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
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
Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards (ankle) returned to a full practice on Friday and was removed from the final Week 11 injury report, so he will be available this Sunday night to face the visiting Cincinnati Bengals. Edwards returned in the Week 10 win over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday after missing the previous four games with his ankle injury and played only 15 offensive snaps while carrying the ball 10 times for 55 yards. The 29-year-old should have a bigger role in his second game back, but he's not relied on in the passing game and will remain the clear backup to J.K. Dobbins, making him impossible to rely on as a starter in fantasy lineups. Unless Dobbins goes down with an injury, Edwards is mostly a deep-league handcuff. After scoring a career-high 13 TDs last year in Baltimore, Edwards has 48 carries for 168 yards and no scores in five games with the Bolts.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little is not a great fantasy kicking option this week against the Detroit Lions. After the Jaguars offense scored just seven points last week against the Minnesota Vikings and Little scored just one fantasy point, it is hard to imagine things will be much different this week with Mac Jones still starting at quarterback. The rookie kicker has also scored one fantasy point each of the last two weeks, so in general, expectations should be low. Unless the Jaguars can somehow move the ball enough to get field goal attempts against a good Lions defense, Little shouldn't be expected to produce much more than he has recently. It is best to bet against Little from a fantasy perspective in Week 11 against the Lions.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson could get some opportunities to produce this week against the Detroit Lions. With Tank Bigsby out with an ankle injury, Johnson should serve as the clear backup to Travis Etienne Jr. While the Jaguars have used multiple backs for most of the season, that is mostly due to Etienne Jr.'s previous season performances and Bigsby's emergence this season. In the weeks when Etienne Jr. missed due to injury, Johnson didn't produce much. He did do decent against the Patriots in Week 6, producing 70 total yards on 12 touches. However, the Patriots have been one of the worst run defenses this season, while the Lions have been one of the better run defenses this season. Unless Johnson gets involved in the passing game, he is nothing more than a desperate fantasy option in Week 11 against the Lions.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington will look to produce more in a good matchup this week against the Detroit Lions. Washington played 52 percent of the snaps in Week 10 but did not register a single catch. To be fair, Mac Jones and the entire Jaguars offense struggled, but with Jones starting this week in place of Trevor Lawrence once more, that likely won't change this week. The most likely way Washington and the passing offense put up solid fantasy numbers is if the Lions take an early lead and sit back on defense during garbage time. That could lead to at least a solid PPR outing for the young receiver even if the offense struggles to score. After zero catches last week, it is hard to trust Washington in fantasy lineups in Week 11 against the Lions.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos defense/special teams has been a top-five unit in overall fantasy points through 10 weeks, but they have slowed down of late and are tied for 23rd in the last three weeks. They held the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs to only 16 points in Week 10 but failed to create any turnovers. This Sunday, they'll face an Atlanta Falcons offense that has given the ball away 12 times, which is tied for 12th most in the NFL. Denver's D, meanwhile, has 12 takeaways on the year and is going up against an Atlanta team that has allowed 20 sacks (tied for 23rd). They'll certainly have a challenge on their hands against an offense that has put up 375.1 yards per game, which ranks fifth in the league. The Broncos' defense should be able to get to immobile quarterback Kirk Cousins, though, and they should be considered a top-12 fantasy unit in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz has been hit or miss for fantasy purposes in 2024, but in Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons at home, he represents a solid top-12 streaming option. Lutz has one of the best matchups for kickers this week, as the Falcons have allowed 9.2 fantasy points per game to the position, which is tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for most in the league. The 30-year-old veteran should be able to bounce back after one of his worst performances of the year, when he missed both of his field-goal attempts -- one was blocked and the other attempt was from 60-plus yards -- while making two extra points in the loss to the Chiefs. Despite the two misses last week, Lutz has made 85.7% of his field-goal tries in 2024 and ranks as the No. 12 fantasy kicker in overall fantasy points through the first 10 weeks.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele is looking to stay more involved in the Week 11 contest against the visiting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday after catching his first career touchdown pass in the Week 10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Vele's 35 offensive snaps he played last Sunday were the most in his first six NFL games, and he caught all four of his targets for 39 yards and the TD. The 26-year-old seventh-rounder out of Utah is actually third on the Broncos in receiving yards (215) this year behind Courtland Sutton and running back Javonte Williams and he should continue to have a role with Josh Reynolds (finger) on Injured Reserve. The Falcons secondary is inconsistent and vulnerable, too, although the lack of consistent volume for Vele makes him hard to recommend for starting fantasy lineups. He's caught 22 of his 27 targets on the year for 215 yards and one TD.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey is 0% rostered in Yahoo fantasy football leagues and is not a recommended play for the Week 11 tilt in Denver against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Humphrey does have some impressive after-the-catch abilities, but Denver's offense just hasn't had enough firepower this year to really support another fantasy-relevant pass-catcher behind Courtland Sutton. The 26-year-old Humphrey only had two receptions (three targets) for 23 yards in last week's loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, and he's currently fourth on the team in receiving yards (211) on the year. Humphrey also has yet to find the end zone in 2024. He hasn't eclipsed 50 receiving yards in a single game despite seeing a bigger role on offense ever since the injury to Josh Reynolds (finger).
