The Dynasty Aftermath: Avengers Week
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, 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’ve started out focusing on TV shows and movies that are stream-worthy out there. If you’ve missed any, here are some previous versions:
The Office
The Last Man on Earth
Ode to Ron Swanson
“I’ve made a Huge Mistake”
Finkle and Einhorn
“Going to my Quiet Place”
“The Hangover”
“The Dude”
“Inconceivable”
“The Iron Lotus”
Eastbound and Down
Johnny Cash Telling Jokes in a Cornfield
We begin here.
One of the best superhero series of all-time is obviously The Avengers. As Ryan Fitzpatrick was turning into, well, Ryan Fitzpatrick again this week, it got me thinking. If our fantasy football heroes were The Avengers, who would they be? Well, these would be my answers:
The Hulk = Ryan Fitzpatrick. Is there any player in history who can be so tiny and insignificant, or so huge and league changing at the drop of a dime?
Iron Man = Tom Brady. Who else? While not having his best season, he’s been nearly indestructible for longer than a big part of the population has been alive.
Thor = Saquon Barkley. Even though he’s having a down season by his standards, he still may be a demigod.
Ant-Man = Darren Sproles. While his career is most certainly winding down, he’s done some amazing things at 5’6″ and 190 pounds.
Captain America = Ezekiel Elliott. If Dallas is America’s team, this is just about the only choice.
Hawkeye = Drew Brees. He posted a record 74.4% completion percentage in 2018 and is known for pinpoint accuracy.
Black Widow = Christian McCaffrey. Good luck living through any week you play against this guy.
Captain Marvel = Lamar Jackson. Is there anyone more powerful than him at the moment?
Spider-Man = DeAndre Hopkins. He can make some extraordinary catches look easy.
With all that mind, let’s review the week that was.
Week Thirteen Fantasy MVP
In the midst of the rare fifth year breakout (insert laughing emoji), DeVante Parker has unbelievably turned into a reliable fantasy starter. While Ryan Fitzpatrick can run hotter or colder than any other quarterback in the league, Parker has flourished and that culminated with a seven-catch, 159-yard performance that featured two touchdowns this past week. On the season, Parker has 53 catches and career highs in both yards (854) and touchdowns (6). It seems an inevitability that Parker reaches the 1,000 yard receiving plateau this season and while we should all still hold our collective breath, this is clearly the best we’ve seen out of him in his career.
If you played against Parker this week, this is really what it felt like…
Week Thirteen Fantasy LVP
In a position fairly void of reliable scorers tight end Hunter Henry has been awesome since returning in week six. However, this week’s two-catch, ten-yard performance clearly sunk dynasty owners who were trying to qualify for their league’s playoffs. Henry is still a top tier tight end and easy must-start, but this stat line simply came at the exact wrong time.
Lineup Fun
The Unbeatable Lineup of the Week
This group is really tough to beat.
QB Aaron Rodgers GB = 243 passing yards, 24 rushing yards, four touchdowns
RB James White NEÂ = 79 rushing yards, eight catches, 98 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Derrick Henry TENÂ = 149 rushing yards, two catches, eight receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Miles Sanders PHI = 83 rushing yards, five catches, 22 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR DeVante Parker MIAÂ = Seven catches, 159 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Robert Woods LARÂ = 13 catches, 172 receiving yards
WR Alshon Jeffery PHIÂ = Nine catches, 137 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Tyler Higbee LAR = Seven catches, 107 receiving yards, one touchdown
The Underdog Lineup of the Week
You were Iron Man.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick MIA = 365 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception
RB Derrius Guice WASÂ = 129 rushing yards, two catches, eight receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Rashaad Penny SEAÂ = 74 rushing yards, four catches, 33 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Raheem Mostert SFÂ = 146 rushing yards, two catches, eight receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Anthony Miller CHI = Nine catches, 140 receiving yards
WR Cole Beasley BUF = Six catches, 110 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Allen Lazard GB = Three catches, 103 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Mike Gesicki MIA = Five catches, 79 receiving yards, one touchdown
The Disappointing Lineup of the Week
Tough to lose when you thought you had the best team.
QB Baker Mayfield CLEÂ = 196 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception, fumble
RB Latavius Murray NOÂ Â = Two rushing yards
RB Ronald Jones TB = Eight rushing yards, one trip to the doghouse
RB Carlos Hyde HOUÂ = 17 rushing yards, one catches, five receiving yards
WR Josh Gordon SEAÂ = One catch, ten receiving yards
WR Terry McLaurin WASÂ = Two catches, eight receiving yards
WR Corey Davis TENÂ = One catch, 23 receiving yards
TE Hunter Henry LACÂ = Two catches, ten receiving yards
Gut Checks
I’d be worried if I owned Chris Carson. Penny has played well enough to earn time now.
I’d be worried if I didn’t think Josh Allen was here to stay.
I’d be worried if I was complaining about Christian McCaffrey’s sub-par week. You’ve been spoiled.
I’d be worried if I expected anything else from Jimmy Graham.
I’d be worried if I thought Matthew Stafford was going to help me this season.
I’d be worried if I thought I was going to get consistency from Marquise Brown yet.
I’d be worried if I thought Jared Goff was out of the woods.
I’d be worried if I was ignoring the season put up by DJ Moore.
I’d be worried if I was thinking of playing John Ross right away.
I’d be worried if I thought AJ Green was ever going to play for the Bengals again.
I’d be worried if I thought George Kittle was going to lay too many more eggs.
I’d be worried if I was still holding on to Kalen Ballage.
I’d be worried if I owned Nick Foles. Wow.
I’d be worried if I needed James Conner or JuJu Smith-Schuster to help me win my league.
I’d be worried if I owned David Johnson. Wait. Make that petrified.
I’d be worried if I thought the Tampa Bay running back of the future was on the roster.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t buying on Dallas Goedert.
I’d be worried if I was gibing up on Jakobi Meyers. It may be next year, but he’s talented.
I’d be worried if I was ignoring Allen Lazard.
I’d be worried if I owned Mason Rudolph. He had hist shot.
I’d be worried if I was relying on Brandin Cooks.
I’d be worried if I thought Odell Beckham was going to stay quiet.
I’d be worried if I thought Davante Adams wasn’t going to get it going.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t stashing Teddy Bridgewater.
I’d be worried if I continued to underestimate Darius Slayton.
I’d be worried if I had my entire dynasty team built around Alvin Kamara.
I’d be worried if I didn’t view Mark Andrews as a total stud.
I’d be worried if I thought I had the San Francisco backfield figured out.
I’d be worried if I was relying on Tyrell Williams.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t entertained by Mark Ingram.
I’d be worried if I was still starting Sony Michel.
We’ll see you next week…
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
