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USFFL Est. 2015
FFL: Offseason | NFL: Championship

Champions Draft Results

Wed Jul 3 10:36am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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.

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Player Notes
Ben Sinnott Jan 23 6:40pm ET
Ben Sinnott

Washington Commanders tight ends John Bates (shoulder) and Ben Sinnott (shoulder) were both listed as limited participants in Thursday's practice after they were both full-go in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. It's possible that both are merely being rested ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, but there statuses will become more clear on Friday. Meanwhile, fellow TE Zach Ertz (rib, rest) returned to a full practice on Thursday after picking up a DNP on Wednesday. As long as Ertz is healthy and on the field, neither Bates nor Sinnott are worth considering in fantasy playoff leagues. Bates had only eight catches on 13 targets for 84 yards and no touchdowns in 17 regular-season games, while Sinnott had five grabs for 28 yards and one score in 17 games.

From RotoBaller

Dyami Brown Jan 23 6:40pm ET
Dyami Brown

Philadelphia Eagles rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (shoulder) upgraded to a full practice session on Thursday after he was listed as limited on Wednesday. The impressive rookie defensive back injured his shoulder in the Divisional Round win over the Los Angeles Rams and was never able to return, but the fact that he practiced in full on Thursday gives him a pretty good chance to play in the NFC Championship against the division-rival Washington Commanders this Sunday in Philly. The 23-year-old first-rounder has been a big reason why the Eagles defense has been one of the best units in the NFL this year, and his presence on the field this Sunday would be bad news for Commanders receivers Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown. Mitchell recorded 46 tackles (37 solo) and 12 pass breakups in his first 16 regular-season games.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Goedert Jan 23 6:30pm ET
Dallas Goedert

Updating a previous report, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) was a non-participant in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. An earlier report suggested that Goedert would return to practice after missing Wednesday's session, but that turned out to not be the case. It now puts the 30-year-old's status for the NFC Championship this Sunday against the division-rival Washington Commanders up in the air. However, if he's able to get back on the practice field on Friday, it would be a surprise if he's not active as the Eagles look to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. Goedert had four catches on six targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in the wild-card win over the Green Bay Packers and caught all four of his targets for 56 yards in the Divisional Round win over the Los Angeles Rams. If he's out or limited on Sunday, Grant Calcaterra would become a TE sleeper for DFS lineups.

From RotoBaller

Christian Benford Jan 23 6:30pm ET
Christian Benford

Buffalo Bills cornerbacks Christian Benford (concussion) and Taron Johnson (neck, shoulder) were both limited in the team's practice on Thursday. It was the second straight limited practice of the week for Benford, while Johnson was a downgrade after he put in a full practice on Wednesday. Benford is most likely going to need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to have a shot to clear the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Divisional Round win over the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson injured his neck in the wild-card win over the Denver Broncos but was able to suit up in the win over the Ravens, where he apparently picked up a shoulder ailment. The Bills could just be resting him on Thursday ahead of the AFC Championship on Sunday versus the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bills could be strong DFS play against a Chiefs offense that hasn't been as explosive this season.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Jan 23 6:20pm ET
Baker Mayfield

One day after reportedly agreeing to a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that would have made him the league's highest-paid offensive coordinator, Liam Coen is meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday about their open head-coach position, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Just several days ago, Coen was considered the favorite to become Jacksonville's next head coach, but then the extension with Tampa was announced. The Jaguars then fired general manager Trent Baalke, and all of a sudden Coen is interest in the job again. It's a fluid situation and nothing is official, but it appears Coen could back out of his extension with Tampa to join Jacksonville now that Baalke is out of the picture. Coen joining the Jags would be good news for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and bad news for Baker Mayfield in Tampa.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Jan 23 6:20pm ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee, illness, rest) upgraded to a full participant in Thursday's practice session after he was listed as limited on Wednesday. In addition to a knee injury that he's been nursing since late in the regular season, Brown has been a bit under the weather this week, but a return to a full practice on Thursday means he should be just fine to play on Sunday in the NFC Championship game against the division-rival Washington Commanders. The 27-year-old pass-catcher continues to play nearly all of Philly's offensive snaps on game days, but he's caught only three passes for 24 yards in two playoff wins over the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams the last two weeks. Fantasy managers brave enough to take the chance on Brown in DFS lineups this weekend will be leaning on the fact he caught 13 passes (23 targets) for 162 yards and a TD in two games against the Commanders earlier this year.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Hurts Jan 23 6:10pm ET
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (knee) upgraded to a full practice session on Thursday after he was listed as limited in Wednesday's walkthrough. Hurts injured his left knee on Sunday in the Divisional Round win over the Los Angeles Rams. Although he didn't miss a snap, he appeared to be severely limited in what he could do the rest of the game and looked to be limping around after the game. However, Hurts said he expected to be fine for the NFC Championship this Sunday against the division-rival Washington Commanders, and his ability to practice in full on Thursday backs up that sentiment. As long as he does not have a setback with his knee on Friday, he should be available to play this weekend as the Eagles look to get back to the Super Bowl. Hurts' ability to score goal-line touchdowns on the tush push makes him more attractive for fantasy lineups, but his mobility could be limited against Washington.

