In the divisional breakdown series Mase & SC will rank each offensive and defensive position per division for the 2024 NFL season. SC will speak about his top ranked player by position on the offensive side of the ball. On the other hand, Mase will speak about his top ranked player by position on the defensive side of the ball. On another note, they will rank every player per position that they believe can have some sort of fantasy relevance this season. In this article they will discuss the AFC NORTH.
AFC NORTH Teams: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns.
2023 Division Winner: Baltimore Ravens
2023 Offensive Division MVP: Baltimore Ravens, Quarterback, Lamar Jackson
2023 Defensive Division MVP: Pittsburgh Steelers, Outside Linebacker, T.J. Watt
Quarterbacks
- Baltimore Ravens – Lamar Jackson
The dual threat quarterback of this era will continue to be a top tier fantasy quarterback if he continues to make plays with his feet. Last season was his first season throwing for over 3,200 yards. On the other side, of his playmaking ability, he has not run for less than 750 yards since his rookie season. The team did add powerhouse running back Derrick Henry to create one of the scariest one-two punches in the NFL. Jackson should feast off of fake handoffs to Henry and vice versa. On another note, Jackson has checked into camp slimmer than previous years. It is possible that in 2024 Lamar Jackson is faster than he has ever been. Jackson is just now hitting his prime years and he already has one MVP under his belt. He will continue to be one of the more dangerous quarterbacks in the league due to his playmaking abilities. - Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow
- Cleveland Browns – Deshaun Watson
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Justin Fields
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Russell Wilson
Running Backs
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Najee Harris
The Pittsburgh Steelers gained a new offensive coordinator this past off season. An OC that loves to run the ball. The Steelers also gained two new quarterbacks without adding any field stretchers. This tells me they want to keep things close to the chest. What does that mean? The Steelers will run the ball and throw short and intermediate plays with an occasional down the field bomb. Najee has yet to have a season with less than 1,000 yards rushing. Plus, over his 3 seasons in the NFL he has averaged 278 rushing attempts per season. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract. An extension is possible, but it may also mean the Steelers will run him to the ground before allowing him to test free agency. I think a true breakout season is in play for Najee Harris. This is the year he runs for over 1,200 rushing yards! - Baltimore Ravens – Derrick Henry
- Cleveland Browns – Jerome Ford
- Cleveland Browns – Nick Chubb
- Cincinnati Bengals – Chase Brown
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Jaylen Warren
- Cincinnati Bengals – Zack Moss
- Baltimore Ravens – Keaton Mitchell
- Cleveland Browns – Nyheim Hines
- Baltimore Ravens – Rasheen Ali
Wide Receivers
- Cincinnati Bengals – Ja’Marr Chase
Chase has entered the tier of until he gives us reason not to believe, we believe. Last season he did not have his quarterback for his final 6 games. Yet, he still put up relevant fantasy numbers. Chase came in at WR11 overall in full point PPR leagues. During the 6 games without Joe Burrow he averaged 6.5 targets per game. In the first 10 games with Burrow he averaged 11 targets per game. Burrow should be healthy at the start of the season meaning the former collegiate teammates should be ready to lead the Bengals to new heights again. Plus, the rumor is Tee Higgins, the wide receiver opposite Chase, is on the trade block. This would benefit Chase even more if he were to get traded. Ja’Marr Chase brings a unique blend of athleticism, size, and speed allowing him to dominate from any area of the field. He will continue to lead all wide receivers in the AFC North. - Pittsburgh Steelers – George Pickens
- Cleveland Browns – Amari Cooper
- Cincinnati Bengals – Tee Higgins
- Baltimore Ravens – Zay Flowers
- Cleveland Browns – Jerry Jeudy
- Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Burton
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Roman Wilson
- Cleveland Browns – Elijah Moore
- Baltimore Ravens – Rashod Bateman
Tight End
- Baltimore Ravens – Mark Andrews
If Lamar Jackson has an MVP type of season, it is because he was efficient in the passing game. Jackson is efficient in the passing game when his tight end Mark Andrews is on the field. Andrews has been tied to Jackson since their rookie season. Over the years their chemistry has allowed Andrews to be a top 6 tight end in 4 out of 6 seasons. In his 9 games before getting hurt this past season Andrews caught 72.8% of his passes. He was on pace for 76 receptions from 105 targets and 926 receiving yards. The receptions and yards would have been the 2nd best of his career. The team has added wide receivers to give Jackson different weapons across the field, however, Mark Andrews remains one his favorite targets. Andrews has two more years left on his contract. This means he might try to give extra effort this season to gain that contract extension heading into next off season. There are only a few “elite” tight ends in fantasy football. Mark Andrews is one of them. - Cleveland Browns – David Njoku
