Champions Draft: Owner Comments

Tue Jun 22 10:58am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Harris gets picked in first round


We wanted to give our readers a look into the thought process of the owners of our “Champions Draft." So here is a look at each team and some of their strategies/thoughts on their draft.

Before we get to the comments, here is a quick rundown of the league. First off, the draft this season consists of the top rated fantasy players on our site - we invited players that were rated at the top of our Top Fantasy Players report. So this is the best of the best on our site.

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.

Below is a look at each team and their thoughts on their favorite pick, least favorite pick, toughest decision and surprise of the draft. See how the best of the best feel about their draft.

Bubbles Army - Brad Petri
Patrick Mahomes QB KC
Ezekiel Elliott RB DAL
Melvin Gordon RB DEN
DeAndre Hopkins WR ARI
Adam Thielen WR MIN
Michael Thomas WR
Tyler Higbee TE LAR
Jason Sanders K MIA
Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST PIT
Deshaun Watson QB HOU
Phillip Lindsay RB HOU
Raheem Mostert RB SF
Rashaad Penny RB SEA
Nelson Agholor WR NE
Deebo Samuel WR SF
Robert Tonyan TE GB

FAVORITE PICK: Patrick Mahomes. Honestly, picking at six felt like I was at the back end of my tiers each turn. I think Mahomes is really the only top tier quarterback to be had. The choice was made to take him over Josh Jacobs. If this was double flex league, I may have chosen the other scenario. Another factor is that Suncoast loves Mahomes in Round 4.

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: I would say my least favorite pick was my second running back, Melvin Gordon, in Round 6. I’m not super high on him. However, options became limited and often times this year I have chosen to take best player in my rankings, which often leaves my teams with running back by committee at second back as my teams often are receiver heavy.

TOUGHEST DECISION: Toughest decision probably evolved around Gordon as well as I could have taken a higher ranked tight end with Kyle Pitts and T.J. Hockenson still on board. I decided second running back was needed and hoped tight end would come back. I missed out by three picks and one pick with the Army’s nemesis Suncoast, getting Pitts.

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: I’d say I was surprised, but with caliber of drafters, there was very little value throughout draft. Players dried up a round or so in advance. I don’t see any clear cut favorite with everyone having a solid chance. 

FOZZY DOG - Jeremy Brock
Josh Allen QB BUF
Salvon Ahmed RB MIA
Michael Carter RB NYJ
Gus Edwards RB BAL
Najee Harris RB PIT
Alexander Mattison RB MIN
Trey Sermon RB SF
Stefon Diggs WR BUF
Russell Gage WR ATL
Jerry Jeudy WR DEN
Allen Robinson WR CHI
Jaylen Waddle WR MIA
Logan Thomas TE WAS
Adam Trautman TE NO
Wil Lutz K NO
Washington FB Team D/ST WAS

FAVORITE PICK: My favorite pick came in the first round, getting Najee Harris. I think this rookie running back could easily finish as a top-10 running back this year. He hasn't got anyone pushing him for timeshare and he looks to have many plentiful touches per game.

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: My least favorite pick came in the 15th round with Salvon Ahmad, not knowing if Miami takes another back yet in free agency. I'm not sure if he will be the backup or not.

TOUGHEST DECISION: My toughest decision came in the fourth round, trying to decide whether to take Josh Allen or another receiver. In the end, I chose to match my top receiver with his quarterback.

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: Not many surprises in this draft. All the drafters made good decisions. One thing I was watching that surprised me a little was what round and when would Julio Jones go and the receivers that were picked before him. With the latest news of him being traded to the Titans, I was surprised to still see him picked as late as he was.

HIGHLY LOGICAL - Bryan Hough
Jalen Hurts QB PHI
Jameis Winston QB NO
Saquon Barkley RB NYG
Clyde Edwards-Helair RB KC
D'Andre Swift RB DET
Darrel Williams RB KC
Odell Beckham Jr. WR
Tee Higgins WR CIN
Diontae Johnson WR PIT
Tyler Lockett WR SEA
Michael Pittman Jr. WR IND
Mike Williams WR LAC
Mike Gesicki TE MIA
Cole Kmet TE CHI
Rodrigo Blankenship K IND
Baltimore Ravens D/ST BAL

FAVORITE PICK: Michael Pittman. Pittman showed flashes of his talent last year as a rookie. I see him becoming the top wide receiver in this offense. Plus, I believe Carson Wentz will get back to being the Super Bowl quarterback he used to be. Everything is pointing up for a breakout year for Pittman. 

