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.
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 11
Per the NFL's Ian Rapoport, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (back) was limited in the team's Saturday practice with a back injury. The 25-year-old is officially questionable for Dallas' home tilt against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. Rapoport also noted that Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said he's "not of high concern" regarding Lamb's injury. It's encouraging to hear McCarthy's positivity toward the superstar wideout's affliction, but that he's suddenly popped up on Dallas' injury report is mildly concerning for fantasy managers. The former Oklahoma Sooner's value has taken a significant hit with the loss of quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) for the remainder of the season, so an injury doesn't exactly help his case. Lamb's owners will need to temper expectations if they're relying on him against a Houston defense letting up just 5.2 yards per pass attempt to their opponents -- the second-lowest mark in the league. Keep an eye on his status over the next 48 hours.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is without a designation heading into Week 11's matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. The 25-year-old wideout has been shelved since he picked up a hamstring injury while scoring a 67-yard touchdown in Houston's 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills back in Week 5. He'd miss the ensuing five contests but will make his return this Monday against the team's in-state rivals. Before sustaining the ailment, Collins was on fire, racking up at least 78 yards in all five of his appearances. He should immediately slot back in as the preferred option in the Texans' passing attack. The former Michigan Wolverine is averaging 113.4 receiving yards per game and is a strong WR1 play for Week 11's outing. Collins is RotoBaller's PPR WR9 for Monday night's matchup.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has been quite the boom-or-bust fantasy option this season. He's registered five weeks as a K1, three weeks as a K2, and two weeks outside of the top 24. In Week 10, Tucker only managed to make three of his four extra points and didn't attempt any field goals. He'll go up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11 who give up the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing kickers. Tucker has the talent to deliver K1 results, but the big question is whether or not the offense will be able to get into field goal range and stall out enough for him to collect more fantasy points.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson has yet to find the amount of success he enjoyed when catching passes from Andy Dalton earlier this season. Head coach John Harbaugh did say that Johnson's involvement would be ramped up, but the Ravens have a tougher matchup in Week 11. They take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson's former team, who are one of the tougher defenses against opposing passing games. Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Rashod Bateman have all been big pieces to this offense, so it's still unknown how Johnson fits into the mix. He could be a flex play in very deep leagues, but he's not much of a trustworthy option.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews delivered a vintage performance in Week 10 while Isaiah Likely was sidelined. He finished as the TE1 on the week and had an 87% snap share. In Week 11, Likely has been cleared to return and the Ravens take on their long-time rival the Pittsburgh Steelers. Andrews has gone up against the Steelers nine times in his career and has yet to find the end zone. He averages 50.7 yards and just shy of five receptions per game. The Steelers are currently around the middle of the pack against tight ends and allow 8.5 fantasy points per contest. Andrews' biggest question mark will be his snap share with Likely back which is why he hovers around the lower part of TE1 territory.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason will back up All-Pro Christian McCaffrey in a Week 11 home date with the Seattle Seahawks. Mason was found money in fantasy in the early part of the year, performing like an RB1 with McCaffrey (Achilles) sidelined. That was until Mason struggled with a shoulder injury of his own and ceded snaps to rookie Isaac Guerendo. Last week as predicted, the return of McCaffrey was near-absolute, even in his first game back. Mason and Guerendo each received one carry and no targets. It was proof that head coach Kyle Shanahan's idea of easing his starter back from a lengthy absence doesn't include significant involvement from his other running backs. CMC is the bell cow, making Mason no more than a bench stash in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is looking to bounce back after a disappointing outing but will have a tough matchup to do so. The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the tougher defenses against opposing quarterbacks and passing offenses. They're 23rd in fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers in half-PPR formats. Flowers will likely matchup with Beanie Bishop Jr. who has allowed the most receiving touchdowns out of the Steelers' corners, but only allows an average depth of target of 6.8 yards. The speedy wideout carries WR2 value going into this matchup.