The Dynasty Aftermath: Putting your Fate in the Hands of Jaron Brown

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. 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 along the way.

Building a dynasty is extraordinarily difficult and can be just as maddening when things don’t go your way. While I don’t use this column to talk about my own dynasty teams very much (after all, you care more about yours than mine), I have a situation that merits it as we go into Monday Night Football.  As such, we’re posting the aftermath early.

I have a team I’ve worked very hard on in a 12-team league for the better part of the last decade.  It’s easily the best team I’ve ever had and that’s a result of timely waiver additions, very lucky drafting and timely trades…most of all, a little bit of luck.  Sometimes fate shines upon you and you come up with a PPR roster like the following (starters in bold):

Quarterback

Russell Wilson

Philip Rivers

Running Back

Melvin Gordon
James Conner

Peyton Barber
Matt Breida
Chris Carson
Gus Edwards
Dion Lewis
LeSean McCoy
Latavius Murray
Adrian Peterson

Wide Receivers

Odell Beckham, Jr.
Antonio Brown
DeAndre Hopkins
Amari Cooper

Brandin Cooks
John Brown
Antonio Callaway
Kenny Golladay
Keith Kirkwood

Tight End

Eric Ebron

Rob Gronkowski

Am I putting this out to impress anyone?  Nope. In fact, I’ve seen lots and lots of better teams over the years.  So, why is it relevant?  Because this team in its current form is on the verge of losing for the 11th year in a row. That’s right, that’s a team that has never won a fantasy title, regardless of year. It’s never even made the finals.

This week, it may be derailed because of the untimely injuries to Melvin Gordon, James Conner and Odell Beckham, Jr., combined with the poor performances of Philip Rivers, Gus Edwards, LeSean McCoy, Brandin Cooks and Antonio Brown all coming in the same week.  If Jaron Brown scores more than 18.7 points, this team will be derailed by a group with Matt Ryan, Saquon Barkley and Davante Adams.  A good team for sure, but not quite in the same ballpark.

I don’t post this to make you root for or against me.  In fact, I’ve come to get used to losing in this league.  I bring it up because it makes a point. I was furious last night that I was going to lose (only Amari Cooper’s monster game gives me a good chance). I then realized something later that night.  This is what makes fantasy football fun.

My team certainly doesn’t deserve to win (in fact, there are 2-3 teams in that league with starting lineups just as good). The point here is you just need to make the playoffs to have a chance.  Nothing in fantasy football is pre-ordained and pulling a big upset can be just as good as winning a league titles sometimes.  I’ll pay attention with great enthusiasm, but my anger has gone to acceptance – luck has a big part in this and accepting that fact is important as we hit the playoffs.  Try and try to make the best team possible, but timing and luck are always going to be a big part of this game. Eleven years of hard work are in the hands of Jaron Brown and that’s what makes fantasy football exciting, fun and unique.

On to the week that was.

Week Fourteen Fantasy MVP

I don’t usually choose two players for any category but this week really has two who need to be mentioned in Amari Cooper and Derrick Henry. Cooper was fantastic against the Eagles with ten catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Cooper has been on fire of late with 26 catches, 473 yards and five touchdowns over the past three weeks, quieting anyone who doubted he could rise to WR1 status for the rest of the year, including me. As for Henry, he posted as many points this week as he had in the past five combined as he rumbled to 238 yards and four touchdowns against the Jaguars. If you were stuck with running back injuries and needed him for a spot play, you likely won your playoff game.

Week Fourteen Fantasy LVP

Two carries for one yard before leaving with a hamstring injury is not what owners wanted from LeSean McCoy this week. He was clearly a popular choice for owners with injuries at running back (and many who didn’t). After all, McCoy had his best game by far against the Jets earlier this season with 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns. McCoy’s quick hamstring strain likely killed the playoff hopes of many teams this week.

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Lineup Fun

If you fielded any of the lineups below, let us know and you’ll get a free three months of DLF Premium. We just need the league ID and a screenshot to verify and you’re off an running. The first three to respond would win!

