The Dynasty Aftermath: I Honestly thought Dick Vermeil was Dead Again
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 the past seventeen years and I love it. I enjoy combing through the stats of the week on Monday night, putting together ridiculous lineups, picking MVPs/LVPs and discussing things to worry about.
That’s not all. I also really love sharing observations, little bits of entertainment or some stories with the community of DLF and picking a theme for this column each week. You really never know what you’re going to get. This year, I’m doing a “Five in Five” article each week.
Let’s recap the storylines from last Friday before we get into it.
Houston Rocket
There has simply been no better rookie quarterback than CJ Stroud of the Texans. After this week’s game, Stroud now has 1,461 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and ZERO interceptions on the season. In fact, he broke the record for most passing attempts to begin a career without an interception and that number currently stands at 186. Keep in mind the players he passed on that list includes the likes of Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and a whole host of others (well, everyone if you want to get literal). Brady and Mahomes were the most notable at the top of that list but Stroud has bested them all. He’s averaging nearly 300 passing yards per game and not just checking the ball down which makes it that much more impressive. Stroud has proven to be mature beyond his years and the Texans look like they now have their man for the long haul. He looks like a QB1 moving forward in dynasty leagues to me.
The Full Monty
For those who drafted Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery has been a serious problem. Just take a look at the numbers prior to Sunday’s game:
Detroit Running Back “A”
Three Games Played
262 Rushing Yards
Five Touchdowns
Detroit Running Back “B”
Four Games Played
179 Rushing Yards
70 Receiving Yards
No Touchdowns
As I stated in the article on Saturday, most would have believed those numbers but flip-flopped them between Gibbs and Montgomery. With Gibbs out this week, Montgomery put up another 100-yard game and scored another touchdown. He’s not going away, folks.
Kupp of Coffee?
The Puka Nacua emergence has been THE story in fantasy football this year. Nacua has the most catches and yards for a rookie receiver in their first five games in NFL history and added to that total with seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. More importantly, Cooper Kupp was back this week and the targets were nearly even (12 for Kupp and 11 for Nacua). Any questions?
Chasing One’s Tail
Boy, I called this one. The Bengals offense had been terrible and even the great Ja’Marr Chase was starting to suffer. Chase had only been able to post just 29 catches for 284 scoreless yards on the season. Well, after 15 catches for 192 receiving yards and three touchdowns this week, things are starting to even out.
Breece Lightning
The Jets and Broncos were also both sitting at 1-3 and played this week in the “Sean Payton doesn’t like Nathaniel Hackett Bowl.” New York was reportedly set to take the pitch count off Breece Hall and turn him loose this week. They did just that and he rewarded them with 177 rushing yards, three catches, 17 receiving yards and a touchdown. Yeah, he seems healthy. And Dalvin Cook seems, well, cooked.
And now to the week that was. I usually let my fellow DLF colleague Eric Dickens know about my Aftermath theme each week prior to posting. Even though he’s void of most human feelings, he lets me know if he thinks it’s entertaining or not. He also lets me know if he thinks I’ll get fired for my ideas.
This week gave us a truly bizarre interaction, though.
I saw Dick Vermeil being shown in a press box during one of the NFL games and it shocked me that he was still alive. In my mind, I was convinced he was dead for some reason. So, I told Eric on Sunday my theme would be “The Dynasty Aftermath: I thought Dick Vermeil was Dead.” His response stunned me. He said, “Oh yeah, I think I remember you saying that.” Wait. What!?! I then searched my memory banks to try to understand what he was saying and remembered something truly shocking.
I told Eric last year that I was surprised Dick Vermeil was still alive. Yes. Last year. I don’t know if I had a stroke, can’t remember anything at this point due to my advanced age, or have just run out of stories. Seriously, I was surprised someone was alive and said something about it. Twice!
Anyway, it made me Google people who would make me surprised they were still alive and I found this list:
1.) Dick Van Dyke
2.) Chubby Checker
3.) Dick Vermeil
4.) Willie Mays
5.) Buzz Aldrin
6.) Bob Newhart
7.) Dick Vermeil
Now, let’s get to it! Based on my mental health, this may be the last coherent one of these I ever write.
Fantasy MVP of the Week
As stated above, this was just a monster week for Ja’Marr Chase, who became one of only five players the past two decades to have two different 50-point fantasy performances in their career. This was a welcome sight for dynasty managers as Chase entered the game without a single score on the year.
Fantasy LVP of the Week
The Eagles and Jalen Hurts have been consistently able to keep both AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith more than fantasy relevant the past two years. However, this week was a mess as Smith could only post one catch for six yards this week in what can only be described as a catastrophic performance.
