Wed Jul 3 10:36am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Hurts was first quarterback picked
RealTime Fantasy Sports is proud to present you the results of our “Champions Draft." The draft this season once again consists of the top rated fantasy players on our site. We invited players rated near the top of our Top Fantasy Players report. So this is the best of the best on our site.
In this column, we'll give you a round-by-round look at the draft. Each round includes some notes on that round, talking about what just went down. Hopefully, this gives you some insight into the draft and helps prepare you for all your drafts this coming year.
Before we get to that, here is a quick overview of the league format. We used the same rules as we do for the "All-Pro" fantasy leagues on our site. So you can view the entire set of rules on our main page for that game. But here is a brief look. Each team starts a quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, a tight end, a defensive/special teams, a kicker and a flex player (RB, WR or TE). Scoring is pretty standard. Touchdowns are worth six except for passing touchdowns, which are worth four. And it is a points per reception league, giving every player a point per reception. Defenses get points for sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries. The rules are pretty standard with how many leagues operate these days.
ROUND 1
1. Ballers - Christian McCaffrey RB, SF
2. Birds - CeeDee Lamb WR, DAL
3. CRUNCHY - Bijan Robinson RB, ATL
4. Super Paurs - Breece Hall RB, NYJ
5. Wreckingcrew - Tyreek Hill WR, MIA
6. PaurPlay - Justin Jefferson WR, MIN
7. Crusty GON Pod - Amon-Ra St. Brown WR, DET
8. Bubbles Army - Ja'Marr Chase WR, CIN
9. HORNS - Jahmyr Gibbs RB, DET
10. Goodfellas - Puka Nacua WR, LAR
11. Suncoast - A.J. Brown WR, PHI
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Saquon Barkley RB, PHI
NOTES: The first round was pretty chalk, going very similar to the current ADP. These savvy owners didn’t take many chances with the first round. There were five running backs and seven receivers picked in Round 1. It was not a surprise to see no tight ends or quarterbacks picked in the first round. The only mild surprise was seeing Jonathan Taylor failed to get picked this round. He normally goes at the end of the first round, but didn’t in this one.
ROUND 2
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Jonathan Taylor RB, IND
2. Suncoast - Garrett Wilson WR, NYJ
3. Goodfellas - Sam LaPorta TE, DET
4. HORNS - Travis Etienne RB, JAX
5. Bubbles Army - Davante Adams WR, LV
6. Crusty GON Pod - Chris Olave WR, NO
7. PaurPlay - Josh Jacobs RB, GB
8. Wreckingcrew - Kyren Williams RB, LAR
9. Super Paurs - Devon Achane RB, MIA
10. CRUNCHY - Derrick Henry RB, BAL
11. Birds - Isiah Pacheco RB, KC
12. Ballers - Marvin Harrison Jr. WR, ARI
NOTES: Sam LaPorta was the first tight end picked, getting taken by Suncoast this round. He went a tad sooner, having an ADP of 24.99 but he wasn’t going to last to Suncoast when he picked again, so he had to pull the trigger now if he wanted him on his roster. . . . This was a running back heavy round, seeing seven go off the board. This is normally a trend in many drafts with a lot of owners going receiver in the first round. . . .Isiah Pacheco might have been the only surprise running back of this round. The Birds selected him with the 11th pick. This wasn’t too far off his ADP, though, normally going pick 26.62. . . . .Marvin Harrison continues to be the first rookie picked on draft day. The Ballers picked him with the last pick, making him the 24th pick overall.
