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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 4

Player Notes
Kenneth Walker III Oct 1 7:40am CT
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III had a massive Week 4 upon his return from an oblique injury. Walker rushed for 80 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. The starting role was firmly in Walker's hands as he out-touched running back Zach Charbonnet 16 to seven. Walker looked awesome evading Lions defenders and ripping off chunk plays. He accounted for three of the Seahawks' four touchdowns and kept them in the game until the end. When Walker has played this season, he has looked the best that he has looked possibly in his entire career. He remains firmly in the RB1 conversation when the Seahawks take on the New York Giants in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Oct 1 7:40am CT
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf finished Monday night's game with seven receptions for 104 yards. He did lose a fumble in the first half that proved to be costly as the Seahawks were never able to close the one-touchdown gap with the Lions. Metcalf has now gone over 100 yards in three straight games. This offense looks really good in 2024 and should only continue to improve as the players and coaching staff get more comfortable. Unlike in previous seasons, this Seahawks regime has made it a point to force-feed Metcalf the ball. He is currently on pace for 153 targets which would shatter his previous career high. Look for Metcalf to continue his excellent run when the Seahawks play the New York Giants in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Oct 1 7:40am CT
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett caught five passes for 61 yards in Week 4. Lockett continues to be a solid security blanket for quarterback Geno Smith and has hovered around five receptions in most games. He did only manage to draw nine targets to DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 12 each. Even so, Lockett remains an important part of this offense. He may not deliver consistent WR2 value anymore, but he should continue to be a fantasy asset worth rostering. Lockett should continue his solid play in Week 5 against the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Oct 1 7:40am CT
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw football's version of a perfect game, completing 18-of-18 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks on Monday night. Goff's 18 completions without an incompletion set an NFL record and he caught a touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown for good measure. The former No. 1 overall pick turned in the QB4 performance on the week as the Lions racked up 42 points on the night. It was by far the best game of the season for Goff and could signify a breakout moving forward for the signal caller of a talented and diverse Lions' offense.

From RotoBaller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Oct 1 7:40am CT
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba earned 12 targets against the Detroit Lions on Monday night. Smith-Njigba would finish Week 4 with eight receptions for 51 yards. Smith-Njigba has been wildly inconsistent in 2024. He has two games with 12 or more targets and two games with three or fewer. As such, he has been a solid or great start in two games and a fantasy liability in two others. Still, Smith-Njigba is much more of a full-time player in 2024 than he was in 2023. If he can string together a couple of solid games in a row, then he will give fantasy managers a lot more confidence moving forward. For now, he is a good spot start if you need a flex player.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Oct 1 7:40am CT
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith threw for 395 yards and a touchdown in Week 4. He also threw an interception, but he added 38 yards with his legs. Smith's statistical output resulted in 22.6 fantasy points as he continues his solid season. Smith has been consistent in throwing one touchdown in every game in 2024. However, his completion percentage has been high, and he is not slouching as a runner in 2024. Most notably, Smith's chemistry with wide receiver DK Metcalf is seriously propelling this offense. Smith should once again have a chance to deliver high-end QB2 or low-end QB1 numbers in Week 5 against the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Jason Myers Oct 1 7:40am CT
Jason Myers

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers only managed to deliver two fantasy points on Monday night. Myers was 3/3 on extra points. However, Myers' lone field goal attempt came from 62 yards at the end of the first half. The kick would have been a career-high. The Seahawks also scored four touchdowns, but they went for two on one of them which left points on the field for Myers. The Seahawks' offense continues to consistently be in scoring positions in 2024. As such, Myers should have no shortage of opportunities to continue scoring points. Keep him in your lineup and enjoy the benefits.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Oct 1 7:40am CT
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs led the team in rushing on Monday night against the Seahawks, carrying the ball 14 times for 78 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Gibbs didn't add his normal pass-game involvement as he did not catch a pass out of the backfield in the game. Nonetheless, it was a very productive game for Gibbs, scoring on two short runs. The Alabama product out-carried David Montgomery 14-12 in this game and was able to convert a few goal-line chances and find the end zone. Both running backs should be extremely productive moving forward. Once Gibbs gets more looks in the passing game out of the backfield, he profiles as one of the top fantasy options at the position.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Oct 1 5:10am CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan stated that if Will Levis is healthy, he will be the starting quarterback without question. Levis seemed to sustain an injury while scrambling for yardage during Tennessee's second drive. He was seen grimacing on the "Monday Night Football" broadcast as he threw on the sideline midway through the first quarter. When the Titans regained possession with 4:14 left in the quarter, backup Mason Rudolph took over. Prior to his exit, Levis had completed three of four passes but had also thrown an interception.

