Guest of the League
The Relentless Ones Est. 2019
Dynasty $125 - FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

The Weekly Bender: You Can Always Come Home

Fri Jul 5 6:00pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below


There is nothing better than winning your fantasy football league. Whether you’re playing against your friends in a home league or gearing up to take down the $500,000 grand prize in The Fantasy Championship, that euphoric feeling hits you in such a way that sometimes words can’t even describe. But it takes work. It takes tenacity. You don’t just stumble into a championship. You earn it. And that starts with your research here in July. Scouting talent is a top priority for you right now and it’s not just about the NFL players on the field. It’s also about which fantasy analysts you choose to trust each season.

Back in 2011, the folks here at RealTime Fantasy Sports led the way in premier scouting. During a raucous after-party following the FSTA Conference (currently the FSGA) in San Francisco, two of RTSports’ finest made their way to the bar and struck up a conversation with the guy slinging drinks. As it turned out, he also happened to be an aspiring fantasy analyst, freelancing for a couple of sites and looking for more work.

The conversation was light and friendly but intensified when opinions on players and teams came into play. The Giants had just won the World Series and baseball talk was buzzing in the Bay Area. The Green Bay Packers were in mini-camp looking to defend their Super Bowl championship and as we witness every year, the football frenzy was already taking over. With every lager and IPA that hit the bar, the men of RTSports also received formidable opinions, spicy hot takes, boatloads of sarcasm and some pretty entertaining jokes. By the end of the evening, a business card was handed across the bar with a firm demand: “We need a fantasy article written every week with these thoughts, these opinions and this kind of attitude.” With smiles all around and firm handshakes given, “The Weekly Bender” was born.

Yes, all of this, just to re-introduce myself to the community here at RealTime Fantasy Sports. What’s going on, everyone? I am over-the-moon with excitement about being back. In some ways, I never left. Though I was soon offered a full-time position at Fantasy Alarm and the Weekly Bender came to a close, I have remained very active on this website. For years, I hosted the Mock Draft Army here on RTSports and provided fantasy owners an opportunity to mock draft alongside dedicated fantasy players and industry analysts from all over. I’ve hosted numerous best ball drafts here for my audience at SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio and until my return today, have been logging plenty of time turning a profit in the RTSports DFS Pick ‘Em contests.

Yes, I am still over at Fantasy Alarm and you can find all of my fantasy football player rankings, cheat sheets (coming this Monday, July 8), draft strategies and my coaching scheme breakdowns in our Fantasy Football Draft Guide. The community over there is spectacular and I am sure that some of you reading this right now may already be over there. But RTSports has always been a home for me and now that I am back, I cannot wait to jump in.

In addition to the Weekly Bender, an article dedicated to providing winning strategies and picks with a hefty serving of snark, I will also be joining Jeff Paur on his weekly podcast/livestream, sharing videos with DFS Pick ‘Em contest picks, hosting mock drafts to get everyone ready for the 2024 NFL season and even setting up some “Beat Howard Bender” contests so that we can not only play against each other but also give you the opportunity to serve some of that smack-talk back to me.

When Thomas Wolfe wrote “You Can’t Go Home Again,” he was referring to the way nostalgia has us viewing the past in an overly-positive light. For those of you who remember the original Weekly Bender, you know we don’t look back at those pieces with rose-colored glasses. We crushed the research together, we ruled the waiver wire together and we shared championships together. It all comes full circle today and if Wolfe was sitting with me here right now, I’d let him know that you truly can go home again.

Here's to a spectacular 2024 season!

Bender, out!

