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. They will discuss the NFC SOUTH in their first divisional breakdown.
NFC South Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons.
2023 Division Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 Offensive Division MVP: Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Quarterback, Baker Mayfield
2023 Defensive Division MVP: Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Safety, Antoine Winfield Jr.
Quarterbacks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield finally had his breakout season throwing for over 4,000 yards in 2023. This resurrection of life for Mayfield got him a 3-year contract extension for $100 million. His 2023 offensive coordinator did become the new head coach for the Carolina Panthers. But the team did not lose any of Baker’s 2023 weapons. In fact, they added weapons to the offense. The team drafted versatile wide receiver in Jalen McMillan, a receiver that can line up anywhere on the field. Plus, they brought in pass catching back in Bucky Irving to add support for Rachaad White. White was effective in the passing game last season, but I do not believe the team wants him to have 272 rushing attempts again. The point is Baker found success with the offensive weapons that Tampa Bay chose to keep. They added younger versatile offensive weapons to build on that success. All signs point to another potential top 12 finish for Mayfield this season. - Atlanta Falcons – Kirk Cousins
- New Orleans Saints – Derek Carr
- Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young
- Atlanta Falcons – Michael Penix Jr
- New Orleans Saints – Spencer Rattler
Running Backs
- Atlanta Falcons – Bijan Robinson
Last season the rushing attempts shared between Robinson and Tyler Allgeier were too close to comfort. Robinson saw 53.5 percent of the carriers with Allgeier seeing 46.4 percent. Honestly, it is not that Allgeier is a bad running back, he is good. But Robinson is considered to many as the best running back in the league behind Christian McCaffrey. Whenever a team acquires a running back prospect like Robinson, they should feed him the ball constantly. He has the size, strength, and speed to be any type of running back the team needs. The former head coach of Atlanta is now gone, like opposite side of the country gone. A new regime is entering with a presumed understanding that the team invested a top 10 NFL Draft pick in Robinson. They want to use him. They will use him. The NFC South has some great running backs within it. But if used correctly Robinson will not only lead the NFC South, but potentially lead the NFL in rushing this season. I expect his work share with Allgeier to slide further apart as Robinson separates himself as one of the top work horse backs in the league. He should see at bare minimum 60 percent of the rushing attempts this season. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Rachaad White
- New Orleans Saints – Alvin Kamara
- Carolina Panthers – Jonathan Brooks
- Carolina Panthers – Chuba Hubbard
- New Orleans Saints – Kendre Miller
- Atlanta Falcons – Tyler Allgeier
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bucky Irving
- Carolina Panthers – Miles Sanders
Wide Receivers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mike Evans
Mr. 1,000 yard himself, I believe is the right call to lead the NFC South wide receivers. He was the only wide receiver in the NFC South last season to surpass 1,200 receiving yards, and only one of four to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. I mentioned his quarterback, Baker Mayfield, earlier as the QB1 of the NFC South. A huge part of that quarterback success is having a receiver like Evans to throw to. In fact, this past season was Evans best in the past four in receptions, targets, yards, and yards per catch. He is aging like fine wine. Plus, he had 13 touchdowns which was his third time in the past four seasons with 13 or more touchdowns. This offseason Evans received a two-year $52 million contract extension with $35 million guaranteed. The team wants him to be a Buccaneer for life. They believe him and will ensure he is a heavy part of their offense. Do not let the age turn you away from this star wide receiver who should have yet another 1,000-yard season. By the way, in his 10 years in the NFL he has not had a season with less than 1,000 yards receiving. - Atlanta Falcons – Drake London
- New Orleans Saints – Chris Olave
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Chris Godwin
- Carolina Panthers – Diontae Johnson
- Carolina Panthers – Xavier Legette
- New Orleans Saints – A.T. Perry
- Atlanta Falcons – Darnell Mooney
- New Orleans Saints – Rashid Shaheed
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jalen McMillan
- Carolina Panthers – Adam Thielen
- New Orleans Saints – Bub Means
Tight End
- Atlanta Falcons – Kyle Pitts
