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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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The Paur Report

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
Travis Kelce Oct 8 3:40am CT
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught nine passes for 70 yards in the 26-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Kelce led the team in targets and receptions for the second week following the loss of wide receiver Rashee Rice. Despite being a focal point of the Chiefs offense, Kelce has yet to score a touchdown this season. The Chiefs tight end should continue to be peppered with targets, as he will likely be the preferred pass catcher moving forward. Kelce and the Chiefs will enter their bye week with an undefeated record, so fantasy managers must make plans for their tight end position in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

JuJu Smith-Schuster Oct 8 3:40am CT
JuJu Smith-Schuster

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster caught seven passes for 130 yards in the 26-13 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Smith-Schuster led all Chiefs pass catchers in receiving yardage in the victory. The Chiefs wide receiver was behind only Travis Kelce in targets and receptions, demonstrating Mahomes' trust in him. The Chiefs are undefeated heading into their Week 6 bye week. Despite not having a game this week, Smith-Schuster is worth a speculative add, given his substantial utilization in this week's win. Although Smith-Schuster performed well, it is not a given that he will keep this level of opportunity moving forward. Reports have stated that Kansas City is entertaining the possibility of trading for a wide receiver ahead of the deadline. It is also possible that Mahomes spreads the ball more evenly as Mecole Hardman returns from injury and Xavier Worthy establishes himself as an NFL receiver. That said, Smith-Schuster is the most experienced receiver playing with Mahomes, so he could remain a preferred target.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Oct 8 3:40am CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy caught three passes for 25 yards in the 26-13 win against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Worthy also had one carry for three yards and a touchdown in this contest. The rookie receiver had six targets in this week's win, the most of his career so far. Worthy could not turn in a big game through the air despite his increased involvement in the Kansas City passing attack. Worthy salvaged his night from a fantasy perspective with a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown to pad the Chiefs lead. Worthy proceeded to give the ball to his mother after scoring. Worthy, and the Chiefs will head into their Week 6 bye undefeated. The rookie receiver should still be considered a low-end weekly flex option because Kansas City continues manufacturing his touches.

From RotoBaller

Kareem Hunt Oct 8 3:40am CT
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had 27 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown in the 26-13 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Hunt also brought in one catch for 15 yards in the contest. Hunt dominated the touches out of the backfield, as no other running back had more than five carries. While his 3.8 yards per carry were not overly impressive, Hunt surpassed 100 rushing yards in his second game with the team. Hunt's utilization in the Chiefs offense bodes well for his fantasy value moving forward. The Chiefs will have their bye week in Week 6, but Hunt should be a start-worthy running back for the foreseeable future.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Oct 8 3:30am CT
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 28 of 39 pass attempts (72%) for 331 yards in their 26-13 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Despite reaching 300 passing yards for the first time this season, Mahomes did not have a single passing touchdown in this contest. The Chiefs quarterback also threw an interception for the fifth straight game, bringing his season total to six. Kansas City is one of only two teams to remain undefeated through five weeks, but Mahomes is not a QB1 based on his performances. The Chiefs will head into their bye week on a high note, but fantasy managers may need to consider starting a quarterback for the foreseeable future. Mahomes and the Chiefs are winning games with a style of play that is not conducive to fantasy success.

From RotoBaller

Rashid Shaheed Oct 8 3:20am CT
Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed led the team with 86 receiving yards in their 26-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night. He caught four balls on his team-high nine targets. The highlight of Shaheed's night was a 43-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, his third trip to the end zone so far this year. Quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) seemed to have it in mind to use his deep threat to his fullest potential as Shaheed had six targets of 20 or more yards and three of his catches went for at least 15 yards. Shaheed now leads New Orleans with 338 receiving yards on the season though that's not to say he has supplanted Chris Olave as the primary receiving option. Shaheed gets a great matchup in Week 6 against a Buccaneers defense that gave up 12 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown to Darnell Mooney. His success will rest on Carr's availability, who left Monday's game in the fourth quarter with an injury.

