Roundtable Week 18: Unlikely Heroes Moving Forward

Photo: USA Today Sports

Welcome to Week 18 of the 2023 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.

This week's roundtable features these four topics:

• Perception or Reality?
• Role-Player Playoff Saviors Moving Forward (see below)
• 2024 Bold Predictions
• 2024 Offseason Points of Intrigue

Let's roll.

Unlikely Heroes Moving Forward

Matt Waldman: Early last month, I listed my favorite season-long role-players who could emerge as fantasy playoff saviors. The info in parenthesis is their PPR positional ranking from Weeks 14-17.

• Joe Flacco (QB3)
• Demarcus Robinson (WR14)
• Tucker Kraft (TE7)
• Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE9)
• Ezekiel Elliott (RB7)
• Derek Carr (QB10)
• Jake Browning (QB9)

Use this pool of players to answer these two topics below.

Who is Most Likely to Sustain Starter Production Next Year?

Christian Williams: The 2023 tight end class was full of gems, but Tucker Kraft is the most intriguing rookie moving forward. His skill set is perfect for the LaFleur offense in Green Bay, and it wouldn't be shocking if he starts over Luke Musgrave in single tight end sets in 2024.

Zareh Kantzabedian: Chigoziem Okonkwo is most likely to retain starting potential in 2024. To what degree of success that would be is another story. Okonkwo was a highly touted preseason darling in 2023, but the party understandably ended when DeAndre Hopkins joined the team. The Tennessee Titans will likely be without Derrick Henry and Hopkins in 2024, which would profoundly change the Titans' offensive approach, hopefully resulting in more looks for Okonkwo. He's a special athlete who can be a key contributor for Tennessee. Here's to a year three breakout.

Sean Settle: Tucker Kraft has stepped up in this Green Bay offense and become a big weapon on third down and in the red zone. He has at least four catches in each of his last four games and is gaining momentum as Jordan Love is starting to play better. The Packers offense has been without Christian Watson due to injury, and Aaron Jones has only just returned with limited success. Love is spreading the ball around, and Kraft is cementing his status as their TE1 going into next season.

Dave Kluge: Chigoziem Okonkwo is a young and ascending player who has shown decent promise throughout his early career. He’s one of those “too small to be a full-time tight end” tight ends who plays most of his snaps from the slot as a pass catcher. He’s 6-foot-2 with high-end athleticism and still just 24 years old. During his rookie season, as a part-time player, he was second among all tight ends in targets per route run.

In his second year, he saw his role expand but maintained a target rate in the top 15 among tight ends. His usage dropped a bit with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins into the Titans’ offense, but he’s still showing signs of a promising fantasy profile. He runs many routes, draws many targets, and can make plays after the catch. Tight ends historically have a wider curve when looking at positional age apexes, and Okonkwo is likely still on his upswing.

Chad Parsons: All Derek Carr has to do to sustain his production in 2024 is continue to be the Saints' starter. His surrounding skill position talent is unlikely to change, while the rest of the list is a huge risk to have any meaningful role heading into Week 1.

Jeff Bell: I want it to be Tucker Kraft, but I am realistic about his opportunity with Luke Musgrave out of the lineup. Both tight ends are talented and should rotate more heavily than they were earlier. The safe answer is Derek Carr; he has done it before and is the type of QB prestige to walk into a starting job.

Sam Wagman: The player most likely to sustain starter production from this list in 2024 is Derek Carr, in my opinion. Despite the fact that Carr has underachieved this season, he still carries starter potential at a position where there are maybe 20 capable starters better than him in the NFL. With Carr's contract not really containing an out until after the 2025 season, the Saints seem to be stuck with him, and by that merit, Carr should be the starter once again next season.