Guest of the League
Roman Empire Est. 2019
Dynasty $250 - 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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Tight End Preview

Player Notes
Najee Harris Jul 24 2:10pm CT
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris spoke to the media on Wednesday for the first time since the team declined his fifth-year option in the spring. Harris said he wants to remain in Pittsburgh on a long-term basis but noted that it's "a business" and isn't fretting about the future. In three seasons with the Steelers, Harris has exceeded the 1,000-yard rushing mark in each year, but he's averaged 3.9 yards per attempt on 834 carries over his career. The 26-year-old is set to split carries with the more explosive Jaylen Warren in 2024, but new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is likely going to ride Harris in early-down spots and goal-line situations. Harris is shaping up as a solid RB2 bet in the middle rounds fantasy drafts as the starter in a run-centric offense with improved quarterback play.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Jul 24 2:10pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (toe) came off the non-football injury list on Wednesday. After dealing with a minor toe injury, Reed was back at training camp for Wednesday's practice. The Packers sport a packed receiving corps for star quarterback Jordan Love in 2024, but it's Reed who's projecting as the signal-caller's favorite target while holding an ADP of 56 in fantasy drafts this summer, per RotoBaller. The 24-year-old former second-round pick was a standout in Green Bay's offense during his rookie campaign, ranking in the top 10 at his position in both PPR fantasy points per route run (0.56) and fantasy points per target (2.31) while totaling 10 touchdowns in 16 games (94 targets). Reed is an exciting WR2 bet in this upstart offense.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Jul 24 2:00pm CT
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) was officially placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Wednesday. Nothing has changed in terms of Chubb's timetable for a return from last year's Week 2 dislocated knee and torn MCL, as there remains no word regarding the likelihood of his Week 1 availability for this season. The 28-year-old Pro Bowl running back is being drafted 134th overall on average in fantasy drafts this summer, per RotoBaller, with the idea that he may not be ready for the outset of the campaign. Entering his age-29 year and coming off his second major knee surgery, Chubb is one of 2024's top wild cards with a wide range of potential outcomes as an RB3/4 gamble. At the moment, Jerome Ford looks like a decent value pick in the later rounds as the likely lead back for the Browns for any games Chubb may be inactive for.

From RotoBaller

Gus Edwards Jul 24 1:50pm CT
Gus Edwards

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Wednesday that running back Gus Edwards (undisclosed) had an offseason surgery, and the Chargers are giving him a "longer runway" to be a full participant in practice. Edwards didn't participate in team drills on Wednesday, but he went through individuals. The 29-year-old power back is entering his first year away from the Baltimore Ravens as Los Angeles' presumptive lead back over J.K. Dobbins (knee), but the latter could make his case for a more prominent role if the former is eased back into action this summer. After scoring 13 touchdowns in 17 games with the Ravens last year, Edwards is still fine to draft in fantasy leagues as a touchdown-dependent RB3 until a clearer picture emerges of how the touches will be divvied up in this backfield, but rookie Kimani Vidal also looms as a threat.

From RotoBaller

Kendre Miller Jul 24 1:40pm CT
Kendre Miller

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) left Wednesday's practice with a hamstring injury. Miller strained his hamstring last year during the preseason to start off what was an injury-ruined rookie year. He should be considered day-to-day until more is known, but the Saints could certainly opt to take a cautious approach here. The 22-year-old TCU product was a third-round pick in last year's NFL draft, but he was held to eight just appearances, and he'd be missing out on valuable reps if this turns out to be a significant setback. Jamaal Williams would have a clearer path to No. 2 duties behind starter Alvin Kamara for any time Miller is absent from training camp, with gadget player Taysom Hill likely getting more involved in New Orleans' backfield.

From RotoBaller

Javonte Williams Jul 24 1:20pm CT
Javonte Williams

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams took first-team reps in every drill at training camp on Wednesday. Head coach Sean Payton praised Williams, saying he lost weight and is in good shape with noticeably different conditioning. After looking a step slow all year and averaging 3.6 yards per carry over 217 rushing attempts in his first season following ACL, LCL, and PLC ligament tears, Williams is off on the right foot at practice despite rumors circulating that he could be a cut candidate this offseason. Still only 24 years old, Williams will still need to hold off the speedy Jaleel McLaughlin, rookie Audric Estime, and veteran Samaje Perine for a featured role in Denver's crowded backfield. If Perine ends up being a cap casualty, however, Williams' ADP of 115.5 would start to come up. For now, he should continue to be treated as an RB3 option in a weak Broncos offense.

