The San Francisco 49ers may have failed to take home the Lombardi Trophy on Super Bowl Sunday, but they still boast one of the best collections of skill position players heading into the 2024 NFL season.
One of the main cogs in the 49ers’ highly productive offense is George Kittle, who posted another top-five fantasy football season at the TE position in 2023.
The real question starting to enter the mind of dynasty shareholders of this talented pass catcher heading into next year — is now the perfect time to sell Kittle?
George Kittle’s Dynasty Outlook
Let’s start off by acknowledging the greatness we’ve seen from Kittle throughout his NFL career.
Trading is key to being successful in dynasty fantasy football. How should managers handle Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Elijah Mitchell? https://t.co/5JAXlWJcI1
— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) January 20, 2024
This man has finished inside the top five at his position in PPR formats in five out of his seven seasons as a pro. He’s topped 1,000 yards receiving and 70 receptions in a season on three occasions and is widely regarded as one of the most complete tight ends in the league.
In addition, his unicorn-type athleticism, high motor, and competitive spirit make him one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Personally, I truly believe he has a strong case to be considered the best tight end in the league.
I say all of that to say this … he is a better football player than he is a dynasty asset moving forward.
Only two teams in the NFL threw the ball less than the 49ers in 2023, the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. Yes, the Niners were highly productive when they did throw the football last season, but ultimately, volume plays a role in trying to project future fantasy value.
Did you know Dalton Kincaid finished the year with more targets than Kittle? Sure, Kittle still saw six targets per game and finished with over 1,000 yards receiving because he is an excellent player in high-powered offense, but one thing we can’t confidently project anymore is for him to be an alpha target earner at the TE position.
He hasn’t topped 100 targets in a season since 2019, and with Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Christian McCaffrey all set to return to this offense next year, the target share isn’t likely to see a big jump.
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This inconsistency in target volume has led to some volatility in his fantasy production, which is evident by his seven performances with fewer than 10 fantasy points in PPR formats in 2023.
In addition to his target competition, Kittle is set to turn 31 during the 2024 season. The drop-off age is a bit different for a talent like Kittle, but he is entering the point of his career where production can drop swiftly and suddenly.
All concerns aside, Kittle is still a very productive TE who offers a sky-high ceiling on a weekly basis, but his dynasty market should appeal to those strictly in contention for a league title.
Kittle’s Dynasty Ranking
Where does Kittle land in the dynasty TE landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Derek Tate’s latest rankings, featuring where Kittle lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
1) Sam LaPorta | DET
2) Dalton Kincaid | BUF
3) Trey McBride | ARI
4) Mark Andrews | BAL
5) T.J. Hockenson | MIN
6) Travis Kelce | KC
7) Kyle Pitts | ATL
8) David Njoku | CLE
9) George Kittle | SF
10) Jake Ferguson | DAL
11) Cole Kmet | CHI
12) Dallas Goedert | PHI
13) Evan Engram | JAX
14) Cade Otton | TB
15) Dalton Schultz | HOU
16) Darren Waller | NYG
17) Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN
18) Hunter Henry | NE
19) Isaiah Likely | BAL
20) Michael Mayer | LV
Should You Trade Kittle in Dynasty?
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The answer to this question really depends on the current status of your roster.
If you are in a situation where your team is ready to compete for a fantasy championship in 2024, then acquiring a productive asset at a thin position like TE makes sense.
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If your roster construction is multiple pieces away from competing for a fantasy title, then I would not recommend giving up significant assets to acquire Kittle.
Personally, I am far more inclined to cash out my shares of Kittle in dynasty leagues. His increasing age and elite target competition in one of the least pass-happy offenses in the league place a cap on his fantasy ceiling for the next few years.
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