Roster cuts are underway and nothing brings that warm, tingly feeling of fantasy football like watching NFL roster turnover and overreacting to the news.
Here at the Roto Street Journal, we encourage fantasy players to not overreact to news like sheep and instead see through the noise and find the truth, like wolves.
For all of the fun and joy fantasy football brings, there are equal parts fury and frustration! Take a moment and join me in the cleansing of the football soul by purging frustrations and fueling excitement as we look at the fantasy fallout following major injuries and roster purges.
Jordan Mason Is the Most Valuable Backup in Fantasy Football
Elijah Mitchell, it might be time to consider retirement. Mitchell exploded on the scene after the fantasy landscape was enamored by fantasy fools gold (Trey Sermon).
Mitchell, once again, found himself in familiar territory, on the injury report. This time, there’s no teasing fantasy managers with what could have been. He’s been placed on season-ending IR and Jordan Mason is now the clear-cut No. 2 back on the juiciest running scheme in the league.
Throughout the preseason, Mason has looked SOLID! He’s championed 14 rushes for 76 yards and a pair of TDs while hauling in a 7-yard snag as well.
The 49ers have made known their desire to reduce Christian McCaffrey’s workload some. This offers Mason some standalone juice in mop-up duty or on individual drives when CMC needs a breather and a stretch.
While it’s been a while, CMC is not impervious to the serious injury bug that often bites star running backs. Should anything happen to him, Mason instantly becomes a weekly low-end RB1 with high TD upside!
Smash that draft button in the last round of every draft Wolfpack!
MarShawn Lloyd Could Push Josh Jacobs for Work in 2024
“Shades of Aaron Jones.” That’s how Matt LaFleur and the Packers have described MarShawn Lloyd, due to his exceptional elusiveness and burst.
The former USC Trojan lit the earth on fire beneath his feet at the NFL combine, with his 4.46 40 time earning him a 97th percentile speed score.
LaFleur is philosophically dedicated to using his running backs in a committee. While with the Titans, Henry and Lewis split time, and his tenure with the Packers has been no different.
He’s reiterated this offseason that, despite Jacobs’ contract value, another RB will still get work.
In college, Lloyd’s 17.8 yards per reception ranked best among Power-5 RBs and he split out wide over 10% of the time. That alone can’t quench his insatiable thirst for yards, averaging around 7.0 yards per carry, with 41% of his yards coming after contact. In other words, Lloyd is a WEAPON just waiting to be unleashed.
“No, I would like to get him out there as much as possible. He’s got a skill set that’s a little bit different than AJ’s, as far as his speed… It’ll be nice to get him the ball in space and just see what he can do, ‘cause I think he’s gonna add a good explosive element to the offense, for sure.”
Packers OC Adam Stenavich on Lloyd
Factor in how dreadful Jacobs looked as a running back last season, it’s easy to see a path for Lloyd to split work in 2024.
In 2023, Jacobs averaged 13.4 fppg, a paltry figure when compared to his expected value (17.3). He was a cellar-dweller running back in:
- Yards before contact
- Yards after contact
- Evasiveness
He also ranked (43rd) just above Alexander Mattison and AJ Dillon in fantasy points per opportunity (0.63).
Lloyd represents arguably the best draft value for the RB position in 2024.
Audric Estime is Worth Stashing Late in Drafts
This isn’t a proclamation that Estime has supplanted Javonte Williams or Jaleel McLaughlin on the depth chart. Estime isn’t in the same stratosphere as Williams regarding talent at the position, and McLaughlin is a stick of dynamite waiting to explode with the ball in his hands.
What’s making Estime so appealing is the historic allure of Sean Payton-led running back rooms.
In 12 of 17 years of calling plays, Payton has ranked top-2 in total backfield points. Nobody marries the run and the pass games better than Payton.
Across his 17 years, Payton has never had an offense finish outside the top five in expected receiving fantasy points and the Broncos led the NFL in RB targets in 2023.
Estime is believed to be more than just a twinkle in Payton’s football eye.
“When the draft started, every once in awhile there’s a player you’d say, ‘When this thing’s all over with, I’d love to have this player.’ And, fortunately, we were able to get this player… He’s smart, he’s tough, and I like his size. The first vision would be first and second down runner… We’ll kind of see how that unfolds, but he’s strong. I think he has real good vision, contact balance.”
The 240 lb. behemoth could bring the thunder and serve as a valuable complement to McLaughlin’s lightning if something were to happen to Williams.
After being called “one of the stars of camp” by Albert Breer, taking Estime late might be one of the smartest draft decisions this season.
Marvin Mims Lives! With Tim Patrick Gone, Mims Ascends Broncos Depth Chart
Why should we give much credence to a wide receiver who only put up double-digit fantasy points twice last season? He exploded every time he was given a chance with just a part-time role last season.
Now take this with a minor grain of salt. This was just Marvin Mims’ first month in the league.
Now that Jerry Jeudy is in Cleveland and Tim Patrick was signed to the Lions practice squad, Mims has a clear path to earning more volume in year two with Payton’s chosen quarterback at the helm.
After reportedly dominating first-term reps and doing well in camp, Mims came out and said he’s much more comfortable in the offense.
“Knowing what I need to do, knowing what the coaches want, knowing what the quarterback wants and just going out there, runnning my route, and not having to think too much. The less you think, the faster you can play. Honestly speed is my best thing and as long as no one touches me I’m good,” Mims added.