From RotoBaller

Breece Hall Jul 24 1:00pm CT
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (lower body), who was dealing with an undisclosed lower-body issue during offseason workouts, took part in 11-on-11 drills during training camp practice on Wednesday. It's a great sign for Hall after he was held out as a precaution during OTAs and minicamp earlier this offseason. The 23-year-old former second-round pick (36th overall) in 2022 out of Iowa State tore his ACL in his first year in the NFL but nearly rushed for 1,000 yards on 223 rushing attempts in his sophomore season, adding nine total touchdowns in 17 games (16 starts). With quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) returning and with an improved offensive line in front of him, the sky is the limit for Hall in 2024 as a high-end RB1 as long as he avoids any serious injuries.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Graham Jul 24 12:40pm CT
Brandon Graham

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham made it clear at training camp on Wednesday that the 2024 season will be his last year in the league. Graham signed a one-year deal in the offseason with the Eagles for what will be his 15th and final season in the NFL. The 36-year-old veteran was the 13th overall pick by Philly way back in 2010 out of Michigan. He will end up playing all 15 years of his NFL career with the Eagles, which is extremely rare these days. Graham made his only Pro Bowl in 2020 and will enter his 15th season with a total of 467 tackles (344 solo), 73 sacks, 120 tackles for loss, 146 QB hits, 21 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD) in 195 regular-season games (105 starts). He had his first double-digit-sack season in 2022 but was only able to pick up three sacks in 17 games a year ago.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Jul 24 12:40pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (illness) is back on the practice field at training camp on Wednesday. Jackson came down with a pretty serious illness over the weekend and missed a few days of practice, but he's back with the team now and will likely be eased into workouts early in camp. While the 27-year-old two-time MVP was out, veteran Josh Johnson worked with Baltimore's first-team offense. Jackson made the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career in 2023, when he threw for a career-high 3,678 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season games, adding 821 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 148 rushing attempts. Staying healthy is the key for Jackson. Although new running back Derrick Henry could vulture plenty of goal-line touchdowns from Jackson in 2024, he should be a lock to be a top-five fantasy QB if he stays on the field.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Jul 24 12:30pm CT
Jameson Williams

The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner writes that Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams looks like a completely different player from a year ago early in training camp. Williams looks stronger through the middle and more explosive with better body control in the air and near the sidelines. Head coach Dan Campbell already said earlier this offseason that the 23-year-old former first-rounder looks like "a man on a mission" in 2024. The former 12th overall pick was recovering from a torn ACL heading into his rookie season and missed time due to a suspension in 2023, so he's been a first-round bust to this point. Williams' big-play ability is undeniable, though, and he has a chance to solidify the WR2 role in Detroit this year behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, which would make him an interesting WR4/flex play in standard-scoring fantasy formats.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Jul 24 12:20pm CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs rookie first-round wide receiver Xavier Worthy (illness) is out of training camp practice for the third straight day on Wednesday. Worthy is under the weather and should be back with the Chiefs sooner than later, but any additional time the 21-year-old misses could hurt his chances of starting his first NFL season off strong, especially since he missed a lot of the offseason program due to a hamstring injury. The 28th overall pick in April's NFL draft has a real opportunity to become fantasy relevant in 2024, especially if fellow wideout Rashee Rice opens the year serving a suspension. Speed is Worthy's biggest asset, and if he can stay healthy, he'll be worth at least a late-round flier for wideout depth in fantasy drafts this fall in KC's offense.

From RotoBaller

Justin Watson Jul 24 12:20pm CT
Justin Watson

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson (foot) left training camp practice early on Wednesday with a foot injury, according to multiple reporters on the scene. The 28-year-old wideout is entering his third year with the Chiefs. He finished third on the team in 2023 with 460 yards on 27 receptions while scoring three touchdowns, and he should once again be a key offensive piece for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, especially with second-year pass-catcher Rashee Rice facing a potential lengthy suspension. With rookie first-round wideout Xavier Worthy (illness) missing his third straight practice on Wednesday, the Chiefs are a little short-handed at the position early in camp. While Watson has been reliable when on the field for KC, he can be left to the waiver wire to begin the year in most fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Jul 24 12:10pm CT
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's participation level at training camp will be "very fluid," and he's unlikely to fully participate in all practices as contract discussions between the two sides continue. The Dolphins and Tagovailoa have been in talks on a long-term contract extension worth north of $50 million per season. The 26-year-old former first-rounder out of Alabama was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2023 in his fourth year in the NFL, when he threw for a league-high 4,624 yards while tossing a career-high 29 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in 17 regular-season starts. Tagovailoa deserves a raise after last year's performance, but in terms of fantasy, despite leading the league in passing yards, he barely finished as a top-10 QB. He's extremely accurate and has one of the best one-two punches in the league at receiver, but his lack of rushing prowess makes him merely a low-end QB1/high-end QB2.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Jul 24 12:10pm CT
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard told reporters on Wednesday that second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) will be a full-go in training camp this summer. "I'm not expecting any limitations right now," Ballard said. This was the expectation all along after Richardson needed season-ending right-shoulder surgery just four games into his first NFL season in 2023. As long as the 22-year-old former first-rounder doesn't have a setback with his shoulder this summer and in the preseason, he'll enter the 2024 regular season as Indy's unquestioned starter under center with an extremely high fantasy ceiling, mainly because of his elite rushing abilities with the football in his hands. Even though he only has four games of experience in the NFL, Richardson is going to be expensive in fantasy drafts once the top tier of names at the position come off the board.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pittman Jr. Jul 24 9:20am CT
Michael Pittman Jr.

