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Champions Draft Results

Wed Jul 3 10:36am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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.

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Rondale Moore Aug 7 4:37pm CT
Rondale Moore

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Rondale Moore was carted off during training camp practice on Wednesday, and doctors put an air cast on his right leg. It's unclear how the injury happened, but it appears that Moore might be set to miss significant time with a serious injury.

Robbie Chosen Aug 7 4:30pm CT
Robbie Chosen

Veteran free-agent wide receiver Robbie Chosen worked out for the San Francisco 49ers at training camp on Wednesday and was spotted on the field. The Niners appear to be on the verge of trading receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and rookie first-rounder Ricky Pearsall just aggravated his shoulder injury, so the Niners are looking for receiver depth behind Deebo Samuel, Pearsall and Jauan Jennings this summer. The 31-year-old Chosen has gone downhill since posting his only 1,000-yard season with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. In nine games with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, he caught four of six targets for 126 yards and a touchdown. If Chosen signs with the Niners, he'll strictly be competing for a depth role and won't be a lock to make the club out of training camp. Chosen has a combined 24 receptions for 408 yards and two scores the last two years.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Aug 7 4:20pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson won't play in Friday's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to head coach John Harbaugh. Veteran signal-caller Josh Johnson will get the starting nod under center for Baltimore. Jackson is expected to play during the preseason, but that won't happen in the opener this weekend. The 27-year-old two-time NFL MVP missed some practices at the start of training camp with an illness, but he's fine now and is looking for an encore performance in 2024 after throwing for a career-high 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions while also rushing for 821 yards and an additional five TDs on the ground. Jackson isn't as prolific as a thrower as some other QBs, but his rushing prowess makes up for it and keeps him as a top-five fantasy signal-caller.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Aug 7 4:10pm CT
Josh Downs

Updating an earlier report, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain during training camp practice on Wednesday, according to sources after an MRI exam. Downs' recovery time was estimated at four to six weeks, which puts him right up against the start of the 2024 regular season in early September. It's tough news for the Colts, especially since Downs was impressing in camp and was a potential breakout candidate in his second year in the NFL. The bottom line is that the 22-year-old's availability for Week 1 is very much in question, and it could take him some time to get back up to speed as a reliable fantasy wideout. With Downs now out for the foreseeable future, rookie Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce will step into starting roles in three-receiver sets alongside Michael Pittman. Downs' injury makes Mitchell a more attractive late-round flier.

From RotoBaller

Mike Williams Aug 7 3:30pm CT
Mike Williams

New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Wednesday, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. This is promising news as the former Los Angeles Charger recovers from a torn ACL suffered in Week 3 of last season. The 29-year-old should have plenty of time to ramp up his activity before the Week 1 Monday Night Football contest against the San Francisco 49ers which is just over one month away. However, the team could still opt to bring him along slowly, so fantasy managers should check back for his latest injury updates. Williams is usually available outside the top 150 picks in redraft formats, so he's a low-risk, high-reward bench stash with spike-week potential. He's always been a volatile fantasy option, but since he'll be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers this year, he has legitimate fantasy football intrigue and upside.

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Will Levis Aug 7 2:00pm CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said at Wednesday's practice that the deep-ball relationship with quarterback Will Levis and wide receiver Calvin Ridley has not been great so far. "We've missed a few. Hope deep-ball relationship improves as training camp goes on," Callahan noted. Ridley is still getting acquainted with his new quarterback during his first year in Tennessee, and Levis is going to want to form a rapport with his new wideout sooner rather than later in the absence of veteran DeAndre Hopkins (knee). The big-armed Levis is still something of a question mark entering Year 2, but he did lead the league with 10.4 air yards per attempt over 255 pass attempts in his rookie season in 2023. There's plenty of upside here as well for Ridley, who drew a substantial 28 deep targets with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, but this connection is clearly a work in progress at the moment.

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Odell Beckham Jr. Aug 7 1:50pm CT
Odell Beckham Jr.

