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 Green Bay Packers defense/special teams unit heads to Brazil to match up with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers do feature a solid D/ST unit overall, but against the Eagles' strong offense with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, and others, Green Bay should be left on the bench or on waivers for Week 1. Under the direction of former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley, the Packers have added to their inside linebacker unit by drafting Edgerrin Cooper in the second round and revamping their safety unit as they brought in former Giant Xavier McKinney and rookie second-rounder Javon Bullard. Add in continued health from Eric Stokes, and Jaire Alexander, plus a formidable pass rush that features Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Kenny Clark, and the Packers look like a sleeper defensive/special teams unit for 2024, but one we should err on the side of caution against a potent Eagles defense in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
The Carolina Panthers signed rookie running back Dillon Johnson to the practice squad on Thursday, according to NFL.com. Johnson went unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft following a stellar season at Washington. While playing in a loaded offense featuring Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan, Johnson rushed 233 times for 1,195 yards and 16 touchdowns in 14 games last season. He spent time with the Tennessee Titans this offseason before being let go on July 25. He was signed by Carolina on July 31 but waived on August 19. Carolina won't have Jonathon Brooks (knee) for at least the first four games of the season, and with Miles Sanders (finger) banged up, Johnson adds depth to the practice squad. For now, he's nowhere near the fantasy football radar.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will square up against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the team's home opener this Sunday and hopes to begin the year hot as he has the prior two seasons. Tagovailoa began 2022 with a 469-yard six-touchdown performance in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens and tossed 466 yards and three scores in Week 1 last season against the Los Angeles Chargers. Jacksonville's defense was a stout unit on the ground in 2023, allowing the ninth-fewest rushing yards in the league. However, they were much more porous through the air as opponents threw for the seventh-most yards (4,076) and touchdowns (27) against the unit. Look for Mike McDaniel to cook up some innovative play designs to scheme a few wide-open looks for the fifth-year QB. The Alabama product is a back-end QB1 (QB12) in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson is the healthiest he's been in a while as the Packers travel south to Brazil to face the Philadelphia Eagles in their Week 1 season opener. Watson's lower-leg injuries have dominated the offseason when talking about the third-year pro from North Dakota St., but those seem to be mostly rectified as testing found Watson had a muscle imbalance in his legs which likely contributed to his constant hamstring issues. Watson participated in every practice during training camp, so he's ready to build off of his first two seasons where he's averaged seven touchdowns and an efficient 1.91 yards per route run combined. Watson does have a lot of competition within his wide receiver room with Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks itching for coveted playing time, but consider Watson a low-end WR3 or solid flex option that can make a fantasy week with a long touchdown against the Eagles and Vic Fangio's two-deep shell defense.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave was the clear leader in the tight end room last season until he suffered a kidney laceration that put him on the shelf until Week 18. Whether Musgrave can retain that heavy snap and route utilization in Week 1 remains to be seen, but this week, Musgrave is more of a streaming option at tight end than a locked-in starter for fantasy purposes. Musgrave was just TE22 in fantasy points per game from Weeks 1-10 last season and he wasn't super useful in fantasy with just two weeks as a TE1. Tucker Kraft (back) may miss Week 1 for the Packers, leaving Musgrave as the lone realistic option for the Packers to run the majority of routes. Even then, the expectations for Musgrave should be tempered against an Eagles team that will keep opposing offenses in front of them with Vic Fangio's two-deep shell.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers kicker Brayden Narveson will put on a Packers uniform for the first time in a very unique way: playing in a regular season opener in Brazil against the Philadelphia Eagles. Narveson spent his preseason with the Tennessee Titans and was released a little over a week ago after losing the kicking competition to veteran Nick Folk. When the Packers' kicking job was still unsettled after the preseason, Narveson was scooped up by the Packers as the team released both second-year kicker Anders Carlson and veteran Greg Joseph. Now the Packers' kicker heading into Week 1, Narveson has a short leash but a booming leg that could help him when the weather turns cold. As a career 78% field goal kicker in college with Iowa State, Western Kentucky, and N.C. State, Narveson should have some solid opportunity in the early going with the Packers but is probably more of a wait-and-see fantasy kicker in Week 1. If he comes out of the gates strong, he's worth a speculative add.