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.
The Detroit Lions defensive/special teams unit struggled last year, allowing the 10th most points in the league. On top of that, the Los Angeles Rams scored the eighth-most points the previous year. With Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams being healthy, the Lions will have a challenging task to slow down the Rams' potent offense. Williams had 1,144 yards on only 228 attempts last year, adding 206 yards through the air, making the second-year running back one of the best in the league last year. The Rams also have a pair of superstar receivers in Kupp and Nacua. Nacua had over 1,486 yards on 105 catches in his rookie season last year. Detroit is ranked 31st among all team defenses in the latest RotoBaller Week 1 DST rankings. With many weapons to worry about all over the field and a lackluster 2023 season, fantasy managers should avoid starting the Lions D/ST and look for another DST streamer for Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has a good matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, but the first-round receiver has never had a real chance to show how good he can be. Entering his third year, Williams only has 25 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns under his belt. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound receiver boasted over 1,500 yards in his final college season and is the WR2 on the Lions depth chart. Williams also has 4.4 speed and will be Jared Goff's favorite deep-threat target this season. With Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown being the biggest names on offense, Williams could fly under the radar and see some surprising productivity. That said, he has yet to prove himself and is still risky. Williams is a decent WR3/flex option and ranked as the WR46 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions Kicker Jake Bates will face the Los Angeles Rams at home in Week 1. Bates had a good season in the UFL earlier this year, kicking a 64-yard field goal and two other field goals of 60 or more yards. The 25-year-old had never attempted a field goal in his football career until earlier this year, but he proved during his time in the UFL that he could hang with the best. He signed a two-year deal with the Lions this offseason and could be considered to start just because of how high-scoring this matchup is expected to be. Bates is listed as K18 on RotoBaller's Week 1 Rankings.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (illness, hold-in) remains questionable for Sunday's contest versus the New England Patriots. The wideout spent most of training camp spectating while searching for a new contract. As a result, various reports over the last month or so indicated he may not be willing to play until he gets a deal of his liking. Chase is adamant that his availability against the Patriots (and beyond) is his decision, so there's still a chance he could suit up. However, even if he's in uniform for the opener, his workload is expected to be reduced, considering his inactivity throughout camp and during recent practices. With Tee Higgins (hamstring) doubtful, Joe Burrow's fantasy outlook isn't as promising. As such, the Bengals may rely more on the running game, giving Zack Moss and Chase Brown higher fantasy ceilings. At the same time, players like Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, and Jermaine Burton will draw flex consideration. As far as Chase is concerned, he's still a must-start fantasy option if he plays, especially since he's one of the best receivers in the National Football League.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers defense / special teams unit opens up against the New York Jets at home on Monday night. San Francisco entered 2023 projected to be a Top-3 fantasy squad but failed to hit such a lofty mark, finishing 11th in the NFL by Yahoo default scoring. It wasn't that the Niners were bad, they just didn't produce in a wildly unpredictable but important stat -- touchdowns (1). They also didn't get to the quarterback at a high level, finishing near the middle of the pack in sacks. Part of that may be attributable to edge rusher Nick Bosa's holdout and subsequent rustiness at the beginning of last year, so there's room for optimism on that front as well. San Francisco's is still a quality unit worth rostering. A healthy Jets offense will provide a formidable test on Monday night though, as Aaron Rodgers brings Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, and PFF's fifth-ranked offensive line. Consider the 49ers D/ST to be on the back end of the Top 5 in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson (hip) is anticipated to suit up for Sunday's game versus the Bengals. The former Commander appeared in Thursday's edition of the injury report because of a hip issue, which limited his participation at practice. Fortunately, he felt a little better on Friday, so things were moving in the right direction regarding his availability against Cincinnati. With that in mind, Gibson will be behind Rhamondre Stevenson. However, with questions surrounding the potential of the New England offense, it will be tough for anyone on that side of the ball to do anything meaningful for fantasy managers, at least consistently. Keep Gibson benched in all fantasy setups in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody will open his sophomore season with a