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FFL: Playoff Week 3 | NFL: Week 17

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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 16

Player Notes
Drake London Dec 27 2:30pm ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Week 17 matchup against the Washington Commanders. London was limited during the first two practices of the week before getting in a full session on Friday. Now, London has been cleared to play after he suffered a knee injury during last week's game against the New York Giants. He hauled in five of his eight targets for 59 yards last week. The change at quarterback doesn't seem to have hindered London's fantasy value, so fantasy managers can go ahead and plug him in as a WR2.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Dec 27 2:20pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. This doesn't come as a shock given the fact Njoku has been unable to practice all week. He tweaked his knee last week and appears to still be dealing with the issue. The Browns aren't in the playoff hunt anyway, so they don't have much of an incentive to get Njoku out there. Jordan Akins figures to serve as the primary tight end with Njoku sidelined. Akins has finished with one reception or less in three of his last four games. He's not a recommended streaming option for important fantasy playoff games this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Cedric Tillman Dec 27 2:20pm ET
Cedric Tillman

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Tillman was able to get through some limited practice sessions this week, but it wasn't enough to clear him for this weekend. Now, Tillman will miss his fifth game in a row due to a concussion. The absence of Tillman should mean that Michael Woods II should start alongside Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy. Woods was held without a catch last week and he hasn't done much with his other starts. Fantasy managers can look elsewhere for help ahead of this Week 17 contest.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Dec 27 2:00pm ET
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (ankle) was not seen at the portion of Friday's practice that was open to the media. Unless Pollard returned to the practice field after the media left, he will have missed practice all week, putting his availability firmly in doubt for Sunday's divisional matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fantasy managers will want to check back for the 27-year-old status on the final injury report for Week 17 on Friday, but there's a possibility that he'll be ruled out entirely. If that happens, Tyjae Spears will operate as Tennessee's lead back and will have clear RB2 upside in a plus-plus matchup against the Jags' terrible defense. Pollard played in last week's loss to the Colts despite not practice all week, but he played just 39% of the snaps. He'll be a shaky RB3/flex for fantasy managers if he plays this weekend. Spears has four touchdowns in the last two games.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Dec 27 1:40pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that quarterback Anthony Richardson (back, foot) is questionable to play on Sunday in Week 17 against the hosting New York Giants. "We'll see how the next 48 hours go," Steichen said. It's notable that Richardson did not practice at all this week. Apparently he won't need to practice in order to play on Sunday, but it's not a great sign for fantasy managers that were hoping to use the second-year signal-caller in an excellent matchup against the two-win Giants. The 22-year-old has an unstable floor because of his inaccuracies as a passer, but his rushing ability gives him QB1 upside this weekend in the matchup against the Giants if he's active. A-Rich's back is more problematic than his foot, for what it's worth. If he's ruled out, veteran Joe Flacco would step in again and would be an option as a low-end QB2 in superflex fantasy formats.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Dec 27 1:40pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) is missing his third practice of the week on Friday. The Browns haven't released their final injury report for Week 17, but it's not looking good for Njoku's chances of playing on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. The 28-year-old missed the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs due to a hamstring injury but returned in last week's loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals and caught eight of his 10 targets for 66 yards from quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson in his first start of the year. If active, Njoku will be on the TE1 radar for fantasy managers, but as of right now, it's not looking good for his availability. If Njoku is ruled out, Jordan Akins would once again have an expanded role on offense, but he'd be one to avoid as a streamer with fantasy championships on the line. Akins had three catches for 30 yards against KC when Njoku was sidelined.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Dec 27 1:30pm ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe) will practice on Friday, according to head coach Brian Daboll. The Giants are "hopeful" that Nabers will play in Week 17 on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Nabers did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday and said that he expects to be more of a game-time decision this weekend. The fact that the first-round pass-catcher is practicing on Friday is good news, but fantasy managers are probably going to have to check back on Sunday morning to make sure he's good to go. If active, the 21-year-old Nabers should be locked into all starting fantasy lineups with everything on the line in Week 17 despite the fact that struggling quarterback Drew Lock is set for another start. Nabers is currently the WR13 in half-PPR scoring and leads the NFL with 154 targets in his 13 games played.

