Fri Jul 5 6:00pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer
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!
Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers had a nice outing on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Myers connected on both of his field goals and both of his extra points on Sunday en route to 10 fantasy points. The Seahawks offense started off slow and was forced into two early field goals which was beneficial for Myers. As the season wears on, the offense should continue to improve and put Myers in more positions to secure points in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
The Seattle Seahawks D/ST was a significant contributor in fantasy in Week 1. The unit constantly harassed rookie quarterback Bo Nix on Sunday. Nix threw two interceptions and was sacked twice and running back Jaleel McLaughlin lost a fumble. The Seahawks D/ST kept the team in the game until the offense was able to get going in the second half. While this unit will not get a rookie quarterback every week, new head coach Mike Macdonald may be coaxing something out of these personnel. The Seahawks D/ST get a Patriots offense in Week 2 devoid of high-end playmakers.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore caught three of his six targets for nine yards in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Moore barely made a dent in the yardage department but his six targets were good for the fourth-most on the team. Unfortunately his lack of downfield usage issue continued over from the 2023 season as the Browns have tended to keep him close to the line of scrimmage since he joined them before last season. Moore also has to contend with newcomer Jerry Jeudy, who finished second on the team with eight targets. Moore does not need to be rostered in redraft leagues moving forward as his ceiling won't be very high as the No. 4 option in the offense.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (knee) is slated to undergo an MRI on Monday when the team returns to Dallas. Ferguson left the team's 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter after he landed awkwardly attempting to go over the top of a Cleveland defender. Before his exit, he caught 3-of-5 targets for 15 yards. The third-year TE was seen with his left knee wrapped in ice after leaving the team's locker room post-game, and we expect to get an update on him after his imaging tomorrow. For what it's worth, Ferguson was quoted as hoping "it's just hyper-extended" and said that he felt he could have played through it. It's always alarming when a player crops up with a knee issue, but his sentiment towards the injury is at least encouraging. He'll be a player to monitor over the next 24 hours. The Cowboys will square off against the New Orleans Saints in their home opener next Sunday in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made his lone field-goal attempt and added two extra points in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Hopkins knocked down a 51-yard field goal for the Browns in the first quarter but was held without another field-goal attempt for the remainder of the game. The veteran has shown a big leg since joining the Browns in 2023, having now hit all nine of his attempts from 50+ yards. The Cowboys have a tough defense, so Hopkins should see more chances to score points moving forward.
From RotoBaller
The Cleveland Browns defense played well but it wasn't enough in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Cleveland notched three sacks while holding the Cowboys to just 265 yards of total offense in the loss. The Browns got sacks from Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith, and Dalvin Tomlinson but the unit could not force any turnovers against Dak Prescott and company. Cleveland will look to bounce back in a more favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf had a quiet outing in Week 1. The Denver Broncos limited Metcalf to three receptions for 29 yards on Sunday. The Seahawks offense had a difficult time getting much going until the third quarter. Additionally, Patrick Surtain II blanketed Metcalf for much of the day. Better days are ahead for Metcalf who drew a tough matchup with Surtain to kick off the season. If the Seahawks offense can play like they did in the second half consistently, then Metcalf will be just fine in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett was excellent against the Denver Broncos in Week 1. Lockett led the team with six receptions for 77 yards on seven targets. Lockett showed a consistent chemistry with Geno Smith that was constantly on display during the 2022 season when Lockett had 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns. Lockett entered the game after nursing a thigh injury for several weeks. However, the injury did not appear to hamper him at all. If Lockett keeps up this production, then he will prove to have been a steal in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a disappointing outing in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. Smith-Njigba started hot with two receptions for 19 yards in the first quarter. However, Smith-Njigba only earned one more target for the rest of the game. The Seahawks offense as a whole was quiet for the first two quarters and a half. Once the offense got going, it was the Tyler Lockett show in the passing game. Smith-Njigba has a lot of promise in 2024. If the Seahawks offense can play like it did in the second half of Sunday's game, then Smith-Njigba should begin to display solid flex value.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan made his NFL debut against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The rookie wideout won the No. 3 spot behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to start the season. He was the clear third receiver on this offense during Sunday's game. McMillan hauled in one of his three targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in the win. It appears Evans, Godwin, and even running back Rachaad White are above McMillan on the pecking order for passing. McMillan is worth stashing in deep leagues, but he isn't a viable option on a weekly basis right now.