1 potential bust on all 32 NFL groups

Dortch is a Cardinals fan favourite and a dynamic slot goal when he really will get the ball in his arms. The problem is that a lot of Arizona’s goal quantity will now be funneled to Marvin Harrison Jr., promising tight finish Trey McBride, and even WR2 Michael Wilson. That leaves Dortch on the skin trying in as a fourth choice at greatest in what is going to in all probability solely be an OK Cardinals offense.

I do know what you’re considering. The arrival of a top-12 quarterback like Kirk Cousins was purported to be a harbinger of Pitts’ long-awaited resurgence after his unbelievable rookie season in 2021. Truthfully, I can nonetheless see it occurring. However Pitts has loved poor quarterback play for therefore lengthy now that I’m unsure the juice is there anymore. Unhealthy habits begin to type in instances like this. And there’s a reasonable risk that Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and even deep risk Darnell Mooney are all forward of Pitts within the Falcons’ go goal pecking order.

Don’t get me mistaken. I like Henry. He’s arguably the best working again of his technology, and he may very nicely make a whole lot of candy music by sharing a Baltimore backfield with reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. On the identical time, Henry has practically 2,200 profession touches, and 2024 shall be his yr 30 season. Henry could be the exception, however the monitor report for older, bodily working backs with that sort of mileage taking part in like superstars isn’t nice.

Within the wake of Stefon Diggs’ departure, some anticipate Coleman to have an enormous function as considered one of Josh Allen’s new greatest pals in Buffalo this yr. For a gifted second-round decide, I can see why. However that assumes Coleman will buck the development of some rookie receivers not having fun with a steep developmental curve to begin their profession. It additionally assumes that Allen received’t favor extra skilled gamers like Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir whereas additionally leaning on tight finish Dalton Kincaid in the course of the sector. Proceed with Coleman at your individual threat.

The Panthers traded for the inconsistent Johnson to offer the struggling Bryce Younger a greater ground. At face worth, Johnson is a terrific route runner who manipulates area very nicely, particularly within the fast sport. However from a macro perspective, the 28-year-old is who he’s at this level — an unreliable, if immature, weapon with one season of no less than 1,000 yards in his profession who in all probability nonetheless can’t be relied upon. I’d wager any cash that an growing old Adam Thielen will nonetheless be Younger’s most trusted goal in 2024.

The Bears plan to make use of Swift as their explosive change-of-pace to Caleb Williams’ downfield passing out of the backfield. And in small doses, I’ve little doubt their plan will work — Swift is a bona fide house run risk that may take a great offense and make it nice. The issue is Swift has only one season — final yr with the Philadelphia Eagles — the place he was wholesome and reliable all through. For 4 years, he has proven a capability to interrupt down and crumble the extra an offense makes use of him. Perhaps Swift will replicate his 2023 efficiency and even develop upon it. However I actually wouldn’t wager on that taking place.

I hate to be the bearer of dangerous information for a man in a contract dispute ready out the string till he can go away Cincinnati, however there isn’t a great vibe round Higgins’ 2024. He stays the ancillary choice to Ja’Marr Chase — who has much more chemistry with Joe Burrow. The Bengals additionally determine to reorganize their offense round working backs Zack Moss and Chase Brown in a steady effort to maintain stress off of Burrow. Name it a hunch, however we may sadly see a down yr by Higgins’ excessive requirements.

I don’t get the sense that many consider in Jeudy at this stage of his profession … as a result of why would they? The Denver Broncos offloaded the previous first-rounder after 4 disappointing seasons. Now he’s, what, at greatest, the fourth choice in a Browns offense quarterbacked by a washed-up Deshaun Watson, who as soon as confronted greater than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct in what the NFL would later characterize as “predatory conduct”? If you wish to purchase low on Jeudy, go proper forward. Simply don’t anticipate him to ship an excessive amount of.

Nothing about Elliott’s latest profession suggests he is able to be a characteristic again once more at … 29. He hasn’t averaged no less than 4 yards a carry in two seasons and has one 1,000-yard marketing campaign since 2019. Certain, he could be a strong goal-line landing play for a Dallas offense that figures to haven’t any bother shifting nicely between the 20s. However that additionally presupposes Elliott taking part in an enormous function in that success. And I’m not assured he’ll.

With Bo Nix, the Broncos suppose they’re on the verge of ending a near-decade drought with out constant beginning quarterback play. I’m extra skeptical. Nix performs the definition of a secure sport. He’ll do all this flashy work scrambling across the line of scrimmage … solely to dump off a bog-standard five-yard check-down to a tailback. He is not going to take a look at defenses in a significant manner that asks them to reconfigure their formations and take a defender out of the field. I don’t know why anybody would begin Nix in fantasy, however at the same time as a spot backup in a bye week, there’s not a lot to like right here for somebody whose play model prioritizes empty-calorie effectivity above all else.

Because of their largely full offense, the Lions could be the NFC Tremendous Bowl favourite.

