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AFC SOUTH

What went right?

The 2024 NFL season was not the most competitive year for  the AFC South. Both in terms of competition within the division and with the rest of the NFL. However,  with a mix of young quarterbacks, established veterans, and teams looking to make their mark, the division offered a few notable fantasy and reality highlights.

In reality, the Texans took a significant step forward this season and won a road playoff game. That is something not every team can say. They came in as underdogs and proved they are more than just that first game on a Saturday afternoon at the start of every playoffs. CJ Stroud built on his connection with Nico Collins, proving the dynamic duo is powerhouse stack and here to stay. Fantasy wise, Joe Mixon once again proved the doubters wrong and put up another respectable season despite slipping in some drafts. After an injury-riddled 2023 season, Jonathan Taylor reasserted himself as one of the league’s top running backs. Despite sharing the backfield with mobile QB Anthony Richardson, Taylor delivered several big performances and showed he could still be an RB1 in fantasy and reality. His ability to coexist with Richardson in the offense provides optimism for the Colts moving forward.  The Jaguars had the biggest bright spot of the season in Brian Thomas Jr. he set the Jaguars rookie records for single season receptions (80) receiving yards (1,179) and touchdowns (10). He showed break away speed and overall top-tier athleticism. He will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. The Titans had basically nothing go right for them all season until the Patriots ex-coach sabotaged his own team the final week of the season by winning and thus gifting the Titans with the number-one pick in the draft.

What went wrong?

Let’s just say a lot went wrong for this division. It was one of the most disappointing divisions from a fantasy perspective. A few things you could say went wrong were the faltering of hyped up stars like Anthony Richardson, and Travis Etienne. The injury decimation of the Houston WR core, and the subsequent regression from CJ Stroud. The absolute atrocity that was the Titans’ offense for the entire year. It seems like more went wrong for this division then went right. The Colts entered the season with high hopes for young quarterback Anthony Richardson, but injuries and inconsistency ruined his hopeful season. Despite showing flashes of brilliance with his dual-threat ability, Richardson struggled with accuracy and decision-making at times. For the Jaguars, after winning the division a couple years ago in 2022-2023, expectations were high for the Jaguars to take another leap. However, inconsistency on both sides of the ball led to a frustrating campaign. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence showed moments of brilliance but was plagued by turnovers and a lack of consistent protection from his offensive line. The loss of key playmakers to injuries also hurt Jacksonville’s ability to compete at the highest level. While the hopes weren’t as high for the Titans, their rebuild is not off to the start they wanted. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears did not come close to filling Derek Henry’s shoes and their quarterback play was probably the worst in the league.

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