Dynasty Trending Observations: Bryce Young, Kyle Pitts and Rashee Rice

Rashee Rice | © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Michael Moore Posted On September 19, 2024

We’re two weeks into the fantasy season and there have already been significant developments and trends from high-profile benchings to prolonged offensive futility. We cover those and more in this week’s Trending Observations.

Forever Young

Sources: The #Panthers are benching former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and starting veteran Andy Dalton beginning this week.

Coach Dave Canales has repeatedly said “Bryce is our quarterback.” But with the season quickly slipping away, Canales decided to make a change. pic.twitter.com/jTYawQCi2C

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 16, 2024

Even though quarterback Bryce Young has been playing poorly, it was still a surprise that the Panthers pulled the trigger on a quarterback move. And this early in the season, no less. Now veteran Andy Dalton will take the helm as Carolina attempts to right the ship before the season gets out of hand.

Concerning Young, his rookie season was a disappointment – especially compared to second-overall pick CJ Stroud – but it could be chalked up to typical rookie season problems, coaching decisions, or both. But entering 2024, he had a year under his belt and a new coach in Dave Canales who made his reputation turning Baker Mayfield around so there were seemingly no excuses left. Yet, through two games, Young has looked even worse, throwing for just 245 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. He was already trending in the wrong direction and it won’t be changing anytime soon now that he’s riding the bench.

But how does this affect the other Panthers on offense who still have a chance to contribute to your dynasty team? There are a ton of young players whose futures are now in flux.

Dynasty Impact: The Panthers certainly tried to surround Bryce Young with talent on offense, using top-50 picks on receivers Jonathan Mingo and Xavier Legette and running back Jonathon Brooks the last two seasons. Unfortunately, Young never figured out or had the opportunity to utilize them.

Now they will be at the mercy of Andy Dalton which actually might not be a bad thing. If we look at the last time Dalton started most of his team’s games – with the Saints in 2022 – he actually supported rookie Chris Olave in his first 1,000-yard season and got Alvin Kamara to nearly 1,400 total yards.

So don’t hit the panic button yet on any of the Panthers’ young players. It’s possible they can break out this season, with or without Bryce Young.

In the Pitts

Ever time I draft Kyle Pitts pic.twitter.com/e2hiH7Y6gh

— aaron. (@ayroned) September 17, 2024

Another game, another dud from Kyle Pitts. The Falcons tight end, and former fourth overall pick, failed to deliver yet again for his fantasy managers, seeing just four targets and catching three of them for 20 yards in Week Two. This followed a Week One that saw Pitts also catch three balls for just 26 yards. He at least had a touchdown in that one but the fact remains, Pitts is doing nothing for his dynasty teams.

It’s been a weird career for Pitts who, admittedly, came in the league with some lofty expectations. Being drafted that high made people think he’d be an elite fantasy option immediately. And during his rookie season, it looked like it might happen. He totaled 68 receptions for 1,026 yards and three touchdowns and finished as a top-10 fantasy tight end. It may not have been what his dynasty managers hoped for but he was still trending in the right direction.

Then the wheels came off. He missed about half his sophomore season but in the games he did play, he averaged a paltry three receptions and less than 40 yards and scored just twice all season. It was more of the same in Year Three, averaging a little over three receptions, again under 40 yards, and scoring three times all year.

And despite a new quarterback this year and a new coaching staff this season, Pitts is again averaging… three receptions for under 40 yards. It’s frustrating for dynasty managers who may finally be ready to move on if they haven’t already.

Dynasty Impact: A player has rarely had such high expectations and then dropped off a cliff so fast when it comes to dynasty value.

From a top-30 player as a rookie to a top-10 player as a sophomore to, now, barely a top-60 player. And with more performances like what we saw in the first two weeks, Pitts’ value could be in a free fall.

The only thing preventing current Pitts managers from moving on from him for peanuts is the lack of other options for the position. There just isn’t a lot to choose from if you had to replace Pitts. Nonetheless, I would still look to get some value in return while Pitts’ reputation as a top draft pick is still in your league’s memory and go bargain shopping for a replacement. Otherwise, you risk holding on to him until it’s too late.

Rice Age

Rashee Rice is so nice bruh!! He can run in a straight line too huh?

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 15, 2024

Any receiver on a Patrick Mahomes-led offense will have a boosted dynasty value. But Rashee Rice may have found the secret sauce not utilized since All-Pro Tyreek Hill. The 2023 second-round pick led all pass catchers on the Chiefs last season not named Travis Kelce with 79 receptions, 938 yards, and seven touchdowns which led to a top-30 fantasy finish. And despite some off-field trouble this off-season, he’s primed for an even bigger season if the first two games are any indication. He notched his third career 100-yard game in the 2024 season opener and then totaled 75 yards and a touchdown in Week Two. In terms of fantasy scoring, he’s a WR1 and will be part of several re-draft championship teams. But how do we assess his long-term (dynasty) value?

Dynasty Impact: Seeing any young player start contributing so early is encouraging and it’s certainly the hope with any rookie that gets drafted by the Chiefs. But thanks to Kansas City letting veteran receivers go (Hill) and missing on previous draft picks (Skyy Moore), Rice is taking full advantage of the opportunity and is trending toward being an elite dynasty receiver.

So now the question is how long will the good times roll? Rice is only 23 so it’s not likely his skill level drops off anytime soon. His contract would appear to be the only thing preventing a long-term stay in Kansas City. He’s in the second year of a rookie contract that will expire after the 2026 season and we know the Chiefs aren’t afraid of shipping out a receiver if they get too expensive.

Currently, his dynasty value is projected as an early first-round rookie pick. That would be a fair swap as it would be for a (future) player straight up. But be cautious about offering anything beyond that as we don’t know if Rice will be a Chief for the long term.

Author
Recent Posts

Michael Moore

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Michael has played fantasy football for over 20 years when his mom funded his first team in the fourth grade. He’s contributed to various fantasy football publications and most recently spent five years writing for the Fantasy side of things at Pro Football Focus.