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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

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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Brock Bowers Aug 9 6:00pm CT
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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Las Vegas Raiders first-round rookie tight end Brock Bowers is going to be difficult to keep off the field in 2024. Bowers has been as advertised as a playmaker in training camp while also proving stouter as a run-blocker than anticipated. His versatility has been evident early on. Michael Mayer will be a factor at the position, but Bowers seems inevitable. "Brock is different," head coach Antonio Pierce said. "He's a tight end, because that's what he's labeled as, but he can play all over the field. ... He's even more special with the ball in his hands." The 21-year-old was easily the best TE prospect in this year's draft class and figures to have low-end TE1 value immediately in fantasy as a safety blanket for either QBs Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell. It's possible Bowers will be the team's second leading receiver behind Davante Adams.

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C.J. Stroud Aug 9 5:50pm CT
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide receiver Stefon Diggs are among the team's healthy starters that will play in the second preseason contest on Friday on the road against the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers. Stroud and the rest of the starting offense were held out of last week's Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears, but they'll get some action in the second preseason game. The 22-year-old Stroud and the rest of the starters that play on Friday will likely only play for a couple of drives, at the most, but it will give us our first look at his connection with new wideout Diggs in a game setting. Stroud's marvelous first NFL season in 2024 has vaulted him into midrange QB1 status in fantasy circles, especially after the addition of Diggs this offseason. Diggs, meanwhile, will see his fantasy stock fall in a new environment in which he'll have more competition for targets.

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Cordarrelle Patterson Aug 9 5:40pm CT
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The Pittsburgh Steelers activated running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (undisclosed) from the Non-Football Injury list on Friday after he passed a physical. Patterson will now be able to join the rest of his teammates in practice at training camp. The 33-year-old followed Arthur Smith from Atlanta to Pittsburgh and will most likely serve as the team's kick returner on special teams. The former 29th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 out of Tennessee produced a career-high 695 rushing yards and eight touchdowns for the Falcons in 2022 but fell back to Earth big time in 2023, seeing 50 carries for only 181 yards. In Pittsburgh's backfield, he's third on the depth chart behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and will most likely be used sparingly as more of a gadget player when he's not returning kicks.

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Shaquill Griffin Aug 9 5:40pm CT
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The Minnesota Vikings acquired cornerback Nahshon Wright from the Dallas Cowboys on Friday in exchange for cornerback Andrew Booth, according to sources. The trade is pending physicals on both players. Wright was taken in the third round (99th overall) by Dallas in 2021 out of Oregon State and produced just 37 tackles (27 solo), an interception and five pass breakups in 32 games (three starts) in his first three years in the league. The 25-year-old defensive back figures to be a backup at cornerback in Minnesota behind Shaquill Griffin in his first year in the NFC North. Booth, a second-round selection (42nd overall) in 2022 out of Clemson, will also likely be a backup in his new home in Dallas. The 23-year-old has 20 tackles (19 solo) and one pass breakup in his first two years in the NFL in 23 games (two starts).

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Bo Nix Aug 9 5:30pm CT
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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said on Friday that rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix will start the team's second preseason game next week at home against the visiting Green Bay Packers. Jarrett Stidham, who opened training camp as the starter on the unofficial depth chart, is starting the preseason opener at Lucas Oil Stadium this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Stidham entered the offseason with a leg up in the QB competition this summer, mainly because of his experience last year in Payton's offense. It doesn't mean he'll be starting in the Week 1 season opener in Seattle against the Seahawks, though, and both Stidham and Nix have been splitting first-team reps in camp to this point. Stidham may be the safer game manager to begin the year for Denver, but the Broncos drafted Nix in the first round for a reason. Neither QB profiles as anything more than a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues this year.

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Logan Thomas Aug 9 5:20pm CT
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Jarrett Stidham Aug 9 5:20pm CT
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Brandon Aiyuk Aug 9 5:10pm CT
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The San Francisco 49ers have made a renewed effort in recent days to strike a long-term deal with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, according to sources. The situation is fluid and other teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, are still in the mix. But now a return to San Fran appears increasingly possible. Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz writes that Aiyuk had a sit-down meeting with head coach Kyle Shanahan and others in the organization where "some open and candid thoughts were expressed." There is optimism Aiyuk won't be dealt now after it looked like the two sides relationship was fractured beyond repair just a few days ago. The likeliest landing spots for Aiyuk are Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and both locations would most likely be bad news for his fantasy value in 2024. If the 26-year-old former first-rounder stays in the Bay Area, he'll be a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 target in fantasy.

