| |
|
| Friday, January 26, 2024 |
| If you're having trouble breaking down position groups into tiers, fear not. Jamey Eisenberg has taken the time to assess the Dynasty value associated with the top players at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end. You will find that there are 10 tiers for quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, while the tight end position is broken down into eight tiers. |
| |
| In this newsletter, we'll also highlight a few unheralded rookies in each position group that you could stash until they make their inevitable ascent into the starting lineup. I'll also place each prospect mentioned into one of Jamey's preexisting tiers. |
| Dynasty Fantasy Football Quarterback Tiers |
| There were a few surprises in this group, but I was pleasantly surprised to see C.J. Stroud in Tier 1 among Dynasty stalwarts such as Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts. Stroud posted 22.9 Fantasy points per game this year and will only get better as the Texans continue to build around him. |
| |
| Another surprise was seeing Dak Prescott listed in Tier 4, which comprised a group of quarterbacks 25 years old or younger. Dak averaged 24.2 Fantasy points per game this season and could see his Fantasy production go up when the Texans add another spacer (a receiver who can consistently stretch the field vertically) to their receiver corps. I fully expect him to outperform where he's currently ranked, as Jamey alludes to in this piece. |
| Sleeper |
| Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina |
| We all know that Caleb Williams has the potential to be a Dynasty stud, but Spencer Rattler (the player he usurped at Oklahoma) could go on to become a starting NFL quarterback as well. Many of us remember Rattler for his turnovers and decision-making issues at Oklahoma, but he's improved by leaps and bounds since transferring to South Carolina. |
| He's got tremendous arm talent and has shown the ability to make off-schedule plays. He'll initially come in as a backup, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's a starting quarterback within the first two years of his NFL career. As it stands, Rattler belongs in Tier 8, but we won't know for certain until he locks down a QB1 spot in the NFL. |
| Deep Sleeper |
| Jason Bean, QB, Kansas |
| It's possible that Jason Bean may never see the field as an NFL quarterback, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him experience a meteoric rise up draft boards prior to the 2024 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Bean will likely run a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. While many fans might initially peg him as a wide receiver or a gadget player in the mold of Taysom Hill, they might want to pump the brakes on that thought. |
| It's important to note that he performed so well in front of NFL scouts at quarterback during practices at the Hula Bowl that he led to an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl. If a team like the Saints, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Falcons, Raiders, Patriots, or Giants gets a hold of him and develops him at quarterback, he could become the biggest steal Dynasty leagues have ever seen. If I had to place Bean in a tier, I'd say he likely begins in that Tier 9 conversation. |
| Dynasty Fantasy Football Running Back Tiers |
| Christian McCaffrey reigns supreme at the running back position in Fantasy football, but when it comes to Dynasty, the youth movement is mighty apparent in Jamey's running back tiers. Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, and Breece Hall round out Tier 1, while Christian McCaffrey, De'Von Achane, and Jonathan Taylor are in Tier 2. |
| |
| Running backs will go quickly in upcoming drafts, and if you don't have one of the premier running backs on your roster, you can certainly find serviceable backs later on. Backs like Rachaad White and James Cook headline Jamey's 4th Tier, while Josh Jacobs, Isaiah Pacheco, and D'Andre Swift can be found in Tier 5. One player who could certainly be in for a big year in 2024 is Tyjae Spears. I would be shocked to see him post numbers similar to those in the 3rd Tier. |
| |
Sleeper
|
| MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC |
| MarShawn Lloyd displays the sort of burst and acceleration that isn't common in the 2024 running back class. He's got great vision to work tackle to tackle and is consistently slow to, and fast through openings along the interior. |
| He has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field, and he's not as easy to bring down as his 5-foot-9, 210-pound frame would lead you to believe. I'm currently listing him as a sleeper, but I wouldn't be shocked to see his stock go up following the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine. Given his skill set, I'd place him in the Tier 8 range. However, he has the potential to become at least a Tier 3 running back with starter reps. |
Deep Sleeper
|
| Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee |
| I don't know how Tennessee does it, but they just keep producing solid backs. Jaylen Wright might not get some of the pre-draft hype that Trey Benson and Jonathon Brooks will receive, but he's a big play waiting to happen. He averaged 7.4 yards per carry this season, and much of that is due to his track speed that clearly transfers over to the football field. |
| He's a former high school champ in the 55m dash, and when he's in the open field, you can see his track and field experience kick in. While 5-foot-11, 210 pounds, he runs well between the tackles and shows the ability to set up blocks. If I were to place him in one of Jamey's tiers right now, I'd say he belongs in Tier 9, but he absolutely has the ability to ascend to Tier 5 among the likes of Isaiah Pacheco. |
