We’re a week away from what will certainly be another exciting and event-filled regular season in the NFL . Will the Chiefs pull off a three-peat? Will we be surprised by a lower-odds team rising to the top? Will we have to endure more tortuous coverage about the Harbaugh brothers? For my last article of the preseason, I’d like to talk about a few risers and fallers, while also mixing in a couple random thoughts about my 25+ years playing this great game. After all, not every story needs to be about metrics, rankings and nose-to-grindstone strategy and maneuvering.
We have to keep it fun! Otherwise, why play? Advertisement Dive in with me, won’t you? It’s not what you may be thinking. Over the years, the number of dynasty teams I manage has been ticking up like the cost of a restaurant burger — I now manage 14 teams and have yet to give one up. But, if you are anything like me, it’s difficult to manage the conflict of feelings related to having multiple teams, thus, multiple players, scoring big for you in one league while doing the same against you in another.
It had been a problem for years. About 10 years ago, I made a big switch in my play that has paid off immeasurably in the amount of enjoyment I receive each week during the regular season — 13 teams with a bloodlust mentality to win and one team of my favorite players to watch and stand on the couch rooting for. This small change greatly impacted my Sunday joy.
The concept is a simple one. In all but one league, I go all-out to win with no regard to rostering my favorite players. I’m looking for the best dynasty build, the best trades to fill holes, and a take-no-prisoners mentality to win it all.
But over the years, it became a chore to enjoy the games when a streaking player was winning me a game in League A while helping me lose in League B. To combat this, I morphed my original (2003) dynasty team, the one that essentially gave birth to DLF (2006), into a team of my favorite players and strategy that I could watch and cheer for every week without regard to what my other teams were doing. In this league, I also amass as many draft picks — my favorite part of the dynasty game — as I can to make things even more fun during the offseason.
In most cases, I don’t even check the scores of my other games until the second set of games kicks off on Sundays. My “favorites” league gets all my attention, and my fun quotient immediately increased. It’s not always easy to balance rostering my favorite players when that may mean passing on another asset ranked more highly, but I’m committed to the process, and it has paid massive enjoyment dividends.
Advertisement And how does this team compare to my others for number of championships? It doesn’t! It’s, by far, the worst of the group. But it’s looking great for 2024! Stay tuned. Give it a try and let me know if it makes a difference for you.
Here are a few players I continue to pound the table for: Jameson Williams , WR, DET It’s not that I’m completely against social network banter and narrative. In fact, I use it often to my advantage. I love herd mentality and the “schooling fish” who move player values and ranks.
I’m also a garbageman, picking up others’ trash when I don’t think it smells that bad. Enter Jameson Williams. I’ll admit Williams is quickly going the way of Jerry Jeudy and may be in a bit of a make-or-break season, but I’m all-in.
The third-year player has Tier 1 ability, play-making skills, and dynamic athleticism. Somewhere on the way to the stadium, the fish decided this was the year to punt, and I get it. I’m just not punting yet.
Williams has rare talent, ability and measurables, plays in an offense across from Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta , and should be wide open all year. As long as the injury bug doesn’t bite, I have high hopes.
I’m giving you full license to throw it back in my face in a year or two if he doesn’t pan. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, SEA Don’t you just love the annual rookie hype followed by the annual rookie fade? In my diatribe about my favorite dynasty team above, this is what leads to my team’s lack of performance — rookie fever. Generally speaking, they usually are a bad investment.
JSN isn’t the athlete that Jameson Williams is, but he’s far more crafty and intelligent as a route-runner. Think Larry Fitzgerald to Randy Moss. As a side note, Fitzgerald is my all-time favorite receiver, followed closely by Moss.
I’m firmly convinced JSN is about to break out. There’s no question he’s going to be successful in the NFL. The only question is when.
It could be in 2024 or, more fully, in 2025, but his time is close. Acquire him in every league you can. The beauty is he may get cheaper if he has a slow start to the season.
Advertisement And, by the way, yes, I have both Williams and JSN on my favorite dynasty team. My money is where my mouth is. Jerome Ford , RB CLE If you follow my work, you know what I think about running backs in the dynasty format.
If you don’t follow my work, let me break it down for you “Barney Style” (this is a quote from a favorite audio book series – ask me) – Rent, don’t buy! But we still need to roster and play running backs, and my distaste with the position doesn’t mean I don’t look for bargains. Jerome Ford is just that. Filling in for Nick Chubb , he produced well.