After a slow start to his NFL career as a rookie, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been productive, especially considering his quarterback situation. The USC product has averaged 98.7 receptions, 1,053 receiving yards, and 4.7 touchdowns over the last three seasons despite playing with six quarterbacks over that stretch. Heading into Year 5, Pittman Jr. is looking to enter the next tier at the position. "I need to get to that next level and reach that next tier, Pittman said. "And I think that starts with probably more touchdowns." Having a healthy Anthony Richardson all season could help, but a healthy Richardson and Jonathan Taylor could mean the team will be among the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL. Additionally, Pittman is likely to face the strongest target competition of his career alongside wideouts Josh Downs, Adonai Mitchell, and Alec Pierce. The 26-year-old should remain the clear No. 1 option for the Colts, but he'll need to be extra efficient and strong in the red zone to post WR1 numbers in 2024 fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Jul 24 9:00am CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was franchise-tagged this offseason, and he requested a trade early in the process ahead of free agency. He ultimately decided to sign the franchise tag and stay put in 2024, but he knows this could be his last season with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and the organization. "This could be the last ride for me and the guys," Higgins said. "You never know. Instead of holding out and waiting and just watching from afar, I'd rather be in the mix with the guys and grind it out with them. That's how I've always been." The former second-round pick out of Clemson has been productive since entering the league in 2020, but he has battled injuries often and struggled to deliver a truly elite season while sharing targets with Chase. While his ceiling is likely capped in the WR2 range, a healthy Burrow could make him a draft steal at his ADP around the WR30 spot heading into his fifth NFL season. If he enters free agency next year, expect him to be highly sought after given the booming wide receiver market in today's NFL.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Jul 24 8:40am CT
Daniel Jones

According to New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) has been cleared for contact ahead of training camp. The former No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft will participate in 11-on-11 drills this week, something he did not do in the spring. "He will play every snap the (first-team offense) is in," Daboll said. Jones suffered a torn ACL in early November of last year, so he's made a quick recovery and looks to be well on track to start in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Although Jones has been a below-average signal-caller for most of his career, he could be a value in Superflex drafts assuming his rushing upside is not completely zapped following the major injury. If Malik Nabers lives up to the hype and one of Wan'Dale Robinson or Jalin Hyatt can step up alongside the rookie and Darius Slayton, New York could surpass offensive expectations in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Randy Gregory Jul 24 8:40am CT
Randy Gregory

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed edge defender Randy Gregory on the reserve/did not report list after he did not report to training camp this week. The veteran signed with Tampa Bay this offseason after spending time with the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers in 2023, but there is now uncertainty surrounding him. Overall, the 2015 second-round pick has accumulated 106 tackles (78 solo), 22 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception, three pass deflections, and 11.5 run stuffs in 60 career games with the 49ers, Broncos, and Cowboys. He's been somewhat productive, but he has been difficult to count on throughout his career.

From RotoBaller

Jerod Mayo Jul 24 8:30am CT
Jerod Mayo

New England Patriots edge rusher Matthew Judon is expected to participate in training camp that starts on Wednesday as he remains in contract talks with the organization. The 31-year-old is reportedly close to reaching a new deal with the Patriots, and it's a good sign to see he will not hold out or "hold in." The four-time Pro Bowler played in just four games last season before suffering a torn bicep, but he delivered four sacks in limited action. Overall, Judon has racked up 66.5 sacks in 114 career games, including 32 sacks in 38 games with New England. With the Patriots headed toward a full rebuild under new head coach Jerod Mayo, Judon's presence in the locker room as a leader could be significant.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Jul 24 8:20am CT
Tyreek Hill

Last season, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill looked to be on pace to be the first player in NFL history to post 2,000 receiving yards in a single season. However, his Week 14 injury against the Tennessee Titans limited him in that game and caused him to miss the Week 15 contest against the New York Jets. He ultimately finished the campaign with 1,799 yards. He was vocal about wanting to reach the 2,000-yard mark in 2023, but heading into 2024, he said chasing that individual goal would be "selfish." "That'd be great. Grand scenario, that'd be great," Hill said of reaching 2,000 this season. "But I feel like at the same time I have to understand that the position that I'm in and me being one of the leaders and just singling out an individual goal like that -- because I had time to go look at it and talk about it with my family; and that's very selfish of me." With Hill potentially entering the last few seasons of his career, a second Super Bowl is likely at the top of his goal list. All that said, the eight-time Pro Bowler should remain one of the most productive pass-catchers in the NFL and a high-end WR1 in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller