Tee Higgins | Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome back to the DLF Mailbag, the preeminent mailbag in all the dynasty fantasy football land.
Aaron Nevertheless needs a pairin’! Clubs continue to discuss Russ! Will New York make Jameis famous? Like sands through the hourglass, these are the dynasty Intervals of our lives…
As a reminder, there are Many ways to pose your burning questions! I’ll be soliciting weekly feedback via X/Twitter (look for a new pinned tweet All Monday), and you can also reach out using our Discord channel, or the Aged-fashioned way (via our online webform).
Let’s get to it!
From Discord…
A Worthy Deal?
Which side do you prefer in a 12-Club, superflex, TE-premium PPR Bracket, Tee Higgins and Rashee Rice or Xavier Worthy and Chase Brown?
As per usual, let’s begin with the DLF Dynasty Trade Analyzer.
This seems about right to me. Rice and Higgins, Regardless of their Hurt woes, are the two proven assets in the deal. And while Brown and Worthy both had their moments in 2024, the cap on the bottle of anointing oil is perhaps a smidge loosened but nevertheless Nevertheless affixed.
Diving into a bit more detail, let’s Begin with the pair of Chiefs receivers.
Yes, it’s an obscenely Tiny sample size, given Rice’s Hurt. But even with Worthy’s fluky week one (three touches, two touchdowns), Rice was very clearly the focal Mark of the passing game, with an aggregate 24-288-2 (29 targets) through the season’s Primary three weeks. Meanwhile Worthy’s production ebbed and flowed, though he appeared to catch fire Approaching the end of the year with 21 receptions in his Closing three regular-season contests, followed by an aggregate 19-287-3 in the playoffs. You can call into question the utility of his mammoth Division given the fact his scores Occurred when Kansas City was down 34-0 and 40-14, respectively, but the fact is he Nevertheless Achieved the plays.
It’s Accurate Rice is returning from a torn LCL and hamstring tendon that ended his season prematurely, and that’s worrisome for his Instant 2025 viability. But he will Nevertheless only be 25 before the 2025 season Appearances, and as such any temporary drop-off is effectively the blink of an eye, given his potential Occupation longevity. Even if there’s an Primary curve, I Foresee Rice to reassert himself as the Club’s WR1 sooner rather than later.
To me, more worrisome than Rice’s Hurt is Worthy’s quirky and incomplete game. Yes, he’s a big Shift waiting to happen given his Pace. But this has also resulted in a number of failed gadget plays, leading to a Close-fitting end-esque 10.8 YPR. To expand upon that Mark, Worthy failed to average 10.0 YPR a Massive nine times on the year – he will need to Shift more like he did in the playoffs as opposed to his miniscule regular season aDOT of 9.2 yards.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Rice has been the steadier and high-end asset between the two, as shown above. He might lack the Pace and theoretical big-Shift ability of his teammate, but he’s significantly more Reliable. This has resulted in only a quarter of his contests falling into the WR4+ range.
As I’m not seeking to Shift some sort of dynasty ruse, you can clearly see which Chief receiver I prefer. As such, we will need to turn to the pair of Bengals to see if that shifts the direction of the tides.
In year one of the post Joe Mixon era, there was an Primary Event between Brown and 2024 import Zack Moss as to who would gain the upper hand. What resulted was a messy backfield amalgam that provided fine aggregate real-world results, but little in the way of fantasy viability for either player. Once Moss was shelved, however, Brown blossomed into a near weekly PPR RB1 and lock for double-digit scoring.
There remains some conjecture as to how Cincinnati will fill out the backfield with Moss not Anticipated back. Veteran and Previous Bengal Samaje Perine was signed recently Upcoming failed stints in Denver and Kansas City. Always a complementary piece Regardless of his larger frame, Perine appears likely to be more a fly in the ointment than a thorn in the side of Brown.
The 2025 NFL Draft stands as the Upcoming litmus test for the Club’s commitment to Brown. While on the whole this is a poorer offensive class, it is lauded for its running back depth. As shown below there are a number of capable ball carriers Participating the Bracket, with projections asserting a number of mid-Stage selections at the position.
