Fantasy Football Player Notes

Calvin Ridley caught 76 passes on 136 targets for 1,016 yards in his lone season as a Jaguar. With nearly 1,800 air yards, he boasted a 22.5% target share and 36% air yards share, finding the end zone 8 times. He ranked as WR17 overall (11.3 points/ game, WR26) positioning him as a low-end WR2 in fantasy. Ridley led the league in end zone targets (24) but fell short of fully capitalizing on his elite opportunities for a fantasy WR1 season. Now with the Titans alongside veterans DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd, he enters a potentially more pass-centric offense under new head coach Brian Callahan and second-year QB Will Levis, offering opportunities for increased production.

I'll own the L here. Tony Pollard was a massive disappointment last year. He went from being one of the most explosive backs in the NFL to a rusher that left a ton of yards on the field. Pollard got the role that we all wanted last season, ranking seventh in snap share, 13th in opportunity share, and second in red zone touches. He was a volume-eating machine, ranking seventh in carries and 11th in targets among backs, but he did very little with the work. Pollard was the RB11 in expected fantasy points per game, but he was the RB23 in fantasy points per game. He was 44th in yards per touch and 37th in yards created per touch. Some of this could easily be due to the injury he sustained in the prior season because his numbers down the stretch were much better. In Weeks 11-18, among 44 qualifying backs, Pollard ranked 15th in yards after contact per attempt, so there's hope that he bounces back in 2024 with a full offseason to get back to 100%. Tennessee isn't the sexiest landing spot for Pollard, but considering the contract size and length and the team's yearning to move quickly to acquire his services, he should be considered their lead back in 2024. Tyjae Spears will push him at every turn, but money talks and Pollard got it this offseason.

DeAndre Hopkins maintained his elite status in the 2023 season, securing 75 catches on 137 targets with a 28% target share, accumulating 1,057 receiving yards and showcasing his deep threat ability with 27 receptions of 20+ yards. His 1,934 total air yards led the league among wide receivers. Despite posting WR2 numbers, the addition of Calvin Ridley to the Titans' receiving corps presents a challenge to Hopkins' fantasy value, especially considering Ridley's potential target competition.

RIP Tyjae Spears RB1 szn. It was fun while it lasted, but Tony Pollard's arrival has kiboshed that. That doesn't mean Tyjae Spears can't be 2021 Tony Pollard to Tony Pollard in Tennessee. Spears operated as discount De'Von Achane last season, ranking fifth in explosive run rate and 14th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). He proved that he can be a three-down explosive play monster as well, ranking seventh in target share, 10th in TPRR, and 17th in YPRR. If the Titans trot out an offense with an above-average neutral rushing rate and Spears can continue his insane efficiency, he will remain a strong RB3 who could finish as a low-end RB2 if this offense surprises people.

Will Levis quickened the pulses of fantasy football managers when he threw four TD passes against the Falcons in his first NFL start. But after those Levis pyrotechnics in Week 8, the rookie QB couldn't get much cooking for the rest of the season, throwing only four TD passes over his next eight starts. It's hard to tell what to make of Levis for 2024. The book on him coming out of college was that he had the Josh Allen starter kit (rocket arm, good mobility) but was far from a finished product. The good news is that the Titans seem committed to their young quarterback. They signed free-agent WR Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal, giving Levis a veteran WR duo of Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins. Tennessee also signed veteran slot receiver Tyler Boyd and made investments in a leaky offensive line. Levis is probably going to encounter rough patches in his first full season as a starter, but a dramatically upgraded supporting cast gives him a fighting chance to be a pleasant fantasy surprise.

A trendy sleeper choice a year ago, Chigoziem Okonkwo turned in a mildly disappointing season in 2023, but he's an intriguing post-hype sleeper candidate for 2024. After a promising rookie season in which he had 32 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns, Okonkwo boosted his reception and yardage totals in 2023, with 54 catches for 528 yards. But Okonkwo scored only one touchdown last season, and he went from 14.1 yards per catch and 2.61 yards per route run in 2022 to 9.6 yards per catch and 1.31 yards per route run in 2023. If young Titans QB Will Levis endures growing pains, Okonkwo's breakout chances could suffer. On the other hand, the Titans don't have a great deal of firepower at the WR position, which boosts Okonkwo's target outlook. Consider Okonkwo a midrange TE2 for 2024 fantasy drafts.