The Unbeatable Lineup of the Week

QB Tom Brady NE = 358 passing yards, three touchdowns
RB Derrick Henry TEN = 238 rushing yards, four touchdowns
RB Ezekiel Elliott DAL = 113 rushing yards, 12 catches, 79 receiving yards
RB Saquon Barkley NYG = 170 rushing yards, four catches, 27 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Amari Cooper DAL = Ten catches, 217 receiving yards, three touchdowns
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT = Eight catches, 130 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Julio Jones ATL = Eight catches, 106 receiving yards, two touchdowns
TE George Kittle SF = Seven catches, 210 receiving yards, one touchdown

The Underdog Lineup of the Week

QB Dak Prescott DAL = 455 passing yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions
RB Brandon Bolden MIA = 60 rushing yards, two touchdowns
RB Damien Williams KC = 14 rushing yards, four catches, 16 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Kenneth Dixon BAL = 59 rushing yards, one catch, 21 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Kenny Stills MIA = Eight catches, 135 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Robert Foster BUF = Seven catches, 104 receiving yards
WR Isaiah McKenzie BUF = Four catches, 47 receiving yards, 22 rushing yards, one touchdown
TE Ian Thomas CAR = Nine catches, 77 receiving yards

The Disappointing Lineup of the Week

QB Jared Goff LAR = 180 passing yards, four interceptions
RB LeSean McCoy BUF = One rushing yard
RB Josh Adams PHI = 36 rushing yards
RB Justin Jackson LAC = 12 rushing yards, two catches, 23 receiving yards
WR Golden Tate PHI = One catch, seven receiving yards
WR Calvin Ridley ATL = One catch, ten receiving yards
WR Kenny Golladay DET = Two catches, five receiving yards
TE Jimmy Graham GB = Two catches, 13 receiving yards

Gut Checks

I’d be worried if I was playing Jaron Brown and needed to win.

I’d be worried if I was expecting more from Jimmy Graham.

Ditto for Demaryius Thomas

I’d be worried if I was needing James Conner next week.

I’d be worried if I was ignoring the strides being made by Michael Gallup.

I’d be worried if I hadn’t handcuffed Greg Olsen with Ian Thomas

I’d be worried if I didn’t trade my aging veterans if I’m a non-contender.

I’d be worried if I was relying on any Bengals players at the moment.

I’d be worried if I owned Cam Newton. Something isn’t right.

I’d be worried if I owned Gus Edwards. Thanks, Kenneth Dixon. That’s just great.

I’d be worried if I thought Jared Goff and Todd Gurley were going to do that again next week.

I’d be worried if I all of a sudden thought Derrick Henry was going to be dominant. I need to see it again.

I’d be worried if I was starting Marcus Mariota.

I’d be worried if I was ignoring all the progress made by Baker Mayfield this year.

I’d be worried if I was relying on Marlon Mack.

I’d be worried if I was starting any running back on the Chargers not named Melvin Gordon.

I’d be worried if I owned Jordan Reed.

I’d be worried if I was starting Calvin Ridley at the moment.

I’d be worried if I owned Chris Hogan.

I’d be worried if I was hoping for more from Michael Crabtree.

I’d be worried if I was ignoring what Dante Pettis has done lately.

I’d be worried if I didn’t pay attention to the workload of Elijah McGuire this week.

I’d be worried if I owned Trey Burton. He’s been quiet for a month now.

I’d be worried if I owned Adrian Peterson. He’ll see nothing but stacked boxes the rest of the season.

I’d be worried if I was at all concerned about one bad week from Phillip Lindsay.

Free Agent Find of the Week

Here’s the deal. I feel like this section of the aftermath has become a little redundant. We already post a waiver wire article each week to prep you for your weekly FAAB run or to burn your waiver priority. It’s feeling a little like double dipping since many of the same names could easily mentioned. Instead of doing that in the future, I’m going to add a name or two of players who are likely free agents in your league who you really wouldn’t even need to use your FAAB bid bucks. These are going to be deep dive players here and most are names to simply keep an eye on unless you have an open roster spot or two.

Trent Sherfield, WR ARI

Someone had to take the snaps left by Christian Kirk and it looks like we have a winner. Sherfield got the start this week and made the most of it with five catches and 77 yards this week. While it’s fair to wonder about the long-term future this undrafted rookie free agent has, it’s clear he’s made an impression in the desert.

Previous suggestions: Jonnu Smith, Ian Thomas, Will Dissly, Geronimo Allison, Phillip Dorsett, Phillip Lindsay, Brandon Marshall, Austin Carr, Shaun Wilson, Jakeem Grant, Corey Grant, Tyler Boyd, Taywan Taylor, Mark Walton. CJ Beathard, Rhett Ellison, Wendell Smallwood, Jeremy McNichols, Robert Turbin, David Moore, Jamaal Charles, Josh Adams, Niles Paul, Roc Thomas, Chad Kelly, Damion Ratley, Raheem Mostert, Derek Anderson, Kyle Lauletta, Maurice Harris, Trenton Cannon, Rishard Matthews, Trenton Cannon, Rishard Matthews, Brandon Powell, Logan Thomas, Mo-Alie Cox, Marcell Ateman, Matt LaCosse, Jake Kumerow

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Ken Kelly

Senior Partner - Executive Editor 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

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