Wed Jul 3 10:36am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
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.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold won't be active for Saturday's preseason showdown with the Cleveland Browns. Instead, No. 2 signal-caller Nick Mullens will get the start. With J.J. McCarthy (knee) out for the season, Darnold is now atop the Vikings depth chart. The 27-year-old spent his first six seasons in the league with the Jets, Panthers, and 49ers. However, he never met expectations, throwing for 12,064 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 56 interceptions while completing just 59.7% of his throws. While McCarthy could still eventually earn the starting job in Minnesota, Darnold has a chance to turn things around this season, especially with Justin Jefferson on the roster, arguably the top wideout in the National Football League.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (back) has been with the team despite not practicing while seeking a new contract. Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that Aiyuk is considered a "hold-in." However, Shanahan added that the wideout hasn't been fined because he's also dealing with a "sore back." Without question, it has been a rocky offseason between both parties as a result of the contract dispute. But the latest revelation regarding Aiyuk's back is something that could negatively impact his fantasy value even more, at least until more information is released surrounding the severity of the ailment.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is expected to start for Sunday's preseason battle against the Saints. However, the signal-caller will likely play sparingly. Purdy spent all of last offseason recovering from an elbow injury. Yet, he still threw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 picks during the 2023-24 campaign, adding two scores off 39 carries. With Purdy coming off a Super Bowl appearance, expectations are higher than ever. Fantasy managers should view him as a week-to-week starter in most formats, especially with Christian McCaffrey (calf), George Kittle, Deebo Samuel Sr., and possibly Brandon Aiyuk at his disposal.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (hip) won't return to Saturday's preseason matchup with the Houston Texans. The 24-year-old was injured after tackling Dameon Pierce in the first quarter and remained down. Of course, any injury is never good. However, it's even worse that McFadden was carted off the field. The 2022 No. 146 overall pick has spent his first two years with the Giants, totaling 160 tackles, three sacks, four fumble recoveries, and one pick. McFadden was replaced by Darius Muasau and will likely undergo further testing soon.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans edge rusher Arden Key won his appeal and will not be facing a six-game suspension to begin the 2024 regular season, according to a league source. Key was facing a six-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policies, but now it appears as though the 28-year-old pass-rusher will be with the team for their Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions. The former third-rounder by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2018 out of LSU had a career-high-tying 30 tackles (17 solo), six sacks, 12 QB hits and two forced fumbles in 17 games (nine starts) in his first year with Tennessee in 2023. Key isn't much of a fantasy option in IDP leagues, though, with only 20 career sacks in six seasons with four different teams. This is great news for the Titans' defense heading into the start of the season this fall.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said to expect rookie first-round quarterback Jayden Daniels to play one to two offensive series in Saturday's preseason contest versus the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe came away very impressed with Daniels after watching him in a joint practice with the Dolphins on Thursday. The 23-year-old second overall pick out of LSU led the offense to five straight touchdowns during a red-zone drill on Thursday against Miami and looks comfortable and confident with the Commanders' scheme heading into his first NFL campaign. In his NFL debut last week against the New York Jets, Daniels went 2-for-3 for 45 yards and ran for a three-yard TD while playing only one series. So far, Daniels looks like the real deal and should even have QB1 upside in favorable matchups in fantasy in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Because of the season-ending injury to Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee), Jaren Hall will likely make the 53-man roster out of training camp as the No. 3 behind Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens. The fifth-round pick a year ago is still raw, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Mark Craig writes that we still have no idea if Hall has a long-term future in the NFL, even as a QB2 or QB3. Hall served in mop-up duty in the preseason opener and wasn't very good until the very end of the game. He completed four of his first 12 passes for 32 yards but then completed two of his last three passes for 31 yards to set up the win. It's likely that Hall will get most of the work in the preseason game on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns and then start the preseason finale next week versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons rookie first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr. came onto the field in Baltimore on Saturday in street clothes and appears unlikely to suit up for the preseason contest against the Ravens. The Falcons are planning to hold veteran Kirk Cousins (Achilles) out for the entire preseason, too, so it looks like we'll see a lot of Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock under center for the Falcons on Saturday. In his NFL debut last week in the preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, the 24-year-old Penix went 9-for-16 for 104 yards. There's a good chance Atlanta tries to trade Heinicke before the start of the regular season, especially if they're sold on the early development of Penix, so Saturday will give Heinicke a chance to audition for other NFL teams looking for more QB depth. Penix could be the direct backup to Cousins in his first year in the NFL.