The Dynasty Aftermath: Week Three

Ken Kelly Posted On September 27, 2017

Welcome to DLF’s Dynasty Aftermath. This staple article is our longest running signature piece 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.

One of my favorite movies growing up was Gremlins. The battle between Gizmo and Stripe, the electric stair chair exploding through a house and the epic Montgomery Ward battle are three of my favorite parts. For those of you who haven’t seen it (and I can’t imagine there are many), there are three rules you can never break when having a Mogwai (Cantonese for “monster” by the way):

1.) Don’t expose it to bright lights
2.) Don’t let it get wet
3.) Don’t feed it after midnight

In the movie, you can imagine all three of those rules were accidentally broken, leading to mayhem in a small town. When I think of the movie and relate it to building a dynasty team, I can’t help but think there have to be the same basic covenants when building a dynasty team. If I was to create three sacred rules to building a dynasty team, I think they’d be the following:

1.) Be Patient

It’s easy to say and hard to do. However, think about your league. Are there owners who panic over a breakout performance and drop known commodities to waivers to grab those shiny pennies? Are there owners who sell the farm for rookie picks, only to see them bust? How about owners who treat every year like it’s the last one they’ll ever be in and sell off veterans for peanuts? Few of those owners are likely very successful over the long-term.

2.) Have a Plan

An owner who fails to plan has a plan to fail. It’s really that simple. If you can’t spot the sucker in your league, chances are it’s you. Recognize where you are in the process and respond accordingly.

3.) Recognize there is no off-season

Easy to say since that’s our tagline, right? Well, it’s also very true. Owners who dedicate themselves to doing whatever they can to field a successful team with year-long research and analysis are destined to be the best ones in their leagues.

With that in mind, let’s review week three.

Week Three Fantasy MVP

Last season, Todd Gurley was one of the most disappointing players in all of fantasy football and many owners were already labeling him as a bust. Well, some significant improvement from Jared Goff has opened up lanes for Gurley and he’s responded. This week against San Francisco, Gurley had a career day with 113 rushing yards, five catches, 36 receiving yards and three touchdowns. With 241 rushing yards and six touchdowns in just three weeks, it’s safe to say Gurley is back.

Week Three Fantasy LVP

We had really turned a blind eye to the start of Cam Newton this season. After all, he had no preseason work and likely needed a week or two to break out. However, this was certainly going to be the week he broke out, right!?! After all, he was playing the hapless defense of the Saints and was sure to have a patented monster (mogwai) “Newtonesque” game. Unfortunately, he responded with 167 passing yards, 16 rushing yards and three interceptions. A rushing touchdown was nice but that just turned his performance from horrifying to just plain terrible. A date with the Patriots awaits and it’s time to start looking at different options. Newton has me very concerned.

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Lineup Fun

Stripe and the Gang’s Unbeatable Lineup of the Week

QB Tom Brady NE = 378 passing yards, five touchdowns
RB Todd Gurley LAR = 113 rushing yards, five catches, 36 receiving yards, three touchdowns
RB Jordan Howard CHI = 138 rushing yards, five catches 26 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Dalvin Cook MIN = 97 rushing yards, five receptions, 72 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Stefon Diggs MIN = Eight catches, 173 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Brandin Cooks NE = Five catches, 131 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Odell Beckham, Jr. NYG = Nine catches, 79 receiving yards, two touchdowns
TE Rob Gronkowski NE = Eight catches, 89 receiving yards, one touchdown

Gizmo as Rambo – The Underdog Lineup of the Week

QB Case Keenum MIN = 369 passing yards, 18 rushing yards, three touchdowns
RB Duke Johnson CLE = 23 rushing yards, six receptions, 81 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Christian McCaffrey CAR = 16 rushing yards, nine catches, 101 receiving yards
RB Alvin Kamara NO = 37 rushing yards, three receptions, five receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Sammy Watkins LAR = Six receptions, 106 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Sterling Shepard NYG = Seven receptions, 133 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Chris Hogan NE = Four receptions, 68 receiving yards, two touchdowns
TE Marcedes Lewis JAX = Four catches, 62 receiving yards, three touchdowns

You Broke all Three Rules – The Disappointing Lineup of the Week

QB Joe Flacco BAL = 28 passing yards (yes, 28), two interceptions
RB Darren Sproles PHI = 11 rushing yards, one wrist injury and a torn ACL
RB Mike Gillislee NE = 31 rushing yards (shame on you if this wasn’t expected at some point)
RB Jay Ajayi MIA = 16 rushing yards, two catches, nine receiving yards
WR Jeremy Maclin BAL = One catch, eight receiving yards
WR Kelvin Benjamin CAR = Two catches, eight receiving yards, one lower leg injury
WR Amari Cooper OAK = One catch, six receiving yards
TE Travis Kelce KC = One catch, one receiving yard

Gut Checks

I’d be worried if I owned Cam Newton. See above.

