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 10
The New Orleans Saints are not ruling wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) out for the rest of the season. However, Olave was placed on Injured Reserve over the weekend, meaning he'll have to miss at least three more games before being eligible to return in Week 15 against the Washington Commanders on Dec. 15. The 24-year-old has already suffered two concussions (four in his career) in 2024, though, so the Saints aren't going to rush him back right away if he's still not 100 percent. Fantasy managers with a shot to make it to the playoffs should probably keep the former first-rounder stashed in an IR spot, but don't be surprised if he doesn't end up making it back later this year. Rookie Mason Tipton has not been able to capitalize so far with both Olave and Rashid Shaheed (knee) out, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling went over 100 yards receiving with two scores in the Week 10 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
The Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent wide receiver/tight end N'Keal Harry to their practice squad on Monday. Harry opened the 2024 campaign on the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad but found himself back on the open market after being cut last month. The 26-year-old former first-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2019 out of Arizona State proved to be a bust in Boston, catching 57 of 103 targets for 598 yards and four touchdowns in 33 games (18 starts). He played in nine games with the Vikings last year but didn't see a single target while playing only 20 snaps on offense. DK Metcalf (knee) has missed the last two games for the Seahawks, so Harry will give the team some more depth at the position moving forward. Harry can continue to be ignored in all fantasy formats.
From RotoBaller
The Seattle Seahawks surprisingly released linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who has started every game of the season in 2024, on Monday. Dodson was also quite productive for Seattle's defense in his nine starts, collecting a team-high 71 tackles (41 solo), two sacks, five tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. The 26-year-old played all of the team's defensive snaps in seven of their nine games and shouldn't be on the open market for long. Dodson made his NFL debut for the Buffalo Bills in 2020 after going undrafted and he spent his first four NFL seasons with the team, picking up 143 tackles (102 solo), 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, seven QB hits, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 59 games (15 starts).
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy announced on Monday that the team is sticking with Cooper Rush as their starting quarterback moving forward. It means that Rush will make a second straight start in Week 11 against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football with Dak Prescott (hamstring) most likely done for the rest of the season. The 30-year-old veteran was pretty dreadful in the 34-6 loss to the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10, going 13-for-23 passing for 45 yards while also losing two fumbles. The Cowboys had packages for backup Trey Lance and even had him replace Rush late in the game, but Lance will remain the backup for at least another week. Rush isn't anything more than a desperation QB2 in superflex leagues, and it almost seems like a matter of time before Lance is making starts to play out the string in a lost season for Dallas.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) is considered day-to-day after suffering an AC joint sprain in his shoulder in the Sunday night win over the Houston Texans and is "hopeful" he can play in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. LaPorta didn't suffer a serious shoulder injury on Sunday night, but it could still affect his status for Detroit's next game. We'll have a better idea of the 23-year-old's Week 11 status after the Lions resume practicing on Wednesday. Fantasy managers would hate to see the second-year tight end lose his momentum after catching three of his six targets for a season-high 66 yards and his third TD of the year against the Texans before getting injured. LaPorta remains a TE1 in fantasy when he's active, but managers might have to go in another direction this week.
From RotoBaller
The Miami Dolphins activated wide receiver River Cracraft (shoulder) off Injured Reserve before their Monday night game against the Los Angeles Rams and also signed defensive tackle Neil Farrell to the active 53-man roster and placed offensive lineman Austin Jackson (knee) on IR. Cracraft will be making his 2024 debut on Monday night against the Rams, although he's expected to have a minimal role on offense, even if No. 1 wideout Tyreek Hill (wrist) isn't cleared to play. It remains to be seen if Cracraft's activation means that the Dolphins are preparing to be without Hill for this primetime contest. The 30-year-old Cracraft can remain on the waiver wire in fantasy leagues. In his two years with Miami in 2022 and 2023, he caught 18 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns in 21 games (one start).