The breakout star we have been waiting for, right? This could be the season that Pitts take fantasy glory as the top tight end, however that depends on the health of his new quarterback Kirk Cousins. For what it is worth, I do not think rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will have the same effect on Pitts as Cousins would for fantasy purposes. In two seasons with tight end T.J. Hockenson, Cousins led Hockenson to career highs across the board. Plus, he led him to a top 4 tight end overall finish. As a prospect Pitts showed an unnatural skill set capable of doing literally everything. He has a phenomenal catch radius combined with a great route tree. This should allow him to be a more favorable target for Cousins than Hockenson ever was. Wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson will demand their share of targets, but outside of them two the competition is next to nothing meaning Pitts should see his fair share of targets too. This could be, it should be, the year we finally see the breakout we have been wanting for the young prospect. All systems are a go, and that means Pitts will shine this season! - Carolina Panthers – Ja’Tavion Sanders
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cade Otton
- New Orleans Saints – Dallin Holker
- New Orleans Saints – Juwan Johnson
- New Orleans Saints – Taysom Hill
Defensive Line
- Carolina Panthers – Derrick Brown
At first glance, the NFC South is not as appealing as other divisions when it comes to IDP. However, there is potential for some players to be great in deeper redraft leagues. Brown, however, was a premier player for Carolina last season which has him at the top of my list for 2024. His teammate defensive lineman Brian Burns is no longer with the team. This could lead to a bigger season for Brown. Last season, the former seventh overall draft pick in the 2020 draft, played over 900 snaps and finished with 103 combined tackles. That was a first for his career. Plus, Brown had 41 pressures on opposing quarterbacks, however, he only finished with two sacks. Up to this point in his four-year career, Brown has lined up mainly on the interior of the defensive line. The Panthers added former Vikings edge D.J. Wonnum and NFL journeyman edge Jadeveon Clowney. With the added help on the outside, Brown could see more pressures, which could lead to more sacks. The Panthers are a work in progress on both sides of the ball, so Brown should have plenty of opportunities to tally up points for IDP managers. I like Brown as a DL2 this season and for at least two-to-three more years. He is under contract in Carolina until the end of the 2028 season. Brown will be 26 years old this season, but he could be a great late-round draft pick for a defensive lineman in redraft formats. - New Orleans Saints – Carl Granderson
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Yaya Diaby
- Carolina Panthers – D.J. Wonnum
- Carolina Panthers – Jadeveon Clowney
- Atlanta Falcons – Arnold Ebiketie
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
- Atlanta Falcons – Zach Harrison
Linebackers
- New Orleans Saints – Demario Davis
As mentioned earlier, this division is on the weaker side when it comes to IDP impacts. The linebackers here are what the kids these days would call “mid”. So, aside from my top guy Davis, there is not much except hopes, dreams, and aspirations for players to stand out. With that said, Davis has been the poster for consistency since he finished as LB59 over a decade ago, or 2013 when LaVonte David finished 1st. Davis has never missed a game and has had nine seasons with 100+ tackles. Additionally, he has six seasons with four or more sacks. The Saints brought in Willie Gay, however, I do not expect him or Pete Werner to take much away from Davis. The worst-case scenario is that Gay is utilized more as a blitzer, which would take away Davis’ sack upside. Davis has 18 or more pressures in all six seasons that he has been with New Orleans. I would expect more of the same consistency until he hangs up his cleats. He is signed with the Saints through the 2025 season, so he could be veteran asset for IDP managers the next two seasons. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Lavonte David
- Carolina Panthers – Josey Jewell
- Atlanta Falcons – Kaden Elliss
- New Orleans Saints – Pete Werner
- Atlanta Falcons – Troy Anderson
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – K.J. Britt
- Carolina Panthers – Shaq Thompson
- New Orleans Saints – Willie Gay Jr.
- Carolina Panthers – Trevin Wallace
- Atlanta Falcons – Nate Landman
- New Orleans Saints – Jaylan Ford
Defensive Backs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Antoine Winfield Jr.
The group of safeties in the NFC South has both “heavy hitters” and “Saucy Sleepers,” and who better to headline the group than the DB1 of the 2023 season via FantasyPros. Winfield pressured the quarterback 20 times last season with six total sacks. Both were career highs for Winfield. He just signed a contract to stay with the team through 2027, with the Buccaneers having a potential out in his 2026 season. Winfield’s 260.5 fantasy points in 2023 was the most by a defensive back since Landon Collins scored 261.8 fantasy points in 2016. Despite his 2023 success, I do not believe Winfield obtains the same amount of fantasy points. The Buccaneers added, Jordan Whitehead, currently my fifth highest defensive back in the NFC South. Still, Winfield should rack up tackles and have that big play upside with sacks and interceptions. That alone could lead to another DB1 finish in 2024, and potentially future years. - Atlanta Falcons – Jessie Bates III
- Carolina Panthers – Xavier Woods
- Atlanta Falcons – Demarcco Hellams
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jordan Whitehead
- New Orleans Saints – Tyrann Mathieu
- New Orleans Saints – Jordan Howden
- Carolina Panthers – Jordan Fuller
Thanks for reading our breakdown for the NFC South.
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