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers D/ST unit will look to give the division-rival Seattle Seahawks a rude welcome to Santa Clara on Sunday. The 49ers are the sixth-most productive unit among fantasy D/STs. Seattle's offense shouldn't pose too much of a challenge, ranking as the ninth-best team in the NFL by yardage and 15th-best by points scored. The Seahawks have struggled taking care of the ball, tied for seventh in giveaways. They are also allowing 3.1 sacks per game, which is also tied for seventh-worst. San Francisco's best defensive weapon Nick Bosa (hip) is truly questionable though, telling the San Francisco Chronicle mid-week that "it's going to be close". Cornerback Charvarius Ward (personal) will miss his second consecutive game. Seattle's offense will be missing tight end Noah Fant (groin), but wideout DK Metcalf (knee) is set to return. The Niners' D holds the No. 5 spot in RotoBaller's Week 11 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has been nothing short of amazing this season and has propelled the offense to new heights. Even though Saquon Barkley is the current rushing leader after Thursday night, Henry has two more touchdowns, a higher yards per attempt average, and sits at RB1 on the season. In Week 11, he'll go up against the Pittsburgh Steelers who give up an average of 19.0 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields in half-PPR formats. They've allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the league and only seven rushing touchdowns all season. Henry still boasts RB1 potential, however, because the Steelers are more stout against the passing game, so the game plan will likely go through the backfield.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody will kickoff to the Seattle Seahawks in a Week 11 home matchup on Sunday. Last week, Moody had fantasy managers pulling their hair out, as they watched the second-year pro miss three consecutive field goals (49, 50, 44) before hitting the game-winner from 44. In 2023, Moody went through a stretch where he missed three of five attempts, including a potential game-winner in Cleveland, which had some in the media speculating about his job security. He would recover though, only missing two the rest of the way. San Francisco is sticking with the 2023 third-rounder once again. Hopefully, Moody can right the ship and demonstrate that last week's misses were a product of rust in his first game back from an ankle injury that took a month to heal. Seattle's defense is in the bottom third of the league, so Moody should get opportunities to put up points. He's a top-5 option in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has picked apart almost every team in the NFL throughout his career. One team, however, has been a constant thorn in his side and it happens to be their biggest rival the Pittsburgh Steelers. In six career games against them, he has a 2-4 record and has accumulated 870 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions on 78-for-132 throwing with 262 yards on 53 carries. While he has struggled mightily against them, he remains a must-start fantasy asset because he's never faced them with as good of an offense as this one. His potential is always through the roof, but he could end up as a low-end QB1 since he has never scored more than 17 fantasy points against the Steelers.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will line up against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11 at home. The rookie out of Florida scored his first NFL touchdown last week in Tampa on a 46-yard catch-and-run to the pylon, part of a six-target, four-reception, 73-yard performance. The matchup for Pearsall is enticing, with Seattle allowing the 11th-most WR half-PPR points per game. The problem with Pearsall as a starting option, however, is that he's stuck in the 49ers' third-receiver role for now, which has been mostly fantasy-irrelevant in recent years. Teammate Jauan Jennings has grabbed hold of Brandon Aiyuk's outside receiver role, as evidenced by Jennings' 11 targets in Week 10. With Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) back in action, Pearsall is just the latest example of the too-many-mouths-to-feed problem in San Francisco during the Brock Purdy era. Pearsall looks like a quality NFL receiver with big-play potential, but target insecurity makes him a very risky WR4/FLEX play for now.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills rookie running back Ray Davis has had his moments in his first year in the NFL, but he'll be a low-upside deep-league flex option for fantasy managers in a Week 11 showdown against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs and their stingy defense. Not only will Davis continue to have limited volume behind lead back James Cook, but the Chiefs defense has allowed the fewest half-PPR fantasy points to RBs through 10 weeks in 2024. The 25-year-old played only 11 of the team's 74 offensive snaps in the Week 10 win over the Indianapolis Colts, finishing with three carries for six yards. Davis is an explosive back and is one of the better stashes at the position in fantasy, especially if you have Cook rostered, but in terms of weekly value, he leaves a lot to be desired with limited usage. He's averaging 4.2 yards per carry on 64 attempts for 268 yards and two TDs in his first 10 NFL games.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet is coming off his bye week and will continue to serve as the backup to Kenneth Walker III for a big divisional game in Week 11 on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. In the Week 9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Charbonnet saw only two rushing attempts for eight yards and caught two of his three targets for 25 yards. The 49ers defense hasn't been as strong as recent seasons and they have allowed the 13th-most half-PPR points per game to RBs this year, but as long as Walker is healthy in Seattle's backfield, Charbonnet is only going to be provided with scraps. The 23-year-old is a great handcuff for those that have Walker rostered, but there's little standalone fantasy value to speak of. In the first meeting against San Fran on Oct. 10, Charbonnet had five carries for 20 yards and caught his only target for a 15-yard gain.
