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.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine is expected to fill the void left behind by Jerick McKinnon's departure, head coach Andy Reid said. Specifically, this means that Perine will primarily get involved as a pass-catcher and blocker. Reid also noted that Perine is an intelligent player who runs well. Last year, the veteran running back tallied 238 rushing yards, 455 receiving yards, and one touchdown. Given that he is a trusted pass-catcher in one of the NFL's best offenses, Perine could sneak into the RB3/FLEX tier in PPR leagues this year. However, he can be left on the bench in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams denied reports that he wasn't happy. 'If I were (unhappy), I wouldn't be here right now,' Adams said.
Fantasy Spin: He'll be 32 before the end of the season and still had 103 catches last year. He wound up being the WR10 and will have QB questions again this season. He's still a very consistent, safe WR1 option, but his big-game potential is dwindling.
From TheHuddle
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams says there is no truth to reports he is not happy in Las Vegas. Former wide receiver DeSean Jackson made the original claim that Adams refuted and according to an ESPN article said he has never spoken to Jackson about his current situation with the Raiders. The 31-year-old receiver out of Fresno State recorded 103 catches for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns for the Raiders last season. With an unsettled quarterback situation this year, the outlook is a little less rosy for the veteran receiver but Adams is still one of the most talented wide receivers in the league.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley could be a healthy scratch against the San Francisco 49ers this week, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. This would leave the Jets with five active receivers. Rosenblatt notes that Corley, a rookie, would likely need to prove his worth as a returner in order to be active for the season opener. Regardless of whether he dresses or not, Corley is merely a depth piece in New York and can be avoided in all redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) is expected to be on a limited workload when the season begins, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Williams is recovering from a torn ACL. He signed with the Jets this offseason, offering a veteran presence in a receiver room that will look to thrive alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The 29-year-old receiver peaked at WR12 in 2021 but hasn't otherwise finished inside the top 30. He'll likely fall outside the top 36 (FLEX range) this year given his ongoing recovery and the expectation that he'll have less volume in New York than he previously did with the Chargers.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard is expected to have a larger workload when the regular season begins this week, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. His additional volume is a direct result of Mike Williams (knee) opening the year on a limited workload. Lazard was quiet in 2023, catching just 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown. This year, however, he gets to play alongside Aaron Rodgers and will open the season with some extra volume. These factors won't be enough to put Lazard on the fantasy year, but don't be surprised if you hear his name called more often over these first few weeks of the season.
From RotoBaller
The Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams draws one of the toughest matchups in the very first game of the year against the Kansas City Chiefs. For the most part, this defense has a lot of the same pieces from last year which saw them as one of the best units in the NFL. Two big losses were the defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald and linebacker Patrick Queen. Former third-round draft pick Trenton Simpson will step into Queen's absence while Zach Orr takes over as the coordinator. Superstar safety Kyle Hamilton looks to build off a tremendous season while the rest of the secondary added some rookies. While fantasy managers should be comfortable playing this team every week, the first game could be a difficult one against Patrick Mahomes and company. With that being said, they should be able to produce enough to be in the top half of defenses.
