The Dynasty Aftermath: Burt Reynolds Memorial
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. Expect it each and every week.
I’ve written this column for over a decade and I always forget how much I truly enjoy it. I love combing through the stats of the week, putting together ridiculous lineups, finding waiver wire gems, picking MVPs/LVPs and discussing things to worry about.
That’s not all.
I also really love sharing little bits of my life with the community of DLF and picking a theme for this column each week. This year, I’m going off the rails a bit. I’m not just exclusively choosing movies or TV shows and sticking with them. Â I’m simply picking something relevant, wacky or whatever may come into my mind each given week. My hope is each week will at least be interesting in some way and hopefully make you laugh a few times.
This week can only start in one way. The world lost a Hollywood Icon last week when Burt Reynolds passed away. When I was a kid, the Smokey and the Bandit series was one of my favorite movie franchises. As I started writing this column, my son asked what I was watching. I told him it was Smokey and the Bandit. When he asked what that was, I told him it was like The Fast and the Furious with sweet mustaches. Â I think that’s accurate.
Burt is known for lots of movies and actually for a lot of roles he turned down. Whether you remember him for his role in Smokey and the Bandit, Deliverance, Boogie Nights or The Cannonball Run, you likely remember him – thats the important thing. In honor of Burt, we begin our 17-week journey as we re-cap the NFL.
After all, it’s what Burt and that sweet Trans-Am would have wanted.
Week One Fantasy MVP
This one could go in a lot of ways. We had some truly epic performances from Tyreek Hill, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas, but we knew they’d be entrenched in lineups. Instead, I’m going to with James Conner, who filled in for Le’Veon Bell and erupted for 135 rushing yards, five catches, 57 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Steelers. While nobody could ever expect the numbers they got from Hill, Kamara and Thomas, Conner’s performance was stunning and won a lot of owners their games this week. Pittsburgh has been singing his praises all off-season and now we know why. While it’s just one game and the Steelers could go in a lot of different directions in the short and long-term future, Conner has clearly become an expensive dynasty asset as his owners salivate and wonder what could be if Le’Veon Bell does indeed walk at the end of the season or sits out longer. While the ride could end any week, owners will enjoy it while it lasts.
Week One Fantasy LVP
I usually go with a player who has a poor performance in this category. However, something happened this week that’s making me go in a different direction as the Bucs went as far as not even activating rookie running back Ronald Jones II after an off-season that can only be described as a catastrophe. The deactivation shows Jones hasn’t just fallen behind Peyton Barber, but Tampa sees more value in both Jacquizz Rodgers and Shaun Wilson at the moment as well. Dynasty owners spent some serious draft capital on on Jones this off-season and while it’s not time to totally panic, Buford T. Justice is on your tail and your Trans-Am won’t even start. We’ll see what happens next week as this could be a shot across the bow for Jones. However, this is one of the biggest stories of the weekend in terms of dynasty value.
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Lineup Fun
The Bandit’s Unbeatable Lineup of the Week
QB Drew Brees NO Â = 439 passing yards, three touchdowns
RB Alvin Kamara NO  = 29 rushing yards, nine receptions, 112 receiving yards, three touchdowns
RB James Conner PIT Â = 135 rushing yards, five receptions, 57 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Melvin Gordon LAC Â = 64 rushing yards, nine receptions, 102 receiving yards
WR Tyreek Hill KCÂ = Seven catches, 169 receiving yards, three total touchdowns
WR Michael Thomas NOÂ = 16 catches, 180 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Emmanuel Sanders DEN Â = Ten catches, 135 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Rob Gronkowski NE Â =Â Seven catches, 123 receiving yards, one touchdown
The Transporting of an Elephant Across Country Underdog Lineup of the Week
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick TB Â = 417 passing yards, 36 rushing yards, five total touchdowns
RB Austin Ekeler LAC Â = 39 rushing yards, five receptions, 87 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Adrian Peterson WAS Â = 96 rushing yards, two receptions, 70 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Phillip Lindsay DENÂ = 71 rushing yards, two receptions, 31 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR DeSean Jackson TB  = Five receptions, 146 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Jakeem Grant MIAÂ = Five receptions, 38 receiving yards, one special teams touchdown
WR Phillip Dorsett NE  = Seven receptions, 66 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Will Dissly SEA =Â Three catches, 105 receiving yards, one touchdown
The Smokey and the Bandit III Disappointing Lineup of the Week
QB Marcus Mariota TEN Â = 103 passing yards, 15 rushing yards, two interceptions
RB Alfred Morris SF =Â 38 rushing yards, one lost fumble at the goal line
RB LeSean McCoy BUFÂ = 22 rushing yards, one catch, -1 receiving yard
RB Derrick Henry TEN Â =Â 26 rushing yards, one reception, five receiving yards
WR Antonio Callaway CLE Â =Â No catches
WR DJ Moore CAR Â =Â One catch, three receiving yards
WR Chris Hogan NE Â =Â One catch, 11 receiving yards
TE Travis Kelce KC Â =Â One catch, six receiving yards
Gut Checks
I’d be worried if I didn’t think Adrian Peterson could still make a difference in dynasty leagues.