From RotoBaller
The Cleveland Browns elevated wide receiver Kadarius Toney from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster for Sunday's Week 11 contest versus the New Orleans Saints. Toney will be making his 2024 debut if he's active for Sunday's contest in the Big Easy. The 25-year-old former first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2021 hasn't lived up to his draft stock, mainly due to nagging lower-body injuries. If active for Week 11, Toney will provide the Browns with receiving depth behind Cedric Tillman, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore while competing for playing time with Jaelon Darden and rookie Jamari Thrash. Toney missed over a month earlier this season due to an undisclosed injury but appears to be fully healthy for now. He's unlikely to be on the field for many snaps in his first game in 2024.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will face the Seattle Seahawks for the eighth career time in a Week 11 divisional matchup. Samuel Sr. has had more good games than bad against Seattle over the years, including Week 6 this season when he had 117 total yards and a touchdown. Less encouragingly, the game mentioned above was the last time Samuel Sr. exceeded half-PPR projections. Before that, you'd have to go back to Week 2, and he's averaged 5.2 targets and 2.7 carries per game since then. It's not like San Francisco hasn't been passing either, see Jauan Jennings' 11 targets last week. Samuel Sr. has been injured off-and-on this season, perhaps nagging injuries are playing a role. Still, the 28-year-old is just as likely as anyone to rip off a big play, and the 10 half-PPR points he's put up in each of the past two weeks aren't horrible. Seattle has allowed the 11th-most points per game to fantasy receivers. Samuel Sr. checks in on Sunday at the WR1/2 border.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas was a more attractive deep-league flex option the last three weeks with Tee Higgins (quadriceps) sidelined, but with Higgins returning for the Sunday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11, he'll lose most of his streaming appeal. It's not like Iosivas really made a ton of noise in the three games that Higgins missed anyway, as he combined for three receptions on 11 targets for 39 yards and one touchdown in Weeks 8-10. The 25-year-old was talked up in training camp this summer and already has matched a career-high with four touchdown grabs, but he's had a difficult time standing out otherwise as the No. 3 behind Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase. Iosivas is outside the top 50 at his position through 10 weeks and should be avoided on Sunday night with Higgins returning against a stout Chargers defense.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks comes off his bye week to face a tough Chicago Bears defense on the road on Sunday in Week 11. The Bears secondary has allowed the third-fewest half-PPR points to opposing receivers in 2024, so the Packers passing attack could struggle to move the ball consistently this weekend. Wicks, meanwhile, will hope to contribute something after going catchless on three targets in the Week 9 loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions. He does have four touchdowns on the season, but he has only eclipsed 50 receiving yards in a game once in nine games and not since Sept. 29 against the Minnesota Vikings. The 23-year-old has 16 receptions for 192 total yards and is outside the top-50 wideout in average fantasy points per game. Wicks profiles as a low-upside, touchdown-dependent flex option in deeper fantasy leagues against Chicago.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson comes off his bye week to face the division-rival Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday in Week 11. Before the bye, Watson led the team with seven targets and hauled in three of them for 37 yards in the Week 9 loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions. The 25-year-old saw 13 targets in the two games before the bye, which equaled the number of targets he saw in the first six games of the year. Jayden Reed is easily the most trustworthy fantasy wideout in a crowded Packers receiving corps because of his frequent involvement as a rusher as well. It was good to see Watson get more involved in the last two games, but he's likely to remain a volatile boom/bust, touchdown-dependent WR4/flex against a Bears defense that has allowed the third-fewest half-PPR points to receivers this year.
From RotoBaller
The Las Vegas Raiders activated tight end Michael Mayer (personal) from the Non-Football Illness list on Saturday before the Week 11 contest on Sunday on the road against the Miami Dolphins. It's a big lift for the Raiders offensively, but Mayer is a poor TE2 streamer given the team's offensive struggles this year under quarterback Gardner Minshew II. Mayer has also taken a clear back seat to impressive rookie tight end Brock Bowers in 2024. The 23-year-old was listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report, so he still isn't a lock to suit up on Sunday, although being activated from the NFI list is a good sign for his availability this weekend. Mayer hasn't played since the Week 3 loss to the Carolina Panthers and hasn't even reached 2.0 half-PPR points in his three games played in 2024. He only has four catches on seven targets for 21 yards this year.
From RotoBaller