From RotoBaller

Dorian Williams Jan 23 4:50pm ET
Dorian Williams

Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (biceps/hamstring) remained limited during Thursday's practice session. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during Friday's final session, but seeing him remain a limited participant is a positive sign. Last weekend, during their victory over the Baltimore Ravens, the 30-year-old tallied three tackles (one solo). In their wild-card victory over the Denver Broncos, Milano logged five tackles with one sack. Milano missed the first 11 weeks of the season due to a torn biceps he suffered during training camp. However, since he returned, he has operated in his typical starting role in the Buffalo defense. If Milano were to miss Sunday's contest against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dorian Williams should see an increase in playing time.

From RotoBaller

Nick Bellore Jan 23 4:40pm ET
Nick Bellore

According to the team, Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner (ankle) remained sidelined during Thursday's practice. This was his second straight missed practice, and he could be in danger of missing Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles if he cannot return to practice on Friday. Wagner sustained this ankle injury during their wild-card victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wagner did not log a full practice last weekend prior to their game against the Detroit Lions but was still able to suit up. Wagner tallied eight tackles (two solo) with six assists in this contest. If Wagner were to sit out on Sunday, Nick Bellore would see an increase in playing time. The 34-year-old is the leader of the Washington defense, and his absence would be felt as they attempt to pull off an upset in Philadelphia.

From RotoBaller

Sheldon Day Jan 23 4:30pm ET
Sheldon Day

According to the team, Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (finger/knee) remained sidelined during Thursday's practice. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status during Friday's final session, as he could be in danger of missing Sunday's NFC title game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Payne sustained this finger injury during their wild-card victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is now dealing with an additional knee injury. If Payne were to be limited or sit out during Sunday's contest, fantasy managers should expect Sheldon Day to receive an uptick in playing time. During the regular season, Payne was a mainstay on the Washington defensive line. Across 17 games, he tallied 42 tackles (22 solo) with four sacks and two deflections.

From RotoBaller

Olamide Zaccheaus Jan 23 4:20pm ET
Olamide Zaccheaus

According to the team, Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (hip) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status on Friday. If he is unable to upgrade to full participation, he may carry a questionable tag into Sunday's conference championship. Last weekend, during their upset victory over the Detroit Lions, Zacchaeus could not catch any of his two targets. During the wild-card round, Zaccheaus caught three passes for 19 yards. However, during the final three weeks of the regular season, Zacchaeus was a key part of the Washington air attack, averaging 68.7 yards per game with five receptions per contest and three touchdowns. Dyami Brown has surpassed him as the No.2 option on the depth chart, but Zaccheaus still carries flex value in DFS at a much lower price.

From RotoBaller

Zach Ertz Jan 23 4:20pm ET
Zach Ertz

According to the team, Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (rib) was upgraded to full participation during Thursday's practice. This is a great sign, as Ertz did not participate during Wednesday's session. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status on Friday in case he faces a setback, but he should be in a position to be a full go for Sunday's conference championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles. In last weekend's victory over the Detroit Lions, Ertz caught all five of his targets for 28 yards and a score. Over his past nine contests, the veteran tight end has found the back of the end zone seven times and seen 5.1 targets per game. During this stretch, the 34-year-old has seen nine targets within the five-yard line and has become Jayden Daniels' go-to option in the red zone. He carries low-end TE1 value in DFS formats this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Braden Fiske Jan 23 3:30pm ET
Braden Fiske

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske (knee) will undergo a knee procedure this offseason after suffering an injury in the Divisional Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie second-round pick out of Florida State was excellent in Year 1 with the Rams, collecting 44 total tackles (20 solo), 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and six run stuffs in 17 games. Fortunately, head coach Sean McVay said the knee procedure will likely not affect his availability for the start of the 2025 campaign.

