Dynasty Fantasy Football: Darlings and Duds – Week 1

Throughout the season, I will highlight players who elevate their game or sink to new lows. We’ll navigate the dynasty fantasy football streets and the market that coincides with it. I will analyze the games the highlighted players played the previous week to see how they won or lost to help you decide whether they are legit or a one-week wonder. Let’s dive in:  

Darling: Puka Nacua, WR Los Angeles Rams

Weekly Recap

As a Rams fan, I must give this week’s Dynasty Darling Award to Puka Nacua, otherwise known as Puka Nacooper Kupp. Nacua was a late third/early fourth-round rookie pick in most fantasy football dynasty leagues this offseason. He burst on the scene with ten catches and 119 yards, finishing with 21.9 PPR fantasy points. He finished as the WR9 in Week 1.

Nacua, along with teammate Tutu Atwell, dominated in Sunday’s receiving game for the Rams. He touted a 39% target share and allotted a 3.40 YPRR, ranking sixth among 107 active wide receivers. He had a fantastic showcase in his first official game as a professional.

Interestingly enough, Nacua predominately lined up outside (70.3%) compared to the slot (29.7%). During Cooper Kupp’s historic season, he operated most of his snaps in the slot. While Kupp and Nacua have similar skill sets, I can see them coexisting when Kupp returns from injury. 

Regarding coverage and location, Nacua dominated the middle of the field. He had eight of his ten receptions over the middle and between 0-20 yards in length. Nacua even left some points on the board as Stafford overthrew him after he burned past Tariq Woolen on a route to the endzone. 

In addition to that, he dominated when the defense sat in zone coverage. He exemplified the ability to separate early in his route and find the holes in the zone, as he was the primary target for Stafford. He made a few spectacular catches. The one that comes to mind was him in tight coverage against the right sideline.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Outlook

Nacua is a solid flex play as we advance and was a priority add for fantasy football waivers in redraft leagues. I can see Nacua cementing himself as the WR2 in the Rams’ offense in the future. He will be relevant even when Kupp returns from IR, but Nacua is a solid play while Kupp is out. 

I understand selling Nacua for future 2024 seconds in dynasty leagues. If someone offers me a 2024 first, I would smash accept, too. I am not taking any less than the prices listed above. He was a lottery ticket; I don’t mind waiting it out to see where it goes. Nacua has a great skillset to succeed in this offense, and I believe in Sean McVay’s play calling. 

Taking profit is the more ingenious process play, but very few rookie wide receivers do what Nacua did on Sunday. I will watch how he fairs against the 49ers, Bengals, and Colts in the upcoming weeks.

Honorable Mentions: Brandon Aiyuk, Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, Kyren Williams

Dud: Drake London, WR Atlanta Falcons

Weekly Recap

After Week 1, those who started Drake London have a bitter taste in their mouths – along with a one marked in the loss column. The 2023 season was supposed to be the start of a year two breakout. Instead of a celebratory Week 1, London’s performance left fantasy football managers severely underwhelmed. Let’s dive into it and see what went wrong for London.

Throughout the week, plenty of superstars underperformed. The positive about London is that he ran a route on 91% of Desmond Ridder’s dropbacks. The not-so-positive is that he walked away with just one target on 18 pass attempts. That is a 5.5% target share on an anemic passing attack. 

The worst part about London’s lackluster performance is that the Falcons won by two touchdowns. Arthur Smith’s run-heavy game plan is working, and there is no indication that he wants to change that. In addition to that, he makes it pretty clear he cares very little about the fantasy football community.

Falcons coach Arthur Smith, told that Drake London had one fewer reception than Desmond Ridder in today's win: "Let the fantasy guys worry about that. We've got to clean some things up … We don't care. Drake London doesn't care. All we care about is 1-0."

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 10, 2023

Dynasty Fantasy Football Outlook

We all need to lower expectations and hope London can climb back towards the 30% target share we expected. Nevertheless, if he received 30% of 20 passing attempts, that equals a measly six targets per game. I would rather have a wide receiver two on a team with more volume. 

It is tough to get behind this offense. If you have better-starting options, look to start other players for now. In dynasty, you must hold London as we assume better days are ahead for him because of his natural ability. The volume will be essential if we ever see the second-year breakout in 2023.

Honorable Mentions: Geno Smith, Cam Akers, Rachaad White, and D.J. Moore

That wraps up this week’s edition of Dynasty Duds and Darlings. Be sure to follow me on X for all other fantasy-related content. More importantly, follow The League Winners for updates and all other content throughout the fantasy season.