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.
RTSports Super Bowl Preview
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (illness) put in another full practice on Friday and was removed from the final injury report for Super Bowl LIX this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Carter was feeling under the weather earlier this week and was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday, and he also missed several of the Super Bowl media sessions. However, the 23-year-old former ninth overall pick out of Georgia appears to be just fine now and will be ready to go for Sunday's big game against KC. It's good news for the Eagles interior defensive line, as Carter has been a key player for the top-ranked Philly defense in his second year in the NFL. He had 4.5 sacks and 25 solo tackles in 16 regular-season games and has added two sacks, three solo tackles, two tackles for loss, five QB hits, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in three playoff games.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has gone back on comments that he made after the team's Week 18 loss to the division-rival New York Jets in which he said, "I'm out," and "it was great playing here but at the end of the day, I have to do what's best for my career." "I'm taking full accountability for what I said. I'm gonna come back next year. I wanna stay with the Dolphins," Hill said on NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk during Super Bowl week. General manager Chris Grier said Hill never asked for a trade. The 30-year-old burner was clearly upset in the moment over a disappointing season in which the Dolphins missed the playoffs and he fell shy of 1,000 yards receiving for the first time since 2019. Hill has two years left on his current deal and should be back in South Beach in 2025 as he looks to bounce back after dealing with a nagging wrist injury pretty much all year.
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets signed former Houston Texans and Denver Broncos fullback/tight end Andrew Beck to an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday, according to a league source. Beck has never been a fantasy asset, and that won't change in 2025 in his first year with the Jets as he looks to open up holes for running back Breece Hall. The 28-year-old appeared in four games with the Green Bay Packers and Texans during the 2024 campaign and didn't see a single rushing attempt while failing to haul in either of his two targets through the air. Beck has only eight carries for six yards and a touchdown in his six years in the NFL and has caught 25 of 38 targets for 214 yards and three touchdowns as a pass-catcher. He was originally an undrafted free agent out of the University of Texas and spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (triceps) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. Graham has been out since suffering a torn triceps against the Los Angeles Rams in late-November. He was limited in the first two practices of the week, but a full practice session on Friday gives some hope he'll be able to play on Sunday. Before going down, Graham recorded 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 11 games. He figures to play a part-time role if he's active for Sunday's big game.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell (knee, concussion) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. Gainwell was limited to begin the week, but two straight full practice sessions has given Gainwell the all clear for Sunday's big game. Gainwell is the primary backup to running back Saquon Barkley in the Eagles backfield. That being said, Gainwell usually has a minimal role in the backfield, but at least the Eagles have him available if needed for Sunday's game.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith missed practice all last week and was limited through three sessions this week. The Eagles are likely just being cautious with Smith because they know he's dealing with a lingering hamstring issue. Smith has been an important piece to this offense with 68 receptions for 833 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns through 13 games. Smith hasn't made a huge splash this postseason, but has finished with four receptions in all three postseason games heading into Sunday's Super Bowl.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. As expected, Goedert is ready to go after getting through three straight full practice sessions this week. This is good news for the Eagles offense with wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) still banged up heading into this game. That being said, Goedert might be asked to play a bigger role on offense if Smith is somewhat limited. Goedert is coming off a seven-catch performance for 85 yards during the NFL title game against the Washington Commanders. He figures to play a significant role during the upcoming Super Bowl.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Skyy Moore (abdomen) is considered doubtful for Sunday's Super Bowl matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Moore has been on the injured reserve since October due to an abdominal injury. He was designated to return last week, but was only able to get through limited practice sessions since then. It seems increasingly likely that Moore misses the big game, but his absence won't mean too much considering he has missed a majority of the season already. The Chiefs will head into the Super Bowl with Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, and DeAndre Hopkins as their top wideouts.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to tender an offer to impending restricted free-agent running back Jaylen Warren this offseason, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac. Dulac also goes on to say that he thinks there's a strong chance the Steelers will re-sign fellow RB Najee Harris despite the fact that the team didn't pick up the former first-rounder's fifth-year option. Warren, a former undrafted free agent, has played more of a secondary role to Harris in his first three years in the NFL, but he's been extremely productive with his limited opportunities, averaging 4.8 yards per carry on 346 rushing attempts for 1,674 rushing yards in 48 games. Placing a tender on Warren would give the Steelers a backup option in case the don't end up bringing Harris back. If Warren returns to Pittsburgh and Harris does not, Warren could be the team's lead back in 2025.
From RotoBaller
In Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell's Coach of the Year news conference, he said, "Our goal is to win a championship and Sam Darnold is going to be a huge part of it when we do it," When asked to clarify, O'Connell said that Darnold has "earned the right to be a free agent, but we will continue to have ongoing dialogue and discussions with him and his representation." O'Connell went back on his comments a bit and said his previous comments about Darnold were made "in the spirit of answering a question about Darnold's season." Darnold had a career season in 2024, but his struggles in the final two games might make the Vikings more apt to give first-rounder J.J. McCarthy a shot in 2025 and let another team spend on Darnold. The Vikings also have former Giants QB Daniel Jones as an insurance policy in case they let Darnold walk in free agency.
