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Ex-No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell fired, accused of theft

Sat Jun 29 11:55am ET
Field Level Media

JaMarcus Russell, the first pick of the 2007 NFL Draft, has been fired from his volunteer high school assistant coaching job and accused in a lawsuit of stealing donations meant for the school, according to multiple reports.

The firing apparently came several months ago but was just confirmed by school officials in Mobile County, Ala.

"JaMarcus Russell was relieved of his volunteer coaching duties at Williamson High School during the fall of last year," Mobile County Public Schools said in a statement tod WKRG Sports on Friday.

The former Oakland Raiders quarterback also is facing a lawsuit accusing him of taking a $74,000 check intended as a donation to the school -- his alma mater -- and keeping the money for himself.

According to reports, local business owner Chris Knowles said Russell approached him to help fund new weight room equipment for the school's football team. Knowles alleged Russell deposited the money into a credit union, immediately withdrawing $55,000 for himself.

Russell, 38, has now been ordered to stay away from the campus.

"Earlier this week, it was reiterated to Mr. Russell that he is not permitted to be around the football program or on school campus," the school district said in a statement to WKRG, after Russell reportedly showed up to a school football team event.

Russell played three seasons at LSU, where he threw for 6,625 yards and 52 touchdowns before signing a six-year deal with the Raiders worth close to $68 million.

However, Russell flopped in the NFL and is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history. He appeared in 31 games (25 starts) over three seasons, finishing with a 52.1 percent completion rate, 4,083 yards, 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. His record was 7-18.

After he was released before the 2010 season, Russell and the Raiders spent the next several years in disputes over the contract, with the Raiders trying to recoup some of their losses. Ultimately the Raiders paid Russell $3 million in a 2013 settlement, making a total of approximately $40 million for Russell's three years of service.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
Tee Higgins Oct 6 9:50pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins finished Sunday's loss to the Ravens by catching nine of his 14 targets for 83 yards. Even better, he found the end zone twice. After missing a few games to begin the year followed up by a few subpar showings in the Bengals' last two contests, the wideout looked fantastic in this one. While some fantasy managers lost Patience, they'll need to reconsider their stance for the Bengals Week 6 showdown with the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Oct 6 9:40pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase looked good in Sunday's overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The wideout caught 10 of his 12 targets for 193 yards. He also found the end zone twice, bringing his total to five touchdowns in the last three weeks. The former LSU Tiger has turned up the volume of late, so there's no reason to keep him out of fantasy lineups when the Bengals meet the Giants in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Oct 6 9:30pm CT
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason had his least productive fantasy day of 2024 in a 24-23 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. He finished with a season-low 14 carries for 89 yards on the ground with no touchdowns and a game-changing fourth-quarter lost fumble. He caught his only target in the passing game for nine yards. On a day that featured record-setting heat at Levi's Stadium, Mason also ceded five carries to rookie Isaac Guerendo, which matches Guerendo's season high. With no firm timetable for the return of All-Pro Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), Mason will continue to operate as San Francisco's bell cow and a fantasy RB1 in a Week 6 Thursday night matchup at the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Oct 6 9:30pm CT
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had a big game in Week 5. Unfortunately, his efforts weren't enough to secure a win over the Ravens. But the signal-caller did all he could, throwing for 392 yards and five touchdowns (one interception) off an efficient 30-for-39 passing. After a semi-slow start to the 2024-25 campaign, Burrow has played exceptionally well of late, tossing for over 300 yards in two of his previous three contests. He's also stayed healthy, which was a significant concern for fantasy managers. At any rate, Burrow is one of the most productive fantasy quarterbacks going, so he needs to be featured in all starting lineups when the Bengals meet the Giants in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Jake Moody Oct 6 9:20pm CT
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody (ankle) exited the team's 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals after injuring his ankle on a tackle attempt and did not return. Per Adam Schefter, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reported that Moody picked up a high ankle sprain after the game and is expected to miss multiple weeks. "So we'll get (a kicker) in as fast as possible and get the best guy we can," Shanahan said. "I'm sure it'll have to be for a few weeks or whatever." Despite the head coach's blais attitude, it's at least a moderate blow to the team as the 24-year-old has been one of the better kickers in the league thus far. Through five weeks, the former third-round pick had drilled 11-of-12 field goal tries (91.7%) and all ten of his extra-point attempts. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky made his only attempt -- a 26-yarder -- in Moody's stead, but it appears they'd prefer to look elsewhere for help while he's on the shelf with the ankle issue. The 49ers will suit up against the Seattle Seahawks in a road matchup this coming Thursday, so expect San Francisco to make a decision quickly regarding their kicking situation.

