The Dynasty Aftermath: I’ve Made a Huge Mistake

Ken Kelly

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 nearly fifteen years and I really do 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 to start out and focus on shows that are stream-worthy out there. If you missed my takes on The Office, The Last Man on Earth, or my Ode to Ron Swanson, be sure to go back and check them out.

“I’ve made a huge mistake.”  Those are the immortal words spoken by Gob Bluth of Arrested Development every time one of his amazing plans or “illusions” goes wrong.

Well, I couldn’t help but think of Arrested Development this week.  You see, this was our big DLF Summit weekend where all the owners of the site get together for our annual planning for the site (cool stuff coming, by the way).  As Jeff was finishing up some last minute touches on some things, he asked me to take the last couple of lineup questions for the week. Here was one of them, along with my response:

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Oh boy. “I’ve made a huge mistake.”

While Diggs was fine this week, Godwin went absolutely crazy with 12 catches for 172 yards and two scores.  The lesson? Fantasy football can be maddening as a player, but even more as a site owner.  You do your best to play the numbers, calculate the odds and there are times where things just come up empty and this week was crazy.  Gardner Minshew outscored Patrick Mahomes. Darrel Williams outscored Ezekiel Elliott. Trevor Davis outscored Julio Jones. Ricky Seals-Jones and Foster Moreau outscored Evan Engram. And of course, a banged up Godwin outscored Diggs.  In short, this was a weird week.

Sebas DLC, I’m sorry. I hope this didn’t cost you a game.  However, one thing I’ve always done at DLF is hold ourselves accountable. We make mistakes here, too.  I know a lot of sites hate to admit they’ve been wrong on things before.  We get more right than wrong, but I honked that one!  My mistake was almost as bad as Gob’s below, but hey, at least we got a good theme out of it this week.

Let’s jump in our stair car and speed through the week.

Week Four Fantasy MVP

I’ve already covered Godwin, so let’s focus on Nick Chubb, who destroyed the Ravens rushing defense with 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns in week four. Chubb owners have been waiting for a breakout game and they got it this week. There are very few workhorse running backs in the league, but Chubb is clearly one of them. He’s quickly ascending up the dynasty rankings.

Week Four Fantasy LVP

Two receptions?  Check. Six receiving yards? Check. A postgame press conference where you throw both your quarterback and coaching staff under the bus?  Checkmate! Welcome to the week four world of Adam Thielen, who didn’t hold back on his thoughts after the Vikings struggled to score against the vaunted Bears defense. The Vikings offense looked like it couldn’t hold value for three receivers, then it looked like it couldn’t hold value for two….now it looks bad for everyone not named Dalvin Cook. New Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski’s fan club has a lot of open spots in fantasy and reality it seems. Anyone who started Thielen likely would have had a better time at the Annual “Motherboy” lunch.

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Lineup Fun

The Very Literal Unbeatable Lineup of the Week

QB Jameis Winston TB = 385 passing yards, four touchdowns
RB Nick Chubb CLE = 165 rushing yards, three catches, 18 receiving yards, three touchdowns
RB Christian McCaffrey CAR = 93 rushing yards, ten catches, 86 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Austin Ekeler LAC = 60 rushing yards, five catches, 62 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Chris Godwin TB = 12 catches, 172 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Robert Woods LAR = 13 catches, 164 receiving yards
WR Davante Adams GB = 10 catches, 180 receiving yards
TE Austin Hooper ATL = Nine catches, 130 receiving yards

The Painful Life Lessons Underdog Lineup of the Week

QB Marcus Mariota TEN = 227 passing yards, 22 rushing yards, three touchdowns
RB Jordan Howard PHI = 87 rushing yards, three catches, 28 receiving yards, three touchdowns
RB Wayne Gallman NYG = 63 rushing yards, six catches, 55 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Darrel Williams KC  = 13 rushing yards, three catches, 43 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR AJ Brown TEN = Three catches, 94 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Courtland Sutton DEN = Six catches, 62 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Corey Davis TEN = Five catches, 91 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Ricky Seals-Jones CLE = Three catches, 82 receiving yards, one touchdown

The “Carl Weathers You’ve got yourself a Stew” Disappointing Lineup of the Week

QB Tom Brady NE = 150 passing yards, one interception
RB Kalen Ballage MIA = Seven rushing yards
RB Adrian Peterson WAS = 28 rushing yards
RB Marlon Mack IND = 39 rushing yards
WR DK Metcalf SEA =
One catches, six receiving yards
WR Adam Thielen MIN = Two catches, six receiving yards, one interesting interview
WR Odell Beckham Jr. CLE = Two catches, 20 receiving yards
TE  Delanie Walker TEN = One catch, four receiving yards

