Guest of the League
RTS Top Dogs Est. 2011
FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

The Weekly Bender: You Can Always Come Home

Fri Jul 5 6:00pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer

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There is nothing better than winning your fantasy football league. Whether you’re playing against your friends in a home league or gearing up to take down the $500,000 grand prize in The Fantasy Championship, that euphoric feeling hits you in such a way that sometimes words can’t even describe. But it takes work. It takes tenacity. You don’t just stumble into a championship. You earn it. And that starts with your research here in July. Scouting talent is a top priority for you right now and it’s not just about the NFL players on the field. It’s also about which fantasy analysts you choose to trust each season.

Back in 2011, the folks here at RealTime Fantasy Sports led the way in premier scouting. During a raucous after-party following the FSTA Conference (currently the FSGA) in San Francisco, two of RTSports’ finest made their way to the bar and struck up a conversation with the guy slinging drinks. As it turned out, he also happened to be an aspiring fantasy analyst, freelancing for a couple of sites and looking for more work.

The conversation was light and friendly but intensified when opinions on players and teams came into play. The Giants had just won the World Series and baseball talk was buzzing in the Bay Area. The Green Bay Packers were in mini-camp looking to defend their Super Bowl championship and as we witness every year, the football frenzy was already taking over. With every lager and IPA that hit the bar, the men of RTSports also received formidable opinions, spicy hot takes, boatloads of sarcasm and some pretty entertaining jokes. By the end of the evening, a business card was handed across the bar with a firm demand: “We need a fantasy article written every week with these thoughts, these opinions and this kind of attitude.” With smiles all around and firm handshakes given, “The Weekly Bender” was born.

Yes, all of this, just to re-introduce myself to the community here at RealTime Fantasy Sports. What’s going on, everyone? I am over-the-moon with excitement about being back. In some ways, I never left. Though I was soon offered a full-time position at Fantasy Alarm and the Weekly Bender came to a close, I have remained very active on this website. For years, I hosted the Mock Draft Army here on RTSports and provided fantasy owners an opportunity to mock draft alongside dedicated fantasy players and industry analysts from all over. I’ve hosted numerous best ball drafts here for my audience at SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio and until my return today, have been logging plenty of time turning a profit in the RTSports DFS Pick ‘Em contests.

Yes, I am still over at Fantasy Alarm and you can find all of my fantasy football player rankings, cheat sheets (coming this Monday, July 8), draft strategies and my coaching scheme breakdowns in our Fantasy Football Draft Guide. The community over there is spectacular and I am sure that some of you reading this right now may already be over there. But RTSports has always been a home for me and now that I am back, I cannot wait to jump in.

In addition to the Weekly Bender, an article dedicated to providing winning strategies and picks with a hefty serving of snark, I will also be joining Jeff Paur on his weekly podcast/livestream, sharing videos with DFS Pick ‘Em contest picks, hosting mock drafts to get everyone ready for the 2024 NFL season and even setting up some “Beat Howard Bender” contests so that we can not only play against each other but also give you the opportunity to serve some of that smack-talk back to me.

When Thomas Wolfe wrote “You Can’t Go Home Again,” he was referring to the way nostalgia has us viewing the past in an overly-positive light. For those of you who remember the original Weekly Bender, you know we don’t look back at those pieces with rose-colored glasses. We crushed the research together, we ruled the waiver wire together and we shared championships together. It all comes full circle today and if Wolfe was sitting with me here right now, I’d let him know that you truly can go home again.

Here's to a spectacular 2024 season!

Bender, out!