From RotoBaller

Foster Moreau Oct 8 3:20am CT
Foster Moreau

New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau was targeted twice in Monday's 26-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He came away with two catches for 13 yards and a touchdown in the end. The score came early in the fourth quarter after he sold a block, disengaged, and then easily slipped past linebacker Leo Chenal. Quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) found Moreau and floated a seven-yard pass to the tight end as he crossed the goal line. Moreau leads the Saints' tight end room in snap share but is most frequently used as a blocker, with most of the team's targets to his position going to Juwan Johnson. Moreau's production on Monday gives him a line of 7-58-2 through five weeks. Given his role on the team he is too unreliable to be of any use in fantasy and can be left on the wire when New Orleans faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Oct 8 3:10am CT
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara managed just 26 yards on 11 carries in Monday night's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He also had 40 receiving yards on his team-leading six receptions. It was an abysmal result for Kamara, who had three top-five finishes through the first four weeks of the season. The Chiefs seemed to sniff out every run play called by the Saints in the game and completely overpowered their offensive line all night, allowing Kamara to gain more than four yards on just one of his attempts. Kamara's production was also hampered by the fact that New Orleans controlled the ball for only 20 minutes of game time and ran a season-low 51 offensive plays. He will be back on the RB1 radar in Week 6 when the Saints host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Oct 8 3:10am CT
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave had two catches on four targets for 10 yards in their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night to close out Week 5. The game marked a new low for Olave, who had 11 yards on two catches back in Week 1. All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie covered Olave on roughly half of his routes, but the lack of production may have been by design. Quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) rarely looked to his primary receiver in Week 5, opting instead for several deep shots to Rashid Shaheed and peppering Alvin Kamara and tight end Juwan Johnson with targets in short yardage attempts. Olave has a good matchup for a rebound in Week 6 when the Saints host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though expectations will have to be held in check pending the status of Carr, who left the game in the fourth quarter due to an injury.

From RotoBaller

Fred Warner Oct 8 12:10am CT
Fred Warner

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimation. The star defender has been dealing with a lingering ankle issue over the last couple of weeks. While it hasn't caused him to miss a game yet, it has kept him on the injury report and impacted his practice participation. Fortunately, the fact that he's listed as limited with three days until Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks is a good sign. Warner is trending in the right direction and should be able to suit up in Week 6, barring a setback. He'll look to build on an impressive campaign that has included 39 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, one touchdown, and one sack.

From RotoBaller

Charvarius Ward Oct 8 12:00am CT
Charvarius Ward

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (knee) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) were both listed as non-participants on Monday's practice estimate. The 49ers didn't actually practice, but if they had, Ward and Hufanga would have been absent. This raises some concerns for their Week 6 availability given that there are less than three days until the Niners face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. If San Francisco ends up being without Ward, who has 22 tackles this season, Isaac Yiadom would step up in his absence. Meanwhile, Hufanga, who has eight tackles through two games, would be replaced by George Odum.

From RotoBaller

Chris Conley Oct 8 12:00am CT
Chris Conley

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Chris Conley (oblique) was officially estimated as a non-participant on Monday. The 31-year-old missed Week 5 and now runs the risk of missing Week 6, too. The Niners are on a short week with their next game scheduled for Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks. On a positive note, Conley still has two more days to practice in any capacity before the Seahawks have to make an official decision on his game status. In the event that he can't suit up, Jacob Cowing, Ronnie Bell, and Trent Taylor could all earn additional opportunities. Regardless of Conley's status, he remains off the fantasy radar in all leagues.

From RotoBaller

Dee Williams Oct 7 11:50pm CT
Dee Williams

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (ankle) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimate. As the Seahawks gear up for Thursday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers, they could be without their talented cornerback. Woolen, who has registered 13 tackles and one interception this year, has two more days to get back on the field in some capacity before Seattle makes an official decision on his status. If he can't suit up against the Niners, Dee Williams and Nehemiah Pritchett would be in line to earn more opportunities on defense.

