Zeke is back for seconds in Dallas 🥄

On the bright side, the Falcons not using their first round pick on a skill player will help keep the targets nice and tightly distributed between Drake London and Kyle Pitts 🤷‍♂️

What’s in store:

• Zeke is going back to Dallas for seconds 🥄. The former star running back for the Cowboys is back in Big D on a one-year deal.

• Bo Nix already penciled in as QB1? The expectation in Denver as of today is that the first round pick sees the field sooner rather than later.

• Travis Kelce is the highest paid TE in the NFL 💰. The legendary pass catcher and the Chiefs agreed to terms on a two-year deal on Monday.

• Instant fantasy takeaways from the top-10 picks of the NFL Draft. See what Faraz has to say about all the fantasy relevant selections!

• Cowboys and former RB Ezekiel Elliott reunite with one-year deal worth up to $3M

  • If the Cowboys weren’t already ‘all in’ this offseason, they are now. Jerry really threw caution to the wind with this signing, turning to a familiar face in the clearly regressing Ezekiel Elliott to – checks notes – take on the lead role in the Cowboys backfield. After neglecting to add a running back in any of the draft’s seven rounds, the Cowboys had an acute need and likely still do even following this signing. Zeke’s homecoming is certain to warm the heart of many a Cowboys fan, but for the fantasy football community, it only adds another layer to the stinking onion that has become Dallas’ backfield. Elliott joins Rico Dowdle, former 2023 sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn, and fullback Hunter Luepke to make up what is one of the least dynamic RB rooms in the league. What we can take from this blatant disregard on the part of the Cowboys for their run game is that the Cowboys will be forced to be pass-heavy in 2024. That’s music to the ears of Dak Prescott and Ceedee Lamb’s fantasy managers, as well as potential breakout TE Jake Ferguson’s, as well. As for Zeke, there’s a chance that Mike McCarthy and co. force feed him to begin the season, which could give him legitimate RB2 value for at least part of the year. He proved in 2023 that he can still get the job done in the passing game, and he had 12 touchdowns on the ground in 2022 thanks to an explosive offense that delivered him to the goal line plenty of times. A similar role could be in the cards for the veteran in 2024.

• Recently drafted Broncos QB Bo Nix is expected to ‘play right away,’ per ESPN’s Dan Graziano

  • Given that the rest of Denver’s depth chart belongs in the UFL, the plan for Sean Payton has always been to start whichever quarterback fell to them at 12. That quarterback, Bo Nix, is one that Payton and the rest of the Broncos brass were very fond of since early in the pre-draft process, and they’ll have the better part of four months to mold Nix into a quality NFL starter ahead of the 2024 season. The former Oregon product enters an offense that is relatively standard rate in terms of its available weaponry, headlined by WRs Courtland Sutton and his former college teammate Troy Franklin (who landed in Denver’s lap after a tremendous slide down to 102nd overall). It’s not a Bryce-Young-in-2023 bad supporting cast, but it’s certainly not close to what first overall pick Caleb Williams will be working with in Chicago. Given the relative shortcomings on offense and the questionable coaching situation, Nix shouldn’t be a player you entrust your fantasy team exclusively in the hands of for 2024 – but he does remain an intriguing flier in redraft leagues and is obviously worth a look in rookie drafts.

• Chiefs extend TE Travis Kelce with two-year, $34M deal to make him highest-paid TE in the NFL

  • After adding speed on top of speed this offseason via free agency (Marquise Brown) and the draft (Xavier Worthy), the Chiefs turn around and lock up the oldest and likely slowest offensive weapon on the team in Travis Kelce for the relevant future. No stranger to competing for targets, Kelce will have his work cut out for him in 2023 assuming the Chiefs also get second-year stud WR Rashee Rice back from a likely suspension in a reasonable timeframe. Despite a clear regression in his season-long stats in 2023 amid offensive struggles to begin the season, Kelce turned things around come playoff time to prove that he’s still got it ahead of the 2024 season. From Weeks 11-17, Kelce averaged just 11.2 PPR fantasy points per game before upping that number to 21.7 through four games in the playoffs last year. Regardless of whether or not he’s able to recapture his dominant overall TE1 status that saw him clear the next best TE by 100 points remains to be seen, but Kelce will doubtless land among the league’s best once again as long as he and Patrick Mahomes stay healthy for the majority of the 2024 season.

QB Caleb Williams - CHI (Round 1, Pick 1)

• Have you ever seen a high-end QB prospect get drafted into a situation with such a plethora of weapons? DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze at WR. Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett at TE. D’Andre Swift catching passes out of the backfield. New OC Shane Waldron should also be looked at as a positive for Williams, as well. Williams is the clear 1.01 in dynasty superflex rookie drafts, and we should be taking our shots in 2024 redraft formats as well.