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: Odell Beckham. The talent is there, but is his attitude right? Early reports are good, but we heard that before. We will have to see. At least he is my No. 4 wide receiver. If it’s a busted pick, it won’t hurt me. 

TOUGHEST DECISION: I was between D’Andre Swift and Miles Sanders. Sanders is the better talent, but has injury problems. Swift is electric, but is he big enough to be a three-down back. It came down to who will most likely stay healthy. 

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: The surprise of the draft would be Travis Etienne being drafted in the third round. That’s too early for a rookie back that has to compete for playing time. James Robinson is serious competition. I think the best case scenario would be a 50/50 split between the two running backs. I believe his value should be in the five to six round range of drafts. 

Just a Kittle - Justin Cox
Aaron Rodgers QB GB
Ronald Jones II RB TB
Christian McCaffrey RB CAR
A.J. Brown WR TEN
Courtland Sutton WR DEN
Robert Woods WR LAR
Darren Waller TE LV
Tyler Bass K BUF
Miami Dolphins D/ST MIA
Trevor Lawrence QB JAX
Chuba Hubbard RB CAR
Zack Moss RB BUF
Javonte Williams RB DEN
Antonio Brown WR TB
Henry Ruggs III WR LV
Eric Ebron TE PIT

FAVORITE PICK: Did not submit.

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: Did not submit.

TOUGHEST DECISION: Did not submit.

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: Did not submit.

LoadedFlexOptions - Stephen Hawley
Tom Brady QB TB
J.K. Dobbins RB BAL
Alvin Kamara RB NO
Justin Jefferson WR MIN
Cooper Kupp WR LAR
D.J. Moore WR CAR
T.J. Hockenson TE DET
Tampa Bay BuccaneersD/ST TB
Kenyan Drake RB LV
Javian Hawkins RB ATL
Darrell Henderson RB LAR
Devin Singletary RB BUF
Rhamondre Stevenson RB NE
Brandon Aiyuk WR SF
Gabriel Davis WR BUF
Elijah Moore WR NYJ

FAVORITE PICK: JK Dobbins 3.03. I believe Dobbins to finish as a RB1 in fantasy this year and a guy I am all-in on in 2021. The efficiency he showed as a rookie only shows promise that he can be a reliable guy for 15-plus touches on a regular basis in the leagues top run-first offense. Lack of receiving production is a bit of a concern but with Gus Edwards complete unreliability in the passing game, third-down work will likely fall on Dobbins to boost his reception outlook.

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: Kenyan Drake 8.10. I did not like taking a complimentary running back as my RB3 with his current role on a new team. Despite being paid pretty handsomely by the Raiders, Josh Jacobs has shown enough to be the clear guy to where Drake will spell him on a drive a couple times a game along with getting third-down work. I should have taken Zack Moss instead, being in a better offense with the Bills and a better opportunity to take over as the full-time guy more so than Drake.

TOUGHEST DECISION: The Rams receiver to take at 4.10. I have always targeted Robert Woods or Cooper Kupp in past years, but feel as if this year they are closer to who-will-outproduce-who than ever before to be the top option for the Rams. Although I would have been happy with either or in this spot, I ultimately went with Kupp due to having less time spent in the league despite being relatively close in age between the two.

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: To be honest, nothing really came as a huge shock to me with the outlook in fantasy turning back towards how it was in the early 2000s: running back heavy. It is warranted as well. NFL teams seem to be spreading the ball around more and the dominant WR1 putting up ghastly numbers is not the landscape we have been accustomed to in the past. The separation between RB1 to RB10 is a far larger gap than say WR1-WR10, to where you need the workhorse backs on your roster and therefore causing the RB stable to dry up usually by mid-fourth round. 

