Special to Yahoo Sports
Fantasy football coaches can have very short memories, especially when it comes to players underperforming draft expectations. Taking advantage of the values that present themselves due to negative public perception is a beneficial part of the Fantasy draft season.
This article highlights some of the players who are facing a drop in perceived value, thanks in part to the recency bias of their 2023 campaigns.
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguares
While his QB13 finish was a disappointment compared to expectations, Trevor Lawrence showed what we all expected him to be for fantasy purposes starting in Week 11 as he moved past QB22 in fantasy points per game among guys with at least four matches per week. 1-10, for the QB6 in that same category in the last seven contests of 2023. And that’s without Christian Kirk in five of those games.
The fourth-year signal-caller has the ability to be an elite fantasy asset, including a solid arm and some wheels, and this year he gets new weapons in rookies Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis, plus a healthy Christian Kirk. Lawrence is being drafted as QB22, but will have upside as a top 5-8 if he can remain consistent in 2024.
Running back
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
It was a tough finish for Rhamondre Stevenson as the RB30 with half a PPR point per contest last year, as he averaged just 51.6 yards on the ground and 19.8 receiving yards in the 12 games he played. Ezekiel Elliott was replaced by Antonio Gibson in an offense devoid of great playmakers, so there’s a chance Stevenson bounces back to be the zero-RB hero we all wanted in 2023.
The good news is that instead of a third-round pick, he is currently costing drafters a fifth- or sixth-round pick, and in a contract year has the potential to surpass his current low-cost RB2 status.
Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
Seattle was a pioneering and frequent team under Pete Carroll, but last year Zach Charbonnet was used in a more complementary role than anticipated during fantasy draft season. Charbonnet finished as RB56 in half PPR scoring per game, but in contests where he participated in at least 61% of snaps (Weeks 11-13), the rookie saw 19.7 touches per game, which was sixth among RBs, translating up at 9.7 half PPR points per tilt, which was RB24 in that time period.
With a new coaching staff in place, it’s a wait-and-see situation just how top-heavy the Seahawks will be, but we have to assume Charbonnet will get more work done and put up better numbers in 2024 than his current stock indicates.
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Wide Receivers
Calvin Ridley, Titans
It wasn’t an entirely disappointing season for Calvin Ridley in his first year as a Jaguar, as Ridley boasted a 22.5% target share and was fourth in the NFL in red zone targets, but that didn’t translate into his production. designed. Ridley’s WR26 result with half PPR points per game (11.3) placed him as a fantasy WR2 rather than his WR1 expectations.
Now a member of the Tennessee Titans, he is part of a potentially heavier offense under new HC Brian Callahan. who also stated that Ridley’s role will be “very similar” to Ja’Marr Chase’s for the Bengals. This could be huge for his fantasy outlook, as Ridley would run more slot and intermediate routes compared to the longer, low-percentage stuff he’s seen from Trevor Lawrence.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
JSN got off to a slow start in his rookie season thanks to a wrist injury, but after Seattle’s Week 5 bye, he averaged 8.2 half PPR points per game as the WR40 overall in that span. He’s ready for a second-year surge in what should be a more pass-centric offense under new Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb, plus the aging of Tyler Lockett doesn’t hurt his situation.
Jameson Williams, Lions
Williams only played in six games during his rookie campaign after recovering from a knee injury he suffered in the 2022 NCAA title game, but the hype was there, and he was still drafted on most platforms as a WR6, but finished with just 2.4 halves. -PPR points for competition like the WR135 in this category. Last year, the Detroit WR began serving a gambling suspension, which was originally for six contests, then was reduced and he was able to return to the team in Week 5. Williams was eased slowly and inconsistencies prevented him from becoming a reliable asset. fantasy.
This year we saw Lions HC Dan Campbell label Williams as a “man on a mission” and the most improved, and he will have less competition for deep balls with Josh Reynolds no longer on Detroit’s roster. Plus, as an added bonus, the Lions will play 14 of their 17 games in domed stadiums in 2024, which could help with wind on field balls.
Jahan Dotson, Commanders
Coming off a promising rookie campaign as the WR39 with half a PPR point per contest, Jahan Dotson was primed for a breakout year in 2023 with Eric Bienemy calling the shots, but unfortunately fell short, posting just 518 yards on 49 receptions with one nothing a staggering 10.6 yards per catch. Curtis Samuel is now in Buffalo, leaving plenty of volume for Dotson behind Terry McLaurin. There is also a new training regimen along with a new and very talented QB under center, Jayden Daniels.
With QB play presumably improved, Dotson should see more chances in both volume and scoring opportunity, and could end up being a steal at his current draft capital.
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This article was originally published on 4for4.com
A proud alumna of the UGA Grady College of Journalism, Jennifer Eakins has worked in the sports industry for more than a decade. She had stints at CNN Sports, Atlanta Hawks and Colorado Rockies. Her first Fantasy Football draft took place in 1996, where she selected Ricky Watters with the first overall pick, and she has been a Fantasy degenerate ever since.