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has ruled out rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) for the Week 11 game this coming Sunday against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Coleman will miss his second straight game and won't be available again for fantasy managers until the Week 13 contest against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 1 with the team's bye coming in Week 12. Amari Cooper (wrist) missed his second straight game in the Week 10 win over the Indianapolis Colts, and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) was also injured on Sunday, so Buffalo's pass-catching options are running thin. As a result, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel all saw increased usage against Indy. The 21-year-old Coleman was starting in three-wide sets before his injury and brought in 22 of his 36 targets for 417 yards and three TDs in his first nine NFL games.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (quadriceps) will continue to be considered day-to-day through practices this week, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Higgins missed his third straight game in last Thursday night's loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, and it's unclear if he'll make enough progress this week in order to suit up on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11. We'll have a much better idea of his status for Week 11 once the Bengals begin officially practicing again on Wednesday. When healthy, the 25-year-old Higgins has WR2 upside in Cincy's high-octane passing offense, but he has already missed five games this year due to injury. If Higgins misses a fourth straight game this Sunday, Andrei Iosivas and rookie Jermaine Burton would see more targets again, with tight ends Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson also having elevated fantasy ceilings.
From RotoBaller
According to Pat Leonard of the team, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll would not commit to quarterback Daniel Jones as the team's starter coming out of their Week 10 bye. Per Leonard, Daboll and the coaching staff are "evaluating everything" during the bye week. Despite the Giants scoring 17 points in the final two frames to tie the game and send it into overtime in Week 10, a costly fumble by rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. on New York's ensuing possession would lead to an Eddy Pineiro field goal. That would ultimately sink the G-Men, handing them their fifth straight loss as they fell to 2-8 on the year. Jones has completed 63.3% of his pass attempts in 2024, totaling ten touchdowns while racking up nine turnovers. New York has averaged the eighth-fewest pass yards per game this season. Stay tuned.
From RotoBaller
Per Rich Cimini of ESPN, New York Jets offensive tackle Tyron Smith (neck) will have an MRI exam early this week, according to interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. Smith picked up a neck injury in the Jets' 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday. As reported by Cimini, the 33-year-old had played every snap for the Jets this season before picking up the injury. The severity of the veteran's ailment is unknown at this time, but if he were forced to miss more action, it'd be a massive blow to New York's offensive line. Rookie offensive tackle Olu Fashanu took over for Smith when he went down, and the first-round pick projects to stand in for the eight-time Pro Bowler again if he cannot suit up for the team's Week 11 home tilt against the Indianapolis Colts.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski expects linebacker Jordan Hicks (triceps, elbow) to return to action in Week 11, as reported by Fred Greetham of the NFL. The 32-year-old has already missed four contests this year as he's worked through multiple injuries and hasn't been active since Week 7, with his most recent tricep/elbow ailment. However, it appears he's turned a corner in his recovery coming out of the team's Week 10 bye. His practice participation this week will be telling of his potential status on Sunday when the team visits the Caesars Superdome to square off against the New Orleans Saints. The veteran linebacker has recorded 24 tackles and one quarterback sack in five appearances this season.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier received 11 carries for 59 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Saints. That includes a 24-yard scamper and was good for a 5.4 YPC. The 24-year-old nearly had an even better day, with the Falcons giving him three consecutive chances to punch it in from the 1-yard line in the second quarter, finally acquiescing and giving Bijan Robinson the final (successful) try on fourth down. It was the third time in the last five games that the BYU product has received double-digit carries, but his involvement still seems to be erratic and not necessarily game-script dependent. With zero targets in the passing game for the third consecutive week, Allgeier will again be a risky RB3/Flex play in Week 11 against the Broncos.
