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FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

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
Chris Godwin Oct 4 8:40am CT
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin continued his successful 2024 campaign during Thursday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The veteran wideout hauled in five of his six targets for 64 yards in the overtime loss. Fellow wideout Mike Evans saw the red zone attention this week with two touchdowns. Despite that, Godwin still put together a solid performance as he's reached 60 yards or more in four of his five games. The Bucs will now head into a tougher matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6. Evans figures to draw star defensive back Marshon Lattimore which means Godwin should see more looks next week.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Oct 4 8:30am CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans came ready to play during Thursday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The veteran wideout hauled in five of his seven targets for 62 yards and two touchdowns during the overtime loss. It could've been a bigger game for Evans who was wide open for what looked like his third score but quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't see him. Regardless, fantasy managers will take his two-score game from Evans who now has five touchdowns on the season. He'll head into a tougher matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6. Despite that, Evans should still be able to carve out WR1 value for that game.

From RotoBaller

Demarcus Robinson Oct 4 8:20am CT
Demarcus Robinson

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (hip) has been dealing with a hip issue which caused him to be a limited participant at practice on Wednesday. The good news, for the injury-riddled Rams, is that he was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday and he's trending in the right direction. With Cooper Kupp (ankle) still not practicing, Robinson is in line for added opportunities alongside Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington. In the Week 4 matchup against the Chicago Bears, Robinson finished with three targets, two receptions, and 37 yards. The matchup against the Green Bay Packers presents a better situation this time around though.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Oct 4 8:20am CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving wasn't able to capitalize on the field during Thursday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie back rushed nine times for 44 yards while adding two receptions for 12 yards in the receiving game. This marked the first time this season that Irving has been outrushed by fellow back Rachaad White. Irving also lost a critical fumble late in the game. It's unclear if this lackluster performance is going to hurt his stock going forward, but he should still remain in a committee with White. That being said, Irving is worth stashing, but won't have a ton of starting appeal for the Week 6 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Oct 4 8:10am CT
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White put together his best performance of the season on the ground during Thursday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. White rushed the ball 10 times for 72 yards in what ended up being an overtime loss to Tampa Bay. It's worth noting that 56 of the yards came on one play, so White struggled throughout most of this game. Fellow back Bucky Irving didn't do a whole lot better with a fumble and getting stood up at the goal line. It remains clear that the Bucs are going to use a committee approach at running back. That being said, White will likely only have flex appeal for the Week 6 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Oct 4 8:00am CT
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was more efficient on the ground this week but was unable to turn it into a big fantasy outing as the team grabbed a hard-fought win in overtime over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Robinson finished the game with 61 yards on 12 carries while hauling in all three of his targets for 16 yards. The 5.1 yards per carry is a great stat to see, but with one less reception in this game and no touchdowns, he was unable to bounce back from a lackluster week against the New Orleans Saints. Tyler Allgeier was a bit more involved in this contest as he received nine total touches, but the story of this game was the passing game as Kirk Cousins threw the ball 58 times for 509 yards. Robinson's next chance to find the end zone will be against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Taylor Oct 4 7:50am CT
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) has not practiced at all yet this week as he's dealing with what everyone is calling a "mild high-ankle sprain." The star back injured his ankle against the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Week 4 matchup, and Ian Rapoport believes that he's "likely to miss some time" moving forward. He noted that Taylor suiting up for their Week 5 game would be a big surprise. His status past this week will be something to monitor, especially since they don't have a bye week for added rest until Week 14. Trey Sermon is the next man up with Tyler Goodson ready to take some snaps in relief.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Oct 4 2:03am CT
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons WR Ray-Ray McCloud had six catches (on nine targets) for 66 yards versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Fantasy Spin: When you pass the ball 59 times, a lot of guys are gonna see action. That included McCloud, who has now been targeted five times or more in four of Atlanta's five games. He looks to be filling the WR3 slot behind Drake London and Darnell Mooney, but the veteran doesn't offer much to fantasy owners with his 66 yards tonight representing a new career high.

From TheHuddle

Kirk Cousins Oct 4 12:53am CT
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins connected on 42 of his 58 passes for a franchise-record 509 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception during an overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Oct. 3. Cousins was sacked four times.

Fantasy Spin: Uneven for most of the first four games, Cousins morphed into Kirko Chainz on Thursday night, lighting up an injury-depleted Buccaneers secondary for 509 yards, which included a game-tying drive in the final seconds and a game-winning drive on the first possession of overtime. Obviously, this was a once-in-a-lifetime type performance from Cousins, but just go back to his days in Minnesota to remind yourself that he'll have weeks where he tops 300 yards with multiple TDs. He remains a nice QB2 for fantasy owners, though anyone that had him active tonight most definitely LIKED THAT!

From TheHuddle

Chris Godwin Oct 4 12:33am CT
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin had five receptions for 64 yards versus the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, Oct. 3. He was targeted seven times.

Fantasy Spin: After a red-hot start, Godwin has gone back-to-back weeks with less than 70 yards and no touchdowns. He hasn't had a truly bad game, yet, but it feels like he's settling into more of that WR3 spot he's typically filled over the years for fantasy owners. Godwin had two of his better games of last season against the Saints (8-114-0 in Week 4, 3-81-1 in Week 17), so make sure he's in your lineup when those clubs renew acquaintances in Week 6.

From TheHuddle

Mike Evans Oct 4 12:13am CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans caught five passes (on seven targets) for 62 yards and a pair of touchdowns versus the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, Oct. 3. They were the 99th and 100th touchdowns of Evans' 11-year career.