ROUND 3
1. Ballers - Drake London WR, ATL
2. Birds - Michael Pittman Jr. WR, IND
3. CRUNCHY - Nico Collins WR, HOU
4. Super Paurs - Deebo Samuel WR, SF
5. Wreckingcrew - James Cook RB, BUF
6. PaurPlay - Travis Kelce TE, KC
7. Crusty GON Pod - Rhamondre Stevenson RB, NE
8. Bubbles Army - Rachaad White RB, TB
9. HORNS - Stefon Diggs WR, HOU
10. Goodfellas - Joe Mixon RB, HOU
11. Suncoast - Mike Evans WR, TB
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Brandon Aiyuk WR, SF
NOTES: This round was a little more receiver heavy once again, having seven go off the board. This seems to be a trend in a lot of drafts, having owners get two receivers and a running back after three rounds. . . . .Travis Kelce is the second tight end picked, which is a little unusual for him, but definitely a trend. Kelce has an ADP of 30.8, going after LaPorta in most drafts. Paur Play is hoping he has at least one more big season in him. . . . .It is always interesting seeing how owners value the two top receivers for the Texans. Nico Collins went before Stefon Diggs in this draft. Collins was picked third this round by CRUNCHY while the HORNS picked Diggs with the ninth pick.
ROUND 4
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Jaylen Waddle WR, MIA
2. Suncoast - Jalen Hurts QB, PHI
3. Goodfellas - D.J. Moore WR, CHI
4. HORNS - DeVonta Smith WR, PHI
5. Bubbles Army - Josh Allen QB, BUF
6. Crusty GON Pod - D'Andre Swift RB, CHI
7. PaurPlay - Patrick Mahomes QB, KC
8. Wreckingcrew - D.K. Metcalf WR, SEA
9. Super Paurs - Amari Cooper WR, CLE
10. CRUNCHY - Kenneth Walker III RB, SEA
11. Birds - Lamar Jackson QB, BAL
12. Ballers - Trey McBride TE, ARI
NOTES: This was a quarterback heavy round, seeing four go off the board. Jalen Hurts was the first quarterback selected, getting picked by Suncoast. He went ahead of Josh Allen, who normally is the first quarterback picked in drafts. . . . .Trey McBride was the third tight end picked, going to the Ballers with the last pick in this round. McBride is flying up draft boards this year after this strong finish last season. He has an ADP of 48.2, so this spot for him is not out of the norm. . . .There was just two running backs picked this round after seeing at least four picked each of the first three rounds. D’Andre Swift and Kenneth Walker were the backs picked this round.
ROUND 5
1. Ballers - Zay Flowers WR, BAL
2. Birds - Mark Andrews TE, BAL
3. CRUNCHY - Aaron Jones RB, MIN
4. Super Paurs - Cooper Kupp WR, LAR
5. Wreckingcrew - C.J. Stroud QB, HOU
6. PaurPlay - Alvin Kamara RB, NO
7. Crusty GON Pod - Kyle Pitts TE, ATL
8. Bubbles Army - Dalton Kincaid TE, BUF
9. HORNS - Anthony Richardson QB, IND
10. Goodfellas - James Conner RB, ARI
11. Suncoast - David Montgomery RB, DET
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - George Kittle TE, SF
NOTES: David Montgomery was one of the top league winners last year but falls to the fifth round of this draft, going to Suncoast with the 11th pick. Fantasy owners have concerns for a repeat season from Montgomery, having an ADP of 68.9. This could end up being a make or break pick for the defending champ. . . . .Cooper Kupp is another polarizing figure this season. He was a very early pick last year, but goes to the Super Paurs with the fifth pick in Round 5. He has taken quite the fall in drafts, having an ADP of 46.5. . . .There were four tight ends pick this round. Dalton Kincaid is the biggest mover from last year. The Horns picked him with the eighth pick. Kincaid is normally the fifth tight end off the board, so Horns might have gotten a little value with him being the seventh tight end selected with this pick.
