Wed Feb 7 8:43am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Pacheco is playing at high level
Not sure about you, but there is not a better weekend in sports than Super Bowl weekend. It is as good as it gets. Just everything involved with it is so much fun. I am so looking forward to it all this weekend. Let’s hope it is a good game and lives up to the hype. Now for my random thoughts for the week. . . .
I will give you my pick for the game right off the bat. I think it will be a close game, but look for the Chiefs to squeak it out. I think the experience factor plays a difference here in the end, especially when it comes to the quarterback position. Patrick Mahomes has been outstanding during the playoffs and think he has a huge advantage over Brock Purdy. Plus, the Chiefs defense has been outstanding lately, completely shutting down the opponent. I don’t see them shutting down the 49ers high-powered offense, but think they will cause Purdy problems. I’m going with a Chiefs 31-27 victory.
If you still don’t have any fantasy teams alive in the playoffs, consider playing our fun pickem contests. We have tons of options available to play with for the Super Bowl. I wanted to give you a few of my favorite pickem plays for the big game. Give me Travis Kelce more than 70.5-receiving yards. Kelce has 71-plus yards all three of his playoff games and is coming off arguably his best game of the season. And the 49ers struggled to stop the tight end last week, seeing Sam LaPorta rack up the receptions and yards. I also like Brandon Aiyuk less than 61.5-receiving yards. Aiyuk has failed to hit that mark two of three games and has just three catches each of his last three games. Lastly, I like Deebo Samuel more than 79.5-rushing and receiving yards. Samuel had 11 touches his last game and was a huge part of the offense. I look for the 49ers to get him involved early and often, giving him good potential to rack up some total yards.
I’m not sure how I feel about the Commanders hiring of Kliff Kingsbury. His offenses were fine in Arizona, but not as explosive as many thought and he struggled some using Caleb Williams last year at USC. I think the Commanders would have been better served keeping Eric Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator. I thought he did a great job with the offense last year in Washington all things considered. I’m not convinced Kingsbury is going to be an upgrade.
On a different subject, can we stop teasing and showing parts of the Super Bowl commercials before the game? I mean part of the fun of the game is the commercials. They are always entertaining and a part of the event. But now, you see parts of the commercials before the game, ruining the surprise. C’mon people. Let’s stop this tradition right now.
We had our first TFC draft of the 2024 season last night. And in a surprise move, the first pick of the draft was Breece Hall. And we also saw Sam LaPorta get picked before Travis Kelce. It is always interesting to see how these early drafts shake out. A lot is going to change between now and the start of next season, but trends are starting now. In this draft, four running backs were picked in the first round compared to eight receivers. And the quarterback position looks as deep as ever with guys like Jordan Love getting picked in Round 11. Brock Purdy and Kirk Cousins also went very late.
News and Notes: The Chargers hired Greg Roman as their new offensive coordinator. Roman tends to be more run heavy when it comes to play calling. . . . .Former Texans and Patriots running back Rex Burkhead announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday.
HOT PLAYS
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs. Pacheco has taken his game to new heights during the Chiefs playoff run. He has at least 15 fantasy points four straight games and found the end zone seven consecutive games. He even has 20-plus carries two of three games, getting a big workload in the Chiefs offense. Expect more of the same this week from Pacheco. The 49ers allowed 182-rushing yards to the Lions their last game and allowed 135-plus rushing yards each of their two playoff games.
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs. Kelce has looked like a different player during these playoffs than the regular season. He had 11 receptions his last game and at least five catches all three playoff games. He has 14-plus fantasy points all three games. He has really elevated his game after a ho-hum second half of the season. Look for him to be the focal point of the Chiefs passing game once again this week. And San Francisco couldn’t contain Sam LaPorta in the Championship game, allowing him to get nine receptions for 97 yards. The Packers tight ends had six receptions and a touchdown in the 49ers other playoff game.
COLD PLAYS
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers. Aiyuk did score a touchdown his last game, which was a big positive, but he had just three receptions. He has just three cathodes three straight games. He has were than 40 yards two of three. And with the Chiefs secondary clamping down on receivers right not, it could be more of the same for Aiyuk this week. He could be held in check once again.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Chiefs. McKinnon is expected to make his long-awaited return this week, returning from a groin injury. He has not played since Week 15. Just remember he has not reached double-digit touches in a single game this year. Pacheco is the lead back in this offense and will get most of the work at running back. McKinnon played great during the Chiefs playoff run last season, but this is a new year. Plus, McKinnon has not played in several weeks, so you have to wonder how much he is even on the field. He will be a big risk to use for fantasy owners.
