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.
Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Week 18
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington (ankle) could be the team's top option at the position in Week 18 against the Seahawks since both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp will rest for the playoffs. The sixth-round pick from Texas made a splash early in the season with 13 catches in a two-week span against the Bears and Packers. However, he battled injury and fell into a very limited role after Nacua and Kupp returned from their early-season injuries. He caught his one target for six yards in Week 17 against the Cardinals, but that was Whittington's first target in his last nine games. This week in practice, he was limited with an ankle injury but got back to a full workload and has no injury designation for Sunday's game. With a bigger workload expected, he will be a boom-or-bust DFS punt option, depending on how he clicks with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who will start in place of Matthew Stafford.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston is a decent option for Week 18 fantasy lineups. Whether or not the Chargers will play to win on Sunday depends on the results of Saturday's Bengals-Steelers game, but Johnston is likely to play regardless. With Josh Palmer (foot) already ruled out and Ladd McConkey potentially getting some rest before the playoffs, "QJ" could be the lead receiver for the Chargers for at least part of this game. He has some touchdown upside and a decently high floor as well.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has stepped up and delivered for this offense over the last few weeks. The rookie wideout came alive in Week 14 and hasn't looked back since then. McMillan now carries a four-game touchdown streak into the Week 18 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The 23-year-old has also hauled in five receptions for 50 yards or more in each of the last four games. McMillan is playing solid football right now and that should continue during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. He'll get a banged up secondary and he has already emerged as a reliable red-zone threat. Fantasy managers should strongly consider sticking McMillan in their DFS lineups given his recent success. Otherwise, McMillan should be treated as a WR2 for fantasy managers in championship games.
From RotoBaller
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said that Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (ankle) is "very sore" and "needs to improve greatly" in order to have a shot at playing on Saturday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown suffered a mild high-ankle sprain in the Week 17 win over the Denver Broncos and is questionable to play in a must-win game on Saturday. The 24-year-old will be a game-time decision this weekend, but it's sounding like he might be on the wrong side of questionable. He's having a career year with 990 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while adding 54 catches for 360 yards and four more TDs in 16 games, but Brown is shaping up as a risky RB2 in fantasy in Week 18. If he's active, he could be limited by his ankle. If he's out, Khalil Herbert would have a high floor with RB2 upside.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has had a stellar season. He's appeared in all 16 of Detroit's contests, posting career-highs in rushing yards (1,273), receiving yards (486), rushing touchdowns (13), and receiving touchdowns (three). Without question, the 22-year-old has been a reliable fantasy option for managers. That trend should continue in Week 18 versus the Vikings, with the Lions looking to secure the top spot in the NFC heading toward the postseason. Gibbs played well when these clubs met in October, amassing 116 yards on the ground while finding the end zone twice. With David Montgomery (knee) out, as expected, and Craig Reynolds (back) questionable, Gibbs should be heavily involved. Truth be told, even if Reynolds is active, Gibbs will consume most of the chances out of the backfield. Keep him starting in all formats.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Payne Durham (quad) is good to go ahead of Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Durham has been asked to start in each of the last two games with Cade Otton (knee) sidelined. That is likely going to be the case once again this weekend, so Durham figures to get one more start. Durham has done a nice job with seven receptions for 65 yards and one touchdown over the last two games. He'll have some deep league appeal for this weekend and might be worth a dart throw in DFS contests for Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Cody Schrader hasn't gotten any NFL work yet, but coach Sean McVay said he wants to see what the rookie can bring by getting him some work in Week 18 against the Seahawks. Schrader was an undrafted rookie out of Missouri last season who signed with the 49ers last May. He was waived at the end of training camp and claimed by the Rams. Schrader was very productive for the Tigers last season, setting the single-season record with 1,627 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. However, he hasn't seen any NFL action and is mostly viewed as a depth option going forward. He could get double-digit touches this week, though, so he's a flier to keep an eye on for very deep formats going forward. He's RotoBaller's RB73 this week, so he doesn't make a good fantasy play at this point in his NFL journey.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey is off the injury report and good to go for a Week 18 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. McConkey showed up on the report with a toe injury this week, missing practice on Wednesday. He was able to get in a limited session on Thursday and then a full session on Friday before being removed from the injury report heading into the weekend. With Josh Palmer (foot) out, McConkey could see even more targets than usual if the Chargers are going full bore in this game. That will depend on the results of Saturday's Bengals-Steelers game. If the Bengals win, the Chargers will earn the No. 5 seed with a win against the Raiders. If the Steelers win, the Chargers will be locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of the results of their own game. If the Bengals win, McConkey is a high-end WR2 with a clear top-10 ceiling.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (ankle, knee), who is listed as questionable to play in Week 18 against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, is expected to play in the must-win game, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Higgins was also questionable for last week's game against the Denver Broncos but suited up and went off, catching 11 of his 12 targets for 131 yards and three touchdowns in the thrilling overtime victory. The 25-year-old certainly isn't 100 percent right now, but he should be out there in another must-win game for the Bengals on the road in a hostile environment. Nobody should be expecting Higgins to even come close to replicating his Week 17 numbers, but he'll be a clear WR1 for fantasy managers if he's active on Saturday, as expected. In the first meeting with Pittsburgh on Dec. 1, Higgins caught five of 10 targets for 69 yards and a touchdown.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has had another quality year, as expected. He's amassed only 1,186 yards, significantly down from the 2023-24 campaign. However, the wideout has posted a career-high 12 touchdowns this season. With the Lions looking to secure the No. 1 spot in the NFC, St. Brown and the Lions will meet Minnesota on Sunday night. He played well when these clubs met back in October, catching all eight targets for 112 yards and a touchdown. With another high-scoring contest anticipated between the NFC North powerhouses, St. Brown remains a top fantasy asset in all formats.