Every offseason, fantasy football analysts put together their projections, rankings and blueprint for what they think will happen in the upcoming season. The truth is none of us truly knows. No one has a crystal ball giving us all the answers. In this “Spilling the Tea with Tootsie” article, I will discuss three players I’m all in on for 2024. These are players who I believe will have successful seasons despite what others are predicting.
Fantasy Football Hot Take City: Three All-In Players (2024)
Raheem Mostert (RB, Miami Dolphins) | Will Meet or Exceed 2023’s Production
In 2023, Miami Dolphins running back Mostert was the Points Per Reception (PPR) RB5. At the age of 31, he had a total of 1,187 rushing and receiving yards on the year. He was an absolute red zone monster with 53 total looks within the 20-yard line. Dominating the end zone, Mostert totaled 18 rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns.
Fitting Into a Crowded Backfield
Sharing the running back room with De’Von Achane, there is concern heading into this season that the Texas A&M product will continue to eat into Mostert’s production. Despite missing some games due to injury, Achane produced 997 combined yards in his 11 games in 2023. This is no small feat for a rookie running back.
Also, the Dolphins drafted Jaylen Wright in the fourth round at the 2024 NFL Draft, meaning their running back room is considerably full. Are there too many mouths to feed? Considering these factors, Footballguys‘ draft rankings list Achane 14th and Mostert 31st among running backs. Not to mention, Mostert is now 32 years old, and history suggests that there’s typically a decline in running back production after the age of 29.
With all this evidence to suggest Mostert will decline, hear me out. What if he doesn’t? The magic in NFL football are these anomaly players. There’s no way anyone would’ve predicted Mostert to have 21 touchdowns last year. At age 31, mind you. But he did. Why can’t he do it again? I believe in “MustStart Mostert,” and I’m snatching him in every draft I can. Just this week alone, I saw Mostert fall all the way to the 12.9 in a draft. This is downright disrespectful to the talent of the former Boilermaker. There’s enough room for both he and Achane to co-exist on this high-volume offense. Mostert is a one-of-a-kind player. Don’t pass up your chance to get him on your fantasy football teams!
Adam Thielen (WR, Carolina Panthers) | Will Be the Team’s WR1
I admit. This is a homer pick. I discovered my love of football in 2017 through the Minnesota Vikings, largely because of Minnesota native Adam Thielen. It’s been endlessly discussed how Thielen was an Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) when he entered the NFL. Playing for the Vikings over nine seasons, Thielen saw a total of 6,682 receiving yards with the team. His strongest seasons on that team were 2017 and 2018, when he was the clear WR1. In the subsequent years, his production declined due to a hamstring injury in 2019, and then to taking a backseat to upcoming star Justin Jefferson in 2020.
However, in 2023, Thielen signed with the Carolina Panthers, and his career took an unexpected turn. Last season, at the age of 33, Thielen saw 1,014 receiving yards and four touchdowns. This was with veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and rookie Bryce Young at the helm. He was the team’s clear WR1 and a fantasy football gem, averaging 13.5 fantasy points per game. Finishing the season as the WR18 overall, Thielen proved to fantasy football analysts that he was still a top competitor.
Competition?
In this past offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson and the 178th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. In Johnson’s last two seasons with the Steelers, he averaged 799.5 receiving yards, even after missing four games due to injury last year. His production was respectable, and the Panthers definitely need receiver help for their team. However, I don’t see Johnson unseating Thielen as the WR1.
Young will be coming into his second year as quarterback, and the team now has a new head coach in Dave Canales. Having both Thielen and Johnson as a one-two punch will help turn their last season’s record of 2-15 around. I’m planting my flag on the fact we can’t discredit the years of experience and the leadership Thielen possesses. I have a feelin’ on Thielen being the WR1 above Johnson, and you can’t persuade me otherwise. Snatch up on the value of getting the 34-year-old veteran receiver in the later rounds of your drafts!
Aaron Jones (RB, Minnesota Vikings) | Will Be a Top-10 Running Back
Aaron Jones, who played for the Green Bay Packers for seven years, is joining the Minnesota Vikings for the 2024 season. From 2019-2022, Jones was at the top of his game, finishing as the RB2 in 2019, RB5 in 2020, RB11 in 2021 and RB7 in 2022. In his last season with the Packers, Jones’s output declined. Surprisingly, he finished 37th among all running backs. Limited to 11 games due to a knee injury, Jones’ total production was affected. Only garnering 656 rushing yards and 233 receiving yards on the year, Jones’ stats prompted concern for his fantasy football relevance.
New Chances
Coming to the Minnesota Vikings, Jones has the opportunity to assert his prominence once again as a top running back. The Vikings are long known to have a strong run game. With their quarterback position a little volatile at the moment, Jones’ talent will be relied on even more.
Drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, rookie J.J. McCarthy had the potential to be the team’s new franchise quarterback. However, McCarthy succumbed to injury during preseason and is now out for the season due to a torn meniscus. The team brought in veteran Sam Darnold this past offseason on a one-year contract to likely serve as a bridge quarterback until McCarthy was ready. With the unexpected injury, Darnold is the team’s quarterback for the season, whether fans like it or not.
Despite anyone’s thoughts on Darnold, the weapons this offense has are undeniable. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and now Jones will give the Vikings a chance to contend for the NFC North title. The 2023 season was atypical for Jones, and I’m not willing to throw in the towel on him just yet. This is his time. On this new team, Jones will rise up and prove once again that he’s a top-10 running back. Knowing him and the fight he has, Jones will reclaim his spot as one of the best running backs the NFL has ever seen. Don’t whiff if you have the opportunity to have him on your fantasy team. You won’t regret it.
Mostert, Thielen and Jones may not be popular amongst all fantasy football analysts, but they are players that I am all-in on for the 2024 season. Agree or disagree? We shall see what happens!
Thank you for reading this edition of “Spilling the Tea with Tootsie!” Fantasy football is really fun when you have players you’re all-in on! Who are you all-in on? Let me know!
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*Photo Credit: Sam Navarro – USA TODAY Sports*