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.
Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker will look for another strong game in a Week 17 matchup against the New England Patriots. Dicker has been a top-five fantasy kicker this season and there's no reason to think he won't end up with a top-10 finish in this game. With the Chargers favored over the Patriots, Dicker should see several chances to put up points, although he's not likely to get another chance at Week 16's exciting fair catch free kick.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty went 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts last week and 1-for-2 on extra-point attempts, but this week, he'll be in much more favorable conditions at home and kicking against the Cardinals, who have been a top-10 matchup for kickers this season. On the year, the rookie from Stanford is 23-for-28 on field-goal attempts and 30-for-34 on extra-point attempts. Despite playing indoors, he has been more productive on the road, partly because he has gotten more road opportunities since the Rams' offense is more effective at SoFi Stadium. Karty is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 16 kicker this week, so in most formats, you can probably find a better option. However, since he ranks in the middle of the pack, he isn't an awful play, either.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer is too risky to trust in a critical Week 17 fantasy week. The Chargers will take on the New England Patriots on Saturday, and while that's a good matchup for Palmer, he's been playing in much more of a support role in the Bolts passing game than anything close to a featured one. He's had one week with double-digit fantasy points in the past seven games, and while he's developed a floor of around three or four fantasy points, that's not something you want to rely on in most league's fantasy championship week. Palmer is best left on the bench or the waiver wire in most formats.
From RotoBaller
The Tennessee Titans signed free-agent kicker Matthew Wright to their practice squad on Thursday. Nick Folk (abdomen) has not practiced this week and is danger of missing another game in Week 17 when the team takes on the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. Brayden Narveson filled in at kicker in the Week 16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and missed his only field-goal attempt, which prompted the team to waive him this week. So if Folk is ruled out on Friday, the 28-year-old Wright will be added to the 53-man roster by Saturday to serve as the kicker on Sunday. Wright has appeared in three games in 2024 with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs and has gone 11-for-12 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points. He's been solid in a small sample size but should be ignored in fantasy lineups in Week 17 if Folk is ruled out for Tennessee.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Stone Smartt could remain as the starter in Week 17 against the New England Patriots, but that remains to be seen. Fellow tight ends Will Dissly (shoulder) and Hayden Hurst (illness) are both listed as questionable. Dissly missed the past two games but practiced in full on Thursday after logging two limited practices earlier in the week. Hurst practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday but was listed as DNP on both Tuesday and Thursday. Dissly would be the bigger threat to Smartt's fantasy value. If Dissly is able to play, Smartt is best left on most fantasy benches, but he could have some lower-end TE1 value if he's the only active tight end on the LA offense.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston will have another good matchup where he can try to find some consistency in Week 17 against the New England Patriots. Johnston has had a boom-or-bust season without too many huge booms. In the past four games, he has either finished as a top-25 fantasy receiver or outside of the top-80. The Patriots defense hasn't done much to slow down opposing wide receivers, so Johnston could find himself in more of a WR2 boom week. His floor is always close to zero, but he should be able to put some points up this week.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd (foot) missed a second straight practice this week on Thursday. Boyd suffered a foot injury in last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts and is now in danger of having to sit out this Sunday's divisional contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 30-year-old veteran will need to return to practice on Friday to avoid being ruled out entirely. In Tennessee's lackluster offense and low-volume passing attack in 2024, Boyd hasn't really been on the fantasy map while working behind WR1 Calvin Ridley. In 15 games in his first year with the Titans, Boyd has a mere 37 receptions on 53 targets for 376 yards and no touchdowns. He has not had more than six receptions or 55 yards receiving in a single game in 2024. In the last four games, he has just eight catches for 103 yards. Avoid Boyd in Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (foot, hamstring) was listed as a non-participant in practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Shepard is now in danger of sitting out the Week 17 contest against the division-rival Carolina Panthers this Sunday. He will likely need to return to the practice field on Friday to avoid being ruled out entirely. Tight end Cade Otton (knee) also hasn't practiced this week and is on track to miss a second straight game. Shepard injured his hamstring in the Week 16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The 31-year-old missing this weekend's game would mean that Ryan Miller and Trey Palmer would compete for WR3 duties behind Mike Evans and rookie Jalen McMillan. When healthy, Shepard has been a hard sell as a WR4/5, even in deep fantasy leagues. He's scored just once on the year and has two catches for 36 yards in the last two games.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee made his long-anticipated return last week following an ACL injury sustained last January, and this week he'll continue that comeback against the Cardinals on Saturday night. In Week 16, he was limited to just 14 snaps and had only one catch, but it was a memorable one since he scored a pivotal touchdown in the Rams' win over the Jets. While Higbee was sidelined, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, and Hunter Long shared responsibilities but none emerged as fantasy options. In his return, Higbee did not suffer any reported setbacks and should be able to continue to ramp up his involvement this week in a favorable matchup against the Cardinals. However, since he's still in a reduced role in an offense with multiple pass-catchers, Higbee is only RotoBaller's TE35 this week.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson (ankle) was limited in practice all week and is considered questionable to play in Week 17 on Saturday night against the hosting division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Lead back James Conner (knee) was also limited in practice all week and questionable for Week 17. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said he's uncertain about the statuses of both Conner and Benson heading into Saturday night. Benson, who did not play in the team's Week 16 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, would only be worth a look in fantasy as an RB3/flex if he returns and Conner is ruled out. If both Arizona backs are unable to gain clearance, the Cardinals would likely split the backfield touches amongst DeeJay Dallas and Michael Carter. The 21-year-old Benson is averaging 4.6 yards per carry in his first 13 NFL games, but he's been afforded only 63 carries behind Conner.