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants first-round rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (ankle) will play in the team's preseason game on Saturday against the Houston Texans after suffering a mild ankle injury recently in training camp practice. We will now get to see Nabers working with quarterback Daniel Jones for the first time in an NFL game, although the first-team offense probably won't stay in the game for long. Nabers also suited up in the team's preseason opener last week against the Detroit Lions, but he wasn't targeted at all by quarterback Drew Lock. The 21-year-old's ankle injury is a thing of the past, and he should be the most targeted wideout on the Giants in his first year in the NFL. Nabers, the second receiver taken in this year's NFL draft, has all the skills to become a WR2 for fantasy managers right away, but that will all depend on the health and productivity of Jones.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) is set to make his preseason debut this year against the Houston Texans on Saturday. Jones was likely to play in this game all along after sitting out last week's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, but now it's official. The 27-year-old suffered an ACL tear in his knee last year and had surgery in November, but he was fully cleared for the start of training camp and is fully expected to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. Jones probably won't get more than a series or two on Saturday, with Tommy Devito expected to play most of the game due to Drew Lock's (hip) injury. Jones, a former first-round pick, is entering a make-or-break year with the G-Men. The addition of first-round rookie receiver Malik Nabers should help, but until further notice, Jones should be considered a low-end QB2 option in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is reportedly seeking a new contract, according to Kole Musgrove of USA Today. Smith's current contract is set to expire after the conclusion of the 2025 season. NFL insider Mike Garafolo said on Jason Puckett's podcast that both sides have discussed a new deal. Garafolo further noted that it could be something that is settled by Week 1, but the Seattle front office is not in a rush to get the deal done. While Smith may be entering his age 33 season, he does not have a lot of miles on him as he served as a backup for several seasons with the Jets, Giants, and Seahawks before taking over the starting role. Smith is worth drafting as a low-end QB2 in superflex formats but could have some upside, given the high-quality pass catchers on his offense.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love expressed the importance of using team practices to push the offense forward. Love stated that the value of a practice rep is to "push the limit." Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette noted that Love tended to focus more on check-downs in camps last summer as he was in the process of learning the playbook. However, this camp is much different as the Utah State product has had his eyes downfield throughout the summer. In his most recent practice, he opened the session by throwing a 16 and a 20-yard completion consecutively. After getting off to a slow start in his full season as a starter, Love caught fire down the stretch and was the No. 2 overall QB from Week 10 to 17. Love will be a popular pick in fantasy drafts as he looks poised to take another step forward in his second full season.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's representatives met with the team on Thursday to discuss a new contract. The star wide receiver has been holding out of training camp as he is seeking a new contract. According to USA Today, the Cowboys presented their former first-round selection a contract slightly under $33 million, which would make Lamb the second highest-paid receiver in the sport, only behind Minnesota's Justin Jefferson. While it is still not known what figures the former Oklahoma product is seeking, this is a good sign nonetheless, as both sides are clearly making progress. CeeDee Lamb enjoyed the best season of his career last fall as he caught 1,749 receiving yards, which placed him second in the league. In addition, he scored 12 touchdowns and caught a league-leading 135 receptions. Lamb is worth selecting in the first picks of your fantasy draft given the pure volume he will see in the Dallas offense.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram enjoyed a nice joint practice on Thursday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Engram caught a nice 30-yard pass from Trevor Lawrence down the middle of the field over Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David. Rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr. also enjoyed a nice practice this day as he has continued to grow in the offense and was seen connecting with Lawrence on a deep ball. Engram enjoyed the best season of his career last fall as he averaged 13.5 PPR points per game, which placed him fourth among all tight ends. Overall, he scored 230.3 PPR points, which put him second at his position, only behind rookie Sam LaPorta. With Calvin Ridley now in Tennessee, Engram should be in line for another high-target share this season and is worth taking at his current Yahoo! ADP of 73.6.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Evan Hull has seen extensive work with the second-team offense during joint practices with the Arizona Cardinals. Trey Sermon (hamstring) had previously cemented himself as the Colts' second-string RB, but that was before he left Sunday's game against Denver early after injuring his hamstring. As of Wednesday, head coach Shane Steichen had no timetable for Sermon's return. In his wake, Hull has taken the role and ran with it. If Sermon were to miss extended time, Hull would be on fantasy manager's radars as the preferred handcuff to back up Jonathan Taylor. Whoever emerges as the handcuff to own would not hold stand-alone value, though they would be a critical fantasy asset if Taylor missed any time. For now, we'll take the wait-and-see approach regarding Indianapolis' backup to own in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (undisclosed) was absent from practice again on Friday after leaving Wednesday early for an undisclosed reason. When asked by the media about Vele's absence, head coach Sean Payton said "he'll be fine." Payton did not offer specifics on the body part in question, though it does seem to involve a lower extremity, and he added that the wideout could suit up Sunday when Denver takes on the Green Bay Packers at home. The Broncos drafted Vele in the seventh round (235th overall) of April's draft out of Utah, and while he wasn't expected to make much of an impact in his rookie season -- he's balled out over the last week, and the excitement is building around him. Vele isn't your typical rookie, -- making his NFL debut at 26 years old -- but he ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4, and Denver's WR room is ripe for the taking behind Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and Josh Reynolds.