MALLONS - Richard Mallons
Dak Prescott QB DAL
Giovani Bernard RB TB
Mike Davis RB ATL
AJ Dillon RB GB
David Johnson RB HOU
Jonathan Taylor RB IND
Jamaal Williams RB DET
Davante Adams WR GB
Keenan Allen WR LAC
Rashod Bateman WR BAL
Amari Cooper WR DAL
Michael Gallup WR DAL
T Y Hilton WR IND
Zach Ertz TE PHI
Irv Smith Jr. TE MIN
Buffalo Bills D/ST BUF

FAVORITE PICK: My team: With all the Aaron Rodgers is leaving Green Bay background noise, I am loving getting Adams at 2.5. Originally, Adams was being picked at the 1.6-1.8 draft area, so I see this pick as having two first-round picks on this team. The worst case scenario is Rodgers leaves (Vegas says he's staying), and I still have, at worst, a third rounder. This was well worth the risk. Don’t draft scared.

I also like getting Mike Davis in the fifth round and think that drafters are overlooking what he did last year in place of Christian McCaffrey. His carry YPA was better than CMC. You can look it up. Have you seen his practice pic? 

Other teams: Kyle Pitts (Suncoast). I was praying that he make it back to me, so I could snipe Fozzy Dog. The seventh round is crazy good value for a once in 10-15 year positional talent. 

For those reading this, it will take more than the 77th pick to land Pitts!

J.D. McKissic (Swiper). This guy is not getting much respect in drafts. He has 10 working toes and was a difference maker just last year. Expect more of the same in 2021. Never bench McKissic.

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: My team: Bills D, I should have drafted a RB or WR. With the long wait time before the season starts anything can happen and a backup RB or #3 WR can get elevated to starting status.  Better to take a shot on position player and just do the drop/add before the season starts.

Other teams: Antonio Gibson (RnR Express). Taking him at 2.2 was a reach. You may even say a big toe reach. 

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Fantasy Fury). Two words - too tiny.

TOUGHEST DECISION: Being light on running back, I need a third in Round 7, so I bypassed three strong tight ends in hopes that one would come back to me and took David Johnson. Hope may spring eternal but not in this draft with all the Champion talent. Johnson will have lots of competition on a bad team but still is the choice for volume. For all the bad press DJ gets, it has been overlooked by many that he still had 1,000 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in 2020. 

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: Maxx Value taking Derek Carr as a third quarterback in a 16-round Champ’s Draft may be as bad as Aaron Curry taking five quarterbacks in a BBC, Your team name should be changed to Minn Value until you cut him in the first drop/add before the first game of the season.

Maxx Value - Paul Farrell
Matthew Stafford QB LAR
Chase Edmonds RB ARI
Myles Gaskin RB MIA
Aaron Jones RB GB
Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN
Chase Claypool WR PIT
Travis Kelce TE KC
Derek Carr QB LV
Carson Wentz QB IND
Travis Etienne RB JAX
Kenneth Gainwell RB PHI
Joshua Kelley RB LAC
Marvin Jones WR JAX
Jalen Reagor WR PHI
Laviska Shenault Jr. WR JAX
DeVonta Smith WR PHI

FAVORITE PICK: Was very happy to get Ja’marr Chase in the sixth round and DeVonta Smith in the eight. I waited on receiver hoping they would fall, so it was a dream come true for me. I think these heralded rookie receivers will be good from day one.

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: Aaron Jones has been very good the last two years but he did fizzle out at the end of last year. And with the Aaron Rodgers drama happening along with AJ Dillion (tree trunks for legs) possibly splitting carries with him, I’m not overly excited that Jones might be a No. 1 running back this year.

TOUGHEST DECISION: Travis Etienne has a whole lot of upside, so i needed to grab him early with Jones as my number RB1. I think he is a MONSTER and now I call him ETN but soon to be called TNT. Beware James Robinson owner.

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: Fozzy Dog taking Trey Sermon over Chase Edmunds was very surprising to me. I know Sermon has a good shot to be relevant with the injuries to Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, but watch out for the committee to be unleashed with Elijah Mitchell, Wayne Gallman, Mostert and Wilson later in the year. If Edmunds can stay healthy, he will be a monster - 1,000 yards, 75 catches and 12 touchdowns are possible with only injury prone James Conner to fight for touches. Don’t get me wrong, though, I do love Sermon’s talent. Good luck Fozzy.

