The tight-end production across the NFL has been extremely disappointing to start the 2024 NFL season.
Only seven tight ends are averaging more than 10 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring. For reference, 12 tight ends eclipsed this number last year.
Mark Andrews is right at the forefront of names that are underperforming. Through the opening three weeks of the season, Andrews ranks 31st among tight ends with just 12.5 total fantasy points on the year. Overall, he has tallied six receptions for 65 yards and has yet to make his way into the end zone.
The Ravens have dropped to 1-2 on the season and will face the 3-0 Buffalo Bills. Baltimore is -135 favorites on the moneyline at DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under sits at 46.5 for the matchup.
The Ravens will need production out of the tight end position if they are to pick up this tough victory. Let’s take a look at the fantasy football outlook of Mark Andrews for Week 4.
Mark Andrews: Start or Sit
The first thing to address in the outlook is the involvement of fellow tight end Isaiah Likely in the Ravens offense. Likely enters as the 4th-ranked tight end this year having produced 35.1 points through the first three weeks.
While this is frightening at first sight, most of this production is driven by his opening week performance. In Week 1, Likely had nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. Since then, he has had just three receptions for 30 yards. In contrast, Andrews had four receptions for 51 yards in Week 2 but was held to just one target last week.
Even more concerning, Andrews logged just 33% of offensive snaps last week compared to Likley being on the field for 62% of the offensive action.
In all likelihood, you drafted Mark Andrews with the intention of starting him every week. The 29-year-old has been one of the top tight ends in years past but it simply may not be in the cards this season. Baltimore’s offense most heavily features Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Justice Hill, and Lamar Jackson.
In past years, the Ravens offense was heavily dependent on the tight end production, but this does not seem to be the case this year. Andrews led the team in receptions every year from 2019-2022 but Zay Flowers is the clear-cut top target this year.
Looking at the Bills’ matchups this year, they have defended the tight end position well. The Jaguars combined for just four catches for 21 yards and a touchdown from the tight end position against Buffalo in Week 1. Led by Jonnu Smith, the Dolphins had more success in Week 2 with seven receptions and 61 yards coming from the tight end spot. Last week, Trey McBride was held to five receptions for 30 yards while Elijah Higgins also added two receptions for 12 yards when the Bills faced the Cardinals.
There will be a week where Mark Andrews breaks out. If he can find his way into the end zone he will be a worthwhile fantasy football start, but he is a much higher risk than was the case in past years.
All signs are pointing in the wrong direction for Andrews. But based on the variable play from the rest of the tight-end class, I don’t mind sticking with him for now. The Bills and Ravens matchup has a chance to end up as a high-flying matchup with plenty of scoring opportunities. This plays into Andrews’ favor, but a productive week is almost entirely reliant on him finding his way in the end zone.
If you are a Mark Andrews fantasy owner, it is time to start searching for other options. Based on the lack of available productive tight ends, I don’t mind sticking with Andrews for now but the outlook is more bleak than it has been in years for the three-time Pro Bowler.
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