The Dynasty Aftermath: Think of Puppies
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.
Well, you’re either in or you’re out at this point. With most leagues now reaching the finals, we’ve come to this. If you’re in the hunt, congratulations. If you’re not, I have advice for you.
Think of puppies.
I recently got a new Golden Retriever puppy (his name is Douglas, but we call him Doug E. Fresh). In the midst of cleaning up endless trails of pee and losing several blankets, corners of furniture and a piece of pizza right off my plate, I remembered the fun times I’ve had in the past with all my dogs watching football over the years.
Look, it stinks if you didn’t make it into the finals. The good thing is there is always next year and a whole bunch of Sundays coming your way after the NFL Draft. Keep the faith and fight the good fight. The fun in this game isn’t always winning, either. It’s the joy of watching football with friends, finding that waiver wire gem, talking some smack, having a fun draft, formulating a strategy and making a Monday night game between the Dolphins and Raiders actually worth watching.
If that doesn’t work to inspire you and you’re still in a state of total despair, my only advice for you is to think of puppies. Or unicorns. Or rainbows. Â Or anything else that gets your mind off the fact your league mate is going to be making fun of you for the next 35 weeks.
In other news, I hate you, Aaron Jones.
On to the week that was.
Week Fifteen Fantasy MVP
DeAndre Hopkins picked the perfect time to post his best game of the year. With ten catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns, Hopkins single-handedly put a whole host of dynasty teams into the finals.
Week Fifteen Fantasy LVP
Three players who dynasty owners really needed big performances from were Aaron Jones, Lamar Miller and Keenan Allen. Unfortunately, all of them were injured early in their games and did next to nothing – the dreaded in-game injury where you can’t adjust your lineup undoubtedly hurt a ton of 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 to respond would win!
The Unbeatable Lineup of the Week
QB Matt Ryan ATL = 231 passing yards, 18 rushing yards, three total touchdowns
RB Todd Gurley LAR = 48 rushing yards, ten catches, 76 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Derrick Henry TEN = 170 rushing yards, two touchdowns
RB Dalvin Cook MIN = 136 rushing yards, one catch, 27 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR DeAndre Hopkins HOU = Ten catches, 170 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Alshon Jeffery PHI = Eight catches, 160 receiving yards
WR Doug Baldwin SEA = Four catches, 77 receiving yards, two touchdowns
TE Evan Engram NYG = Eight catches, 75Â receiving yards
The Underdog Lineup of the Week
QB Sam Darnold NYJ = 253 passing yards, 35 rushing yards, two touchdowns
RB Damien Williams KC = 49 rushing yards, six catches, 74 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Marlon Mack IND = 139 rushing yards, one catch, ten receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Tevin Coleman ATL = 145 rushing yards, one touchdown
WR Mike Williams LAC = Seven catches, 76Â receiving yards, 19 rushing yards, three total touchdowns
WR Robby Anderson NYJ = Seven catches, 96Â receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Robert Foster BUF = Four catches, 108 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Garrett Celek SF = Two catches, 61Â receiving yards, one touchdown
The Disappointing Lineup of the Week
QB Drew Brees NO = 203 passing yards, one interception
RB Aaron Jones GB = Eight rushing yards
RB Lamar Miller HOU = Eight rushing yards
RB Phillip Lindsay DEN = 24 rushing yards, four catches, 20 receiving yards
WR Keenan Allen LAC = No catches
WR Adam Thielen MIN = Two catches, 19Â receiving yards
WR Josh Gordon NE = One catch, 19Â receiving yards
TE Eric Ebron IND = One catch, eight receiving yards
Gut Checks
I’d be worried if I was counting on James Conner this week.
I’d be worried if I was relying on Golden Tate the rest of the way.
I’d be worried if I was just ignoring the weeks put up by lesser players like Damien Williams.
I’d be worried if I was ignoring the string put up by Robert Foster.
I’d be worried if I was relying on any Ravens running back.
I’d be worried if I had Dion Lewis. OK, now I’m on the Derrick Henry bandwagon.
I’d be worried if I had Cam Newton. That shoulder just isn’t right.
I’d be worried if I owned Rashaad Penny. Chris Carson isn’t going away anytime soon.
I’d be worried if I was panicking over a couple of poor games from Phillip Lindsay.
I’d be worried if I owned Josh Doctson.
I’d be worried if I had given up on Dalvin Cook.
I’d be worried if I was expecting consistency from Corey Davis.
I’d be worried if I didn’t think this was close to the end for Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski.
I’d be worried if I owned Leonard Fournette. I get that he was on a pitch count, but I just don’t see him staying healthy.
I’d be worried if I was looking to trade for Marlon Mack in the off-season. I’m still not sold he’s the long-term answer.
I’d be worried if I owned Devonta Freeman.
I’d be worried if I owned Lamar Miller. I don’t see the Texans trotting him out again as their lead runner next season.
I’d be worried if I owned Martavis Bryant.
I’d be worried if I was relying too much on Adam Thielen. They are going to run a lot more now.
I’d be worried if I owned Jameis Winston. Who knows how this is going to play out.
I’d be worried if I owned Aaron Rodgers. This was not a great year.
I’d be worried if I owned Tom Brady. Ditto.
I’d be worried if I overpaid for Josh Rosen. I’m not giving up at all but this wasn’t a great rookie season.
I’d be worried if I owned Adrian Peterson. Is this the end?
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.
Chris Warren, RB OAK
If you’ve forgotten about Warren, it’s time to remember just what a great preseason he had. He would make for a nice stash in leagues where he was dropped. The Raiders really have no idea who their future is at running back and Warren should have a chance to make some noise.
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, Trent Sherfield
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Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
