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.
According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (concussion/illness) has been ruled out for Saturday's contest against the Cleveland Browns. Hill will now miss his second-straight contest. During the week he was unable to take the practice field and will set his sights on returning in the opening round of the postseason. As a result, Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali will operate as the backup options behind workhorse Derrick Henry. Throughout the season, Hill has seen most of his work on passing downs. He has seen at least three targets in seven games and even saw five or more in five of them. Fantasy managers should not view Ali or Mitchell has viable options in this game as Henry should see the vast majority of attempts.
From RotoBaller
According to the team, Atlanta Falcons wide receivers Drake London (knee) and Darnell Mooney (shoulder) were both added to the injury report following Thursday's practice. Both wideouts practiced on Thursday in a limited capacity. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status on Friday. If they cannot return to full participation, they could carry a questionable tag into Sunday's regular season finale against the Carolina Panthers. Last weekend, London was Michael Penix Jr.'s go-to target in the passing game as he saw an impressive 13 targets during their loss to the Washington Commanders. In this game, Mooney saw five targets but was only able to bring in two of them. If either wide receiver were to miss Sunday's game, Ray-Ray McCloud would see an increase in opportunities.
From RotoBaller
According to Daniel Popper of The Athletic, Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey (toe) returned to practice on Thursday. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on the official injury report later on Thursday to see his status. Nonetheless, it is a positive sign to see him back on the field after sitting out during Wednesday's initial session. Last weekend, the 23-year-old brought in eight of his ten targets for two touchdowns. Over his past six contests, McConkey has seen an average of 8.3 targets per game and has tallied 93.7 yards per game with three scores. If McConkey is able to suit up on Sunday to face the Las Vegas Raiders, he should be viewed as a solid WR2 in PPR formats. If not, then Quentin Johnson should see a significant increase in targets operating as the No.1 wide receiver.
From RotoBaller
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (wrist) remained a limited participant on Thursday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during Friday's practice as he may carry as questionable tag into Sunday's regular season finale. Over his past seven games, Jacobs has found the back of the end zone at least once in each contest and tallied 11 total scores over this stretch. During this span, he has seen 19.6 attempts per game and tallied over 100.0 all-purpose yards per game. If Jacobs were to miss Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears or be limited in any capacity, Emmanuel Wilson would either get the starting nod or see a significant increase in opportunities.
From RotoBaller
According to the team, New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (foot) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status during Friday's practice as he could carry a questionable tag if he cannot upgrade to full participation. Last weekend, the veteran tight end had a disappointing showing as he could not bring in any of his two targets. This was the first time all season he was held without a reception. However, during Weeks 11 through 16, Henry caught 5.2 passes per game while tallying 49.2 yards per game. If Henry can turn the corner in time for Sunday's game, he should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in PPR formats facing a Buffalo Bills defense that has allowed the 16th-most PPR points to opposing tight ends.
From RotoBaller
According to the team, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (rib) practiced in a limited capacity again on Thursday. Samuel will likely need to upgrade to full participation on Friday to avoid an injury designation before the final game of the regular season. Samuel has missed the past two games due to this rib injury and could be in danger of missing his third if he has another limited practice session on Friday. The journeyman has had a disappointing debut in Buffalo. Samuel has only managed to catch 24 passes across 13 games and has only amassed 201 yards with one score. Over his past two games he has seen just five total targets. If Samuel misses his third-straight contest, Mack Hollins should continue to see a solid workload.
From RotoBaller
According to Dan Salomone of Giants.com, New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe) logged a limited practice on Thursday. This is worth noting as Nabers was not on the injury report following Wednesday's initial practice session. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Nabers' status on Friday in case he faces another setback. The standout rookie carried a questionable tag into last weekend's game but was able to suit up. In this game, the LSU product set a season-high 171 yards with two touchdowns. Over his past six games, Nabers has seen at least eight targets in each contest and has even seen double-digit targets in four of them. If Nabers were to face a setback and be unable to play on Sunday, Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton would see an increase in targets against the Philadelphia Eagles.
From RotoBaller
According to Jeff McLane of the Inquirer.com, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) was not seen at Thursday's practice. Pickett was also not practicing on Wednesday which puts him in danger of missing Sunday's game against the New York Giants. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status during Friday's session as he will likely carry an injury designation. Pickett exited last weekend's game early with a rib injury. Tanner McKee entered the game in relief. With Jalen Hurts (concussion) in the league's protocol, this could leave McKee and Ian Book as the only available quarterbacks in their final game of the regular season. McKee performed well in his small stint as he went 3-for-4 with 54 yards and two scores in relief last weekend in their victory over the Cowboys. He would be viewed as a risky QB2 if given the start on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
According to Tom Withers of the Associated Press, the Cleveland Browns are giving the starting nod to quarterback Bailey Zappe in the final game of the regular season on Saturday afternoon. It was reported earlier that both Zappe and Dorian Thompson-Robinson may get an opportunity to play in this game but it appears that Zappe will start. While Thompson-Robinson may see a few snaps, fantasy managers should expect Zappe to see the majority. Zappe has yet to take the field as a Cleveland Brown after spending the first two seasons of his career with the New England Patriots. Last season, across ten games, Zappe threw for 1,272 yards with a 6:9 TD:INT ratio. Zappe should be viewed as low-end QB2 in Superflex formats given his unstable play in the past despite facing a favorable Baltimore Ravens defense.
