Dynasty roundtable discussions draw in a number of viewpoints and emphasize the power of a group focusing on central questions. Expect dynasty roundtable installments to be more frequent going forward.
Do you have a playoff matchup story of note? A bad beat? Horrible lineup decision? Needed medical treatment with all the hand-wringing leading up to kickoff?
Tim Torch: I co-own a start-up team in a shallow league with a friend of mine. The team we built is very good and built with very young wide receivers. This team was able to make the playoffs in year one. Our playoff match-up was good and we were going against a team of aging and injured vets. This team somehow put together just enough to win by 10 points by playing Nelson Agholor and Ryan Matthews.
Tim Smith: The Good – I was down by 18 points in the playoffs with only Justin Tucker to go on Monday night. I had already congratulated my opponent. Then Tucker nailed 5 field goals and gave a shout out to his fantasy owners. I advanced. Later, just before the championship game, I added Andy Dalton and started him over Tony Romo based on a gut instinct. Dalton threw 5 touchdowns and was the difference in my championship title.
The Bad – This past weekend I was down 37 points with Lamar Miller and Will Tye to go on Monday night. Both of them went beastmode for a total of 31 points in the first half. I had it in the bag. Then they put up a total of 4 points in the second half. I was on the edge of my sofa for the last 45 minutes of the game waiting for two points that never came. Will Tye had 5 catches and a TD in the first half but was not targeted in the second half. Lamar Miller averaged 7.4 ypc on the game but only received 5 carries in the second half. Excuse me while I go back to crying in a fetal position with a tear-stained photograph of Lamar Miller. Why…Dan Campbell…why?
Katie Flower: In a 12-team superflex I struggled all year with Kaepernick and Manziel and finally got Fitzpatrick going good. My WR core is solid and young and same at RB. This was an orphan I took over last year and had 1.01 and 1.02 last year. This year finished with the 1.03 but looking forward to the toilet bowl, my team finally starting to put up points all around I figured to have a good shot of earning the 1.13 bonus pick. I had been using Cooper, Cooks, Robinson, and Moncrief as my main starting 4 WR all year and lately they were killing it. Before the Thursday game I considered putting Michael Floyd in for Cooper since he had tweaked his foot and would be playing the Broncos D. I didn’t. Floyd scored 24.20 fantasy points, Cooks, Robinson under-performed and a goose egg out of Cooper, I lost by just under 1 point!
What single player most affected your team’s result in a dynasty league this season? Could be a savior when you needed it the most or an anchor who repeatedly hurt your chances….
Tim Torch: Mike Evans. There have been few players who have frustrated me to the level of Mike Evans this week and the entire year. Against the Saints I was expecting a fantasy point eruption and all he did underwhelm. SO FRUSTRATED!
Tim Smith: I traded Philip Rivers for Blake Bortles in a league. I thought the move would rule me out of playoff contention, but, as it worked out, it was the only reason I made the playoffs. Bortles is on a tear now and with Allen Robinson leading his weapons I do not see a reason it should end.
Katie Flower: My savior this season was DeAndre Hopkins, he got me my most first round byes and needed it since he had a bad game this past week.
Chad Parsons: In a more general sense, I had multiple leagues where my tight end rotation became a house of horrors during the season. Ladarius Green and Austin Seferian-Jenkins combined to miss (or be highly questionable leading into the weekend) a majority of weeks. I lost Tyler Eifert at inopportune moments. Eric Ebron looked to be turning a corner only to slink back into it. Vance McDonald missed time just as he was getting up to speed. I even picked up Gary Barnidge as a stopgap in one league, only to drop him a week later as his run of production continued.
Dynasty Roundtable Bonus Question: Who is one forgotten or injured player you are trying to acquire either for long-term hold or a good value flip later?
Tim Torch: I am trying to acquire Jordy Nelson and have quietly done so in multiple spots. Going into next season people will start remembering what he brought to the offense and start overpaying for him. I have been able to acquire him for mid-second round picks with the potential of a first round value when I flip.
Chad Parsons: Injured players are a great start for acquiring future value, so are invisible rookies who other owners can sour quickly in their first seasons. I remember Aaron Dobson being dropped in a league a week or two into his rookie season in one league – he was a WR2 for about a month later that same season. Names like Sammie Coates, Jaelen Strong, and DeAndre Smelter fit the criteria as off-the-radar rookies heading into the offseason. All three are quality talent adds and let the depth charts shake out over the next 12-24 months.
