RADIO
Jake Ferguson 2024 Outlook: Legitimate Upside As 2nd Option In High-Volume Passing Attack
7 months agoAfter a relatively slow start to the 2023 season, Jake Ferguson flashed some serious potential in the second half of the season. From Week 8 on, he was the TE7, averaging 11.9 PPR points per game. His route participation increased from 66% before the Cowboys' Week 7 Bye, to 86% after the Bye. For comparison sake, Travis Kelce also had an 86% route participation rate last season. We know Ferguson is going to be utilized as a pass-catching tight end, as evidenced by his utilization in just his second season. In fact, he was 2nd on the team in targets with 102 behind CeeDee Lamb. In the Wild Card game that mattered most for the Cowboys, Ferguson racked up 10 receptions for 93 yards and three touchdowns on 12 targets. He's earned Dak Prescott's trust, and that's imperative for his success going forward. Those three touchdowns don't show up in the fantasy football stat sheet for Ferguson since they happened in the playoffs, but that's indicative of his role on this team. In fact, he led all tight ends with 25 red zone targets in 2023. Sam LaPorta, who had 16 red zone targets last season, ended up scoring five more touchdowns than Ferguson. If the Cowboys' 3rd-year tight earns a few more targets and finds paydirt a few more times in 2024, we could be looking at a Top-5 finish at the position.