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet had a solid outing in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. He finished the game with eight carries for 12 yards and two receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown. Charbonnet squarely played second fiddle to starting running back Kenneth Walker III (abdominal) until Walker went down with an injury. The Seahawks did not get going on offense until the second half. Charbonnet contributed to the Seahawks' barrage of scoring in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard reception where he was left wide open. Charbonnet's lack of contribution prior to Walker's injury demonstrates his entrenchment as the backup. However, if Walker were to miss any time, then Charbonnet would be a must-start.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith threw for 171 yards and one touchdown along with one interception in his season debut. Smith added 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground. His 34-yard run for a touchdown was his best highlight of the day. Smith started the game slow and threw an interception on his second pass of the game. However, Smith rebounded nicely and finished with a 72% completion rate. His rushing baseline carried him to 18.84 fantasy points on Sunday. Smith's fantasy output was similar to his games during his breakout 2022 campaign two years ago. The Seahawks offense clicked in the second half of Sunday's game and Smith capitalized. He will look to carry that momentum into New England in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught three of his eight targets for 25 yards and a touchdown in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Jeudy made a decent debut with his new team, catching a six-yard pass for Deshaun Watson's only TD toss of the afternoon. The veteran finished second on the team in targets as he instantly slotted in as the team's WR2 behind Amari Cooper in his first game as a Cleveland Brown. The Cleveland offense struggled greatly against a tough Dallas defense in the loss but Jeudy's early role in the offense is encouraging. He should be treated as a solid WR3/flex option moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin did everything he could during Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. The Bucs moved Godwin back to the slot and it paid off for them in Week 1. The veteran wideout hauled in all eight of his targets for 83 yards and a touchdown in the win. Godwin got out of the gate slowly last season and he made sure that didn't happen again. Both Godwin and Mike Evans should have no problem getting the ball in this pass-heavy offense on a weekly basis. Godwin should be a solid WR2 in PPR formats going forward.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau (concussion) is officially in the league's concussion protocol, per head coach Dennis Allen. Moreau picked up the injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 47-10 thrashing of the Carolina Panthers. He hauled in all four of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown on a day where everything fell the Saints' way. The veteran tight end racked up the second-most yards, targets, and receptions on his team and finished the day with just one less target than Taysom Hill and Juwan Johnson combined. Quarterback Derek Carr looked very comfortable in a new Saints' offense, and Moreau will now need to progress through the league's protocol before he is cleared to suit up for New Orleans' Week 2 road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. If he is not ready to roll, expect Johnson to take on the bulk of the more traditional tight-end duties for the Saints.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving put together a fairly nice NFL debut during Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. The rookie back won the No. 2 job behind Rachaad White during training camp. Irving made the most of his chances during Sunday's game. He rushed nine times for 62 yards in the blowout win. To be fair, Irving saw most of his yardage come on a 31-yard run in the fourth quarter. However, the rookie back did look solid as he was finding holes and making smart decisions as a runner. White remains the workhorse back in Tampa Bay, but Irving could start stealing away some of those touches. Irving is still a shaky option for Week 2, but he should be stashed in most fantasy formats.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (knee) was targeted five times in a Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns. He made three catches and gained 15 yards before having to be helped off the field after a catch in the third quarter. After the game, head coach Mike McCarthy said Ferguson was "in good spirits and moving around well." More information will certainly come out soon, but for now it does not seem like Ferguson will need to miss any significant time. Just in case, Luke Schoonmaker is next up on the Cowboys tight end depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was heavily involved in the offense during Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders. The 25-year-old continued to be the workhorse back in this one. He rushed 15 times for 31 yards as White couldn't get anything going on the ground. Luckily, White was able to salvage his fantasy value with six receptions for 75 yards through the air. His struggles on the ground are a concern, but not too alarming considering how well he does as a receiver. White should continue being a significant part of this offense going forward. Fantasy managers in PPR formats should be able to plug White in as a RB2 for Week 2 against the Detroit Lions.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey made all seven of his kicks in a Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns. He made four field goals and three extra points, putting up 15 of the Cowboys 33 points. Aubrey's field goals came from 57, 40, 50, and 46 yards out. He was the top-scoring fantasy kicker last season and could very well be on his way to doing that again this year.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had seemingly no issues during Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. The veteran wideout has been one of the most consistent players throughout his career. That trend continued during Sunday's game as Evans hauled in five receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns in the win. To be fair, the Commanders secondary is shaky, but Evans took advantage of that with two fairly easy touchdowns. Fantasy managers should be able to plug Evans in as WR1 on a weekly basis going forward.
From RotoBaller