Wed Jul 3 10:36am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Hurts was first quarterback picked
RealTime Fantasy Sports is proud to present you the results of our “Champions Draft." The draft this season once again consists of the top rated fantasy players on our site. We invited players rated near the top of our Top Fantasy Players report. So this is the best of the best on our site.
In this column, we'll give you a round-by-round look at the draft. Each round includes some notes on that round, talking about what just went down. Hopefully, this gives you some insight into the draft and helps prepare you for all your drafts this coming year.
Before we get to that, here is a quick overview of the league format. We used the same rules as we do for the "All-Pro" fantasy leagues on our site. So you can view the entire set of rules on our main page for that game. But here is a brief look. Each team starts a quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, a tight end, a defensive/special teams, a kicker and a flex player (RB, WR or TE). Scoring is pretty standard. Touchdowns are worth six except for passing touchdowns, which are worth four. And it is a points per reception league, giving every player a point per reception. Defenses get points for sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries. The rules are pretty standard with how many leagues operate these days.
ROUND 1
1. Ballers - Christian McCaffrey RB, SF
2. Birds - CeeDee Lamb WR, DAL
3. CRUNCHY - Bijan Robinson RB, ATL
4. Super Paurs - Breece Hall RB, NYJ
5. Wreckingcrew - Tyreek Hill WR, MIA
6. PaurPlay - Justin Jefferson WR, MIN
7. Crusty GON Pod - Amon-Ra St. Brown WR, DET
8. Bubbles Army - Ja'Marr Chase WR, CIN
9. HORNS - Jahmyr Gibbs RB, DET
10. Goodfellas - Puka Nacua WR, LAR
11. Suncoast - A.J. Brown WR, PHI
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Saquon Barkley RB, PHI
NOTES: The first round was pretty chalk, going very similar to the current ADP. These savvy owners didn’t take many chances with the first round. There were five running backs and seven receivers picked in Round 1. It was not a surprise to see no tight ends or quarterbacks picked in the first round. The only mild surprise was seeing Jonathan Taylor failed to get picked this round. He normally goes at the end of the first round, but didn’t in this one.
ROUND 2
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Jonathan Taylor RB, IND
2. Suncoast - Garrett Wilson WR, NYJ
3. Goodfellas - Sam LaPorta TE, DET
4. HORNS - Travis Etienne RB, JAX
5. Bubbles Army - Davante Adams WR, LV
6. Crusty GON Pod - Chris Olave WR, NO
7. PaurPlay - Josh Jacobs RB, GB
8. Wreckingcrew - Kyren Williams RB, LAR
9. Super Paurs - Devon Achane RB, MIA
10. CRUNCHY - Derrick Henry RB, BAL
11. Birds - Isiah Pacheco RB, KC
12. Ballers - Marvin Harrison Jr. WR, ARI
NOTES: Sam LaPorta was the first tight end picked, getting taken by Suncoast this round. He went a tad sooner, having an ADP of 24.99 but he wasn’t going to last to Suncoast when he picked again, so he had to pull the trigger now if he wanted him on his roster. . . . This was a running back heavy round, seeing seven go off the board. This is normally a trend in many drafts with a lot of owners going receiver in the first round. . . .Isiah Pacheco might have been the only surprise running back of this round. The Birds selected him with the 11th pick. This wasn’t too far off his ADP, though, normally going pick 26.62. . . . .Marvin Harrison continues to be the first rookie picked on draft day. The Ballers picked him with the last pick, making him the 24th pick overall.
