Favorite Picks Each Round
Tue Jul 29 10:38am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Ridley should benefit from new QB
We thought it would be a fun exercise to go over my favorite picks in each round of the draft. So using the ADP, I picked the player that goes in each round that I like to target come draft day. This would kind of be my ideal draft scenario. You can see my starting lineup and full roster at the end of the article for this 12-team league.
Here is what I’m thinking round-by-round. . . . .
Round 1: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys (5.86). I think Lamb might be the safest first-round pick. He is the clear top target in an offense that is going to throw the ball a ton. The Cowboys running game is a mess. And a healthy Dak Prescott is a huge plus for Lamb as well. I think he is going to have a monster season and make a run at top fantasy receiver in the game.
Round 2: Chase Brown, RB, Bengals (18.65). Brown had a breakout season last year, and I don’t think it was a fluke. He didn’t even open the season as the starter and still managed to finish 10th overall in fantasy scoring. He starts from day one in an explosive offense and should get all the goal-line work. Brown is setup for an even better season this year.
Round 3: Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins (26.22). Hill carries some risk, but he was bothered by a wrist injury much of the year, which hindered his production. I don’t think there is a player with a higher ceiling in Round 3 than Hill, which is why I’m taking that risk. He is healthy and has 111 or more receptions three of four seasons. He has something to prove this year, and I think he gets it done.
Round 4: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Panthers (39.12). I have a ton of shares of Hubbard already. I just love the fact he has next to no competition for carries and plays in an offense that could be much better this year if Bryce Young continues his development. Hubbard seems like a really safe pick with a consistent weekly floor. He is an ideal No. 2 fantasy back in my view.
Round 5: Tet McMillan, WR, Panthers (60.83). I hate to target players on bad teams, but McMillan really intrigues me. I just wonder why he isn’t getting the same love as some of the rookie receivers last year - Marvin Harrison, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas. McMillan is going to get a ton of targets and could have a similar season to Nabers in my view. That is big-time value at this point of the draft.
Round 6: Calvin Ridley, WR, Titans (70.01). Ridley is another one of my favorite targets. He is the clear top option in the Titans passing game. He gets a huge upgrade at quarterback this year, having rookie Cam Ward throwing him passes. Ridley hit the 1,000-yard mark in an awful offense last year with terrible quarterback play. He was targeted 120 times but caught just 64 passes last year. The ceiling is super high for Ridley this coming season. He is going to be a target magnet.
Round 7: Jaylen Warren, RB, Steelers (81.93). Rookie Kaleb Johnson is around and is going to get carries, but Warren is clearly the top back in passing situations. And we know new quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants to throw the ball. This is going to have Warren on the field offense. I like him a lot as a flex play or low-end No. 2 fantasy back in this offense.
Round 8: Evan Engram, TE, Broncos (90.60). Engram heads to the Broncos and an offense that likes the tight end, especially in the red zone. And after Courtland Sutton, the options in the passing game aren’t the best. You could see Engram becoming a favorite target of Bo Nix in a hurry. Engram has some potential for a big first season in Denver.
Round 9: Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans (101.37). Spears was a bust last year but didn’t get the chances you hoped. The Titans are already stating they want more of a split backfield. Spears is a big-play threat with the ball in his hands, so he is the type of home-run hitter I like to have on my bench. He is a good spot play capable of the huge game any given week. And I look for his numbers to be a little more consistent this year, getting more weekly touches.
Round 10: Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys (110.01). I do like going early on a quarterback at times, but Prescott is a target of mine at this cheap price. He is going to throw the ball a ton in this pass-first offense. I can see him passing for 5,000-passing yards and pushing 40 touchdowns. He can be a top-five fantasy quarterback. If you want to wait a little on a quarterback, Prescott is a guy to target. And I like him even better if I take Lamb in Round 1.
Round 11: Jayden Higgins, WR, Texans (132.85). Higgins is another rookie receiver I like a lot this year. He has a good chance to start opposite Nico Collins from day one. And he plays in a passing attack that looks to be a lot better this year. C.J. Stroud wasn’t great in year two but he lacked a lot of quality options in the passing game because of injuries. Higgins can produce some big games as a reserve fantasy receiver.
Round 12: Brandon Aubrey, K, Cowboys (133.67). Normally, I would never act early on a kicker. Ever. Never done it, but my mind is changing. I recently posted a story about teams being the first to draft a kicker. Of those teams, nearly 1/5 finished first or second in their league. Having the best kicker in the game made a difference last year. So for me, I might try it this season to see if it pays off. The price isn’t super high for Aubrey, either. So why not?
Round 13: C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans (153.32). If I’m going to wait on a quarterback, I like to double up pretty quickly. And Stroud is a favorite target of mine. He is dirt cheap after disappointing last season. Stroud gets all sorts of help at receiver this year through the draft and free agency. Remember, this guy was 11th in fantasy quarterback scoring as a rookie.