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Player Notes
Derek Carr Aug 13 1:40pm ET
Derek Carr

The New Orleans Saints' goal for offensive Klint Kubiak this year is to play faster and simplify things. A big concern, at least on paper, is an inexperienced offensive line. Offensive tackles Trevor Penning and Taliese Fuaga and left guard Nick Saldiveri have a combined six NFL starts. Quarterback Derek Carr will be asked to make fewer adjustments at the line of scrimmage in order to let him read the defense out and deliver the football accurately. "It's going to be a positive for him," head coach Dennis Allen said. "I'm hoping the ball gets out quicker. Our ability to run the football and play-action off of that is going to help us in terms of offensive line, from a protection standpoint." The 33-year-old played through injuries in 2023 in his first year in New Orleans and didn't show the type of upside he had with the Raiders. A bounce-back could be coming in this new offense, but fantasy managers should treat him as a low-upside, low-end QB2 until further notice.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Brown Aug 13 1:30pm ET
Anthony Brown

The Las Vegas Raiders signed free-agent quarterback Nathan Peterman to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Peterman rejoins the Raiders after recently being cut in training camp by the New Orleans Saints. The 30-year-old former fifth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2017 spent two years with the Raiders from 2020-21 and went 3-for-5 for 25 yards in just two games played in that span. He has gone 85-for-160 for 712 yards, four touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 15 games (five starts) in his six seasons in the NFL. In Vegas, he'll be competing for the No. 3 role with Anthony Brown Jr. as Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell battle for the starting gig under center to kick off the 2024 regular season in early September.

From RotoBaller

Chase Young Aug 13 1:30pm ET
Chase Young

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that New Orleans Saints edge rusher Chase Young's (neck) enormous skill set has impressed the team in training camp after he signed a one-year, $13 million deal in free agency. Young has been kept on a pitch count coming off offseason neck surgery, but he'll soon be full-go. He was considered a top-10 edge rusher after his rookie year in 2020, but injury problems and a lack of focus in Washington set him back. "He's disruptive -- he's big, he's physical, he's fast, he's motivated," head coach Dennis Allen said. The former second overall pick in 2020 out of Ohio State matched his career-high of 7.5 sacks in 16 combined games with Washington and the San Francisco 49ers last year and could help the Saints' defensive line become a formidable pass-rushing unit in 2024 if he can stay on the field.

From RotoBaller

Trey Lance Aug 13 1:20pm ET
Trey Lance

Dallas Cowboys former first-round quarterback Trey Lance has displayed a mixed bag in training camp and so far in the preseason, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that he's currently in the QB3 developmental phase in Dallas. The Cowboys feel good about Cooper Rush as a QB2, and if they needed to try to win a game without Dak Prescott right now, Rush would be in there, not Lance. The 24-year-old went 25-for-41 for 188 yards in the preseason opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, adding 44 rushing yards on six carries. Rush made the start and played just one offensive series. Lance still has plenty of rushing ability and a strong arm, but there still accuracy issues. He's going to need to put forth some better performances in the preseason to make the Cowboys consider moving him up to QB2.

From RotoBaller

Trevon Diggs Aug 13 1:20pm ET
Trevon Diggs

The Dallas Cowboys have no reservations about cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) being ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener. Diggs is tracking positively after his torn left ACL in September, and the Cowboys will work him into individual drills soon enough at training camp. The 25-year-old defensive back has already been activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list. Dallas is going to make sure not to put too much on Digg's plate too soon this summer, but barring a setback with his knee, he should be in the starting lineup on defense to kick off the regular season, which will be a huge boost to Dallas' high-end fantasy defense. The two-time Pro Bowler is one of the best ball hawks in the NFL when healthy, as evidenced by his 18 interceptions in 47 career games in his first four seasons.

From RotoBaller

J.J. McCarthy Aug 13 1:10pm ET
J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) missed training camp practice on Monday with knee soreness, and tests revealed a meniscus issue that will require surgery. As with most meniscus surgeries, there will be a determination made during the procedure to either trip or repair. A trim would mean out for only a few weeks, but a full repair would mean many months on the sidelines. Regardless of which outcome it is for the 21-year-old 12th overall pick in this year's draft, he will not be opening his rookie campaign as Minnesota's starting QB. Instead, that designation will fall to former first-rounder Sam Darnold, who opened training camp listed as the QB1 on the unofficial depth chart. The Vikings hope McCarthy is their future franchise signal-caller, but they were already slow-playing his development, and this injury will push back his timetable.