RnR Express - Gregory Marrapese
Kyler Murray QB ARI
Antonio Gibson RB WAS
David Montgomery RB CHI
Robby Anderson WR CAR
Mike Evans WR TB
Tyreek Hill WR KC
Mark Andrews TE BAL
Younghoe Koo K ATL
Los Angeles Rams D/ST LAR
Ryan Tannehill QB TEN
James Conner RB ARI
Nyheim Hines RB IND
Damien Williams RB
DeVante Parker WR MIA
Sterling Shepard WR NYG
Evan Engram TE NYG

FAVORITE PICK: I guess the only good thing when you have the 11th pick is you usually get one of the top receivers. Most of the top players always go running back in the first round, so it doesn't make sense for me to take the 10th best running back when I can get the best receiver. So grabbing Hill was my favorite pick. I think he will put up at least 300 points this year if he stays healthy. Another favorite pick I have in almost all my drafts is getting Mike Evans in the fourth round. I think that's great value for a wide receiver with his talent. If he stays healthy, he can put up WR1 numbers.

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: My least favorite pick was in the third round taking David Montgomery. I was hoping to get Chris Carson as my second running back at the bottom of the third round but that didn't happen. He went two spots ahead of my pick. Montgomery will do okay because he gets a lot of touches, but he is not one of the players that I try to get on my teams. Every time I watch him play he really doesn't impress me that much.

TOUGHEST DECISION: The toughest decision was when to take a quarterback. I was going to take Kyler Murray at the top of the sixth because I didn't think the elite quarterbacks would be there when it came back to me. When I was in the zoom talking, I missed my pick and it auto picked Murray for me. I was happy it auto picked the player I wanted. Some drafts I will wait a lot longer to take my quarterback but because I don't have the top running backs I wanted to make that up with having a great quarterback.

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: The biggest surprise for me was Fozzy Dog taking Najee Harris with the eighth pick. I thought I would have no problem getting Harris as my RB1. I have never seen him go that early in drafts. 

Rocco's Team - Rocco Frost
Russell Wilson QB SEA
Dalvin Cook RB MIN
Kareem Hunt RB CLE
Will Fuller WR MIA
Julio Jones WR TEN
D.K. Metcalf WR SEA
George Kittle TE SF
Justin Tucker K BAL
Indianapolis Colts D/ST IND
Tua Tagovailoa QB MIA
Tarik Cohen RB CHI
Leonard Fournette RB TB
J.D. McKissic RB WAS
Brandin Cooks WR HOU
Mecole Hardman WR KC
Rob Gronkowski TE TB

FAVORITE PICK: My first one, Dalvin Cook. Cook is a bell cow three-down back. There are only a few of them and it is nice to get one of the top-four running backs. This year, running back is going faster then ever and many teams load up on three running backs to start the drafts these days, so it’s very important to grab running backs as soon as possible.

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: Least favorite pick was probably George Kittle  at 3.2. I wanted a top tight end and had to take kittle if I was going to get one of the top three. In single flex, I think tight end is more important then in dual flex leagues.

TOUGHEST DECISION: Taking Kittle meant I would miss out on another top running back, so  it was also my hardest decision as well as least favorite pick.

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: The surprise of this draft was how soon the quarterbacks were picked. Usually, the top players will wait longer to take a quarterback, but the quarterbacks are going sooner these days. This is the same as the running backs, so I went with the trend and took my quarterback in the sixth round, grabbing Russell Wilson as the last of the top tier quarterbacks, especially not knowing about Aaron Rodgers situation in Green Bay. I was happy to stack DK Metcalf with Wilson, and like the upside of a quarterback paired with their top receiver in the playoffs.  All in all, I really like my team and hope to see three other teams in the playoffs.

Suncoast - Ralph Schiavon
Justin Herbert QB LAC
Derrick Henry RB TEN
Josh Jacobs RB LV
Miles Sanders RB PHI
Kenny Golladay WR NYG
Calvin Ridley WR ATL
Kyle Pitts TE ATL
Harrison Butker K KC
San Francisco 49ers D/ST SF
Kirk Cousins QB MIN
Tevin Coleman RB NYJ
Latavius Murray RB NO
Cole Beasley WR BUF
Jamison Crowder WR NYJ
Jarvis Landry WR CLE
Curtis Samuel WR WAS

FAVORITE PICK: My favorite pick in this draft was Kyle Pitts in the seventh round with pick 77. I seldom have an opportunity for him since he is usually gone at this point. I seldom draft a non-running back rookie this early in a draft. However, Pitts appears to be a generational talent. Even though I feel his hype should be dialed back a bit since he is a rookie but the Falcon offense, which is pass friendly, will afford him a nice amount of targets. Couple that with his athleticism and lack of target competition and he should surely flourish.