From RotoBaller
When asked about the status of his wideouts, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn praised wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus for his strong camp. The Commanders' wide receiver room has been a hot topic this Summer as Washington continues to look for its second WR behind veteran Terry McLaurin. "We're right in the middle of it," Quinn said when asked about the competition between his pass-catchers -- "I've been really impressed with Olamide." Known for his route-running and reliable hands, the sixth-year wideout has put himself in the category of a serious contender regarding the starting job. This will be a camp battle worth monitoring, as it was presumed Jahan Dotson had the inside edge in this role. Dotson is listed as the current WR2 on Washington's unofficial depth chart, but Zaccheaus will also have Dyami Brown and rookie Luke McCaffrey to contend with for playing time. He's nothing more than a late-draft dart throw or waiver-wire fodder until the situation is more concrete. Zaccheaus is Yahoo!'s WR145.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been showing off his chemistry with quarterback Geno Smith during joint practices with the Tennessee Titans. With Tyler Lockett (leg) missing time recently, Smith-Njigba has been thrust into a more prominent role, and he's not disappointing. There has been reported "obvious" chemistry between Smith and JSN, as Seattle's signal-caller has gotten more used to the second-year wideout's timing and tempo in his routes. "I just love the way JSN works," Smith said, "Jaxon is prepared every single day." It isn't just his teammates singing his praises, either. When asked about the former first-round pick, Titans head coach Brian Callahan called him "one of the better slots as a young player." It's a crowded WR room in Seattle, but the Ohio State product has an excellent chance to build off of his rookie year in 2024. JSN would garner breakout consideration if either Lockett or Metcalf missed any time. He's Yahoo!'s WR40 in ADP.
From RotoBaller
With Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) still out, Easton Stick will make another start in the preseason game on Saturday versus the Los Angeles Rams. Stick underwhelmed in the preseason opener last Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks, going 5-for-13 for 31 yards and an interception. He evidently showed enough in training camp practices this week to hold off Max Duggan and Luis Perez, though, in what is turning into an unexpectedly tight QB competition for the backup role to Herbert in 2024. Stick looked better in practice this week but still had his ups and downs. If the 28-year-old struggles again this weekend, don't be surprised if Perez or Duggan see more starting reps in practice next week with Herbert still out. The bottom line here is that if Herbert ends up missing time in the regular season, the Bolts' offense could be in serious trouble.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie first-round wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. stood out while working out of the slot in Thursday's joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and continues to receive praise from the coaching staff. "He continues to grow, and just he and Trevor Lawrence keep talking and working. That's what's going to take, you're not going to be a finished product right away, but if he continues to improve and just learn with the offense, grow with the offense. But he's been doing a really good job," head coach Doug Pederson said. On his only catch in his NFL debut last weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs, the 21-year-old caught a 41-yard pass from C.J. Beathard. Although the Jaguars added Gabe Davis in the offseason, Thomas, the 23rd overall pick in the draft, has the chance to push for the WR2 role in Jacksonville and is worth a late-round flier as a WR4/flex heading into his first year in the NFL.
From RotoBaller