From RotoBaller

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Aug 13 12:10pm ET
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (leg) was carted off the practice field on Tuesday following a kickoff drill, team beat reporter Pat Leonard reported on X. Leonard wrote that the injury looked bad, and Tracy had an air cast put on his leg. This is an unfortunate development for the 2024 fifth-round pick, as he has been making waves in training camp thus far. There will surely be further updates on his status, but if he has to miss time, it could clear an easier path for Eric Gray to occupy the RB2 role behind veteran Devin Singletary. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for updates.

From RotoBaller

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Aug 13 11:23am ET
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

ESPN reporter Jordan Raanan is reporting rookie RB Tyrone Tracy just went down untouched on a kickoff return. The cart is out and they are putting his leg in an air cast.

Hunter Henry Aug 13 10:40am ET
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (unspecified) won't practice Tuesday. Head coach Jerod Mayo says he doesn't anticipate it being a long-term injury. The issue reportedly emerged during Sunday's practice, leading to Henry sitting out on Monday and now being set to miss at least one more session. After being rested for the preseason opener, he seems unlikely to play in Thursday's exhibition against the Eagles. However, the Patriots don't appear overly concerned about his availability for Week 1. Henry, who signed a three-year deal with New England in 2021, was a top offseason priority for Eliot Wolf, who secured a new three-year contract for him just before he hit free agency. The deal includes a base salary of $27 million, with a maximum value of $30 million, reflecting the franchise's high regard for him. Over his first three seasons with the Patriots, Henry averaged 44 receptions, 510 receiving yards, and six touchdowns per year. Despite experiencing standout games and periods of inconsistency, his production has been solid, especially considering the turnover in offensive coordinators and inconsistent quarterback play. Additionally, New England's offensive line struggles often required him to stay in as an extra blocker. A two-time Pro Bowler, Austin Hooper appears poised to take over as the primary backup, replacing Mike Gesicki from last season. If Henry returns to full health, he could be a reliable bye-week replacement tight end.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Aug 13 10:20am ET
Malik Nabers

Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (ankle) underwent a complete evaluation for his ankle injury, and head coach Brian Daboll confirmed that he's "good" and the issue is not "long-term." Daboll indicated that while Nabers will miss some practice time, he's not expected to be sidelined for an extended period. Nabers, who has stood out as New York's top receiver this summer, suffered the injury during a drill at Sunday's practice and was absent from Monday's sessionthe first practice he has missed since being selected as the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft out of LSU. During his absence, Veteran Darius Slayton stepped into Nabers' role as the X receiver. Daboll declined to provide a diagnosis, confirming that the tests didn't reveal a serious injury. There seem to be no significant concerns for Week 1. Nabers might be held out of the remaining two preseason games. Still, his rising ADP in recent weeks underscores the importance of his return to full health for fantasy managers hoping to see him reach his potential.

From RotoBaller

Darius Robinson Aug 13 10:10am ET
Darius Robinson

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon has confidently stated that first-round pick Darius Robinson has a "1,000 percent" chance of earning a starting role. The rookie defensive lineman, selected 27th overall by the Cardinals, made a strong impression in his preseason debut against the New Orleans Saints. Robinson's performance included a tackle and a quarterback pressure in ten snaps during the Cardinals' 16-14 loss on Saturday. His first play saw him tackle running back Alvin Kamara, marking his initial impact on the game. Robinson reflected on this moment, saying, "I'm ready to give my all each day, but it really hit me when I tackled Kamara. It was like, 'Alright, I'm here, ready, and focused.'" While Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones seem to be the leading candidates for the starting defensive end spots, Robinson's high draft position suggests he will be a crucial player for the Cardinals in the future. When he assumes a starting role, it may depend on his continued performance and development.

From RotoBaller

Chase Claypool Aug 13 9:50am ET
Chase Claypool

The Buffalo Bills have placed wide receiver Chase Claypool (toe) on IR, ending his season. Signed to a one-year deal during the offseason, Claypool had previously struggled with the Dolphins and Bears, recording just eight receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown over 12 games. Originally listed as a day-to-day concern, Claypool missed most of training camp due to a toe injury sustained on July 28. Claypool will not play this season unless he secures an injury settlement with the Bills and becomes a free agent. With Claypool sidelined, veteran wide receivers Mack Hollins and Marquez Valdes-Scantling emerge as the top contenders for depth roles in Buffalo's receiving corps.