From RotoBaller

Pharaoh Brown Oct 7 11:50pm CT
Pharaoh Brown

Seattle Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (groin) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimate. It's too early to tell whether he'll be able to suit up on Thursday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers. He still has two more days to maintain or improve his practice status before the Seahawks have to make an official decision on his Week 6 status. Brown has caught just one pass in each of his last three games, logging a 14 percent snap share in Week 5. He remains behind Noah Fant and AJ Barner on the depth chart and can be avoided in all fantasy football leagues.

From RotoBaller

Derick Hall Oct 7 11:40pm CT
Derick Hall

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (thigh) will not play in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Mike Macdonald told the media on Monday. Nwosu made his season debut on Sunday but played just 20 percent of snaps and registered three tackles before picking up a thigh injury and exiting the game. With the 27-year-old slated to miss Thursday Night Football against the 49ers, look for Dre'Mont Jones and Derick Hall (foot) to earn more opportunities on defense.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Oct 7 11:30pm CT
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) suffered what head coach Dennis Allen described as a left side injury during Monday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Carr, who exited in the fourth quarter, said postgame that he feels "not good" and left the game because he was unable to make necessary movements or throws. He finished Week 5 with 18 completions, 165 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The veteran quarterback will undergo an MRI and additional testing to determine the severity of his injury when the Saints return to New Orleans on Tuesday. Depending on what those tests reveal, Carr could be at risk of missing next Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jake Haener, who relieved Carr in the fourth quarter against Kansas City, would be in line to start for New Orleans if the veteran is forced to miss additional time. Such a change at quarterback would lead to reduced fantasy value for Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Oct 7 10:20pm CT
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) was injured in Monday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth quarter and is considered questionable to return. Carr went into the blue medical tent on the sideline with trainers before eventually walking back to the locker room to be checked out. If Carr is unable to return to this game, Jake Haener will finish it out under center for the Saints. Before leaving the game, Carr had gone 18-for-28 for 165 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while being sacked only once. His favorite target was receiver Rashid Shaheed, hooking up with him four times on nine tries for 86 yards, including another long 43-yard touchdown strike. Losing Carr for any amount of time would obviously be a big blow for the Saints' offense. New Orleans next plays this coming Sunday at home against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Oct 7 10:13pm CT
Rashee Rice

Dynasty | Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice may have only torn his LCL and avoided other major ligament damage. Dynasty Analysis: While a torn LCL is nothing to sneeze at, it's better than a torn ACL, MCL, PCL, meniscus or whatever you want to spin on the "wheel of ligaments." Rice is still likely going to miss the entire season but his timetable may be moved up a few months. More will be known in the coming days but it seems Rice may have at least received some promising news today.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Aidan O'Connell Oct 7 10:13pm CT
Aidan O'Connell

Dynasty | Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce was non-committal when asked about his starting quarterback moving forward. Dynasty Analysis: It's pretty rare when radio silence means your current starter is keeping their job and this doesn't look good for Minshew, who was replaced by Aidan O'Connell on Sunday after he threw a backbreaking "pick-six." Minshew hasn't been the biggest problem for Las Vegas but he also hasn't been much of the solution, either. O'Connell could provide a short-term boost for the offense but he hasn't exactly looked the part of a franchise quarterback, either. The Raiders are likely looking for a long-term solution this Spring. Both quarterbacks currently have some value, but Minshew will be a tough hold in a non-Superflex league should he lose his job.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Deshaun Watson Oct 7 10:13pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Dynasty | Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has settled his latest civil suit out of court. Dynasty Analysis: No details have emerged and they likely won't at this point. All we know is the latest legal issue with Watson has now been put to rest. Unfortunately, that won't put many minds at ease as Watson has been simply terrible on the field since arriving in Cleveland. The Browns were willing to take the obvious PR hit with Watson since he was considered an elite-level player. However, it's fair to wonder how long they're going to stick with him now that he clearly isn't. Watson's dynasty value is in the tank, despite him likely not facing league discipline over his latest transgression (or accusation).

From Dynasty League Fantasy