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.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle didn't have the best start to his 2024 season. The 26-year-old was expected to split up the touches with veteran Ezekiel Elliott during Sunday's season opener. The two of them did split up the carries, but Dowdle failed to do much with them. He rushed eight times for 26 yards while hauling in one reception for six yards in the blowout win. Elliott didn't do much better on the ground with 40 yards, but he was able to find the end zone. The expectation is that these two will continue to split up the job until one of them pulls away with it. That being said, Dowdle should still have some streaming value in Week 2, but he has lost some appeal after that lackluster start.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford is set to be the backup option for the Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. It was uncertain who was going to start for the Packers with Jordan Love (ankle) facing a multiple week absence. Head coach Matt LaFleur cleared that up on Monday by naming Malik Willis the starter for Week 2. He also mentioned that Clifford is set to back him up, so he'll be elevated from the practice squad. Normally, someone becoming the backup isn't noteworthy, but this case is a little different. Willis has only been with the Packers for a few weeks and has yet to prove himself at the professional level. Clifford has been with the Packers for a full season and he should know the offensive scheme fairly well. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Packers turn to Clifford if Willis fails to impress them. Fantasy managers don't need to be jumping at the waiver wire to grab the former fifth-round pick. However, it wouldn't be shocking if Clifford does get snaps at some point in the next few weeks. Neither quarterback is going to be a viable fantasy option in most formats.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed safety Terrell Edmunds on Monday. The former first-round pick has been snagged by Pittsburgh off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. Edmunds did suit up for the Jaguars in Week 1, but he only saw a handful of snaps. This is a welcoming sight for Edmunds as he played his first five years of his career with the Steelers. The 27-year-old was a full-time starter then, but now he figures to serve as depth in the secondary. This is a low-risk move for Pittsburgh as Edmunds could end up being a legitimate help on the defensive side of the ball as the season goes on.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) was a limited participant during Monday's practice. This doesn't comes as much of a shock after Phillips was on a snap count during the season opener. The Dolphins don't want to push anything with Phillips dealing with a serious injury. He played 33 snaps on Sunday and recorded one sack and two tackles during his time on the field. The expectation is that Phillips will be on a snap count again with the short week. The Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, so Phillips doesn't have a ton of time to get back to full speed. The former first-round pick should give this defense a nice boost once he's back to full health.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (abdomen) looked good on the field during the season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Walker rushed for over 100 yards, but also picked up an injury in the fourth quarter. This doesn't sound like an injury that is going to sideline Walker for a lengthy amount of time. Head coach Mike Macdonald said on Monday that the team doesn't have much of an update on his status, but they're taking it day-by-day. Walker said he was fine after Sunday's game, but we'll see if the Seahawks limit him at all during practice this week. For now, fantasy managers should expect Walker to be fine in time for the Week 2 matchup against the New England Patriots.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Rams have placed wide receiver Puka Nacua on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: Uh oh. Nacua will now miss at least the next four weeks and we won't see him until week seven at the earliest after the Rams have their bye week - this means dynasty managers will be without him until at least October 20th, a brutal blow to just about any dynasty franchise this year. Cooper Kupp will soak up a massive amount of targets and dynasty managers need to plan accordingly. As for Nacua, this is a short-term issue and won't affect anything other than his short-term outlook.
Dynasty | Free agent wide receiver Kadarius Toney has signed with the Cleveland Browns. Dynasty Analysis: Toney will start his Cleveland tenure on the practice squad but certainly intends to be elevated to the active roster in short order. This is a decent landing spot for Toney, who also visited Seattle in the last few days. Toney has little dynasty value at the moment but he's certainly worth watching as the weeks move forward.