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Pat Freiermuth
- Baltimore Ravens – Isaiah Likely
- Cincinnati Bengals – Mike Gesicki
- Cincinnati Bengals – Eric All
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Darnell Washington
- Cleveland Browns – Jordan Akins
- Baltimore Ravens – Charlie Kolar
Defensive Line
- Cleveland Browns – Myles Garrett
You want to talk about consistency? Myles Garrett is that dude at the defensive lineman position. Over the past 3 seasons Garrett has been a monster finishing in the top 8 consecutively. (2023-DL7, 2022-DL3, 2021-DL4- via FantasyPros). He is a beast off the edge of Cleveland’s defensive line. Since drafting him #1 overall in 2017 he has been a leader of their front seven. With Garrett, you get a ton of pressure and, thus, many sacks for your IDP teams. Now, in leagues that favor tackles, I may not take Garrett as my DL1, as he is not going to put up superb numbers. However, he still does enough to be considered elite in IDP. Myles Garrett is under contract until the end of the 2026 NFL season and will likely continue to be a highly sought-after player in IDP formats for the foreseeable future. - Cincinnati Bengals – Trey Hendrickson
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Alex Highsmith
- Baltimore Ravens – Justin Madubuike
- Cincinnati Bengals – Sam Hubbard
- Baltimore Ravens – Odafe Oweh
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Cameron Heyward
Linebackers
- Pittsburgh Steelers – T.J. Watt
If anybody from this division deserves to be the defensive MVP, it should be Mr. Watt. In Watt’s six years in the league, he has finished with 13+ sacks in five. In 2022, Watt only participated in 10 games (502 snaps) due to a few injuries, including a torn pectoral. During that time, he also had a procedure to clean up his knee and realign a rib. The season after (last season), Watt returns, plays in 930 defensive snaps, and finishes with 19 sacks, one interception, and 68 combined tackles. T.J. Watt is a generational player who demands high draft capital in redraft, and you will have to pay up in dynasty formats. Watt is also a dual-eligible player, meaning you can slot him as a linebacker or defensive lineman in IDP leagues. However, on FantasyPros he is listed as a linebacker and finished as the LB2 behind the tackle god, Foyesade Oluokun. Watt’s age has become a conversation piece in dynasty formats, and I have heard that he is injury-prone in some circles, but I genuinely believe that Watt will continue to produce for IDP formats. Watt is currently under contract until the end of 2025, so he will be a Steeler for at least 2 more seasons, though I do have a feeling that Watt is the heart and soul of the franchise, so he could spend most of his career as a Steeler. Watt is 29 years old and will have turned 30 by the end of the 2024 season. - Baltimore Ravens – Roquan Smith
- Cincinnati Bengals – Logan Wilson
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Patrick Queen
- Cleveland Browns – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
- Baltimore Ravens – Trenton Simpson
- Cincinnati Bengals – Germaine Pratt
- Cleveland Browns – Jordan Hicks
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Elandon Roberts
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Payton Wilson
Defensive Backs
- Baltimore Ravens – Kyle Hamilton
The former 2022 first-round (14th overall) draft selection of the Baltimore Ravens came to the IDP scene hot and heavy. Managers who watched his Notre Dame tape were salivating at the thought of Hamilton on their rosters. Then he was drafted to a franchise known particularly for the chip-on-the-shoulder defensive play that Baltimore has always brought to every game. Hamilton is a versatile defensive back who only took 600 snaps in his rookie season but is utilized in the slot, outside corner, in the box, and at the edge of the line as a rusher. In 2023 Hamilton took 400+ more snaps than his rookie year, which meant more points for fantasy managers. Kyle Hamilton started in 15 games last season finishing with 3 sacks, 81 combined tackles, 4 interceptions, and 1 defensive touchdown. This man is everything the NFL is looking for in an elite safety for today’s game. Hamilton is entering his third season and is on contract until the end of the 2025 season with one-year team option to extend Hamilton if they choose to do so. I anticipate the Ravens to extend Hamilton this season or the season after if he continues to play at this level. If managers want him in dynasty, they must take him early. He is a well-known name and is also just beginning his career. Hamilton looks to be a promising player who will continue to improve and make plays for his team. Last season he finished as DB8 (via FantasyPros) despite missing the final two games after injuring his knee in a phenomenal performance against San Francisco in Week 16. - Pittsburgh Steelers – DeShon Elliott
- Cincinnati Bengals – Vonn Bell
- Cleveland Browns – Grant Delpit
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Minkah Fitzpatrick
- Cincinnati Bengals – Jordan Battle
- Baltimore Ravens – Brandon Stephens
- Cincinnati Bengals – Geno Stone
- Cincinnati Bengals – Dax Hill
- Cleveland Browns – Juan Thornhill
Thanks for reading our breakdown for the AFC North.
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