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: Drafting Kenny Golladay in the fifth round was my least favorite pick. Since I went with three running backs out of my first four picks, I knew I needed a quality wide receiver and by this point, they were beginning to get slim. This group of drafters are the best of the best and they will not allow much value to drop, especially wide receivers. My concern with this pick is that besides coming off an injury, he is moving to a new team and a new scheme. The Giants have a strong wide receiver core, which he will have to share targets. Add to that fact he will be working with an inexperienced quarterback, it assures this pick comes with significant risk. On the other hand, he has shown talent at a high level and possesses a great deal of upside.

TOUGHEST DECISION: My toughest decision occurred in the sixth round. This year with the top tier quarterbacks flying off the board earlier than in past draft years, I wanted one of the top seven. Given my perceived need, I chose Justin Herbert. Besides the decision to pick a quarterback this early, I also struggled with my choice between Herbert and Russell Wilson. Both of which are back to back in my rankings. I also figured that Rocco would grab one of the top seven, which he did, so it was now or never or I would be getting a quarterback at a lower tier level. The fact that I was also weak at wide receiver created stress for this pick as well. My preference would have been wide receiver in the sixth and come back with a top tier quarterback in the seventh. Although I had to adjust my roster construction, I am happy with my pick.

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: With this group there are very few surprises. We draft against each other in many leagues, so we tend to know some of each others tendencies. As previously mentioned, seven quarterbacks were drafted in the first six rounds, which is a deviation from past norms. Another surprise for me was Javonte Williams and Trey Sermon being drafted in the fifth round since they should be backups for at least a portion of the year. I could be wrong with my assessment, but this is how I see it with these two backs. All in all, there really was not too many picks out of the ordinary, which should be expected with highly rated participants.

Super Paurs - Jeff Paur
Matt Ryan QB ATL
Nick Chubb RB CLE
Joe Mixon RB CIN
D.J. Chark WR JAX
Chris Godwin WR TB
Terry McLaurin WR WAS
Dallas Goedert TE PHI
Ryan Succop K TB
New Orleans Saints D/ST NO
Joe Burrow QB CIN
Damien Harris RB NE
Marlon Mack RB IND
James Robinson RB JAX
Corey Davis WR NYJ
Christian Kirk WR ARI
Jonnu Smith TE NE

FAVORITE PICK: I was thrilled to get Terry McLaurin in the third round as my WR1. I think his ceiling is super high and he can be a top-10 or even a top-five fantasy receivers. Remember, he posted his good numbers the last two seasons with really suspect quarterback play. Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t a world beater but he is a quarterback that has helped produce some huge fantasy receiver seasons in past years. McLaurin should benefit from the quarterback switch in Washington. 

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: I was not a fan of Damien Harris in the seventh round. The running back spot was drying up quickly and I went with Harris. I probably would have been better off taking a chance on Zack Moss or James Conner. Harris has a decent ceiling, though, because he is the favorite to start in the Patriots offense, offense that should be better this year. The problem is he remains a bit of an unknown and doesn’t do much in the passing game.

TOUGHEST DECISION: I was really torn on what to do at quarterback. I waited too long to get one of my targets and had to make a tough decision on my starter. I took Matt Ryan but ended up getting my second quarterback the next round because I’m not completely sold on Ryan and thought about taking Joe Burrow as my first quarterback. So ultimately, I took both players I thought about picking in the ninth round. By waiting on the position, I had to act on two quarterbacks sooner than I wanted.

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: I was really surprised to see seven quarterbacks picked after six rounds. That is a little sooner than expected, especially considering the other drafts I have participated in this season. I just thought I would be able to get a Justin Herbert or Dak Prescott in the seventh or eighth round. That was not the case with these drafters, though, throwing my plans off a little.

