Mark Andrews New, More Efficient, Role Can Still Payoff in Fantasy Football in 2025
The real world is an incredibly “what have you done for me lately” driven place, and the NFL is no different. The heartbreaking way Mark Andrews and the Baltimore Ravens' season ended a year ago has clouded the perception of his campaign, one in which his opportunities decreased, but he was still able to deliver in fantasy football. I believe his “new normal” can still be valuable for fantasy managers and makes him something of a bargain at his current ADP. His current team still seems to have faith in him, and that has to count for something.
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2024 Opportunities and Output
For so long the go-to guy in the Ravens' passing game, Andrews did not enjoy a truly stellar season in 2024. Nineteen tight ends saw more targets than his 69, with 13 posting more than his 55 receptions. Andrews posted the ninth-most receiving yards among tight ends with 673 and was an elite performer in terms of yards per target (10.1) and yards per reception (12.1), and no one could touch him in terms of end zone visits. Andrews led all tight ends with 11 receiving touchdowns, helping him to 9.2 Half-PPR points per game. Andrews was the TE7 in this format, if we don’t include Taysom Hill (which ideally, we shouldn’t.)
It is fair to say that Andrews was propelled by his knack for scoring touchdowns. His per-game numbers show a player for whom efficiency, not volume, was the hallmark behind his production. In 2023, Andrews commanded 6.1 targets per game, converting these into 4.5 receptions and 54.4 yards. His yards per target mark was 8.9. Last season, his numbers fell to 3.8, 3.2, and 38.7. But Andrews saw his yards per target jump to 10.1 while his yards per reception held at 12.1. If we can’t have volume, we can always make do with efficiency.
Having the QBs Back
Andrews has been able to maintain a solid partnership with Lamar Jackson throughout their time together with the Ravens. Jackson averages a superb 9.15 adjusted yards per attempt when looking for his big tight end, but this number increased last season. A target towards Andrews averaged a whopping 11.78 AYA for Jackson, which, given that Andrews will be a full year removed from the car crash and late-2023 ankle injury that disrupted the early part of his 2024 season, can only be seen as a positive sign going forward. Even if the Ravens are keen to see fellow tight end Isaiah Likely develop into a serious player, the Jackson-Andrews relationship, with Jackson a strong supporter of his favourite target, remains a strong point in favour of Andrews retaining a significant role in the offense.
2025 Outlook
A major hindrance for Andrews, and indeed all Ravens pass catchers, is the run game reliance of the Ravens under Jackson. Their 52% neutral game pass rate in 2024 was 30th, while their overall pass rate of 50% was dead last. There are also no real avenues for Andrews to feast on in terms of vacated targets. The Ravens are missing a mere 24 looks from a season ago. But the good news here is that the only move the Ravens made to beef up their receiving corps was signing DeAndre Hopkins as a free agent. Hopkins is not the player he once was and shouldn’t be expected to come in and dominate targets as the Nuk of old might have done.
But the Ravens' schedule gives some reasons for optimism for Andrews and his fantasy managers. The Ravens, while not up against an absolute murderer’s row in 2025, do face the 12th toughest schedule in the league, according to Sharp Football. This may force them to take to the air more often, which will benefit all receivers. But Andrews has shown an incredible ability to produce whenever Jackson looks his way, and Jackson’s bond with Andrews should ensure he continues to catch the quarterback’s eye. Even if nothing changes from last season, Andrews' red zone exploits should keep him in the weekly touchdown sweepstakes, and given how reliant the tight end spot is on touchdown scorers, this makes Andrews as valuable as ever.
Fantasy Outlook
Andrews is currently the TE7 over on Underdog, which isn’t a million miles away from our ranking of TE9. His days of soaking up a large chunk of targets seem to be over, but if he can continue to make the absolute most of every chance that does come his way, plus retain his nose for the end zone, then there is no reason why Andrews can’t justify his current sticker price. If Lamar Jackson goes on another MVP run, and who is to say he can’t or won’t, then a bucket of touchdown opportunities could see Andrews turn out to be one of the best value picks from the entire tight end pool. There are few things more dangerous in sport than a man with a point to prove, and Andrews looks very dangerous if that rule holds.
The Bottom Line
- Mark Andrews no longer commands the large target share he once enjoyed.
- Andrews has shown he can at least be efficient, even if not soaking up all the targets in the passing game.
- The Ravens running it back within their receiving corps indicates they are quite happy with the players they have and the roles they perform, keeping Andrews in play for a dose of touchdown chances.
