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.
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 18
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings was disqualified from Sunday's meeting with the Arizona Cardinals. The wideout was having a fantastic game, amassing seven grabs (10 targets) for 52 yards before getting thrown out in the second quarter for a physical altercation with Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. With the 49ers ending a disappointing season, Jennings will finish with career-highs in catches (77), targets (113), yards (975), and touchdowns (six). His stock heading into the 2025-26 campaign will already be higher than in previous years. However, if the Niners don't bring back Deebo Samuel Sr., it will increase even more.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran the ball 34 times for 177 yards and touchdown during their victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Taylor's 34 rushing attempts set a new career-high. Taylor punched in his score on a six-yard run in the second frame. His longest carry of the game went for 17 yards. Taylor has enjoyed a fantastic end to the season. The Wisconsin product has tallied at least 100 rushing yards in each of his past four contests and tallied six total touchdowns over this span. This was a nice improvement as Taylor only eclipsed the century mark four times over his first ten games of the season. The 25-year-old should continued to be viewed as a high-end RB1 heading into the 2025 season as he currently stands alone as the clear No.1 option in the Indianapolis backfield.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans caught nine of his 14 targets for 89 yards during their victory over the New Orleans Saints. As a result, Evans posted his 11th-straight 1,000 yard season. Evans is the only player in NFL history to tally at least 1,000 yards in his first 10+ seasons. He now only sits three 1,000-yard campaigns behind Jerry Rice for the NFL record. The 31-year-old even missed three games this season due to a hamstring injury but was still able to continue his incredible streak. During Weeks 12 through 17, Evans averaged a strong 96.7 yards per game. Fantasy managers should expect the veteran wideout to remain Baker Mayfield's top target during the playoffs. Evans should be viewed as a high-end WR1 in all playoff competitions and would carry elite upside in DFS if the Buccaneers draw a favorable matchup in the Wild Card round.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was a solid contributor during the Packers' 24-22 loss at the hands of the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Reed caught both of his targets for 48 yards, the majority coming from a 31-yard deep grab late in the first half from backup quarterback Malik Willis. Also taking three carries for three yards, Reed saw more touches running the ball than in the passing game, which illustrates his second half of the season. The Packers' passing game has been very spotty over the second half of the season and in turn, has made it difficult to rely on any of the top receiving options in the Packers' offense. With the Packers heading to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the Wild Card round, consider Reed a low-end receiver play for playoff contests.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 28 attempts during their overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. Robinson brought in two of his five targets for three yards through the air. Robinson punched in his first score of the afternoon in the second quarter from three yards out. Later in the fourth quarter, Robinson tallied his second touchdown, on a four-yard run. His 28 attempts and 170 yards were the highest totals of his career. Since Week 10, Robinson has tallied at least 90 rushing yards in all but one contest. Overall, the Texas product tallied at least 100 rushing yards five games and tallied 15 total touchdowns. Given his role as the workhorse of the Atlanta offense, he should be viewed as a high-end RB1 heading into the 2025 season and remains an elite dynasty asset.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft was targeted consistently by both Jordan Love and backup Malik Willis during the Packers' 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Leading the Packers with seven targets on the afternoon, Kraft reeled in four of those targets for 36 yards as he was a featured part of the Packers' passing game for both Love and Willis. Kraft has been a solid contributor all season and with the downturn in the Packers' passing-game production, that's certainly affected Kraft's upside as a fantasy asset. With the Packers heading to Philadelphia for their Wild Card matchup with the Eagles, Kraft is a solid tight end option for those playing fantasy playoff contests.