SLEEPERS
Jauan Jennings, WR, 49ers. There are always surprise players in the Super Bowl, so why not Jennings. He could draw the most favorable matchups in coverage for the 49ers receiver options. And he has looked good in the playoffs, having six receptions for 69 yards in two games. He played 42 percent of the snaps last week - even with Deebo Samuel back in the lineup. Jennings might get a big play or two in this one, making him an intriguing fantasy play.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Chiefs. Valdes-Scantling had the game-clinching reception in the Championship game, making a sliding catch on third down to clinch the game. He finished with two receptions for 38 yards. But he played a season-high 83 percent of the snaps in that game, which is encouraging. If he is on the field that much again this week, his reception and yardage totals could rise in what might be a high-scoring game.
High/Low Scoring Games
Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.
High Scoring Games: Chiefs/49ers.
Low Scoring Games: None.
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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson completed 19-of-27 passes for 190 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the team's Saturday night 24-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mike White started the game for Miami and racked up just 39 yards on 5-of-9 completions. On his drives, the Dolphins went three-and-out once and failed to convert two fourth downs. Thompson entered the game in the second quarter and immediately drove the team down the field for a score -- connecting with tight end Hayden Rucci three times, including the 20-yard touchdown. He then engineered another scoring drive in the third, hitting wide receiver Kyric McGowan for a 1-yard touchdown. That would be the final time the Dolphins scored. It was an efficient night for Thompson as he makes his case to climb the depth chart and be the primary backup to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The next time we see Miami suit up for action will be their home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars two weeks from Sunday.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty is pushing for the team's RB3 role leading up to the regular season. Hasty is buried behind Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, and Kevin Harris on the depth chart, but his skill set could lend well to New England's revamped offense. According to Hasty in an interview with reporters on Friday, Alex Van Pelt wants to be the best screen team in the NFL. He was also quoted as saying that AVP likes to "mix it up" and that he and the other RBs "run routes like the receivers do." It's an encouraging development that hopefully foreshadows a good amount of passing-game activity for the Patriot's running backs in 2024. The exact way touches will shake out here remains to be seen, but Stevenson will likely handle most of the work, with Gibson mixing in as a change of pace. The mystery is compounded further by the fact that we've yet to see what this offense is about. Hasty is Yahoo!'s RB118 and presents as little more than a late-round deep-league dart throw until this situation changes.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds(leg), who left the team's final day of training camp early Wednesday, appears to have avoided serious injury. The exact nature of the ailment sustained by Reynolds is unclear, though two defenders apparently sandwiched him on a run in the red zone at about the mid-point of practice. It appears he'll be okay and looks to return to the field quickly. Reynolds is currently entrenched in a battle with rookie Sione Vaki for Detroit's RB3 role, and any time away from the field is less time fending off the rookie from supplanting him. Whichever back wins the positional battle would not hold standalone value but rather be a potential handcuff option in deep leagues and best ball formats. This version of the Lions' offense has shown us a propensity to value the use of a dual-RB system, and Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) is improving but not fully healthy with the season just two weeks away. Reynolds is Yahoo!'s RB100 off the boards in drafts currently.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (groin) will not play Sunday in the team's preseason finale against the New England Patriots. Mariota was seen on the side during 11-on-11s and is trending toward practicing in full next week. Jeff Driskel will likely get the bulk of the work at quarterback for the Commanders this weekend, and Sam Hartman (shoulder) could mix in if he's recovered enough from his injury. With Jayden Daniels officially named as the team's starter heading into Week 1, Washington head coach Dan Quinn is opting not to push Mariota at this time and allow him to recover fully. While they would prefer not to have to go to him, it would be beneficial for him to be healthy in 2024, as he'll be the primary backup for Daniels to start the year.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (Achilles) did not participate in practice Friday and was off on the side field instead. Apparently, the veteran wideout has picked up an Achilles injury of sorts, though it doesn't seem to be very serious. When asked about Reynolds, Broncos' head coach Sean Payton said, "he's doing well." "Today, he felt a lot better. He's got some wear and tear on one of his Achilles. He's fine; we just kind of backed off. But today, he was much better." There isn't much concern here as of now, and we'll likely get an update on him over the coming days. Behind Courtland Sutton, the Denver wide receiver room is mostly vague regarding who will be the next man up. If he can stay healthy, the journeyman wideout likely has a shot to do just that. He's Yahoo!'s WR105 and has a decent chance to contribute in a situation that has not yet cleared itself. Reynolds remains a target in best ball and deep-league formats.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round tight end Tip Reiman has established himself as a potential No. 2 option at tight end for the Cardinals behind budding superstar Trey McBride. Reiman was mostly known for his blocking as an NFL draft prospect, but he has showcased his receiving skills during training camp and the preseason. His versatility will help him get on the field sooner than later in his rookie campaign. The 22-year-old can be ignored by fantasy managers in single-year leagues. The 6-foot-5, 271-pounder from Illinois will mostly be asked to do the dirty work as a blocker in his first year in the NFL. It's encouraging that he's shown some interesting pass-catching chops in camp, but don't expect Reiman to be much of a factor through the air in 2024.