Fantasy Spin: While he still hasn't hit the 100-yard mark this season -- in fact, he's finished with less than 65 yards in all but one game -- Evans continues to demand a spot in your lineup by pushing his touchdown total on the year to five. On deck is the renewal of his legendary rivalry with Marshon Lattimore. Get your popcorn ready.

From TheHuddle

Darnell Mooney Oct 4 12:00am CT
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney caught nine of 16 targets for 105 yards and two touchdowns during Thursday's overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was Kirk Cousins' most-targeted teammate as the quarterback attempted 58 passes for a franchise-record 509 yards through the air. Mooney delivered one of the best fantasy performances of his career, and he would've added even more points had he been able to catch a fourth-quarter pass that ultimately went through his hands and hit his chest. The 26-year-old seems to be enjoying a resurgence after leaving the Chicago Bears in free agency. Over his last four contests as a Falcon, Mooney is averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game. He ranks as an appealing WR3/FLEX for Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Oct 4 12:00am CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts converted eight targets into seven catches for 88 yards during Thursday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The young tight end still hasn't blossomed into a consistent fantasy option, but his productive showing in Week 5 was a step in the right direction. Of course, it was aided by a historic performance by Kirk Cousins, who attempted a whopping 58 passes and tallied a franchise-record 509 yards through the air. This type of yardage likely isn't sustainable for Cousins, but it's possible that his rapport with Pitts will hold strong moving forward. He remains a mid-to-low fantasy TE1 for Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Oct 3 11:50pm CT
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver caught 12 of 13 targets for 154 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. London was one of the main benefactors as quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for a franchise-record 509 yards in Week 5. He's now averaging 20.5 fantasy points (PPR) per game over the last four weeks, vaulting him into the high-end WR2 territory with WR1 upside. The 23-year-old can finally be trusted in fantasy lineups week after week. He's a must-start option heading into Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Dee Alford Oct 3 11:40pm CT
Dee Alford

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (head) was diagnosed with a concussion on Thursday night and did not return. He finished the Falcons' Week 5 game against the Buccaneers with three tackles, bringing his season total up to 28. Typically, players who enter concussion protocol miss at least one game. However, since the Falcons have 10 full days until their next contest, there's still a slight chance we could see Alford suit up for Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. On the other hand, if he can't play, Antonio Hamilton would earn more snaps in the secondary.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Oct 3 11:33pm CT
Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield completed 19 of 24 passes for 180 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions in a Week 5 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He added 42 yards on six carries.

Fantasy Spin: It was a tale of two halves for Mayfield, who did most of his damage before halftime with the Bucs scoring 24 points. In the second half, he did little, and the offense bogged down, resulting in Tampa Bay falling short at the end. The veteran continues to function on the edge of QB1 territory, accounting for three or more total TDs in three of five games this year but finishing with less than 200 yards passing three times as well. He averaged 278 yards, 2.5 TDs, and 1.5 INTs per game in two meetings with New Orleans in 2023. That should make him a viable starting option for Week 6.

From TheHuddle

Kirk Cousins Oct 3 11:20pm CT
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cousins was truly dominant, setting a single-game franchise record for passing yards while leading his team to a come-from-behind victory. The veteran quarterback seems to have adapted quite well ever since a shaky Week 1 showing at home. It was a historic fantasy performance for Cousins, and while we can't count on him to throw for 509 yards and four touchdowns every week, he certainly inspired much-needed confidence in managers. Equally important was his impact on Atlanta's pass-catchers. Drake London had one of the best games of his career, catching 12 of 13 targets for a whopping 154 yards and one touchdown. Kyle Pitts found his groove with seven catches for 88 yards. Darnell Mooney turned 16 targets into nine catches, 105 yards, and two touchdowns, and he would've likely scored a third had he not dropped a pass that hit him in the chest in the final quarter. The Falcons' offense is trending upward with one quarterback, two running backs, three receivers, and a tight end all on the fantasy radar heading into Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Rasheen Ali Oct 3 10:00pm CT
Rasheen Ali

Baltimore Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali (neck) was set to return to practice on Thursday, which opened his 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve. The fifth-round selection made the 53-man roster out of training camp but was moved to IR due to a neck injury in Week 1. Ali wasn't exactly wowing the coaches in training camp in August with his play, so we wouldn't be surprised if the Ravens took the whole 21 days to evaluate him in practices before adding him to the active roster as RB depth behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. The Marshall product also dealt with some injuries in college and primarily relies on speed in open space. Unless Henry or Hill miss time with an injury later in the year, Ali is probably going to primarily one to stash in dynasty/keeper formats.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Whitehead Oct 3 9:53pm CT
Jordan Whitehead

Tampa Bay Buccaneers SS Jordan Whitehead (groin) is questionable to return to the Week 5 game against the Atlanta Falcons after exiting with a groin injury.

From TheHuddle

Tyler Badie Oct 3 9:40pm CT
Tyler Badie

Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) missed practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday, and head coach Sean Payton said on Wednesday that could "possibly" be a candidate to go on Injured Reserve, which would cost him at least four games. Badie injured his back in the Week 4 win over the New York Jets and was carted off the field. The 24-year-old will almost certainly miss the Week 5 game against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, with the Broncos likely officially ruling him out on Friday. Badie had nine carries for 70 yards in the Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and might have been in line for a bigger workload before his back injury. For now with Badie likely out for multiple weeks, Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin should have safer roles as the 1A and 1B in Denver's low-scoring offense. Badie should stay on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller