Category Archives: dynasty recap

Dynasty Update – Week 1 – Cardinals 31, Saints 19

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Cardinals

  • Quarterback Carson Palmer had a huge day with 307 yards and three touchdowns. He should be a QB2 for as long as he’s around.
  • The Cardinals went with a committee at running back but it should be apparent that Andre Ellington is the better option over re-tread Chris Johnson. Ellington had 69 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown before spraining his PCL. Johnson had only 37 yards on 10 carries.
  • In the receiving game, veteran Larry Fitzgerald led the way with six catches and 87 yards. He could end up at WR3-4 value in dynasty rankings.
  • Safety Tryann Mathieu had a great game with eight tackles and three passes defended. He’s a high upside DB1 in IDP dynasty leagues.

Saints

  • Quarterback Drew Brees had a very typical game with 355 yards passing and a touchdown and interception. Despite the loss of Jimmy Graham, it looks like Brees will still put up gaudy passing numbers. He’s a mid-tier QB1 in dynasty rankings.
  • Running back Mark Ingram had a horrible game on the ground with just 24 yards rushing. However, he did haul in eight catches for 98 yards. He’ll need to boost his rushing yardage as CJ Spiller will take over the passing back role when he returns.

Dynasty Recap – Week 1 – Chargers 33, Lions 28

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Chargers

  • Quarterback Philip Rivers had a great 2015 debut with 404 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s another veteran that is still reliable. He’s a low-end QB1 in dynasty rankings and should be for a few years.
  • Rookie Melvin Gordon had a sub-par debut with just 51 yards on 14 carries. He’s currently viewed as a RB1 in dynasty leagues but should probably be considered a RB2 until he can prove otherwise.
  • Receiver Keenan Allen had a huge day with 15 catches for 166 yards. If Rivers keeps up his performance, Allen will be the prime beneficiary and should be viewed as a low-end WR2 with upside.
  • Safety Eric Weddle proved why he should be considered a DB1 in IDP dynasty leagues with nine tackles and two passes defended. There’s no telling how many years Weddle has left but it’s about reliability in IDP and Weddle has it.

Lions

  • A couple of semi-breakout games for Detroit. First, rookie Ameer Abdullah  ran for 50 yards and a touchdown plus four catches for 44 yards. If he keeps this up, he’s squarely a RB2 in PPR dynasty leagues.
  • The second was second-year tight end Eric Ebron with four catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come and Ebron can be the solid TE1 he was drafted to be.

Dynasty Recap – Week 1 – Packers 31, Bears 23

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Packers

  • Another three-touchdown day for dynasty’s top quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Nothing to see here.
  • Running back Eddie Lacy had a good day with 85 yards and a touchdown on the ground. In his current situation, he’s a top five dynasty running back.

Bears

  • Despite getting up there in age, running back Matt Forte had a big day with 141 yards and a touchdown plus five catches for 25 yards. Forte won’t have many more effective seasons but if he’s your RB2 in dynasty leagues, you’re in a good spot.
  • Tight end Martellus Bennett had a good day with five catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. Bennett should be high on the priority list after Alshon Jeffery for targets and should be no worse than a low-end TE1.

Dynasty Recap – Week 1 – Bills 27, Colts 14

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Bills

  • Quarterback Tyrod Taylor had an interesting day with 195 yards and a touchdown through the air plus 41 yards rushing. His ceiling is as the next Cam Newton / Colin Kaepernick-type and as a possible high-end QB2.
  • Bills rookie running back Karlos Williams led the team with 55 yards on just six carries plus a touchdown. He outperformed new back LeSean McCoy who had only 41 yards on 17 carries. It’s entirely possible Williams is sharing primary back duties with McCoy sooner rather than later. Williams is a good one to try to get before his value soars.