Monday night home game versus the New York Jets. Moody finished his rookie season in 2023 tied with Atlanta's Younghoe Koo as the K17 in fantasy points per game. Moody and Koo took very different routes to those numbers, though. Moody only attempted 25 field goals to Koo's 37. The difference was made up in extra points, as Moody led the league in the category and set a record with 53 straight. Lack of opportunity aside, Moody does have room for improvement in his accuracy; he recorded an 84% last year, which was near the bottom of the league. The Jets defense is expected to be stout but if their defense is anything like last year's, the 49ers should be able to move the ball on the ground at least. The weather in Santa Clara on Monday night is expected to be near-perfect. Moody is a back-end fantasy starter in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle will open his eighth NFL season when the team hosts the New York Jets on Monday night. The former Iowa Hawkeye had another successful season in 2023, finishing with 1,020 yards on 60 catches and six touchdowns, which earned him the overall TE5 slot in half-PPR. While the Jets were elite against the pass last year -- ranking second-best in the NFL in passing yards -- they were ordinary at preventing TE fantasy production (13th). While Kittle may have been pushed down in ADP this year by younger dynamic tight ends like Detroit's Sam LaPorta and Arizona's Trey McBride, Kittle is still worthy of starting lineups when healthy. Roll with Kittle in the middle of the TE1 landscape this week.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff will begin the 2024-25 campaign on Sunday night against the Rams, his former club. The 29-year-old had arguably his best season in 2023-24, throwing for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, adding two scores on the ground. As a result, Detroit rewarded him with a lucrative contract extension in the offseason. Without question, the Lions offense is loaded with talent, with Amon-Ra St. Brown, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta on the roster. With all those weapons in Goff's arsenal, he's a must-start in all fantasy formats in Week 1. Unless things go in a completely different direction from last season, fantasy managers will likely keep Goff in the lineup for the entire year.
From RotoBaller
According to Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) is expected to be on the field for Week 1 against the Titans. The 32-year-old has been battling a heel issue and carried a questionable designation. However, barring a setback, it appears all signs are pointing toward his availability versus Tennessee. Allen spent his entire career with the Chargers before finding his way to The Windy City this offseason. He had a solid 2023-24 campaign, amassing 108 grabs (150 targets) for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. Although there could be issues caused by the inexperience of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, there's no way fantasy managers would feel comfortable keeping Allen on the bench. Granted, he'll also primarily compete for targets with DJ Moore, who is coming off a monster season. But until Allen shows signs of regression, he's a must-start in all formats in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard will likely take on the majority of the work for their season debut against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. With rookie Jonathan Brooks (knee) still not available, Hubbard will take on the starting role, splitting reps with Miles Sanders. Hubbard finds himself with a decent matchup against New Orleans defense, a unit that allowed the thirteenth-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs last season, as well as the eleventh-most rushing yards. Considering Hubbard will take on most of the work for Carolina, he does provide a safe enough floor to be targeted as a potential RB2 for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) plans to play in Sunday's matchup versus the Atlanta Falcons. However, team doctors are pumping the brakes on his plans, with Schefter adding that a "final decision" will be made on Sunday morning. ESPN's Brooke Pryor also reported that Wilson will test his ailing calf during pregame warm-ups, but he's been doing anything imaginable to feel his best. Wilson will potentially debut with the Steelers in Week 1 after a subpar tenure with the Denver Broncos. Yet, he was limited during training camp, and with the possibility of residual issues caused by the injury, fantasy managers may want to look in another direction for a starting quarterback on Sunday. The same will be true if backup Justin Fields ends up under center.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. should be the focal point of the team's passing attack when they host the New York Jets at home on Monday night. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Saturday that Samuel Sr.'s counterpart Brandon Aiyuk would not play as many snaps as usual following his "hold-in". This should lead to at least a slight increase in targets for Samuel Sr this week. It is also conceivable that he sees increased action in the running game as well with All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey questionable (calf/Achilles). The only significant thing working against Samuel Sr. would appear to be the strength of New York's pass defense, which allowed the second-fewest yards per game through the air last year and has returned most of their key players. It's worth noting that Jets head coach Robert Saleh said in the offseason that lockdown cornerback Sauce Gardner would spend more time following around opponents' No.1 WR this year, which in this case would seem to be Aiyuk, reduced snaps notwithstanding. Samuel Sr. rates as a high-end WR2 in fantasy this week.