Five in Five: Week Nine Dynasty Storylines
Over the years, we’ve done several different weekly preview articles and love to give new things a try. This is the time of year when it’s nearly information overload with every nook and cranny of the internet flooded with all kinds of fantasy football opinions and advice. Instead of following the herd and doing the same thing you’re used to, we’re going a little off the wall this year with our “Five in Five.” This is a weekly written preview of the five biggest storylines of the week encompassed in a five-section theme and in the way I love to do it – weird. It will also be a bit of a preview for my weekly Dynasty Aftermath – the longest running dynasty series in the business as we hit year #17 in 2023 as we bring you five possible storylines we could see on Monday Morning.
Sunken Ship?
The Vikings lost Kirk Cousins last week to a torn Achilles and it’s going to have some serious ramifications in dynasty leagues. After all, Cousins himself was having one of his (if not THE) best seasons of his career and Justin Jefferson was already lost for at least a month. If the Vikings can’t rally beyond rookie Jaren Hall or the newly acquired Joshua Dobbs, it’s fair to wonder what we’re going to get the rest of the way from Jordan Addison, Jefferson and the rest of the offense. If the Vikings have to wave the white flag, will we see Jefferson again this season? It’s fair to wonder what Minnesota will do if they go on a losing streak now. With Cousins a free agent after the season, they’re clearly going to be in the market for a quarterback in the draft and we all know the worst place to be in the NFL is in the middle. At 4-4, this Vikings season is in flux.
Sam I am?
Say what you want about the Commanders but Sam Howell has been borderline great this season in fantasy leagues. With 2,146 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in just half of the season, Howell is the QB8 on the season and a borderline elite option. His first eight games this year really couldn’t have gone much better and while Washington is 3-5, it certainly looks like they may have found their quarterback of the future. Howell faces a New England team that tends to give up a lot of points so this could be a truly pivotal week for him. If he puts up big numbers again, we may just have ourselves another QB1 option for the rest of the season and possibly beyond.
Kamara Focus
Maybe it really isn’t sustainable but Alvin Kamara is the RB3 in fantasy leagues this year, mostly due to a whopping 39 catches in just five games. The Saints play a Bears defense that won’t remind anyone of their 1985 version this week, which makes it even better. If Kamara can keep this up, he’s going to become the ultimate buy option in dynasty leagues. After all, it’s rare where you can get a legitimate top-5 option at running back at a discount but his age is going to allow contending dynasty teams to snatch him for a first round rookie pick in most leagues. He could very well be the player this year who decides a lot of dynasty league championships.
Dak to the Future?
The Cowboys and Eagles play in a serious game that will help decide the NFC East moving forward. Dak Prescott has been just fine but last week was great as he threw for four touchdowns. Prescott needs another big game this week for dynasty managers to feel good about him being the starter moving forward. With AJ Brown attempting to extend his own NFL record of consecutive games with at least 125 yards, CeeDee Lamb trying to re-establish himself as an elite option, Jalen Hurts looking to continue his elite run and Prescott trying to build on last week, this is THE game to watch this week.
Rolling the Dice
The Raiders fired Josh McDaniels this week and are again a team in transition. To put it into perspective, the Raiders now have had more coaches since 2021 than the Steelers have had in franchise history. With Davante Adams frustrated, Josh Jacobs underperforming and Las Vegas essentially giving up on Jimmy Garoppolo, this is a team to watch this week. If the Raiders offense continues to sputter this week against the Giants, all bets are off for this team moving forward. This is a huge week for anyone relying on Jacobs, Adams, Jakobi Meyers or anyone else on the Raiders.
This looks like a huge week, gang!
Make sure to get your lineup questions in! We’ll see you next week for the Dynasty Aftermath!
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