From RotoBaller
The New England Patriots have fired head coach Jerod Mayo, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Mayo's firing comes just one hour after the Patriots' season concluded with a win over the Buffalo Bills. The defeat cost New England the rights to the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, instead securing the fourth selection. Mayo went 4-13 in his first and only season as head coach, and he struggled to extract much production from the roster despite a strong campaign from rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Patriots owner Robert Kraft will lead the team's search for a new head coach, and there should be significant interest among coaching candidates given New England's prominence in the NFL and the allure of developing Maye. Mike Vrabel, Brian Flores, and Ben Johnson are among the names to watch for the vacancy.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London had a career day as he brought in ten of his 18 targets for 187 yards and two touchdowns during their overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. This surpassed London's previous career-high of 172 yards he set during Week 14 of the 2023 season. Rookie Michael Penix Jr. leaned heavily on London in this contest as his 18 targets were 11 more than any other Atlanta pass-catcher. London found the end zone at the end of the second quarter on a 20-yard pass. London would score again in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard reception. The former first-round selection enjoyed the best season of his NFL career tallying 1,217 yards and nine total scores. This was the first time he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in his career. London should be viewed as a high-end WR2 heading into the offseason.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock threw for 138 yards, one touchdown, and one interception off 22-for-29 passing in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. The signal-caller tossed four touchdowns in the Week 17 win over the Indianapolis Colts. However, he cooled off significantly in this one. With the Giants done until September, Lock will finish the 2024-25 campaign by totaling 1,071 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions through the air and adding two scores on the ground. The G-Men will presumably be on the hunt for their quarterback of the future this offseason. While there is a chance New York brings Lock back in free agency, he likely won't find himself starting next season, regardless of what team he is on. But even if he does start somewhere, he'll need to prove he's worthy of a spot on fantasy rosters.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks was plenty involved in the Packers' offensive game plan during their 24-22 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Wicks was second on the team in targets (6) and reeled in a team-high five catches for 49 yards. The Packers' wide receiver group is banged up following Romeo Doubs (illness) being added to the injury list and then out for Week 18 plus Christian Watson (knee) being carted off in the second quarter. Because of those injuries, Wicks was utilized extensively along with Malik Heath. The Packers will need every last bit of their available receivers for their matchup with the Eagles in Philadelphia for their Wild Card showdown. If Watson remains out, Wicks, is a low-end receiver play for playoff contests.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson led the Packers in carries and was one of the main contributors in the Packers' 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Wilson saw a handful of carries on the Packers' second drive but took the bulk of his work once starter Josh Jacobs left after his second-quarter touchdown. Tallying 73 rushing yards on 14 carries, a good chunk of those yards came on Wilson's 21-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter that put the Packers within striking distance. Wilson also caught one pass for minus-two yards. With the Packers heading east to Philadelphia for their playoff game with the Eagles in the Wild Card round, Wilson will remain the backup to Jacobs without a realistic path to substantial work for playoff fantasy contests.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. went 21-for-38 with 312 yards, two passing scores and an interception during their overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. Penix added five yards and score on his lone carry. After averaging just 212.5 passing yards during the first two games of his career, Penix enjoyed a strong finish to the 2024 campaign, despite falling just short to the Panthers. The Washington product leaned on his top wideout Drake London as he threw to him 18 times. London also brought in both his touchdown passes and finished the day with 187 receiving yards. The 24-year-old has tallied four total touchdowns over his first three NFL games but sits with a 1-2 record, with both of his losses coming in overtime. Fantasy managers should expect Penix to be in the driver's seat to open as the team's starting QB in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs maintained his massive touchdown streak despite the Packers' 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Jacobs did not see the volume he normally does and did not record a touch following his nine-yard touchdown plunge in the second quarter. After that score, Jacobs ceded the way for Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks to rest up for the Packers' playoff push. With his touchdown in Week 18, that makes 12 total touchdowns in Jacobs' final eight games. With the Packers headed to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in the Wild Card round, Jacobs is a locked-in RB1 for playoff contests.