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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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T.J. Hockenson Aug 9 9:00am CT
T.J. Hockenson

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is not likely to be ready for Week 1 of the new NFL season. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Hockenson could miss anywhere from three to seven weeks to start the season as he still recovers from an ACL tear last year. Despite some of the latest reports saying that he's recovering ahead of schedule, it doesn't seem like the Vikings will take any chances and make sure he's as close to 100% healthy as possible. That means backups Josh Oliver, Robert Tonyan, and Johnny Mundt will compete to see who gets a bulk of the workload while Hockenson remains sidelined.

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Drake Maye Aug 9 8:30am CT
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye only saw six plays in his preseason debut and sat out for the rest of the game. The rookie is taking things day by day as he continues to get plenty of reps in practice. Head coach Jerod Mayo said that there are still two more preseason games to get him some more game speed reps, but he's not going to force Maye to play with backup offensive linemen or put him in any tough situations. This all seems to be a way to protect Maye, so he'll likely be the top quarterback on the depth chart this season, but how safe the Patriots are willing to be is to be determined. Dynasty managers will want to check for updates as the preseason rolls on.

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Nick Foles Aug 9 7:50am CT
Nick Foles

Free-agent quarterback Nick Foles has officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday. The Super Bowl-winning backup quarterback was still searching for a new team this offseason but has decided to step away from the game instead. In 11 seasons, Foles appeared in 71 games while starting in 56 of them. He posted 14,227 yards 82 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions with a completion percentage of 62.4%. His playoff run in 2017 will go down in Philadelphia lore as one of the best runs in football when he threw six touchdowns to one interception and 971 yards in three games. On top of that, he won a Super Bowl MVP against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

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Tommy DeVito Aug 9 5:30am CT
Tommy DeVito

New York Giants third-string quarterback Tommy Devito was thrown into the fire in the team's preseason opener against the Lions after Drew Lock (hip) exited early with an injury. While he didn't light up the stat sheet, he managed to steady the ship. DeVito went 8-for-15 with 92 passing yards, showing flashes of composure but failing to find the end zone. The young quarterback also chipped in two yards on four rushes, but his legs weren't much of a factor. DeVito's performance was far from fantasy-relevant, but he did what backup quarterbacks are supposed to do: keep the offense moving without making costly mistakes. While his yards per attempt won't supplant Daniel Jones, DeVito's ability to avoid turnovers is a positive takeaway. If Lock's injury lingers, DeVito may see more snaps in training camp and the final two games.

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Dante Miller Aug 9 5:30am CT
Dante Miller

New York Giants rookie sensation Dante Miller made his presence known in the team's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. The undrafted free agent out of South Carolina showcased his elite burst, tallying 57 yards on just 11 carries. While the stat line might not jump off the page, Miller's performance was a clear indicator of his potential value as a change-of-pace back in the Giants' offense. Miller's 5.2 yards per carry highlighted his ability to find seams and turn the corner with ease, a skill set the Giants have sorely lacked. His combination of speed and vision was on full display, especially during a 19-yard scamper that electrified the Giants' sideline and gave fantasy managers a glimpse of his upside. With Devin Singletary locked in as the starter, Miller is carving out a role that could see him make this team.

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Malik Nabers Aug 9 5:30am CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants first-round pick Malik Nabers made his highly anticipated NFL debut on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. The rookie wide receiver, who has been a camp standout, saw limited action, playing just 12 snaps with the second-team offense. Despite running eight routes, Drew Lock didn't target Nabers, leaving fantasy managers with a goose egg in the stat column. However, don't let this quiet night fool you. Nabers was open on several occasions, showcasing the route-running prowess that has coaches buzzing. While the box score may be barren, his ability to create separation is undeniable. Keep a close eye on Nabers as he earns more playing time; his breakout potential remains sky-high in this Giants' offense. This is a classic "don't chase the points, trust the process" situation for savvy managers.