ROUND 6
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Malik Nabers WR, NYG
2. Suncoast - Najee Harris RB, PIT
3. Goodfellas - Jaylen Warren RB, PIT
4. HORNS - Zack Moss RB, CIN
5. Bubbles Army - Christian Kirk WR, JAX
6. Crusty GON Pod - George Pickens WR, PIT
7. PaurPlay - Calvin Ridley WR, TEN
8. Wreckingcrew - Jordan Love QB, GB
9. Super Paurs - Zamir White RB, LV
10. CRUNCHY - Tee Higgins WR, CIN
11. Birds - Jayden Reed WR, GB
12. Ballers - Tony Pollard RB, TEN
NOTES: The one pick that stands out in this round was the Birds taking Jayden Reed with the 11th pick. He has an ADP of 86.9, so they might have went a little early on Reed. He certainly has potential after scoring eight touchdowns his rookie season, but the Birds might have been able to get him a few rounds later. . . .The quarterback position slowed down a little this round with Jordan Love the only quarterback selected. He goes with the eight pick to Wreckingcrew. Love was fifth overall in fantasy quarterback scoring last year, so getting him after the elite guys are gone could turn out to be good value for Wreckingcrew. . . . .Some running backs that could be splitting work this year flew off the board. Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Zack Moss, Zamir White and Tony Pollard were all picked. They all have some question marks about playing time but if one emerges, they could be great value in Round 6.
ROUND 7
1. Ballers - Terry McLaurin WR, WAS
2. Birds - Jonathon Brooks RB, CAR
3. CRUNCHY - Rashee Rice WR, KC
4. Super Paurs - Joe Burrow QB, CIN
5. Wreckingcrew - Evan Engram TE, JAX
6. PaurPlay - Diontae Johnson WR, CAR
7. Crusty GON Pod - Keenan Allen WR, CHI
8. Bubbles Army - Austin Ekeler RB, WAS
9. HORNS - Chris Godwin WR, TB
10. Goodfellas - Tank Dell WR, HOU
11. Suncoast - Javonte Williams RB, DEN
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Raheem Mostert RB, MIA
NOTES: Our first rookie running back was picked this round, seeing the Birds take Jonathan Brooks with the second pick. Brooks could start the year slow, recovering from his knee injury, but could be a huge factor down the stretch for the Birds. Brooks went around 10 spots later than normal, having an ADP of 64.3. . . .Rashee Rice is a player facing a possible multi-game suspension. If not for that, he would be going much higher. Instead, he falls to CRUNCHY with the third pick this round. Rice has an ADP of 81.6, so he goes about where he normally does in drafts. If he can end up avoiding a suspension, this pick will be a huge steal for CRUNCHY. . . .Raheem Mostert is another intriguing player to watch in drafts. He was a league winner for many last year but is not getting drafted like that. AlwaysBetOnBlack gets him with the last pick this round. Mostert has an ADP of 84.8, so most drafters are not betting on a repeat of his huge season.
ROUND 8
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Brian Robinson Jr. RB, WAS
2. Suncoast - Marquise Brown WR, KC
3. Goodfellas - Dak Prescott QB, DAL
4. HORNS - Nick Chubb RB, CLE
5. Bubbles Army - Devin Singletary RB, NYG
6. Crusty GON Pod - Tyjae Spears RB, TEN
7. PaurPlay - J.K. Dobbins RB, LAC
8. Wreckingcrew - Blake Corum RB, LAR
9. Super Paurs - David Njoku TE, CLE
10. CRUNCHY - Jake Ferguson TE, DAL
11. Birds - Christian Watson WR, GB
12. Ballers - Trey Benson RB, ARI
NOTES: Nick Chubb is returning from another major injury and lasts until the fourth pick of Round 8. He has big question marks, but the Horns could take a chance on him with three quality backs already on his roster. . . .The Ballers took a chance on rookie Trey Benson in Round 8. After taking Christian McCaffrey with the first pick, the Ballers filled up other positions on his roster before taking chances on running backs later in the draft. . . . .There were seven total running backs picked this round. Many owners are hoping to find that great mid-round value, looking for the Raheem Mostert of this season.