From RotoBaller

Christian Gonzalez Oct 6 9:10pm CT
Christian Gonzalez

The New England Patriots' defense tallied one interception and one fumble recovery while allowing just 15 points during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Christian Gonzalez registered the pick while New England's special teams unit was responsible for the fumble on a blocked punt. Miami also botched a field goal attempt on a bad snap, but the Dolphins were able to pounce on top of the loose ball, effectively ending the drive without crediting New England for a fumble recovery. Elsewhere on the stat sheet, the Patriots registered three sacks, five tackles for loss, and 372 yards allowed. Their road gets much tougher heading into a Week 6 clash with C.J. Stroud's Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Brenton Strange Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Brenton Strange

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange caught one of the two passing touchdowns quarterback Trevor Lawrence had in a 37-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Strange finished with 24 yards on four catches. The young tight end now has two touchdowns and 120 yards on the season. It seemed like Evan Engram (hamstring) had a decent chance of returning in Week 5, but that was not the case, so the second-year pro got the start for the third straight game. This could be the last start Strange gets, so his fantasy managers should be happy with his fantasy output over the past few weeks given his status as a backup tight end. If Engram were to miss even more time, Strange would continue to be a solid streaming option. The Jaguars face off against the Chicago Bears in London in Week 6, where it will be interesting to see how involved Strange is if Engram does return.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Lynn Polk Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk converted six targets into just one catch for 13 yards during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. While the rookie's fantasy output was disappointing, managers should feel optimistic about some of his underlying statistics. For starters, Polk has 13 targets over the last two weeks combined, which is the highest mark on the team during that span. He also played 100 percent of snaps on Sunday, becoming the first Patriots wide receiver to play every offensive snap in a single game this season. (No New England wide receiver previously eclipsed the 85-percent mark.) Furthermore, he came very close to catching his second career touchdown pass, missing out on the go-ahead score by mere inches as his foot barely landed out of bounds. All in all, Polk has emerged as one of Jacoby Brissett's favorite weapons as of late. While it hasn't led to noteworthy fantasy production, he's still on the radar as an up-and-coming pass-catcher in the New England offense. He's worth monitoring in deeper leagues as the season carries on. His next chance to leave an impression will come in Week 6 when the Patriots host the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard reeled off another excellent performance in the team's 36-10 loss to the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Andy Dalton threw for just 136 scoreless yards Sunday -- and was eventually benched for second-year QB Bryce Young in the waning minutes of regulation -- but that didn't stop Hubbard from ripping off another big stat line. The 25-year-old toted the rock 13 times, churning out 97 yards and a touchdown on the ground while hauling in all four of his targets for -2 "additional" yards. It marks the fourth-year back's third-straight outing with a touchdown and four in a row with at least four catches. Additionally, he was just three yards shy of eclipsing the century mark in his third consecutive game. The former fourth-round pick has been a pleasant surprise of fantasy output over the last few weeks. However, the question arises of his role if and when quarterback Bryce Young regains control of this offense. When that happens is anyone's guess, but until then, Hubbard can be considered a high-end RB2 with upside. He'll have a harder time reaching those marks against the Falcons in Week 6, but he is a must-start option.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry caught two of four targets for 32 yards through the air during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Henry has caught just two passes in four of his five games this season, with the lone exception being a somewhat anomalous eight-catch, 109-yard outburst back in Week 2. Despite playing a season-high 93.3 percent of snaps on Sunday, the 29-year-old veteran continues to have his fantasy value limited within the Patriots' struggling offense. He remains off the fantasy radar in most leagues ahead of a Week 6 clash versus the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Brock Purdy

Quarterback Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers fell short in a 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Santa Clara. He finished with 19 completions of 35 attempts for 244 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Purdy also gained 33 rushing yards on four scrambles. While fantasy managers would much rather see more passing touchdowns, it's worth noting that he's been much more adept at contributing on the ground this year. After today, he's averaging 21.6 yards rushing per game, much higher than his nine yards per carry last year. The interceptions certainly stung in this one, but Purdy was a victim of bad luck as one of his interceptions was batted at the line and the other popped high into the air when he was hit as he threw. The third-year pro showed a renewed rapport with receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who he targeted 12 times for 8 receptions and 147 yards. Purdy has a short turnaround as he hits the road to face the Seattle Seahawks for the first time this year on Thursday Night Football.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Oct 6 8:50pm CT
Matthew Stafford

