The Dynasty Aftermath: Meet Me Halfway Across the Sky Edition
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.
In the 1987 cinematic masterpiece Over the Top, a ripped up Sylvester Stallone plays Lincoln Hawk, a truck driver and closet arm wrestler who has one goal in mind – win the world arm wrestling championship. The film is widely regarded as one of the best films of all-time with amazing acting all around and a story that is completely and totally believable. I mean, seriously, who doesn’t know an isolated truck driver who lost his family and is left with nothing but a dream of one-armed immortality? I couldn’t find the movie on AFI’s top 100 but that’s probably because it’s in a category of one, all on its own. I’m also pretty sure it was narrowly beaten out by Platoon for the 1987 Academy Award for Best Picture. I didn’t look it up, but I KNOW Stallone at least beat out Paul Newman in The Color of Money for Best Actor in a Motion Picture that year. If anything, it’s EASILY the best arm wrestling action movie of all time. If you haven’t seen this movie, I’d recommend it with great enthusiasm and aggressiveness.
As you know, I like to associate things I like to dynasty fantasy football and this year I’m focusing on movies I liked as a kid in this column – this one is clearly in the upper crust of great childhood movies. I can remember watching this and going out to my carport (we couldn’t afford real garage) and arm wrestling my neighbors, thinking all you really had to do was turn your hat backwards and change your grip to become more powerful and beat your opponent. It only actually worked once with my cousin, but I actually think that had more to do with him farting as we were arm wrestling and him subsequently laughing and losing his focus. Still, I’ll take it where I can get it! If you can’t hold it in, man, that’s on you. As a side note, he did get me back one day when we had a Super Soaker battle and he filled his giant squirt gun with lemon juice. As a point of reference, that doesn’t feel good on the eyes, though my hair did lighten up over the Summer nicely.
If you were to somehow weave Over the Top into the world of dynasty fantasy football, it would probably have something to do with never giving up, no matter how intimidating the lineup your opponent has may seem to be. You never know what can happen on a given day and you can never take a break in setting the best possible lineup you can in every week. The second you don’t, you’ve lost in more ways than one.
The other lesson Over the Top can teach us is that when you’re at a truck stop and a guy named Smasher challenges you to an arm wrestling match, you CAN beat him as long as you have a hat you can turn around and have an abandoned son you just picked up from a Military Academy you’re trying to impress. Heck, you can even give an inspirational speech to that same son and have him beat kids playing pinball in Jr. arm wrestling if you’re so inclined. It’s proven. It works.
And since I’m reaching near rant stage already, was anyone a bigger stud in the 80s than Kenny Loggins? Seriously. That dude had the theme song to Top Gun, Footloose and Over the Top in the span of three years. That might be the real takeaway here – no matter how well you do at fantasy football, it’s going to be really tough to put together a span of time better than Loggins, who just crushed it in the mid-80s. I’d like to meet him half way to his studliness.
Off we go…
Week Four Fantasy MVP
Deshaun Watson has arrived in reality and fantasy. The Texans quarterback threw for 283 yards, rushed for another 24 and accounted for five total touchdowns in Sunday’s surprising 57-14 rout of the Titans. Watson is progressing quicker than even most optimists could have thought and while this could very well be the best line he puts up all season, it certainly looks like the city of Houston finally has a franchise quarterback. Watson is looking like an upside QB2 this season but has also shown flashes of QB1 ability and that’s exciting for anyone who owns his rights.
Week Four Fantasy LVP
When Marshawn Lynch signed with Oakland earlier this off-season, owners scrambled to waiver wires and even gambled in rookie and free agent drafts to get him. At this point, those moves aren’t bearing much fruit as Lynch has posted just 15 carries for 30 yards over the past two weeks combined, including a 12-yard effort this week against Denver. With Derek Carr sidelined in the short term, the Raiders are going to need Lynch to step up quickly. At this point, he belongs squarely on fantasy benches until further notice.
