The Jacksonville Jaguars completely retooled their receiver room this offseason with the additions of Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis, but they still have Evan Engram, the player who led the team in targets, on the roster.
What can fantasy managers expect from Engram in 2024?
Should You Select Evan Engram at His Current ADP?
PPR Industry Consensus ADP: No. 67 Overall (TE8)
- Consistent Production: Despite the excitement surrounding other tight ends entering the 2024 NFL season, no tight end saw more targets in 2023 than Engram. His 114 receptions for 963 yards and four TDs on 143 targets led to a TE2 overall finish in full-PPR formats. Even on a per-game basis, Engram was the TE4 with 13.5 points per game, showcasing his consistent fantasy value.
- Role in the Offense: Engram’s role in the Jacksonville offense remains secure despite the additions of Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis. Both new receivers are expected to take on more outside and vertical responsibilities, leaving Engram’s slot-based role largely intact. His average depth of target (5.0 yards) and 516 yards after the catch (second among tight ends) underline his value as a reliable target for Trevor Lawrence.
- Past Performance: Engram’s consistent performance over his two seasons with the Jaguars highlights his importance in the offense. In 2023, he had 143 targets, 114 receptions, 963 yards, and four TDs, ranking him as the TE2. In 2022, he posted 73 receptions for 766 yards and four TDs on 98 targets, finishing as the TE5.
- Impact of New Additions: While the departure of Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones frees up targets, Thomas Jr.’s development as a rookie will play a crucial role in determining how many targets Engram will see. Given Thomas’s raw route-running ability, it’s likely that Engram will remain a favored target, especially early in the season.
- ADP Analysis: Engram’s current ADP of No. 67 overall in the sixth round as the TE8 represents excellent value for a player who has produced back-to-back top-five fantasy seasons at the position. With a strong role in a high-powered offense, Engram offers a safe and productive option at a reasonable draft price.
PFN Consensus PPR Fantasy Ranking for Evan Engram
Note that these rankings are the PFN Consensus Rankings and may not fully match my analysis.
65) Jaylen Warren, RB | Pittsburgh Steelers
66) C.J. Stroud, QB | Houston Texans
67) Dalton Kincaid, TE | Buffalo Bills
68) Keenan Allen, WR | Chicago Bears
69) Joe Burrow, QB | Cincinnati Bengals
70) Evan Engram, TE | Jacksonville Jaguars
71) Tank Dell, WR | Houston Texans
72) Jonathon Brooks, RB | Carolina Panthers
73) George Pickens, WR | Pittsburgh Steelers
74) Kyler Murray, QB | Arizona Cardinals
75) Brian Robinson Jr., RB | Washington Commanders
Evan Engram’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
Despite the hype surrounding players like Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, and David Njoku entering the 2024 NFL season, no tight end saw more targets in 2023 than Engram. His 114 receptions for 963 and four TDs on 143 targets helped generate a TE2 overall season in full-PPR formats.
Even if you want to take the per-game production into account, Engram was still the TE4 on a points-per-game basis at 13.5. This becomes even more impressive when you take into consideration Engram didn’t score over the first 11 games of the 2023 campaign.
The Jags decided to let Calvin Ridley and his 76 receptions for 1,016 receiving yards and eight scores walk this offseason. Additionally, the team also released Zay Jones after the 2024 NFL Draft, which means 200 targets, 110 receptions, and 1,337 receiving yards are off of the roster from last year.
The two receivers the team added to the roster — Thomas and Davis — are both more suited to outside, vertical duties, which is a perfect contrast to Engram’s role that operates mainly out of the slot, where he spent 45% of his snaps in 2023.
Engram’s average depth of target (5.0 yards) and 516 yards after the catch (second amongst tight ends) both suggest he is a great security blanket for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, which has been the case both seasons Engram has spent in a Jacksonville uniform.
Evan Engram Fantasy Stats in Jacksonville
- 2023: 143 targets, 114 receptions, 963 yards, four TDs (TE2)
- 2022: 98 targets, 73 receptions, 766 yards, four TDs (TE5)
Now, did Christian Kirk missing the final five games of the season help inflate Engram’s usage to finish the year? It is certainly possible. Engram saw 12+ targets in three of those five games but failed to hit that mark once over his first 12 games of the year.
Engram is still positioned to see north of 100 targets in 2024, which is an incredibly valuable trait for fantasy success in PPR formats.
Since 2020, there have been 22 TEs to see 100+ targets in a season. Only one of them didn’t finish the year as a top 10 tight end — which ironically was Engram back when he was with the New York Giants.
Thomas is truly the wild card in this equation. If he is utilized in a role similar to what we saw with Ridley used last year, he could be a threat to lead the team in targets. Yet, Thomas isn’t the most polished product as a route-runner entering the league, which means Lawrence could still lean towards relying on Engram and Kirk while Thomas acclimates to the pro game early in the season.
Is Engram a Good Value in Fantasy Drafts?
Engram’s ADP currently sits at No. 67 overall in the sixth round as the TE8 overall, which has him going off the board behind George Kittle and Kyle Pitts at the TE position.
This is a great value for a player whose role in this offense has been reliable enough to produce back-to-back top-five fantasy seasons at the TE position.
Engram may be a bit underappreciated from a fantasy perspective, but he is a safe and productive option at a great price for your team on draft day.