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

This Week in the TFC (7-16)

Player Notes
Christian Watson Jul 16 3:40pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) finally feels he's in a good place injury-wise following his offseason visit to a local specialist. As Matt Schneidman of The Athletic writes, "keeping Watson on the field is paramount for this group to reach its potential since he might be their biggest game breaker." The Packers have one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the NFL, but that doesn't negate the fact that having the former first-rounder healthy would be huge for Jordan Love and the Packers' progression. "Maybe Year 3 is the one we finally see in consistent stretches the brilliance we've seen from Watson in spurts over the last two seasons," Schneidman added. Watson caught 28 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns in 2023 as his faulty hamstring limited him to just nine games. His inability to stay healthy so far has dropped him to the WR4 range for fantasy football, but he could see his value rise by playing close to 17 games in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Jul 16 3:20pm CT
Davante Adams

Given all the trade talk surrounding Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams this offseason, his agents, Kenny Chapman and Frank Bauer released a statement on Tuesday, saying: "This is baseless, unfounded speculation and Davante is expected to be with the Raiders as there has been absolutely no trade talk - period." Adams reiterated earlier this offseason that he fully plans to play the 2024 campaign with the Raiders, which will be his third with the organization. Despite the Raiders moving on quickly from Jimmy Garoppolo in 2023, the 31-year-old Adams had a fourth straight 100-catch season, in addition to 1,144 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. However, his yardage and TD total were his lowest marks since 2019. The QB situation isn't much better in 2024 with Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew, making Adams more of a low-end WR1 in fantasy than a high-end WR1.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Jul 16 3:10pm CT
Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams agreed to terms on his rookie deal on Tuesday, according to sources. The rookie quarterback out of USC will received a slotted four-year, $39.49 million fully guaranteed contract that includes a $25.5 million signing bonus. Unsurprisingly, the 22-year-old was named the team's starting signal-caller back in May after the team traded Justin Fields to the Steeler and selected Williams with the first overall pick in April's draft. In addition to being the most NFL-ready QB in this year's draft class, Williams heads to Chicago with plenty of offensive weapons around him, giving him low-end QB1/high-end QB2 upside in fantasy in his first year in the league. His dual-threat abilities as a passer and rusher make him by far and away the most attractive dynasty/keeper QB this year.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Jul 16 1:30pm CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) said during an appearance on "Simms Complete" on the Bleav Podcast Network that he has had a "pretty smooth process" with "no real setbacks" while recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in 2023. "At this point," Jones said, "I'm doing pretty much everything running, cutting, everything I need to do." Once the former first-rounder returns to action during training camp this summer, he'll be playing for his job long-term, as his $47.8 million salary cap hit in 2024 is the fifth-largest in the NFL this year. If Jones gets hurt again in 2024 or disappoints, he could become a cap casualty with two years left on his four-year, $160 million deal. Even though the Giants added dynamic rookie wideout Malik Nabers this year, Jones will have to prove himself to both the G-Men and fantasy managers. Coming off a serious injury, he should be considered a low-end QB2 in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Kayshon Boutte Jul 16 1:20pm CT
Kayshon Boutte

The state of Louisiana has dropped the underage gambling and computer-fraud charges against New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, according to Boutte's attorney. Boutte was arrested in January after he was alleged to have taken part in illegal sports betting during his time in college at LSU. It's great news for the 22-year-old that charges have been dropped, as he now is unlikely to be suspended in 2024 by the NFL. The Patriots selected Boutte in the sixth round (187th overall) last year, and he finished his rookie year in the NFL with just two catches on seven targets for 19 yards in five games played. New England's pass-catching corps is looking for someone to step up in a starting role in head coach Jerod Mayo's first year at the helm in 2024, but Boutte will have to perform in training camp to earn his spot on the active roster heading into Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Jul 16 1:10pm CT
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a trade after an offseason of unsuccessful attempts to reach a long-term contract extension. Despite a recent meeting, the 49ers haven't been willing to engage in negotiations since May, which has led Aiyuk to respectfully ask for a trade out of town. The 26-year-old former first-rounder is currently set to make $14.12 million in 2024 on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. Assuming he isn't traded before training camp at the end of the month, it's highly likely that Aiyuk will hold out, which will make his fantasy draft status as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 more shaky. And if Aiyuk is traded before the start of the 2024 regular season, it will mean bigger offensive roles for wideouts Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and rookie first-rounder Ricky Pearsall.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Jul 16 1:10pm CT
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze, the No. 8 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, officially signed his four-year, fully-guaranteed contract worth $22-plus million on Tuesday. The deal includes a $13 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option. Odunze was clearly one of the top receiving prospects in this year's draft and lands in a favorable position in the Windy City alongside top overall pick and quarterback Caleb Williams. However, fantasy managers in single-year leagues may want to temper expectations for the former Washington Husky, as he'll be competing for targets in his first year in the NFL with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. The ultra-athletic pass-catcher is still worth a late-round flier, though, as a WR4/5, and he'd be a weekly starter in fantasy lineups if one of Moore or Allen miss time with injury.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Jul 16 12:18pm CT
Brandon Aiyuk