A dominant offensive line? Examine. A high-volume receiver (Amon-Ra St. Brown)? Examine. Skilled and dynamic top-third quarterback play? Examine. An offensive coordinator who performs to his unit’s strengths and retains defenses on their toes? Examine. What the Lions are lacking is a dynamic downfield receiving risk. That was purported to be Jameson Williams, who has but to piece all of it collectively as he enters the third yr of his profession. Williams would possibly nonetheless possess the pure capability, however at this level, I don’t see the Lions absolutely giving him the possibility to blow up. It might in all probability be a disservice to the best way their elite offense is already structured.

The Packers are a sleeper contender in an NFC convention that may shock lots of people with the depth and high quality of upper-crust groups. However I don’t suppose Inexperienced Bay’s success, particularly on offense, shall be predicated on Watson having his manner with helpless cornerbacks. The third-year receiver has struggled with accidents to this point in his profession and stays a largely restricted one-note, nine-route receiver. This Inexperienced Bay assault figures to dominate whereas really being centered round Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks first. Anybody who has the nerve to draft Watson ought to proceed with warning.

Somebody needs to be the “loser” on this Texans contender resurgence. Clearly, I don’t suppose it will likely be C.J. Stroud. Or Tank Dell. Or Nico Collins. And even Stefon Diggs — Houston doesn’t make that commerce if he’s not a focus of the offense. It needs to be somebody when the Texans aren’t taking part in to their passing sport strengths, like within the working sport. It needs to be Joe Mixon, a again who has averaged simply barely over 4 yards per carry in his profession and depends on a gentle weight-reduction plan of check-downs out of the backfield. Don’t be shocked when former rookie standout Dameon Pierce probably supplants Mixon just because he would possibly supply extra as a runner with higher alternative.

To be clear, I do like Richardson’s long-term prospects as a quarterback. Down the road, I feel he has a reliable likelihood at pushing C.J. Stroud as the most effective signal-caller from the 2023 draft. With that mentioned, shoulder surgical procedure took away a whole lot of worthwhile reps from Richardson throughout his rookie season. These are reps that he frankly wanted to shine up among the extra unrefined passing facets of his sport. Shane Steichen is the proper steward for a younger quarterback, and Richardson will get there in time, however he’ll look extra tough across the edges to begin 2024 than fantasy managers must be snug with.

The Jaguars drafted Brian Thomas Jr. to inject some new life into their offense after the departure of Calvin Ridley. That additionally means they may prioritize his reference to Trevor Lawrence extra typically than you’d anticipate to construct early chemistry. I don’t suppose Gabe Davis shall be a sufferer of circumstance right here, as he was already a WR3. The man whose manufacturing is extra more likely to take a dip is Christian Kirk, somebody who isn’t an elite separator and has relied on heavy goal quantity to excel in years previous. Suffice it to say: the Kirk of 2022 (84 catches, 1,108 yards, eight touchdowns) in all probability isn’t coming again.

After repeating as Tremendous Bowl champions, the Chiefs’ reloaded offense will give them a possible likelihood on the first three-peat of the fashionable period. However ask your self an vital query: Who’s almost definitely to be on the skin trying in? It’s not the long run Corridor of Fame tight finish. It’s not the second-year receiver who caught practically 1,000 yards as a rookie. It undoubtedly ain’t the man with the nickname “Hollywood,” who has proven exceptional big-play capability for many of his profession. It’ll be Worthy, maybe the quickest participant within the NFL, who should still want important polish earlier than he does something extra than simply run previous defenders.

The 2023 season confirmed that the development of rookie tight ends taking time to develop into the NFL was maybe a bit overblown. Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid, specifically, had been really productive as a result of their respective Detroit and Buffalo offenses made certain to characteristic them. However the factor in regards to the Lions and Payments was that they had been two of the higher NFL offenses with high quality quarterback play and high quality coordinating. Bowers is not going to get that profit with Luke Getsy as his coach and Gardner Minshew as his quarterback, so I wouldn’t maintain my breath about him excelling straight away.

Nobody is aware of easy methods to carry up the ground of a soccer staff fairly like Jim Harbaugh. However the whole lot about these Chargers screams, “We’re utilizing 2024 as a niche yr.” That is significantly the case with their passing sport, the place Palmer is the present projected No. 1 receiver. , the man who has averaged 7.8 yards per goal over his profession. Or, the man who is best suited as a complementary weapon of an offense fairly than its heart. I place confidence in Justin Herbert making the most effective of his scenario, however that doesn’t imply Palmer is about to dominate towards prime defensive protection.

The previous Tremendous Bowl 46 MVP is 2 years faraway from his historic triple crown season. Within the time since he has appeared in simply 21 of a potential 34 video games because of accidents. He’s now 31 and definitively behind Puka Nacua within the Rams’ pecking order. Kupp could nicely nonetheless contribute, however he’s virtually actually previous his NFL peak. You do the maths.

That is much less a press release on Mostert’s capability after a profession season, regardless that he’s 32 this yr. It’s extra that the Dolphins themselves have assembled a backfield-by-committee. With rookie Jaylen Wright and a wholesome De’Von Achane within the fold, I’d not practically anticipate Mostert to have the identical quantity of touches in 2024 (243) as he did in 2023. His workload and numbers ought to drop, regardless that the Dolphins’ offensive range will doubtless decide up. As such, he received’t be a slam-dunk RB1 like final season.