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater (knee) was limited in practice all week but was ruled out on Friday for the team's Week 17 divisional contest against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night. Prater had his 21-day practice window opened to return from Injured Reserve last weekend and has been limited in six practices. However, the 40-year-old will not be activated from IR, and with the regular-season finale being next weekend with the Cardinals eliminated from the playoff picture, we have a suspicion that he will not play again this year. With Prater out again this weekend against the Rams, Chad Ryland will once again fill in as the starting placekicker. In an inconsistent Arizona offense now with nothing left to play for but pride, Ryland won't be a recommended fantasy starter in Week 17. The 25-year-old has made 25 of his 29 field-goal tries and all 21 of his extra points in 11 games with Arizona in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum continues to be minimally involved every week in the Rams' rushing attack. The rookie from Michigan had five carries for 14 yards last week and also had a 32-yard run which was called back due to an illegal motion penalty. Corum does bring an element of explosiveness to the offense, but his role is still extremely limited. He typically plays a drive or two early in the game, and Kyren Williams handles the rest of the work. He has the potential to break out and is in a favorable matchup, but he is only RotoBaller's RB52 this week since his role is so limited and Williams has had so much success.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins could have a larger role than usual in a Week 17 game against the New England Patriots. With Gus Edwards (ankle) ruled out and J.K. Dobbins (knee) questionable after missing the past four games, Haskins and rookie Kimani Vidal could split the backfield in a game in which the Chargers are favored. If Dobbins is able to play, Haskins likely won't have fantasy value, but if it gets down to just Haskins and Vidal, both should have decent floors with higher ceilings than usual.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams continues to grind out big games every week, and he remains a strong starting option this week against the Cardinals on Saturday night. Williams has over 100 rushing yards in three of his last four games after finishing with 122 rushing yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the Jets. He also hauled in his only target for an additional seven yards. Williams' touchdown gives him 15 scores on the season, tied for fourth-most in the NFL. Williams will set a new career-high if he scores another touchdown this season, and he already set a personal best with 1,243 rushing yards. The Cardinals should be a good matchup for him this week since they have allowed 14 touchdowns and an average of 108.7 rushing yards per week to running backs this year. In such a good spot, Williams is RotoBaller's RB8 this week, making him a must-start in most formats for Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist, rest) remained limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Hill continues to be listed on Miami's injury report with a wrist injury that he's dealt with pretty much all year. He hasn't missed any games because of it, though, and that won't happen this Sunday in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns. In all likelihood, the 30-year-old speedster will practice in full on Friday and be removed from the final injury report. In the Week 16 win over the San Francisco 49ers with Jaylen Waddle (knee) out, the Cheetah only caught three of his seven targets for 29 yards, but he also managed to find paydirt for the third time in the last four games. Regardless of whether Waddle plays this weekend, Hill should be considered a must-start high-end WR2/low-end WR1 for fantasy matchups in Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey is set up for a strong performance in a Week 17 Saturday game against the New England Patriots. McConkey has been a top-25 fantasy receiver for five straight games (skipping Week 14, where he did not play), and should be right in those same rankings again this week. The Patriots defense has been pretty generous to opposing wide receivers, and McConkey should once again be the focal point of the Chargers offense, especially with injuries in the running game making it likely that the Bolts will need to pass early and often. McConkey has a high floor like usual with an even higher ceiling than most weeks.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (shoulder, rest) returned to full practice on Thursday after he was rested in Wednesday's session. Ertz had a three-game stretch of finding the end zone in each game from Weeks 11-13, but in two games since the team's Week 14 bye, he's caught only three of four targets for 37 yards and no touchdowns. The 34-year-old will likely be removed from Friday's final injury report and should be active this Sunday when the team takes on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. Ertz will be looking to get more involved in the passing attack in that one against a Falcons defense that has surprisingly only allowed 8.3 full-PPR points per game to the TE position. As he has been pretty all season, Ertz checks in as a touchdown-dependent TE2 heading into Sunday night's game in Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Kimani Vidal could end up in the starting role in a Week 17 game against the New England Patriots. Starter J.K. Dobbins (knee) has missed four games and is listed as questionable for this matchup and fill-in starter Gus Edwards (ankle) has already been ruled out. There's a chance that Dobbins is able to return and if he does he'll likely lead the backfield, but if Dobbins is also ruled out or limited in the game, Vidal would rise to the top of the depth chart and share it with Hassan Haskins. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on pre-game warmup reports, if Dobbins can't suit up, Vidal could be a solid RB2 option with a rather high floor.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown (hamstring) was listed as a DNP for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Brown injured his hamstring in the Week 16 win over the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles and will now need to practice on Friday in some fashion to avoid being ruled out in Week 17 as the team takes on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. Even if the 25-year-old pass-catcher is able to practice on Friday and suit up on Sunday against the Falcons, he won't be much of an upside play as a flex option in deeper fantasy leagues despite a plus matchup. In his fourth year with the Commanders, Brown has a career-high 27 receptions for 292 yards and one touchdown on his 36 targets over 15 games played (two starts). Olamide Zaccheaus will probably be the biggest beneficiary in the offense if Brown is unable to play this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has a good matchup against the New England Patriots defense in Week 17. The Bolts and Pats will play on Saturday afternoon in New England, where Herbert will look to build on his overall QB7 against the Broncos in Week 16. Herbert looked much healthier last week, showing much more mobility on his injured ankle. He did not appear on the injury report at all heading into this game, his first time totally off the report in weeks. With running backs Gus Edwards (ankle) out and J.K. Dobbins (knee) questionable at best, the Chargers may need to rely on the passing game even though they are favored in this game. Herbert has a nice ceiling in this one and a fairly high floor as well.
From RotoBaller