On the initial Week 1 injury report for the New Orleans Saints, cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip) was listed as limited due to a lingering hip issue that has persisted since training camp in California. Lattimore's 2023 season was marred by injuries, with an ankle problem restricting him to just ten games and a kidney laceration limiting him to seven games the previous year. These health issues fueled trade speculation during the offseason, but the Saints opted to retain him. He is expected to start on Sunday if he is healthy enough, which would significantly boost the Saints' defense against a Panthers offense projected to struggle. If Lattimore cannot play, it could provide a notable advantage to Bryce Young and the Panthers' receiving corps.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington (quad) was limited in Wednesday's practice. It appears Washington has picked up a minor injury, and it's good news for his Week 1 status that he could participate in a limited fashion. Miami plays their home opener against the in-state Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, and the rookie wideout has an excellent shot to contribute to the Dolphins' offense early on in his career. Both Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) and River Cracraft (upper body) are slated to miss the first four games of the season on the PUP, and Washington will be competing with Braxton Berrios for snaps behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. While Berrios is a competent NFL veteran, the rookie sixth-round pick has displayed his explosiveness during the preseason and has a favorable chance to play his way into a role if he can remain healthy. He's presently a strong stash in dynasty leagues.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver David Bell (quad) returned to practice in limited fashion on Wednesday. The third-year wideout has been on the shelf since Aug. 10, when he sustained a quadriceps injury against the Green Bay Packers. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. also returned to practice. It remains to be seen whether or not Bell will be ready to suit up for the team's home opener against the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday. The Purdue product is listed as a second-string WR on Cleveland's depth chart heading into Week 1 and has totaled just 38 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns on 58 targets across his first two seasons. He faces increased competition for those targets in 2024 due to the Browns' acquisition of Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku's strong performance in the latter part of last season. Bell is currently nothing more than a best ball dart throw in his current situation.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler has caught more than 50 passes in each of the last five seasons, and he has averaged 74.8 receptions per year in that span.
Fantasy Spin: Brian Robinson Jr. will likely handle a lot of the work on early downs, but Ekeler should handle the third-down duties and could be a frequent safety valve for rookie Jayden Daniels. Ekeler is still a flex option, especially in PPR formats.
From TheHuddle
Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (toe) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. A toe injury has plagued the second-year running back -- one he picked up early on in the preseason and hasn't seen any live action since the Hall of Fame game. It would seem he has a decent shot at suiting up for the Bears' regular-season home-opener against the Tennessee Titans due to him at least participating minimally. Johnson is currently slated to open the year as Chicago's third-string RB behind starter D'Andre Swift and backup Khalil Herbert. Even if the former Longhorn can find his way to the field, it would be tough to rely on him for more than groundwork with the loaded wide receiver corps around him. Additionally, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is not known for his propensity to check it down to his running back. Johnson can be safely left on the waiver wire for the time being sans dynasty and deep leagues.
From RotoBaller
When asked about his running back rotation Wednesday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles stated that Rachaad White would be given the first crack at touches in the backfield rotation. "I think it will be a game-by-game basis," said Bowles. "You normally go with the hot hand, but since nobody has played yet, obviously Rachaad [White] starts and then we'll kinda go from there and see how the other guys are used." It's an interesting statement by the Bucs' coach, as he may be hinting at more of a split in Tampa Bay's backfield than initially anticipated. White led all running backs in the NFL in snaps last season (861) and took on a workhorse role in his sophomore year. The third-year RB was one of the better pass-catching weapons out of the backfield in 2023 but did not exhibit nearly the same efficiency as a runner. While it's most likely just a head coach attempting to lessen a player's load, this is a situation to monitor, as White would lose value if backup Bucky Irving were to eat into his workload.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers released their first official depth chart of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday and listed running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins as co-starters, with rookie Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins behind them as depth. Both Edwards and Dobbins have operated in offensive coordinator Greg Roman's system before in Baltimore. Edwards should handle most of the team's short-yardage, goal-line situations after scoring 13 rushing TDs with the Ravens in 2023. However, Dobbins looked explosive in training camp after coming off two major injuries the last few seasons. Dobbins is the more elusive back in space and could surprise as a pass-catcher out of the backfield in deep PPR leagues if he can stay healthy in 2024. Edwards will be a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex in his Chargers debut in Week 1 versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
