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The Weekly Bender: You Can Always Come Home

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

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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!

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Player Notes
Michael Penix Jr. Aug 5 12:30pm CT
Michael Penix Jr.

SI.com's Albert Breer writes that Atlanta Falcons rookie first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been impressive so far in training camp while running the second-team offense as he heads into his first NFL season as a backup to veteran Kirk Cousins. Penix has looked good getting guys in and out of the huddle and is getting a better feel for progressing to the backside of some of the team's new passing concepts. He has a knack for pushing the ball down the field and has had a handful of wo throws every week. The 24-year-old was a surprise as the eighth overall pick in April's draft after the team signed Cousins in free agency. There's a ton of long-term upside for Penix in fantasy if he can avoid the injury bug, but he'll be off the redraft radar as long as Cousins stays healthy.

From RotoBaller

Parris Campbell Aug 5 12:30pm CT
Parris Campbell

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (groin) will not practice on Monday at training camp due to a groin injury that also kept him sidelined on Sunday. It's unclear how serious Campbell's injury is, but any time missed or the 27-year-old could hurt his chances of winning the No. 3 receiver job in his first year with the team. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are the team's clear cut top two receivers, with Campbell battling it out with the likes of Britain Covey, rookies Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith and John Ross for the No. 3 role. Campbell, a former second-rounder by the Indianapolis Colts in 2019 out of Ohio State, played in only 12 games for the Giants in 2023 and finished with 20 receptions for 104 yards and no touchdowns. He's currently off the fantasy radar in most leagues.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Aug 5 12:20pm CT
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud clearly has the starting slot job right now over Rondale Moore. McCloud had 90 catches in six seasons before signing with the Falcons as a free agent this offseason, while Moore had 135 catches in three years when Atlanta acquired him in a trade for quarterback Desmond Ridder. "I have the ultimate confidence in him," wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard said of McCloud. "I think he's going to be really good for our football team." Moore has made some big plays in camp with the second-team offense but has struggled with consistency. The 27-year-old McCloud has mostly been a special-teams asset in his time in the NFL, but he could have a bigger role in the new-look Falcons offense in 2024. For now, he's just a name to monitor as fantasy drafts approach this fall.

From RotoBaller

Garrett Wilson Aug 5 12:10pm CT
Garrett Wilson

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers continued to express his frustration in early training camp practices last week, but it's too early to sound any alarms. Rodgers and Wilson opened camp firing on all cylinders, but over the first few days of padded practices last week, they've hit a bit of a rough patch. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett admitted that the offense has been "inconsistent." Head coach Robert Saleh said he's not really worried about the offense this early in camp, although it could be something to worry about if the offense is still struggling after their first preseason game. The Rodgers-Wilson connection is certainly something to keep an eye on after they didn't get to work together at all last year due to Rodgers' Achilles tear. Fantasy managers thinking of taking Wilson as their WR1 should take this news with a grain of salt for now.

From RotoBaller

Trey Sermon Aug 5 9:20am CT
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon seems to be enjoying a strong start to training camp. According to Joel Erickson of the Indy Star, the fourth-year back looks like the frontrunner to be Jonathan Taylor's backup. So far in Sermon's career, he hasn't seen more than 41 attempts on the ground in a season. He appeared in 14 games for the Colts last season and posted 160 yards on 35 carries with three receptions for 13 yards through the air. Sermon isn't a viable option in most fantasy leagues right now because it's unclear how much work he'll receive. If he continues to impress in training camp, however, he will be primed to get the most work he's seen in his young career.

From RotoBaller

Jerry Jeudy Aug 5 9:10am CT
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy returned to practice on Sunday after being limited with a knee injury over the last week or so. He has been participating in individual drills and workouts since Friday. Jeudy was brought in via trade to be the complement to Amari Cooper. Last year, Cooper was far and away the top target out of all of the receivers and the next best pass-catcher was tight end David Njoku. Jeudy hauled in 54 receptions for 758 yards and two touchdowns in a lackluster offense on the Denver Broncos last season. There's still some chemistry to build with Deshaun Watson, but Jeudy is being drafted in the later rounds of re-draft leagues right now.

From RotoBaller

Jermaine Burton Aug 5 9:00am CT
Jermaine Burton

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton returned to practice on Sunday after being out for a couple of practices last week due to an ankle injury. At the time, the team was calling it an ankle tweak and it seems like that's how it ended up playing out. The rookie receiver is expected to take over the spot left by Tyler Boyd which should translate into a steady diet of targets from Joe Burrow. There are still some unknowns surrounding Tee Higgins, so Burton's value could fluctuate through training camp. Either way, Burton has been a good value selection in dynasty formats and is ranked as the 71st receiver in Rotoballer's half-PPR draft rankings.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Moore Aug 5 8:50am CT
Elijah Moore

