Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft improved his dynasty value when he performed well following Luke Musgrave‘s injury.
Having two talented sophomore tight ends on the roster is great for the Packers, but not so much for fantasy football managers. How should we value Kraft going forward?
Tucker Kraft’s Dynasty Outlook
Kraft’s dynasty value is inextricably intertwined with Musgrave’s. If not for the latter’s injury woes, the former may never have even gotten a chance. It’s almost certain that he would not have.
Big-time pitch and catch from Jordan Love to Tucker Kraft ❕ pic.twitter.com/VMX6rwF8ZG
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
Musgrave was the Packers’ TE1 right out of the gate, immediately playing over 75% of the snaps. He looked good enough to believe he was Green Bay’s long-term answer at tight end.
He still may be, but Musgrave was forced to injured reserve (IR) with a lacerated kidney, leading to Kraft stepping into the starting role.
With Musgrave out, Kraft not only started but was better. Although Musgrave was the higher-drafted player, the Packers don’t exactly have allegiance to anyone — they’re just going to play the better guy.
In his six games without Musgrave, Kraft averaged 10.5 fantasy points per game. While that’s encouraging, it’s not as if Musgrave is going anywhere.
Kraft’s fantasy managers should be glad to know that even after Musgrave returned from IR, he didn’t get his job back.
In his first game back, in Week 18, Musgrave played 17% of the snaps. Even if we assume that was him being eased back in, he saw 33% and 36% snap shares in Green Bay’s two playoff games.
Kraft remained the TE1. With that said, his production with Musgrave active was not the same. He scored 6.1, 3.5, and 9.9 fantasy points in Week 18 and the two playoff games, respectively. However, fantasy managers can take solace in the fact that Kraft played 93%, 80%, and 74% of the snaps in those three games.
Kraft’s Dynasty Ranking
Where does Kraft land in the dynasty TE landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Katz’s latest rankings, featuring where Kraft lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
1) Sam LaPorta | DET
2) Trey McBride | ARI
3) Mark Andrews | BAL
4) T.J. Hockenson | MIN
5) Dalton Kincaid | BUF
6) Travis Kelce | KC
7) George Kittle | SF
8) David Njoku | CLE
9) Evan Engram | JAX
10) Jake Ferguson | DAL
11) Dallas Goedert | PHI
12) Kyle Pitts | ATL
13) Cole Kmet | CHI
14) Pat Freiermuth | PIT
15) Isaiah Likely | BAL
16) Michael Mayer | LV
17) Tucker Kraft | GB
18) Dalton Schultz | HOU
19) Luke Musgrave | GB
20) Darren Waller | NYG
21) Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN
22) Cade Otton | TB
23) Hunter Henry | NE
24) Juwan Johnson | NO
25) Gerald Everett | LAC
Should You Trade Kraft in Dynasty?
Are you considering trading Kraft? Our free PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trade offer to make in seconds!
The Packers should be thrilled that Kraft proved to be just as good, if not better, than Musgrave. Fantasy managers…not so much.
We’d much prefer for one of these guys to have the job. Instead, this is shaping up to be a frustrating situation for fantasy.
MORE: Best Ball Fantasy TE Rankings 2024
Both tight ends appear talented enough to be back-end fantasy TE1s, but it remains to be seen if one can do so on their own. But if I had to pick the guy I prefer at this point, it would be Kraft.
If you roster Kraft, I wouldn’t look to trade him. At 23 years old, fantasy managers have plenty of time to wait for him to ascend. It’s unlikely he’s going to garner a significant return anyway. If anything, I would be willing to buy Kraft low if his manager is overly concerned about Musgrave.