From RotoBaller
It hasn't taken Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to establish himself as the WR1 with his new team. By the time the Cardinals broke minicam in June, Harrison, the fourth overall pick back in April, was already seen in that role by both his teammates and the coaching staff. Since then, he's solidified his spot as the WR1 and perhaps the second-most important player (behind quarterback Kyler Murray) in this offense. The 22-year-old is expected to be the one person in the Cardinals' offense runs through and the option Murray looks to in "gotta have it" moments. The expectations for Harrison are massive for both the Cardinals and fantasy managers. If Murray stays healthy, it's easy to see how Harrison will slot in as an easy top-10 fantasy wideout when all is said and done in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round running back Trey Benson has improved each week during training camp and the preseason and is showing that he's slowly but surely adjusting to the NFL game. Benson might now start the season as the RB2 behind starter James Conner, but ESPN's Josh Weinfuss doesn't think it will take him long to ascend to that spot. The 22-year-old from Florida State carried the ball nine times for 43 yards in last weekend's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts and has gotten extra reps in camp with Emari Demercado dealing with a shoulder injury. There were some injury concerns with Benson coming out of college, but if he manages to stay healthy in 2024, the full expectation is that he'll be Conner's direct backup sooner than later. In fantasy drafts, look to use a late-round flier on him if you choose Conner earlier on.
From RotoBaller
There is a package of plays being carved out for Cincinnati Bengals rookie fourth-round tight end Erick All Jr., and the Bengals have been extremely impressed with him in training camp and the preseason. All had a full workload in the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night and continued to impress, including a big block coming in motion to spring a Trayveon Williams run. Sixth-round rookie Tanner McLachlan didn't touch the field in the first half on Thursday, indicating that the Bengals won't be keeping him on the 53-man roster. The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. expects the Bengals to prioritize keeping undrafted free agent Cam Grandy. The 23-year-old All caught his lone target for 10 yards against Indy. All is versatile, but he's likely to be more of a blocker in 2024 as he provides depth behind Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andre Iosivas will soak up the majority of snaps alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in 11 personnel this year. A small supporting cast among tight end Mike Gesicki, Charlie Jones and even Trenton Irwin are expected to rotate in that spot, but Iosivas has earned the WR3 role. Rookie Jermaine Burton isn't expected to contribute anytime soon. There's not enough trust in Burton right now to put him on the field with quarterback Joe Burrow. Iosivas, who caught 15 of 25 targets for 116 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games in his rookie campaign last year, will have an increased role now that Tyler Boyd is no longer in town. However, the former sixth-round speedster from Princeton probably won't see enough targets behind Chase and Higgins to make him worth stashing on the bench in 12-team fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent cornerback J.C. Jackson has been suspended by the NFL for the first game of the 2024 regular season for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. Jackson is eligible to sign and participate in all preseason activities. His suspension will take effect as of the roster reduction to 53 players. The 28-year-old defensive back is still on the open market, and this won't exactly help his cause. The former New England Patriots cornerback played in only five games in 2022 with the Los Angeles Chargers due to injury and spent last year with the Chargers and Patriots, collecting 28 tackles (25 solo), an interception and nine pass breakups in only 10 games played (eight starts). Although Jackson has been a disappointment since making his first Pro Bowl with the Patriots in 2021, he should eventually land with a team and provide veteran secondary depth.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told the Buccaneers Radio Network that wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David will not play in the preseason finale on Friday night against the visiting Miami Dolphins. It's not injury-related at all, with the Bucs just giving them the night off, similar to a veteran's day in practice. Many NFL teams around the league are resting their starters this weekend in their final preseason contests. The 31-year-old Evans will work again with quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2024 after the two showed plenty of chemistry in 2023. Evans saw his most targets (136), catches (79) and yards (1,255) since 2018 and found the end zone a league-leading 13 times. Fantasy managers should expect TD regression, but other than that, Evans should see heavy volume yet again, making him a solid low-end WR1/high-end WR2 target in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix won't play in the team's preseason finale on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Backup Jarrett Stidham will make the start against Arizona before third-stringer Zach Wilson replaces him. "I'd like to see (Stidham) get 8 to 12 plays, and then we'll get a lot of work with Zach (beginning) at some point in that first or early second quarter," said head coach Sean Payton. Nix not starting doesn't come as a surprise after Payton named him the starting QB following the second preseason game last Sunday versus the Green Bay Packers. The 24-year-old will make his regular-season debut on Sept. 8 against the Seahawks on the road in Seattle. The former Oregon signal-caller could be a nice fit in Payton's offense, but expect growing pains. In fantasy, treat him as more of a QB3 in superflex leagues.
