The Dynasty Aftermath: Mike Bee and Eileen Addison

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. I’m on a hot streak as I’ve hit some pretty big stories this year before they’ve materialized!

Birds of Prey

Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta offense was supposed to offer a haven for fantasy performance this year as the team had not lived up to expectations from a fantasy perspective. The rankings for their pivotal fantasy players looked like this going into Sunday:

Desmond Ridder = QB21
Bijan Robinson = RB12
Drake London = WR48
Kyle Pitts = TE17

While the Falcons lost the game against Washington this week, the fantasy performances from their key players was very encouraging. While Ridder (307 passing yards with two touchdowns and three costly interceptions) still hasn’t looked like the long-term answer at quarterback, he at least got his pass catchers more involved. Kyle Pitts (four catches for 43 yards and his fourth career touchdown) and Drake London (nine catches for 125 receiving yards) were both big-time fantasy performers for the week and we at least have some hope here. The frustrating thing has to be the continued “load management” of Bijan Robinson, who had just 18 touches on the day while ceding 13 carries to Tyler Allgeier. He did run 45 pass routes and caught five passes, so it seems he’s developing a decent fantasy floor. Still, we want more.

They’re Grrrreeeat?

The Bengals were able to squeak out a 17-13 win against Seattle. However, Joe Burrow is looking more like a QB2, Joe Mixon is getting to the point of being unplayable and Tee Higgins had another clunker of a game. At this point, Ja’Marr Chase is the only “must-start” player on this team and that’s a major development in fantasy leagues this year.

Raheem Must Start

Yep, that’s about what we thought. With De’Von Achane on the shelf for at least four weeks, fantasy managers were looking forward to seeing what Mostert could do with a full workload. Well, after 115 rushing yards, three catches, 17 receiving yards and three more touchdowns, that question has been answered. At this point, it would be a major surprise if Mostert wasn’t the overall RB1 in fantasy when Achane returns. This Dophins offense is looking like something we haven’t seen since the days of Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Kurt Warner and the “Greatest Show on Turf.” This offense needs a nickname.

Colt Revolver

At this point, I have no words to even describe my frustration on this. The Colts said all week they were planning on getting the newly paid Jonathan Taylor more touches and instead, they split the 26 running back touches evenly between Taylor and Zack Moss, who even got the lone running back touchdown. The game script had something to do with it as Gardner Minshew had to throw the ball 55 times but this is alarming to say the least. It’s getting to the point where you just play either of them if you have no choice and just consider them both back-end RB2 options at best until something changes. If you have either of these two players, you just have to be hoping Moss gets traded as he’s on the last year of his deal.

Boston Massacre

The Patriots offense has been horrible all year and it didn’t get much better on Sunday. While they somehow scored 17 points against Las Vegas, Mac Jones has now gone three straight games without a touchdown pass and has five interceptions in that same span. Will New England turn to Will Grier, Bailey Zappe or Malik Cunningham? Can it get any worse?

And now to my comments of the week. With Jeff Haverlack gone the past few weeks on vacation to Boise, Iceland, Jupiter or somewhere, I’ve been doing our lineup advice column. This has been an interesting challenge for me on a lot of fronts. It takes research, time, strategy and stamina to get through all of them. I also came to a very simple conclusion – I hate AI.

I try to not just make knee-jerk reactions on lineup questions and do what Jeff does – take the time to answer them properly. One in particular this week had my mind spinning and it was in regards to starting Jordan Addison. In the end, I decided to answer the question but I was driving. I tried to voice text my answer and say, “It might be. I lean Addison.” Instead, my answer becomes “Mike Bee. Eileen Addison.” Seriously. That’s what we come up with in this day and age?

All of this got me thinking, though. The point of all of it for me is pretty simple – regardless of how much technology changes and AI attempts to take over, nothing will really ever beat human opinion and creativity. I honestly believe that’s what makes DLF what it is – the people behind it. So, with that in mind, Mike Bee and Eileen Addison will have to wait a while to do the weekly recap because I’m still not dead yet. Just like Dick Vermiel.

On to week six!

The Unbeatable Lineup of the Week

QB Tua Tagovailoa MIA = 262 passing yards, three touchdowns
RB Raheem Mostert MIA = 115 rushing yards, three catches, 17 receiving yards, three touchdowns
RB Travis Etienne JAX = 55 rushing yards, three catches, 28 receiving yards, two touchdowns
RB  Kyren Williams LAR = 158 rushing yards, one touchdown
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown DET = 12 catches, 124 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Adam Thielen CAR = 11 catches, 115 receiving yards, one touchdown
WR Tyreek Hill MIA = Six catches, 163 receiving yards, one touchdown
TE Travis Kelce KC = Nine catches, 124 receiving yards