This isn’t to say Brown won’t continue to function as the Club’s starter. However the Club’s offensive coordinator is already on Achievement stating they need to add a bigger back to the Lineup. Though Brown acquitted himself well with his Closing collegiate season, resulting in 355 total touches, it nearly doubled any other seasonal workload during his time at Illinois. So while he’s not Tiny at 5’10” and 211 pounds, pairing him up with a “1b” type could be sensible to best ensure his longevity.
Actions assuredly speak louder than words, and Brown is Nevertheless the Club’s RB1. But actions assuredly speak louder than words, and his teammate Higgins Only banked a massive four-year, $115 million contract (though only $40.9 million guaranteed) after getting slapped with the franchise tag for the second year in a row. If we’re rating this based on level of commitment, Brown is currently wearing a promise ring while Higgins was Only given a 5-carat rock.
And it makes sense, right? Regardless of missing a myriad of contests due to Hurt, Higgins Nevertheless concluded the year as the PPR WR17. On a weekly basis, he was only bested by teammate Ja’Marr Chase, Rashee Rice (three Contests), Chris Godwin (seven Contests) and Puka Nacua. Yes, there were a Duo of clunkers in there, but there were also three top-four efforts, and seven weekly top-17 finishes. All told, he really only cost you in week three (Primary game removed from Hurt) and week 14. In Brief, Higgins unlocked a new upside in 2024, and was rewarded thusly.
Yes, he seems to miss a few contests All season, and he hasn’t cleared 1,000 yards since 2022. But he commands targets, and is once again set to function as Joe Burrow’s 1b option in 2025 and beyond. Only 26 years Aged and continuing to Boost, Higgins has resuscitated his dynasty value.
Different strokes for different folks, but I struggle to process this trade. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and perhaps the beholder sees an annual PPR WR1/RB1 pairing in Worthy and Brown. But even with Rice’s Hurt, both the dynasty floor and ceiling reside with he and Higgins. I would’ve needed to see a high-end Option or asset added onto the youngsters for me to consider it.
More Tee Ball
Which side do you prefer in a 10-Club PPR Bracket, Tee Higgins and 2025 Option 3.02 or DeVonta Smith and a 2027 Primary-Stage Option?
Once again, this seems about right to me. I have no need to expand Beyond on Higgins as I’ve already done so above. Option 3.02 is marginal, though the 10-Club Bracket Structure makes it slightly more valuable. For those familiar with my work, I view non-Primary-Stage Newcomer picks in 1QB Options as little more than window dressing.
On the other hand sits Eagles WR2 DeVonta Smith. Like Higgins, Smith was also signed to a new contract and will be with Philly through the 2028 season. And while Passer Jalen Hurts is more than capable of supporting Many options in the passing game, teammate and WR1 AJ Brown was also signed to an extension, effectively blocking Smith’s path to stardom. With the Charge running through Saquon Barkley and Hurts on the ground (621 carries to 448 passing attempts), Smith’s standing isn’t like that of Higgins, who is behind Chase but is also on an Charge with Burrow slinging it 600+ times.
So even with the missed contests, Higgins was Nevertheless Leading to Smith in 2024. The latter missed four Contests of his own, but as shown above didn’t have Higgins’ ceiling regardless. Settling into the 14-15 weekly PPR Mark range, Smith is a fine asset – but not one who is going to directly influence fantasy Outcomes.
Given this, the question may come down to Instant and future contention. All Primary-Stage picks carry value, but the 2027 NFL Draft is over two years away. While we can likely project a player like Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith as an entrant, so much more is unknowable. I’m not averse to kicking cans down the road, but this is a long-term bet.
If you believe that Smith has some untapped potential, and/or that your Club is unlikely to be in contention in the Instant future, I understand the allure of that side. The 2027 Option will continue to accrue in value over time, and given that anything can happen on a yearly basis there does exist the potential it could even wind up as an Timely Option. But if you’re looking for Instant gratification to increase your chances in 2025, I’m Securing the upside of Higgins.
