2024 NFL Draft: IDP Dynasty Fantasy Football Winners And Losers From The AFC
The NFL Draft is exciting yet nerve-wracking for dynasty fantasy managers. Some players on our rosters remain unchallenged and secure in their roles. Meanwhile, others, whom we expected to have significant roles, suddenly face new competition for their spot.
This article is the first in a two-part series, beginning with the AFC, that examines the biggest IDP winners and losers following the 2024 NFL Draft.
Winners
Trenton Simpson, LB BAL
Patrick Queen led all linebackers in 2023 with 1,246 snaps. Roquan Smith wasn’t far behind in third, despite missing week 18. There is no guarantee the Baltimore Ravens will be on the field as much in 2024. Still, their approach to utilizing two full-time linebackers will likely continue, given that their linebacker coach in 2023, Zach Orr, has taken over as the team’s defensive coordinator.
As the Ravens’ third-round pick in 2023, Simpson barely played in his rookie season. That’s likely to change following the departure of Patrick Queen, who joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. The Ravens did not select a linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft, signaling their intention to get Simpson more involved.
Patrick Queen’s departure opens up a big hole on defense, one which I hope will be filled by Trenton Simpson!
The result wasn’t as desired in his week 18 defensive debut, but his tape definitely gave the Ravens confidence.
One to watch! #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/kx1TySST1t
— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) May 17, 2024
Kyle Van Noy is a threat to Simpson’s role if the 22-year-old fails to impress, but Van Noy spends more time rushing the passer than in a true off-ball role.
EJ Speed, LB IND
Speed entered the 2023 season as the Indianapolis Colts’ third-choice linebacker, behind Zaire Franklin and Shaquille Leonard. When Leonard signed with the Philadelphia Eagles midway through the season, Speed’s role in the defense increased significantly for the remainder of the year.
The 28-year-old struggled in coverage and missed 15.7% of his tackles, leading many to wonder if the Colts would add competition in the draft. However, the team waited until the fifth round to add depth in the shape of Jaylin Simpson, so the smart money is on Speed remaining second in the pecking order.
Texans Offensive Line said CJ Stroud will die today. EJ Speed untouched to the QB for a sack.
— pepper brooks (@pepperyball) September 17, 2023
As the team’s preferred option alongside Franklin, Speed averaged a 94.2% snap share in the final seven games of 2023. Given that Gus Bradley has returned for his third year as the Colts’ defensive coordinator, there’s a good chance that utilization level will continue.
In 2024, Speed has an excellent opportunity to prove that he deserves either an extension with the Colts or a new contract elsewhere.
Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, LB BUF
Matt Milano’s knee injury in week five of the 2023 season opened the door for Terrel Bernard to step into a more significant role. Tyrel Dodson also benefitted, playing a career-high 550 snaps, and arguably outperformed Bernard.
Dodson left to join the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, and the Bills drafted Edefuan Ulofoshio in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft to help replace him. Still, either Bernard or Williams is expected to play a role behind Milano in 2024.
Joshua Williams, CB KC
The Kansas City Chiefs traded L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans earlier this year and did little to replace him in the 2024 NFL Draft. They selected cornerback Kamal Hadden in the sixth round, but he’s unlikely to force his way into the team’s immediate plans.
Williams was fifth in snaps at cornerback for the Chiefs last season and acquitted himself well in coverage. Week 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers was a high point for the second-year player; Williams played every down and was targeted eight times yet allowed only one completion for seven yards. He’s also proven he can tackle well at the NFL level.
Awesome open field tackle by Chiefs rookie Joshua Williams on Derrick Henry.
The Fayetteville State alum has showed off the physicality that had folks excited pre-draft. pic.twitter.com/LboBEeNw9Z
— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) November 7, 2022
There is no guarantee Williams will earn a more significant role this year. Chamarri Conner is arguably a more natural fit in the nickel DB role if the team moves McDuffie to outside cornerback to replace Sneed. However, McDuffie performed exceptionally well in the nickel role in 2023, and if the Chiefs intend to use him in that way again, Williams could become more involved. He’s one to watch in CB-required leagues.
Losers
Denzel Perryman, Daiyan Henley, LB LAC
Junior Colson had one of the best landing spots of all rookie linebackers when the Los Angeles Chargers selected him with their third-round pick. He reunited with Jim Harbaugh, his former head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, and is familiar with the defensive scheme of Jesse Minter, his former defensive coordinator for the Wolverines.
Jim Harbaugh on Junior Colson: “Checks every box. … Here comes a big-time competitor.”
Tells the story of Colson breaking his hand mid-game and staying in.
🎥: @chargers pic.twitter.com/gXalCDzyyr
— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) April 27, 2024
The Chargers signed Denzel Perryman to mitigate the departure of Kenneth Murray and Eric Kendricks, and 2023 third-round pick Daiyan Henley remains on the team.
Still, Perryman is coming off a poor season with the Houston Texans and has been decidedly mediocre outside of one productive season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite possessing tantalizing upside and similar draft capital to Colson, Henley is still a project.
The future looks bright for Colson, who DLF ranks third among all IDPs in the rookie class.
David Ojabo, EDGE BAL
Expectations were high when the Baltimore Ravens selected Ojabo with the 45th overall pick in the 2022 draft. Unfortunately, he struggled with injury and failed to make an impact when healthy.
Ojabo’s outlook improved momentarily when Jadeveon Clowney signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency. Clowney led all Ravens’ edge rushers in snaps in 2023, and the expectation was that Ojabo could see a more significant role.
However, the Ravens selected Adisa Isaac in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. Isaac, the improved Odafe Oweh, and the underrated Kyle Van Noy now stand in Ojabo’s way to NFL and fantasy relevance.
Kwity Paye, EDGE IND
Paye has shown glimpses of why the Indianapolis Colts spent a first-round pick on him in 2021, but he’s never truly become the player many envisioned. His eight sacks in 2023 may seem impressive, but he produced only 28 pressures, a career-low, despite rushing the passer a career-high 410 times.
The Colts picked up Paye’s fifth-year option, suggesting they haven’t given up hope on him yet, but by drafting Laiatu Latu 15th overall, they appear to have one eye on the future beyond Paye. In the meantime, Paye will have his hands full competing with Samson Ebukam, Latu, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Tyquan Lewis for playing time.