ROUND 9
1. Ballers - Zach Charbonnet RB, SEA
2. Birds - Ezekiel Elliott RB, DAL
3. CRUNCHY - Kyler Murray QB, ARI
4. Super Paurs - Ty Chandler RB, MIN
5. Wreckingcrew - DeAndre Hopkins WR, TEN
6. PaurPlay - Chase Brown RB, CIN
7. Crusty GON Pod - Caleb Williams QB, CHI
8. Bubbles Army - Jordan Addison WR, MIN
9. HORNS - T.J. Hockenson TE, MIN
10. Goodfellas - Gus Edwards RB, LAC
11. Suncoast - Courtland Sutton WR, DEN
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Trevor Lawrence QB, JAX
NOTES: Three quarterbacks go this round, giving every team at least one quarterback except one. Ballers is the only team that doesn’t have a quarterbacks after nine rounds. The three quarterbacks picked this round were Kyler Murray, rookie Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence. . . .Teams continues to load up on mid-round running backs with five getting of the 12 picks being running backs. None of these backs are sure things but both Ezekiel Elliott and Gus Edwards have some touchdown potential on their teams. . . .DeAndre Hopkins is not getting drafted as he was in the past. He goes with the fifth pick to Wreckingcrew. This spot is even later than normal for Hopkins, who has an ADP of 79.6.
ROUND 10
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Xavier Worthy WR, KC
2. Suncoast - Dallas Goedert TE, PHI
3. Goodfellas - Ladd McConkey WR, LAC
4. HORNS - Keon Coleman WR, BUF
5. Bubbles Army - Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR, SEA
6. Crusty GON Pod - Jerome Ford RB, CLE
7. PaurPlay - Jameson Williams WR, DET
8. Wreckingcrew - Rico Dowdle RB, DAL
9. Super Paurs - Mike Williams WR, NYJ
10. CRUNCHY - Brian Thomas Jr. WR, JAX
11. Birds - Curtis Samuel WR, BUF
12. Ballers - Brock Purdy QB, SF
NOTES: Round 10 is the round of the rookie. There were four rookie receivers picked this round, including Xavier Worthy, Ladd McConkey, Keon Coleman and Brian Thomas. These are four receivers that all have the chance to emerge as top playmakers in their respective offenses. . . . .Ballers is the last team to take a quarterback, picking Brock Purdy with the last pick in Round 10. Purdy was seventh overall in fantasy quarterback scoring last year. . . . Suncoast was the last team to select a tight end, taking Dallas Goedert with the second pick. Goedert can be erratic but has a high weekly ceiling in his offense.
ROUND 11
1. Ballers - Kendre Miller RB, NO
2. Birds - Josh Downs WR, IND
3. CRUNCHY - Rome Odunze WR, CHI
4. Super Paurs - Gabriel Davis WR, JAX
5. Wreckingcrew - Brandin Cooks WR, DAL
6. PaurPlay - Jahan Dotson WR, WAS
7. Crusty GON Pod - Cole Kmet TE, CHI
8. Bubbles Army - Brock Bowers TE, LV
9. HORNS - Jerry Jeudy WR, CLE
10. Goodfellas - Jayden Daniels QB, WAS
11. Suncoast - Tyler Lockett WR, SEA
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Brandon Aubrey K, DAL
NOTES: We had our first team take a second quarterback. Goodfellas took rookie Jayden Daniels with the 10th pick. They picked Dak Prescott two rounds earlier, giving him what could be a potent one-two punch at quarterback. . . .Our first kicker was picked. Brandon Aubrey was taken with the last pick this round by AlwaysBetOnBlack. It is a tad earlier than normal for our first kicker. Aubrey has an ADP of 133.1. . . .The top tight end in this year’s draft, Brock Bowers, was picked by Bubbles Army with the eighth pick. Bubbles is hoping Bowers is the Sam LaPorta of this year’s rookie class.
