Although Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was in a car accident earlier this offseason, it doesn’t seem to impact his fantasy football outlook for the 2024 season.
Mark Andrews’ Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
While stacking a receiver and a quarterback is typically the way players approach that fantasy football strategy, Andrews is an exception, as he’s a top target in the Ravens’ offense.
According to TruMedia, Andrews caught 45 passes for 544 yards and six touchdowns through 10 games. Unfortunately, he missed the latter portion of the season after suffering a serious ankle injury and cracked fibula.
Andrews was the TE4 during his playing time, and yet, despite missing seven games, he still led the Ravens’ receivers in touchdowns.
While I mentioned that the car accident doesn’t seem to impact his fantasy value, it’s worth noting that, as of Aug. 21, Andrews hasn’t practiced at all with the team. This, coupled with the season-ending injury, is certainly enough to at least raise some questions.
If Andrews does play in Week 1 as expected, he’ll be the 1A/1B along with Zay Flowers. Baltimore let wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. go this offseason, and the starting receivers now include Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor. They also drafted Tez Walker.
However, the Ravens’ biggest addition was running back Derrick Henry. In bringing him in, I expect Baltimore to continue being run-focused. They led the league in rush attempts and yards per game in 2023, and still, Andrews was a top TE asset.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson attempted 457 passes last season. We could see that regress slightly with an even better running back in the fold, but Andrews is still well-positioned to get plenty of targets in this offense.
Before getting hurt, Andrews had at least five targets in all but two games. He never finished with more than 80 yards in a single game, though.
Is Andrews a Good Fantasy Pick?
Andrews is going as the TE3 and No. 47 overall in PPR leagues, ahead of Trey McBride, Dalton Kincaid, and George Kittle. This is also ahead of other players like C.J. Stroud, Malik Nabers, and Anthony Richardson.
I’d certainly like to see more clarity on the car accident situation. I think McBride and Kincaid, and perhaps even Kyle Pitts, have a chance at surpassing Andrews, but there’s something to be said about getting a consistent tight end.
McBride is also the No. 2 option in his offense. Kincaid could potentially be the go-to target in the Buffalo Bills offense, and Pitts should see a resurgence with Kirk Cousins as quarterback.
Given the situation, I don’t hate the value here. Those players are all going within 15 spots of each other, so it’s not a massive loss in value. It also comes down to where your roster is at.
Additionally, f you need a quarterback, it’s tempting to get Richardson there or Nabers as a Flex play.
Overall, if you take Andrews, it’s a fine pick. This is probably where he maxes out, and he’ll be a rock-solid tight end in your lineup.
Kyle Soppe’s Fantasy Insight on Mark Andrews
Andrews doesn’t deserve to be ranked alongside a young featured option like Sam LaPorta. And while Travis Kelce’s load management worries me a bit, he’s a version of Andrews who plays in a pass-happy offense with the best thrower of the football on the planet.
After those two are off the board, Andrews has as solid a profile as any. That mini tier of tight ends is all similar in that they have an athletic QB getting them the ball, and they’re one of the top two target threats on their respective teams.
With a few underwhelming years on his résumé and a completely new system, Pitts is a different discussion. Yet, his upside is certainly on this level (Pitts’ overall range of outcomes is what can decide leagues in either direction).
This is the right spot in the draft for Andrews to go, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to end up with many shares. I prefer Evan Engram 1-2 rounds later or Jake Ferguson 3-4 rounds later.
The TE position has gotten a bad rap over the past few seasons due to its top-heavy nature. That’s been fair, but with the emergence of young talent last season, this is no longer a dead spot on your roster if you pass on the elite.
You’re going to need stable production. It’s just a matter of finding it at the right price for your specific build.