From RotoBaller

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Dec 27 1:30pm ET
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle) will return to practice on Friday, according to head coach Brian Daboll. The Giants are "hopeful" that Tracy will be able to play on Sunday against the visiting Indianapolis Colts in Week 17. Tracy was unable to practice on Wednesday or Thursday after aggravating his ankle injury in the Week 16 blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons. However, now that Tracy has returned to practice, he'll at least have a shot at playing this weekend. Fantasy managers will want to check back later on Friday, where Tracy will likely be listed as questionable. The 25-year-old has taken over lead-back duties from Devin Singletary for most of the year, but he's become a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex in fantasy with inefficient quarterback Drew Lock running the Giants' offense. If Tracy is ruled out, Singletary would be boosted to RB3/flex territory in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Dec 27 1:20pm ET
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hubbard has managed limited practices on Thursday and Friday, which is an encouraging sign of his availability for Week 17. Hubbard has had a stellar 2024 campaign, ranking as the RB11 on the season. He has 1,195 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Combined with 171 yards and one touchdown through the air. Fantasy managers can confidently start Hubbard this week, as the Buccaneers defense is nothing to write home about. In addition to the matchup, Hubbard has earned a 77.3% snap share on the season and is earning most of the opportunities out of the backfield of late. Hubbard is a borderline RB1 and comes in as RotoBaller's RB12 in the latest rankings for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller

J.K. Dobbins Dec 27 1:20pm ET
J.K. Dobbins

Although Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's Week 17 game on the road against the New England Patriots, the Chargers are optimistic that running back J.K. Dobbins (knee) will return despite being listed as questionable on Thursday's final injury report. Dobbins has missed each of the last four games while on Injured Reserve, but he has looked good the last couple weeks and appears to be on track to return this weekend. However, given the 26-year-old's four-week layoff, don't be surprised if the Bolts ease him back against New England, even though Edwards is out. The Chargers also have rookie Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins they can lean on in their backfield. Dobbins has been the Chargers' clear lead back when healthy in 2024, but he'll be more of a shaky RB3/flex in fantasy lineups if he's activated and returns to action on Saturday.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Legette Dec 27 1:10pm ET
Xavier Legette

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette (hip, wrist) is listed as questionable to play in Sunday's Week 17 contest against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Legette was a full practice participant on Wednesday but was downgraded to limited on Thursday and was limited again on Friday. The first-round selection was unable to play in last week's overtime upset win over the Arizona Cardinals and is in danger of missing his second straight game. If Legette is out again, it will open up more snaps once again for David Moore and rookie Jalen Coker behind top wideout Adam Thielen. If Legette is active, he'll be a deep-league WR4/flex, at best, in his return in an inconsistent Panthers offense. Legette hasn't found the end zone since Week 9 and has only cleared 60 receiving yards once in 14 games in his first year in the NFL. It will be hard to trust him in fantasy championship matchups if he's active.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Dec 27 1:10pm ET
Baker Mayfield

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (hip) is considered doubtful to play in Week 17 on Sunday versus the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers after not practicing all week. Additionally, the Panthers will be without cornerback Chau Smith-Wade (chest, illness) and linebacker Josey Jewell (concussion, quadriceps). Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (elbow, knee), defensive end A'Shawn Robinson (knee, illness) and linebackers D.J. Wonnum (knee, shoulder) and Cam Gill (illness) are questionable. Horn played every snap of the Week 16 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals but now is unlikely to suit up this weekend, which will make Carolina's secondary more vulnerable against gunslinging quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers. The Panthers defense/special teams unit should be avoided in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Cade Otton Dec 27 1:00pm ET
Cade Otton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. Otton will miss his second game in a row due to a left knee injury he suffered in Week 15. In his absence, the Buccaneers will call on Payne Durham to step up in Week 17. In Week 16, during Otton's absence, Durham had five catches for 29 yards and played 93% of the snaps. The Buccaneers need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, so look for Baker Mayfield to lean on his wide receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan in the passing game. The Buccaneers are 8.5-point favorites at home versus the Panthers, and game flow may play in favor of running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. Durham ranks as TE34 in the latest RotoBaller tight end rankings for Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Sterling Shepard Dec 27 1:00pm ET
Sterling Shepard