From RotoBaller

Dan Campbell Jan 23 3:20pm ET
Dan Campbell

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebackers coach Larry Foote is expected to interview for the vacant Detroit Lions defensive coordinator role, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. Former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was hired as the next head coach of the New York Jets, leaving the Lions will a significant role to fill. Foote has coached linebackers since 2015 with the Cardinals and Buccaneers after 13 seasons as a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, and Cardinals. The 44-year-old is a Super Bowl champion as a player and a coach, something Lions head coach Dan Campbell likely covets.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Jan 23 3:00pm ET
Baker Mayfield

In a media availability on Thursday, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he will call offensive plays for the team in 2025. Cleveland introduced offensive coordinator Tommy Rees on Thursday, but Stefanski will take back the reigns of the offense after relinquishing play-calling duties midway through the 2024 campaign. The 42-year-old was the play-caller for the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 and 2019 before taking over the head coaching job in Cleveland in 2020. The Browns produced respectable offensive numbers early in his tenure with Baker Mayfield under center, but production dipped when the organization signed Deshaun Watson ahead of the 2022 campaign. In 2025, Cleveland could be working with a rookie quarterback like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, but signing a veteran bridge quarterback is another option.

From RotoBaller

Damar Hamlin Jan 23 2:50pm ET
Damar Hamlin

Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp (hip) did not practice on Thursday, marking the second consecutive day he has been out of action due to a hip injury. The 27-year-old was banged up in last week's win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round and is in danger of missing the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Rapp has started 14 games for Buffalo this year, but if he cannot play this week, rookie second-round pick Cole Bishop will likely make the start opposite Damar Hamlin in the backend of the Bills' defense.

From RotoBaller

Nick Sirianni Jan 23 2:40pm ET
Nick Sirianni

Philadelphia Eagles center Cam Jurgens (back) did not practice on Wednesday due to a back injury, but he is returning to practice on Thursday, according to head coach Nick Sirianni. The 2022 second-round pick out of Nebraska has started all but one game for Philly this season, and his return to practice is a promising sign for his potential availability against the Washington Commanders in Sunday's NFC Championship Game. Given the high usage rate of the "tush push" or "brotherly shove" in Philadelphia, the center spot is a critical position for the Eagles offense.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Goedert Jan 23 2:30pm ET
Dallas Goedert

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) is set to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's sessions due to an ankle injury. The 30-year-old's return should signal he's trending toward being available for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders. Goedert has been a major contributor in the postseason so far, leading all Eagles' pass-catchers in receptions (eight) and receiving yards (103) over the last two games against the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams. Washington presents a neutral matchup for fantasy tight ends, so he should continue to be heavily involved in the Jalen Hurts-led passing attack.

From RotoBaller

Thomas Brown Jan 23 12:30pm ET
Thomas Brown

The Chicago Bears will not retain offensive coordinator/interim head coach Thomas Brown and wide receivers coach Chris Beatty after the team hired Ben Johnson to be their next head coach, a league source told ESPN's Courtney Cronin. Brown interviewed for Chicago's head-coach position and also has interviewed for the Seattle Seahawks' offensive-coordinator vacancy. In addition to Brown and Beatty, offensive-line coach Chris Morgan, quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph and defensive coordinator Eric Washington will not stay in Chicago under Johnson. Brown started the 2024 season as the Bears' passing-game coordinator but became the interim head coach after both offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus were fired. In the last five weeks of the season, the Bears went 1-4 under the 38-year-old Brown.

From RotoBaller

Robert Saleh Jan 23 12:20pm ET
Robert Saleh

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars are not down to the two candidates who will interview for their head-coaching job for the second time this week in former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Jacksonville is still expected to conduct in-person interviews for the head-coaching job with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. The Bills and Eagles are still in the playoffs, so the Jaguars will have to wait until next week to talk with Brady and Moore. With Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen out of the running for the Jags, Saleh or Brady could be the favorites to take over for Doug Pederson, who was fired after two years at the helm. In addition to the Jaguars, Brady is still a candidate for the head-coach job in New Orleans.

From RotoBaller