From RotoBaller

Martavis Bryant Aug 13 9:40am ET
Martavis Bryant

The Washington Commanders have signed veteran wide receiver Martavis Bryant. Bryant, who has not played in an NFL game since 2018, spent time on the Cowboys' practice squad last season following his reinstatement from an indefinite suspension. Known for multiple suspensions due to substance abuse violations, Bryant last saw action in the XFL during its 2023 season. He was a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in 2014 and played three seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to the Raiders. The Raiders released him after the preseason but re-signed him a few weeks later, completing the final year of his four-year, $2.7 million rookie contract and becoming a free agent in 2019. In his NFL career, Bryant has appeared in 44 games, recording 145 receptions for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns. If he can recapture some of his old form, he could provide a significant boost as a big-play receiver for new quarterback Jayden Daniels.

From RotoBaller

Javonte Williams Aug 13 8:47am ET
Javonte Williams

Dynasty | Broncos running back Javonte Williams rushed 4 times for 15 yards and caught 1-of-2 targets for 5 yards in Denver's preseason opener. Dynasty Analysis: Even better, he looked like the clear starter and number one option for Denver. While Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime and possibly even Samaje Perine or Blake Watson nay be pushing him, it's evident Williams is in the lead and has a stranglehold on the position at the moment. Williams looks like a relatively cheap buy in dynasty leagues at the moment.

Robbie Chosen Aug 13 1:13am ET
Robbie Chosen

The San Francisco 49ers officially signed free-agent WR Robbie Chosen (Dolphins) to a one-year contract on Monday, Aug. 12.

From TheHuddle

Davante Adams Aug 12 11:20pm ET
Davante Adams

The Las Vegas Raiders are getting wide receiver Davante Adams (personal) back at training camp this week. The three-time first-team All-Pro left the team in camp in Costa Mesa after six practices this summer -- he missed the final five practices and the preseason opener on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings -- to return to Las Vegas for the birth of his son. "Davante will be here today," head coach Antonio Pierce said on Sunday. "Spoke to him after the game. He's excited. He watched it. He misses his teammates. Glad baby boy is here, healthy." It remains to be seen if the 31-year-old will suit up in the team's second preseason contest this Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys. Adams had a fourth straight 1,000-yard season in his second year in Sin City in 2023, but his 1,144 receiving yards and eight TDs were his fewest in those categories since 2019. He's still a WR1 in fantasy, but he's on the low end of that tier with either Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell running the offense.

From RotoBaller

Carlton Davis Aug 12 10:43pm ET
Carlton Davis

Detroit Lions CB Carlton Davis (undisclosed), LB James Houston (undisclosed), DL Alim McNeill (undisclosed), LB DaRon Gilbert (undisclosed) and S Morice Norris (undisclosed) did not practice on Monday, Aug. 12.

From TheHuddle

Stetson Bennett Aug 12 10:13pm ET
Stetson Bennett

Dynasty | Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett completed 24-of-38 passes for 224 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions in the Rams preseason opener. Dynasty Analysis: Even the most enthusiastic Bennett truthers have to face reality after this one as he's going to have a hard time making the final roster with Jimmy Garoppolo in the fold as well. Bennett simply hasn't progressed quite enough to look like an NFL-level quarterback despite his success in college. It's tough to keep him on taxi squads at this point.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jalen Brooks Aug 12 10:13pm ET
Jalen Brooks

Dynasty | Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Brooks caught two passes for 49 yards in the Cowboys season opener. Dynasty Analysis: Brooks has been pushing Jalen Tolbert all camp and his production came while working mostly with the first unit, which is even better. Brooks may not quite be worth a roster add in shallow leagues but this has quickly become a competition to watch in Dallas.

From Dynasty League Fantasy