ROUND 3
1. Ballers - Drake London WR, ATL
2. Birds - Michael Pittman Jr. WR, IND
3. CRUNCHY - Nico Collins WR, HOU
4. Super Paurs - Deebo Samuel WR, SF
5. Wreckingcrew - James Cook RB, BUF
6. PaurPlay - Travis Kelce TE, KC
7. Crusty GON Pod - Rhamondre Stevenson RB, NE
8. Bubbles Army - Rachaad White RB, TB
9. HORNS - Stefon Diggs WR, HOU
10. Goodfellas - Joe Mixon RB, HOU
11. Suncoast - Mike Evans WR, TB
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Brandon Aiyuk WR, SF
NOTES: This round was a little more receiver heavy once again, having seven go off the board. This seems to be a trend in a lot of drafts, having owners get two receivers and a running back after three rounds. . . . .Travis Kelce is the second tight end picked, which is a little unusual for him, but definitely a trend. Kelce has an ADP of 30.8, going after LaPorta in most drafts. Paur Play is hoping he has at least one more big season in him. . . . .It is always interesting seeing how owners value the two top receivers for the Texans. Nico Collins went before Stefon Diggs in this draft. Collins was picked third this round by CRUNCHY while the HORNS picked Diggs with the ninth pick.
ROUND 4
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Jaylen Waddle WR, MIA
2. Suncoast - Jalen Hurts QB, PHI
3. Goodfellas - D.J. Moore WR, CHI
4. HORNS - DeVonta Smith WR, PHI
5. Bubbles Army - Josh Allen QB, BUF
6. Crusty GON Pod - D'Andre Swift RB, CHI
7. PaurPlay - Patrick Mahomes QB, KC
8. Wreckingcrew - D.K. Metcalf WR, SEA
9. Super Paurs - Amari Cooper WR, CLE
10. CRUNCHY - Kenneth Walker III RB, SEA
11. Birds - Lamar Jackson QB, BAL
12. Ballers - Trey McBride TE, ARI
NOTES: This was a quarterback heavy round, seeing four go off the board. Jalen Hurts was the first quarterback selected, getting picked by Suncoast. He went ahead of Josh Allen, who normally is the first quarterback picked in drafts. . . . .Trey McBride was the third tight end picked, going to the Ballers with the last pick in this round. McBride is flying up draft boards this year after this strong finish last season. He has an ADP of 48.2, so this spot for him is not out of the norm. . . .There was just two running backs picked this round after seeing at least four picked each of the first three rounds. D’Andre Swift and Kenneth Walker were the backs picked this round.
ROUND 5
1. Ballers - Zay Flowers WR, BAL
2. Birds - Mark Andrews TE, BAL
3. CRUNCHY - Aaron Jones RB, MIN
4. Super Paurs - Cooper Kupp WR, LAR
5. Wreckingcrew - C.J. Stroud QB, HOU
6. PaurPlay - Alvin Kamara RB, NO
7. Crusty GON Pod - Kyle Pitts TE, ATL
8. Bubbles Army - Dalton Kincaid TE, BUF
9. HORNS - Anthony Richardson QB, IND
10. Goodfellas - James Conner RB, ARI
11. Suncoast - David Montgomery RB, DET
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - George Kittle TE, SF
NOTES: David Montgomery was one of the top league winners last year but falls to the fifth round of this draft, going to Suncoast with the 11th pick. Fantasy owners have concerns for a repeat season from Montgomery, having an ADP of 68.9. This could end up being a make or break pick for the defending champ. . . . .Cooper Kupp is another polarizing figure this season. He was a very early pick last year, but goes to the Super Paurs with the fifth pick in Round 5. He has taken quite the fall in drafts, having an ADP of 46.5. . . .There were four tight ends pick this round. Dalton Kincaid is the biggest mover from last year. The Horns picked him with the eighth pick. Kincaid is normally the fifth tight end off the board, so Horns might have gotten a little value with him being the seventh tight end selected with this pick.
