Continuing with the season recaps, here are other installments in the series:
SiriusXM IDP League
Dirty Dozen League
Maximum Security League
Team UTH Dynasty League
Delta 11 Dynasty League
Delta 12 Dynasty League
Delta 15 Dynasty League
Delta 25 Dynasty League
Delta 27 Dynasty League
Delta 38 Dynasty League
Delta 39 Dynasty League
Heavy Hitters Dynasty League
HyperActive 1 Dynasty League
The HyperActive dynasty leagues, commissioned by Ryan McDowell of DynastyLeagueFootball.com, are some of the most well-known leagues in dynasty circles. Many top dynasty names own teams and I was lucky enough to take over a team in HyperActive 2 in the spring of 2013. After reshaping the team with 10 trades in the opening five months I owned the team (including five the first three weeks) and missing the playoffs in 2013, I was ready to compete for a title in 2014.
- 12 teams, Full PPR, 4pt Passing TDs
- 26-man rosters
- Start 1-1-1-1 with 4 RB-WR-TE flex
Noteworthy Moves
3.3.2014 Traded EJ Manuel, 2.06 for 1.13
I love inching my way up rookie boards using #PackageUp deals and fringe players. Those small-ish moves months before the draft turn into critical spots when on the clock in terms of player selection. I ended up packaging up the 1.13 (supplemental selection to toilet bowl winner between RD1-2) to move up again a few days later.
3.3.2014 Traded Jonathan Stewart for Josh Boyce
I joked with Sigmund Bloom about this deal when Stewart was going off in December 2014 for the first time in years. Turns out he dealt Stewart away as well after this deal. I was collecting Boyce in the leagues I did not own him and this was cheap according to my board. Boyce has barely seen the field since despite his athletic talent.
3.6.2014 Traded 1.13, 2.05 for 1.08
As discussed above, I kept inching my way up the draft book two months prior to draft day. While the 1.13 would have been fine (I ended up reacquiring the pick on draft day), I netted Jordan Matthews at 1.08. The 2.05 selection resulted in Devonta Freeman.
3.14.2014 Traded Toby Gerhart for 2016 1st
I was seeking a future first (any year) in return for Gerhart when the buzz was that the former Vikings running back would see 300 touches in Jacksonville. I did not trust the talent and was prepared to add later rookie picks on my end, if necessary, to get it done. After a few proposals around the league, I executed this one. I project the pick to be in the top-half of the round and Gerhart has been anything but a weekly starter since the deal.
3.30.2014 Traded Benny Cunningham, Chris Givens, 2016 4th for 2016 2nd
Another consolidation move of marginal talents. Cunningham has looked decent in a reserve role in 2014, but the odds of developing into a difference-maker are small. Givens has been a shell of his rookie self, and even if the picks turn into 4.01 and 2.12 as a worst case, I love the deal.
5.14.2014 Was Offered 2015 1st and 2nd for 1.08
When I was on the clock for 1.08 (ultimately selected Jordan Matthews), I received this offer. I did not want to give up a wide receiver that would be a top-5 pick in most draft classes for a question mark draft slot a year later. I took the known prospect in Matthews. The rub is that the picks became 1.01 and 2.01 in this upcoming season. Even the most passionate Matthews fan is not turning down that offer. I will say that Jordan Matthews was a valuable spot starter at points during 2014 on my receiver-heavy team.
5.14.2014 Traded 2.04, Reuben Randle for 1.13
I overpaid on this one as 1.13 was the prime range for Austin Seferian-Jenkins and I knew the 2.01 owner had ASJ on his draft short-list. I paid the steep price of a young, highly-drafted wide receiver to move up and secure Seferian-Jenkins. I passed on Donte Moncrief as a result (which I would happily reverse if choosing today) and the other owner secured Tre Mason at 2.04. I had plenty of trade ‘wins’ this offseason, but this deal was not one of the them as of today.
5.16.2014 Traded 2015 2nd for 3.08 and 3.09
When my target players started to fall outside the top-30 in the rookie draft, I was open to dealing a future 2nd to get back into the mix. I was projected to be a strong playoff contender this season, so a back-half future 2nd was worthwhile. I nabbed Jerick McKinnon and Jeff Janis with the late-3rd selections in 2014.
The Season
I started out white-hot with a 3-1 record and leading the conference in points scored by more than 70 points through four weeks. The next month, I fell back to the pack with a 2-2 mark and narrowly holding the total points lead. Over the final four regular season weeks (ends Week 12 for the 24-team playoff format), I limped to a 1-3 mark and lost the total points title. Despite losing on the final week of the regular season to fall to 6-6, I made the playoffs as the No.6 seed and was set to face fellow Footballguys Staffer Sigmund Bloom in the opening round of the playoffs.
I easily eclipsed my weekly average (130) against Bloom with a 172-128 victory. In the semi-finals, I faced off against the No.1 seed and the total points champion of the regular season. Thanks to Odell Beckham, I churned out another top score in a 183-134 victory. In the conference finals, I faced a fellow wildcard team and I was fearing the regression after two huge weeks in a row. The regression came, as I scored 132 points (around my season average), but luckily faced a team that scored 93 points.
On to the Super Bowl against powerhouse Ryan McDowell’s squad that had a similar wild-card run through the playoffs. I was the clear underdog in Week 16, but ended up narrowly losing thanks to a no-show from my streaming defense choice, the Saints, going with Steven Jackson (who got injured early in the game) over Latavius Murray, and Andrew Luck having quite possibly the worst elite quarterback game of all-time…all in the same week. That said, Ryan had his share of studs coming up small in the strange low-scoring matchup for all the marbles. I missed out on the big payday, but conference champion with a young core heading into 2015 is a success for the second year in the league.
Season-Ending Roster
QB
Andrew Luck
RB
Jerick McKinnon, Latavius Murray, Steven Jackson, Joseph Randle, Tyler Gaffney
WR
Odell Beckham, Julio Jones, Randall Cobb, Alshon Jeffery, Sammy Watkins, Jordan Matthews, Davante Adams, Charles Johnson, Justin Hunter, Pierre Garcon, John Brown, Justin Blackmon, Jeff Janis, Jaron Brown, Brandon Coleman, Quincy Enunwa
TE
Julius Thomas, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tyler Eifert, Crockett Gillmore, Luke Willson
Rookie Picks
- 1.07, 2.02, 3.12
- Extra 2016 1st, 2nd
Outlook
I love the overall composition of this team’s roster after a serious in-flux of 2014 wide receiver talent. The McKinnon-Murray platoon for my lone weekly running back starter is projected to be passable considering my wide receivers, tight ends, and Andrew Luck. The 1.07 pick is more likely to result in a running back in 2015 class than in 2014 by my current board. Julius Thomas, Pierre Garcon, and Justin Hunter are possible ‘hot seat’ players this offseason as I look to manuever in the rookie draft and acquire future value. According to my personal power rankings for this league, I am the No.1 team in terms of roster value heading into 2015.