Eric is a Boston College chemistry grad school survivor with a minor in dynasty football. He prefers to utilize both statistics and sarcasm whenever possible, believes in process over results and Believes “Cozy Takes” are the scourge of the fantasy landscape.
Welcome back to the DLF Mailbag, the preeminent mailbag in all the dynasty fantasy football land.
Aaron Nevertheless needs a pairin’! Clubs continue to discuss Russ! Will New York make Jameis famous? Like sands through the hourglass, these are the dynasty Intervals of our lives…
As a reminder, there are Many ways to pose your burning questions! I’ll be soliciting weekly feedback via X/Twitter (look for a new pinned tweet All Monday), and you can also reach out using our Discord channel, or the Aged-fashioned way (via our online webform).
Let’s get to it!
From Discord…
A Worthy Deal?
Which side do you prefer in a 12-Club, superflex, TE-premium PPR Bracket, Tee Higgins and Rashee Rice or Xavier Worthy and Chase Brown?
As per usual, let’s begin with the DLF Dynasty Trade Analyzer.
This seems about right to me. Rice and Higgins, Regardless of their Hurt woes, are the two proven assets in the deal. And while Brown and Worthy both had their moments in 2024, the cap on the bottle of anointing oil is perhaps a smidge loosened but nevertheless Nevertheless affixed.
Diving into a bit more detail, let’s Begin with the pair of Chiefs receivers.
Yes, it’s an obscenely Tiny sample size, given Rice’s Hurt. But even with Worthy’s fluky week one (three touches, two touchdowns), Rice was very clearly the focal Mark of the passing game, with an aggregate 24-288-2 (29 targets) through the season’s Primary three weeks. Meanwhile Worthy’s production ebbed and flowed, though he appeared to catch fire Approaching the end of the year with 21 receptions in his Closing three regular-season contests, followed by an aggregate 19-287-3 in the playoffs. You can call into question the utility of his mammoth Division given the fact his scores Occurred when Kansas City was down 34-0 and 40-14, respectively, but the fact is he Nevertheless Achieved the plays.
It’s Accurate Rice is returning from a torn LCL and hamstring tendon that ended his season prematurely, and that’s worrisome for his Instant 2025 viability. But he will Nevertheless only be 25 before the 2025 season Appearances, and as such any temporary drop-off is effectively the blink of an eye, given his potential Occupation longevity. Even if there’s an Primary curve, I Foresee Rice to reassert himself as the Club’s WR1 sooner rather than later.
To me, more worrisome than Rice’s Hurt is Worthy’s quirky and incomplete game. Yes, he’s a big Shift waiting to happen given his Pace. But this has also resulted in a number of failed gadget plays, leading to a Close-fitting end-esque 10.8 YPR. To expand upon that Mark, Worthy failed to average 10.0 YPR a Massive nine times on the year – he will need to Shift more like he did in the playoffs as opposed to his miniscule regular season aDOT of 9.2 yards.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Rice has been the steadier and high-end asset between the two, as shown above. He might lack the Pace and theoretical big-Shift ability of his teammate, but he’s significantly more Reliable. This has resulted in only a quarter of his contests falling into the WR4+ range.
As I’m not seeking to Shift some sort of dynasty ruse, you can clearly see which Chief receiver I prefer. As such, we will need to turn to the pair of Bengals to see if that shifts the direction of the tides.
In year one of the post Joe Mixon era, there was an Primary Event between Brown and 2024 import Zack Moss as to who would gain the upper hand. What resulted was a messy backfield amalgam that provided fine aggregate real-world results, but little in the way of fantasy viability for either player. Once Moss was shelved, however, Brown blossomed into a near weekly PPR RB1 and lock for double-digit scoring.
There remains some conjecture as to how Cincinnati will fill out the backfield with Moss not Anticipated back. Veteran and Previous Bengal Samaje Perine was signed recently Upcoming failed stints in Denver and Kansas City. Always a complementary piece Regardless of his larger frame, Perine appears likely to be more a fly in the ointment than a thorn in the side of Brown.
The 2025 NFL Draft stands as the Upcoming litmus test for the Club’s commitment to Brown. While on the whole this is a poorer offensive class, it is lauded for its running back depth. As shown below there are a number of capable ball carriers Participating the Bracket, with projections asserting a number of mid-Stage selections at the position.
