The Dynasty Aftermath: Mascot Tournament NFC Finals
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 and that previews this article on Saturdays. Let’s recap the storylines from last week before we get into it.
Who’s the Moss?
The fantasy football world was stunned last week when the Colts announced Jonathan Taylor was going to be out for at least 2-3 weeks with a thumb injury that required surgery. This opened the door again for Zack Moss, who was fantastic earlier this season as Taylor was rehabbing. Through the first five weeks of the year, Moss was the RB6 overall with three monster games of 20.7, 22.5, and 33.5 fantasy points as part of that run. Unfortunately, Moss fell flat this week and posted a dud.
Prediction: Moss posts a 100-yard game with a touchdown against the Titans.
Reality: Moss records 51 rushing yards, two catches and six receiving yards
Meet the Robinson
Dynasty managers have been mostly disappointed in the output of Bijan Robinson this season. It’s been frustrating because it’s clear Robinson is a massive talent but the Falcons have been very reluctant to really make him the centerpiece of their offense, until the previous week that was. Robinson had 16 carries and three catches last week for 123 yards and two touchdowns. This week, we again saw the Falcons limit his potential.
Prediction: Things are tougher this week for Robinson against the Jets. He posts 65 rushing yards, three catches, 20 receiving yards and fails to score against a stingy defense.
Reality: Robinson had 53 rushing yards, three catches and 26 receiving yards, making my prediction pretty close.
Feel the Love
When we had last seen Jordan Love, he was having a Thanksgiving feast of his own, tying his career high with three touchdown passes in a stunning road win against the Lions. It’s been the tale of three seasons for Love. He started the year with three touchdown games in weeks one and two, then had a seven-game run where he posted just eight touchdowns and ten interceptions. His last two games were dominant, however, as he had posted five touchdowns and no turnovers. This week gave more of the same.
Prediction: Love stays on a heater with 250 passing yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.
Reality: Love indeed stays on a heater with 267 passing yards and three more touchdowns.
Kittles and Bits
George Kittle has had one weird season so far. As I posted in the Dynasty Aftermath this week, it’s been feast or famine for Kittle and his dynasty managers throughout the year. Managers were just hoping for some consistency this week.
Prediction: Kittle finds some room against the Eagles defense and catches five passes for 65 yards, giving dynasty managers what they want, or at least what they need.
Reality: Kittle has four catches for 68 receiving yards.
LA Faker?
Kyren Williams may just be the player who decides fantasy championships this season. Based on his scoring average, Williams was the overall RB2 on the season. He had played in seven games this year and been absolutely dominant in four of them. We’ve seen Sean McVay’s running backs post some absolutely ridiculous numbers throughout the years and Williams was poised to be the latest Rams running back to be a difference maker in dynasty leagues. While his long-term value is still something of a mystery, a good stretch of games would make him a very intriguing player to both rank and acquire over the off-season.
Prediction: Williams stays hot with 125 total yards and at least one score.
Reality: Williams posts 112 total yards and did score again.
When we last left off with the NFC mascot competition, the NFC final four was set with the Rams, Giants, Panthers and Bears. The first seemed like an easy one as a Ram would likely not fare well against a Giant. After discovering this could be the one thing you can’t find on Google, I determined the Giant would have to win. The size advantage and lack of a killer instinct would just have to doom the ram. As for the other one, this is a lot closer. Someone also spent some serious time debating this. It just has to be the bear. The claws and power would just reign victorious.
So, that puts us at a giant against a bear. This could be an unpopular decision but I’m actually going to go with the bear because his claws could swipe at the Achilles of a giant. As we saw with Aaron Rodgers, this can take out just about anyone.
Winner: BEAR
On to week thirteen!
Fantasy MVP of the Week
The career dip in the production of Deebo Samuel is clearly a thing of the past as Samuel looks as dangerous as ever. This week, he posted a monster game with four catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns, adding 22 yards and another touchdown on the ground. He looks poised to be a difference maker in leagues the rest of the way as the 49ers look nearly unstoppable.
Fantasy LVP of the Week
It’s officially time to panic with Austin Ekeler. After recording just 18 rushing yards on 14 carries and nine receiving yards on two catches, Ekeler recorded his third straight game with single-digit fantasy production. The Chargers are a mess and the “eliteness” of Ekeler is clearly in question.