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is a strong fantasy start in your quarterback slot as Love and the Packers head to Brazil to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Friday's Week 1 opener. Love ended the 2023 season incredibly strong as the QB4 from Week 11 to the end of the season as the Packers made the playoffs and scored a win over the Cowboys in the wild-card round. They will face an Eagles team in transition on defense as they will have Vic Fangio coordinating their defense this season. While the Eagles last season were one of the worst teams against the pass, one would assume a sizable improvement for the Eagles' defense is coming under Fangio, who has been one of the more respected defensive coaches in getting the most out of his players. Still, Love should be able to use his deep pool of wide receivers, tight ends, and running back Josh Jacobs to put up solid numbers as a low-end QB1 this week.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs should be considered a solid RB2 in his matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday evening. Jacobs came over from the Raiders after five up-and-down seasons, with his best season coming in 2022. Finishing as RB3 that season, Jacobs put up over 1,600 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in a breakout season, but last season saw Jacobs return to his inefficient ways. Heading to a Packers' offense that is rising with Jordan Love and a bunch of young receivers, Jacobs is expected to carry quite a bit of the rushing workload this season, though he will split some time with rookie MarShawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson. Against the Eagles' solid run defense that limited opposing backs to the sixth-lowest yards after contact per attempt last season, Jacobs should be able to put up a usable fantasy stat line predicated by volume in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed looks to build off of his exciting and productive rookie campaign as the Packers travel south to Brazil to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. Reed comes off of a stellar rookie season where he up 10 total touchdowns, 90 targets, and 64 receptions for 793 receiving yards and should improve upon those numbers in his second year with the green and gold. As the primary slot man seeing almost 76% of snaps there last season, Reed may come off the field a little more than we'd like when the formation condenses, but his efficiency was excellent last season with a 2.05 yards per route run. Against the Eagles in Week 1, Reed should have a tougher time than last year's slot receivers did, as the Eagles reinforced their nickel back situation with rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Still, Reed is a low-end WR3 in your fantasy lineups and has all the upside in the world for the Packers in this week's matchup.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said that he's "hopeful" that cornerback Jalen Ramsey (calf) will be able to play in the Week 1 matchup on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. Ramsey has yet to practice with the team this week and has been sidelined since Aug. 12 with his calf injury, so the odds aren't good that the veteran cornerback will be able to play this weekend unless he returns to practice on Friday. The Dolphins face off against the division-rival Buffalo Bills on a short week next Thursday, too, which will most likely very much play into the team's decision to play Ramsey this weekend. Miami's secondary will be much more vulnerable against Trevor Lawrence and company if Ramsey isn't active this Sunday, and it could force rookie corner Storm Duck into meaningful snaps right away.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (hand) travels to Brazil as the team is set to square off with the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. For Week 1, Doubs is nursing a hand injury and was limited Tuesday as well as on Wednesday's projected injury report as that is the team's travel day to Brazil. In terms of fantasy, Doubs is a low-end flex option where you're hoping he gets into the end zone. 2023 saw Doubs run the most routes on the team but was pretty inefficient with those routes, with the lowest yards per route run and targets per route run of the quartet of Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks last season. The same target competition exists in 2024 and Doubs has as much of a chance as anybody in this Packers' offense to lead the team in receiving, as evidenced by his postseason where he put up 10 receptions, 234 yards, and a touchdown in two playoff games.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz said during a press conference on Thursday that the team thinks it will be a near 50-50 split in the backfield between running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears this year. Holz goes on to say that the Titans have some plays earmarked specifically for Pollard or Spears, but the rest of them are interchangeable. We'll get a better look at Tennessee's new backfield combination on Sunday in Week 1 at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears, but it sounds as though the Titans feel that Pollard and Spears are interchangeable and are basically co-starters to begin the 2024 season. Pollard failed to impress in a lead-back role in Dallas in 2023, and it doesn't look like he's going to have a leg up on backfield touches over Spears in his first year in Tennessee. To open the regular season, both RBs should be considered more of RB3/flex plays.