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
According to ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is the favorite to be named the team's starter. The rookie has been working with the first team over Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham during practices and will begin Sunday's preseason matchup with the Packers. In addition, he will also play all the snaps with the offensive starters. At any rate, the latest update improves Nix's standing with fantasy managers moving toward Week 1. However, he has a long way to go before being considered a reliable fantasy signal-caller.
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According to Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, quarterback Gardner Minshew II will start in Week 1 versus the Chargers. Aidan O'Connell was the presumed starter at one point. Yet, Minshew did enough throughout camp and the preseason to claim the top spot on the depth chart. The 28-year-old has had mixed results from a production standpoint over the years, throwing for 9,937 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 24 picks with the Jaguars, Eagles, and Colts. This could be Minshew's last chance to earn a starting job, with O'Connell potentially entering the equation if things get out of hand. However, neither signal-caller should be considered a top fantasy quarterback entering the 2024-25 campaign, despite having Davante Adams in their arsenal.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Dillon Johnson ran the ball 18 times for 83 yards and a touchdown in the team's loss to the New York Jets, leading all ball carriers in all three categories. Johnson also reeled in two catches for zero additional yards through the air. The former Washington Husky saw increased usage with Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, and Jonathan Brooks all inactive for Saturday's matchup. Johnson was picked up the Panthers earlier this offseason and will continue to fight for a role on the practice squad or 53-man roster.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders caught both of his targets 22 yards in the team's loss to the New York Jets, leading the team in yards on the day. The former Texas Longhorn was picked up in the fourth round of this year's draft and stands a chance to take over as the TE1 in Carolina this upcoming season. Current depth charts slate him as the TE3 behind Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas, but he is a name to keep an eye on as he continues to be mixed into the offense. He'll look to climb further up the depth chart on Saturday when the Panthers take on the Bills in their final preseason game.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker made a strong impression in the Raiders' preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, hauling in three passes for 66 yards and demonstrating his versatility with two punt returns for 48 yards. The highlight of his night was a 48-yard reception from quarterback Gardner Minshew II, which was a key play that led to one of the Raiders' few scoring drives. Tucker's explosiveness was on full display, with another notable punt return unfortunately negated by a penalty. Tucker's performance in this game continues to build on the momentum he generated in the preseason opener, signaling that he could be primed for a breakout sophomore season. His knack for making big plays not only as a receiver, but also as a return specialist, makes him a valuable asset for the Raiders. Tucker could be on the verge of securing a significant role in the Raiders' offense this season. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Tucker as a high-ranking sleeper pick, especially if he continues to showcase this level of playmaking ability as the regular season approaches.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, X-rays on Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck) came back negative. The wideout was injured during Saturday's preseason matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers and required a cart to the locker room for further evaluation. While the latest news regarding MVS' injury is encouraging, his status moving ahead is unknown, meaning he is in danger of missing time. The 29-year-old, who agreed to a deal with Buffalo this offseason, is coming off the worst season of his career, totaling 42 catches for 315 yards and one touchdown in 16 games with the Chiefs. However, the Bills no longer have Stefon Diggs on the roster, so Valdes-Scantling could turn things around, assuming he gets healthy.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jack Plummer completed 11 of his 18 passes for 42 yards in the team's loss to the New York Jets. Plummer served as the starting QB for Carolina, with Bryce Young and Andy Dalton inactive, indicating the rookie may have solidified the QB3 role for the Panthers this season. Plummer will look to hold onto the spot when the Bills take on the Panthers on Saturday for their final preseason game.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White's preseason performance on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys showed promise, highlighted by a 17-yard run that boosted his nightly total to 23 yards on four carries. While the stat line looks promising, it's important to note that most of his production came from a single play. As the Raiders' projected lead back, White has potential for fantasy managers. He could emerge as a solid RB2 with upside, especially if the Raiders' offensive line performs well. However, the presence of Alexander Mattison adds competition to the backfield. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely. White has the opportunity to solidify his role, but Mattison's talent could lead to a timeshare if White doesn't perform consistently. Keep an eye on early-season usage and efficiency to gauge White's long-term value in your fantasy lineups. His success will likely depend on maintaining his lead role and capitalizing on his opportunities in the Raiders' offense. Don't sleep on either back and be ready to pivot if the winds change in Vegas.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, speaking on Sunday's episode of SportsCenter, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (back) is "one call away" from being traded to the Steelers. Pittsburgh is willing to pay the wideout. However, the 49ers are hoping to keep him on the roster. While both parties have agreed to portions of a new contract, the remaining parts of the deal need to be ironed out. Aiyuk is currently labeled as a "hold-in," although head coach Kyle Shanahan reported that the receiver is also dealing with a "back issue." But the clock is ticking, with Aiyuk potentially in line to miss time if things continue to be delayed.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee) should be back soon and is expected to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener. Hopkins suffered a strained knee early in training camp at the start of August and was expected to be out for four to six weeks. It appears that the 32-year-old veteran pass-catcher is making good progress, though, and should be ready to go in early September. However, Hopkins' fantasy stock is down because of all the missed time in camp and due to the offseason addition of Calvin Ridley, who will no doubt take valuable targets away. The Titans offense should be much more pass-happy under Callahan, but Hopkins is going to need to be far more efficient deep down the field to pay off for fantasy managers. He's become more of a high-end WR4/flex target in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson ran the ball six times for 35 yards and a touchdown in the team's win against the Cardinals on Saturday. Goodson has now scored in both the Colts' preseason games and played as the RB2 behind Jonathan Taylor in both games. With Trey Sermon's (hamstring) injury keeping him off the field, Goodson is looking to lock up the RB2 role behind Taylor. Depending on Sermon's injury status, Goodson does provide fantasy relevancy as the potential handcuff to Taylor this season.