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (foot, hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. Shepard exited last week's contest due to a hamstring injury. In addition, he has been dealing with a lingering foot issue. The Buccaneers need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, so look for Baker Mayfield to lean on his wide receivers Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan, Ryan Miller, and Trey Palmer in the passing game. McMillan should be the biggest beneficiary of Shepard missing the game. The Buccaneers are 8.5-point favorites at home versus the Carolina Panthers, and game flow may play in favor of running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Dec 27 12:50pm ET
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (ankle, knee) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Denver Broncos. His limited participation in practice the last few days is an encouraging sign that he is trending toward playing. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, there's "optimism" he can play on Saturday. Although Higgins has had an up-and-down campaign in 2024, he has been a consistent and reliable wide receiver for fantasy managers and quarterback Joe Burrow lately. Higgins has scored 15 plus fantasy points in four of his last five games. RotoBaller ranks him WR10 in Week 17. The Bengals host the Broncos, who have been solid against the pass. However, this Bengals offense has been firing on all cylinders of late, and it would be difficult not to start Higgins with the upside this offense has. Keep a close eye on the weather, as the Ohio forecast may call for wind and rain on Saturday. Fantasy managers should continue to roll with Higgins for the fantasy championship week if active.

From RotoBaller

James Conner Dec 27 12:40pm ET
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is dealing with a knee injury he suffered in Week 16 and is officially listed as questionable for Saturday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, he is "trending in the right direction" to suit up on Saturday. Although it is great news he is trending in the right direction to play, fantasy managers might want to limit their expectations as the Cardinals were knocked out of the playoffs with their loss last week, as the knee injury he is dealing with could limit Conner's effectiveness and volume. Regardless, Conner has treated fantasy managers excellently this year. Producing as the RB10 with 1,090 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns on the season. This week, Conner can be started as an RB2 with upside if he's active.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Dec 27 12:20pm ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in six passes for 70 receiving yards and a touchdown in a Week 16 victory at the Chicago Bears. Not much was asked of the Lions' offense in the fourth quarter, as they had a two-score lead for most of the second half. Throughout the season, St. Brown has been Jared Goff's go-to target, averaging a 25.4% target share, 75 receiving yards per game, and having 11 touchdowns. This week, the Lions travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in a rematch of last year's NFC title game. Look for St. Brown to have a big game, as the Lions are four-point favorites on the road and want to keep pushing for that No. 1 spot in the NFC. Fantasy Managers can start St. Brown with confidence in Week 17. RotoBaller ranks him as our WR3 for the week.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Waddle Dec 27 12:10pm ET
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel indicated that wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (knee) will be questionable for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. On the bright side, Waddle logged a limited practice on Thursday, an encouraging sign for his chances to suit up on Sunday. The Dolphins travel to Ohio to take on the Browns (3-12) and try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The Dolphins are notorious for underperforming in cold weather, making Waddle challenging to trust in Week 17. Waddle comes with risk for fantasy championship week and is a borderline WR3/FLEX option if active against the Browns. Malik Washington would see an uptick in targets and be on the FLEX radar in deep leagues if Waddle can't suit up against Cleveland.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Dec 27 12:00pm ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has had a fantastic season in 2024 and will look to keep things rolling against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17. He ranks as the overall RB3 for the year, and that's also come with splitting most of his touches with David Montgomery (knee), who recently got injured and is done for at least the regular season. Last week without Montgomery, Gibbs received 23 carries, rushed for 109 yards, and added four catches for 45 receiving yards and scored a touchdown. Gibbs is a must-start in all fantasy formats versus San Francisco in Week 17. He is one of the most electric players in the NFL, and he plays on one of the best offenses in the league. Fantasy managers can start him with confidence as RotoBaller's No.1 overall ranked player in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Curtis Samuel Dec 27 11:40am ET
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills Wide receiver Curtis Samuel (rib) was inactive last week against the New England Patriots. Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott said he has not ruled any players out for this Sunday's contest against the New York Jets. The Kansas City Chiefs locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC with their win on Wednesday, so the Bills might play cautiously with their injured players over the next few weeks. Samuel has been disappointing on the season, catching just 24 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere at the wide receiver position for production in Week 17.

From RotoBaller