Dynasty | Deshaun Watson has been named in a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault in 2020. Dynasty Analysis: As if the week couldn't get worse for Watson, who was putrid in Cleveland's season opener. This case will simply be added to the mound of 25 (yes, 25) different civil lawsuits that have come his way. Watson has settled 23 of those thus far. The NFL will monitor the situation and it may be unlikely he faces further discipline since he's already been punished for the other large group of lawsuits. Regardless, this is yet another red flag against Watson, whose career looks to be spiraling down the tubes since his trade to Cleveland. Stay tuned.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) is set to miss some time after getting injured in the Week 1 season-opening loss in Miami to the Dolphins on Sunday, according to head coach Doug Pederson. When asked if Campbell could be back in time for a trip to London in Week 6, Pederson said he didn't want to put any kind of timeline on his return. We don't have any idea just yet how many weeks the 24-year-old will have to miss, but either way, it's a serious blow to Jacksonville's secondary, as Campbell came into the year as their top corner. For the foreseeable future, the Jags will have to turn to some combination of Deantre Prince and Montaric Brown in the starting lineup, beginning in Week 2 at home against the Cleveland Browns. Campbell, a second-round pick in 2021 out of Georgia, had 145 solo tackles, six interceptions and 30 pass breakups in 43 games (42 starts) in his first three seasons.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda is a healthy scratch for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener at Levi's Stadium on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Abanikanda enters the 2024 season as the team's RB4 behind starter and bell-cow Breece Hall and rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. As such, the 21-year-old is obviously off the fantasy radar in most single-year leagues for the time being unless injuries push him into a relevant game-day role. The former fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh last year was also buried on the depth chart in his rookie season and finished with 22 carries for 70 yards while catching seven passes for 43 yards in only six games. Abanikanda has breakaway speed but is once again buried on the depth chart and will have to wait for his opportunity beyond Week 1.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) is dealing with a minor hamstring injury that he suffered in the Week 1 blowout win over the Carolina Panthers, according to a source. Lattimore said he wasn't concerned about his injury, but it's still in question whether he'll be able to suit up in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys on the road to potentially try and shut down receiver CeeDee Lamb. The 28-year-old left the game in the second half on Sunday and never returned, and his status for Week 2 will ultimately come down to how much he can practice later this week. If Lattimore doesn't play this weekend, it will make the Saints' underrated defense much more vulnerable against one of the best receivers in the league. Expect rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry to see his role increase dramatically against Dallas if Lattimore is eventually ruled out.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) is officially inactive for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night versus the New York Jets. Hufanga suffered a torn ACL late last year and was listed as doubtful for this week's game, so fantasy managers in IDP leagues should have already had the 24-year-old defensive back on their benches. Hufanga is no lock to make his 2024 debut in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, either, and he very well could be eased into a full-time role again when he does find his way back onto the field. The Niners' already strong defense/special teams will remain a must-start on a weekly basis for however long Hufanga is out. When healthy, Hufanga is a ball-hawking defensive back worth holding onto in IDP leagues. George Odom could start in his place on Monday.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers lifted All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams' roster exemption and he is active for the Week 1 contest on Monday night against the visiting New York Jets. Williams was in a contract holdout all during training camp over the summer, but he and the 49ers agreed to a new contract last Tuesday, so he's been back with the team ever since and is ready to go for the regular-season opener. The 36-year-old's conditioning could very well be less than par after being away from the team for all that time, but his presence on the field at Levi's Stadium is certainly a plus for quarterback Brock Purdy and the entire San Fran offense, which will be without star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) on Monday. The 49ers' offensive line will need all the help they can get to slow down New York's vaunted pass rush.
From RotoBaller
The initial belief is that Chicago Bears rookie first-round wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) suffered a Grade 1 knee sprain in the Week 1 season-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Odunze will seek a second opinion after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday, but this is a best-case scenario for the talented rookie pass-catcher. For now, the 22-year-old is being considered week-to-week, but fantasy managers should probably already be expecting him to sit out in Week 2 versus the Houston Texans on the road. In addition to his injury, Odunze had a very quiet NFL debut against Tennessee, catching just one of his four targets for an 11-yard gain. The future is bright for Odunze, but it was always going to be an uphill battle in terms of target load in his rookie season. For any time that Odunze misses, DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and tight end Cole Kmet will likely benefit the most.