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young went 25-for-34 with 251 yards and three scores during their overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He added 24 yards and two touchdowns on five rushing attempts. This was his best performance of his young NFL career. After having a quiet first quarter, Young was able to punch in a five-yard score with his legs and threw a 33-yard TD pass to Miles Sanders in the second frame. In the third quarter, he found tight end Tommy Tremble and wide receiver David Moore on a 21-yard and nine-yard TD pass respectively. Then in the fourth quarter, Young tallied his second rushing score of the afternoon, this time from ten yards out. The former first-overall pick would then lead the Panthers to a game-winning drive in overtime which was capped off by a Miles Sanders TD run. Despite his struggles last season and at the start of this season, Young has begun to turn the corner. During Weeks 12 through 17, Young averaged a solid 22.0 PPR points per game and will carry some solid momentum into the offseason.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz caught all five of his targets for 44 yards and touchdown during their victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Ertz's five targets tied him for the second-most on the team. His yardage output placed him third among Washington pass-catchers. Ertz found the back of the end zone on a five-yard strike from Marcus Mariota in the third quarter. The veteran tight end has enjoyed a strong debut season in the DMV. After catching just three passes during Weeks 15 and 16, Ertz has been able to find his stride tallying three touchdowns over his past two games. Overall, Ertz found the back of the end zone seven times and caught at least 40 yards in seven games. The 34-year-old should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in all playoff competitions.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (knee, ankle) exited during the first quarter of Sunday's Week 18 game against the Arizona Cardinals. He has been ruled out for the remainder of the contest. It was an ugly scene in Arizona as Guerendo's leg bent awkwardly while he was being tackled. He was in noticeable pain while being carted off the field, and the 49ers ruled him out with both knee and ankle injuries very quickly. He finishes Sunday's contest with two carries for five yards. All in all, he registered 420 rushing yards, 152 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns while splitting time as a depth option and starter this season. Patrick Taylor Jr. will lead the 49ers' backfield for the remainder of Sunday's contest.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love left Week 18's game against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter and did not return in their 24-22 loss. Love exited Sunday's game late in the first half after an injury to his elbow where he was deemed questionable to return. Head coach Matt LaFleur did say after the game that Love was held out as a precaution and will be good to go against the Eagles. Prior to his early exit, Love was 7-of-12 passing for 69 yards and ceded the way to backup quarterback Malik Willis, who finished the rest of the game. Love was seen throwing on the sideline during the Bears' second-to-last drive, sparking optimism that he could return, but Willis played out the rest of the game. The Packers' playoff path is set with the team heading to Philadelphia to face the Eagles next week. For playoff contests, Love is a low-ceiling option.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin made team history in their victory over the Dallas Cowboys as he caught his 13th touchdown of the season. This is now the most touchdowns caught by a wide receiver in a single season in team history. McLaurin finished the day with 62 yards on eight receptions. He saw 12 targets his way. McLaurin caught this touchdown in the final seconds on a five-yard strike from Marcus Mariota to move Washington up to the No.6 seed in the NFC. This was also a nice bounce back outing for McLaurin as he caught just one of his seven targets for five yards last weekend. McLaurin enjoyed a fantastic season with Jayden Daniels under center. During Weeks 3 through 16, the Ohio State product averaged a stellar 18.2 PPR points per game. McLaurin should be viewed as a high-end WR1 in all playoff competitions.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus caught two of his five targets for 51 yards during their victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. Zaccheaus could have had an even better output but was unable to haul in a 40-yard strike from wide receiver Dyami Brown on a trick play. However, Zaccheaus' five targets tied him for second-most on the team. His yardage output was also the second-highest on the team, only behind Terry McLaurin. With Noah Brown (kidney) sidelined, Zaccheaus has begun to carve out a prominent role in the Washington offense. During Weeks 16 and 17, Zaccheaus averaged a strong 77.5 yards per game and tallied three scores over this stretch. Operating as the clear No.2 wideout in the offense, Zaccheaus carries solid flex upside heading into the Wild Card round.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz finished the regular season by catching all three of his targets for 26 yards in a 23-14 victory at Tennessee. The Texans already were locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs prior to the game, so they gave starting quarterback C.J. Stroud one drive before giving way to backup Davis Mills. The veteran tight end still managed an average game despite key players getting most of the day off and a game plan that ended with more rushing attempts (29) than passing attempts (28). Schultz and the Texans will turn their attention to the postseason, where they will play host to a Wild Card game.
From RotoBaller