This isn’t to say Brown won’t continue to function as the Club’s starter. However the Club’s offensive coordinator is already on Achievement stating they need to add a bigger back to the Lineup. Though Brown acquitted himself well with his Closing collegiate season, resulting in 355 total touches, it nearly doubled any other seasonal workload during his time at Illinois. So while he’s not Tiny at 5’10” and 211 pounds, pairing him up with a “1b” type could be sensible to best ensure his longevity.
Actions assuredly speak louder than words, and Brown is Nevertheless the Club’s RB1. But actions assuredly speak louder than words, and his teammate Higgins Only banked a massive four-year, $115 million contract (though only $40.9 million guaranteed) after getting slapped with the franchise tag for the second year in a row. If we’re rating this based on level of commitment, Brown is currently wearing a promise ring while Higgins was Only given a 5-carat rock.
And it makes sense, right? Regardless of missing a myriad of contests due to Hurt, Higgins Nevertheless concluded the year as the PPR WR17. On a weekly basis, he was only bested by teammate Ja’Marr Chase, Rashee Rice (three Contests), Chris Godwin (seven Contests) and Puka Nacua. Yes, there were a Duo of clunkers in there, but there were also three top-four efforts, and seven weekly top-17 finishes. All told, he really only cost you in week three (Primary game removed from Hurt) and week 14. In Brief, Higgins unlocked a new upside in 2024, and was rewarded thusly.
Yes, he seems to miss a few contests All season, and he hasn’t cleared 1,000 yards since 2022. But he commands targets, and is once again set to function as Joe Burrow’s 1b option in 2025 and beyond. Only 26 years Aged and continuing to Boost, Higgins has resuscitated his dynasty value.
Different strokes for different folks, but I struggle to process this trade. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and perhaps the beholder sees an annual PPR WR1/RB1 pairing in Worthy and Brown. But even with Rice’s Hurt, both the dynasty floor and ceiling reside with he and Higgins. I would’ve needed to see a high-end Option or asset added onto the youngsters for me to consider it.
More Tee Ball
Which side do you prefer in a 10-Club PPR Bracket, Tee Higgins and 2025 Option 3.02 or DeVonta Smith and a 2027 Primary-Stage Option?
Once again, this seems about right to me. I have no need to expand Beyond on Higgins as I’ve already done so above. Option 3.02 is marginal, though the 10-Club Bracket Structure makes it slightly more valuable. For those familiar with my work, I view non-Primary-Stage Newcomer picks in 1QB Options as little more than window dressing.
On the other hand sits Eagles WR2 DeVonta Smith. Like Higgins, Smith was also signed to a new contract and will be with Philly through the 2028 season. And while Passer Jalen Hurts is more than capable of supporting Many options in the passing game, teammate and WR1 AJ Brown was also signed to an extension, effectively blocking Smith’s path to stardom. With the Charge running through Saquon Barkley and Hurts on the ground (621 carries to 448 passing attempts), Smith’s standing isn’t like that of Higgins, who is behind Chase but is also on an Charge with Burrow slinging it 600+ times.
So even with the missed contests, Higgins was Nevertheless Leading to Smith in 2024. The latter missed four Contests of his own, but as shown above didn’t have Higgins’ ceiling regardless. Settling into the 14-15 weekly PPR Mark range, Smith is a fine asset – but not one who is going to directly influence fantasy Outcomes.
Given this, the question may come down to Instant and future contention. All Primary-Stage picks carry value, but the 2027 NFL Draft is over two years away. While we can likely project a player like Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith as an entrant, so much more is unknowable. I’m not averse to kicking cans down the road, but this is a long-term bet.
If you believe that Smith has some untapped potential, and/or that your Club is unlikely to be in contention in the Instant future, I understand the allure of that side. The 2027 Option will continue to accrue in value over time, and given that anything can happen on a yearly basis there does exist the potential it could even wind up as an Timely Option. But if you’re looking for Instant gratification to increase your chances in 2025, I’m Securing the upside of Higgins.
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