If you have lost Mark Andrews as a dynasty contender, this can be a difficult time.
The Mark Andrews season-ending injury throws the tight end position into turmoil. Since 2016, Mark Andrews has been the only tight end other than Travis Kelce to finish TE1 overall. To put Andrews into context, in his career entering this season, he had been targeted on 24.9% of his routes, a 99th percentile outcome among tight ends with 200 routes since 2008. In his career, Andrews has produced 2.18 career yards per route run, a 100th percentile outcome among those tight ends. To put Andrews’s season into context, Andrews has 1.96 yards per route run this season. This season is the second worst of his career, but he ranks fifth in the league among qualifiers.
Addressing Your Loss
Contending teams with Mark Andrews can find themselves in a desperate place.
First, address the issue with options available on the waiver wire.
Second, do not trade Mark Andrews.
As a general rule of thumb, you should be acquiring injured star players when they become discounted. The corollary is that you should not trade injured star players when they become discounted. If you must move Mark Andrews, make a dynasty trade. A trade of Andrews should not be for a package including a downgrade at tight end. For contending teams, acquiring T.J. Hockenson for Andrews is the ideal blend of draft pedigree, scoring potential, and longevity.
Continue reading this content with a ELITE subscription.
An ELITE subscription is required to access content for Dynasty leagues. If this league is not a Dynasty league, you can edit your leagues here.
Third, keep in mind the flat nature of the tight end position. Currently, 14 tight ends are averaging double-digit points in PPR formats, which is significantly more than the eight who averaged double digits last season. This allows contenders with Andrews to shop around for replacement options.
Fourth, consider your format. In a straight PPR league with one tight end required, there are only one (Travis Kelce) or two (T.J. Hockenson, depending on how much you trust the Minnesota Vikings) difference-making tight ends. If you lose Andrews and project a 4-point-per-game difference with the replacement, do not panic. Games are rarely that close.
TE-Premium Scoring
In more premium formats, you can have more options. For example, in a start 1TE premium format with 2PPR scoring, you should probably be starting multiple tight ends per week. If you are, the loss of Andrews is not a tight end problem but a flex problem.
This should open your possibilities. On the cheap, you can fill the loss of Andrews by spot-starting injury-away running backs or veteran wide receivers. On the more expensive side, you can make a true dynasty trade for a high-level player at another position. A trade for a wide receiver like Amon-Ra St. Brown would fill in the void created by the injury to Andrews while blending well with your 2024 team’s prospects.
Do Not Panic
If you lost Andrews, do not panic. Unless you are up against a trade deadline, you are not forced to make a deal this week. The events of the next week may turn in your favor. For example, the Travis Kelce team in your league may fall out of the playoff contention, and at that time, you might be able make a deal to replace Andrews in a way you can not right now.