The Miami Dolphins signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) this offseason to be their third wide receiver, but he has yet to practice as he works through an undisclosed injury. When healthy, however, he should still be the third option in the passing game. He is not the only candidate; tight end Jonnu Smith is coming off a career year in 2023 with the Atlanta Falcons, while running back De'Von Achane has notably worked on his receiving game throughout the offseason. As it stands, Beckham would likely need either superstar wideout Tyreek Hill or star receiver Jaylen Waddle to miss time for a pronounced role in Miami's high-octane passing attack. The 31-year-old former Pro Bowler did show he still had something left in the tank with the Baltimore Ravens last year, racking up 16.1 yards per reception through 35 catches.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Aug 7 1:40pm CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running backs Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. are both are listed as starters on the team's initial preseason depth chart. There's not much of a surprise here, as the Commanders will likely ride one back or the other based on game scripts this fall. Robinson projects as Washington's early-down and goal-line back with plenty of touchdown upside after finding the end zone nine times in 15 games last year, whereas Ekeler is set to be utilized mostly on third downs and obvious passing situations after tallying 74 targets with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023. There's a real chance this ends up being an even split for touches amongst the two, with Robinson being the preferred option in standard fantasy leagues and Ekeler the priority in PPR formats.

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Josh Palmer Aug 7 1:40pm CT
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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer appears in position to be the team's No. 1 target to begin 2024. After that on the depth chart, it appears to be an open competition between former first-rounder Quentin Johnston, rookie second-rounder Ladd McConkey, and veteran deep threat DJ Chark. Palmer is a bit of a WR4/5 sleeper pick in fantasy drafts this summer; he produced a solid 9.5 yards per target over 61 targets and 15.3 yards per reception across 38 catches for the Chargers in 2023. In LA's wide open receiving corps and with the most experience in this offense of the bunch, the 24-year-old former third-round pick out of Tennessee figures to be quarterback Justin Herbert's (foot) favorite target during the early going of the season.

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Tua Tagovailoa Aug 7 1:20pm CT
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel offered a pretty strong suggestion on Wednesday at training camp that we won't see quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in action versus the visiting Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday night. Fresh off bagging a long-term deal with the Dolphins during camp, Tagovailoa appears poised to sit out Miami's preseason opener. In his likely absence, Mike White and Skylar Thompson should soak up the available snaps on Friday against Jacksonville. Tagovailoa was a first-time Pro Bowler a season ago, leading the NFL in passing yards (4,624) and registering career-high figures in completion rate (69.3%) and touchdown passes (29) with 14 interceptions over 17 starts. The 26-year-old star signal-caller is safe to draft this summer as a low-end QB1 starter without much rushing upside in the later rounds after the top-tier options are off the board.

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Patrick Mahomes Aug 7 1:10pm CT
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said at Wednesday's practice that each quarterback will get a quarter of action against the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday at EverBank Stadium. That means Patrick Mahomes will appear in the first quarter, Carson Wentz will get the second quarter, and so on. Mahomes is unlikely to see more than a drive or two of play on Saturday, but Reid has been known for having his star and veteran players active in some capacity during exhibition games in the past. With an improved supporting cast around him following a career-low 4.5% touchdown rate and 7.0 yards per attempt over 16 starts for the Chiefs last year, Mahomes looks like a clear positive regression candidate among top-tier fantasy QB1 picks for 2024. Kansas City ran the second-most team pass plays per game (37.4) last season.

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Lawrence Cager Aug 7 1:00pm CT
Lawrence Cager

The New York Giants have tons of opportunity at the tight end position this year after Darren Waller's retirement. They are looking to fill the void left by Waller with some combination of Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager (hamstring) and rookie Theo Johnson. Bellinger is likely to be the starter, but Cager or Johnson are likely to be the team's primary pass-catching tight end. Cager started out training camp strong, and head coach Brian Daboll called him one of the standouts in the spring, but a hamstring injury has limited him recently. Johnson has returned after starting camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a hip problem. ESPN's Jordan Raanan says it's anyone's job to win this summer. None of the trio of TE options in New York are particularly attractive from a fantasy perspective, but Johnson probably has the most upside if he has a big enough role.

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Chase Claypool Aug 7 12:40pm CT
Chase Claypool

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Chase Claypool (toe) did not practice at training camp on Wednesday. It's been over a week now since Claypool was last on the field at camp due to his toe injury. For a declining receiver that was already battling for a roster spot this summer, all of his missed practice time is really bad news. It's a shame, too, as Buffalo has plenty of opportunity at the receiver position in 2024 with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, their top two receivers a year ago, no longer in town. The 26-year-old former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020 out of Notre Dame is going to need to get back on the field soon to have any shot at winning a 53-man roster spot to begin the regular season. Since going for 860 receiving yards in 2021 in his second season, Claypool has struggled to find a role in the NFL.

