RADIO
Jessie Bates III 2024 Outlook: A Return to Form
6 months agoBetween the 2018 and 2020 seasons, Jessie Bates III produced as a top-ten fantasy DB every season. Then he got into a contract disagreement with the Bengals, and his performance suddenly dropped. In 2021 and again in 2022, Bates registered career lows in tackles, and his plays on the ball dipped significantly. His status as a true DB1 disappeared, and he became a resident of the waiver wire in shallow leagues. Fortunately for fantasy fans, it appears Bates just needed a change of scenery. His first year in Atlanta resulted in career highs in tackles, interceptions, and forced fumbles. He also finished the season as the second-highest scoring DB in Standard IDP Scoring, both on a per-game and overall basis. While his elite finish in fantasy was somewhat dependent on big plays last year, and there are concerns about a change in coaching staff, there is reason to think Bates will still be a top-tier fantasy DB this year. Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris is a former defensive backs coach who helped the less talented Jordan Fuller to quality fantasy production.
