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.
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 10
The Denver Broncos defense/special teams unit is tied for third in the league with the Chicago Bears in overall fantasy points, but they represent a shaky fantasy option as they head into a tough Week 10 matchup against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. While KC's offense hasn't been as explosive as in years past, they are definitely more dangerous now after trading for receiver DeAndre Hopkins. And while Denver's D has been one of the stingier units in 2024 -- they're allowing the third-fewest points per game (17.9) -- the Ravens proved last week that they can still be dominated. The Chiefs offense hasn't been perfect with 12 giveaways on the season, but they also haven't been an ideal matchup for opposing defenses, allowing only 5.0 fantasy points per game. There just isn't a ton of upside for Denver's D/ST on the road against the defending Super Bowl champs.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele probably isn't going to break out in the team's Week 10 matchup on the road against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, a defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest half-PPR fantasy points to opposing receivers this year. The seventh-round pick out of Utah has some intriguing long-term upside working with quarterback Bo Nix in Denver, but he's just not anywhere near the fantasy radar in single-year leagues. In just five games played in his first year in the NFL, Vele has 18 catches on 23 targets for 176 yards and no touchdowns. Courtland Sutton, the clear WR1 in Denver, is really the only fantasy relevant receiver that the Broncos have to offer in 2024. Even with Josh Reynolds (finger) on Injured Reserve, Vele just hasn't managed to stand out while competing for targets with Lil'Jordan Humphrey and fellow rookie Troy Franklin.
From RotoBaller
Fantasy managers should be able to find more reliable kicking options in Week 10 than Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz, who has been disappointing each of the last two weeks. Lutz checks in as the No. 7 kicker in overall fantasy points entering a Week 10 showdown against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, but he's managed just one field goal and five extra points in Weeks 8 and 9 against the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. The 30-year-old has been one of the most accurate in the league, missing just one of his 19 field-goal attempts on the year while making all 17 of his extra points, but volume may be hard to come by on Sunday in a hostile environment against a KC defense that has allowed just 18.4 points per game, fourth-fewest in the NFL. Lutz has been money when given opportunities in 2024, but there's minimal fantasy upside for him this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey simply cannot be trusted in fantasy for a Week 10 divisional matchup this Sunday on the road against the 9-0 Kansas City Chiefs. Humphrey ranks third on the Broncos in targets (32), receptions (21) and receiving yards (188), but the lack of production speaks for itself, and he has yet to get into the end zone in nine games played. The 26-year-old does have some impressive yards-after-the-catch skills, but he's only gone over four catches in a game once this year and still has yet to eclipse 50 yards in a game. Denver's offense could struggle to move the ball for the second straight week against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest half-PPR points to opposing pass-catchers this season. There's no reason for Humphrey to be rostered in 12-team fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little isn't a great option this week in fantasy against the Minnesota Vikings. The Jaguars are dealing with a lot of injuries on offense, including quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who seems likely to be replaced by Mac Jones. With the offense's upside lower than usual, the already mid-tier fantasy kicker is even worse of a fantasy option than he has been this season. To top it all off, the Vikings defense has been one of the best defenses in fantasy against kickers. If all of the banged up receiving options, such as Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis, are healthy, he could have a decent day, but the upside for fantasy points is extremely limited. Unless fantasy managers believe in Mac Jones, Little is best left out of lineups in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington will be tasked with stepping up once again against the Minnesota Vikings. In Week 9, Washington had just three catches for 41 yards on six targets last week in relief of Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis. Brian Thomas Jr. was a game-time decision but played. Kirk is out for the rest of the season and Davis and Thomas Jr. are questionable once again, so Washington should have a similar role against the Minnesota Vikings. His main competition is tight end Evan Engram, the healthiest receiving option currently on the team. Washington will have to deal with Mac Jones potentially taking over for Trevor Lawrence as well this week due to an injury of his own, but the two did play together a bit during preseason. It's risky, but Washington is a potential deep league flex play once again in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears' defense and special teams are looking to rebound in Week 10 as they face off against the New England Patriots. After a somewhat strong showing in Week 9, where they kept things competitive despite a tough loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the Bears now turn their attention to rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Maye has been impressed, managing a solid performance despite working with a below-average group of skill players. The Bears' defense will need to key in on Hunter Henry, his top weapon in the passing game if they hope to neutralize the Patriots' attack. Rhamondre Stevenson will be a key focus on the ground, especially after the Bears were gashed by the Cardinals' rushing attack last week. While the Bears' defense is still a startable fantasy option in Week 10, their floor is lower than expected, and fantasy managers should be cautious, given the potential for big plays from Stevenson and Henry. With Maye showing poise and the Patriots having some weapons, the Bears could be in for a more challenging outing than anticipated.
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets defense/special teams will head on the road to take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10. New York's pass rush was a problem in a Week 9 win over the Houston Texans as they notched eight sacks in the win. They will look to keep it going against Kyler Murray and company this weekend. The Cardinals have been a tough matchup for fantasy defenses this season, however, as they are allowing the 12th-fewest fantasy points per game to the position thus far. The Jets settle in as a top-15 fantasy defense heading into Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby will have to hold off Travis Etienne Jr. once again against the Minnesota Vikings. He was limited in practice all week due to an ankle injury but is fully off the injury report after Friday's practice. Bigsby had a big Week 7 against the New England Patriots with Etienne Jr. out but had a down week in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles with Etienne Jr. back. This week could be a bit different, as with the receiving core banged up and Mac Jones replacing Trevor Lawrence, the running backs could be relied on more than usual both on the ground and in the passing game. Especially with a blitz-heavy defense from Brian Flores, the short passing game specifically could be a large part of the game plan. Bigsby serves as an interesting flex play in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram should still be viewed as a TE1 in Week 10 but should be slightly downgraded against the Vikings. That is due to starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence likely being out due to injury this Sunday, and Mac Jones potentially being at the helm instead. While it's possible Engram is fine with a different QB, the change would make him a riskier fantasy option than usual. Given the volatile nature of the tight end position in fantasy, managers shouldn't bench him, but expectations should be tempered slightly. He had 10 targets last week, but only caught five of them for 45 yards. That is around the level he should be at against the Vikings in what should be a similar game script. Engram is still a starting fantasy tight end but has less upside than usual in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. will look to take back control of the backfield in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings. He was questionable earlier in the week due to a hamstring injury but is no longer on the injury report after Friday's practice. Etienne Jr. only earned 31% of the snaps and five touches last week after missing the previous two games. He came into the season as the clear lead back, but due to a combination of underwhelming play and the emergence of backup Tank Bigsby, the backfield situation in Jacksonville is now at best an even split. However, with Trevor Lawrence and the receiving core banged up, both Etienne Jr. and Bigsby could be more involved than usual against the Vikings. Etienne Jr. should be viewed as a solid flex option in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones seems likely to start this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in place of the injured Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence is dealing with a left shoulder injury from last week's matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles and practiced in a limited fashion all week. The former first round pick of the New England Patriots has a decent matchup against the Vikings, who have been hit or miss against offenses in fantasy so far. Brian Flores, who also happens to be a former New England Patriot, loves to blitz, which can be difficult for quarterbacks who aren't ready for it, but can also mean great fantasy games for those who are ready for it. Fantasy owners should definitely hold off on starting Jones unless they are desperate given Week 10 would be his first start of the season.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) is officially questionable to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. He had been listed as a limited participant during all three days of practice this week. Thomas has exceeded expectations in his rookie season, catching 35 passes for 595 yards and five touchdowns through nine games. He ranks as the overall WR10 in terms of fantasy points this season, which is an impressive feat for someone catching passes in a 2-7 offense. Fantasy managers will hope that the LSU product suits up this week. He's a solid WR2 option despite a matchup against the Vikings' strong defense.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) is officially questionable to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. He had been listed as a limited participant in practice all week long. Davis picked up the shoulder issue in Week 9, ultimately exiting the game early and finishing without a catch. In total, through nine games this year, he has 18 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns. That comes out to an average of just two catches and 24 receiving yards per game, which is certainly not good enough to keep him on the fantasy radar. Even with fellow receiver Christian Kirk (collarbone) done for the year, Davis' role is unappealing. He can be dropped in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints will place wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) on injured reserve Saturday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Olave has suffered two concussions this season and four throughout his young career, prompting him to meet with specialists and potentially re-evaluate his future in the NFL. The Saints do expect Olave will return to the field this season, but his placement on IR rules him out for a minimum of four games. New Orleans has already lost Rashid Shaheed (knee) for the rest of the season, so Olave being sidelined once again will create significant opportunities for depth receivers like Cedrick Wilson Jr., Mason Tipton, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody (right ankle) logged a full practice on Friday and has been removed from the team's final injury report. As a result, he will play in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Moody has been sidelined since the end of Week 5, at which point he had gone 12-for-12 on extra points and 13-for-14 on field goals through five games. He earns significant volume as a result of the 49ers' strong offense, pairing his high usage with Moody's fantastic accuracy. The 24-year-old finds himself among the top 12 fantasy kickers for Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (shoulder, knee) logged a full practice on Friday. He had previously been listed as a limited participant. Friday's upgrade in practice status prompted the Chiefs to remove Hardman from the injury report, which means he'll suit up this week versus the Denver Broncos. The 26-year-old has filled a depth role this year, catching just nine of 10 targets for 75 yards. His involvement is expected to stay roughly the same in Week 10, keeping him firmly off the fantasy radar.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen saw just four carries for nine yards in a Week 9 win over the Houston Texans. Allen will look to bounce back in Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals on the road. The Cardinals represent a nice matchup for Allen as they are allowing the ninth-most fantasy points per game over the season. That being said, Allen has seen his opportunities cut since the Jets fired Robert Saleh following Week 5. While he remains a priority handcuff in case Breece Hall gets hurt, Allen should not be in starting lineups in fantasy heading into the weekend.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has been one of the NFL's most productive running back in terms of scoring touchdowns lately. He has found the end zone four times over the last two games. Despite his clear productivity around the goal line, Stevenson has struggled in other areas, including efficiency; he has just 2.1 yards per carry over his last two games. In total, over the last two weeks, he has 30 carries for 64 yards on the ground, eight catches for 55 yards through the air, and the four touchdowns. He'll look to keep his scoring streak going this week against the Chicago Bears, who have allowed the 13th-most rushing yards and 10th-most rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs this year. Given that Chicago has a strong secondary, we could see the Patriots lean on the run this week even if they're playing from behind. With decent volume, Stevenson could be a solid low-end RB2, but he'll still need to show good efficiency, scoring tendencies, and pass-catching work.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams broke out in his third game with his new team, catching seven of 11 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. He will look to keep it going in Week 10's road matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has been average against wide receivers this season, allowing the 14th-most fantasy points per game to the position. That being said, the targets have consolidated around Adams and Garrett Wilson of late and that should continue to be the case with Allen Lazard (chest) on injured reserve and Mike Williams now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Treat Adams as a mid-range WR1 in Week 10.
From RotoBaller