QB Jayden Daniels - WAS (Round 1, Pick 2)

• The next dual-threat QB is the next potential fantasy superstar. He lands with Kliff Kingsbury, who we’ve seen Kyler Murray have big fantasy seasons with in Arizona. Terry McLaurin’s fantasy value seems to get a hopeful boost with every new QB he gets, but he’s never had a QB with this type of pedigree and arm talent. He is the #1 QB who we should be taking shots on in 2024 redraft formats, and should be the 1.02 in dynasty superflex rookie drafts.

QB Drake Maye - NE (Round 1, Pick 3)

• Maye currently has nothing to work with in New England, and also happens to need some refinement and development to take full advantage of his talent and skillset. Unfortunately, he currently doesn’t have that dependable WR1 at the moment. It’s possible the Patriots land one of the top WRs available in the 2nd round, but either way, I’m not sure Maye will make an immediate impact. I wouldn’t blame anyone for drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. over Maye in superflex rookie drafts as the 1.03.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. - ARI (Round 1, Pick 4)

• The target distribution should be pretty tight between Harrison and Trey McBride in 2023, while Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch will fight for scraps. Harrison gets paired with a QB who we know can pepper his WR1 (DeAndre Hopkins) and support a WR’s fantasy dominance. Among the first round WRs, Harrison has the best chance of having a big rookie season, including fantasy WR1 upside.

WR Malik Nabers - NYG (Round 1, Pick 6)

• While Nabers didn’t land with the most promising QB, Daniel Jones isn’t so incapable that he can’t get it to his best guy. Jones’ best receiver throughout his career has been Darius Slayton, so we can’t assume that a baller at WR is going to suffer to the point where we should be fading him completely. Expect Nabers to get a massive target share beginning in Year 1. Take advantage of lower prices in redraft, and hope that he falls to you in your dynasty rookie drafts. I’m fine taking Harrison and Odunze above him in dynasty, but I’m not moving any other WR over him in rookie drafts.

QB Michael Penix Jr. - ATL (Round 1, Pick 8)

• “The Packers model” doesn’t apply here. Penix is turning 24 in two weeks, and will be at least 27 before he takes over, assuming Cousins isn’t around longer. Not adding to the chances of winning in 2024 after seemingly going all in on a QB in free agency is a headscratching move. They won’t be able to take full advantage of his rookie contract, either. Penix might get elevated in superflex leagues, but I’d be weary given how long we might have to wait for him to start - and he might not be that dude when he eventually does get his shot.

WR Rome Odunze - CHI (Round 1, Pick 9)

• While Odunze might not get the target share and production he would get on a less crowded offense to start, he’s tied to a potential superstar QB in Caleb Williams. That might be enough for me to take him ahead of Nabers in dynasty rookie drafts since it was close to begin with. Keenan Allen probably has about a year of real production left in him, so Odunze will have a shot at taking over this WR corp sooner than you might think.

QB J.J. McCarthy - MIN (Round 1, Pick 10)

• McCarthy is placed in a pretty spot - Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at WR, and TJ Hockenson at TE if he can get right this year after tearing both his ACL + MCL. Having Kevin O’Connell running the offense is another big plus, as he will likely be able to pull McCarthy’s strengths out and build an offense around them. Good news is that Justin Jefferson has another chance at a solid foundation at QB. McCarthy should still be taken over Penix in rookie drafts.

Bo Nix had a bonkers 2023 season. He was a safe, accurate QB who happened to put up 45 TDs to only 3 INTs. 4450 passing yards on top of that, with an insane 77.3 completion percentage. His accuracy percentage was 85.4% and overall throughout this class’ careers, he had the highest on-target percentage on a totality of his throws.

Nix is smart, he gets the ball out quick, is good under pressure, doesn’t make too many mistakes, and is pretty pro ready if asked to run a west coast offense. He took a sack on only 1.2% of his dropbacks last year, which was clearly best in this class, and his 1% turnover worthy play rate was best in class as well. With the efficiency came less overall output overall; 7.9 career yards per attempt was the lowest in this class, but 2023 was different - his 9.5 yards per attempt was second in class. His deep ball was on point last year… having Troy Franklin definitely helps.

The good news is Troy Franklin is tagging along for the ride in Denver after a huge drop in the draft. That should only serve to help Nix get acclimated in an offense that’s otherwise lacking talent at WR outside of Courtland Sutton, and Sean Payton can build the offensive scheme around him to give him a shot at real upside in 2024.