From RotoBaller
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac, there's a strong chance that the Pittsburgh Steelers will re-sign impending free-agent running back Najee Harris this offseason. In addition to Harris being a free agent, RB Jaylen Warren will be a restricted free agent. Harris, a former first-round pick, didn't have his fifth-year option picked up, which many believed was a sign the Steelers would move on when he was eligible for free agency after the 2024 season. Dulac doesn't think Pittsburgh will give Harris a hometown discount, but there's something to be said for the fact that he had four 1,000-yard season with 28 total touchdowns in his four years with the team. He dealt with minor injuries but managed to start all 68 games in his four seasons as well. The 26-year-old is expected to make $9.166 million per year on his next deal.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams pass-rusher Jared Verse was named the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday night. The rookie out of Florida State made an immediate impact in his first year in the NFL and totaled 37 first-place votes to beat out Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. The 19th overall pick finished with 4.5 sacks and ranked fourth among all pass-rushers with 76 quarterback pressures. In addition, Verse was also one of eight non-linebackers to finish the year with 40-plus run stops. In L.A.'s Divisional Round loss to the Eagles, Verse had a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Verse's teammate, Brandon Fiske, came in third place in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. In addition to his 4.5 sacks on the year, Verse had 66 tackles (36 solo), two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 17 regular-season games.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was named the 2024 NFL Coach of the Year on Thursday evening. Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell finished in second place in the voting. O'Connell led the Vikings to a surprising 14-3 record in 2024, and they narrowly missed out on the NFC's top seed for the postseason after a Week 18 loss to the division-rival Lions. Nobody realistically expected Minnesota to even sniff the playoffs after rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury before the regular season even started. O'Connell and his staff led QB Sam Darnold to a career-best season, as he posted career-highs in passing yards (4,319), passing touchdowns (35) and completion percentage (66.2). In his three years guiding the Vikings, O'Connell has gone 34-17, including leading the team to an NFC North title in 2022.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II was named the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday night. Surtain tallied 26 first-place votes and became just the second defensive back to win the award since 2010, joining Stephon Gilmore, who won the award as a member of the New England Patriots in 2019. The 24-year-old came just one vote shy of being a unanimous selection for first-team All-Pro honors and recording four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 11 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 16 regular-season starts. According to Next Gen Stats, Surtain was targeted on only 10.9% of his coverage snaps in 2024, the lowest rate among 83 cornerbacks with 300-plus coverage snaps. He allowed 0.6 yards per coverage snap, giving up only 306 receiving yards as the nearest defender. Surtain is the first Bronco to win the award since linebacker Randy Gradishar in 1978.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was named Most Valuable Player for the 2024 NFL season on Thursday. Allen barely beat out Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson for the first MVP award of his career. Despite losing receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, the 28-year-old signal-caller got even better on his way to completing 64 percent of his pass attempts for 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions in 17 regular-season games. The three-time Pro Bowler led the league with a 77.3 QBR and also added 531 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 102 rushing attempts for the Bills. Allen becomes the first Bills player to win the award since running back Thurman Thomas did so back in 1991. Allen's 12 rushing scores were second to only the Eagles' Jalen Hurts. He finished as the QB4 in overall fantasy points and will once again be one of the first QBs off the board in fantasy drafts this fall.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. This is a well deserved win for Burrow who put together a tremendous 2024 campaign. The 28-year-old threw for 4,918 passing yards with 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Burrow was limited to 10 games in 2023, but came back and played like one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Sadly, the Bengals struggled as a team and missed the postseason, but they will look to rebound with Burrow as their leader in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has been named the Offensive Player of the Year. This appeared to be a three-horse race between Lamar Jackson, Ja'Marr Chase, and Barkley. It's not too shocking to see Barkley winning the award after a historic season. Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards on 345 attempts with 13 touchdowns across 16 regular season games. Now, Barkley has a chance to finish his incredible season at the top with a Super Bowl victory. The expectation is that Barkley will be one of the first players off the boards in fantasy drafts next season.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday. This doesn't come as surprise given Daniels had one of the best seasons for a rookie QB. He threw for 3,568 passing yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 17 regular season games. He also got it done on the ground with 891 rushing yards and six additional scores with his legs. Daniels was a huge part of helping the Commanders make the postseason and the NFC title game. The 24-year-old should be in the MVP discussion for years to come.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) was a full participant during Thursday's practice session. This is now back-to-back full practices for Goedert ahead of this Sunday's Super Bowl. The expectation is that Goedert is going to be removed from the injury report following Friday's practice. He might still be a little banged up, but at this point in the season who is 100 percent healthy. There is no reason to believe that Goedert won't be a full-go for Sunday's big game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Skyy Moore (abdomen), who remains on Injured Reserve, was listed as limited on Thursday in practice for the second straight day this week. Although the Chiefs opened Moore's practice window to come off IR recently, he has yet to put in a full practice and was listed as doubtful to play in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of last week. Moore is almost certainly going to have to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to have a realistic chance of coming off IR to be active on Sunday. There's no guarantee that Moore will even see any offensive snaps against the Eagles in the unlikely event that he's even active. The 24-year-old former second-round selection in 2022 out of Western Michigan had no catches on three targets in the six games he played in 2024 before landing on IR.
From RotoBaller