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Lineup Fun
Bull Hurley’s Unbeatable Lineup of the Week
QB Deshaun Watson HOUÂ = 283 passing yards, 24 rushing yards, five touchdowns, one interception
RB Le’Veon Bell PITÂ = 144 rushing yards, four catches, 42 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Todd Gurley LARÂ = 121 rushing yards, seven catches, 94 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Ezekiel Elliott DALÂ = 85 rushing yards, four receptions, 54 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR DeAndre Hopkins HOUÂ = Ten catches, 107 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Jordy Nelson GBÂ = Four catches, 75 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Michael Thomas NOÂ = Eight catches, 89 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Travis Kelce KC = Seven catches, 11 receiving yards, one touchdown
Lincoln Hawk’s Underdog Lineup of the Week
QB Andy Dalton CINÂ = 286 passing yards, 29 rushing yards, four touchdowns
RB Bilal Powell NYJÂ = 163 rushing yards, four receptions, 27 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Elijah McGuire NYJÂ = 93 rushing yards, two catches, 38 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB JD McKissic SEAÂ = 38 rushing yards, one reception, 27 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Devin Funchess CAR = Seven receptions, 70 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Tyrell Williams LACÂ = Five receptions, 115 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Will Fuller HOUÂ = Four receptions, 35 receiving yards, two touchdowns
TEÂ Tyler Croft CIN = Six catches, 68 receiving yards, two touchdowns
Harry Bosco’s Disappointing Lineup of the Week
QB Jay Cutler MIAÂ = 164 passing yards, one interception
RB Adrian Peterson NO =Â Four rushing yards
RB Derrick Henry TENÂ = Seven rushing yards
RB Marshawn Lynch OAK =Â 12 rushing yards
WR Taylor Gabriel ATL = No catches
WR Demaryius Thomas DEN =Â One catch, 11 receiving yards
WR Sammy Watkins LAR = One catch, 17 receiving yards
TE Jason Witten DAL =Â One catch, nine receiving yards
Gut Checks
I’d be worried if I owned Rob Kelley. You can’t make your mark on the bench.
I’d be worried if I’m overreacting to the loss of Dalvin Cook or Chris Carson. You’re in a dynasty league for a reason.
I’d be worried if I owned Jacquizz Rodgers. The party isn’t over but all the attractive people have left.
I’d be worried if I was counting on Zay Jones this season.
I’d be worried if I was arm wrestling without a hat.
I’d be worried if I was hoping for a Julius Thomas resurgence.
I’d be worried if I was ignoring the emergence of Chris Hogan.
I’d be worried if I owned Matt Forte.
I’d be worried if my arm wrestling opponent eats cigars and drinks valvoline.
I’d be worried if I was hoping for consistency from Derrick Henry.
I’d be worried if I had soured in any way on DeAndre Hopkins.
I’d be worried if I was a truck driver and didn’t modify my 18-wheeler to be an arm wrestling home gym.
I’d be worried if I was still starting Paul Perkins.
I’d be worried if I owned Kenny Britt. When your own coach tells everyone he wishes he could bench you, it’s not good.
I’d be worried if I was intimidated by Terry Funk.
I’d be worried if I owned DeSean Jackson. It’s not clicking quite yet.
I’d be worried if I owned Amari Cooper. Worry, yes. Panic? No.
I’d be worried if I’m ignoring what Cooper Kupp is doing.
Ditto with Evan Engram.
I’d be worried if I underestimated the power of Robert Loggia in any movie.
I’d be worried if I owned Jason Witten. This went bad in a hurry.
I’d be worried if I didn’t make sure all the air was out of my stomach before arm wrestling.
I’d be worried if I’m playing against Greg Zuerlein. I’m kind of serious even.
I’d be worried if I was relying on any Eagles running back at the moment.
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, Allen Hurns, Wayne Gallman 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.
1.) EJ Manuel, QB OAK
With Derek Carr sidelined, Manuel could emerge as an emergency quarterback during a bad bye week for owners who have little depth at the position.
2.) Aaron Jones, RB GB
If Jones is available in your league, he’s a great pickup. With all the injuries in the Green Bay backfield, he gets a nice little short term window to show his stuff.
3.) Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, JD McKissic, RBs SEA
The injury to Chris Carson has left a total mess in Seattle. My best guess is Rawls gets the first shot at early down work with Lacy spelling him as a change of pace. McKissic showed enough to get a few touches here and there and if CJ Prosise continues to get hurt, he could have value as a third down back. One of them should emerge. It’s a dice roll, though.
4.) Latavius Murray / Jerick McKinnon, RBs MIN
My guess is these players are likely owned in your league. If not, Murray is the top player on the wire this week.
5.) Tyler Kroft, TE CIN
He’s the second best “Tyler” the Bengals have at tight end. He’s also the healthiest.
7.) Tyler Higbee, TE LAR
It’s a week for Tylers! Higbee hasn’t just disappeared with the addition of Gerald Everett.
8.) Anyone Named “Smasher”
It’s just a hard rule I have.
Previous suggestions: Jesse James, Mike Tolbert, Kerwynn Williams, Andre Ellington, Orleans Darkwa, Buck Allen, Tommylee Lewis, Markus Wheaton. Geronimo Allison, Keelan Cole, Mack Brown, Malcolm Brown, Alex Collins, Corey Clement, Elijah McGuire, Ryan Griffin, Devin Funchess
I leave you with the following awesomeness as the winner takes it all and the loser takes the fall!
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Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