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson will make his team debut this Sunday when the Panthers travel to take on the New Orleans Saints. Johnson was brought in to provide additional support to a unit that severely underperformed in 2023, and looks to be the WR1 for the offense. He faces a Saints defense that was above average against the pass last season, allowing the tenth-fewest receiving yards and thirteenth-fewest fantasy points to the position. That being said, the former Steeler should drive a strong target share, making him a more than viable option in the matchup. Fantasy managers should prioritize Johnson as a WR2/3
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looks to get off on the right foot in his sophomore campaign when the Panthers travel to take on the New Orleans Saints. Young struggled in his rookie season, throwing for 2877 yards with 11 touchdowns, 10 INTs and a 2-15 record. Although the Panthers have tried to reload on both sides of the ball, Young and the Panthers face a stout Saints defense that allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to QBs last season. On top of that, this game also projects to be one of the lowest scoring in Week 1's slate, limiting any potential upside Young might have. Fantasy managers should wait and see how this Panthers offense performs before considering Young in lineups, and he can comfortably left on the bench in most formats this week.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will open the 2024 season at home versus the New York Jets vaunted pass defense on Monday night. The 26-year-old comes into the game fresh off a four-year $120 million extension inked just over a week ago after a long holdout which caused Aiyuk to miss all of camp and the preseason, though he did attend meetings. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said during a Saturday presser that Aiyuk is in good shape, but because of the demand of the wide receiver position, he will probably play a little less than usual. Aiyuk managers with other WR/FLEX options may want to consider benching Aiyuk this week, especially since the Jets pass defense ranked 2nd in the NFL in yards allowed last year and are returning most of their key players. There will probably be weeks this season when Aiyuk projects as a back-end WR1, but this week isn't one of them. Consider him an upper-edge WR3/FLEX for Monday.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos defense/special teams unit had a rough start to last season before actually turning things around in a big way and being a streaming option in deeper leagues and during byes late in the year. But in Week 1 of 2024 on the road against a Seattle Seahawks offense that is expected to be dynamic under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, nobody is expecting much. Denver's D allowed 19.3 points per game from Weeks 6-18 last year after giving up 36.2 points per game over the first five weeks. A second year under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph should help make them more consistent, and reinforcements along the D-line should help them improve a rushing D that ranked 30th in rushing yards allowed per game in 2023. But both Kenneth Walker III on the ground and Geno Smith through the air will test them. In Week 1, fantasy managers should have better options to start.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Eagles running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns while adding two catches for 23 yards and another score in his Philadelphia debut. Dynasty Analysis: The Eagles offense struggled in its first two series but came to life after with Barkley leading the way. It couldn't have gone much better for Saquon as he had 24 of the 25 running back carries with Kenneth Gainwell garnering just one tote. While we have a long way to go before declaring Barkley as being totally back, this was a pretty awe-inspiring debut for his new team.
Dynasty | Packers receiver Jayden Reed had four catches for 138 yards and a touchdown while adding a 33-yard rushing touchdown in Green Bay's season-opening loss to the Eagles. Dynasty Analysis: Reed was a fantasy dynamo at times last year and this game showed that was no fluke. It looks like Reed, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are the top receivers in this offense and while any ot them can post a big game, Reed certainly looks like the best bet of the trio at the moment. The big concern with him is clearly the health of Jordan Love, so stay tuned.
Dynasty | Packers running back Josh Jacobs rushed for 84 yards and caught two passes for 20 yards in Green Bay's opening night loss to the Eagles. Dynasty Analysis: Jacobs had one 32-yard gain but was otherwise quiet on the night. This will certainly not be the case every week and he may be even more important to the offense should Green Bay lose Jordan Love for an extended period of time. Regardless, Jacobs is a fringe RB1 most weeks and this seems like a game that would be closer to his floor than ceiling this year.