In 2023, the Bufalo Bills were 11-6 and the AFC East division winners, while the Miami Dolphins were 11-6 and had to go on the road for their wild card playoff game. I foresee Buffalo’s record diminishing slightly, Miami’s record staying about the same, or even improving, while taking over as the AFC division champions. I can see the Jets being right on the heals of Miami, as long as QB Aaron Rodgers is able to play an entire season. Lets check out the fantasy stars throughout this AFC East melee.
Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphin fantasy stars from L-R WR Jaylen Waddle (17), QB Tua Tagovailoa (1), & WR Tyreek Hill (10).
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In 2022, The Miami Dolphins traded a 1st round pick, a 2nd round pick, and two 4th round picks in the 2022 NFL draft, to the Kansas City Chiefs for WR Tyreek Hill. At the time there were many who were critical of the trade, saying Miami gave up too much for Hill.
QB Tua Tagovailoa was less than great in his first two years as a pro in 2020 & 2021, and had a series of head injuries.
But in 2022, Miami hired HC Mike McDaniels, and the offense started to click. Possibly because of the addition of Hill.
In 2023, Tagovailoa passed for 4,624 yards and 29 TDs, far and away his best season as an NFL QB. Now in 2024, Tua is probably just a backup fantasy QB, but he provides enough quality QB play for his cast around him to be fantasy draft worthy.
Aforementioned Hill will be the number 1 drafted WR in many fantasy drafts, but at least a top 3 WR drafted in most fantasy drafts. In his two years in Miami, Hill had exactly 119 receptions both years, and over 1,700 yards receiving, each year. With 7 TDs in 2022, he was 3rd in total fantasy points among WRs, and in 2023 he scored 13 TDs, helping him to rank 1st in fantasy points per game, among WRs. I don’t see Hill slowing down anytime soon.
Opposite of Hill will line up WR Jaylen Waddle, who can be a low end starter, to high end 2nd fantasy WR. Waddle has had over 1,000 receiving yards in all 3 of his NFL seasons, and is capable of being a top 10 fantasy WR.
The Dolphins flaunt a two headed monster at the RB position. In 2023, Raheem Mostert barely topped the 1,000 yard rushing mark, but was able to find the end a total of 21 times, (18 rushing and 3 receiving), while rookie De’Von Achane rushed for 800 yards, (a resounding 7.8 yards per carry) 197 yards receiving, and a total of 11 TDs.
New York Jets
RB Breece Hall (20) & WR Garrett Wilson getting instruction from HC Robert Saleh.
As it is with basically every team in the NFL, the success of the Jets’ season rides on the health of their future HOF QB, Aaron Rodgers. With the Jets, the impact of Rodgers staying healthy just seems to be more significant.
Rodgers, entering his 20th NFL season, is tough to predict. In 2023, as most NFL fans remember, Rodgers injured his Achilles, ending his season, after only 4 plays of the 1st game.
In 2022, Rodgers was a bit pedestrian, for Rodgers’ standards anyway, only passing for 3,695 yards and 26 TDs. People were wondering if he’s starting to slow down in his 18th season.
When measured up to 2020 & 2021, where Rodgers was MVP of the NFL in both years, having passed for well over 4,000 yards both years, passed for 37 TDs one year and 48 TDs in the other year, his 2022 stats do pail in comparison.
So the question is, which Rodgers will we get in 2024. My guess is somewhere in between, which might not make him the star of your fantasy team, but plenty good enough to help make his skill players around him be.
RB Breece Hall is going early in most fantasy drafts. In 2023 he broke out for almost 1,600 total yards from scrimmage, 2nd in the NFL among RBs, trailing only Christian McCaffrey. With Rodgers behind center, I can see Hall doing something similar to those numbers, except he might have more Red Zone opportunities, possibly increasing his TD totals, thus increasing his fantasy numbers.
WR Garrett Wilson is the 3rd member of the Jets’ big 3. He has had over 1,000 yards receiving in both of his first 2 seasons. Both seasons, he was plagued with mediocre, at best, quarterback play. He has only scored 7 TDs in his career, so like Hall, with Rodgers at the helm, he quite possibly may top well over 1,000 receiving yards, but also add to his TDs significantly. I think Wilson is getting overlooked in many fantasy leagues. He might prove to be a top 10 fantasy WR when it’s all said and done.
Newly acquired WR Mike Williams might be a nice late round sleeper. He has all the tools to be a productive WR, but he just hasn’t been able to stay on the field the past couple of years.
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Buffalo Bills
QB Josh Allen & RB James Cook will both have to have stellar seasons to keep the Bills offense going in 2024.
NFL Power Rankings has the Bills listed as #8, but very hesitant sounding. I wouldn’t be that surprised if they missed the playoffs altogether in 2024.
Yes, they still have QB Josh Allen, who led the NFL in fantasy points 3 out of the last 4 years, with the exception of 2022 where he was knocked down to number 2 by QB Patrick Mahomes, who just went crazy that year.
Yes, they still have RB James Cook, who had over 1,500 yards from scrimmage in 2023, which is helpful to the team, but his fantasy value gets diminished due to Allen taking a lot of the Red Zone TDs from him.
Yes, they still have TE Dalton Kincaid, who may become one of the NFL’s top TEs, and a fantasy darling in 2024.
But the loss of their top 2 WRs from 2023 in Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis and replacing them with their 2023 3rd option Khalil Shakir, and rookie Keon Coleman might not prove to be enough from the wide out position to keep the chains moving for the Bills.
New England Patriots
I think the Patriots might be the worst team in the NFL, therefore, I’m just not interested in any players on this team. Not even RB Rhamondre Stevenson, who is probably their best fantasy option. I would rather take a chance on another player, than waste any picks on a New England Patriot.
Thanks for checking out my article on the AFC East! I hope you found it interesting and helpful! As always, I’m interested in your thoughts and opinions. Please feel free to leave any comments below!
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Hi there,
Thanks for sharing, from your analysis of the AFC East teams for the 2024 fantasy football season is insightful! It’s interesting to see your predictions for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets. The dynamics within the division seem intriguing, especially with the potential for Miami to rise as the division champions. The impact of key players like Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa on the Dolphins’ offense is definitely worth keeping an eye on. Keep doing the good work 👍
Hello!
Thanks for checking out my article. I appreciate that! I do believe those Dolphins will be worth keeping an eye on, especially Tyreek Hill, when it comes to fantasy. It will be interesting to see how QB Josh Allen fares with the Bills minus WRs Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. I’ll be watching closely and reporting on it. Be sure to check it out!