The Tennessee Titans are rolling with Will Levis and a whole bunch of guys who, talent-wise, are between WR1 and WR2 in most depth charts around the league. They revamped the offensive line, said goodbye to Derrick Henry, and doubled down on passing in 2024. While that’s a bold move with Will Levis under center, the Tennessee Titans are a bold team. Is bold the right word? Much like that reference to The Office, the Titans are tired and full of names that we aren’t sure could carry anything on their own after the departure of Ryan Tannehill (Steve Carrell, duh). Let’s take a look at the revamped Titans and what it means for 2024 fantasy football leagues.
Overvalued: Calvin Ridley, Wide Receiver (WR33, Pick 67 overall)
Why are we hitching our wagon to Will Levis to Calvin Ridley with a top 70 pick in 2024? With Trevor Lawrence in a better offense in 2023, he finished with seven top-30 performances while finishing WR27. He was a boom-bust receiver who was maximized by his role in the offense. He was also a high-volume target, getting 136 targets in that potent Jacksonville passing game. While the Titans hope to be somewhat potent in 2024, they also have too many mouths to feed, as they filled the offense with WR2s and RB2s, all of whom can catch passes. For Ridley to return his WR33 price, you’re likely looking at at least 130 targets. Will Levis threw the ball 31.1 times per game in his starts last season, which comes out to 529 throws throughout a 17-game season. That would mean a 25% target share while DeAndre Hopkins had a 28% target share last year. I doubt they funnel over 50% of their targets into two players, especially with two pass-catching backs on the roster.
It doesn’t all really add up to anything that I want on my roster. Sure, he could finish well when the season is all said and done, but one boom week followed by 3-4 bust weeks (the Calvin Ridley Pattern) isn’t really what I am looking for with a top 70 pick in my fantasy football drafts. There’s a certain subset of the population that points to his expected fantasy points and touchdown luck. Look into your heart, do you think he’s going to get more than the 8 touchdowns he had last season with Trevor Lawrence?
Undervalued: DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver (WR38, Pick 80 Overall)
I mean, why take Ridley when you can take Hopkins a full round later, and get similar production? While Hopkins didn’t boom as much as Ridley, he was more consistent. He had eight top-30 weeks last season, and his struggles down the stretch came from the Titans turning back to Ryan Tannehill from Will Levis. But, in Will Levis’ games where he played at least 97% of snaps, Hopkins was a fantasy force: he averaged 4 catches for 66 yards per game, and scored five touchdowns in those six games, finishing on average, as WR28. Hopkins is going to lead the way for the Titans this year, and while he’s one year older, Calvin Ridley isn’t exactly a spring chicken, either: Ridley turns 30 this season, and Hopkins is already 32.
Sleeper: Tyjae Spears, Running Back (RB34, Pick 101 Overall)
I love some Tyjae Spears. He took a back seat to Derrick Henry last season because it’s difficult to not take a back seat to Derrick Henry. But, Spears was still good in his own right, topping 70 targets en route to finishing ninth in the league in running back receptions (52) and finishing as RB32. Again, this was as a backup to Derrick Henry, wherein Spears played over 60% of snaps just three times. He was a part-time back, and the Titans brought in Tony Pollard who… is basically the same guy. Spears and Pollard should create an incredible lightning-and-lightning backfield in Tennessee, with the better-ranked back on any given week likely coming down to who gets more cracks at the end zone… and Tyjae got the first crack at the end zone. With the Titans playing against the 49ers in the first week of preseason, Tyjae Spears scored a short rushing touchdown, despite getting out-touched four-to-six.
So, go ahead and take a crack at Tyjae Spears. The worst-case scenario is that you get a rock-solid PPR back out of it to help guide you through your bye weeks.
