RADIO
Football is back. It's officially August, and preseason football is now among us. In Dynasty, we've been monitoring the market and paying attention to all the offseason news.
Now, we focus on those preseason games to see if we can find ourselves the next diamond in the rough. When the rankings were updated, a couple of new names made the list. In the next few weeks, expect even first-timers to see some fantasy relevance.
Each month, our team of RotoBaller experts, which includes Brandon Murchinson (@RotoSuperstar), Jorden Hill (@JordenHill95), Matt Terrelle (@SuperMT), and myself (@MattDonnellyFF), updates our dynasty rankings as the market changes. Looking at our monthly consensus, we can identify fantasy football's biggest risers and those fantasy assets trending downward to allow you to stay ahead of the competition.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Fantasy Football Dynasty Rankings (August 2024)
Dynasty Trade Chart
Make sure you use the navigation bars to scroll right, left, up, and down to see all positions and draft picks.
Players on the Rise
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (+13)
Previous rank: 86
Current rank: 73
Over the past few seasons, Najee Harris has had very little help along the offensive line. Last season, the Steelers drafted Broderick Jones in the first round. This past April, the Steelers added another tackle in Troy Fauntanu in round one and center Zach Frazier in the second.
Make no mistake: With new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the Steelers are going to run the ball even more. Jaylen Warren will factor into the equation. However, you should also expect the Steelers to be one of the top rushing offenses after finishing last season ninth and eleventh in rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns.
Harris finished 2023, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and topping 1000 yards on the ground, which was seventh in the league. Harris' fantasy success was primarily thanks to a strong finish that saw the Steelers back finish with 312 yards on the ground and four touchdowns over the final three contests. Harris accomplished all this despite averaging 1.27 yards before contact per attempt, ranking 75th.
With improved offensive line play, Harris could see further improvement in his metrics, which should get fantasy managers excited.
Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (+43)
Previous rank: 172
Current rank: 129
If you are looking for an excellent value play later in drafts, you could do much worse than Chargers wide-out Josh Palmer, who has been flying up the dynasty rankings recently.
When looking at this Chargers depth chart, it is Palmer, rookie receiver Ladd McConkey, and then just a bunch of other guys, including Quentin Johnston, DJ Chark, and Derius Davis, so it’s easy to see that Palmer could be in line to being Justin Herbert's priority target. I’ll always have some love for my fellow Canadians, and Palmer flashed last season, averaging 15.3 yards per reception and posting two-100 yards games against both the Las Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs.
McConkey will undoubtedly play a role in this offense, and the change in offensive philosophy will also impact it. However, with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman calling the shots, this offense should become more efficient. Herbert, last season, when Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, and Mike Williams were forced out of action, became more efficient by spreading the ball around.
Josh Palmer after Mike Williams went down:
- 2.19 yards per route run (top-25)
- 71.1 receiving YPG (top-12) (!) pic.twitter.com/XoRWajcqr3— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) August 6, 2024
Diontae Johnson, WR, Carolina Panthers (+24)
Previous rank: 96
Current rank: 72
One player that needs to be on everyone's target list is Panthers wideout Diontae Johnson. You know he is undoubtedly on Bryce Young's target list. I used the phrase, "Bryce Young's ears had more separation last season than his receivers did from opposing defensive backs, and that wasn't an exaggeration.
Johnson has proven to be one of the best receivers in the last four seasons when it comes to getting open. In the previous four years, Johnson's success rate against man and press coverage was over 75%. His success rate against zone coverage is even better, with 82.8% being his worst over those four years.
Number one in ESPN's Open Score (2021-23):
Diontae Johnson pic.twitter.com/GBStcnwRmd
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) July 23, 2024
David Canales is the new head coach and has a reputation for being a quarterback whisperer. If he wants to keep that reputation, he will need to make Bryce Young comfortable, and getting the ball quickly out of his young quarterbacks will be imperative.
At just 28 years of age, Johnson is a target that Young can get comfortable with and grow with over the next three to four seasons.
Other risers: Other risers: Nico Collins (+13), Lamar Jackson (+15), Kyle Pitts (+12), Christian Watson (+18), Jerome Ford (+16), Curtis Samuel (+30), Jalen McMillan (+22)
Trending Downward
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings (-22)
Previous rank: 38
Current rank: 60
Plenty of uncertainty surrounds Jordan Addison as we head into the 2024 season. First, we have the off-field concerns, where the young Vikings receiver was arrested in July for a DUI. All this came after police had stopped him in the previous off-season for driving 140 MPH.
