The Dynasty Aftermath: The Last Man on Earth
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 eighteen years and I love it (I cannot believe I just typed that). 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.
So, how does this relate to fantasy football this week? That’s easy! We are losing players right and left. While having top-end talent in dynasty leagues is crucial for winning, you cannot sit on your hands and ever think your team is “done being built.” Savvy (and experienced) dynasty managers continue to relentlessly search for trades, find free agent pickups, acquire handcuffs and improve their teams. You just can’t sit back and relax because as we saw this week, the game will come at you fast and the last thing you need is to have fewer choice than the last human in a post-apocalyptic earth. If you do, your team may end up looking like the bad side of the half-haired Phil “Tandy” Miller.
On to week two! Boom.
Fantasy MVP of the Week
Well, it sure seems the demise of one Alvin Kamara has been greatly exaggerated. Kamara obliterated the Cowboys on the road with 115 rushing yards, two catches, 65 receiving yards and four (!) touchdowns this week. While his status as fantasy football’s overall RB1 is unlikely to hold up for the entire season, it’s clear this new offense is going to run through him and with Derek Carr playing this well, contending dynasty managers should be kicking the tires to see if Kamara is available.
Fantasy LVP of the Week
The Chiefs are 2-0 but it’s certainly not on the shoulders of Travis Kelce, who had just one catch for five yards in this week’s big game against the Bengals, destroying the hopes of a lot of fantasy teams in the process. Sure, he was stopped at the one on a one-yard goal-line carry and had a big gain taken away, but this was still a huge disappointment and is certainly making many wonder if his best days are behind him.
The Unbeatable Lineup of the Week
QB Kyler Murray ARIÂ = 266 passing yards, 59 rushing yards, three touchdowns
RB Alvin Kamara NOÂ = 115 rushing yards, two catches, 65 receiving yards, four touchdowns
RB De’Von Achane MIA = 96 rushing yards, seven catches, 69 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB James Cook BUF = 78 rushing yards, one catch, 17 receiving yards, three touchdowns
WR Marvin Harrison Jr ARIÂ = Four catches, 130 receiving yards, one touchdown (in one quarter)
WR DK Metcalf SEAÂ = Ten catches, 129 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Malik Nabers NYG = Ten catches, 127 receiving yards, one touchdown, 18 (!) targets
TE George Kittle SFÂ = Seven catches, 76 receiving yards, one touchdown
The Underdog Lineup of the Week
QB Derek Carr NO = 243 passing yards, one rushing yard, three touchdowns, one interception
RB JK Dobbins LAC = 131 rushing yards, one touchdown
RB Braelon Allen NYJ = 33 rushing yards, two catches, 23 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB Zach Charbonnet SEA = 38 rushing yards, five catches, 31 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba SEA = 12 catches, 117 receiving yards
WR Quentin Johnston LAC = Five catches, 51 receiving yards, two touchdowns
WR Rashid Shaheed NO = Four catches, 96 receiving yards, 13 rushing yards, one touchdown
TE Hunter Henry NE = Eight catches, 109 receiving yards
The Disappointing Lineup of the Week
QB Bryce Young CARÂ = 84 passing yards, one interception, one career in question
RB Rachaad White TBÂ = 18 rushing yards, one catch, five receiving yards
RB Chase Brown CIN = 31 rushing yards
RB Zamir White LV = 24 rushing yards, three catches, 14 receiving yards
WR Christian Kirk JAXÂ = One catch, -1 receiving yard
WR DeAndre Hopkins TENÂ = One catch, nine receiving yards
WR Tank Dell HOU = Three catches, 16 receiving yards, -3 rushing yards
TE Travis Kelce KCÂ = One catch, five receiving yards, one rushing yard, one excited gi
Gut Checks
I’d be worried if I thought this was a fluke from Baker Mayfield.
I’d be worried if I was undervaluing Josh Jacobs.
I’d be worried if I thought this was a fluke from Jameson Williams.
I’d be worried if I needed elite-level production from the two Miami receivers.
I’d be worried if I was overreacting to Travis Kelce‘s usage.
I’d be worried if I needed consistency from Amari Cooper. It’s Amari Cooper. This is what you get.
