2024 Player Outlook
Ja'Tavion Sanders as a prospect profiles similarly to guys like Zach Ertz and Hunter Henry. He has tremendous hands for his size and his route running his great but he doesn't have true breakaway speed. Which means he needs targets. We expect him to be the best pass catching tight end on the team in short order but the presence of target hog Diontae Johnson might mean that Sanders needs Adam Thielen to fall to the way-side before he can get significant looks. He also needs Bryce Young to prove he's an NFL caliber QB.
Player News
Panthers selected Texas TE Ja’Tavion Sanders with the No. 101 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Having played both tight end and defensive end at an elite level in high school, Sanders (6'4/245) was a five-star, positionless recruit for Texas. He was deemed a tight end ahead of his freshman season but spent the bulk of his time on special teams. Sanders was promoted to a starting role in 2022 and returned the favor with 54 grabs for 614 yards and five scores. With Adonai Mitchell transferring to Texas for an immediate breakout season, Sanders’ cut of the passing game took a hit in his final season. He caught nine fewer passes and saw his touchdown total drop by three. However, the diverted attention from defenses allowed his efficiency to take a leap. His YPC jumped from 11.4 to 15.2. He also made gains in yards per route run and yards after the catch. Sanders shows good long speed on tape and leverages his frame to win contested targets at a high clip. His 4.69 40-yard dash was a strong start at the combine, but eight reps on the bench press and a 30-inch vertical tanked his RAS down to a 5.65. Though he may lack the athleticism to ascend to true stardom in the NFL, Sanders should contribute as a pass-catcher in Carolina in his rookie season. He will rank as the TE3 of the class in dynasty leagues.
DFS Last 5
Week | Date | Opponent | Pts |
---|---|---|---|
18 | Jan 5th | @Falcons | 6.5 |
17 | Dec 29th | @Buccaneers | 1.5 |
16 | Dec 22nd | Cardinals | |
15 | Dec 15th | Cowboys | |
14 | Dec 8th | @Eagles | |
13 | Dec 1st | Buccaneers |