Fantasy managers can't simply ignore the red flags; luckily, Addison is young enough that he has time to rewrite his own story. The league historically has allowed the legal process to play out with the DUI before handing out punishment. At this time, Addison has not been suspended, but once the court has its ruling, the NFL will quickly follow.
With the charges filed in the Jordan Addison case, there is one HUGE development that is going to impact Addison's 2024 season.
Let's do an #FFLegalUpdate after charges are now in on this case.#Skol
1/🧵 pic.twitter.com/fQDfhcyqov— Drew Davenport (@DrewDavenportFF) August 5, 2024
Second, we have the injuries. While realistically, they shouldn't impact Addison's value as a dynasty asset, they do. Fantasy managers, for the most part, tend to overreact.
When week one rolls around, Addison should be close to 100% despite a scare in training camp, where he suffered a high ankle sprain. According to Jeff Mueller (@jmthrivept), receivers with high ankle sprains miss an average of 2.89 weeks, with a production dip that lasts a few weeks after that. With week one more than three weeks away, he should be close to 100%.
Jordan Addison -
Mechanism fits Left high ankle sprain.
Worst case: possible deltoid ligament sprain.WRs w/ high ankle miss average of 2.89 weeks with production dip for another few weeks.
Wk1 is 3.5 weeks away. pic.twitter.com/NnmjmE1CR1
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 14, 2024
However, his future quarterback, JJ McCarthy, was lost for the year after undergoing meniscus repair. Any bump we were expecting mid-season in Addison's production is put on hold, as the duo will now have to wait another season before developing any chemistry.
Finally, let's follow the numbers. Addison had arguably one of the strongest-ever debuts in the NFL, accounting for 70 receptions, 911 yards, and ten touchdowns. His 221.3 fantasy points as a rookie were more than what Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, and AJ Brown had produced during their rookie seasons. But was it all smoke and mirrors?
With Cousins, Addison averaged 1.91 yards per route run and finished with a 20.6% target share. Now, without Cousins, that dipped to 1.29 yards per route and a 16.9% target per route share. Cousins is now in Atlanta.
With Justin Jefferson back and Sam Darnold now under center, there is a strong chance we experience some regression here, especially when it comes to those ten touchdowns from a season ago.
Darnod has been a below-average quarterback throughout his career. Quarterbacks, on average, have a completion rate of 63.9%. Meanwhile, during Darnolds' 66 games under center, his career average is 59.7% and he has never had a season with a completion rate greater than 62%. For those wondering, Cousins' career 67.4% complete rate ranks 4th while Darnold was 47th among 48 qualified signal callers.
Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears (-19)
Previous rank: 28
Current rank: 47
I don't make these rankings up; I just follow the data. In a previous article, I discussed the value of draft picks versus veterans and the cycle that is fantasy football. You have also heard the old "What have you done for me lately?" and for fantasy managers, that's being reflected right here.
Odunze will be fine as a dynasty asset. However, we are seeing the dip here thanks to the redraft crowd. This season is projected to be a red-shirt season for the talented farmer Washington Husky. Sometimes, you have to block out all the noise.
With Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, on paper, being the top two options in this Bears passing game, people need to remember why they were high on Odunze. Realistically, from watching the Bears camp closely, Odunze is closer to being the WR1 in Chicago than he is to being the WR3.
Buy the dip while you can. Over the next 7-8 years, we will hear plenty about this Caleb Williams-Odunze connection.
Caleb Williams 🎯 Rome Odunze
(🎥 @ChicagoBears)
pic.twitter.com/cN33MtjVbz— PFF (@PFF) August 13, 2024
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns (-21)
Previous rank: 82
Current rank: 103
Last season David Njoku was a fantasy stud hauling in 81 of 123 targets and finishing second behind Amari Cooper with 882 receiving yards. Any time a tight end can average more than 55 yards per game on the season and come down with a half dozen touchdown grabs, you'd think their market would be trending upward. That is not the case for Njoku here. Last season, Joe Flacco was a significant component of Njoku's fantasy success, not Deshaun Watson.
In fact, in six contests in which Watson was under center, Njoku averaged just 38 yards receiving per game, and of his six touchdown grabs, only one came during Watson's tenure.