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore (head) hasn't yet been confirmed to sustain a concussion but has entered the protocol. Head coach Kevin Stefanski would not confirm the concussion part but told reporters that Moore was working through the protocol on Sunday. Entering his fourth season in the league, Moore is competing against newly added Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and David Bell for snaps and targets. Amari Cooper remains the number-one receiver, so Moore's workload could be thinner than it was last season when he posted 59 receptions for 640 yards and two scores. As of right now, he's the 85th-ranked receiver in Rotoabller's half-PPR draft rankings.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young Aug 5 8:40am CT
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had a rough go of it in his rookie year while surrounded by a lackluster roster. According to Ian Rapoport the former first-overall pick appears primed to have a bounce-back year. After an off-season of addressing some weaknesses, Young will have a couple more pass-catchers to work with and a new offensive system. In fantasy terms, Young is in the later half of quarterbacks to go in re-draft leagues. This year will be an indicator of his fantasy relevance moving forward and it could vault him into a competitive are for superflex managers.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Aug 5 8:40am CT
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) suffered a knee injury this past weekend and is considered week-to-week. According to Adam Schefter, one of his sources said that the injury is "not serious." Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief that the first description of it came as not one to worry about, but it will be something to monitor as training camp rolls along. The second-year wideout is ranked as the 12th player overall in Rotoballer's fantasy rankings in half-PPR leagues and has an ADP of 11.8. He'll still have to compete with Cooper Kupp for targets, but Matthew Stafford has proven there's more than enough to get Nacua plenty of fantasy points.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Aug 4 9:41pm CT
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave is 'going to give out problems' in the team's new offense, according to DE Cameron Jordan.

BJ Ojulari Aug 4 9:40pm CT
BJ Ojulari

ardinals outside linebacker BJ Ojulari (knee) suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during practice on Friday. The 2023 second-round pick had a solid finish to his rookie season with four sacks and was projected to be a top pass rusher for Arizona this year. In Ojulari's absence, Dennis Gardeck is expected to assume a more significant role, and Victor Dimukeje is likely to see increased playing time at outside linebacker. Injuries have been a persistent challenge for Ojulari since his draft year; he had a knee procedure between the combine and the draft and dealt with a hamstring issue the previous spring. He began the last training camp on the PUP list but was activated by early August. With the defense weakened, Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, and James Conner will likely need to score more points to keep the team competitive. All of these players could see a boost in value if Arizona becomes a high-scoring team, similar to last year.

Brett Rypien Aug 4 9:40pm CT
Brett Rypien

Dynasty | Bears quarterback Brett Rypien went 11-for-15 for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the 2024 NFL Preseason Hall of Fame opener. Dynasty Analysis: The stats are a little empty based on the competition level but Rypien certainly did all he could to give Tyson Bagent a run as the QB2 behind Caleb Williams on the roster. Bagent will have his tine in the sun later this preseason as well but for now, file this away in deep 2QB leagues.

Collin Johnson Aug 4 9:40pm CT
Collin Johnson

Dynasty | Bears receiver Collin Johnson had three catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns in this year's Hall of Fame game. Dynasty Analysis: Johnson is somehow 26 already and has bounced around the league with stops in Jacksonville, New York and Chicago. He only has 30 career catches to his name but has always been a bit of a sleeper. Suddenly buried on a depth chart behind DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and others, any dynasty manager still hoping for a breakout will likely need him to be released and sign elsewhere. Regardless, this performance was something to at least make note of as Johnson has always had some talent but never been given much of an opportunity in meaningful games.

Josh Downs Aug 4 9:00pm CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has looked good during training camp, with JJ Stankevitz of the team's website reporting that the wideout has received plenty of looks from quarterback Anthony Richardson. The 22-year-old had a decent rookie season, finishing with 68 catches for 771 yards and two touchdowns. He also ranked first on the team in missed tackles forced and yards after catch. With that in mind, Michael Pittman Jr. is the team's No. 1 wideout. However, Downs can climb the depth chart if he continues to build chemistry with Richardson heading into Week 1, making him an ideal late-round draft choice for fantasy managers looking to roll the dice.

From RotoBaller

Roman Wilson Aug 4 8:40pm CT
Roman Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (ankle) is no longer in a walking boot after being carted off the field nearly a week ago. Even better, he isn't favoring his ankle while walking. The rookie was taken in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft after finishing his final collegiate season by amassing 789 yards and 12 touchdowns off 48 receptions. Hopefully, he'll be back on the field soon. While the injury could delay Wilson's progression, he has a chance to eventually overtake others on the depth chart and emerge as one of the team's top wideouts, giving him long-term appeal for dynasty participants.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Aug 4 8:30pm CT
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown continues to turn heads at training camp, with the sophomore amassing an impressive score during a recent practice. He finished his first season in the league by compiling 179 yards off 44 carries, adding 14 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. While fantasy managers have heard this before regarding Brown's potential, he has a chance to climb the depth chart and overtake Zack Moss for touches at some point during the 2024-25 campaign. If anything, the 24-year-old should be considered for insurance purposes for those selecting Moss in fantasy drafts ahead of Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Quandre Diggs Aug 4 8:10pm CT
Quandre Diggs

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, free agent safety Quandre Diggs agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Titans. He's also eligible to earn up to $2 million in incentives based on performance and time on the field. The Seahawks cut the 31-year-old in March after suiting up for the team since 2019. He was productive in Seattle, totaling 18 interceptions while earning a trip to the Pro Bowl three times. With that said, Diggs will compete for the right to start. However, he won't see attention from IDP managers even if he earns a spot in the starting lineup.

From RotoBaller

Joey Bosa Aug 4 8:00pm CT
Joey Bosa

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa (hand, wrist) left practice on Sunday. The 29-year-old, who was having a solid session, was injured during drills. While details are scarce, he appeared to have hurt his hand or wrist. Bosa, the No. 3 pick in 2016, is a dominant pass rusher, amassing 67 sacks since entering the league. However, he's appeared in only 14 games in the last two seasons due to injury. IDP managers should get an update on his condition by Monday at the latest.

From RotoBaller

Quandre Diggs Aug 4 6:53pm CT
Quandre Diggs

Free-agent S Quandre Diggs agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Aug. 4, per sources. The deal includes a base salary of $3 million and $1 million in incentives for both playing time and performance.

From TheHuddle