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Eric Gray Aug 9 5:20am CT
Eric Gray

Eric Gray showed the New York Giants that their investment in him is starting to pay dividends in Thursday's 14-3 win over the Detroit Lions. The second-year back had a breakout performance, totaling 98 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice. Gray's night was highlighted by a stunning 48-yard touchdown run that had echoes of his college days and reminded fantasy managers why the Giants took a flier on him in the fifth round last year. But it wasn't just the flashy run; Gray also showed versatility by adding 46 receiving yards on top of his 52 rushing yards, making him a dual-threat weapon. His second score, a gritty 1-yard plunge, sealed the victory and might have sealed his spot as a serious fantasy option moving forward. With Devin Singletary as the starter for now, Gray's emerging role could make him a sneaky pickup in deeper leagues, especially if the Giants look to lighten Singletary's workload.

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Nate Sudfeld Aug 9 2:40am CT
Nate Sudfeld

Detroit Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld completed just 13 of 24 passes for 96 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants. He also rushed three times for an additional 14 yards on the ground. The 30-year-old played most of the game, only ceding reps to Hendon Hooker (head) in the third quarter. (Hooker departed after two drives and entered concussion protocol, bringing Sudfeld back into the game.) Neither player led a touchdown drive, and while Hooker was quite impressive on the ground, his new injury could give Sudfeld the early advantage in the fight to be Jared Goff's backup. If Hooker is expected to miss time, Detroit could add another quarterback to compete with Sudfeld ahead of the 2024 campaign.

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Sione Vaki Aug 9 2:40am CT
Sione Vaki

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki rushed four times for 29 yards during Thursday's preseason loss to the New York Giants. He broke off a solid 15-yard run in the effort, but perhaps his best play was a fumble recovery after a Giants defender lost the football on an interception return. A fourth-round pick out of Utah, Vaki projects to make the 53-man roster, slotting in behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs on the running back depth chart. He's an appealing option in deep dynasty leagues (and even deeper redraft formats) given that he could earn a handful of opportunities if Montgomery or Gibbs miss any time in 2024.

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Isaiah Williams Aug 9 2:30am CT
Isaiah Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaiah Williams caught all four of his targets for a total of 35 yards during Thursday's preseason loss against the New York Giants. Undrafted out of Illinois, Williams is now firmly in the mix for a depth role after a solid showing in Week 1 of the preseason. He showcased considerable quickness and change of direction skills in the loss, even earning a shoutout from head coach Dan Campbell following the game. Williams has less than one month (and two more games) to show the coaching staff why he's worthy of a coveted 53-man roster spot.

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Hendon Hooker Aug 9 2:30am CT
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Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (head) completed five of nine passes for 36 yards during Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants. He was also productive on the ground, rushing four times for a team-leading 34 yards on the ground. Nearly half of his yardage came on a 16-yard run, which was the Lions' biggest gain on the ground in their loss to New York. On a more negative note, Hooker departed the game in the second half and has since entered concussion protocol. It remains to be seen if he'll miss additional time and whether an extended absence could spoil his chance of winning the backup quarterback job over Nate Sudfeld.

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Kayshon Boutte Aug 9 2:20am CT
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New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught three of his six targets for a total of 53 yards during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. The former LSU receiver saw his snaps alongside quarterbacks Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe, who are competing for the third-string role ahead of the 2024 season. Boutte himself is competing for a roster spot after an uninspiring rookie campaign in which he was active for just five games, catching two of the seven passes thrown his way. A misdemeanor underage gambling charge and felony computer fraud charge also made his status a bit murky, but he's been cleared of those charges as of mid-July. Boutte has one month (and two more preseason games) to show the new Patriots coaching staff why he's worthy of a roster spot. Even if he does make the team, he'll be buried on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most formats.

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Joe Milton III Aug 9 2:10am CT
Joe Milton III

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton completed four of six passes for 54 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. He was also effective on the ground, rushing five times for 22 additional yards. The Tennessee product is believed to be competing for the No. 3 quarterback job given that it would take an enormous turn of events for him to surpass Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye on the depth chart. New England should carry three quarterbacks into the season, though, and a strong preseason could give him the edge over Bailey Zappe. Nevertheless, he remains off the fantasy radar.