Colts

  • Bad day all the way around for the Colts. Starting at the top, Andrew Luck struggled mightily, going 26 of 49 for 243 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He’ll get better throughout the season but it’s worth wondering if there’s any chance he’s only the second best dynasty quarterback.
  • Because of Luck’s poor day, there’s not much to report on the receiving front. T.Y. Hilton finished with seven catches for 88 yards. The young guys did fair with Donte Moncrief finishing with six catches for 46 yards and Philip Dorsett finishing with two catches for 45 yards. Hilton was injured which will open the door for Dorsett and Moncrief. Both are only WR4-5’s at the moment but could easily gain ground.

Dynasty Recap – Week 1 – Chiefs 27, Texans 20

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Chiefs

  • At long last, tight end Travis Kelce was cut loose, piling up 106 yards on six catches and two touchdowns. It’s reasonable to firmly place Kelce as the second best dynasty tight end behind Gronk.
  • The man getting him the ball also had a good day with quarterback Alex Smith going 22 of 33 for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Smith will never sniff QB1 territory but could be a serviceable QB2.
  • Running back Jamaal Charles had a decent day by his standards with 57 yards on the ground but five catches for 46 yards and a touchdown in the air. He’s still a solid RB1 in dynasty rankings, especially PPR.
  • Linebacker Derrick Johnson had a big day with eight tackles, a pass defended and a sack. The middle linebacker is a safe LB1 in IDP dynasty leagues.

Texans

  • Thanks to being behind big, the receiving game was the big fantasy beneficiary with DeAndre Hopkins going off for nine catches and 98 yards plus two touchdowns. This could be the norm for Hopkins but makes have a low-end dynasty WR1.
  • The other stud for the Texans did it again with defensive end J.J. Watt racking up nine tackles and two sacks. He’s IDP’s #1 player no matter the format.

Dynasty Recap – Week 1 – Jets 31, Browns 10

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Jets

  • The biggest star for New York was running back Chris Ivory who ran for 91 yards on just 20 carries plus two touchdowns plus a nine-yard catch. Ivory should continue to produce at RB2 levels and, at just 27 with plenty of tread left on the tires, should be a RB3 in dynasty rankings.
  • Receiver Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown in his debut. It’s a good start but at 31, Marshall’s best days are behind him. We would rank him as a WR3-4 in dynasty rankings.

Browns

  • Filling in for start Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel flopped in his 2015 debut with 182 yards on 13 of 24 passing with one touchdown and three turnovers (1 interception; 2 fumbles lost). Much like his fellow 2014 first-round pick Blake Bortles, I think it’s time to pull the plug.
  • Also flopping in his season debut, running back Isaiah Crowell gained all of 20 yards on 12 carries. He was facing a good defense in New York but it’s not a promising start especially with rookie Duke Johnson right behind him on the depth chart.

Dynasty Recap – Week 1 – Dolphins 17, Redskins 10

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Dolphins

  • Quarterback Ryan Tannehill had a good, not great, game going 22 of 34 for 226 yards and a touchdown and a lost fumble. Tannehill had plenty of hype heading into the season but didn’t show any of that in Week 1.
  • Running back Lamar Miller also had a pedestrian day with 53 yards on 13 carries plus a lone catch for 22 yards. Miller is a no-doubter as far as a lead back but don’t expect RB1 numbers. He can be considered a solid RB2 in dynasty rankings.
  • If you have receiver Jarvis Landry in a PPR league, he earned his keep with eight catches on 53 yards. This will be how Landry rolls all year – several catches for not many yards. He’s only a WR3 in PPR formats.
  • New tight end Jordan Cameron had a nice debut with four catches for 73 yards. He’ll be used a lot down the seam and could have low-end TE1 value in dynasty if he keeps this up.
  • Safety Reshad Jones had a huge day with 12 tackles and a pass defended. Jones can safely be considered a DB1 in IDP dynasty leagues.

Redskins

  • The lone bright spot for Washington was Alfred Morris busting out with 121 yards. If he can keep turning in 100-yard games, Morris will retain RB2 value in dynasty formats beyond this year.
  • At quarterback, Kirk Cousins surprised no one by going 21 of 31 for 196 yards a touchdown and two interceptions. We should see Colt McCoy any week.
  • Tight end Jordan Reed had a nice comeback game with 7 catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. If he can stay healthy, he can be another low-end TE1 in dynasty leagues.