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (undisclosed) is dealing with a minor injury but will be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. With Hopkins sidelined, Cade York again handled the kicking duties in Saturday's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Browns are trying to showcase York this summer for a potential trade suitor, but York was told to kick the ball into the end zone for touchbacks on Saturday. Stefanski felt the kickoff return and kickoff cover teams got enough work in joint practices last week with Minnesota. The 33-year-old Hopkins will be Cleveland's starter going into 2024 after a career-best year with the Browns last year, and the return of a healthy Deshaun Watson to lead the offense should put Hopkins on the radar as a low-end starting fantasy booter in 12-team leagues.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell caught all seven of his targets for 72 yards in the team's win against the Cardinals. Treadwell led all pass-catchers in targets, receptions, and yards in yesterday's matchup. The 29-year-old signed with the Colts this offseason and hopes to make a spot on the 53-man roster, currently slated as a WR4 on the team's depth chart. Treadwell will look to build off of an impressive outing when the Colts face off against the Bengals in their final preseason game on Thursday.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said that wide receiver Davante Adams (undisclosed) tweaked something in training camp practice on Wednesday, which is why he didn't suit up for the team's preseason game on Saturday versus the Dallas Cowboys. Adams is expected to return to practice on Tuesday, though, so it doesn't appear to be an injury that is serious enough to put his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener in question. The 31-year-old pass-catcher is unlikely to play in the preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers next Friday, and the team's starters won't even play in that contest. In his first year without quarterback Derek Carr in 2023, Adams still had over 1,000 receiving yards, but his 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns were both his fewest marks since 2019. He's likely to struggle for big explosive plays down the field again in 2024, making him more of a low-end WR1 than a high-end one.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said that rookie first-round tight end Brock Bowers (foot) was held out of Saturday's preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys due to a sore foot. It remains to be seen how serious Bowers' foot injury is, but he's unlikely to play in the preseason finale on Friday against the Atlanta Falcons. There are still several weeks to go until the start of the 2024 regular season in early September, but missed practice time now for the 21-year-old could cause him to get off to a slow start in his rookie campaign. Fantasy managers targeting him in upcoming drafts as a low-end TE1 will want to keep a close eye on his status this upcoming week. When healthy, the former Georgia Bulldog is expected to immediately become Vegas' top pass-catching tight end in 2024 over Michael Mayer. It's possible that Bowers will be the team's No. 2 target behind receiver Davante Adams.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh had more good things to say about rookie running back Braelon Allen after Saturday's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. "We picked him for a lot of reasons, because he's actually really good out of the backfield and route-running, he's really good in protection, too. We think he's an all-around good back and he's a very powerful runner, too, and he's displaying that, down in and down out," Saleh said. The 20-year-old saw eight carries on Saturday and gained 27 yards while also catching two of his four targets for 12 yards. With just one preseason game remaining, it seems pretty clear that Allen is the team's preferred RB2 behind workhorse Breece Hall heading into his first year in the NFL. He's probably going to go undrafted in standard 12-team fantasy leagues, but in deeper formats, Allen is worth taking as a handcuff to Hall.
From RotoBaller
Former Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore (shoulder) signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, according to a source. The former Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots defensive back will reunite with defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Minnesota. The Vikings had long been in the market for a big-name cornerback, and Gilmore was being patient and biding his time. Gilmore is fully healthy and demonstrated it during his visit with the Vikes before signing. The 33-year-old veteran had offseason surgery on his shoulder after starting in all 17 regular-season games for Dallas in 2023, registering a career-high 68 tackles (54 solo), two interceptions, 13 pass breakups and a forced fumble. Gilmore will be a starter for the Vikings and will be a big-time upgrade to their secondary as long as he's healthy.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback C.J. Beathard (groin) suffered a groin injury in Saturday's preseason contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Beathard played the entire third quarter after following Mac Jones in the exhibition contest and finished 5-for-7 for 40 yards with 10 rushing yards on two carries. The 30-year-old veteran could lose out on the competition for the backup job behind Trevor Lawrence if his groin injury is serious enough to sideline him for the preseason finale next week against the Atlanta Falcons. In Saturday's game, Jones, the former New England Patriots signal-caller, went 16-for-23 for 210 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 14 yards on six carries. Given Beathard's injury, Jones appears to be in a good spot to win the backup job in his first year in Jacksonville.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Jha'Quan Jackson caught all four targets for 57 yards in the preseason win over Seattle. While the rookie didn't find the end zone like teammate Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, he still led all receivers in yards on the night. Jackson, the No. 182 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, has reportedly looked good in training camp. However, Tennessee has plenty of depth at the wide receiver spot, so he'll have an uphill climb to get targets during his inaugural campaign. The Titans will end the preseason with a trip to New Orleans to meet the Saints.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine caught two of his four targets for 20 yards in Saturday's preseason win over Seattle. While Nick Westbrook-Ikhine didn't get as many looks as some of the other wideouts on the roster, he made the most of his limited targets, pulling in a 15-yard pass from Mason Rudolph near the end of the second quarter. The 27-year-old has had flashes of production in his four seasons with the Titans, totaling 94 receptions for 1,276 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, the Titans have depth at the wide receiver position, meaning Nick Westbrook-Ikhine won't be consistently involved. With that said, he could still have a few decent outings during the 2024-25 campaign. Tennessee will end the preseason with a trip to New Orleans to meet the Saints.
From RotoBaller