I’d be worried if I was relying on any Baltimore running back.

I’d be worried if I thought Vernon Davis was dead.

I’d be worried if I expected a resurgence from Julius Thomas.

I’d be worried if I bought strange unknown animals from pawn shops.

I’d be worried if I had Russell Wilson. He won’t make it through sixteen games like this.

I’d be worried if I thought Sterling Shepard was going to just disappear this season.

I’d be worried if I’m forgetting about Doug Martin.

I’d be worried if I let my pet drive around in a Barbie car.

I’d be worried if I’m still totally dismissing Chris Thompson.

I’d be worried if I’m not considering making a run to get Alvin Kamara sooner, rather than later.

I’d be worried if I had Jay Ajayi. I still don’t fully trust those knees.

I’d be worried if I think the cold start for Le’Veon Bell is going to continue.

I’d be worried if I found myself in a movie theater with strange green creatures.

I’d be worried if I think DeMarco Murray is going to go away quietly.

I’d be worried if I’m ignoring what the improvement of Jared Goff can do for Sammy Watkins.

I’d be worried if I own any Giants running back.

I’d be worried if I underestimated the intestinal fortitude of Gizmo.

I’d be worried if I owned Kelvin Benjamin. Again, he can’t stay on the field.

I’d be worried if I didn’t think Pierre Garcon could be part of a championship team.

I’d be worried if I was giving up on Jordan Howard. That was a much needed performance.

I’d be worried if I was playing against Tom Brady.

I’d be worried if I was playing against Kareem Hunt, too.

I’d be worried if I was ignoring the fact Marqise Lee looks like the best option for the Jags.

I’d be worried if I had a pet who couldn’t get wet and still thought having a glass of water in my bedroom was a good idea.

I’d be worried if I owned Lamar Miller. This looks a lot like the start of last year.

I’d be worried if I didn’t do everything I could to get Dalvin Cook before this week.

I’d be worried if I thought Larry Fitzgerald was all washed up.

I’d be worried if I owned Jordan Reed. Just sayin’.

I’d be worried if I drafted John Ross. This isn’t going to script at all. Or is it?

I’d be worried if I owned Laquon Treadwell, Even if he improved dramatically, he’s the third best receiver in Minnesota.

I’d be worried if I underestimated the transcendent multi-movie crossover power of John Rambo.

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 Tarik Cohen, Marlon Mack, Chris Carson, Allen Hurns or Kenny Golladay already rostered. Pay close attention because we tend to be ahead of the curve. Remember also that you need to have space for deep projects – don’t start dropping known commodities. Read above! My assumption here is Wendell Smallwood is owned in your league. If not, that’s a gimme.

1.) Mack Brown, RB WAS

Rob Kelley has been ineffective and injured. Samaje Perine hasn’t shown much at all. There’s something about Brown I like.

2.) Malcolm Brown, RB LAR

While he has no standalone value, I can see a total mad scramble if Todd Gurley gets hurt. Why not be proactive if you have a free spot or two?

3.) Alex Collins, RB BAL

I’m a firm believer that Collins ins’t a special athlete. I’m also a firm believer that the Ravens offense is awful and needs a spark.

4.) Corey Clement, RB PHI

I’ve been on the Clement bandwagon for months and the Darren Sproles injury is going to at least give him a chance.

5.) Elijah McGuire, RB NYJ

The Jets are going to go solidly into the youth movement here shortly and McGuire is picking up snaps already.

6.) Ryan Griffin, TE HOU

You could do worse for a backup tight end, especially with Deshaun Watson maturing.

7.) Devin Funchess, WR CAR

I’m really not a huge Funchess fan, but Kelvin Benjamin is scaring me at the moment.

Previous suggestions: Jesse James, Mike Tolbert, Kerwynn Williams, Andre Ellington, Orleans Darkwa, Buck Allen, Tommylee Lewis, Markus Wheaton. Geronimo Allison, Keelan Cole

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Ken Kelly

Co-Founder at DynastyLeagueFootball

Ken is a corporate trainer by day an a tireless editor of dynasty content by night. His passion for the World Champion Seattle Seahawks is second only to his love of fantasy football and the dynasty format.

Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK