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 Starts/Sits: Week 11
Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins scored two touchdowns in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Dobbins ran the ball 11 times, gaining 56 yards and scoring on the ground twice. He was only targeted once in the passing game and made the grab for a three-yard gain. Dobbins ran well in this one despite a usually strong Bengals run defense. His first touchdown was on a one-yard goal line plunge in the second quarter, and his second was a game-clincher in the fourth quarter that came on a 29-yard rush with 18 seconds left. Dobbins was once again in charge of this backfield despite only tallying 11 carries, as all other Chargers running backs combined for eight total carries. Dobbins will again be on the RB2 radar next week on Monday Night Football against the Ravens.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) caught two passes for 55 yards in the team's 30-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Cooper returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with a wrist injury. Unfortunately, he didn't see a lot of opportunities. Josh Allen only targeted Cooper three times. Fortunately, there were no setbacks to his injury and he'll have extra time to further recover as Buffalo takes their bye week. The veteran will be a WR3 when the Bills host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II completed 30 of his 43 pass attempts for 282 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in his Week 11 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He also carried the ball two times for seven yards. He was once again outmatched by the opposing quarterback, and wasn't able to lift his team to a victory, in what is becoming a common theme for the team. He actually started the game by leading drives of 61 and 66 yards, but both ended with field goals. His TDs twice brought the Raiders within five points of the opposition, but the offense fizzled, and he threw a pick to effectively seal the deal on his next drive. He's likely to be the starter again next week, but will be a risky option in fantasy -- Las Vegas will face the tough Denver Broncos defense, which just handled the Atlanta Falcons with ease.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards tallied just six carries in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Edwards ran it the six times for a total of 27 yards with a long run of nine yards. He was not targeted in the passing game. Edwards settled in behind starter J.K. Dobbins in a role that he'll likely fill for the rest of the season as long as everyone remains healthy. Edwards does not have much standalone value, but he could be an immediate fantasy starter if Dobbins were ever forced to miss any time.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught eight of 12 targets for 70 yards in the team's 30-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The slot receiver led the Bills in targets, receptions, and yards. However, he did not find the endzone. Buffalo's lone passing touchdown went in Curtis Samuel's direction. Shakir hasn't scored since Week 3. Still, he's been Allen's go-to receiver this season and will be in the WR2/3 range when Buffalo returns from their bye week.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. stayed involved in the offense in Sunday's 38-6 blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11 after receiving a season-high seven touches in last week's loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Mims caught both of his targets for 49 yards and his first touchdown of the year while also carrying the ball three times for a pickup of four yards. The 22-year-old, who also contributes on special teams in the return game, has given the surging Broncos offense a different dynamic the last two weeks, but his involvement hasn't been enough to really turn the heads of fantasy managers. That will especially be the case whenever Josh Reynolds (finger) returns from Injured Reserve. With quarterback Bo Nix spreading the ball around to a receiving corps that is suddenly ripe with options, Mims will continue to struggle to find weekly fantasy relevance.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel caught five of six targets for 58 yards and a touchdown in the team's 30-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Those were season-best marks in catches and yards. It was also his first touchdown of the 2024 campaign and the only touchdown pass for Buffalo in Week 11. Samuel took advantage of Keon Coleman's (wrist) absence by operating as Josh Allen's primary outside receiver. The Bills will take their bye in Week 12. Coleman could be back when the Bills return to action which would move Samuel back down the depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had an up and down game in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Herbert was excellent in the first half before struggling in most of the second half but then turning it on for a game-winning drive at the end. In total, Herbert completed 17 of the 36 passes he attempted for 297 yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception, but took two sacks and lost a fumble. On the ground, he added 65 yards on five carries, leading the team in rushing yards. The Chargers ended up with an important win, and will play again in eight days for Week 12's edition of Monday Night Football.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox caught four passes for 40 yards in the team's win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Knox started and operated as Buffalo's top tight end with Dalton Kincaid (knee) inactive. That resulted in a season-high mark for receptions and targets (six). His stat line provided a respectable fantasy score for managers who streamed the position. Buffalo will take their bye week in Week 12. When they return to action, Kincaid may be healthy enough to play. Knox can be dropped in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 27 of 40 passes for 262 yards and one touchdown in the team's 30-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He ran for 55 rushing yards and another touchdown. He also threw one interception. Allen was trending toward a poor fantasy performance entering the fourth quarter. He connected with Curtis Samuel on a 12-yard score at the beginning of the frame. Allen's touchdown rush came from 26 yards out with just over two minutes remaining to seal the victory. The Bills take a 9-2 record into their bye week.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London led his team in receiving yards, but it didn't amount to much in a 38-6 blowout loss to the Broncos on Sunday. The 23-year-old caught three of seven targets for 61 scoreless yards. After scoring in six of the Falcons' first nine games, the former first-round draft pick has been held out of the end zone in two consecutive weeks. Even so, Sunday marked the ninth time in 11 games that the USC product drew at least six targets, so he's maintained a strong role in this offense. When the team comes out of the bye in Week 13, another challenge could await against the Chargers, although they haven't been as stingy in allowing fantasy points to receivers in recent weeks as they had been earlier in the year. London is likely a back-end WR1 in that matchup.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime was a hot waiver-wire pickup heading into Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons after leading Denver's backfield in the Week 10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Estime took a back seat to Javonte Williams in the 38-6 win over the Falcons, carrying the ball six times for only 16 yards and catching all three of his targets for nine yards. Williams finished with 13 touches for 87 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. The 21-year-old fifth-rounder from Notre Dame saw most of his work in the second half with the game already in hand. While Estime did not serve as the lead back on Sunday, he'll most likely work in tandem with Williams as at least the RB2 for the Broncos ahead of Jaleel McLaughlin moving forward. That will give him some low-end RB3/flex appeal in Week 12 versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed nine times for 20 yards and caught five passes for seven yards in the team's 30-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. As anticipated, Cook struggled to find running room against an outstanding Kansas City run defense. He countered his low efficiency with two short rushing touchdowns, one in the first quarter and one in the second. In the end, Cook nearly reached a 20-point day in PPR formats. Cook and the Bills have a bye in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki was unable to catch either of his two targets during Sunday's Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Gesicki has been streaky this season. Sometimes, he occupies a significant target share and delivers low-end TE1 value. Other times, he takes a backseat in the passing attack and is avoidable in all leagues. This week was classified as the latter; Gesicki was held without a catch for the first time since Week 6, snapping an impressive three-game stretch over which he had caught 16 passes for 203 yards and a pair of scores. The 29-year-old will likely rank as a fringe top-24 fantasy tight end when the Bengals return to action on the other side of their Week 12 bye.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton had another highly productive day in the 38-6 blowout win over the visiting Atlanta Falcons in Week 11 on Sunday, setting team-highs in receptions (seven), targets (eight) and receiving yards (78). With Denver's offense improving greatly under the leadership of rookie quarterback Bo Nix after a slow start in 2024, Sutton has slowly risen up the receiver ranks in fantasy. The 29-year-old didn't have a single target in Week 7 against the Saints, but since then, he has 28 receptions for 370 yards and one touchdown on 38 targets. Sutton has only caught three TD passes in 11 games after going for a career-high 10 TDs in 2023, but because of the heavy volume as Nix's favorite aerial weapon, he is ascending to weekly WR2 territory. He'll have a great chance to continue his run in Week 12 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson went 3-for-3 on extra points but just 2-for-4 on field goals during Sunday's Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Both of his misses occurred in the fourth quarter and would have given Cincinnati an important lead. Instead, he missed the uprights wide left both times, preserving a tie that would eventually be broken by the Chargers in the final minute. McPherson's made field goals came from 26 and 27 yards out while he missed from 48 and 51 yards. The 25-year-old has ranked outside the top 15 fantasy kickers for most of this season and should continue to be avoided in most leagues when the Bengals return from their Week 12 bye.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall couldn't get anything going in a Week 11 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The first-rounder was targeted twice but failed to bring in either pass. It's a bummer for anyone hoping Pearsall could build on his 15.3 half-PPR performance in Week 10, but shouldn't be a surprise. San Francisco's offense was never expected to support three receivers and Jauan Jennings strengthened his claim to the No. 2 -- or even No. 1 -- spot with a second-consecutive 11-target game. Pearsall is a decent stash in case Jennings runs into more injury trouble, but can't be trusted with a fantasy starting slot save for deep-league managers fishing for a touchdown. Pearsall will look to get back onto the stat sheet in Week 12 when he finds himself at Lambeau Field for a showdown with the Packers.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey joined the party in the Week 11 win over the visiting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, catching all four of his targets on the day for a season-high 52 receiving yards and his first touchdown of the year in the 38-6 laugher. It was a nice bounce-back performance after Humphrey had only two catches for 23 yards in the Week 10 loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Humphrey brings impressive after-the-catch abilities, so it was no surprise his touchdown catch came on a 41-yard reception to put the Falcons away late. He has seen additional opportunities in an improving Broncos passing attack since Josh Reynolds (finger) went on Injured Reserve, but Reynolds could be returning soon. At best, Humphrey will be a dart-throw WR5/flex in Week 12 when the team travels to take on the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was ineffective in a blowout road loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, completing 18 of 27 passes for 173 yards and no touchdowns while throwing one interception in the 38-6 loss. That's now two consecutive games without a touchdown pass for the 36-year-old. He's had three good games this season in which he's logged an 11:1 TD:INT, however, in the other eight games, the veteran has logged a 6:8 TD:INT. Week 12 brings a home matchup against a Chargers defense that had been tough against the pass prior to Sunday night, but Joe Burrow shredded them for 356 yards passing and three TDs without throwing an interception. Regardless, Cousins looks like a mid-range QB2 even with six teams on bye next week.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught nine of his 13 targets for 148 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. This was easily Higgins' best game of the year, bringing his season totals to 38 catches, 489 yards, and four touchdowns through six contests. Although the 25-year-old doesn't generate as much buzz as teammate Ja'Marr Chase, he's still a very intriguing fantasy option who has repeatedly shown that he can co-exist alongside Chase in Cincinnati's offense. Higgins will rank among the top 24 fantasy receivers when the Bengals return to action in Week 13.
From RotoBaller