ROUND 12
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Dallas Cowboys Def/ST, DAL
2. Suncoast - Jakobi Meyers WR, LV
3. Goodfellas - Kimani Vidal RB, LAC
4. HORNS - Khalil Shakir WR, BUF
5. Bubbles Army - MarShawn Lloyd RB, GB
6. Crusty GON Pod - Antonio Gibson RB, NE
7. PaurPlay - Justin Herbert QB, LAC
8. Wreckingcrew - Pat Freiermuth TE, PIT
9. Super Paurs - Jared Goff QB, DET
10. CRUNCHY - Kirk Cousins QB, ATL
11. Birds - Tua Tagovailoa QB, MIA
12. Ballers - Chuba Hubbard RB, CAR
NOTES: AlwaysBetOnBlack took the first kicker and followed that by picking the first defense. The Cowboys defense is the first off the board, giving AlwaysBetOnBlack both the Cowboys kicker and defense. . . . .There were a couple rookie running backs picked this round. Kimani Vidal and MarShawn Lloyd don’t have a clear path to playing time with their respective teams but have some potential if given the opportunities. . . .Four teams took backup quarterbacks this round. It is interesting to see Justin Herbert fall so far, but he has question marks because of a new offense and lack of playmakers in the passing game.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
The Invitational Live Stream
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke threw for 114 yards and rushed twice for zero yards in a 13-12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Saturday. It was an uneventful preseason game for the 31-year-old veteran, with no touchdown passes on 8-for-16 passing. Heinicke seems locked in as the QB3 on Atlanta's roster, but with the Falcons holding out Michael Penix Jr. for the rest of the offseason, he should get plenty of snaps to see how he fares during the rest of the preseason. Heinicke will look to turn things around in the preseason finale on Friday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Carlos Washington Jr. ran nine times in Saturday's game for 39 yards while receiving no work in the passing game in a 13-12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. After averaging less than 2.0 yards per carry last week on 16 attempts, Washington was much more efficient on the ground this week, averaging over 9.0 per carry. The 25-year-old seemed to have the edge over Jase McClellan for the RB3 job according to the Falcons' official depth chart, but now it seems to be a tight-knit race for that job with McLellan running the ball extremely well so far in the first two preseason games. Look for this race for the RB3 spot to continue on Friday when the Falcons take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson put together a nearly perfect half of football in the team's 13-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday afternoon. The veteran completed all 11 of his pass attempts for 120 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball twice for eight yards on the ground. The lone miscues were a sack for 12 yards and a miscommunication with the center that led to a fumble, but it didn't officially count in Johnson's box score. In the first quarter, a lot of Johnson's throws were short passing plays, but he ended up completing big play after big play in the second quarter. In the touchdown drive, he completed passes of 12, 13, and 31 yards respectively, capped off by a six-yard score to Owen Wright.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Jase McClellan rushed 11 times for 55 yards and scored a touchdown in a 13-12 preseason loss against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. After leading the team in rushing in preseason Week 1 with 35 yards, McClellan followed suit and led the team in rushing again this week. The lone touchdown for McClellan and the Falcons came with only 39 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter and was followed by a failed two-point conversion, which led to the eventual one-point loss. The young 22-year-old out of Alabama has carried the ball 20 times for a solid 85 yards, 4.25 YPC, and one touchdown in two preseason games thus far. The battle for the RB3 in Atlanta looks like a close one this preseason between McClellan and Carlos Washington Jr. The Falcons RB3 battle will continue next week when the Falcons take on the Jaguars on Friday Night at home.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons Kicker Younghoe Koo had a rough time on the field Saturday morning, going 2-for-5 in field goal attempts in a 13-12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in preseason Week 2. Koo nailed the hard one through the uprights from 54 yards away but missed on a 40-yarder, 45-yarder, and 49-yarder before converting on his last field goal attempt of the night at 24 yards out. It was an uncharacteristic night for one of the league's top kickers, but he has plenty of time to get right before the season begins in September.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth caught his lone target for a 10-yard gain in a 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills in preseason action on Saturday. Freiermuth drew the start and played with the first-team offense, ripping off a 10-yard gain on Pittsburgh's second drive of the contest. The veteran tight end had a down season in 2023 but could be primed for a bounce-back as he should see more targets with Diontae Johnson no longer on the team. That being said, the Steelers could be run-heavy on offense so it is best to treat Freiermuth as a mid-range TE2 in upcoming fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields played well in his team's 9-3 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Fields completed 11 of his 17 passes for 92 yards and added eight rushes for 42 yards in the loss. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson got the start and played most of the first half, with Fields taking over with 2:04 left on the clock before halftime. Wilson has missed a portion of camp with a calf injury while Fields has flashed at times. Early in the preseason the Steelers tabbed Wilson as their Week 1 starter but the calf injury plus Fields' solid play has made this an interesting situation to monitor as the Week 1 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons looms in a few weeks.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris carried the ball four times for 17 yards and was not targeted in the passing game in a 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills in preseason action on Saturday. Harris got the start and rotated with backfield mate Jaylen Warren with the starters, checking out for the night just before halftime. Harris and Warren are expected to work in tandem in the Pittsburgh offense this season, although the latter left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. If Warren's injury were to stretch into the regular season, Harris could see bell-cow usage in the early going. Even if Warren heals quickly, Harris is an interesting bounce-back candidate in fantasy this season with run-focused offensive coordinator Arthur Smith calling the plays for the Steelers.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens caught one of his two targets for four yards in a 9-3 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Pickens could have had a much bigger game as he made an impressive, one-handed contested catch along the sidelines but couldn't quite get his second foot down inbounds, resulting in an incompletion. Pickens is currently slotted in as the Steelers' No. 1 wide receiver as the regular season approaches, although he would be moved to a secondary role if Pittsburgh ends up completing the long-rumored Brandon Aiyuk deal with the San Francisco 49ers. For now, Pickens can be treated as a WR2 in fantasy drafts but could wind up as more of a low-end WR3/flex play if Aiyuk winds up as his teammate.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson made his first preseason appearance with his new team in a 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Wilson completed eight of his 10 passes for 47 yards in the contest while taking three sacks. The veteran drew the start and worked about halfway into the second quarter before calling it a night and stepping aside for Justin Fields. Wilson has missed a large portion of camp with a calf injury but the team has been calling him the Week 1 starter, although Fields has performed well in camp and could push Wilson for the chance to be under center in the opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III delivered his best preseason performance on Saturday against the New York Giants, recording a team-high six catches for 68 yards and his first professional touchdowna 3-yard pass from Case Keenum. This strong showing comes after Metchie had only two receptions for 11 yards in his previous two games. After suffering an ACL tear during the 2021 SEC Championship Game, Metchie missed out on a potential first-round draft position. The Texans selected him with the 44th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he was sidelined for his rookie season due to a diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Returning in 2023, he caught 16 passes for 158 yards but struggled to secure a prominent role. Now, Metchie is aiming to secure one of the final receiver spots for Week 1, with one more preseason game to compete against Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, and Ben Skowronek.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz delivered his strongest preseason performance against the New York Giants on Saturday, catching three passes for 39 yards, including a standout 26-yard reception from C.J. Stroud. Schultz emerged as Stroud's most targeted player while the starters were on the field, receiving five of Stroud's 12 throws. This is a promising sign for Schultz, who faces competition for targets from three top wide receivers. However, Schultz's role is somewhat overshadowed by his backups; Brevin Jordan also saw two of Stroud's 12 targets and looked solid with the starters, while rookie Cade Stover has been impressive in previous preseason games. Despite these challenges, Schultz remains a valuable high-end TE2 with the potential for high-ceiling weeks in a dynamic Texans offense.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce started the preseason game against the New York Giants but struggled to make an impact, managing only four carries for five yards. Pierce averaged a disappointing 1.3 yards per carry, failing to show any improvement from his previous performance. In contrast, Cam Akers, serving as his primary backup, ran for 29 yards on six carries, including a long of 14 yards. Akers, who was signed at the beginning of training camp, has quickly emerged as a legitimate roster contender, transforming from a camp body into a potential backup to Joe Mixon. His familiarity with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's scheme has helped him catch up despite joining late. J.J. Taylor led the Texans' running backs with 36 yards on five carries, and rookie British Brooks scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. However, with both Taylor and Brooks unlikely to make the final roster, the primary focus for the Texans will be the competition for Mixon's backup role.