I’d be worried if I had Jahan Dotson.
I’d be worried if I was still hoping for a breakout from Treylon Burks.
I’d be worried if I needed anything from the Dallas running backs.
I’d be worried if I needed soap from Tandy.
I’d be worried if I was still starting Deshaun Watson.
I’d be worried if I had D’Andre Swift. This is a mess.
I’d be worried if I thought Rashid Shaheed was a “one trick pony.”
I’d be worried if I was counting on Stefon Diggs. This is Nico’s team.
I’d be worried if I had Derrick Henry. Three carries in the fourth quarter of the last two games combined?
I’d be worried if I needed Deebo Samuel for the next few weeks.
I’d be worried if I thought Ja’Marr Chase was going to struggle all season.
I’d be worried if I was counting on the Dalton Kincaid breakout season.
I’d be worried if I left the world a note that I was in Tucson but didn’t leave the address.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t trying to get Sam LaPorta at the moment.
I’d be worried if I still viewed Trevor Lawrence as “elite.”
I’d be worried if I was ignoring some decent games from Tony Pollard.
I’d be worried if I was starting Jerome Ford.
I’d be worried if I still thought JK Dobbins wasn’t all the way back.
I’d be worried if I had sports balls as my best friends.
I’d be worried if I didn’t sell on Rachaad White.
I’d be worried if I was dropping John Metchie.
I’d be worried if I thought Zay Flowers couldn’t help you win games.
I’d be worried if I thought De’Von Achane couldn’t be the overall RB1 when this thing is done.
I’d be worried if I was ignoring Brian Robinson.
I’d be worried if I wasn’t tracking Calvin Ridley‘s production.
I’d be worried if I had DeAndre Hopkins.
I’d be worried if I was counting on Dalvin Cook.
or Cooper Kupp.
or Joe Mixon.
or Puka Nacua.
or Isiah Pacheco.
or Marquise Brown.
or Tandy from The Last Man on Earth.
Fun with Numbers
Cooper Kupp was on pace for 238 receptions. He’s now on pace for 18 receptions and eight high ankle sprains.
Saquon Barkley was on pace to score 51 total touchdowns. He’s now on pace to drop eight game winning passes.
Bryce Young was on pace to post a season with 2,737 yards, with no touchdowns and 34 interceptions. He’s now on pace to post a season with 245 passing yards and just three interceptions. It’s a great improvement!
JK Dobbins is on pace for 2,261 rushing yards, which would clearly win him Comeback Player of the Year.
Brock Purdy is on pace to lead the league with 4,675 passing yards.
Derek Carr and Baker Mayfield are on pace to each throw 43 touchdown passes.
Bo Nix and Anthony Richardson are both on pace to throw 34 interceptions.
Alvin Kamara is now on pace to post 34 rushing touchdowns.
Nico Collins is on pace for 2,142 receiving yards.
Jameson Williams and Chris Godwin are both on pace for 1,700 receiving yards.
Brock Bowers and Malik Nabers are both on pace for 128 catches.
The Rookie Top Ten
Always check our latest rankings to see the updates throughout the week. These rankings are simply my own.
1.) Marvin Harrison Jr WR ARI
I didn’t overreact to one bad week and that was justified in one quarter.
2.) Malik Nabers, WR NYG
He’s the entire Giants offense as a rookie who has played two games.
4.) Brock Bowers, TE LV
He deserves a bump as he’s been great thus far.
3.) Rome Odunze, WR CHI
I’d like to see him fully healthy.
5.) Brian Thomas, WR JAX
Seems to have already established himself as the WR1 in Jacksonville.
6.) Xavier Worthy, WR KC
I love the production but he still needs more targets to move higher on this list.
7.) Jonathon Brooks, RB CAR
Waiting patiently.
8.) Ladd McConkey, WR LAC
Meh. Fine so far, but far from a weekly lineup staple.
9.) Jayden Daniels, QB WAS
He has the “it” factor.
10.) Braelon Allen, RB NYJ
He clearly has talent and I believe he’ll get an opportunity somewhere at some point.
AI Question of the Week
See you next week for the Dynasty Aftermath.