A Pretty Crazy List of 30

I’m going to go away from gut checks this week and do something a little different.  As we were covering a variety of topics at this weekend’s DLF owner’s meeting, our own Ryan McDowell made a comment that immediately started a conversation. Ryan casually said, “I can’t say with 100% certainty that Todd Gurley will be in the league in two years.” That immediately started a pretty interesting debate about just what exactly is going on with Gurley and how long he’s really built to last in the NFL.  It got me to thinking…who are some players on this list?  And yes, there are certainly more.  However, these ones just stand out to me.  Again, I’m not saying they’re 100% gone, but I can’t say they’ll be 100% in the league, either.  At this point, the only player I am comfortable saying will be around forever is Frank Gore.

Todd Gurley, RB LAR
The one that started the argument. He’s obviously being limited as the Rams don’t believe he can withstand the punishment he endured last year. There’s some real longevity concern here. Are you buying low or selling when you can?

Tom Brady, QB NE
There’s going to be a point where he regresses.  There just has to be.  We cannot live our lives with the Patriots being this good forever.

AJ Green, WR CIN
Lower body injuries are piling up and while he will get a new contract, it’s fair to wonder if he should get a new contract.

Le’Veon Bell, RB NYJ
The Jets are going to obliterate him like Dallas did DeMarco Murray.

Adrian Peterson, RB WAS
Every time we think “this is it,” he comes back and shows us why he’s one of the best of all-time. However, I think “this is it.” Again.

Josh Gordon, WR NE
Sad, but true.  There’s no way he can be counted on to be a dynasty building block with his history and pedestrian performance thus far.

Kyle Rudolph, TE MIN
The Vikings want to run Dalvin Cook into the ground.  There aren’t enough targets for Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, no less Rudolph. By the time the ship is righted (see what I did there), Rudolph will be over the hill.

Greg Olsen, TE CAR
At some point he’s going to get into broadcasting.

Jordan Reed, TE WAS
At some point he’s going to realize he should, too. I’m concerned another hit to the head is going to turn him into a “Never Nude.”

Case Keenum, QB WAS
Replacement level talent who had one magical season. Career arc reminds me a ton of Matt Cassel‘s.

Cam Newton, QB CAR
He’s honestly never been the same since the Panthers were beaten in the Super Bowl. His running ability has always made up for his inaccuracies as a passer. I’m not saying Kyle Allen is the long-term answer, but I AM saying Cam’s career isn’t looking to rosy at the moment. There’s at least a question here for sure.

Jimmy Graham, TE GB
He’s super touchdown dependent at this stage of his career. How the Seahawks can make Will Dissly relevant and waste years of Graham’s career is like a Nancy Drew mystery to me.

Tyreek Hill, WR KC
Can YOU say with 100% certainty he’s going to be around?  I just can’t.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR ARI
Ageless wonder is still aging, despite his production. Anyone who traded him four years ago feels like they just touched the cornballer.

Derrius Guice, RB WAS
I’m not saying he’s Ki-Jana Carter.  I’m also not saying he’s not.

Dion Lewis, RB TEN
He was really fun for a while.

Tyler Eifert, TE CIN
Impossible to trust with his injury history.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB PIT
He’s threatened to retire before getting injured.

Kalen Ballage, RB MIA
It’s an illusion, Michael.

Philip Rivers, QB LAC
It will be unfortunate if he never wins a Super Bowl with the Chargers, too.

Antonio Brown, WR FA
I’m really tired here.

Kareem Hunt, RB CLE
I don’t think his long-term play is in Cleveland. He’ll have to really look like he did before, though.

Drew Brees, QB NO
The ironman of the league is clearly nearing the end.

Joe Flacco, QB DEN
He was nearing the end two years ago.

Equanimeous Tristan Imhotep J. St. Brown, WR GB
The only reason I’m upset he hasn’t shown anything so far in his career is the fact I may never get to do, “The Dynasty Aftermath: Equanimeous (Let the Sunshine In) Edition.”

Ted Ginn Jr, WR NO
I just don’t see a late career burst here.

Carlos Hyde, RB HOU
I still think he’s a fill-in talent who’s running out of gas.

Peyton Barber, RB TB
He’s a pedestrian runner who is making Ronald Jones of all people actually look good.

Jared Cook, TE NO
One of the most disappointing players this season. He’s all of a sudden 32.

Marqise Lee, WR JAX
Just never reached the level we once hoped for.

If you have a team built around these players, you may want to consider a fire sale.

…and if you get stuck with them.

ken kelly