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Velus Jones Jr. Aug 7 12:40pm CT
Velus Jones Jr.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. entered training camp on the roster bubble, although many expect the third-year wideout to be the team's starting kick returner in 2024. In an effort to be more versatile to the team, Jones agreed to spend this week of practice as a running back. He's spent most of camp to this point with the second-team offense while DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, rookie Rome Odunze and Tyler Scott take first-team reps. The 27-year-old's route-running has been erratic in his first two years in the NFL, so switching to RB is the team's creative attempt to unlock his big-play ability. Jones' return abilities on special teams will likely be enough to earn him a spot on the 53-man roster for the regular season, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues shouldn't be expecting much else in what is now a stacked receiver corps in Chicago.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Aug 7 12:30pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (calf) was held out of training camp practice on Wednesday due to a calf injury. The Packers haven't given any indication that Reed's calf injury is a long-term ailment, but it's worth noting after he also missed the start of training camp due to a toe injury. Even if his calf injury isn't serious, there's a good chance he'll be held out of this weekend's preseason opener as a precaution. The 24-year-old second-year pass-catcher turned heads with eight touchdowns on 64 receptions and 793 yards in 16 games (13 starts) in his rookie season last year. Reed showed he has a nose for the end zone and plenty of big-play ability through the air and on the ground, but volume could be a question as long as both Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs stay healthy. Heading into Year 2 in 2024, fantasy managers should consider Reed more of a touchdown-dependent WR3/flex.

From RotoBaller

Greg Dortch Aug 7 12:30pm CT
Greg Dortch

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that wide receiver Greg Dortch is going to have "a big year." "He speaks softly and carries a big stick," Gannon said. With Rondale Moore no longer in town, Dortch has been working with the first-team offense in training camp this summer after being a backup receiver each of the last two seasons. The 26-year-old slot receiver has had his moments as an injury replacement, though, especially in 2022, when he had a career season with 52 receptions on 64 targets for 467 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games (four starts). The former undrafted free agent has injury concerns himself because of his small 5-foot-7, 175-pound stature, but he could be a sleeper candidate worth looking into, especially with quarterback Kyler Murray fully healthy to begin the 2024 campaign.

From RotoBaller

Rondale Moore Aug 7 12:20pm CT
Rondale Moore

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Rondale Moore (leg) was carted off during training camp practice on Wednesday, and doctors put an air cast on his right leg, which is never a good sign. It's unclear how the injury happened, but it appears that Moore might be set to miss significant time with a serious injury. Making matters even worse, the 24-year-old's injury was of the non-contact variety, which makes it even more likely that he might have suffered a potential season-ending injury. The former second-round pick in 2021 was trying to carve out a role as receiver depth in Atlanta in his first year with the team behind Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud III. If Moore indeed suffered a significant injury, it will only cement McCloud's status as the team's starting slot receiver to open the year.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Aug 7 12:10pm CT
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has thrown just one preseason pass in his NFL career, but FOX Sports' Greg Auman expects that to change in the team's preseason opener this Saturday against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I'm excited for it," said Burrow, who's now healthy after suffering a wrist injury last November that ended his 2023 season. "I'm excited to get these reps and have these reps to get better right now." Head coach Zac Taylor understands there are injury risks with playing starters in the preseason, but he also recognizes the advantages of giving them real time in a huddle against an opponent. If Burrow does see preseason action this weekend, it probably won't be for more than an offensive series or two. And as long as the 27-year-old former first overall pick doesn't have a setback with his surgically repaired wrist in the preseason, he will be a prime bounce-back candidate in fantasy as a midrange QB1.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Aug 7 12:10pm CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain during training camp practice on Wednesday, according to a source. The outlook right now is that Downs could miss about a month, but the Colts are sorting it all out. It's a tough break for Downs, who had been a popular breakout candidate in fantasy leading up to Wednesday's injury after catching 68 of his 98 targets for 771 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (nine starts) in his first NFL season in 2023. We don't know for sure how much time the 22-year-old might miss to open the 2024 regular season, but this news surely puts a dent into his draft stock. With Downs now sidelined, both Alec Pierce and rookie Adonai Mitchell will have more opportunities to make noise in Indy's passing game. While Pierce has looked more consistent in camp, Mitchell is a higher-ceiling, big-play option for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

DaQuan Jones Aug 7 9:13am CT
DaQuan Jones

Buffalo Bills RB Ty Johnson (hamstring), WR Chase Claypool (toe), OT Travis Clayton (shoulder), S Mike Edwards (hamstring), S Cole Bishop (shoulder), DT DaQuan Jones (undisclosed), LB Nicholas Morrow (core/groin) and LB Edefuan Ulofoshio (ribs) are out of practice Wednesday, Aug. 7.

From TheHuddle