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Darnell Mooney Aug 9 4:13pm CT
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Dynasty | Falcons wide receiver Rondale Moore has sustained a knee injury and is out for the season. Dynasty Analysis: He's already been placed on IR, so this is official. Moore was hoping for a fresh start with the Falcons this season after never really breaking out in Arizona. Unfortunately, he fell behind Ray-Ray McCloud early in training camp, then went down with this injury in practice. It's a tough break for Moore, who is going to be a tough hold in a dynasty league. Meanwhile, Darnell Mooney and McCloud likely get a short-term bump as a result.

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Brandon Aiyuk Aug 9 4:13pm CT
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Dynasty | Free agent wide receiver Robby Chosen has signed with the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: The player formerly known as Robbie Anderson (and briefly as Chosen Anderson) will attempt to make the 53-man roster, though that could prove tough as he's bounced around the league in recent years. The news here may be the fact the 49ers are improving their depth chart in the hopes they can move Brandon Aiyuk here soon. Stay tuned.

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Drew Lock Aug 9 2:10pm CT
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New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (oblique) is dealing with a bad bone contusion and strained oblique from Thursday's preseason game against the visiting Detroit Lions in East Rutherford. He's expected to miss some time, but no surgery is required. Head coach Brian Daboll said the Giants could potentially add another QB with Lock sidelined a bit. With that said, Lock will have about a month to recover if he wants to get back in time to back up starting signal-caller Daniel Jones for New York's regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Sep. 8 at MetLife Stadium. As for next Saturday's preseason contest against the hosting Houston Texans, it's fair to expect Jones to make an appearance in the first quarter before third-stringer Tommy Devito replaces him and soaks up the lion's share of the remaining snaps during exhibition play.

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Kirk Cousins Aug 9 2:00pm CT
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If the Atlanta Falcons stick to their plan, quarterback Kirk Cousins (Achilles) will enter the regular season without any game action this year. Cousins did participate in the joint practices on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Miami Dolphins, but he's unlikely to suit up during the preseason. Head coach Raheem Morris is fine with where the signal-caller is at in his recovery from last season's torn Achilles and believes Cousins will be ready for the regular-season opener, which is set for Sep. 8 against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Although Cousins will be 36 years old by the time the season starts and is coming off a serious injury, he was playing at an MVP level before going down last year, throwing for 291.4 yards per game with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight starts for the Minnesota Vikings. Treat him as a fringe QB1/2 to begin his first season with Atlanta.

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Dak Prescott Aug 9 1:50pm CT
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is unlikely to play in the preseason, but if they had to play a regular-season game, he said he'd be ready. "I'm going into Year 9, I've had a lot of experience," Prescott said Thursday. "I think all of that carries into my confidence to say I could play a game right now." The Cowboys held a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, and Prescott looked sharp in his team-drill work against the Rams' first-team defense, completing several passes to wide receiver Jalen Tolbert and tight end Jake Ferguson. With All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb not practicing, his top target was veteran receiver Brandin Cooks. The 31-year-old three-time Pro Bowler was the runner-up for the NFL MVP Award in 2023, leading the league with 36 passing touchdowns and 410 completions in 17 appearances. Prescott is a midrange QB1 pick in fantasy drafts after the top-tier options are off the board.

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Jalen Hurts Aug 9 1:40pm CT
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The Philadelphia Eagles plan to play quarterback Jalen Hurts and their starters for a series in Friday's preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. It could be more depending upon how the series goes, but the first-team players are at least expected to make an appearance on Friday against the Ravens. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect to see the stars and veterans for more than a handful of snaps, though. With elite rushing upside, Hurts has cemented himself as one of fantasy's weekly matchup-proof QB1 bets entering 2024. Last season, he piled up a ridiculous 44 red-zone carries to go with 15 rushing touchdowns in 17 appearances for the Eagles. The 26-year-old two-time Pro Bowler is now also surrounded by one of the top supporting casts in all of football to bolster his fantasy package.

