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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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Player Notes
Joe Mixon Oct 10 1:40pm CT
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is at practice on Thursday for the first time this week. The former Cincinnati Bengal is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and hasn't played since Week 2, so his return to practice is promising for a potential Week 6 return to game action. Mixon was excellent in the Week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts, posting 178 total yards and a touchdown on 33 touches. He was injured in Week 2 and only produced 50 total yards. Fantasy managers should check back on Friday for his practice participation and gameday status, but if he plays, it will be tough to keep him out of the lineup against the New England Patriots, who have surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points per game to running backs. If Mixon doesn't play, Dameon Pierce (hamstring), who is likely to return this week, could handle starting duties. However, there's a chance Houston will opt to implement a three-headed backfield with Pierce, Cam Akers, and Dare Ogunbowale.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Oct 10 1:30pm CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) was not spotted during the open portion of Thursday's practice, meaning he's likely to be listed as a "DNP" with a knee injury for the second straight day. Robinson missed the first day of practice last week and still played, but opening the week with two straight missed practices is far from ideal. If Robinson is in real danger of missing the Week 6 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, Austin Ekeler (heel) could become an RB2 option, while Jeremy McNichols could be utilized as a deep-league flex play. Through the first five weeks of the season, Robinson is the RB9 in half-PPR formats and has posted over 400 yards of offense. Ekeler and McNichols have looked good in limited roles, but Baltimore has surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs through Week 5. Robinson's official game status will be announced Friday afternoon, so this is a "wait and see" situation.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Oct 10 1:20pm CT
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) is not practicing on Thursday leading up to the Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets in Week 6. Shakir missed the Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans with an ankle injury, so he could reasonably sit out the AFC East contest. While the third-year wideout out of Boise State has not been a fantasy superstar this year, he's reached double-digit PPR points in all four active games, making him a solid flex option. Fellow wide receiver Curtis Samuel (foot) and receiving back James Cook (foot/toe) are also banged up, so Buffalo could have a depleted skill group. These injuries could clear the way for a big game from tight end Dalton Kincaid, but wideouts Keon Coleman and Mack Hollins will likely be more involved if at least two of the three banged-up pass-catchers can't suit up this week. However, the Jets have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to receivers this year, so it could be an ugly passing attack for Buffalo on Monday night.

From RotoBaller

James Cook Oct 10 1:10pm CT
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (foot/toe) is not practicing on Tuesday after missing Monday's practice with foot and toe injuries. The third-year ball carrier out of Georgia appears to be in real danger of missing the Week 6 game against the New York Jets, but the game is on Monday, so fantasy managers will need to stay tuned throughout the week. Cook has three weekly RB1 finishes in PPR leagues, so his absence could be a major problem for his managers. If he can't play, veteran Ty Johnson and rookie Ray Davis will likely share the backfield against a New York Jets defense that has surrendered the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Oct 10 1:00pm CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) is in the "same" spot as Wednesday, according to head coach Brian Daboll, meaning he has not advanced to the next stage of the league's concussion protocol. There's still time for Nabers to clear the protocol, but his chances of playing on Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals is in doubt. Nabers didn't practice on Wednesday and will likely pick up another DNP on Thursday, which is bad news for fantasy managers that were expecting him back in Week 6 after he didn't get the green light to play in the Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks. The 21-year-old hasn't looked like a rookie at all in four games, catching a league-high 35 passes for 386 yards and three touchdowns. Nabers has already become a must-start in fantasy when he's active, but he could be on his way to a second straight missed game.UPDATE: Nabers did much less in practice on Thursday than on Wednesday in the portion of practice open to the media. He only rode an exercise bike on the side after running and doing more football-related drills on Wednesday.