ROUND 6
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Malik Nabers WR, NYG
2. Suncoast - Najee Harris RB, PIT
3. Goodfellas - Jaylen Warren RB, PIT
4. HORNS - Zack Moss RB, CIN
5. Bubbles Army - Christian Kirk WR, JAX
6. Crusty GON Pod - George Pickens WR, PIT
7. PaurPlay - Calvin Ridley WR, TEN
8. Wreckingcrew - Jordan Love QB, GB
9. Super Paurs - Zamir White RB, LV
10. CRUNCHY - Tee Higgins WR, CIN
11. Birds - Jayden Reed WR, GB
12. Ballers - Tony Pollard RB, TEN
NOTES: The one pick that stands out in this round was the Birds taking Jayden Reed with the 11th pick. He has an ADP of 86.9, so they might have went a little early on Reed. He certainly has potential after scoring eight touchdowns his rookie season, but the Birds might have been able to get him a few rounds later. . . .The quarterback position slowed down a little this round with Jordan Love the only quarterback selected. He goes with the eight pick to Wreckingcrew. Love was fifth overall in fantasy quarterback scoring last year, so getting him after the elite guys are gone could turn out to be good value for Wreckingcrew. . . . .Some running backs that could be splitting work this year flew off the board. Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Zack Moss, Zamir White and Tony Pollard were all picked. They all have some question marks about playing time but if one emerges, they could be great value in Round 6.
ROUND 7
1. Ballers - Terry McLaurin WR, WAS
2. Birds - Jonathon Brooks RB, CAR
3. CRUNCHY - Rashee Rice WR, KC
4. Super Paurs - Joe Burrow QB, CIN
5. Wreckingcrew - Evan Engram TE, JAX
6. PaurPlay - Diontae Johnson WR, CAR
7. Crusty GON Pod - Keenan Allen WR, CHI
8. Bubbles Army - Austin Ekeler RB, WAS
9. HORNS - Chris Godwin WR, TB
10. Goodfellas - Tank Dell WR, HOU
11. Suncoast - Javonte Williams RB, DEN
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Raheem Mostert RB, MIA
NOTES: Our first rookie running back was picked this round, seeing the Birds take Jonathan Brooks with the second pick. Brooks could start the year slow, recovering from his knee injury, but could be a huge factor down the stretch for the Birds. Brooks went around 10 spots later than normal, having an ADP of 64.3. . . .Rashee Rice is a player facing a possible multi-game suspension. If not for that, he would be going much higher. Instead, he falls to CRUNCHY with the third pick this round. Rice has an ADP of 81.6, so he goes about where he normally does in drafts. If he can end up avoiding a suspension, this pick will be a huge steal for CRUNCHY. . . .Raheem Mostert is another intriguing player to watch in drafts. He was a league winner for many last year but is not getting drafted like that. AlwaysBetOnBlack gets him with the last pick this round. Mostert has an ADP of 84.8, so most drafters are not betting on a repeat of his huge season.
ROUND 8
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Brian Robinson Jr. RB, WAS
2. Suncoast - Marquise Brown WR, KC
3. Goodfellas - Dak Prescott QB, DAL
4. HORNS - Nick Chubb RB, CLE
5. Bubbles Army - Devin Singletary RB, NYG
6. Crusty GON Pod - Tyjae Spears RB, TEN
7. PaurPlay - J.K. Dobbins RB, LAC
8. Wreckingcrew - Blake Corum RB, LAR
9. Super Paurs - David Njoku TE, CLE
10. CRUNCHY - Jake Ferguson TE, DAL
11. Birds - Christian Watson WR, GB
12. Ballers - Trey Benson RB, ARI
NOTES: Nick Chubb is returning from another major injury and lasts until the fourth pick of Round 8. He has big question marks, but the Horns could take a chance on him with three quality backs already on his roster. . . .The Ballers took a chance on rookie Trey Benson in Round 8. After taking Christian McCaffrey with the first pick, the Ballers filled up other positions on his roster before taking chances on running backs later in the draft. . . . .There were seven total running backs picked this round. Many owners are hoping to find that great mid-round value, looking for the Raheem Mostert of this season.
ROUND 9
1. Ballers - Zach Charbonnet RB, SEA
2. Birds - Ezekiel Elliott RB, DAL
3. CRUNCHY - Kyler Murray QB, ARI
4. Super Paurs - Ty Chandler RB, MIN
5. Wreckingcrew - DeAndre Hopkins WR, TEN
6. PaurPlay - Chase Brown RB, CIN
7. Crusty GON Pod - Caleb Williams QB, CHI
8. Bubbles Army - Jordan Addison WR, MIN
9. HORNS - T.J. Hockenson TE, MIN
10. Goodfellas - Gus Edwards RB, LAC
11. Suncoast - Courtland Sutton WR, DEN
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Trevor Lawrence QB, JAX
NOTES: Three quarterbacks go this round, giving every team at least one quarterback except one. Ballers is the only team that doesn’t have a quarterbacks after nine rounds. The three quarterbacks picked this round were Kyler Murray, rookie Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence. . . .Teams continues to load up on mid-round running backs with five getting of the 12 picks being running backs. None of these backs are sure things but both Ezekiel Elliott and Gus Edwards have some touchdown potential on their teams. . . .DeAndre Hopkins is not getting drafted as he was in the past. He goes with the fifth pick to Wreckingcrew. This spot is even later than normal for Hopkins, who has an ADP of 79.6.
ROUND 10
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Xavier Worthy WR, KC
2. Suncoast - Dallas Goedert TE, PHI
3. Goodfellas - Ladd McConkey WR, LAC
4. HORNS - Keon Coleman WR, BUF
5. Bubbles Army - Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR, SEA
6. Crusty GON Pod - Jerome Ford RB, CLE
7. PaurPlay - Jameson Williams WR, DET
8. Wreckingcrew - Rico Dowdle RB, DAL
9. Super Paurs - Mike Williams WR, NYJ
10. CRUNCHY - Brian Thomas Jr. WR, JAX
11. Birds - Curtis Samuel WR, BUF
12. Ballers - Brock Purdy QB, SF
NOTES: Round 10 is the round of the rookie. There were four rookie receivers picked this round, including Xavier Worthy, Ladd McConkey, Keon Coleman and Brian Thomas. These are four receivers that all have the chance to emerge as top playmakers in their respective offenses. . . . .Ballers is the last team to take a quarterback, picking Brock Purdy with the last pick in Round 10. Purdy was seventh overall in fantasy quarterback scoring last year. . . . Suncoast was the last team to select a tight end, taking Dallas Goedert with the second pick. Goedert can be erratic but has a high weekly ceiling in his offense.
ROUND 11
1. Ballers - Kendre Miller RB, NO
2. Birds - Josh Downs WR, IND
3. CRUNCHY - Rome Odunze WR, CHI
4. Super Paurs - Gabriel Davis WR, JAX
5. Wreckingcrew - Brandin Cooks WR, DAL
6. PaurPlay - Jahan Dotson WR, WAS
7. Crusty GON Pod - Cole Kmet TE, CHI
8. Bubbles Army - Brock Bowers TE, LV
9. HORNS - Jerry Jeudy WR, CLE
10. Goodfellas - Jayden Daniels QB, WAS
11. Suncoast - Tyler Lockett WR, SEA
12. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Brandon Aubrey K, DAL
NOTES: We had our first team take a second quarterback. Goodfellas took rookie Jayden Daniels with the 10th pick. They picked Dak Prescott two rounds earlier, giving him what could be a potent one-two punch at quarterback. . . .Our first kicker was picked. Brandon Aubrey was taken with the last pick this round by AlwaysBetOnBlack. It is a tad earlier than normal for our first kicker. Aubrey has an ADP of 133.1. . . .The top tight end in this year’s draft, Brock Bowers, was picked by Bubbles Army with the eighth pick. Bubbles is hoping Bowers is the Sam LaPorta of this year’s rookie class.
ROUND 12
1. AlwaysBetOnBlack - Dallas Cowboys Def/ST, DAL
2. Suncoast - Jakobi Meyers WR, LV
3. Goodfellas - Kimani Vidal RB, LAC
4. HORNS - Khalil Shakir WR, BUF
5. Bubbles Army - MarShawn Lloyd RB, GB
6. Crusty GON Pod - Antonio Gibson RB, NE
7. PaurPlay - Justin Herbert QB, LAC
8. Wreckingcrew - Pat Freiermuth TE, PIT
9. Super Paurs - Jared Goff QB, DET
10. CRUNCHY - Kirk Cousins QB, ATL
11. Birds - Tua Tagovailoa QB, MIA
12. Ballers - Chuba Hubbard RB, CAR
NOTES: AlwaysBetOnBlack took the first kicker and followed that by picking the first defense. The Cowboys defense is the first off the board, giving AlwaysBetOnBlack both the Cowboys kicker and defense. . . . .There were a couple rookie running backs picked this round. Kimani Vidal and MarShawn Lloyd don’t have a clear path to playing time with their respective teams but have some potential if given the opportunities. . . .Four teams took backup quarterbacks this round. It is interesting to see Justin Herbert fall so far, but he has question marks because of a new offense and lack of playmakers in the passing game.