From RotoBaller
According to the team, Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (illness) remained sidelined during Thursday's practice. This is not a good sign as the former first round selection is in danger of missing Sunday's game. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status during Friday's final practice session as it may clarify his availability. The 22-year-old has yet to miss a game during his rookie campaign. Over his past seven games, Odunze has only seen less than six targets in a single game just twice. Over this stretch he averaged 43.1 yards per game but has only caught 3.4 passes per game. If Odunze were to miss the final game of the regular season, fantasy managers should expect DJ Moore and Keenan Allen to see even more targets with Collin Johnson moving up to the No.3 spot.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, according to team reporter Mike Kaye. The 27-year-old was recently designated to return from the Injured Reserve list, where he has been since the Week 11 bye. With Chuba Hubbard (knee) and Jonathon Brooks (knee) on Injured Reserve, Sanders could make a fantasy and DFS impact if he returns for the season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. However, he could ultimately share the backfield with Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone. Either way, none of the Panthers' backs have a ton of upside against a Falcons defense that has allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (hamstring) returned to practice this week after being designated to return from Injured Reserve, but he has been ruled out of the Week 18 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The rookie third-round pick out of Michigan will go without a catch in his debut season, which isn't a great sign for his future outlook. However, the Steelers are one of the few organizations to take it slow with first-year players, and his injury misfortunate has also held him back. He can continue to be stashed in deep dynasty leagues, and it will be interesting to see if he can return and make an impact in the NFL postseason.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (ankle/knee) is officially listed as questionable to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. Higgins turned in limited practices all week due to ankle and knee injuries. However, the former second-round pick was listed as questionable last week and delivered a three-touchdown performance. If the 25-year-old is active on Saturday, he's a clear top-10 wide receiver option for fantasy football and DFS purposes. If he cannot go, No. 3 wide receiver Andrei Iosivas could be a strong value pick in DFS contests.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy declined to name a starting quarterback for the Week 18 game against the Washington Commanders. The team has rolled with Cooper Rush since Dak Prescott (hamstring) was placed on Injured Reserve after the Week 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Rush has delivered mixed performances and has completed 60.7% of his passes for 1,844 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions. The veteran could earn a $250,000 bonus if he plays 55% of the team's snaps this season, and the game on Sunday could put him over that mark. That said, the team might opt to use Week 18 as an evaluation game for backup quarterback Trey Lance, the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Vikings running back Aaron Jones wants to stay in Minnesota beyond this season. Dynasty Analysis: Jones was signed to a one-year $7 million "prove it" contract and, well, proved it with over 1,000 rushing yards, 46 catches, nearly 400 receiving yards and seven touchdowns with a game to play. The Vikings have some serious decisions to make in regards to their offense as both Jones and Sam Darnold proved to be amazing veteran additions. At this point, it would be surprising to see Minnesota just let him leave in free agency unless he was somehow offered a high-money multi-year deal somewhere else, which seems unlikely given his age. Jones is a solid veteran in dynasty leagues and should retain his value regardless of what happens here moving forward.
Cleveland Browns running backs Jerome Ford (ankle) and Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion) have both been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Ford sprained his ankle in the Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins and will be unavailable to play in the final game of the season. With Nick Chubb (foot) getting a late start in 2024 while recovering from a gruesome knee injury he suffered in 2023, Ford opened 2024 as Cleveland's RB1 and will finish the year as their leading rusher with 104 rushing attempts for 565 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and a team-high-tying three rushing touchdowns. With both Ford and Strong out this weekend, D'Onta Foreman will be in play as a low-upside RB3/flex for fantasy managers as the team's lead back. John Kelly should serve as his backup.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) did not play last week against the Kansas City Chiefs after suffering a knee injury in the Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. However, the second-year defensive back said he is ready to play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18. Porter is Pittsburgh's top cover corner, and although the team has already qualified for the playoffs, there's a small chance the Steelers can clinch the AFC North on Saturday. Needless to say, getting him back for a pivotal season finale and postseason push is great news for Mike Tomlin.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) missed practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Njoku will end up missing three of the final four games of the 2024 season and finish with 64 receptions for 505 yards and five touchdowns in 11 starts after making his first Pro Bowl in 2023. While Njoku's numbers were a disappointment after what he did last year, his numbers were still good enough to make him a weekly TE1 in fantasy despite Cleveland's ongoing struggles at the quarterback position. The 28-year-old should remain in the TE1 picture in fantasy heading into next year despite questions about whether Deshaun Watson (Achilles) will even be the starter under center. Jordan Akins will have a bigger role yet again in Week 18 and will be a TE2 sleeper in DFS lineups.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (illness) returned to practice on Thursday, but rookie wideout Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder) is still not on the practice field as the team continues preparing to face the division-rival Buffalo Bills in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday. None of New England's receivers have been reliable fantasy contributors in one of the league's lowest-scoring offenses in 2024. The Patriots can secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft if they lose on Sunday, so they probably won't rush any injured skill players onto the field this weekend. In his second year in the NFL, Boutte has improved with a 36-472-2 line on 61 targets over 14 games (12 starts). Polk, meanwhile, has been much less involved as a rookie, catching 12 of 33 targets for only 87 yards and two TDs in 15 games (seven starts).
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (ankle) is trending toward missing the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens after missing a third straight practice on Thursday. Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion) has also missed practice all week for the Browns, so it will likely be D'Onta Foreman serving as Cleveland's leading ball-carrier this weekend, with John Kelly in line to serve as his primary backup. The Browns will release their final Week 18 injury report later on Thursday, with both Ford and Strong likely being ruled out for a meaningless game for the Browns. In a game that the Browns will most likely have negative game script, Foreman shouldn't be viewed as anything more than a low-upside RB3/flex for fantasy lineups. The 28-year-old saw 13 carries for 49 yards (3.8 yards per tote) last week when Ford injured his ankle.
From RotoBaller