From RotoBaller

Trey Sermon Oct 10 12:50pm CT
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon (collarbone) returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out on Wednesday. With Jonathan Taylor (ankle) sitting out the Week 5 loss to the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars and not practicing yet this week, Sermon's status is worth watching closely. It's looking like Taylor is on track to miss his second straight game in Week 6 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans, so if Sermon gains clearance from his collarbone injury, he would once again operate as the Colts' primary running back this Sunday, with Tyler Goodson backing him up. The 25-year-old came through for fantasy managers that threw him in their lineups last weekend, carrying the ball 10 times for 38 yards and a score while adding six receptions for 25 yards. If Taylor is inactive and Sermon suits up, he'll be in play as an RB3/flex again against the Titans.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Oct 10 12:40pm CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Josh Downs (toe) were both absent from practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. Pittman could be sidelined multiple weeks with his back injury, so fantasy managers should already be expecting him to miss the Week 6 contest against the division-rival Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Downs' status is a bit less clear, but with two DNPs already this week for him as well, his status is also firmly up in the air for the weekend. Running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) hasn't practiced this week either, so Indy's offense could be missing three of their best playmakers against the Titans. If both Pittman and Downs are unable to play in Week 6, Alec Pierce and rookie Adonai Mitchell would be the Colts' top-two wideouts for either quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) or Joe Flacco. Pittman is a candidate for Injured Reserve, which would sideline him at least four games.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Oct 10 12:30pm CT
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Thursday that passing-game coordinator Todd Downing will take over the offensive play-calling from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett after the organization fired head coach Robert Saleh earlier this week. Instead of also firing Hackett, the Jets instead are demoting him. Downing will have "the full say on the game plan and, ultimately, the plays that are called within the game," according to Ulbrich. Ulbrich also said he will remain the defensive coordinator and will continue to call plays. In 22 games under Hackett (only five full games with quarterback Aaron Rodgers this year), the Jets' offense ranked among the worst in the league, ranking 29th in points per game (16.4) and 30th in total yards per game (273). Rodgers is averaging only 6.0 yards per attempt, the lowest of his career through five games.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Taylor Oct 10 12:30pm CT
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) was not seen at practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Taylor suffered a minor high-ankle sprain in the Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and didn't play in the Week 5 loss to the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. The fact that he has yet to practice this week doesn't bode well for his chances of returning this Sunday to face the division-rival Tennessee Titans. Backup Trey Sermon (collarbone) also was a DNP on Wednesday but returning to practice on Thursday, putting him in play to make a second straight start in Week 6. The 25-year-old Taylor said he's not dealing with as much pain in his ankle this week, but it doesn't mean he'll play on Sunday. Sermon had 10 carries for 38 yards and a touchdown and caught six passes for 25 yards in Taylor's absence last weekend, and he'll once again be in play as an RB3/flex in fantasy if he's active and Taylor is not against Tennessee.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Conklin Oct 10 12:20pm CT
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said that tight end Tyler Conklin (hip) will be limited in the team's first practice of the week on Thursday. Conklin apparently picked up a hip injury in the Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London, where he had six catches on nine targets for 55 yards, his best performance of the season. As long as the 29-year-old doesn't suffer some sort of setback in the next two days, we think he'll be fine to play against the division-rival Buffalo Bills in Week 6 on Monday Night Football. He is coming off his best showing in 2024 and could get more involved in the passing game moving forward with pass-game coordinator Todd Downing taking over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Conklin's fantasy needle is ticking up right now against a vulnerable Bills defense. He'll have plenty of streaming appeal for fantasy managers this week as a low-end TE1.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Oct 10 12:10pm CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said that running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) is still the team's featured running back when he was asked after the Week 5 win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts if Tank Bigsby will start to see an increase in carries. "No. Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game. That's just the way games go. Happy for Tank. Great for the offensive line, obviously, in some of those situations there. Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game today, though," said Pederson. Over the last few weeks, Bigsby has rushed for 273 yards on 34 carries (8.03 yards per tote) and two touchdowns. He ranks fifth in the NFL with 18 missed tackles forced and first in rushing yards over expectation per attempt. Bigsby has become the team's power back, with Etienne remaining as an elusive, pass-catching back. Etienne's usage has slowed down over the last few weeks, and a nagging shoulder injury could be to blame. The bottom line is that despite Pederson's comments, Bigsby has outperformed Etienne and is deserving of a bigger workload.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Oct 10 12:10pm CT
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (ankle, hamstring) will be limited in the first practice of the week on Thursday, according to interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. He said that Rodgers will be ready to go for the Monday night contest in Week 6 against the visiting division-rival Buffalo Bills. The 40-year-old veteran picked up a low-ankle sprain and a hamstring injury in the Week 5 loss in London to the Minnesota Vikings. Despite Rodgers looking to be in significant pain when he injured his ankle, he didn't miss any snaps in the 23-17 loss. The future Hall of Famer should have an easier go of it against a banged-up Bills secondary this week after two rough performances the last two weeks in losses to the Broncos and Vikings. However, Rodgers is still nothing more than a low-end QB2 option in fantasy, at least until/if the Jets pull off a trade to reunite him with receiver Davante Adams.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Wright Oct 10 12:40am CT
Matthew Wright