If Njoku and Watson can get on the same page, we will be cooking with fire in Cleveland, as this Browns offense has as much talent as any. If Watson can return to that Pro Bowl form he showed in Houston, then this may be one of the best duos in all fantasy. If not, it would result in one of the most frustrating combinations.
Notable dips: Jonathan Brooks (-10), Rashee Rice (-17), Brock Bowers (-14), Tyjae Spears (-14), T.J. Hockenson (-27), Keon Colman (-18)
Names to Know
Javon Baker, WR, New England Patriots (-6)
Previous rank: 168
Current rank: 174
In a previous article, I discussed rookie sleepers to target in 2024. One of those names was New England Patriots receiver Javon Baker. He may not be a sleeper for much longer, as his ADP and spot in dynasty ranks continue to rise with all the training camp hype. Demario Davis and Kendrick Bourne are placeholders until Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk take over completely unless Brandon Aiyuk finds his way to Foxborough.
Baker has the talent, and he's going to get an opportunity. Now is the time to get him on your dynasty roster before it's too late. Is it too early to call Baker the next Puka Nacua?
Javon Baker is DIFFERENT 🔥
Baker has reportedly “stood out” at Patriots camp and could reportedly earn the role of “WR1” by the time it’s over.
Several NFL scouts reportedly believe Baker’s game has “shades” of George Pickens and Chad Johnson (Ochocinco) in it.
The Patriots… pic.twitter.com/4i5eRkoadL
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) August 3, 2024
Maximize Return
Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers (+3)
Previous rank: 51
Current rank: 48
After finishing 2022 with 1,662 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, the 26-year-old Jacobs followed that up with 805 yards on the ground in 13 games in 2023. That works out to just 3.5 yards per carry, the lowest of his career.
Many expect him to bounce back now that he got paid and is making his home in Titletown, but I can't help but fade the back after digging deep into the numbers. Last season, his explosive run rate dipped to 3.9%, 48th among 49 running backs. His yards per carry ranked 44th at 3.5. His yards after contact per carry dropped to 46th as he averaged just 2.4 per attempt, while his forced missed tackle rate was 0.12, tied for 43rd.
Jacobs's opportunity share has been over 83% in each of the last two seasons. Over a five-year period, the same can not be said about Matt LeFleur's offense; we have yet to see the lead back finish with more than a 63% opportunity share.
Good news for managers looking to get out: people have forgotten how bad he was last season. I'm looking to get out, and when looking at his market value and the trade chart, I see I can get some talented receivers if I choose to deal the Packers' lead back.
For example, If I wanted a proven pass-catcher who still has 4 to 5 seasons left, I could get Amari Cooper, Terry McLaurin, Marquise Brown, or Chris Godwin. If I want to rebuild, then Jacobs also helps there, as Keon Coleman, Ricky Pearsall, and Brian Thomas Jr. are all rookies you can swap for.
Buy the Dip
Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (-6)
Previous rank: 58
Current rank: 64
What does Christian Kirk have to do to get respect? He's as close to Rodney Dangerfield on the football field as we have seen.
Last season, Kirk's stock was downgraded because Cavin Ridley was supposed to be the number-one receiver in Duval County. Turns out that was only a half-truth. While Ridley led the Jaguars in yards and touchdowns, Kirk missed five contests and averaged more yards per reception and more yards per game than the aforementioned Ridley.
Back in 2022, before Ridley and before missing games with an injury, Kirk was well over a 20% target share while averaging over 14 fantasy points per game. Looking at the game logs, he put up over 15 fantasy points in nine of those contests.
Jacksonville drafted Brian Thomas Jr. and signed Gabe Davis in free agency to help with the 136 vacated targets, but Tomas Jr. is a rookie, and Davis's career high in targets was 93 back in 2022. Evan Engram isn’t getting more targets, considering he was targeted an astonishing 143 times last season. There is a good chance that Engram will have some target regression here in 2024.
Not all targets are created equal. It's not just the vacated targets that matter; it's where those targets came from. Ridley led the NFL with 24 end zone targets, which means Kirk is going to get some opportunities where it matters the most in fantasy. Kirk is the top option, along with Engram, and Trevor Lawrence is healthy once again.
Right now, you can likely trade Jayden Reed, Stefon Diggs, or David Montgomery straight up for Kirk, which I would smash every day that ends in "Y" and twice on Sundays.