49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a trade after failing to sign an extension this offseason.

Jordan Addison Jul 16 1:13am CT
Jordan Addison

Dynasty | Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has been arrested on suspicion of DUI. Dynasty Analysis: This is Addison's second driving related incident following last year's episode where he was clocked at more than 140 mph. They're all serious but Addison was reportedly found asleep behind the wheel of a Rolls Royce. Even more concerning, this comes on the heels of the death of one his new teammates in an auto accident not more than a week ago. While Addison may avoid suspension, this is a pattern of behavior dynasty managers simply cannot like. He remains a hold at this point while the legal process plays out.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Curtis Samuel Jul 15 7:13pm CT
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills WR Curtis Samuel likely will be used in multiple ways in the offensive scheme this season, according to offensive coordinator Joe Brady. 'He can play on the outside and on the inside. We can move him around as fast as it can be, just get him the ball in his hands and good things could happen. Whether he is playing receiver or running back, it really doesn't matter. It's just his versatility will be an asset to our offense,' Brady said.

Fantasy Spin: It appears like Samuel will be a big part of the offense this season and could be a valuable option in fantasy leagues. He may not be a weekly starting option in most leagues but can be at least a flex option when the Bills have favorable matchups.

From TheHuddle

James Conner Jul 15 6:10pm CT
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner may have recorded a career-high 1,040 rushing yards in 2023, but he hopes that was his floor and he can build on that total in 2024. "That's the floor," Conner told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. "I want that to be the lowest I rush for in my career going forward. Definitely got a lot of work to put in but that's the floor, not the ceiling." Now 29 years old, Conner still has a solid grasp on the Cardinals' No. 1 running back role even after Arizona added Trey Benson in the draft. He has continued to show that he can make an impact on the ground and through the air, entering 2024 as a solid RB2 option in most fantasy football leagues.

From RotoBaller

AJ Dillon Jul 15 5:50pm CT
AJ Dillon

Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon "knows he isn't assured a roster spot" heading into the 2024 season, according to Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. While the Packers parted with Aaron Jones this offseason, they replaced him with Josh Jacobs and also drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round. Thus, with a crowded backfield, the Packers may need Dillon to go above and beyond this summer in order to keep him on their roster ahead of Week 1. As Wilde notes, though, Dillon is aware of his job insecurity and has put in tremendous work this offseason. "This is as hard as I've seen him work in the offseason," running backs coach Ben Sirmans noted. If Dillon does make the roster, he'll be nothing more than a low-end RB3/FLEX option in fantasy football as he operates behind Jacobs and competes with Lloyd for touches. On the other hand, Green Bay does have some incentive to move on from the Boston College product. Dillon is currently on a one-year prove-it deal, and releasing him would create $1,125,000 in cap space for the Packers while carrying just $167,500 in dead money. This will be a roster battle that all fantasy managers should monitor over the next month-plus.

From RotoBaller

Dustin Hopkins Jul 15 5:43pm CT
Dustin Hopkins

Cleveland Browns PK Dustin Hopkins agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with the Browns Monday, July 15, worth $15.9 million, according to sources.