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs made his presence felt in Saturday's preseason game against the New York Giants, catching a 9-yard pass from C.J. Stroud for a first down in Houston's 28-10 victory. Although Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler acquired from the Buffalo Bills, only had one reception, it was special as it was his first in a Texans uniform. His brief appearance demonstrated that he is already developing a strong rapport with Stroud. During the 15 snaps Stroud played, Diggs was on the field for 11, while starting receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell were on for 13 and 8 snaps, respectively. Collins is expected to lead in target and snap share, with Dell likely serving as the big-play threat. The question remains whether there will be enough targets left for Diggs to justify his current ADP in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts in Saturday's preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans. Myers made tries from 29, 48, and 50 yards out. The only blemish on his stat line was the missed extra point that followed Easop Winston Jr.'s first-quarter touchdown. The Titans' margin of victory in the game? One point. Myers was perfect on extra-point attempts last season but this is the second try he has missed in as many weeks. The 33-year-old is Seattle's incumbent kicker, though another misfire in the preseason finale against the Browns on August 24 might prompt the team to look at other legs. Myers has been a useful fantasy asset in the past but is by no means automatic.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud delivered a strong performance in his second preseason game against the New York Giants, although the offense didn't score while he was on the field. Stroud led the Texans downfield on the opening drive effectively, but the team failed to convert a fourth down on the Giants' 6-yard line. Stroud showcased impressive command and appeared to be in midseason form. The Texans' strategy this year seems to focus heavily on the passing game, as they passed ten times and rushed only four times in the first quarter with starters. This approach bodes well for Stroud's fantasy prospects, indicating significant passing volume. Stroud finished the game 7-of-10 for 88 yards. If he's done for the preseason, his overall stats will be 9-of-14 for 129 yards and one touchdown. Stroud has a solid opportunity to be a top-five fantasy quarterback this year, but his lack of rushing may limit his overall ceiling.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. caught three of his four targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans. The score was an absolute beauty. Barely a step ahead of cornerback Tre Avery, Winston looked over his shoulder as he crossed the goal line in time to snag a 23-yard arcing pass from Sam Howell for the touchdown. Winston also had a 15-yard reception with eight seconds left in the first half, advancing a drive that resulted in a field goal before the break. Winston is playing for a roster spot and, assuming he does make the cut, would be unlikely to challenge DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, or Jaxon Smith-Njigba for targets.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh led the team in carries and rushing yards in Saturday's loss to the Tennessee Titans. The second-year back had eight attempts for 46 yards and caught both of his targets for 17 yards through the air. McIntosh is competing with George Holani and Kobe Lewis to be the Seahawks' third-string running back. Last week, Holani scored a touchdown and Lewis led the team with eight carries. Against Tennessee, the two combined for six carries and a gain of two yards. The usage on Saturday indicates McIntosh is ahead on the depth chart for now, though he will still be behind Kenneth Walker III and Zack Charbonnet when the regular season begins.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell went 11-for-14 for 153 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's loss to the Tennessee Titans. Howell looked shaky early on as the Titans blitzed aggressively out of the gate resulting in back-to-back three-and-outs. Howell actually fumbled while being sacked on the second drive but had the good fortune that a teammate was in position to fall on the ball. Howell recovered well on the team's third possession resulting in a touchdown to Easop Winston Jr. This was Howell's second start in as many preseason games for the Seahawks. Geno Smith (hip/knee) returned to practice last week and carried no designation coming into Saturday but ultimately sat. Howell will be backing up Smith to start the season but it was an encouraging effort after the early miscues.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Ryan Flournoy led the Cowboys in catches in a preseason win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He also scored a touchdown. Flournoy was targeted six times, also a team high, and made four catches for 23 yards. His touchdown came on a goal line pass from Trey Lance in the second quarter. Flournoy is buried on the depth chart, especially once CeeDee Lamb returns from his holdout, but he's shown signs of developing some offensive relevance in the future. He's worth keeping an eye on in keeper and dynasty formats.
From RotoBaller