I’d be worried if I owned Leonard Fournette. Minor injuries are becoming a theme.
I’d be worried if I thought Royce Freeman was going to be given every carry in Denver. Looks like they’re not willing to commit just yet.
I’d be worried if I hadn’t bought Patrick Mahomes. That ship sailed on Sunday.
I’d be worried if I hadn’t seen Smokey and the Bandit.
I’d be worried if I owned Derrick Henry. It really seems Dion Lewis is the preferred option in Tennessee.
I’d be worried if I’m still underestimating Kenny Golladay.
I’d be worried if I’m relying on any Ravens tight end.
I’d be worried if I had a Smokey on my tail.
I’d be worried if I owned Delanie Walker or Greg Olsen.
I’d be worried if I didn’t believe Juju Smith-Schuster was going to be a player to build a team around.
I’d be worried if I was bailing on Kareem Hunt.
I’d be worried if I was relying on any player on the Buffalo Bills.
I’d be worried if I didn’t know what the World’s Biggest Game of Chicken Was
I’d be worried if I owned Cameron Meredith.
I’d be worried if I was overreacting to the performance of Jay Ajayi.
I’d be worried if I still thought Chris Thompson was a fluke.
I’d be worried if I owned Jimmy Graham. It’s early, but he was an afterthought.
I’d be worried if I thought Kenny Stills’ performance was a fluke.
I’d be worried if I still thought Sammy Watkins was an elite dynasty asset.
I’d be worried if I had no idea who Turd Ferguson was.
I’d be worried if I thought DeSean Jackson was going to do that every week.
I’d be worried if I owned Kenyan Drake. Frank Gore is not going away, folks.
I’d be worried if I’m overreacting to absolutely anything this week. Scoring leaders are going to look off as some players likely had their best day of the year. Patience needs to be applied in your leagues so you don’t make a you move you’ll regret come October. Studs will be studs and rookies will develop slowly. It’s no time to overreact to anything.
Fun With Numbers
Ryan Fitzpatrick is on pace for 6.672 passing yards, 576 rushing yards and 80 total touchdowns, which would likely keep Jameis Winston on the bench.
Tyreek Hill is on pace for 2,704 receiving yards this season.
James Conner is on pace for 2,160 rushing yards.
Michael Thomas is on pace for 256 catches, 2,880 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. I’d bet that would be enough to earn him fantasy MVP.
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 already rostered like Nyheim Hines or Aaron Jones.  Pay close attention because we tend to be ahead of the curve.
Jonnu Smith, TE TEN
Smith is likely already on a dynasty roster but the injury to Delanie Walker makes him a must add in every league.
Ian Thomas, TE CAR
Much like Smith, there’s a chance Thomas could still be floating out there on the wire. With Greg Olsen’s status in doubt, the uber-athletic Thomas needs to be on a roster.
Will Dissly, TE SEA
I would not be surprised if this week’s performance from Dissly was the best of his season or even his career. However, you never know and a lot of folks scoffed about the breakout of Jack Doyle as well. That one stuck and this one could, too.
Geronimo Allison, WR GB
There has been a ton of talk about the third receiver in Green Bay emerging. I think he finally has.
Phillip Lindsay, RB DEN
Lindsay had as many carries as Royce Freeman in the Broncos opener as he had a bit of a hot hand. While not a real threat to Freeman as the starter, it seems Lindsay has jumped Devontae Booker on the depth chart. While too small to really be a featured player, Lindsay will likely have a nice role moving forward. Just be aware any injury to Freeman would likely vault Booker into the early down job and keep Lindsay to change of pace and third down duties based on his size and skill set.
Phillip Dorsett, WR NE
Dorsett has been on and off tons of lineups over the past few years. It’s time to have him back on.
Brandon Marshall, WR SEA
The veteran receiver showed he still had some juice left this week. With Doug Baldwin out for at least a few weeks, Marshall looks like the most reliable receiver in Seattle, which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of the Seahawks.
Austin Carr, WR NO
The former New England camp star earned the start this week and while his four catch performance wasn’t exactly dominant, a starting slot receiver for Drew Brees can’t be ignored. At this point, he’s beaten out Meredith and that can’t be ignored.
Shaun Wilson, RB TB
As we said earlier, Ronald Jones is in the doghouse. Wilson is a serious dart throw and deep sleeper but that’s what you come here for, right?
Jakeem Grant, WR MIA
The talent with Grant is undeniable. Unfortunately, so is the track record of DeVante Parker. At this point, Grant should be owned to see if his role can be developed.
RIP Burt.
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Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
