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FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

Champions Draft Results

Wed Jul 3 10:36am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 7

Player Notes
Chris Olave Oct 16 4:30pm ET
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave (concussion) has been ruled out for the Week 7 game, according to head coach Dennis Allen.

Zach Ertz Oct 16 4:23pm ET
Zach Ertz

Washington Commanders TE Zach Ertz (non-injury) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Fantasy Spin: Ertz is coming off a season-high 68 yards in the last game and has been targeted at least five times in three of the last four games. He should see a similar workload this week but may only be a No. 2 fantasy tight end in most leagues.

From TheHuddle

Taysom Hill Oct 16 4:20pm ET
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (ribs) is considered doubtful for Thursday's game, according to Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Football Network. The tight end logged limited practice sessions on Monday and Tuesday after missing the previous two games and is now in danger of missing tomorrow's game. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the 34-year-old's status on Wednesday's injury report, as it may provide more clarity on his potential to suit up. If he cannot play, rookie Spencer Rattler will face a difficult challenge against a tough Denver defense without his top wideouts and potentially starting tight end. As a result, Bub Means could be worth a look as a flex option, as he saw eight targets in relief last weekend.

From RotoBaller

Trey Sermon Oct 16 4:20pm ET
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running backs Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and Trey Sermon (knee) did not practice on Wednesday, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Taylor has been sidelined over the past two games with an ankle sprain. Sermon suffered this knee injury in last week's victory over the Tennessee Titans. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status during the week as they have two more opportunities to return to practice. In Taylor's absence, Sermon has taken the lead in the Indianapolis backfield and averaged a modest 33.5 yards per game with six total receptions for 25 receiving yards. If Taylor is able to play, he should be locked into all starting lineups. If not, Sermon remains a low-end flex option.

From RotoBaller

Cordarrelle Patterson Oct 16 4:13pm ET
Cordarrelle Patterson

Pittsburgh Steelers S Damontae Kazee (ankle), LB Nick Herbig (hamstring), C Zach Frazier (ankle), OG Isaac Seumalo (non-injury), RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), LB T.J. Watt (non-injury), DE Cameron Heyward (non-injury) and DT Larry Ogunjobi (non-injury) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 16. LB Alex Highsmith (groin) was limited during practice, while TE MyCole Pruitt (knee) fully participated in practice.

From TheHuddle

Carlton Davis Oct 16 4:13pm ET
Carlton Davis

Detroit Lions CB Carlton Davis (quadriceps), C Frank Ragnow (non-injury), OT Dan Skipper (ribs) and OG Kevin Zeitler (non-injury) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 16. S Brian Branch (knee) was limited during practice, while OG Christian Mahogany (illness) fully participated in practice.

From TheHuddle

Rashid Shaheed Oct 16 4:10pm ET
Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee) is set to undergo meniscus surgery on his knee, according to Nick Underhill. As a result, fantasy managers should not expect him on the field anytime soon. Shaheed may also be placed on the injured reserve if he is expected to miss at least four games. Shaheed was enjoying a nice breakout campaign as he scored at least 15.0 PPR points in four out of the six games he has played in. The Saints will now be without their top two wideouts on Thursday evening, with Chris Olave (concussion) already ruled out. As a result, Bub Means, Mason Tipton, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. will likely lead the New Orleans air attack for now.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Chark Oct 16 3:33pm ET
D.J. Chark

Los Angeles Chargers WR DJ Chark Jr. (hip) had his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, Oct. 16.

From TheHuddle

A'Shawn Robinson Oct 16 3:13pm ET
A'Shawn Robinson

Carolina Panthers LB Claudin Cherelus (hamstring), CB Troy Hill (rest), RB Chuba Hubbard (rest), LB Josey Jewell (hamstring, groin), WR Diontae Johnson (ankle), OT Taylor Moton (elbow), LB Jon Rhattigan (knee, illness) and DT A'Shawn Robinson (knee) did not practice on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Also, RB Jonathon Brooks (knee), LB Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder), WR David Moore (knee), DE LaBryan Ray (ankle, knee), C Andrew Raym (concussion), S Nick Scott (hamstring) and TE Tommy Tremble (concussion) were limited and CB Dane Jackson (hamstring), DT Jaden Crumedy (ankle) and S Sam Franklin (foot) practiced in full.

From TheHuddle

Russell Wilson Oct 16 3:10pm ET
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson handled first-team reps in the open portion of Wednesday's practice, according to team beat writer Mike DeFabo. The veteran has been dealing with a calf injury this season but was a full participant in practice all of last week and looks to be trending toward starting against the New York Jets in Week 7. The Steelers have a 4-2 record but have passed for just 166.8 yards per game under Justin Fields. Wilson struggled mightily in his time with the Denver Broncos, but he finished as a top-15 fantasy quarterback in 2022 and 2023. He's unlikely to be a significant factor in single-QB leagues, but he's a must-add option in superflex and two-QB formats.

From RotoBaller

Robert Woods Oct 16 2:50pm ET
Robert Woods

Houston Texans wide receiver Robert Woods (foot) is not practicing on Wednesday. The 32-year-old missed the Week 6 game against the New England Patriots with a foot injury, and his early-week absence suggests he could miss at least another contest. With Nico Collins (hamstring) on Injured Reserve, Woods could see an enhanced role if he gets back to action before Collins' earliest activation date (Week 10). In Week 6, wideouts Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell accounted for 16 of the team's 18 targets to wide receivers, so whether Woods plays or not, no other Texans' receiver is on the fantasy football radar against the Green Bay Packers in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Oct 16 2:43pm ET
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson got first-team reps in practice on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Fantasy Spin: This was expected, as head coach Mike Tomlin said the veteran signal-caller would at some point this week. The Steelers haven't made it official who will start yet, but all signs are pointing to Wilson. Wilson is a QB2 if he suits up, but a shaky one, as it's his first game of the season and he's playing behind a lackluster offensive line.