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.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed wide receiver Ben Skowronek to their practice squad Friday, per Adam Schefter. Skowronek had made waves early on in camp as a part of the Houston Texans but missed time due to a leg injury and was ultimately cut by the team earlier this week. The 27-year-old was never given a full complement of snaps during his three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, though he did perform admirably when given the opportunity. The former seventh-round pick should stand a better chance to crack the Steelers' active roster than he did buried in a deep Houston wide receiver room. With the regular season kicking off in just under a week, Pittsburgh will roll into their road opener against the Atlanta Falcons with George Pickens, Van Jefferson, and Calvin Austin III starting at wide receiver. Skowronek does not project to be a viable fantasy option, though this could be a situation to monitor with a thin corps in front of him.
From RotoBaller
Linebacker Tyus Bowser was signed to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on Friday and will look to build up to his first in-game action since 2022. Bowser previously spent his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens but was released by the team back in March to free up $5.5 million in salary cap. The 29-year-old was among one of the most versatile linebackers in the league when he was healthy and was a beacon of consistency for the Ravens up until missing eight games in 2022 after a torn Achilles and all of 2023 with a knee injury. He also led Baltimore in sacks with seven in 2021. A former second-round pick, Bowser will reunite with Mike Macdonald in Seattle after playing under him in Macdonald's first year as the Ravens' defensive coordinator. Because Bowser was not on a pre-season roster, being signed to the practice squad will give his body time to reacclimate to football. Look for him to vie for a spot on the active roster.
From RotoBaller
The NFL suspended free-agent wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) for the first week of the 2024 regular season for violating the league's personal-conduct policy related to an incident with a construction worker from last fall. Things continue to get worse for Thomas, who was the best receiver in the NFL as recent as 2019. While it's only a one-game suspension, it's not going to help the 31-year-old veteran's cause as he looks to find a new team for the 2024 season. He was cut by the New Orleans Saints back in March after catching 39 of his 64 targets for 448 yards and just one touchdown. A knee injury limited Thomas to only 10 games (seven starts), and he hasn't played in over 10 games in a season since his All-Pro campaign in 2019. Even if Thomas does land with another team, he will merely be competing for a depth role.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that they re-signed wide receiver Quez Watkins to their practice squad after releasing him earlier this week. Watkins will return to Pittsburgh as extra receiving depth to begin the 2024 campaign behind George Pickens, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller and rookie Roman Wilson. The fact that the 26-year-old wasn't able to impress the coaching staff enough during training camp and the preseason to win a 53-man roster spot in one of the weakest WR rooms in the league pretty much says all you need to know about Watkins. He was a sixth-round selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 out of Southern Mississippi and racked up 98 receptions on 147 targets for 1,249 yards and six touchdowns in his four years in Philly over 49 games (25 starts). Watkins is well off the fantasy radar for now in Pittsburgh.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers released running back Isaiah Spiller from their practice squad on Friday, according to a source. Spiller missed out on making the 53-man roster out of training camp and has now been pushed off the team entirely after the club claimed RB Hassan Haskins off waivers from the Tennessee Titans earlier this week. The 23-year-old wasn't able to win one of the last RB spots over rookie Kimani Vidal and will now be free to join any team in the league as RB depth. Spiller failed to make an impact with the Bolts after they drafted him in the fourth round (123rd overall) in 2022 out of Texas A&M. In his first two years in the league, he carried the ball 55 times for 137 yards (2.5 yards per carry) and no touchdowns, adding only nine receptions (nine targets) for 47 yards without a touchdown in 15 games (zero starts).