From RotoBaller
According to head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula) is "very close" to returning. Matt McMullen of the team reported the news. Pacheco has been on the shelf since fracturing his fibula back in Kansas City's Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. It's unclear exactly when he may again be active, but the third-year back has yet to resume practicing, so one figures he will not be active this upcoming weekend. Kareem Hunt has filled in well for the 25-year-old since the team acquired him back in Week 3, and he'll continue to lead the Chiefs' backfield in Pacheco's stead. While this weekend's matchup against the Buffalo Bills would be a long shot for the Rutgers product to suit up, fantasy managers who have held onto him should be rewarded in short order.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts backup running back Tyler Goodson did not receive a single carry in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Bills, but found the end zone through the air on one of his two catches for a total of nine yards. It certainly perturbed Jonathan Taylor managers, as Taylor was one of the lone bright spots on offense for most of the day for the Colts, but alas, it was Goodson who found paydirt. Nevertheless, without an injury to Jonathan Taylor, the 23-year-old is not usable in most fantasy formats, especially not in Week 11 against a strong Jets run defense. The second-year pro did a decent job filling in for Taylor in Week 7 with 14 rushes for 51 yards and a score, so he could be considered a low-end handcuff.
From RotoBaller
Matt McMullen reports that Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid noted that wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is "very close" to a return to the lineup. Smith-Schuster had a breakout game in Week 5 when he caught 7-of-8 targets for 130 yards in Kansas City's 26-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints. However, following the team's bye in Week 6, he participated in just seven snaps before injuring his hamstring. He then missed the next three contests, but it appears he'll return to the lineup over the next few weeks at the latest. It will be interesting to see how the 27-year-old is worked into the team's scheme with the acquisition of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Additionally, tight end Travis Kelce's reemergence could put a damper on the veteran's work in the passing game. Fantasy managers will want to continue to monitor his status.
From RotoBaller
After recording just one catch in Week 9, Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts got back on track in Week 10, hauling in four of six targets for 55 yards in a 20-17 loss to the Saints. There have been more productive and consistent options at tight end, but Pitts is still top 10 at the position in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns, so while he can be a bit volatile, the 24-year-old remains a TE1 in a solid Falcons offense. He may even be in a better spot than his fellow receivers next week against the Broncos, who have been good against WRs but not as great against TEs, with Brock Bowers, Cade Otton, and Travis Kelce each catching at least seven balls against them. As such, Pitts will again be a volatile TE1 in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo's recent struggles proved costly in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Saints. The 30-year-old missed three of four field goals in Week 10, and after starting the season 13-for-15 over the first six games, he's now 2-for-7 over the last four. Thankfully he is a perfect 23-for-23 on extra-point attempts, but it may not matter if missed field goals will cost Atlanta games. For now, his job seems to be safe, but fantasy managers should monitor in the event something unexpected happens. The Falcons travel to Denver on Sunday in a game that has a fairly low expected total at this point (43.5), so opportunities may be limited and managers may want to consider pivoting to a more reliable option anyway in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said on Monday that the team isn't benching rookie quarterback Caleb Williams following another disappointing loss to the New England Patriots in Week 10 on Sunday. "Caleb is our starter," Eberflus said. The first overall pick was sacked nine times and went 16-for-30 for 120 yards in the 19-3 loss on Sunday. Since the team's bye in Week 7, the Bears' offense has managed just one touchdown (in Week 8), and Williams has been sacked 18 times behind a banged-up and ineffective offensive line. While the 22-year-old will remain the starter, Chicago is considering taking play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron heading into a Week 11 divisional clash against the Green Bay Packers. It could be more tough sledding for Williams against a Packers defense that has been stingy against opposing QBs of late.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson paced the team in receiving in the 34-6 blowout loss against Philadelphia on Sunday. Ferguson caught four passes for a team-high 24 yards in what was an abysmal showing from the Dallas offense. His fantasy ceiling has taken a hit with quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) likely done for the season. The 25-year-old is no longer a must-start entering Monday's matchup with Houston.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert struggled along with the rest of the offense in the 34-6 loss to Philadelphia. The third-year receiver was targeted five times, catching three receptions for 14 yards. Tolbert has fallen off of the fantasy radar with quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) likely done for the year, as Cooper Rush and Trey Lance have not proven to be capable of supporting multiple pass catchers from a fantasy perspective.
From RotoBaller