From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals have begun their roster cuts, releasing 11 players, including offensive tackle Jackson Carman -- a second-round pick from 2021. Carman's release marks the end of what has been a disappointing tenure with the team. His demotion to the fourth team during the last two preseason games signaled his likely departure. Despite opportunities to play both offensive tackle and guard, Carman struggled to make a significant impact. The Bengals might consider adding him to the practice squad, but it seems both parties are ready to part ways. Carman's reduced playing time over the past two seasons made him a likely cut candidate. He will enter the waiver wire and could attract interest from teams seeking to bolster their interior offensive line. The Bengals also included receiver Hakeem Butler in the cutdowns.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears have acquired Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, releasing defensive end Khalid Kareem to make room for him. Taylor, a second-round pick in 2020, missed his rookie season due to a leg fracture but has since made an impact as an edge rusher. Over the past three seasons, he has recorded 21.5 sacks in 49 games, with 13 starts. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Taylor is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024 season. Last year, he played all 17 games with five starts, totaling 5.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits while participating in 44 percent of the defensive snaps. The Bears, who struggled with pass rushing last seasonfinishing with the lowest sack percentage (4.64%) and the second-fewest sacks (30)are looking to boost their ability to pressure quarterbacks. Taylor and Montez Sweat are expected to play a significant role in addressing this need.
From RotoBaller
The NFL has suspended Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones for the first five games of the season due to violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension follows a misdemeanor domestic battery charge from his time with the Jaguars last season, which the Florida state attorney's office eventually dropped. Despite this, the NFL conducted its investigation and imposed a five-game suspension. Last year, Jones recorded 34 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns with Jacksonville. He will be eligible for reinstatement on October 7, following the Cardinals' Week 5 game against the 49ers, meaning his earliest return to regular-season action would be October 13 against the Packers. In his absence, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Greg Dortch are expected to lead the team's wide receiver corps for the season opener on September 8 against the Buffalo Bills. While this impacts Kyler Murray somewhat, Trey McBride and Harrison Jr. will likely receive even more targets.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (toe/foot) was still not spotted practicing on Friday. Shaheed hasn't been seen at practice due to a toe/foot injury since the middle of last week, likely ruling him out for Sunday's preseason finale against the visiting Tennessee Titans at Caesars Superdome. There's optimism he'll be ready in time for the start of the regular season, though. The 25-year-old deep threat is primed to occupy a significant role in New Orleans' passing game as a volatile WR4/5 bet for fantasy managers this season, considering the Saints' receiving corps is very thin beyond star wideout Chris Olave. Last year, Shaheed put up a strong 9.6 yards per target over 75 targets and 15.6 yards per catch across 46 receptions.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) was still not spotted practicing on Friday. Fantasy managers haven't seen Miller on the field for the Saints since the early stages of training camp due to his hamstring injury, which has proven to be a multi-week setback up to this point. Miller is highly unlikely to be available for Sunday's preseason finale against the visiting Tennessee Titans at Caesars Superdome, and there have been rumors he could end up being a surprise roster cut before the regular season begins if New Orleans doesn't want to put him on Injured Reserve. Veteran power back Jamaal Williams makes the most sense as lead back Alvin Kamara's handcuff until Miller finally gets healthy again.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has confirmed the team's starters will play in Friday's preseason finale against the visiting Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium, so running back Rachaad White will take the field on Friday. Throughout the preseason, rookie fourth-rounder Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker took the majority of reps with White on the sideline. White was a workhorse for the Bucs in 2023, finishing the year with 1,539 scrimmage yards on 272 carries for 990 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and 3.6 yards per attempt. In addition, he showcased his pass-catching ability out of the backfield with 549 receiving yards on 70 catches for an average of 8.6 yards per reception. The 25-year-old's inefficiency on the ground puts him in dead-zone fantasy territory among RBs this summer, but White is certainly a solid RB2 option to begin the year as Tampa Bay's lead back.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods (toe) underwent successful surgery for turf toe on Friday and is expected to miss around four months, according to sources. The Colts are hopeful that Woods can return around Christmas in time for a playoff push. We already knew Woods was going to miss significant time, but now his timeline is a bit more clear. It means that fantasy managers can ignore the 25-year-old in redraft leagues, while his injury will open up more opportunities for the rest of Indy's TE committee that includes Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory. Granson, 26, figures to be the Colts' top pass-catching tight end, as evidenced by the fact that he played all five possessions with the starting offense in the preseason finale on Thursday night. Even with Woods out, Granson can be ignored in standard-sized fantasy leagues. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 43 TE in half-PPR formats.
From RotoBaller