The Unbeatable Lineup of the Week
QB Justin Fields CHI = 282 passing yards, 57 rushing yards, four touchdowns
RB Travis Etienne JAX = 136 rushing yards, four catches, 48 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Breece Hall NYJ = 177 rushing yards, three catches, 17 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB David Montgomery DET = 109 rushing yards, two catches, 20 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Ja’Marr Chase CIN = 15 catches, 192 receiving yards, three touchdowns
WR DJ Moore CHI = Eight catches, 230 receiving yards, three touchdowns
WR Tyreek Hill MIA = Eight catches, 181 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE George Kittle SF = Three catches, 67 receiving yards, three touchdowns
The Underdog Lineup of the Week
QB Brock Purdy SF = 252 passing yards, four touchdowns
RB Zack Moss IND = 165 rushing yards, two catches, 30 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Jaleel McLaughlin DEN = 68 rushing yards, three catches, 21 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Tyjae Spears TEN = 34 rushing yards, four catches, 35 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Adam Thielen CAR = 11 catches, 107 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Curtis Samuel WAS = Six catches, 65 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Trenton Irwin CIN = Eight catches, 60 receiving yards
TE Dallas Goedert PHI = Eight catches, 117 receiving yards, one touchdown
The Disappointing Lineup of the Week
QB Anthony Richardson IND = 98 passing yards, five rushing yards, one concussion
RB Miles Sanders CAR = 32 rushing yards, one fumble
RB Roschon Johnson CHI = 19 rushing yards
RB Rhamondre Stevenson NE = 24 rushing yards
WR Calvin Austin PIT = No catches
WR DeVonta Smith PHI = One catch, six receiving yards
WR Courtland Sutton DEN = One catch, 13 receiving yards
TE Jake Ferguson DAL = Three catches, 28 receiving yards
Gut Checks
I’d be worried if I had given up on Justin Fields or DJ Moore.
I’d be worried if I was still holding out hope for Antonio Gibson.
I’d be worried if I thought Calvin Ridley was going to just go quietly. That was big this week.
I’d be worried if I was relying on James Cook every week.
Ditto for Dalton Kincaid.
I’d be worried if I had Anthony Richardson. Four starts and three games he couldn’t finish already.
I’d be worried if I needed consistency from Derrick Henry.
I’d be worried if I thought Zack Moss was going to just disappear.
I’d be worried if I needed any Patriots player to do anything.
I’d be worried if I thought that was a mirage from George Pickens.
I’d be worried if I thought Dick Vermiel was dead.
I’d be worried if I needed anything from Najee Harris. it’s now DEFCON1.
I’d be worried if I passed on CJ Stroud.
I’d be worried if I thought Adam Thielen couldn’t do this all year.
I’d be worried if I needed Miles Sanders for anything.
I’d be worried if I passed on Sam LaPorta.
I’d be worried if I thought De’Von Achane‘s games were a fluke.
I’d be worried if I thought Dick Vermiel was dead.
I’d be worried if I needed any Giants players.
I’d be worried if I was playing against Tyreek Hill. He’s my fantasy MVP at the moment.
I’d be worried if I thought the Bengals were all of a sudden back. Let’s be patient.
I’d be worried if I needed James Conner, Justin Jefferson, Anthony Richardson or Khalil Herbert next week.
I’d be worried if I was still ignoring some improvement from Zach Wilson.
I’d be worried if I had any player going against the 49ers defense. Wow.
I’d be worried if I thought Dick Vermiel was dead.
The Top Rookie Scoring Averages
1.) De’Von Achane RB MIA = 25.93
2.) Puka Nacua, WR LAR = 23.12
3.) CJ Stroud, QB HOU = 21.47
4.) Anthony Richardson, QB IND = 20.36
5.) Bijan Robinson, RB ATL = 16.80
6.) Bryce Young, QB CAR = 15.50
7.) Sam LaPorta, TE DET = 14.38
8.) Tank Dell, WR HOU = 12.94
9.) Zay Flowers, WR BAL = 12.48
10.) Jordan Addison, WR MIN = 12.38
11.) Jayden Reed, WR GB = 11.58
12.) Michael Wilson, WR ARI = 10.50
13.) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB DET = 9.73
14.) Josh Downs, WR NYG = 9.70
15.) Marvin Mims, WR DEN = 9.58
Just missed: Rashee Rice, Dalton Kincaid, Luke Musgrave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jaleel McLaughlin
The Rookie Top 10
Always check our latest rankings to see the updates throughout the week. These rankings are simply my own.
1.) Bijan Robinson, RB ATL
Still holding strong.
2.) Puka Nacua, WR LAR
I feel even stronger about it now.
3.) De’Von Achane, RB MIA
Wow.
4.) Jordan Addison, WR MIN
Needs to produce a little more now.
5.) Zay Flowers, WR BAL
Best receivier on the Ravens by far.
6.) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR SEA
Still MIA.
7.) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB DET
David Montgomery is just killing his value at the moment.
8.) Anthony Richardson, QB IND
Can he stay healthy?
9.) Quentin Johnston, WR LAC
As I thought, Palmer is still way ahead of him.
10.) Tank Dell, WR HOU
His ascension stops for at least one week after a quiet game followed by this week’s concussion.
11.) Dick Vermiel
See you on Saturday for the “Five in Five!” and next week for the Dynasty Aftermath.
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
