Shocking Stats from the 2024 Fantasy Football Season
Each February, the Fantasy Footballers put together a list of shocking stats from the previous season to remind us of certain performances, give context for their fantasy output, and, above all else, make you question if this whole thing was made up.
This article is a recap of the Shocking Stats from 2024 episode and a dive deeper into some of the notes from our “Show Doc”.
Miami’s Vice
The Dolphins ranked 31st in the NFL with just 45 total plays of 20+ yards. That was 31(!) fewer than the previous year!
Tyreek Hill’s 19 Targets of 20+ Air Yards turned into just 5 receptions and one receiving TD.
Here are a few players who had more 20+ Air Yard Receptions than Tyreek’s 5:
Follow Up Questions: Is Miami a buy-low offense for 2025? Is this a make-or-break year for Mike McDaniel?
James was Cookin’
In 2024, 43% of James Cook’s fantasy points came via TDs. His 16 rushing TDs is wild considering he had fewer opportunitiess, snaps, & yards than last year.
An NFL-leading 7.7% of his attempts resulted in a TD. Over the last 6 years, that high of a rate was a signal for regression the following year:
Follow Up Question: Heading into final year of his contract, do you view him as an RB1 in dynasty? Check out our Startup Ranks available in the Dynasty Pass.
The Target Packing Order
The Packers were the ONLY team in NFL without a single player seeing 19+ % target share.
In fact, Jayden Reed had the FEWEST receptions (55!) of any player to lead a team with 11+ wins since 2015. (Stefon Diggs– 52 w/ MIN)
This was despite Green Bay being a top-10 unit in most major statistics:
- 8th in points scored
- 5th in yards gained
- 6th in Expected Pts per Pass Attempt
- 6th in Passing TD Rate (5.9%)
Follow Up Questions: Will that change at all in 2025? Are you still bullish on the Green Bay offense?
Welcome to the Laser Show
Baker Mayfield’s EIGHT finishes inside the top-5 were the MOST among all QBs, more than Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, or Josh Allen.
In fact, that’s tied for the MOST Patrick Mahomes has ever had in a season.
Follow Up Question: How many more top-5 fantasy seasons does he have as a starting QB?
Bungling Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals were leading or tied on 69% of their offensive plays in 2024, only the Vikings had a higher rate. Yet, they were the ONLY team in the NFL at 60+ % who DIDN’T make the playoffs.
They started out the year 1-7 in one score games before going 3-0 in their final 3.
Their defense was dreadful across the board:
- 25th in points allowed
- 25th in yards allowed
- 30th in 1st downs allowed
- 29th in passing TDs allowed
Follow Up Question: If their pass defense continues to be poor, can all 4 pay off as early picks?
Scary Terry
Despite finishing as the WR5, Terry McLaurin never hit 24+ fantasy points in a single game.
Every other WR inside the top-30 had at least ONE game of 24+ fantasy points!
He became one of 10 WRs since 2000 with 13+ receiving TDs on fewer than 125 Targets.
Follow Up Question: Beyond being an obvious TD regression candidate, would you be comfortable drafting him at his current Best Ball ADP: the WR14 in the middle of the 3rd round?
Chiefs Running Game Conundrums
It’s a miracle KC made the Super Bowl with their running game. They ranked DEAD LAST as a team in “explosive rush rate” of plays of 15+ yards. In the Super Bowl, the Chiefs RBs had 10 combined carries for 24 rush yards. Kareem Hunt on the season became a workhorse but incredibly inefficient. Among 182 RBs with 200+ carries over the last decade, he tied for 179th in Yards per Carry (3.6).
But the shocking statistic is that despite his lackluster numbers, he ranked 3rd among ALL RBs in the RB Rush Success Rate (55.5%).
Rush success rate shows us how effective players and teams are at staying on schedule and creating productive plays. As a result, a successful play depends on the context. Pro Football Reference defines it as a play that gains at least:
- 40% of yards required on 1st down
- 60% of yards required on 2nd down
- 100% on 3rd or 4th down
In other words, Hunt was effective at getting what was needed… & nothing more.
Follow Up Question: How does KC upgrade their running game this off-season?
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