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets defense struggled in Week 10, allowing the Arizona Cardinals to rack up 31 points against them in a blowout loss. They will look to bounce back at home against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11. The Colts have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points per game to fantasy defenses this season and will turn back to struggling second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson after starting Joe Flacco in the previous two games. New York's defense has plenty of talent but they have been a mild disappointment this season. That being said, they are four-point home favorites in a game with a reasonably low 43.5-point over/under, putting New York in the position to post a useful fantasy outing on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell is off the fantasy radar heading into Week 11 against the New England Patriots. Atwell played admirably in the absences of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua earlier this year, but he has fallen back down the depth chart upon their returns. He has caught just one pass in each of his last three games, playing less than 35 percent of the snaps in all of those contests. Even against a Patriots defense allowing the 11th-most catches and receiving yards to opposing receivers, Atwell can be ignored in fantasy football. In fact, he's droppable in redraft leagues with 14 or fewer teams.
From RotoBaller
The New England Patriots have released wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (personal), according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Thornton had missed Thursday's practice with a personal matter, but he returned in a full capacity on Friday. The former 50th overall pick was underwhelming in two-and-a-half seasons with the Patriots, catching just 39 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns over 28 games. This year alone, he had just four catches for 47 yards. A divorce between Thornton and the Patriots seemed inevitable after the team looked to trade him earlier this month. Nothing came to fruition, and Thornton ended up being a healthy scratch for each of the last two weeks. Despite his underwhelming stats in New England, the 24-year-old still has the allure of draft capital less than three years removed from being a second-round pick. He should generate some interest in free agency.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson should be viewed as a low-floor, high-ceiling option heading into Week 11 against the New England Patriots. Robinson had strung together an impressive two-game stretch with eight catches, 129 yards, and four touchdowns, but he came crashing back down to earth with just one reception for 23 yards last week. Still, he was targeted by Matthew Stafford five times, reaffirming the veteran's interest in getting the ball into Robinson's hands. Given that Robinson is a big-play deep threat, there are going to be some times when he just can't seem to get a spark offensively. Other times, he'll repeatedly catch deep passes and add a score or two. The Patriots aren't dominant against receivers, so Robinson could certainly be capable of breaking off a huge play (or even a touchdown) this week. The alternative, though, is a one-catch game with just a couple fantasy points. Managers should evaluate Robinson against other bench players on their roster, keeping in mind that Robinson ranks as a fantasy WR4.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson appears to have been demoted to the No. 2 role on offense amidst the recent emergence of fellow tight end Davis Allen. In his last two games, Allen has averaged 55 percent and 80 percent of the offensive snaps, respectively. Parkinson, on the other hand, played just 42 percent and 16 percent, respectively. This is a major fall from grace for Parkinson, who had been a respectable streaming option earlier in the year, catching at least three passes in four of his first five games. As long as Allen and the rest of the Rams' pass-catchers stay healthy, Parkinson lacks fantasy appeal.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Davis Allen has snuck onto the lower end of the fantasy radar after two impressive games. The 23-year-old has seemingly taken over as the Rams' top tight end, replacing 25-year-old Colby Parkinson. Allen has simply looked more talented and promising than Parkinson, catching five of his six targets for 34 yards as recently as last week versus Miami. It's a little too early to scramble and add Allen off the waiver wire, but his increased role and productivity are certainly intriguing. He's worth monitoring going forward as a potential midseason waiver claim.
From RotoBaller