Alright, so today I decided to dig into Mark Andrews and figure out what his deal is for fantasy this year. Felt like it was time to get a handle on the top tight ends.
First thing I did was just pop open my browser. Typed in something simple like “Mark Andrews fantasy football 2024 outlook”. You know how it goes, gotta start somewhere.
Got a bunch of results back, naturally. Sports sites, fantasy analysts, the usual stuff. I started clicking around, reading a few different takes. Some were super high on him, others were a bit more cautious. Always gotta sift through the noise, right?
Checking the Basics
I remembered him being a beast before, usually a top guy. So, I checked his stats from previous years just to refresh my memory. Yeah, definitely produces when he’s healthy. That connection with Lamar Jackson is pretty solid, especially in the red zone.
The Injury Thing
Then I focused on the big question mark: the injury. That ankle thing from last season looked nasty. I specifically looked for updates on his recovery. Found some reports saying he’s looking good, participating in workouts, stuff like that. Still, it’s something that sticks in the back of my mind. You never really know until the season starts.
Ravens Offense Changes
Next, I thought about the team situation.
- Todd Monken’s System: This is year two for him as offensive coordinator. Does that help Andrews? Maybe more consistency?
- Other Weapons: Zay Flowers looked pretty good last year. And now they have Derrick Henry pounding the rock. Does that take away targets from Andrews? Or does it maybe open things up for him over the middle if defenses stack the box? Good questions to chew on.
- Isaiah Likely: Can’t forget about him. Likely played really well when Andrews was out. Does he eat into Andrews’ snaps or targets even when Andrews is healthy? That’s a real possibility I had to consider.
Putting It Together
So, after reading a bunch and thinking it through, here’s where I landed. Andrews clearly has that top-tier TE ceiling. When he’s on the field and healthy, he’s a difference-maker.
But… there are risks. The recovery from a major injury is always a bit uncertain. And the target competition is maybe a little stiffer than it used to be with Flowers emerging and Likely proving capable. Plus, with Derrick Henry there, maybe they lean even more on the run, especially near the goal line?
I looked at where he’s generally being drafted – his ADP. Seems like he’s going around the TE3/TE4 spot, usually in the 3rd or 4th round maybe? Feels about right, honestly. He’s not quite in that Travis Kelce tier from previous years because of the question marks, but the potential upside is still massive.
My final thought process ended up like this: He’s a bit of a risk/reward play compared to maybe a safer floor guy. If I can get him at a point in the draft where I feel the potential reward outweighs the injury and target competition risks, I’d consider pulling the trigger. But I’m not reaching way ahead of his ADP for him this year. Gonna see how the draft board falls. Definitely keeping a close eye on any training camp news about his health and role.