The Unbeatable Lineup of the Week
QB Brock Purdy SF = 314 passing yards, four total touchdowns
RB Joe Mixon CIN = 68 rushing yards, six catches, 49 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Alvin Kamara NO = 51 rushing yards, six catches, 58 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB De’Von Achane MIA = 73 rushing yards, three catches, 30 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Deebo Samuel SF = Four catches, 116 receiving yards, 22 rushing yards, three touchdowns
WR DK Metcalf SEA = Six catches, 134 receiving yards, three touchdowns
WR Nico Collins HOU = Nine catches, 191 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Sam LaPorta DET = Nine catches, 140 receiving yards, one touchdown
The Underdog Lineup of the Week
QB Jake Browning CIN = 354 passing yards, two total touchdowns
RB James Conner ARI = 125 rushing yards, two touchdowns
RB Chuba Hubbard CAR = 104 rushing yards, two touchdowns
RB Zach Charbonnet SEA = 60 rushing yards, one catch, 39 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Parker Washington JAX = Six catches, 61 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Demarcus Robinson LAR = Four catches, 55 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Xavier Gipson NYJ = Five catches, 77 receiving yards
TE Harrison Bryant CLE = Five catches, 49 receiving yards, one touchdown
The Disappointing Lineup of the Week
QB Justin Herbert LAC = 212 passing yards
RB Rhamondre Stevenson NE = 39 rushing yards, one fumble, one ankle sprain
RB Tyler Allgeier ATL = 26 rushing yards
RB D’Andre Swift PHI = 13 rushing yards, two catches, seven receiving yards
WR Drake London ATL = One catch, eight receiving yards
WR Tank Dell HOU = No catches, one ended season
WR Josh Downs IND = Three catches, 14 receiving yards
TE Cade Otton TB = No catches
Gut Checks
I’d be worried if I had given up on Jordan Love.
I’d be worried if I needed anything from Breece Hall.
I’d be worried if I thought Calvin Ridley had turned the corner.
I’d be worried if I needed Christian Kirk.
I’d be worried if I was ignoring Rashee Rice.
I’d be worried if I missed out on Sam LaPorta.
I’d be worried if I needed RB1 numbers from Zack Moss.
I’d be worried if I was counting on any Charger player. What is going on!?!
I’d be worried if I thought Cooper Kupp was OK.
I’d be worried if I needed anything from Houston running backs.
I’d be worried if I was underestimating Nico Collins.
I’d be worried if I was confident in Ezekiel Elliott.
I’d be worried if I still thought Javonte Williams was elite.
I’d be worried if I missed out on Jake Ferguson.
I’d be worried if I needed anything from Terry McLaurin.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t a little disappointed in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t paying attention to Isiah Pacheco.
I’d be worried if I needed Adam Thielen.
I’d be worried if I was counting on David Njoku.
I’d be worried if I thought I had the Cleveland running game figured out.
I’d be worried if I was still holding out hope for Desmond Ridder.
I’d be worried if I thought Jake Browning couldn’t do that again.
I’d be worried if I needed any Jets player.
I’d be worried if I didn’t love what I’m seeing from Trey McBride.
I’d be worried if I was playing against Tyreek Hill. Unreal.
I’d be worried if I was still hesitant in believing in Brock Purdy.
I’d be worried if I was still starting D’Andre Swift.
I’d be worried if I thought Jaylen Warren was going to run away with this job.
I’d be worried if I was counting on Kenny Pickett.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t paying attention to the season from Courtland Sutton.
I’d be worried if I needed consistency from Jahmyr Gibbs.
I’d be worried if I was ignoring the year from Michael Pittman.
The Top Rookie Scoring Averages
1.) CJ Stroud, QB HOU = 23.95
2.) De’Von Achane RB MIA = 21.75
3.) Anthony Richardson, QB IND = 20.36
4.) Puka Nacua, WR LAR = 17.37
5.) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB DET = 16.24
6.) Will Levis, QB TEN = 15.22
7.) Tank Dell, WR HOU = 15.04
8.) Bijan Robinson, RB ATL = 14.43
9.) Tyson Bagent QB CHI = 14.39
10.) Sam LaPorta, TE DET = 14.33
11.) Jordan Addison, WR MIN = 13.73
12.) Bryce Young, QB CAR = 13.62
13.) Aidan O’Connell, QB LV = 12.77
14.) Tommy DeVito QB NYG = 12.37
15.) Zay Flowers WR BAL = 11.96
16.) Rashee Rice WR KC = 11.76
17.) Jayden Reed, WR GB = 11.47
18.) Dalton Kincaid TE BUF = 10.49
19.) Josh Downs WR IND = 10.08
20.) Michael Wilson WR ARI = 9.28
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
I’m honestly hesitant in this but I see his long-term upside. The thing is, the difference between one and six is pretty small and that’s the surprise of the year.
1.) De’Von Achane, RB MIA
Stats this week came in clean-up duty. Still, it’s clear how talented he is.
3.) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB DET
Would like to see Montgomery out of the picture at some point.
4.) Puka Nacua, WR LAR
Nice bounce-back this week.
5.) Tank Dell, WR HOU
What a bummer. Lost for the season.
6.) Sam LaPorta, TE DET
You can honestly make a case for him to be #1 when you consider positional scarcity and the fact he’s averaging more PPG than Robinson.
7.)Â Jordan Addison, WR MIN
Vikings need a long-term quarterback.
8.) Â CJ Stroud,QB HOU
Everyone should take him over Richardson with no hesitation now.
9.) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR SEA
I’m just not sure about him.
10) Jayden Reed, WR GB
I still really like what I’m seeing from him.
See you on Saturday for the “Five in Five!” and next week for the Dynasty Aftermath.
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