Dynasty Recap – Week 1 – Panthers 20, Jaguars 9

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Panthers

  • If today is any indication, Cam Newton will have a long season. He completed 18 of 31 for 175 yards and a touchdown plus an interception. He added 35 yards on 14 carries. He just doesn’t have any playmakers around him and will be forced to carry the load. At this point, you can downgrade him in dynasty rankings.
  • Running back Jonathan Stewart failed to impress in his debut as the workhorse in Carolina with only 56 yards on 18 carries plus 25 yards on four catches. It’ll be difficult for Stewart to get anything going if there’s no one else to take the heat off.
  • While Luke Kuechly usually gets all the headlines it was his fellow linebacker Thomas Davis that filled more of the stat sheet with seven tackles, a sack, and an interception. He’s safely a LB2 if not higher in IDP dynasty.

Jaguars

  • I’m calling the time of death on Blake Bortles dynasty career as of this game. He went 22 of 40 for 183 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. You can safely drop him in any format.
  • Rookie running back T.J. Yeldon was passable with 51 yards on 12 carries plus 16 yards on three catches. However, if Bortles can’t get anything going, it’ll be hard for Yeldon to break free.

Dynasty Recap – Week 1 – Rams 34, Seahawks 31 (OT)

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Rams 

  • Quarterback Nick Foles had a decent day, completing 18 of 27 for 297 yards and a touchdown against the Kam Chancellor-less Seattle defense. It’s not time to bump up Foles in dynasty rankings but it’s a good start.
  • Foles leading receiver was tight end Jared Cook who caught five for 85 yards. Cook showed promise in last year’s opener too so we won’t get too excited. If he puts together another month of this though, things could change.
  • It was a coming out party for defensive tackle Aaron Donald and his nine tackle, two-sack day. He’s a solid DL2 but even higher if you play in a DT-special league.

Seahawks

  • Russell Wilson did not have a decent day, going 32 of 41 for only 251 yards and a touchdown and an interception. It’s early so it’s not time to move Wilson down dynasty rankings.
  • Running back Marshawn Lynch had a good day when he got the ball. Operating on only 18 carries, Lynch rushed for 73 yards but did add five catches for 31 yards. Seattle should go back to pounding the ball with Lynch next week. He’s still a RB1.
  • New addition Jimmy Graham had a decent day with six catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. A solid effort from a tight end but not worthy of being the second highest dynasty tight end. I’m going to start marking him down.

Dynasty Recap – Week 1 – Patriots 28, Steelers 21

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Patriots

  • Quarterback Tom Brady was in full pissed-off mode on the heels of Deflategate and went for 288 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions. He may be old but he’s still a top-10 dynasty option at quarterback.
  • Running back Dion Lewis broke out with 69 rushing yards plus four catches for 51 yards. Even if these numbers continue, Lewis is only on a reserves contract and shouldn’t be in New England past this year.
  • On the receiving end, business as usual with Rob Gronkowski leading the way with 5/94/3 and a Julian Edelman with a 11/97/0 line. Gronk continues to be the top tight end option while Edelman has solidified his place as a WR2 in PPR leagues.
  • Linebacker Dont’a Hightower has come back from injury with eight tackles and a sack. Those kind of numbers make him a firm LB2 in IDP dynasty leagues.

Steelers

  • Ben Roethlisberger picked up where he left off with 351 yards and a garbage-time touchdown plus an interception. He was operating without his top running back (Bell) and second receiver (Bryant) so the yards are encouraging.
  • Antonio Brown is in the same boat with 9/133/1 line. An argument could be made that Brown is the top receiver in dynasty, especially in PPR.
  • Heath Miller filled in nicely with a 8/84/0 line but that should do back down when Martavis Bryant returns. Still, he’s a solid TE2 in a good offense.