At his greatest, I feel Hockenson stays a top-flight tight finish in a league at present going through a shortage on the place. Nonetheless, the veteran did tear his ACL final yr and, on the time of this publishing, nonetheless doesn’t have a chosen return date. Figuring out that, I’m unsure it’s price drafting and stashing Hockenson in an offense quarterbacked by Sam Darnold as a result of we don’t even know once we’ll see him in sport motion subsequent.

Signed as a big-ticket acquisition for the Patriots three years in the past, Henry has by no means fairly lived as much as the hype. In truth, to this point, the tight finish has only one New England season with no less than 600 receiving yards and only one season with no less than 50 catches (the identical yr). Now, he’s a part of a Patriots offense that can battle to dam for a inexperienced Drake Maye as he learns the ropes. So, of all of the New England pass-catchers to keep away from (which could actually be all of them), I’ll go together with the plodding goal in the course of the sector who isn’t a pure separator.

As soon as a perennial Professional Bowler — and maybe the most effective all-around tailback within the NFL — Kamara loved a career-worst season in yards from scrimmage in 2023. In truth, he hasn’t even eclipsed 500 yards receiving in three years. In a Saints offense slowed down by the Derek Carr of all of it, anticipate Kamara’s latest downward slope to proceed in a harsh method.

I like Nabers’ future within the NFL. I feel he’s going to be an electrical, top-five-caliber playmaker for a decade or extra. In his rookie season, although, his quarterback is Daniel “How Are You Nonetheless A Starter?” Jones and his tattered offensive line have barely practiced collectively all preseason. What I’m saying is: How is he getting the ball, and can the dangerous quarterback ever have sufficient constant time to get him the ball when he will get open? Nabers and anybody who drafts him ought to brace themselves for a probably agonizing yr that can take a look at lots of people’s endurance.

Rodgers hasn’t been good since 2021. Now he’s 40, coming off an Achilles tear, and is taking part in behind a randomly cobbed-up collectively offensive line. Please train some tact earlier than you think about drafting him wherever remotely excessive.

Don’t get me mistaken. I like Barkley’s match with the Eagles. I feel he and Jalen Hurts have a real capability to make fireworks for a Philadelphia staff able to incomes a top-two seed within the NFC. However we will’t deny the historical past of overutilized working backs of their late 20s and early 30s. In his final three seasons, Barkley has a complete of 843 touches. He has been the engine behind some actually uninspiring Giants offenses. The Eagles are smarter and possibly received’t burn Barkley out, however the injury would possibly already be carried out.

Because of Wilson and Fields, there appears to be a newfound vitality with Mike Tomlin’s Steelers. An vitality that claims this staff would possibly be capable of compete with the AFC’s actual heavyweights. That religion is misplaced, and fantasy managers higher be cautious. Wilson is over the hill and has misplaced the mandatory mobility that when made him a perennial Professional Bowl quarterback. Fields stays the identical signal-caller with a nonexistent pocket presence who seldom goes previous his first passing learn. Neither is price your time in fantasy except you want quarterbacks who create obstacles for themselves each possession.

A rash of defensive accidents and a weird feeling across the 49ers makes me suppose this staff is destined for a sluggish begin in 2024. Which means a dip in numbers and, almost definitely, successful to Deebo Samuel’s numbers in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Sure, we’re speaking a few man who takes San Francisco from good to nice, however he in all probability additionally has fourth precedence behind Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk (if he’s nonetheless within the Bay Space), and George Kittle. At a sure level, Samuel must pay the invoice.

Lockett has been one of many NFL’s most constant playmakers in latest reminiscence. However after falling wanting his first 1,000-yard marketing campaign since 2018 final season, I feel we’re about to see his gradual decline. You see, Lockett’s dip in manufacturing wasn’t a product of quantity. He noticed 122 targets final yr — the second-most of his profession. But he averaged only a paltry 7.3 yards per goal. The person will even be 32 in late September. In the event you’re drafting any Seahawks receivers, you go DK Metcalf first, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, after which Lockett. Belief me.

The 2023 season was the most effective of Mayfield’s profession. It got here with Dave Canales coordinating the Tampa Bay offense, although, who’s now in Carolina. There’s sufficient left to love the Buccaneers’ offense in bursts — you’ll be able to’t go mistaken with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin — however Mayfield will virtually actually not play like the identical quarterback. A regression to the imply is coming.

We’ve entered the stage of DeAndre Hopkins’ profession the place he’s now not a certain factor to dunk on defensive backs each week. The receiver shall be 32 this yr, working in a Tennessee offense with no established identification exterior of hoping Will Levis’ aimless downfield prayers are answered most of the time. Issue within the addition of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, and I’m not sure Hopkins shall be featured as a lot as he thinks. Did I point out he’s at present nursing a knee damage and can miss the primary a number of video games of the season? As a result of … yeah.

What do you get whenever you give a quarterback who doesn’t throw over the center of the sector and abandons clear pockets on a regular basis an terrible offensive line and receiving corps? An unmitigated developmental catastrophe.