Round 14: Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears (166.13). Monangai is a big back that could be a real asset in short-yardage work. And we all know new head coach Ben Johnson likes to have a split backfield, so it would not surprise to see Monangai earn a role quickly in this offense. Plus, Johnson has a history of producing some fantasy backs with big touchdown numbers. I like taking a chance on Monangai at this point of the draft, hoping he becomes the goal-line back in Chicago.
Round 15: Cedric Tillman, WR, Browns (169.35). I like to have boom or bust players on my bench. You might have figured that out from the rest of my roster. Tillman certainly fits the bill. He had some big games last year when getting a chance to start, but disappeared in others. He should start from day one, and if Joe Flacco is throwing him passes, you have to like his chances for some more big games this season.
Round 16: Kansas City Chiefs (185.00). I might wait another round or two to grab a defense because the data shows going early on a defense doesn’t really help your chances of winning the league. But for the purposes of this article and filling out my lineup, I’ll go with the Chiefs if I’m taking a defense a little sooner than normal. You can get them after a lot of the top options at the position, but I think they can still be a top-five fantasy option this season. They have an innovative defensive coordinator that gets after the quarterback and causes turnovers. This unit has a lot of talent on that side of the ball, especially at cornerback and along the defensive line.
| LINEUP | |
| QB: | Dak Prescott |
| RB: | Chase Brown |
| RB: | Chuba Hubbard |
| WR: | CeeDee Lamb |
| WR: | Tyreek Hill |
| WR: | Tet McMillan |
| TE: | Evan Engram |
| FLEX: | Calvin Ridley |
| K: | Brandon Aubrey |
| DEF: | Kansas City Chiefs |
| BENCH: | Jaylen Warren |
| BENCH: | Tyjae Spears |
| BENCH: | Jayden Higgins |
| BENCH: | C.J. Stroud |
| BENCH: | Kyle Monangai |
| BENCH: | Cedric Tillman |
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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The Paur Report
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (foot) has officially been ruled out for his team's Week 3 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Charbonnet is the team's leader in rush attempts (27) heading into Week 3. His absence should mean a significant increase in workload for Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker III has a touchdown and 125 rushing yards so far this season, 105 of which came in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Charbonnet officially inactive, Walker III is a must-start fantasy running back in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith is a healthy scratch for his team's Week 3 matchup with the Denver Broncos, per The Athletic's Daniel Popper. Lambert-Smith has not recorded an NFL catch and saw just one target across the Chargers' first two games of 2025. He's currently buried on the Chargers depth chart at wide receiver behind Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, and fellow rookie Tre' Harris. Lambert-Smith should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (head) is being evaluated for a head injury and is questionable to return to his team's Week 2 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Mayer had one target in the game before getting injured. If he is unable to return, it could mean an increase in snaps for star Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers. Third-string Raiders tight end Ian Thomas could also step into Mayer's role, particularly as an in-line blocker.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) has a ligament sprain that prevented him from playing Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to FOX's Jay Glazer. The sophomore quarterback is able to move forward, but the injury has hampered his ability to move side-to-side, according to Glazer. In the meantime, Washington will start veteran backup Marcus Mariota while Daniels recovers.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers officially ruled out quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) from playing in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Iowa State product was initially feared to be out for upwards of a month, but made a late push to return earlier than expected. In any case, the 49ers will exercise caution and keep Purdy out for at least another week. Mac Jones will earn another start in his absence.
From RotoBaller
With wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle) injured, the San Francisco 49ers likely will turn to new addition Kendrick Bourne as a starter, coach Kyle Shanahan said. The 49ers also will be playing without tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) in the game, giving Bourne some streaming appeal for managers who are in a bind without Jennings. In most formats, however, managers should likely look elsewhere for a starting wide receiver.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (toe) has officially undergone surgery and is hopeful to make a return around mid-December, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. For now, Cincinnati will turn to backup Jake Browning in Burrow's absence and hope to stay afloat in time to make a run at the NFL playoffs. Burrow's injury was a tough one for fantasy managers, who drafted the QB to be an every-week starter and didn't even get two full games. A return could happen within fantasy playoffs, but managers are going to have to lean on their bench or a trade in the meantime.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (illness) is expected to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The star receiver was added to the injury report due to the ailment and is listed as questionable, but Schefter reported that the team wanted to see how he felt, hence the late addition. Now that it seems like Smith-Njigba will play, fantasy managers can rest assured that a WR1 candidate can be locked into starting lineups.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson (elbow) will be active for the first time this season when his team visits the Titans in Week 3. Goodson is expected to compete with DJ Giddens for work behind Jonathan Taylor, although Taylor played 93% of the team's snaps in Week 2 and will stay the focal point of the offense. Goodson could work his way into a meaningful role as a deep-league flier or a handcuff to Taylor if he can pass up Giddens, who got some work in Week 1 in a lopsided win, but didn't get a touch in Week 2 against the Broncos. Keep an eye on how any work is divided between the backups, or if Taylor just features full-time.