He’ll be starting while Chubb waits to reenter the picture from the PUP list, maybe in Week 5. But here’s the rub, Ford is still only 24 and will be in a contract year in 2025 while Chubb will likely be elsewhere. Ford’s dynasty cost is cheap now, could get cheaper when Chubb eventually returns, and he’s played himself exactly into the type of back I thought he was when he entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick in 2022 out of Cincinnati.
Pick up The Athletic 2024 Fantasy Football Guide to read expert evaluations & everything you need to know to win your fantasy football league. Pick up The Athletic 2024 Fantasy Football Guide to read expert evaluations. I’m going to say it again for those of you who read my articles but gloss over the commentary to get to the names — Prioritize acquiring a top quarterback and fade the tight end.
Full stop. In just about every format — TE Premium managers I’m looking at you — the tight end position remains a terrible investment. Even with a premium in receptions, it’s a fool’s errand.
They don’t pay off unless you have a top three name. Every year, new names rise from anonymity to populate the top 10. Top tight ends in the NFL don’t even come from the NFL first round in most cases.
They usually come from Rounds 2-4. Stop prioritizing the position, be quick on the waiver wire or snipe via trade and use your time, energy and capital elsewhere. If you miss the tight end train, wait for the next one.
Two or more arrive every year. At quarterback, I have no problem paying for a top name. You may have to pay highly, but you’ll have him for a decade (or maybe two).
Pay up and don’t look back. I’ve been doing this for 15 years with no regrets. Advertisement Being a fantasy writer means sometimes you will offend managers who believe you just called their baby ugly.
And some of you are just violent with your words! Be nice to your authors. Puka Nacua , WR, LAR No, I don’t hate Puka Nacua. But I have zero confidence that he’s deserving of his current ranking and that makes for an intriguing sell-side thesis.
I roster zero shares of Nacua and would be selling shares with both fists. What Nacua did as a rookie was impressive — very impressive. But Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford will likely be gone from the team in 2025, leaving Nacua, a purely possession-style receiver, as the WR1.
Regression is nearly certain and I don’t think it will be trivial. De’Von Achane , RB, MIA I’ve seen some doozies in the way of predictions for Achane in 2024. First, Raheem Mostert is hanging onto the job like a pope and will likely limit Achane’s production near the goal line.
Second, and longer term, Jaylen Wright was drafted for a reason and has the profile of a potential three-down back. Concerns about Achane’s size are legitimate, taking away nothing from his athleticism. But consistent production is a significant concern.
To be sure, backs like Achane can be explosive and there’s every chance I’m wrong on my take, but I don’t think I am. I’m easily the lowest on Achane as a dynasty asset and, like Nacua above, you get few chances to turn shares of a dynasty asset into much greater value via trade. I’d be looking to move Achane to a RB-needy team for, potentially, a top receiver in return.
DJ Moore , WR CHI I’ve noticed some movement of late from those on board with my thoughts about DJ Moore. Now may be your last time to move him in a material arbitrage play to upgrade at some other position if you have the receiver depth. Advertisement A lot has changed in Chicago over the past year.
In comes Caleb Williams, D’Andre Swift , Keenan Allen , and Rome Odunze . Out goes Justin Fields . That’s a lot of new variables in the equation.
Moore’s value (DLF WR19) is significant enough to return solid player value while you de-risk from the sweeping winds of change in Chicago. I don’t think we see another year (96/1,364/8) from Moore like we did in 2023. Again, this is a move where we fade the risk, garnering some greater “known” value in return.
Insert my “known over unknown” mantra here. My article is already running way too long and I can see the glow of torches on the hill from the editors at The Athletic , but let me slip in a quick note about the 2025 rookie class. At this juncture, next year’s draft class appears nothing like the last couple of years and is a risky class outside of running back.
It’s about time we had a good class of running backs, and 2025 is the year. To my eyes, it looks like 3-4 solid backs with RB1 capability, while lacking deep talent at quarterback and receiver. It could be a good year for an early punt on 2025 draft picks for known assets that can help you win or build in 2024.
Hope you enjoyed this more casual entry to end the preseason. Blow me up with your comments! I’ve got to head out the back door now as I can hear the angry shouts and bays of the hounds from the editing staff drawing near. Follow me on X and Threads: DLF_Jeff.
(Top photo of Jameson Williams: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY).