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay (hernia) missed his second straight day of practice on Thursday after recently undergoing surgery for a sports hernia. The fact that Gay has yet to practice so far this week is a sign that he's not going to be available to kick in the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the division-rival Houston Texas, so fantasy managers that were planning on using him as a low-end fantasy kicking option to kick off the year should begin to start searching for a streaming replacement. Rookie Spencer Shrader will most likely be called up from the practice squad later this week if Gay is officially ruled out, but fantasy managers should look to avoid the unproven kicker if he makes his first NFL start against the Texans.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) said he ran some routes on Wednesday and calls himself "real close" to returning. Downs isn't ruling himself out for Sunday's Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Houston Texans despite suffering a high-ankle sprain in training camp. The 23-year-old didn't practice on Wednesday and wasn't seen on the practice field on Thursday, so he'll need to at least be limited on Friday to have a shot at suiting up this weekend. As of right now, he looks to be on the wrong side of questionable, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues should be looking in another direction if they were planning on using Downs in their starting lineups. If Downs misses the season opener on Sunday, rookie Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce will be more intriguing DFS plays as starting wideouts alongside WR1 Michael Pittman Jr.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Thursday that pass-rusher Haason Reddick has not yet shown up as he continues his contract holdout. Saleh stopped short of ruling Reddick out for the team's Week 1 contest on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers, but each passing day that he remains absent makes it less likely. The 29-year-old edge rusher still has one year left on his current deal but is seeking a new long-term deal from the Jets after they acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles in the offseason. The former first-rounder by the Arizona Cardinals in 2017 has been a Pro Bowler each of the last two seasons and has had double-digit sacks in each of his last four campaigns. If Reddick eventually reports to the Jets, the talented pass-rusher will make an already strong Jets defense even that much better.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid is one to watch in 2024 as a player that analysts are expecting to emerge as a star playmaker for the team with receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis no longer in town. "If I were trying to pinpoint somebody that I thought was the most talented player in that group, and the guy that did have a chance to become the most important player in that pecking order, he's probably the one that I would go with," The Athletic's Robert Mays said. Kincaid's depth of target increased from six yards to nine yards when offensive coordinator Joe Brady took over in the second half last year. The 24-year-old could be quarterback Josh Allen's most trusted weapon in the passing game now, giving him upside to be a high-end TE1 in fantasy in just his second year in the league in 2024.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that the Minnesota Vikings are loosely targeting a return around Week 7 for injured tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee), who is still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL that he suffered late last year. Hockenson has opened the 2024 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, as expected, meaning he has to sit out at least the first four games of the season. Fantasy managers expecting Hockenson to be full-go by Week 5 should think again, though. The 27-year-old should be stashed in an IR spot in all fantasy leagues, but it's more likely we won't see him make his season debut until around the midway point, and when he does return, he could be eased back in. Until Hockenson is able to return as the Vikings' top pass-catcher, Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver are expected to share tight-end duties in Minnesota.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot), who practiced in full on Wednesday, will be added to the Week 1 injury report on Thursday after the Chargers said they were advised to do so by the league. According to the Chargers, nothing has changed since Herbert practiced on Wednesday, other than getting guidance from the NFL. Herbert says he's feeling 100% despite missing several weeks in training camp with a plantar-fascia injury. Even though the 26-year-old is being placed on the injury report, it shouldn't mean much in terms of his health for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders at Sofi Stadium. The biggest knock on Herbert's fantasy value entering 2024 campaign is that he's in a run-first offense now and lost his favorite weapons from the past several seasons. He'll be a clear QB2 in fantasy in Week 1 against the Raiders.
From RotoBaller
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