards, eight catches, 144 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Tavon Austin LA = 22 rushing yards, five catches, 82 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Adam Humphries TB = Nine catches, 100 receiving yards
TE Zach Miller CHI = Eight catches, 78 receiving yards, two touchdowns
The Disappointing Lineup of the Week
“Beam me up, Scotty.”
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick NYJ = 188 passing yards, 22 rushing yards, six (!) interceptions
RB Derrick Henry TEN = 45 rushing yards
RB CJ Anderson DEN = 37 rushing yards, one catch, for receiving yards
RB Spencer Ware KC = 75 rushing yards, one catch, eight receiving yards
WR Kelvin Benjamin CAR = No catches
WR Julio Jones ATL = One catch, 16 receiving yards
WR Randall Cobb GB = One catch, 33 receiving yards
TE Julius Thomas JAX = Two catches, 13 receiving yards
Gut Checks
I’d be worried if I bailed too quickly on Christine Michael. I guess it just takes, you know, four or five years of heartache before he becomes something.
I’d be worried if I owned Dez Bryant. This whole “he’s not elite without Romo” thing is getting a little old.
I’d be worried if I owned Randall Cobb. Seriously, there’s tribble here. I mean, trouble.
I’d be worried if I was holding on to Kendall Wright. He’s one of the most common roster cloggers in shallow leagues at the moment.
I’d be worried if I was relying on Latavius Murray. There are more mouths to feed in Oakland than there are in the cafeteria of Federation starship at the moment.
I’d be worried if I owned Austin Seferian-Jenkins. He’s quickly on his way to joining Jerramy Stevens in the “Troubled University of Washington Tight Ends who never seem get it” category. Maybe the Jets can save him. It’s not like Ryan Fitzpatrick throws any errant passes. Wait. What!?!
I’d be worried if I owned Russell Wilson. He’s getting mauled. This is what it probably looks like whenever he drops back to pass:
[arve url=”https://youtu.be/nX3KsHDZ1sE”]
I’d be worried if I’m all of a sudden saying Jimmy Graham is back. One game is great. Two would be better.
I’d be worried if I owned Matt Jones. The Redskins running game just isn’t very good.
I’d be worried if I was discounting Darren Sproles. He’ll be playing when he’s 90.
I’d be worried if I ignoring the fact Melvin Gordon and Lamar Miller are each still averaging just 3.6 yards per carry.
I’d be worried if I ignored what Terrelle Pryor did. If he’s used like this for the next few weeks, this is going to get really interesting.
I’d be worried if I owned Ryan Mathews. Uhh, it looks like there are about 42 capable running backs on that roster.
I’d be worried if I didn’t own a piece of this pretty impressive rookie receiver class. I’d cling on to these guys. Or is it Klingon?
I’d be worried if I expected that kind of performance weekly from Cameron Brate.
I’d be worried if I owned Andrew Luck. He’s not going to be “David Carr-ed” here, but he’s also under too much pressure too often.
I’d be worried if I had Cody Kessler. The Browns quarterback situation is like that guy in the red shirt who gets beamed down to the newly explored planet. He isn’t going to last too long.
I’d be worried if I owned Alshon Jeffery. The offense in Chicago is going to be terribly inconsistent.
I’d be worried if I thought I had the Chicago running game figured out. Jordan Howard has a great chance here, but keep an open mind.
I’d be worried if I thought Kirk Cousins was out of the woods.
I’d be worried if I thought Trevor Siemian was going to do that every week.
I’d be worried if I didn’t have faith in Doug Baldwin.
I’d be worried if I sold Adrian Peterson on the cheap. Something tells me he has one more really good stretch left in him.
I’d be worried if I needed any immediate production from the Titans offense outside of DeMarco Murray.
I’d be worried if I was playing Jarvis Landry. I don’t think he’s human. He may be from Kronos, actually.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t confident in Jeremy Hill helping me, even in a part-time capacity.
I’d be worried if I was needing production from any Pittsburgh receiver outside of Antonio Brown.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t paying attention to just how poised Carson Wentz has been.
I’d be worried if I was relying on any Minnesota running back quite yet.
I’d be worried if I was freaking out over anything. Remember, dynasty leagues are more about five year missions than three weeks of production.
A Look Ahead to Hot Names on the Waiver Wire
Remember, we focus on the lesser names here. There’s really no need to be telling people of your skill level to pick up players you undoubtedly have like Spencer Ware, Chris Hogan, Mohamed Sanu or Tyrell Williams. We’re also not going to list obvious names you likely have rostered like Wendell Smallwood. Pay close attention because we tend to be ahead of the curve.
Note: Come back later in the week as we tend to add to this and make this a “living” list throughout the week.
1.) Orleans Darkwa, RB NYG
With Shane Vereen on the shelf and Rashad Jennings hurting, Darkwa is going to get a nice, long look.
2.) Raheem Mostert, RB CHI
Stay with me here. This is a deep stash for sure, but the Bears need help. Jordan Howard gets the first shot at this post-Langford, but I’m looking forward to seeing Mostert if he ever gets a chance.
3.) Trevone Boykin, QB SEA
Color me skeptical on Russell Wilson playing sixteen games on two bad wheels.
4.) Cameron Brate, TE TB
Don’t expect that kind of production again. Still, he’s clearly taken over for ASJ.
Previous suggestions: Jalen Richard, Quincy Enunwa, Cole Beasley, Tyreek Hill, Dwayne Washington, Jeremy Kerley, Jacoby Brissett, Cody Kessler, Fozzy Whittaker, Colt McCoy, Kenny Britt, Kenneth Farrow, Trey Burton, Colin Kaepernick.
Live long and prosper.
[/am4show]
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