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Aaron Jones Aug 9 1:20pm CT
Aaron Jones

The Minnesota Vikings appear unlikely to have starting running back Aaron Jones against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. He was held out of practice on Thursday for an undisclosed reason, watching from the sideline. It remains unclear what's keeping Jones out of action for the Vikings, but fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned for the time being. Jones is entering his age-30 season during his first year in Minnesota, lining up as the team's lead back and a midrange RB2 option in fantasy to begin 2024 after producing the second-most yards per route run (1.85) at his position among qualifiers in 2023 with the division-rival Green Bay Packers. Additionally, the former Pro Bowler surpassed 115 scrimmage yards in each of his final five appearances of the campaign, including the postseason.

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Rico Dowdle Aug 9 1:20pm CT
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle have both gotten their share of first-team reps in training camp this summer. In the joint scrimmage with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Dowdle looked very good with his opportunities. With that said, it might've been the best day of camp so far for Elliott, who was decisive in his cuts. His burst was on display as well to hit running lanes and quickly make it to the second and, at times, to the third level of the defense. Dallas' backfield is becoming a compelling storyline to watch for fantasy managers entering 2024, and Sunday's preseason opener against the Rams should help provide some clarity on this situation. As it stands, Elliott should be deemed the early favorite to lead Cowboys backs in snaps and carries this season, as his value in pass protection figures to be invaluable, while Dowdle remains a late-round sleeper with plenty of upside.

From RotoBaller

JuJu Smith-Schuster Aug 9 1:00pm CT
JuJu Smith-Schuster

The New England Patriots are releasing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Friday, according to a source. The writing was on the wall all offseason after the Patriots snagged rookie wideouts Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in April's NFL draft. Smith-Schuster was a non-factor for the Patriots last year, even after Kendrick Bourne (knee) tore his ACL, finishing with just 29 catches on 47 targets for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games (seven starts). The 27-year-old wasn't targeted at all in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions while playing 11 offensive snaps. He'll look to latch on with another organization before the start of the 2024 regular season, but even if he does, he'll likely be off the fantasy radar. The release of Smith-Schuster is good news for Jalen Reagor and KJ Osborn as they look for roles in New England's receiving corps.

From RotoBaller

DJ Turner Aug 9 12:40pm CT
DJ Turner

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner will be a factor in the offense this year, considering his strong training camp and Michael Gallup's retirement. The Raiders were counting on Gallup for 40-plus catches in 2024, so that production will now go elsewhere. "All of a sudden he's had a great offseason and is getting plays at wide receiver and he's flashing -- balls down the field, plays across the middle, screens," head coach Antonio Pierce said of Turner. "He's got a thick body, built like a running back, so hopefully we can get some YAC out of him." The 27-year-old will be competing for the WR3 role with Tre Tucker behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Unless Adams or Meyers miss time with an injury, Turner will most likely be off the fantasy radar in this offense.

From RotoBaller

Antonio Pierce Aug 9 12:30pm CT
Antonio Pierce

The Las Vegas Raiders themselves aren't expecting a juggernaut offense with either quarterbacks Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell running the show. "We're probably not going to be, to be honest, a juggernaut offense," head coach Antonio Pierce said. "Would I love to be? Yeah. To sit here and say we're going to score 30 points a game, that's not realistic." Pierce has deemed the QB battle at 50-50 right now, with both Minshew and O'Connell to play one quarter each over the first two preseason games before a winner is announced. Minshew is good when the pocket breaks down, while O'Connell can deliver accurate balls in the pocket. Neither signal-caller will be much more than a low-upside, low-end QB2 in fantasy, and the winner of the battle will likely come down to who takes better care of the football.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Aug 9 12:30pm CT
Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has "really, really, really stepped up his game" in Year 2 with the team, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. "Since the offseason, he's been lights-out," Pierce said. Things couldn't have gone much better for Meyers in his first season with the Raiders in 2023, especially considering the quarterback situation, as he finished with 71 receptions (106 targets) for 807 receiving yards and a career-high eight touchdowns in 16 starts. He also rushed for two scores. The 27-year-old pass-catcher is almost certainly going to face touchdown regression in 2024, especially since he'll be working with either O'Connell again or newcomer Gardner Minshew. Meyers' numbers in the other receiving categories could also take a step back after the addition of rookie pass-catching tight end Brock Bowers.

From RotoBaller