From RotoBaller
The Miami Dolphins have signed running back Deneric Prince to their practice squad on Friday. The second-year back was recently cut by the Kansas City Chiefs. Prince had a few nice showings during the preseason, but his mistakes outshined his success. There is certainly potential with Prince, so we'll see how he does in Mike McDaniel's system. The Dolphins have a fairly crowded backfield that features Jaylen Wright, Jeff Wilson Jr., Raheem Mostert, and De'Von Achane. There's a small chance that Prince makes an impact in Miami this season. This looks more like a depth move to see if the Dolphins can unlock something in Prince.
From RotoBaller
The Baltimore Ravens have signed free-agent quarterback Tyler Huntley on Friday. This news comes a day after Huntley was let go by the Cleveland Browns. Huntley spent the first four years of his career in Baltimore before joining the Browns this offseason. The 26-year-old has proven himself to be a reliable backup to Lamar Jackson over the last few seasons. He has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 20 games (nine starts) with the Ravens since 2020. There won't be much fantasy value here, but the Ravens will get a familiar face that knows the system well in case of an emergency.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker has signed a long term extension with the organization on Friday. The two sides have agreed on a four-year extension worth $22 million, which includes $12.5 million in guaranteed money. This makes Dicker one of the highest paid kickers in the league. To be fair, Dicker has been one of the most reliable kickers over the last two seasons. He connected on 31-of-33 field goal attempts last season while hitting all his extra point attempts. There's not many kickers that are more accurate in the game right now than Dicker.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back Samaje Perine will both be available in the season opener on Thursday evening against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Pete Sweeney of the Arrowhead Pride. Head coach Andy Reid noted that the team would be cautious about overloading Perine during the opener. Both Smith-Schuster and Perine signed with Kansas City earlier this week after hitting free agency. Smith-Schuster played in Kansas City in 2022 and totaled 933 yards on 78 catches that season but struggled in New England last fall. Perine posted a career-high 50 receptions and 455 receiving yards last season in Denver. Perine should be expected to serve as the third-down back throughout the season, while Smith-Schuster will serve as a depth option in the wide receiver room.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine received praise from his new head coach on Friday afternoon about his potential as a third-down back. According to Adam Teicher of ESPN, Reid expressed, "He's been a phenomenal third down back. The opportunity to have a guy in here that can do the run game and the pass game . . . That is a great addition." The 28-year-old running back signed with Kansas City earlier this week after being released by the Denver Broncos. Last season in Denver, Perine saw a career-high 50 receptions and 455 receiving yards, with an added 238 on the ground. With these recent comments, fantasy managers should expect Perine to serve in a similar role with the Chiefs, primarily entering the game in passing situations. However, Isiah Pacheco will still likely see the vast majority of backfield touches this upcoming season.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy may not be given a full workload early in his rookie season. According to Adam Teicher of ESPN, head coach Andy Reid expressed some concern about relying on the rookie early in the season. However, Reid did add that, "We'll just see how it goes when things are flying here fast and furious." Worthy has been making some noise in the preseason as he saw five targets from Patrick Mahomes in their preseason match against the Detroit Lions. In addition, he also found the end zone later in that game and finished with 63 total yards. Worthy was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft earlier this spring and is known for his elite speed as he set a new record in the 40-yard dash. Fantasy managers should feel confident stashing Worthy on their bench as he could emerge as a viable starter down the stretch, given his record-breaking speed.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (undisclosed) returned to practice on Friday, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. This is the first time the 28-year-old has returned to the practice field since being involved in a car accident on August 14. Andrews, fortunately, did not suffer any injuries during the accident, and it is a great sign to see him back on the field, as it looks like his prolonged absence was just precautionary. Last season, the tight end appeared in only ten games as he suffered a lower-leg injury in Week 11, which ended his regular season. He caught 45 passes for 544 yards and six scores. Andrews remains one of the top tight ends in fantasy and should serve as Lamar Jackson's primary target once again in 2024.