The Green Bay Packers' defense and special teams unit was very active against the Los Angeles Rams in their 24-19 victory in Week 5. The defense pressured Matthew Stafford into three sacks and an interception, plus forced and recovered a fumble of Kyren Williams in the first Rams drive of the second half. The Packers D/ST allowed 370 total yards and put up some healthy stats for fantasy managers on the afternoon from a team that was missing their top two wide receivers. The Packers will head home and host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6, where there could be some points put up by the Cardinals. Still, with the Packers performing the way they are, they're easily a startable fantasy defense moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Greg Joseph Oct 6 8:50pm CT
Greg Joseph

New York Giants kicker Greg Joseph continued his perfect streak in Sunday's 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, going 3-for-3 on field goals for the second straight week. Joseph drilled a long of 38 yards and added two extra points, contributing 11 total points to the Giants' win. His reliability on special teams has been crucial, as he remains flawless through two weeks, consistently converting his opportunities. With his 100% field goal percentage intact from the past two games, Joseph is shaping up as a strong fantasy kicker option, especially for teams seeking steady production.

From RotoBaller

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Oct 6 8:50pm CT
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

The Cleveland Browns defense struggled in a 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Cleveland allowed 34 points and 434 yards of total offense to the Commanders in the blowout road loss while notching three sacks and forcing two turnovers. The Browns were led by Za'Darius Smith, who had one sack, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who had an interception, a forced fumble, and five total tackles in the contest. Things won't get much easier for the Browns as they will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Oct 6 8:50pm CT
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas caught six of nine targets for 59 yards during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The 23-year-old played two-thirds of the team's offensive snaps, which was his second-highest mark of the season. It's been an inconsistent start to the year for Douglas, who has two games with nine targets and three games with three or fewer targets. He's difficult to trust given the Patriots' subpar offense, but managers have to be at least somewhat optimistic about his rest-of-season value given his short-yardage role on a team that will spend most of this season playing from behind. Even with Kendrick Bourne returning to the mix and Ja'Lynn Polk taking on an enormous role, Douglas maintains his stand-alone WR3/FLEX value in deeper fantasy football leagues.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones delivered a game-winning performance in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks despite missing rookie sensation Malik Nabers and starting running back Devin Singletary. Jones completed 23 of 34 passes, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt. He also added 38 rushing yards, though he was sacked three times and didn't find the end zone on the ground. With 22.08 fantasy points, Jones showcased his ability to manage the game effectively, making key throws in a shorthanded offense, and remains a reliable QB2 option, especially with his dual-threat capabilities.

From RotoBaller

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. made the most of his starting opportunity in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks, filling in for the injured Devin Singletary (groin). Tracy rushed for an impressive 129 yards on 18 carries, averaging 7.2 yards per attempt, with his longest run going for 27 yards. While he wasn't a factor in the passing game, recording just one catch for one yard, his strong ground performance helped the Giants control the clock and pace of the game. Despite not finding the end zone, Tracy's 13.5 fantasy points make him a solid waiver-wire pickup in deeper leagues, especially if Singletary's injury lingers.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Akins Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Jordan Akins

Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Akins caught all three of his targets for 22 yards and a touchdown in a 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Akins scored Cleveland's only touchdown in garbage time as he hauled in a 10-yard score with 7:06 left in the game, cutting the Commanders' lead to 34-12. The veteran tight end was expected to see his role scaled back with David Njoku returning from an ankle injury in Week 5, but Njoku injured his knee during the loss to the Commanders and could be looking at another absence. Akins is worth a look in deep leagues and tight-end premium formats if Njoku ends up missing time with his latest ailment.

From RotoBaller

Theo Johnson Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Theo Johnson

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson had the biggest game of his rookie season in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks, hauling in all five of his targets for 48 yards. Johnson's 22-yard catch highlighted his afternoon, helping the Giants sustain key drives. Averaging 9.6 yards per reception, he proved to be a reliable short-to-intermediate option for Daniel Jones in a game where others had to step up due to injuries. While his 7.3 fantasy points aren't eye-popping, Johnson's growing involvement in the offense makes him an intriguing stash in deeper leagues, especially as he gains more trust in critical situations.

From RotoBaller

Wan'Dale Robinson Oct 6 8:40pm CT
Wan'Dale Robinson

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson stepped up in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks, helping fill the void left by Malik Nabers' absence. Robinson caught six of his nine targets for 36 yards, averaging just six yards per reception, but he made his mark with a crucial receiving touchdown. Though his longest catch was only nine yards, his consistent involvement in the short passing game was vital for the Giants' offense. Robinson's 13 fantasy points, boosted by his touchdown, make him a valuable flex option moving forward, especially if Nabers remains out and Robinson continues to see an expanded role.

From RotoBaller