From RotoBaller

Micah Parsons Oct 1 4:10am CT
Micah Parsons

Coach Mike McCarthy announced that the Dallas Cowboys are preparing for Sunday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers without the expectation that All-Pro DE/OLB Micah Parsons (ankle) will be available. Parsons has never missed a game due to injury at any level, but it seems likely he will sit out his first on Sunday due to a high left ankle sprain. After sustaining the injury in the fourth quarter of Thursday's victory over the New York Giants, Parsons was seen wearing a protective boot and using a scooter to move around on Monday. An MRI has confirmed the diagnosis of a high ankle sprain.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Poyer Oct 1 2:50am CT
Jordan Poyer

Miami Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer (shin) left Monday night's game against the Tennessee Titans due to a shin injury and did not return. The injury occurred in the first half, forcing the 33-year-old to sit out for the remainder of the matchup. Originally a seventh-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, Poyer was waived during his rookie season and later signed by the Cleveland Browns. He spent over three seasons in Cleveland, starting only 10 games. However, he significantly increased his impact after joining the Buffalo Bills, where he became a key player in their defensive unit and earned both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Poyer has been a standout this season, racking up 19 tackles (11 solo) in just three games. His absence will be felt, as the veteran safety's production is hard to replace, leaving a noticeable gap in Miami's defense.

From RotoBaller

Chop Robinson Oct 1 2:20am CT
Chop Robinson

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (knee) exited his Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans due to an injury. It appears he may have tweaked his right knee, which forced him to leave the rest of the Monday Night Football matchup. This incident comes just two months after the Dolphins activated Phillips, who had ruptured his right Achilles in late November 2023. The extent of his injury remains unclear, but head coach Mike McDaniel noted that Phillips left the stadium wearing a knee brace. Losing Phillips is a significant blow, especially considering the effort he put in to return after the Dolphins exercised his fifth-year option just six months ago. With this latest setback, the Dolphins have now lost at least one key player in each of their last three games. If Phillips has to miss time, rookie Chop Robinson and veteran Quinton Bell are likely to see increased playing time.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Sep 30 11:40pm CT
Anthony Richardson

The Tennessee Titans defense shut down the Dolphins in a dominant 31-12 win at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night. Playing with a 3rd string quarterback who was signed to the team just two weeks ago, the Dolphins struggled to move the ball all night, as their quick screens and end-arounds did not move the needle. Credit to this unit who needed a confidence-boosting performance to get their season back on track after letting Malik Willis carve them up a week ago. The Titans recorded two sacks, a fumble recovery, and a safety when they forced an intentional grounding call on quarterback Tyler Huntley in the end zone. Even without superstar defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons who is nursing an elbow injury, the Titans held Miami to 3.5 YPC, including a 1.5 mark for star running back De'Von Achane. A bye week is up next, but Week 6 brings a rivalry matchup to Nashville against the Indianapolis Colts and a mistake-prone quarterback in Anthony Richardson,