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson will not play in Week 3 against the Vikings, after being listed as a healthy inactive. Hudson has yet to play an offensive snap for the Bengals this season although he was active each week. Instead of Hudson, tight end Cam Grandy will be active, and since he's more of a blocking specialist, that could mean the Bengals are planning to go more run-heavy if the game script allows against the Vikings. Hudson and Grandy are well off the fantasy football radar, but the switch in inactives could indicate a big workload is coming for Chase Brown.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver DeAndre Carter (concussion) and kicker Andre Szmyt (calf) are both active and ready to go for Week 3's matchup against the Packers. Carter had to leave last week's game with a concussion, and Szmyt popped up on the injury report on Friday with a calf injury. He underwent an MRI, but everything looked good, so he's available as an emergency option at the position if needed. Carter has not played an offensive snap yet for the Browns, but he is an important special teams contributor, and he should be back in that role on Sunday after clearing the concussion protocol.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Braxton Berrios missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury but was able to return to practice this past week. He and Christian Kirk (hamstring) are ready to join the young Texans' receiving options behind Nico Collins, but Berrios won't make his Texans debut in Week 3, since he was listed as inactive. Rookie Jaylin Noel will continue to do work as a return specialist with Berrios inactive, while Kirk will work as the primary slot option with Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, and rookie Jayden Higgins all ahead of Berrios on the depth chart for now.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Kalel Mullings (ankle) and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (back) are active in Week 3 against the Colts. Mullings was limited in practice this past week and listed as questionable. He originally injured his ankle in Week 1's loss to the Broncos and was inactive in Week 2 against the Colts. The rookie running back didn't get a touch in Week 1 and seems to be mainly a special teams contributor at this point in his career. Sneed missed practice this week with a back injury, but he'll be able to play as well, which is especially important since the team's second CB, Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (ankle), is not active, leaving a rotation at the corner spot opposite Sneed against the Colts. The Titans' banged-up corners could improve the matchup for Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs as the Colts look to move to 3-0 on the season.
From RotoBaller
According to Tracy Wolfson of CBS, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is targeting a return in Week 7 following their week 6. Wolfson noted that McCarthy was not placed on IR and should be in the mix to return following their Week 6 bye. Managers should continue to monitor his status, as it appears the second-year QB is not expected to miss an extended period. While he remains sidelined, NFL journeyman Carson Wentz is slated to serve as Minnesota's QB1. During his first two games of his NFL career, McCarthy struggled to find much consistency as he went 24-for-41 with just 301 yards and a modest 2:3 TD:INT. However, since he missed his entire rookie season due to a meniscus tear, he may see some growing pains. Wentz carries QB2 value with upside in all formats for the time being, as he could find success throwing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison when he returns from suspension next week.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson (shoulder) is officially active for Sunday's contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson is a healthy scratch. Parkinson carried a questionable tag following Friday's practice after logging three straight limited sessions. However, the 26-year-old was able to turn the corner. Parkinson was unable to play in Week 2 but operated as the team's No. 2 tight end in the season opener. In this contest, Parkinson caught both of his targets for -6 yards. This afternoon, managers should expect Parkinson to return to a reserve role as Tyler Higbee should see the majority of the snaps as the lead tight end.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (hamstring) is listed as inactive for Sunday's contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Legette was listed as a limited participant throughout the team's practices this week but was unable to progress enough to suit up. Managers should continue to monitor his status as the team prepares for their Week 4 contest against the New England Patriots. Through the first two games of the season, Legette has been given a lead role in the offense but has been unable to find much success. Legette has been targeted 15 times but has only been able to catch four of them for a mere eight yards. With Legette missing this contest, fantasy managers should expect rookie wideout Tetaiora McMillan and veteran wideout Hunter Renfrow to lead the offense.
From RotoBaller
The Houston Texans have declared RB Dameon Pierce, OT Blake Fisher, WR Braxton Berrios, LB Darrell Taylor, TE Brenden Bates, RB British Brooks and QB Graham Mertz inactive for Week 3.
From TheHuddle
The Minnesota Vikings have declared QB J.J. McCarthy, QB Desmond Ridder, WR Tim X. Jones, DT Elijah Williams, TE Nick Vannett, C Ryan Kelly and OT Justin Skule inactive for Week 3.
From TheHuddle
Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (knee) is active for Week 3's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Fantasy Spin: After missing Week 2's game versus the Kansas City Chiefs, Goedert was able to participate in two limited practice sessions and one full session during the week before being removed from the injury report Friday, Sept. 19. He should see a handful of targets this afternoon and can be viewed as a low-end TE1 option in most fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
The Cleveland Browns have declared CB Damontae Kazee, RB Raheim Sanders, OT Jack Conklin, QB Shedeur Sanders, CB Cameron Mitchell, DT Michael Hall Jr. and OG Zak Zinter inactive for Week 3.
From TheHuddle
