For some NFL teams, we will draft as many as eight or nine players from their roster in fantasy football drafts. For others, we may only see a couple of their players get selected.
From top to bottom in the NFC, there is plenty of fantasy value. In particular, the NFC East has four names to keep an eye on.
That will be today’s focus — who is the best fantasy football asset on each team in the NFC East?
Who Are the Best Fantasy Football Picks for NFC East Teams in 2024?
Dallas Cowboys: RBs Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott
I really don’t know who will be the more valuable fantasy back. The Cowboys are probably going to throw a low. If Ezekiel Elliott can get back to his elite pass-blocking ways, he’ll be the guy on the field in those situations.
Per TruMedia, the Patriots had a 41.2% success rate on plays when Zeke was pass-blocking, 29th in the league. Given that Pollard was fourth in the league with the Cowboys at 59.6%, the team will probably notice if Elliott’s pass-blocking isn’t up to snuff.
I know I’m cheating a bit by listing both Elliott and Rico Dowdle, but this is as ambiguous of a backfield as we can get. We have no idea who the most valuable back will be. As a result of Dowdle’s lack of track record and Elliott’s age/declining ability, both backs are going outside of the top 36.
The Cowboys are always one of the highest-scoring offenses in football. One of these guys is going to be a value.
New York Giants: RB Devin Singletary
Fantasy managers love their Day 3 rookie darlings. I’m not trying to completely dismiss the notion that Tyrone Tracy Jr. can push for a meaningful role. However, the most likely outcome for every Day 3 pick is they won’t matter.
Devin Singletary is a proven, capable back. He has a history with head coach Brian Daboll from their time in Buffalo.
Singletary is capable of handling a heavy workload. Last year, he played over 70% of the snaps six times. He did it eight times the year before in Buffalo.
Despite opening the season as a clear backup to Dameon Pierce, Singletary was able to completely take the RB1 job by the second half of the season.
From Week 9 through the end of last season, Singletary averaged 13.4 fantasy ppg — those are rock-solid RB2 numbers. I’ve got Singletary up at RB27, and even that feels low. If Singletary can merely replicate that level of production this season on the Giants, he will be well worth his cost in fantasy drafts.
Philadelphia Eagles: WR DeVonta Smith
I am buying into the whole “Kellen Moore will fix the Eagles’ offense” narrative. Moore’s offenses play fast and utilize their top receivers from the slot. It could be A.J. Brown exclusively benefiting from moving inside, but I think we will see both he and DeVonta Smith run more routes from the slot.
Smith still got to 14.2 fantasy ppg last season despite erratic QB play and poor offensive play calling. He finished as the overall WR20. He’s being drafted as the WR22. That’s what we call drafting a player at his floor.
Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels
My strategy for quarterback this season is very simple. If I take one early, it’s Patrick Mahomes. If I take one in the middle rounds, it’s Kyler Murray. If I wait until the double-digit rounds, give me Jayden Daniels.
The Commanders’ rookie is a rushing quarterback. Rushing is a cheat code in fantasy. Even if Daniels is a terrible passer, as long as he doesn’t get benched, he’s a nearlock to be a top-12 fantasy QB.
If Daniels ends up being a better passer than we think, he has a top-five upside. Daniels is the premier late-round QB selection in 2024 fantasy drafts.
