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.
New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty is pushing for the team's RB3 role leading up to the regular season. Hasty is buried behind Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, and Kevin Harris on the depth chart, but his skill set could lend well to New England's revamped offense. According to Hasty in an interview with reporters on Friday, Alex Van Pelt wants to be the best screen team in the NFL. He was also quoted as saying that AVP likes to "mix it up" and that he and the other RBs "run routes like the receivers do." It's an encouraging development that hopefully foreshadows a good amount of passing-game activity for the Patriot's running backs in 2024. The exact way touches will shake out here remains to be seen, but Stevenson will likely handle most of the work, with Gibson mixing in as a change of pace. The mystery is compounded further by the fact that we've yet to see what this offense is about. Hasty is Yahoo!'s RB118 and presents as little more than a late-round deep-league dart throw until this situation changes.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds(leg), who left the team's final day of training camp early Wednesday, appears to have avoided serious injury. The exact nature of the ailment sustained by Reynolds is unclear, though two defenders apparently sandwiched him on a run in the red zone at about the mid-point of practice. It appears he'll be okay and looks to return to the field quickly. Reynolds is currently entrenched in a battle with rookie Sione Vaki for Detroit's RB3 role, and any time away from the field is less time fending off the rookie from supplanting him. Whichever back wins the positional battle would not hold standalone value but rather be a potential handcuff option in deep leagues and best ball formats. This version of the Lions' offense has shown us a propensity to value the use of a dual-RB system, and Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) is improving but not fully healthy with the season just two weeks away. Reynolds is Yahoo!'s RB100 off the boards in drafts currently.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (groin) will not play Sunday in the team's preseason finale against the New England Patriots. Mariota was seen on the side during 11-on-11s and is trending toward practicing in full next week. Jeff Driskel will likely get the bulk of the work at quarterback for the Commanders this weekend, and Sam Hartman (shoulder) could mix in if he's recovered enough from his injury. With Jayden Daniels officially named as the team's starter heading into Week 1, Washington head coach Dan Quinn is opting not to push Mariota at this time and allow him to recover fully. While they would prefer not to have to go to him, it would be beneficial for him to be healthy in 2024, as he'll be the primary backup for Daniels to start the year.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (Achilles) did not participate in practice Friday and was off on the side field instead. Apparently, the veteran wideout has picked up an Achilles injury of sorts, though it doesn't seem to be very serious. When asked about Reynolds, Broncos' head coach Sean Payton said, "he's doing well." "Today, he felt a lot better. He's got some wear and tear on one of his Achilles. He's fine; we just kind of backed off. But today, he was much better." There isn't much concern here as of now, and we'll likely get an update on him over the coming days. Behind Courtland Sutton, the Denver wide receiver room is mostly vague regarding who will be the next man up. If he can stay healthy, the journeyman wideout likely has a shot to do just that. He's Yahoo!'s WR105 and has a decent chance to contribute in a situation that has not yet cleared itself. Reynolds remains a target in best ball and deep-league formats.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round tight end Tip Reiman has established himself as a potential No. 2 option at tight end for the Cardinals behind budding superstar Trey McBride. Reiman was mostly known for his blocking as an NFL draft prospect, but he has showcased his receiving skills during training camp and the preseason. His versatility will help him get on the field sooner than later in his rookie campaign. The 22-year-old can be ignored by fantasy managers in single-year leagues. The 6-foot-5, 271-pounder from Illinois will mostly be asked to do the dirty work as a blocker in his first year in the NFL. It's encouraging that he's shown some interesting pass-catching chops in camp, but don't expect Reiman to be much of a factor through the air in 2024.
From RotoBaller
It hasn't taken Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to establish himself as the WR1 with his new team. By the time the Cardinals broke minicam in June, Harrison, the fourth overall pick back in April, was already seen in that role by both his teammates and the coaching staff. Since then, he's solidified his spot as the WR1 and perhaps the second-most important player (behind quarterback Kyler Murray) in this offense. The 22-year-old is expected to be the one person in the Cardinals' offense runs through and the option Murray looks to in "gotta have it" moments. The expectations for Harrison are massive for both the Cardinals and fantasy managers. If Murray stays healthy, it's easy to see how Harrison will slot in as an easy top-10 fantasy wideout when all is said and done in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round running back Trey Benson has improved each week during training camp and the preseason and is showing that he's slowly but surely adjusting to the NFL game. Benson might now start the season as the RB2 behind starter James Conner, but ESPN's Josh Weinfuss doesn't think it will take him long to ascend to that spot. The 22-year-old from Florida State carried the ball nine times for 43 yards in last weekend's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts and has gotten extra reps in camp with Emari Demercado dealing with a shoulder injury. There were some injury concerns with Benson coming out of college, but if he manages to stay healthy in 2024, the full expectation is that he'll be Conner's direct backup sooner than later. In fantasy drafts, look to use a late-round flier on him if you choose Conner earlier on.
