The first rule of fantasy football — and most aspects of life, for that matter — is that there is an exception to every rule. Chicago Bears WR Keenan Allen’s dynasty ranking entering 2023 built some natural regression due to his age, but the veteran receiver continued to get open consistently for the Chargers, looking like a legitimate WR1, even if past his physical prime.
Allen turned 32 years old in April and is coming off of a heel injury that cost him the final month of the season. Is now the time to drop him down the ranks (11 missed games over the past two seasons)?
Or should Allen be viewed as the type of high-floor player who can put you over the top in the short term, even as he works into a new system that has a strong candidate in D.J. Moore to be the most targeted player on this roster?
Keenan Allen’s Dynasty Outlook
Allen has been about as stable of a fantasy option through his prime as anyone in the game. He earned at least nine targets in 12 of 13 games last season and has averaged at least 6.5 catches per game for five straight seasons.
The sustained volume in 2023 was especially encouraging as it came alongside the third-highest aDOT of his career.
#Chargers QB Justin Herbert drops a DIME to Keenan Allen for a TD 🔥#BoltUp
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 12, 2023
Now, part of that is due to the absence of Mike Williams. But the fact that Allen is capable of earning looks down the field is an encouraging sign, especially now that he is playing alongside a receiver in Moore who is just as capable as him in winning on those short routes.
- 2022-23: Targeted on 27.3% of routes
- 2021: Targeted on 24.5% of routes
In those two seasons, Allen averaged 1.47 fantasy points per target, a rate that tops that of a pair of receivers that everyone ranks ahead of him in Deebo Samuel and DK Metcalf.
The primary knock on Allen is his age and potentially his durability after 2023, worries that are very much warranted given how the age curve typically works, and the evidence of his fragility over the past two seasons.
Both of those are enough to knock Allen down my overall dynasty rankings, though he is an asset that win-now teams should be very much interested in.
Allen’s Dynasty Ranking
Where does Allen land in the dynasty WR landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Soppe’s latest rankings, featuring where Allen lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
1) Ja’Marr Chase | CIN
2) Tyreek Hill | MIA
3) CeeDee Lamb | DAL
4) Justin Jefferson | MIN
5) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET
6) A.J. Brown | PHI
7) Garrett Wilson | NYJ
8) Jaylen Waddle | MIA
9) Chris Olave | NO
10) Brandon Aiyuk | SF
11) Puka Nacua | LAR
12) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND
13) Nico Collins | HOU
14) Rashee Rice | KC
15) Marvin Harrison Jr. | FA
16) DJ Moore | CHI
17) Amari Cooper | CLE
18) Drake London | ATL
19) Malik Nabers | FA
20) Tee Higgins | CIN
21) DK Metcalf | SEA
22) Stefon Diggs | HOU
23) Cooper Kupp | LAR
24) DeVonta Smith | PHI
25) Zay Flowers | BAL
26) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA
27) Davante Adams | LV
28) Mike Evans | TB
29) Tank Dell | HOU
30) Jayden Reed | GB
31) Rome Odunze | FA
32) Terry McLaurin | WAS
33) Deebo Samuel | SF
34) Calvin Ridley | TEN
35) Jordan Addison | MIN
36) Keenan Allen | CHI
37) Mike Williams | NYJ
38) George Pickens | PIT
39) Chris Godwin | TB
40) Josh Downs | IND
Should You Trade Allen in Dynasty?
Are you considering trading Allen in the dynasty? Our free PFN Trade Analyzer makes it easy to find the best trade offer to make in seconds.
At the end of the day, Allen is a situational buy. The veteran receiver’s resume points to consistency when healthy and even upside, given his role expansion in 2023 and the great unknown that comes with the level of QB play in Chicago in the short term.
When it comes to building long-term, you’re probably better off looking elsewhere. Allen relies on volume (he hasn’t had a 50-yard catch since 2018), and if/when Father Time kicks in, his decline could come in a hurry.
In situations like this, I’d be more willing to invest in a young play-maker with splash play potential — an option like Tank Dell makes a lot of sense or one of the rookies in this year’s class as part of a bigger transaction.
MORE: 2024 Dynasty Mock Draft
Remember that dynasty leagues are much more fluid than redraft ones. Building a winner is much more of a process, and as long as you are realistic with yourself about the state of your roster, you should be able to make a sound decision on your level of interest in terms of Allen.
His range of outcomes is high over the next two seasons, something that is a perfect fit for some rosters, and the last thing that others need.
Read More 2024 Dynasty Profiles
Using the table below, browse our 2024 dynasty profiles for more than 170 players so you can dominate your dynasty drafts!
You can sort by player, team, or position. For mobile users, this table is best viewed in landscape mode.