The Underdog Lineup of the Week

QB Sam Howell WAS = 151 passing yards, three touchdowns
RB Rhamondre Stevenson NE = 46 rushing yards, five catches, 24 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Kareem Hunt CLE = 47 rushing yards, three catches, 24 receiving yards, one touchdown
RB Chuba Hubbard CAR  = 88 rushing yards, one catch, two receiving yards
WR Drake London ATL = Nine catches, 125 receiving yards
WR Kendrick Bourne NE = Ten catches, 89 receiving yards
WR Rashid Shaheed NO = Two catches, 85 receiving yards, 18 rushing yards, one touchdown
TE Dalton Schultz HOU = Four catches, 61 receiving yards, one touchdown

The Disappointing Lineup of the Week

QB Justin Fields CHI = 58 passing yards, 46 rushing yards
RB Emari Demercado ARI = 11 rushing yards, one catch, six receiving yards
RB Dameon Pierce HOU = 34 rushing yards
RB David Montgomery DET = 14 rushing yards, one catch, 19 receiving yards
WR Jahan Dotson WAS = No catches
WR Marvin Mims DEN = No catches
WR Deebo Samuel SF = Two catches, 11 receiving yards
TE George Kittle SF = One catch, one receiving yard

Gut Checks

I’d be worried if I thought Russell Wilson and Sean Payton could survive this.

I’d be worried if I was downplaying the production from Isiah Pacheco.

I’d be worried if I thought the bye week was going to fix Najee Harris.

I’d be worried if I was starting any Chiefs receiver other than Travis Kelce.

I’d still be worried if I thought Dick Vermiel was dead.

I’d be worried if I thought Jerry Jeudy was going to last in Denver.

I’d be worried if I thought Ryan Tannehill was guaranteed to get his job back.

I’d be worried if I was still rolling out DeAndre Hopkins as a WR1.

I’d be worried if I needed anything from a Ravens running back.

I’d be worried if I was ignoring the season from Curtis Samuel.

I’d be worried if I thought Desmond Ridder was the long-term answer in Atlanta.

I’d be worried if I thought Kyle Pitts and Drake London were out of the woods. See Ridder, Desmond.

I’d be worried if I needed any Bengal other than Ja’Marr Chase. What has happened to Joe Mixon?

I’d be worried if I didn’t think Tyreek Hill was going to post the greatest fantasy season of all-time.

I’d be worried if I thought Cam Akers was going to just take over in Minnesota. One carry?

I’d be worried if I thought Kareem Hunt was suddenly playable.

I’d be worried if I needed WR1 numbers from Davante Adams right now.

I’d be worried if I thought Julio Jones or Leonard Fournette were going to save my season.

I’d be worried if I thought Mac Jones was going to end the season as a starter.

I’d be worried if I needed much from Josh Jacobs.

I’d be worried if I didn’t cash out on Rachaad White. Too late now.

I’d be worried if I didn’t think Cooper Kupp was going to have a lot to say about who wins your fantasy league.

I’d be worried if I thought Dalvin Cook would come out of this.

I’d be worried if I wasn’t paying attention to Latavius Murray.

I’d be worried if I was counting on anyone from Dallas to save my fantasy team. It’s just so frustrating to watch and it could kill Dick Vermiel.

The Top Rookie Scoring Averages

1.) De’Von Achane RB MIA = 25.93
2.) CJ Stroud, QB HOU = 20.75
3.) Puka Nacua, WR LAR = 20.37
4.) Anthony Richardson, QB IND = 20.36
5.) Bijan Robinson, RB ATL = 16.17
6.) Bryce Young, QB CAR = 15.37
7.) Sam LaPorta, TE DET = 13.25
8.) Zay Flowers, WR BAL = 13.25
9.) Tank Dell, WR HOU = 12.94
10.) Jordan Addison, WR MIN = 12.29
11.) Michael Wilson, WR ARI = 10.28
14.) Josh Downs, WR IND = 10.27
15.) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB DET = 9.73

Just missed: Jayden Reed Rashee Rice, Dalton Kincaid, Luke Musgrave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jaleel McLaughlin, Marvin Mims

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.) De’Von Achane, RB MIA
Just a smidge over Nacua now.

3.) Puka Nacua, WR LAR
Still solid in the top three and I see a tier gap now.

4.)  Jordan Addison, WR MIN
Need to see more with Jefferson out.

5.) Zay Flowers, WR BAL
Yay!  A touchdown!

6.) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR SEA
Finally showed up a little in the box score.

7.) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB DET
Needs to get back soon.

8.) Anthony Richardson, QB IND
I have major concerns now.

9.)  CJ Stroud,QB HOU
I’d rather have him than Quentin Johnston at this point.

10.) Tank Dell, WR HOU
Needs to get back soon as well.

See you on Saturday for the “Five in Five!” and next week for the Dynasty Aftermath.