San Francisco 49ers kicker Matthew Wright will look to make a good impression in his 2024 debut in Seattle on Thursday night. Wright was signed early in the week after starting kicker Jake Moody suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday against the Cardinals. Originally signed out of the University of Central Florida in 2020, Wright has bounced around the league, including multiple stints with Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Carolina, and San Francisco. His most productive year was 2021 with Jacksonville when he played in 14 games. Wright owns a career field goal percentage of 85.1, hitting 40 of 47 attempts. His career-long is 59 yards. While Wright is not as talented as Moody, the biggest factor in choosing a fantasy kicker is the strength of the offense, so for fantasy managers who see San Francisco spending a lot of time in Seahawks territory, Wright is a decent option. That said, there are probably safer bets available in most leagues.

From RotoBaller

Shaq Lawson Oct 10 12:23am CT
Shaq Lawson

The Carolina Panthers officially signed free-agent DE Shaq Lawson (Bills) to their practice squad on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

From TheHuddle

Charvarius Ward Oct 10 12:20am CT
Charvarius Ward

The San Francisco 49ers D/ST unit is in Seattle in Week 6 to take on the Seahawks for the first of two 2024 matchups. The 49ers contributed nicely to fantasy scores in Week 5 against Arizona, the highlight being a blocked field goal for a touchdown by defensive back Deommodore Lenoir. The touchdown did a lot of salvage work though, as San Francisco only had one sack, one interception, and they allowed 24 points. Seattle's offense has been good, and comes in fully healthy, ranking seventh in the NFL in yards per game and 11th in points scored. The 49ers will be without starting safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) and starting cornerback Charvarius Ward (knee) is questionable. Treat the Niners' DST as a startable, but not elite choice in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Oct 10 12:20am CT
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee, ankle) was absent from practice on Wednesday. The talented tight end finally returned from an ankle injury in Week 5, but within mere minutes, he picked up a new knee injury. Njoku has yet to play a full game this season, and Wednesday's practice status suggests that he could end up being sidelined for Week 6, too. If that's the case, Jordan Akins will step up as the Browns' top tight end, ranking as a mid-to-low TE2 in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Mike Gesicki Oct 10 12:00am CT
Mike Gesicki

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. As the Bengals prepare for Week 6 against the New York Giants, there's a real chance they could be without their starting veteran tight end. Gesicki has 17 catches and 178 yards this year, but most of that production came over the first three weeks. His role has been drastically scaled back over the last two weeks, and now, it looks like he could be sidelined for Week 6. If so, rookie Erick All Jr., who has 14 catches through his last four games, would jump into the mid-to-low TE2 tier for fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Oct 10 12:00am CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (right shoulder) was a full participant during practice on Wednesday. The young signal-caller injured himself back in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins, but a conveniently placed Week 5 bye allowed him to get healthy in time for the Titans' upcoming game against Indianapolis. The 25-year-old has been a turnover machine this year, logging six interceptions, three lost fumbles, and just four passing touchdowns so far. He should be avoided in fantasy football, ranking outside the top 24 fantasy quarterbacks.

From RotoBaller

Rashod Bateman Oct 9 11:50pm CT
Rashod Bateman

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (groin) was sidelined from practice on Wednesday. Bateman is a new addition to the injury report as he was not banged up heading into last Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 24-year-old has posted modest stats through five games this season, tallying 13 catches, 202 yards, and two touchdowns. So far, he's the overall WR52 in fantasy football and should only be started in leagues with 14 teams or more. Of course, that's contingent on him being healthy. There is a real chance that Bateman's DNP on Wednesday eventually leads to him being inactive against the Washington Commanders in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Joey Bosa Oct 9 11:40pm CT
Joey Bosa

Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards (ankle) and defensive end Joey Bosa (hip) were both sidelined during Wednesday's practice. Edwards opened the summer as the favorite to lead Los Angeles' backfield, but he quickly lost his role to J.K. Dobbins. Edwards now has just 113 rushing yards, two receiving yards, and zero touchdowns this year, so even if he makes significant progress and manages to play in Week 6, he'd be off the fantasy radar. Bosa, on the other hand, is off to an impactful start in 2024. The 29-year-old registered seven tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble back in Week 1. However, injuries have sidelined him for almost every snap since then, and he's still banged up on the other side of Los Angeles' Week 6 bye. His status should be closely monitored this week, but he's trending in the wrong direction.

From RotoBaller