While Los Angeles Chargers second-year wide receiver Quentin Johnston showed dramatic improvement as a route-runner in training camp and the preseason this summer, The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that his hands are still a concern. Johnston had several drops in camp, but the former first-rounder should still offer more than he did in 2023 in what was a disappointing rookie campaign. The problem for fantasy managers that drafted Johnston in dynasty/keeper leagues last year is that he's opening the 2024 season as the WR4 in LA behind Joshua Palmer, rookie second-rounder Ladd McConkey and deep threat DJ Chark (hip). The 22-year-old went undrafted in most standard-sized fantasy leagues, although he could jump into the starting lineup this Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders and be a DFS sleeper if Chark is unable to play.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) was listed as a full participant in the team's first official practice of the regular season on Wednesday and should be ready to roll for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday night against the Detroit Lions. Nacua returned to a full practice last week after initially injuring the bursa sac in his knee way back on Aug. 4. It's something worth watching, but fantasy managers shouldn't have any reservations about starting the star second-year wideout in lineups this weekend. The 23-year-old former fifth-rounder last year out of BYU took the league by storm right away, finishing with a 105-1,486-6 line in 17 regular-season games. Even with veteran wideout Cooper Kupp back to full health in 2024, Nacua showed last year that he has WR1 upside for fantasy managers on a weekly basis.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams rookie running back Blake Corum was listed as the team's top kick returner on special teams on the club's first official depth chart of the 2024 season. Not only is Corum listed as their top kick returner, but lead back Kyren Williams is expected to open the year as their top punt returner. It remains to be seen if this setup will last all year, but it will certainly open both Corum and Williams up to added injuries in the return game. Williams is the unquestioned lead back in LA's backfield after an impressive year in 2023, but the 23-year-old Corum is expected to have a sizeable workload behind him to take some pressure off. At the very least, the Michigan product should be handcuffed to Williams in fantasy, but he could also have some standalone fantasy value as an RB4/flex in what could be an explosive Rams offense if quarterback Matthew Stafford stays healthy.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals rookie third-round wide receiver Jermaine Burton's talent jumps off the page, but off-the-field concerns regarding his coachability pushed him down the draft board in April. The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that Burton's scouting report has proven to be true so far; the Bengals have run into issues getting him on board and up to professional standards. He has not been in the vicinity of where he needs to be as a pro so far and even admitted himself that he needs to make strides to crack any rotation in a receiver group already entrenched in their roles. The 23-year-old often ran the wrong routes in practice and preseason games this summer, and the Bengals won't make him active on game day in the regular season if they don't think he's preparing himself in meetings and practice. The bottom line is that Burton's dynasty/keeper stock is dropping quickly.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that it's inevitable that Cincinnati Bengals running backs Chase Brown and Zack Moss will play a significant role in 2024, with their total touches ending up in a 50-50 split. However, it's unclear if the split will be situational with Moss handling third-down and two-minute situations, or if it will be more of a drive-by-drive breakdown. Head coach Zac Taylor isn't necessarily looking to fill situational roles; he's more concerned about disguising play-calling tendencies. In the end, the rotation between Brown and Moss will likely evolve throughout the year, but as of now, it sounds like both RBs will be doing a bit of everything. Brown is quicker and more elusive in space, while Moss is more of a banger between the tackles. Both figure to have their fantasy value capped as RB3/flex plays in fantasy, with most of Moss' value potentially coming as a short-yardage, goal-line option.
From RotoBaller
The Kansas City Chiefs defense/special teams will take on the high-powered Baltimore Ravens offense in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. The Chiefs DST was a strong unit in 2023 and finished sixth in scoring at the end of the year, but they are down a few significant pieces this season. Star cornerback L'Jarius Sneed was traded to the Tennessee Titans this offseason to cut costs. Sneed was a lockdown corner last season, routinely holding opposing WR1s to lower outputs. The Chiefs defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, is relying on All-Pro Trent McDuffie to anchor the cornerback room while the team decides which player will be the answer at CB2. There is a bit of uncertainty surrounding this group, and they are facing a tough matchup against the Ravens in Week 1. In 2023, the Ravens scored 28.4 points per game, the fourth-highest mark in the NFL. Although I believe the Chiefs DST will be a strong unit again in 2024, I prefer to look elsewhere in Week 1.
From RotoBaller