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (foot, toe) missed a large chunk of training camp and the preseason due to injuries, but he returned to practice this week and says he's ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. "It felt really, really good today. I feel like I didn't lose a step. I stayed on top of everything that I needed to throughout the rehab process, so I would be able to be fast and play free and be on the same page with our quarterbacks," Shaheed said. With a new offensive scheme in place under coordinator Klint Kubiak, Shaheed missed valuable time getting reps on the field, but he said he's not worried and already feels that he has a good physical rhythm in the offense. The 25-year-old could have an expanded role in what the Saints are hoping is an improved offense in 2024, but for Week 1 against the Panthers, Shaheed should be considered more of a boom/bust WR5/flex in fantasy lineups.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said in his opening news conference on Friday that he doesn't expect wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) to play in next Thursday's season opener against the Baltimore Ravens due to a sternoclavicular dislocation that he suffered in the preseason opener on Aug. 10. This has pretty much been the expectation since Brown suffered the injury, especially since he hasn't been able to return to practice yet. The 27-year-old was given a four- to six-week timetable initially. Brown will most likely officially be ruled out for Week 1 next Wednesday, but there's a chance he could be available for Week 2 at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. The injury has obviously dropped Brown down fantasy draft boards, but he's still worth taking as a potential great value as a WR4/flex. Rookie Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice will see an early-season boost for however long Brown is out.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said that running back Rico Dowdle will get fewer special teams spans this year because he's expected to be a bigger part of the offense with an expanded workload. Dowdle is expected to open the 2024 season as the co-starter with veteran Ezekiel Elliott, but the recent signing of Dalvin Cook could put a damper on Dowdle's fantasy value this year. The 26-year-old former South Carolina product had just seven carries for Dallas in his first two years in the league, but his role expanded considerably in 2023, as he had 89 rushing attempts for 361 yards and two touchdowns and added 17 receptions for 144 yards and two more scores in 16 regular-season games. Dowdle almost certainly isn't going to take over this backfield single-handedly, which probably caps his fantasy value as a RB4/flex, at best.
From RotoBaller
The Miami Dolphins signed head coach Mike McDaniel to a contract extension on Friday that will take him through the 2028 season, according to sources. The Dolphins had the top-ranked offense in the league last year under McDaniel for the first time since 1994, and they also had their first back-to-back playoff appearances in 23 years. McDaniel has an especially strong working relationship with general manager Chris Grier, CEO Tom Garfinkel and salary cap guru Brandon Shore. The next step for McDaniel and the organization will be to win in the postseason. Miami has not won a playoff game since 1999 and have lost two AFC wild-card games under McDaniel. The head coach has had a noticeable impact on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's development after leading the NFL in passing yards in 2023. Tagovailoa also signed a four-year extension this offseason, so he and McDaniel are in it together.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is heading into a big season as the number-one receiver on the new-look Broncos offense. He's undoubtedly the leader of the receiving corps after the team opted to go younger by trading away Jerry Jeudy and letting Tim Patrick walk. The coaching staff has noticed improvements that he's made over the offseason and he'll look to help boost up rookie quarterback Bo Nix with consistent performances. Last year, in a volatile offense, the six-year pro posted 772 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 59 of his 90 targets. The last time Sutton was the clear number-one was in 2019 when he caught passes from Joe Flacco and Drew Lock, he finished with 124 targets, 72 receptions, 1112 yards, and six scores.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin showed some lackluster highlights in the first preseason games of his NFL career. After the team let Tim Patrick walk, it was a sign that they still had some confidence in the rookie's progress. According to head coach Sean Payton, the coaching staff is pleased with where Franklin currently sits with his progress and he'll get the chance to keep growing with this new-look offense. When it comes to the depth chart, he's still slotted behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, and Marvin Mims Jr., so he may not see too many snaps to start out the season. Right now, his fantasy relevance is higher when it comes to dynasty formats.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers re-signed free-agent S Tony Jefferson to the practice squad on Thursday, Aug. 29.
From TheHuddle
The Washington Commanders signed free-agent DL Sheldon Day (Vikings) to the practice squad on Thursday, Aug. 29.
From TheHuddle