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Jack Plummer Aug 9 12:20am CT
Jack Plummer

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jack Plummer completed 11 of his 21 passes for 86 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots. Plummer played the first three-quarters of the game and was eventually relieved by Jake Luton. The 24-year-old signed with the Panthers after going undrafted in this year's draft and looks to be locked into the QB3 position behind Bryce Young and Andy Dalton. He remains off the fantasy radar for the upcoming season.

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Jordan Matthews Aug 9 12:00am CT
Jordan Matthews

Carolina Panthers tight end Jordan Matthews caught all three of his targets for 48 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots, leading all pass-catchers in yards on the night. The bulk of his yardage came from a 28-yard pass from Jack Plummer in the second quarter. The 31-year-old spent the majority of last season on Carolina's practice squad. With the addition of rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, Matthews will likely remain on the practice squad this season and is off the radar from a fantasy perspective.

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Mike Boone Aug 8 11:50pm CT
Mike Boone

Carolina Panthers running back Mike Boone rushed the ball eight times for 34 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots, leading the team in touches and yards on the night. Boone also reeled in three catches for 13 yards through the air. The 29-year-old signed with Carolina in January of last season but remained on the practice squad for the entirety of the 2023 season. Boone will look to find his way onto the 53-man roster while rookie Jonathan Brooks remains on the PUP list but is firmly off the fantasy radar heading into the 2024 season.

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Kevin Harris Aug 8 9:50pm CT
Kevin Harris

New England Patriots running back Kevin Harris rushed eight times for 22 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. In the passing game, he hauled in one of three targets for an additional six yards through the air. Harris is heading into his third pro season, but he's still just 23 years old. Rumors out of Patriots training camp suggest that Harris has out-performed JaMycal Hasty, putting him in line to open 2024 as the No. 3 running back. Nevertheless, he won't be a reliable contributor during the regular season. He can be avoided in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Mason Tipton Aug 8 9:40pm CT
Mason Tipton

New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Mason Tipton (hamstring) left Wednesday's practice early with a hamstring injury. The severity of the injury is unknown, but this certainly puts his chances of playing in the Saints preseason opener in jeopardy. Tipton has been a standout at camp thus far and is making his case for a roster spot. The Yale product is smaller in stature (5-foot-9) and never eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season during his tenure as a Bulldog. However, he did run a 4.33 40-yard dash, and New Orleans does not boast impressive depth at wide receiver. In fact, behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed (hamstring), this WR room is ripe for the taking. Tipton is nothing more than a late-round dart throw (NFFC ADP 331) or deep-league stash, but someone to monitor, considering the hype.

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Hendon Hooker Aug 8 9:20pm CT
Hendon Hooker

Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (undisclosed) was removed from Thursday night's game against the New York Giants to be evaluated in the locker room. Hooker scrambled on a play-action boot and truck-sticked a Giants defender for an impressive 16-yard gain. The drive would stall, though, after his pass was later batted down at the line of scrimmage. After the possession, the second-year quarterback was getting looked at in the medical tent, and he then made his way to the locker room. There have been no further updates from the team, though it is possible he was getting checked for a concussion. He completed five of nine pass attempts for 36 yards and rushed for 34 yards on four attempts in Thursday's win. Hooker is listed as the third-string quarterback on the Lions unofficial depth chart behind Nate Sudfeld and Jared Goff.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Aug 8 9:00pm CT
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason is making the most of his opportunities in camp in the absence of superstar running back Christian McCaffrey (calf). San Francisco is hurting right now with Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and rookie Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) also dinged up. Mason has been running with the first team recently, and while others have rotated in his stead, he has impressed his coaches thus far. Most notably, the third-year running back has made it a point to improve his pass-blocking prowess -- previously his kryptonite. During one rep, Mason was 1-on-1 with a blitzing Fred Warner and delivered a blow that sent the All-Pro linebacker flying off his feet. With McCaffrey unlikely to play during the pre-season and other critical depth pieces injured, there is a path to playing time here for the former undrafted free agent if he can continue his momentum. RotoBaller has Mason ranked 73rd among all running backs, but that would change if he became the one to handcuff behind CMC.

From RotoBaller