From TheHuddle

Rachaad White Oct 16 2:40pm ET
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (foot) saw workhorse usage last season and was a high-end fantasy RB1 in PPR leagues, but his injury and the emergence of rookie Bucky Irving and second-year undrafted free-agent Sean Tucker have brought uncertainty to his role. Irving is averaging 5.7 yards per carry to White's 3.7, and Tucker posted nearly 200 total yards and two touchdowns in Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints. Buccaneers reporter Greg Auman said he believes White will likely still be the first RB on the depth chart when he recovers from his foot injury, but Irving and Tucker have raised the bar in the backfield, and Tampa Bay could start to rotate all three backs. If the team uses a three-man committee, it will limit the floors and upsides of all three backs and cause headaches for fantasy managers. The usage of the Tampa Bay backs should be closely monitored moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Jerome Ford Oct 16 2:40pm ET
Jerome Ford

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (hamstring) is not practicing on Wednesday to begin Week 7 preparation. The third-year back out of Cincinnati left the Week 6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with a hamstring injury, so he could be at real risk of missing Week 7. Meanwhile, Nick Chubb (knee), who is coming off a major knee injury from Week 2 of last season, could make his 2024 debut on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cleveland backfield could be tricky to analyze this week, as Ford's status is in doubt, and Chubb could be on a pitch count if he plays. Backups D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. are likely to be involved in the rotation if Ford is inactive. The Bengals are a neutral matchup for running backs and Cleveland arguably has the worst offense in the NFL, so upside might be hard to come by for any Browns' RB this week.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Oct 16 2:30pm ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) will practice on Wednesday following his absence from the Week 6 contest against the Baltimore Ravens due to a foot injury. The third-year back out of Alabama scored between 10.2 and 18.8 half-PPR fantasy points in all five of his contests this year, so fantasy managers would obviously like to have him back ahead of a juicy matchup with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers have surrendered the most fantasy points per game to RBs through Week 6. It's a good idea to monitor Robinson's practice participation moving forward, as he's close to a must-start option if he can play on Sunday. Austin Ekeler will have RB1 upside if Robinson can't play, but he's a flex consideration even if he does.

From RotoBaller

Rhamondre Stevenson Oct 16 2:20pm ET
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) is not practicing on Wednesday ahead of the Week 7 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The fourth-year pro missed last week's contest with a football injury, and his status for Sunday's contest appears to be in doubt. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but if he cannot go, Antonio Gibson will draw another start. In Week 6 against the Houston Texans, Gibson only produced 19 rushing yards on 13 attempts and 24 receiving yards on three receptions (four targets). However, the Jaguars present a much friendlier matchup for running backs, so Gibson could bounce back if he's in the RB1 role once again.

From RotoBaller

Jonathon Brooks Oct 16 2:10pm ET
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is practicing for the first time this season following the team opening his practice window earlier this week. The Texas product has missed the first six games of his rookie season following an ACL tear in November of last year, but he is trending toward making his NFL debut soon. Brooks was selected as the first running back off the board in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft after his final collegiate season which saw him post over 1,400 yards from scrimmage in just 10 games. He should be expected to be involved in Carolina's offense when he is activated to the gameday roster, but there is speculation that he could have to wait until Week 8 or 9 to play in his first game at the NFL level. Fantasy managers with Brooks stashed should monitor his status, but it would be surprising if he plays against the Commanders in Week 7. For now, Chuba Hubbard remains a strong starting option in fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller

Brandon McManus Oct 16 2:03pm ET
Brandon McManus

Free-agent PK Brandon McManus (Commanders) signed a one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The financial terms of the contract weren't disclosed. Also, PK Brayden Narveson was released.

From TheHuddle

Aaron Rodgers Oct 16 2:00pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said that quarterback Aaron Rodgers (ankle) will play in Week 7 on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, although he won't take part in the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday. Rodgers suffered a low-ankle sprain in the Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London but didn't miss any time and played in the Monday night loss to the division-rival Buffalo Bills, throwing for a season-high 294 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. The matchup on the road against the Steelers defense isn't a great one, but Rodgers will be reuniting with All-Pro receiver Davante Adams after the Jets acquired him from the Raiders this week. It certainly raises Rodgers' fantasy ceiling the rest of the way, but fantasy managers will want to temper expectations this week for Rodgers as a low-end QB2.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Oct 16 1:40pm ET
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that running back Tyjae Spears (hamstring) will not practice on Wednesday, and he's considered week-to-week after getting hurt in the Week 6 loss to the division-rival Indianapolis Colts. The Titans aren't officially ruling Spears out for their Week 7 contest this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, but it doesn't look good for the 23-year-old. He will need to return to practice on either Thursday or Friday to give himself a chance to play. Spears' injury is good news for Tony Pollard's fantasy value moving forward after he has basically served as the team's lead back through the first six weeks of the season. If Spears is unable to go this weekend, expect Julius Chestnut to have a bigger role. However, Chestnut only saw one carry after Spears' injury last Sunday.

From RotoBaller