From RotoBaller
There is a package of plays being carved out for Cincinnati Bengals rookie fourth-round tight end Erick All Jr., and the Bengals have been extremely impressed with him in training camp and the preseason. All had a full workload in the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night and continued to impress, including a big block coming in motion to spring a Trayveon Williams run. Sixth-round rookie Tanner McLachlan didn't touch the field in the first half on Thursday, indicating that the Bengals won't be keeping him on the 53-man roster. The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. expects the Bengals to prioritize keeping undrafted free agent Cam Grandy. The 23-year-old All caught his lone target for 10 yards against Indy. All is versatile, but he's likely to be more of a blocker in 2024 as he provides depth behind Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andre Iosivas will soak up the majority of snaps alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in 11 personnel this year. A small supporting cast among tight end Mike Gesicki, Charlie Jones and even Trenton Irwin are expected to rotate in that spot, but Iosivas has earned the WR3 role. Rookie Jermaine Burton isn't expected to contribute anytime soon. There's not enough trust in Burton right now to put him on the field with quarterback Joe Burrow. Iosivas, who caught 15 of 25 targets for 116 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games in his rookie campaign last year, will have an increased role now that Tyler Boyd is no longer in town. However, the former sixth-round speedster from Princeton probably won't see enough targets behind Chase and Higgins to make him worth stashing on the bench in 12-team fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent cornerback J.C. Jackson has been suspended by the NFL for the first game of the 2024 regular season for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. Jackson is eligible to sign and participate in all preseason activities. His suspension will take effect as of the roster reduction to 53 players. The 28-year-old defensive back is still on the open market, and this won't exactly help his cause. The former New England Patriots cornerback played in only five games in 2022 with the Los Angeles Chargers due to injury and spent last year with the Chargers and Patriots, collecting 28 tackles (25 solo), an interception and nine pass breakups in only 10 games played (eight starts). Although Jackson has been a disappointment since making his first Pro Bowl with the Patriots in 2021, he should eventually land with a team and provide veteran secondary depth.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told the Buccaneers Radio Network that wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David will not play in the preseason finale on Friday night against the visiting Miami Dolphins. It's not injury-related at all, with the Bucs just giving them the night off, similar to a veteran's day in practice. Many NFL teams around the league are resting their starters this weekend in their final preseason contests. The 31-year-old Evans will work again with quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2024 after the two showed plenty of chemistry in 2023. Evans saw his most targets (136), catches (79) and yards (1,255) since 2018 and found the end zone a league-leading 13 times. Fantasy managers should expect TD regression, but other than that, Evans should see heavy volume yet again, making him a solid low-end WR1/high-end WR2 target in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix won't play in the team's preseason finale on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Backup Jarrett Stidham will make the start against Arizona before third-stringer Zach Wilson replaces him. "I'd like to see (Stidham) get 8 to 12 plays, and then we'll get a lot of work with Zach (beginning) at some point in that first or early second quarter," said head coach Sean Payton. Nix not starting doesn't come as a surprise after Payton named him the starting QB following the second preseason game last Sunday versus the Green Bay Packers. The 24-year-old will make his regular-season debut on Sept. 8 against the Seahawks on the road in Seattle. The former Oregon signal-caller could be a nice fit in Payton's offense, but expect growing pains. In fantasy, treat him as more of a QB3 in superflex leagues.
From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals have begun their roster cuts, releasing 11 players, including offensive tackle Jackson Carman -- a second-round pick from 2021. Carman's release marks the end of what has been a disappointing tenure with the team. His demotion to the fourth team during the last two preseason games signaled his likely departure. Despite opportunities to play both offensive tackle and guard, Carman struggled to make a significant impact. The Bengals might consider adding him to the practice squad, but it seems both parties are ready to part ways. Carman's reduced playing time over the past two seasons made him a likely cut candidate. He will enter the waiver wire and could attract interest from teams seeking to bolster their interior offensive line. The Bengals also included receiver Hakeem Butler in the cutdowns.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears have acquired Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, releasing defensive end Khalid Kareem to make room for him. Taylor, a second-round pick in 2020, missed his rookie season due to a leg fracture but has since made an impact as an edge rusher. Over the past three seasons, he has recorded 21.5 sacks in 49 games, with 13 starts. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Taylor is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024 season. Last year, he played all 17 games with five starts, totaling 5.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits while participating in 44 percent of the defensive snaps. The Bears, who struggled with pass rushing last seasonfinishing with the lowest sack percentage (4.64%) and the second-fewest sacks (30)are looking to boost their ability to pressure quarterbacks. Taylor and Montez Sweat are expected to play a significant role in addressing this need.