From RotoBaller
With the San Francisco 49ers surprisingly ruling running back Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) out for Monday night's showdown against the New York Jets, backup Jordan Mason will now get the start in the backfield. Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookie Isaac Guerendo will also be active and available as depth, with Guerendo likely returning kicks on special teams. Fantasy managers that were fully expecting CMC to play on Monday could be in trouble if they don't already have Mason on their roster or he's not immediately available to pluck off the waiver wire. The 25-year-old Mason has had limited opportunities in his two NFL seasons in San Fran, but he has averaged 5.6 yards per carry and has scored four times in 33 total games (zero starts). In a strong Niners offense, Mason is an appealing handcuff with upside as a plug-in-play option for those that have McCaffrey rostered.
From RotoBaller
In a big surprise, San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles), the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, is inactive for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night against the visiting New York Jets, according to sources. McCaffrey practiced on a limited basis with the team last week before being handed a questionable tag for Week 1, but he expressed optimism that he would play over the weekend and handle a near-normal workload. CMC was apparently more optimistic than the coaching staff, and they have decided to hold him out for another week. If CMC's fantasy managers don't already have backup Jordan Mason handcuffed, they could find themselves in a bind on Monday night. Mason is starting on Monday, with Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookie Isaac Guerendo also active and available. Guerendo will likely return kicks.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle, foot) suffered an ankle/foot sprain in the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday and will miss a couple of weeks as a result, according to sources. It's a big loss for the Buccaneers secondary, but it's obviously not a worst-case scenario. Fantasy managers using in IDP formats will have to pivot for several weeks while keeping Winfield stashed on their benches. The loss of Winfield will make Tampa's secondary more vulnerable, starting with a tough Week 2 Divisional Round rematch this weekend against the Detroit Lions. The 26-year-old safety was seen wearing a walking boot on Monday. With Winfield expected to miss time, Christian Izien is going to see extra playing time. In Sunday's convincing win over the Commanders, Winfield had seven tackles (four solo).
From RotoBaller
The Washington Commanders released kicker Cade York on Monday and are expected to replace him by signing free-agent kicker Austin Seibert, according to sources. The Commanders cut York on Monday after he missed both of his field-goal tries in the Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 23-year-old made both of is extra-point attempts, but he gets the axe after just one week after missing from 47 and 56 yards out in the season opener in Tampa. Seibert comes to D.C. after being cut by the New York Jets in training camp. The 27-year-old should take over immediately as the replacement for York, but fantasy managers should ignore him in an offense being run by a rookie QB. Seibert entered the league as a fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2019 out of Oklahoma. He has made 80.4% of his 56 field-goal tries in five years with four different teams.
From RotoBaller
Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney signed with the Cleveland Browns on Monday, according to sources. Toney also visited with the Seattle Seahawks and had visits with other teams lined up, but he'll head to Cleveland for now as the Browns look to add another playmaker. The 25-year-old former first-round pick by the New York Giants will start with the Browns' practice squad as he tries to work his way up to the active 53-man roster. Toney has always had elite playmaking ability because of his quickness, but he has not lived up to his draft pedigree, mainly because of nagging lower-body injuries. For the time being, Toney is just a player to watch in most fantasy leagues as he adds depth to Cleveland's receiving corps behind Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman. Only in the deepest of fantasy leagues with large benches should fantasy managers add Toney off the wire.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running backs De'Von Achane (ankle) and Raheem Mostert (chest) were both listed as not practicing on the estimation of Monday's practice report. Heading into a short week, the Dolphins are likely just being cautious with their top two backs. However, if either of them remain DNPs on Tuesday, fantasy managers may want to start getting worried for Thursday's contest against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. If one or both of Achane and Mostert cannot play this week, it would thrust Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jaylen Wright into much bigger backfield roles. Wright was a healthy scratch in the Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Achane had only 24 yards on 10 carries but found the end zone and added seven catches for 76 yards in Week 1. He will continue to split touches with Mostert, but Achane is the better upside RB play in fantasy on a weekly basis.
From RotoBaller