From TheHuddle

Dustin Hopkins Jul 15 5:40pm CT
Dustin Hopkins

The Cleveland Browns and kicker Dustin Hopkins have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. It's a well-deserved payday for the veteran kicker as he cashes in following the best season of his career. Over 15 games in 2023, he made 33 of 36 field-goal attempts (91.7%) while going 24-for-26 on extra points (92.3%). He ultimately finished as the No. 9 kicker in terms of fantasy points despite missing two games. Hopkins represents a solid draft pick in the later rounds of 2024 fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

Keaton Mitchell Jul 15 4:50pm CT
Keaton Mitchell

Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (knee), whose rookie season ended in 2023 due to an ACL tear in his left knee in December, was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday to start training camp. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise after the 22-year-old suffered the season-ending injury late last year. The bigger question will be whether Mitchell can make enough progress this summer to avoid staying on the PUP list for the start of the regular season, which would mean he'd have to miss at least the first four games of 2024. When healthy, he'll be a speedy complement to new RB Derrick Henry in Baltimore. Mitchell still has plenty of intrigue in dynasty/keeper leagues, but he'll most likely be left to the waiver wire in 12-team leagues this fall, especially if he stays on the PUP list to begin the regular season.

From RotoBaller

Mike Gesicki Jul 15 2:43pm CT
Mike Gesicki

Cincinnati Bengals TE Mike Gesicki is expected to be used in a 'big slot' role, according to sources Monday, July 15.

Fantasy Spin: Gesicki upgraded his offense this offseason, but the competition for targets is immense. Gesicki probably won't be a consistent option, but he may have some streaming capabilities if he earns a decent target share.

From TheHuddle

KJ Hamler Jul 15 1:20pm CT
KJ Hamler

Wide receiver KJ Hamler (heart), the former second-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2020, signed a Reserve/Futures deal with the Buffalo Bills earlier this year and is looking to make a comeback in 2024 after already facing plenty of adversity in the NFL. Hamler struggled with a hamstring injury in his rookie year and tore his ACL in 2021 before dealing with another hamstring issue in 2022 and a partially torn pectoral muscle last year. In addition to all those injuries, he felt severe heart pain last summer and was diagnosed with pericarditis, an inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the heart. The 25-year-old signed with the Colts' practice squad in late September but was never elevated to the active roster. The speedy downfield threat is facing an uphill battle to make Buffalo's roster out of training camp this summer, even with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis no longer around.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Jul 15 1:10pm CT
Nick Chubb

An Instagram post on Monday morning showed Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) doing two squat reps with what appears to be a total of 12 45-pound plates on a Tsunami Max bar. It's especially impressive, considering Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Week 2 game against the Steelers on Sept. 18 of last year that required two surgeries -- one to fix damage to his MCL, the medial capsule and meniscus, and the second to fix his ACL. The four-time pro Bowler suffered a similar injury, except for the torn ACL, in the same knee at Georgia in 205. Chubb isn't putting a timetable on his return but also didn't dismiss the possibility of being ready for Week 1 against Dallas this fall. He started running in April but didn't do any on-field work during OTAs or minicamp. The 28-year-old is likely to be eased in this year, which makes him more of a risky RB3 in fantasy than a surefire RB1.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Jul 15 9:43am CT
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill said he's content with his contract situation, and he's focused on winning a championship.

Fantasy Spin: Cheetah was the WR1 for much of the season before he was hampered with a leg injury. Now 30, that is something to keep an eye on. He's still worthy of a top-three selection at the position, but he could slide with the younger options at the position.

From TheHuddle

Jordan Addison Jul 14 7:30pm CT
Jordan Addison

According to a report from the Los Angeles Daily News, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was arrested on Friday night for suspicion of DUI. Police were notified and responded to an area near LAX, where Addison was reportedly found asleep at the wheel and blocking several lanes. He was taken into custody and released a few hours later. The 2023 No. 23 overall pick finished his first year in the NFL by amassing 70 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. While it's unknown if Addison will face any discipline from the NFL or team, his fantasy stock could take a hit from managers unwilling to draft him in fear of a possible suspension.

From RotoBaller