| Dynasty Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Tiers |
| Jamey poses an interesting question in his wide receiver tier rankings for 2024: How should Tyreek Hill's Dynasty value lie heading into next season? By every metric, he's still one of the more productive wide receivers you're going to find. However, he will be 30 in less than two months. Jamey has him listed in Tier 4, which is fair. According to Jamey, there are 11 other receivers relatively close to Hill's value in Dynasty leagues. |
| |
| For those in Dynasty leagues looking to sell Hill, Jamey suggests the type of team that would likely be willing to shoot for the moon to grab him. He also advises when you should propose your willingness to part ways with Hill. I'm positive that anyone willing to sell Hill off to the highest bidder will have no shortage of partners to target. |
| Sleeper |
| Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M |
| When you think about Ainias Smith, think versatility. He's the type of player that essentially allows you to change personnel without substitution. He played running back on occasion and even shared a few carries with Los Angeles Chargers running back Isaiah Spiller back in 2020. He's more wide receiver than running back, but each time he touches the ball, he's electric. |
| He posted 795 yards last season. While he had just two touchdowns, he averaged 15 yards per reception, which tells you he's an extraordinary talent after the catch. If the right coach selects him in the 2024 draft and explores his talents as a receiver and as a running back, he has the potential to be a Dynasty superstar. Smith fits nicely in Jamey's Tier 8 for right now but has the potential to become a Tier 4 type of player. |
| Deep Sleeper |
| Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice |
| If any wide receiver has reminded me of Brandon Lloyd in recent years, it's Luke McCaffrey. He's as sure-handed as they come and has a knack for making the spectacular grab. He really becomes a weapon inside the 20s in confined space, as he doesn't need much separation to come down with the football. He started his college career at Nebraska as a quarterback and made the transition to wide receiver in his fourth collegiate season. |
| His experience playing quarterback allows him to remain on the same page as his quarterback while playing wide receiver. He knows how to settle into zones and read leverage on the fly. McCaffrey posted 723 yards and six touchdowns on 58 receptions in his first season playing receiver and followed that up with 963 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. Though he's just beginning to scratch the surface of what he can become, he fits perfectly into Tier 9 right now. |
| |
Dynasty Fantasy Football Tight End Tiers
|
| We've been admonishing anyone who would listen that there's a changing of the guard at the tight end position. While players like Travis Kelce and George Kittle are more than serviceable, you might want to try and find a way to land Sam Laporta, Trey McBride, Dalton Kincaid, or even Michael Mayer. As Jamey points out in this story, tight ends generally need time to acclimate to the NFL. With that said, if you come across a young tight end with a dynamic skill set in your next Dynasty draft, stash them until they begin seeing the field on a regular basis. |
| |
| Below are two incoming rookie tight ends you may want to consider in the near future. |
| Sleeper |
| Jared Wiley, TE, TCU |
| At 6-foot-7, 260 pounds, I wouldn't expect Wiley to be able to turn and run the way he does. He doesn't have great speed, but he's able to consistently get separation, particularly on deep-ins. He showed the ability to find soft spots in zone coverage, and at his size, I'm a fan of the prospect of him barreling down the field and defensive backs having to come up and tackle such a mammoth figure. Wiley has the potential to be a Day 1 starter in the NFL considering his physique and willingness to block. I look forward to seeing how good he can become at the next level. Wiley's skill set suggests that he should be listed comfortably in Tier 6. |
| Deep Sleeper |
| Eric All, TE, Iowa |
| Eric All is a true in-line tight end who has underrated athleticism. There's a reason that he's consistently streaking down the seam with cornerbacks struggling to reel him in. He's much faster than given credit for. His 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame enables him to hold up at the point of attack as a blocker. Not only does he have the size to hold up as a blocker in the run game, but he also has the desire to neutralize the man in front of him. All tore his ACL in October, but if you have the patience to stash him away until he's 100 percent healthy, he could be a big-time steal in Dynasty leagues. Once he's healthy, he could easily find himself in Tier 4. |
| |
| | | | | NFL on CBS | | College Basketball on CBS | Sunday, the AFC Championship presented by Intuit Turbo Tax is on CBS. The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs go on the road once again to face top-seed Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens with a trip to Super Bowl LVIII on the Line. Tune in on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Tune In
| | Saturday, it's an outstanding top 25 men's college basketball matchup on CBS when #7 Kansas goes on the road to take on #23 Iowa State. Tune in at 1 PM ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Watch Live
|
|
| |
| |