From RotoBaller
The NFL has suspended Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones for the first five games of the season due to violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension follows a misdemeanor domestic battery charge from his time with the Jaguars last season, which the Florida state attorney's office eventually dropped. Despite this, the NFL conducted its investigation and imposed a five-game suspension. Last year, Jones recorded 34 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns with Jacksonville. He will be eligible for reinstatement on October 7, following the Cardinals' Week 5 game against the 49ers, meaning his earliest return to regular-season action would be October 13 against the Packers. In his absence, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Greg Dortch are expected to lead the team's wide receiver corps for the season opener on September 8 against the Buffalo Bills. While this impacts Kyler Murray somewhat, Trey McBride and Harrison Jr. will likely receive even more targets.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (toe/foot) was still not spotted practicing on Friday. Shaheed hasn't been seen at practice due to a toe/foot injury since the middle of last week, likely ruling him out for Sunday's preseason finale against the visiting Tennessee Titans at Caesars Superdome. There's optimism he'll be ready in time for the start of the regular season, though. The 25-year-old deep threat is primed to occupy a significant role in New Orleans' passing game as a volatile WR4/5 bet for fantasy managers this season, considering the Saints' receiving corps is very thin beyond star wideout Chris Olave. Last year, Shaheed put up a strong 9.6 yards per target over 75 targets and 15.6 yards per catch across 46 receptions.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) was still not spotted practicing on Friday. Fantasy managers haven't seen Miller on the field for the Saints since the early stages of training camp due to his hamstring injury, which has proven to be a multi-week setback up to this point. Miller is highly unlikely to be available for Sunday's preseason finale against the visiting Tennessee Titans at Caesars Superdome, and there have been rumors he could end up being a surprise roster cut before the regular season begins if New Orleans doesn't want to put him on Injured Reserve. Veteran power back Jamaal Williams makes the most sense as lead back Alvin Kamara's handcuff until Miller finally gets healthy again.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has confirmed the team's starters will play in Friday's preseason finale against the visiting Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium, so running back Rachaad White will take the field on Friday. Throughout the preseason, rookie fourth-rounder Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker took the majority of reps with White on the sideline. White was a workhorse for the Bucs in 2023, finishing the year with 1,539 scrimmage yards on 272 carries for 990 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and 3.6 yards per attempt. In addition, he showcased his pass-catching ability out of the backfield with 549 receiving yards on 70 catches for an average of 8.6 yards per reception. The 25-year-old's inefficiency on the ground puts him in dead-zone fantasy territory among RBs this summer, but White is certainly a solid RB2 option to begin the year as Tampa Bay's lead back.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods (toe) underwent successful surgery for turf toe on Friday and is expected to miss around four months, according to sources. The Colts are hopeful that Woods can return around Christmas in time for a playoff push. We already knew Woods was going to miss significant time, but now his timeline is a bit more clear. It means that fantasy managers can ignore the 25-year-old in redraft leagues, while his injury will open up more opportunities for the rest of Indy's TE committee that includes Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory. Granson, 26, figures to be the Colts' top pass-catching tight end, as evidenced by the fact that he played all five possessions with the starting offense in the preseason finale on Thursday night. Even with Woods out, Granson can be ignored in standard-sized fantasy leagues. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 43 TE in half-PPR formats.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie third-round wide receiver Luke McCaffrey has not emerged as an obvious top-four wideout to open his first year in the NFL. However, McCaffrey showed the ability to play physical and even helped as a gunner in the second preseason game against the New York Jets, and he can help on underneath routes as he develops. It should come as a huge surprise, as he has played the receiver position for only two seasons. It's disappointing news for fantasy managers that took a flier on the 23-year-old from Rice, especially after the Commanders dealt Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles this week. Washington's top four receivers appear to be Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus and veteran Jamison Crowder. McCaffrey still has a lot to learn and can be avoided in redraft fantasy leagues for now.
From RotoBaller