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
Running Back
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
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.
[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]
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
[/am4show]
- The Dynasty Aftermath: Why Taylor Swift isn’t Good Enough for Travis Kelce - September 26, 2023
- Lineup Advice: Week 4 - September 26, 2023
- The Dynasty Fantasy Football Impact of the Mike Williams Knee Injury - September 25, 2023

Here’s the other great/maddening thing about luck in FF this time of year:
I have the 3 wr listed above in the unbeatable lineup, and my team scored 190 points for the week. Only problem is that I had a bye this week and they were wasted efforts. I’m already almost banking on not even scoring 100 next week.
Here’s to FF!
Great article as always. No MVP nod for the absolute dismantling of the Broncos by George Kittle? He about brought me back in my pay league, (but no, Courtland Sutton couldn’t be bothered to show up this week). I think had the Broncos been even remotely competitive, Kittle would have destroyed the TE yards record by a vast sum of yards.
He gets a vote on my sheet, he and Cooper both. I played Kittle in a couple of leagues and it didn’t work out well in either. That can happen any week but it’s always painful when you get stuck in front of a freight train during the first playoff week.
I feel ya! My 2QB .5PPR Dynasty league playoff includes only the top 4 teams and I finished 5th today and now out because of a points tiebreaker with this roster:
QBs-Aaron Rodgers, Jameis Winston, Lamar Jackson
RBs-Le’Veon Bell, James Conner, Sony Michel, Aaron Jones, Matt Breida, Jordan Howard
WRs-Mike Evans, AJ Green, Allen Robinson, Courtland Sutton & Chris Godwin
TE-Zach Ertz
I had the best Kicker Zuerlein and Chicago Bears Defense
Aaron Rodgers faceplanted big time this year. AJ Green is Mr. Glass, Lev Bell held out all year, JoHo went from 1,000 yards per season to a totally TD dependent plodder, Conner and Breida got hurt late when I needed them most and they looked unstoppable. McCarthy didn’t use AJones properly and Philbin started Jamal again. Jameis got benched for Fitzmagic.
Hopefully, I’ll make it in next year!!!
Yeah, that’s pretty brutal. The great thing in Dynasty is that there’s always next year with your players …. of course, things can change quickly too turning your great roster into “how did it go bad so quickly” kind of roster.
What do you think about Teddy Bridgewater as a Dynasty stash? Word in Nola is that if Brees wins the Super Bowl he’s walking it off and Payton wants Teddy, who is a free agent after this year, long term. The Saints draft picks next year are 2nd, 5th, 6th, 6th, 7th, 7th.
I live in New Orleans and haven’t really heard that being discussed. In fact, I think he was asked directly about it in an NFL Network interview and he said he didn’t think he would even with a SB victory. Also, he is still under contract through 2019. Not to say it isn’t possible…but seems like there would be a lot more smoke around here if something like that was in the air.
I’m in Nola too. I don’t think they would talk about that on TV. It is like counting chickens before they hatch to say anything in regards to a Super bowl apperance or victory. They talk only about a week at a time publicly. Also, Drew retiring would be a media circus if he didn’t say he’d be back. I’m just telling you what I’ve heard; not on TV or newspapers.
Where’d you hear it? The barber shop…?
Too many places to count. I thought it was common knowledge around here. Of course, the winning the Super Bowl part is a really big IF in the whole thing. Not shocking though that a 40 year old QB would want to retire like that.
I like Bridgewater as a stash … but not for NO necessarily. He’ll get a shot somewhere in 2019, perhaps Jacksonville. I’d stash him if you have the open roste rspot
Honorable Mention LVP for Russell Wilson. Didn’t break 100 passing yards, while killing my fantasy season AND my Vikings’ season? Ugga mugga Russ.