Fantasy Football Player Notes

This Bengals offense could look very different in 2024, but one thing remains certain.
Ja'Marr Chase is going to be the focal point. He finished with an impressive stat line: 100 receptions (career-high) on 145 targets (26% target share), amassing 1,216 yards at an average of 12.2 yards per catch. Chase scored 7 touchdowns while ranking top-10 in red zone targets. Over 16 games, he totaled 212.7 fantasy points, averaging a strong 13.3 points per game (WR13). But we all know Chase left production on the table without his healthy star QB. Weeks 1-10 with Joe Burrow, Chase averaged 16.2 points per game (6th) and 19.6 expected points per game (fifth).

Tee Higgins recorded 42 receptions from 76 targets, covering 656 yards with a notable average of 15.6 yards per reception. Demonstrating his big-play ability, Higgins had 14 receptions of 20+ yards to go along with a team-high 37% air yards share (17th) on just an 18% target share. He scored 5 touchdowns. Playing in 12 games, Higgins accumulated 116.6 fantasy points, averaging 9.7 points per game (WR40). He dealt with injuries throughout the season and failed to finish as a fantasy WR2 for the first time in the last three seasons. Ergo, 2023 stands out like a complete outlier for the 25-year-old WR, who will likely play for the Bengals for one more season after being franchise-tagged. The command of air yards shows that Higgins is still a dominant downfield receiver, as are the 4 games where he scored 20-plus fantasy points.

Jermaine Burton took forever to "break out" until his senior year at 22 years old with a 30% dominator rating as a member of the Crimson Tide.
He transferred from the University of Georgia over his first two seasons to Alabama his final two collegiate seasons.
Although he did post a very serviceable 19% dominator rating his first year at Bama (essentially a breakout), with 677 yards and 7 TDs.
And Burton also produced decently during his time in Georgia, despite facing a myriad of tough competition. 16% dominator rating in 2020 as a true freshman (19 years old) while competing for targets with George Pickens. During his second season as a Bulldog, Burton was second on the team in receiving yards behind only Brock Bowers - despite competing for targets with the aforementioned tight end, Ladd McConkey and Adonai Mitchell.
He was also used exclusively downfield during his final year, with a 20.2 aDOT (3rd-highest in the FBS) in 2023. And zero drops.
Burton also led all WRs in the 2024 class and finished 12th overall in yards per route run. Burton possesses and explosive skillset with 4.45 wheels and jumps in the 82nd percentile-plus.
He's a big play waiting to happen, but likely won't command a hyper-intense target share at the next level. He's got two games on his college resume with double-digit targets. He also has some off-field issue concerns that could hurt his draft capital in the real-life NFL.

Boyd had 67 receptions on 98 targets, totaling 667 receiving yards at an average of 10 yards per catch, with a long catch of 64 yards. Boyd found the end zone twice. Over 17 games, Boyd earned 112.3 fantasy points, averaging 6.6 points per game as the WR64 in points per game. He will likely be a nice depth piece for a new team in 2024, and possibly provide some early in-season production as he turns 30 years old.