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White has seen his role on offense diminish over the last few weeks. In fact, White has only rushed the ball nine times over the last two games. Luckily for fantasy managers, White has remained involved in the passing attack with eight receptions for 54 yards over that span. Rookie back Bucky Irving has earned his way to the lead back job in Tampa Bay. That being said, White figures to be the backup going forward and probably the primary receiving back. Fantasy managers in high-PPR leagues could still get decent value out of White. Otherwise, White will be a shaky fantasy option for the Week 18 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum has shown flashes of potential in limited work this season, and in Week 18, he could be lined up for a sizable workload since the Rams are resting starting RB Kyren Williams with a playoff spot secure. The Rams have been running the ball effectively with Williams, but Corum has only totaled 197 yards on his 56 carries (3.5 yards per carry). The third-round pick from Michigan brings an element of explosiveness and upside but also represents a very unproven option that has yet to do much on the NFL stage. His upside has him as RotoBaller's RB28 this week, making him a solid RB3 or FLEX option. He also is a DFS option since he should get plenty of work against the Seahawks, who have allowed three touchdowns to running backs in the last five weeks.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans will look to make history during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. The veteran wideout needs 85 yards to tie Jerry Rice's record of 11 straight sessions with 1,000 receiving yards. In addition, Evans will earn a $3 million incentive if he hauls in at least five receptions and surpasses 85 yards. The Bucs have a must-win game ahead of them against a banged up Saints roster. Evans has surpassed the 85-yard mark in three of his last five games, which puts him in good position to hit this milestone. Regardless, Evans remains a solid WR1 for a plus-matchup against the Saints secondary in Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has had arguably the best season of his career in 2024-25. He's appeared in 16 games, throwing for 4,398 yards. The 30-year-old has also tossed 36 touchdowns and completed 71.7% of his attempts, both the highest marks since entering the league in 2016. With the Lions looking to lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Goff and company will meet the Vikings in Week 18. Minnesota has allowed only 18.8 points per game this season, the fourth-best mark in the National Football League. However, both the Lions and Vikings combined for 60 points when these clubs met back in October, with Goff going for 280 yards and two touchdowns through the air. With Sunday night's contest expected to be another shootout, the signal-caller should remain a priority for the remaining redraft managers. Goff should also see attention in DFS contests.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off a stellar performance against the Carolina Panthers last week. Mayfield threw for 359 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions in the blowout win last weekend. The 29-year-old now looks to end his 2024-2025 regular season on a high note with a plus-matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The last meeting between these teams Mayfield threw for 325 yards with four touchdowns. The Saints are banged up on both sides of the ball and this is a must-win game for the Bucs. Fantasy managers who have championship games this weekend should consider Mayfield a QB1. Otherwise, Mayfield is probably an expensive, but reliable DFS option for this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins is a high-risk but high-upside option in a Week 18 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chargers enter the weekend with some uncertainty around Sunday's game. Depending on the results of Saturday's games, the Bolts could be shooting for the No. 5 seed with a win, or could be locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of their own game's result. If they have the five seed to play for, the Chargers are sure to go all-in with their starters, making Dobbins an easy RB2 with upside. If they end up in a meaningless game however, Dobbins could sit out entirely or play in a limited role to rest for the playoffs. Essentially, Dobbins is an RB2 if the Bengals win on Saturday, and too risky to start (unless coach Jim Harbaugh commits to his starters regardless) if they don't.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is coming off another solid performance during last week's win over the Carolina Panthers. Irving rushed 20 times for 113 yards while hauling in all four of his targets for 77 additional yards during the blowout win. The rookie back has now rushed for over 100 yards in three of his last five games. Irving has literally run away with the lead back job in Tampa Bay and looks to finish his regular season on a high note. He'll get a solid matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Week 18. Irving continues to impress and should remain on the RB1 radar for this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty will be kicking indoors at home against the Seahawks in the season finale of his rookie year. So far this season, the sixth-round pick from Stanford has made 25-of-30 field goals and 31-of-35 extra points. This week, his Rams are resting multiple starters with a first-round home playoff game secured by a five-game winning streak. Karty helped lock up the Week 17 win by converting both field goals and one extra point last week in the team's 13-9 victory against Arizona, and he hasn't missed a field goal since Week 12. Still, without his regular offense and against a stingy Seahawks defense, he's a mediocre play in Week 18. He's RotoBaller's K17, meaning he is a mid-level option this week.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Kimani Vidal could potentially take a starting role in a Week 18 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Much about the Bolts lineup depends on the results of Saturday's Bengals-Steelers game. If the Bengals win, the Chargers will likely play all of their starters as they could move up to the No. 5 seed in the playoffs with a win over the Raiders. If the Steelers win, however, Los Angeles would be locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of the results of their own game. Vidal is likely to start while J.K. Dobbins rests if the Steelers win, but Dobbins will almost certainly resume his (almost) every-down role if the Bolts are playing for a win. If Vidal starts, he could be a volume-based RB2 even though the Raiders defense has been solid against opposing running backs. Fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on Saturday's results before finalizing their lineups.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Rams defense and special teams unit has been a huge part of their late-season success, and they'll look to finish the season strong in a matchup with the Seahawks. The Rams are resting multiple offensive starters, but it isn't clear how many defensive stars could also have a lighter workload. The young unit has held opponents under 10 points in three straight games while forcing four turnovers and totaling eight sacks. They had two goal-line interceptions against Kyler Murray last year to seal the win that earned them the NFC West title, which is why they have already clinched the playoffs. Seattle has been a pretty good matchup for DST this season, turning the ball over 24 times in 16 games and giving up 52 sacks. The Seahawks only scored six points last week in Chicago, and the Rams will hope to keep them in check again on Sunday.
From RotoBaller