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Sep 30 11:20pm CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught two passes on four targets for 31 yards in a 31-12 min over Miami on Monday night. It was the second consecutive week Hopkins lead the team in receiving, although he was only able to muster 4.1 half-PPR fantasy points in this one. After quarterback Will Levis went down in the first quarter, the Titans virtually abandoned the passing game for the remainder of the contest and forced Miami to stop their ground attack, which they were unable to do. Because of this, Hopkins saw a limited number of looks with backup quarterback Mason Rudolph only attempting 17 passes in the game. The Titans now head into their bye week, but will likely need to throw a lot more when the Colts come to town in Week 6. Consider Hopkins a WR4 for fantasy moving forward due to the continued uncertainty surrounding this offense.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Sep 30 11:10pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears rushed 15 times for 39 yards and a touchdown, adding two catches for zero yards against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. It was Spears' highest touch-total of the season by a considerable margin, with the Titans opting for a ground-and-pound game plan based on the ineptitude of Miami's offense. Spears' wasn't very efficient on the ground with a 2.6 YPC mark, but he made up for this with a seven-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, juking a defender out of his socks before plowing into the end zone untouched. After a tough start to the year, it was great to see Spears that involved in the offense, and he should continue to be a heavily featured player after the Titans return from their Week 5 bye to face the Colts.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Ridley Sep 30 11:10pm CT
Calvin Ridley

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley caught one pass for five yards on three targets and gained 10 yards on one rushing attempt in a 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins. It was clear from the get-go that the Titans were going to rely heavily on their ground game, which was even more evident after quarterback Will Levis left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. While it was a massively disappointing fantasy day for Ridley, the Titans simply did not need to throw the ball much at all because of how poor the Dolphins' offense was in this game. Next up is a bye week for the veteran receiver, but after that comes a choice matchup with a very beatable Colts secondary in Week 6. Ridley has been very hard to trust of late, but if the Titans can figure some things out on offense during the bye week Ridley should still be on the fantasy radar as an OK flex option in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Sep 30 10:40pm CT
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard rushed 22 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, adding two receptions for 20 yards in a 31-12 win over Miami. The Titans ground game was stifled early, as Pollard was only able to muster 20 yards from his first ten carries. He broke this open with a 41-yard scamper in the 3rd quarter, almost scoring a touchdown but was eventually brought down at the seven-yard line. Miami's defense was worn down from that point forward, as Pollard enjoyed multiple runs of 10+ yards, capping off his productive night with a TD on a fourth and goal with 24 seconds left. While Tyjae Spears received 17 touches in this game, Pollard remains the workhorse and should be a top-12 option vs. a soft Indianapolis run defense in Week 6 after the Titans bye.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Sep 30 10:20pm CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph went nine of 17 for 85 yards in a 31-12 win at Miami on Monday night. Rudolph entered the game after Will Levis injured his shoulder while diving for a first down in the opening quarter. Levis came out of the medical tent and appeared to be healthy enough to re-enter the game, but head coach Brian Callahan opted to go with the veteran Rudolph the rest of the way, which featured a very run-heavy game plan. With the Dolphins not being able to do much of anything on offense, the Titans didn't ask much of Rudolph, but the former Steeler was mistake-free and was able to lead the Titans to multiple scoring drives. It's possible that there may be a quarterback controversy in Nashville based on the decision from the Titans' head coach, but neither player will be a great fantasy option in Week 6 vs. the Colts.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Sep 30 9:00pm CT
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is off to a rough start to his 2024 season. The veteran tight end dropped his lone target of the game during the Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills. That is now back-to-back games that Andrews has delivered duds to fantasy managers. Ravens' head coach John Harbaugh continues showing faith in Andrews and says that he'll still have some big games catching the ball. It's completely justifiably for fantasy managers to sit Andrews until he starts getting involved on offense. Andrews is heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and has zero receptions on two targets over the last two games. Fantasy managers are better off looking elsewhere for help ahead of Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Sep 30 8:50pm CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Mike Evans (knee, calf), Jalen McMillan (hamstring), and Trey Palmer (concussion) all sat out of Monday's practice session. It's worth noting that Monday's practice is an estimation since the team didn't hold an official practice. The biggest concern here is Evans who played through a knee issue last week. It didn't seem to bother him on the field as he secured eight receptions for 94 yards in the win. This is likely more about getting the veteran wideout some rest ahead of the Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. McMillan sat out on Sunday, which moved Palmer into a bigger role, but he was forced to exit early due to a concussion. If both players sit out on Thursday, Sterling Shepard and tight end Cade Otton figure to have bigger roles on offense.

From RotoBaller