Vikes 333 - Rick Mogard
Lamar Jackson QB BAL
Cam Akers RB LAR
Chris Carson RB SEA
Austin Ekeler RB LAC
CeeDee Lamb WR DAL
JuJu Smith-Schuster WR PIT
Noah Fant TE DEN
Greg Zuerlein K DAL
New England Patriots D/ST NE
Tony Pollard RB DAL
James White RB NE
Tyler Boyd WR CIN
Marquise Brown WR BAL
Darnell Mooney WR CHI
Amon-Ra St. Brown WR DET
Hunter Henry TE NE

FAVORITE PICK: Austin Ekeler at nine was the best of what was left with a high ceiling. New offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi (Vince’s grandson) would be wise to feed and throw to him early and often. 

LEAST FAVORITE PICK: Noah Fant. I should have waited a little longer for more value at the tight end spot.

TOUGHEST DECISION: Taking Lamar Jackson in the sixth round. I am a wait on quarterback guy. However, looking at the other options, there wasn't that player that stood out, so I took Jackson in the sixth. 

SURPRISE OF THE DRAFT: Saquon Barkley getting picked fourth. There has been a lot of talk about easing him back and less workload potential. Then again, that could all be just coach speak.

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.

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2024 NFL Draft Recap

Player Notes
Will Levis May 10 9:20pm ET
Will Levis

The Tennessee Titans signed first-round offensive tackle JC Latham to his four-year, fully-guaranteed rookie deal on Friday worth $26.04 million. The deal was confirmed by his agents Drew Rosenhaus, Ryan Matha and Jason Rosenhaus. The contract also includes the standard fifth-year player option for first-round picks. The 21-year-old offensive lineman was taken by the Titans with the seventh overall pick out of Alabama. He will be a huge upgrade for an offensive line that was in need of serious help this offseason and should start from Day 1 in his rookie season, at least at right tackle. The addition of Latham in 2024 should have an immediate positive impact in fantasy for young quarterback Will Levis and the rest of Tennessee's option as they enter their first season without workhorse back Derrick Henry.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix May 10 9:10pm ET
Bo Nix

The Denver Broncos signed rookie quarterback Bo Nix to his rookie deal on Friday, according to a source. As is the case with all first-round selections, Nix will have a fifth-year team option attached to his first NFL contract. Needing to add more competition to their QB room this offseason after getting rid of Russell Wilson, the Broncos reached for Nix, the former Oregon signal-caller, with the 12th overall pick in last month's NFL draft. The Broncos have admitted that Nix could probably benefit from sitting and learning a year, but it's not like Denver already has a veteran starter in place. Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson will all compete for the starting gig in training camp and the preseason. At best, Nix would be a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues if he's starting out of the gates in Week 1 in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Aidan O'Connell May 10 4:30pm ET
Aidan O'Connell

The Las Vegas Raiders signed veteran Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract this offseason, yet 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell is the early favorite to handle QB1 duties in 2024, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. "Aidan's earned the right to go out there and earn the first snap," Pierce said. "What he's done this offseason -- changing his body, his work ethic, being here every day, blocking out the outside noise. He's not worried about anything. I'm excited." O'Connell replaced Jimmy Garoppolo in the middle of last season and threw for 2,219 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The team went 5-5 during his 10 starts. Although the job sounds like it's his to lose, Minshew will also likely have the chance to battle for the starting role this offseason. The 27-year-old has thrown for 59 touchdowns and 24 interceptions during his five-year career and has looked like at least a mid-level starter at times. Whoever wins the job will get to throw to Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Brock Bowers this year, so either could be a solid QB2 in Superflex formats.

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins May 10 4:00pm ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (Achilles) is working his way back from a Week 8 Achilles tear from last season, and reports out of Atlanta suggest he is making great progress. "Kirk is every day improving," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "He's been doing all those things, he's been throwing, he's been out there pretty much full-go. Now, we got him in a limited basis, obviously 'cause he's still in his rehab and his treatment and all those types of things." The 35-year-old signal-caller has not been dropping back behind an offensive line or facing a rush, but he's evidently looked good on his dropbacks and reps with his new wide receiver group. Despite Atlanta selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Cousins remains the clear starter in 2024 as long as he holds up. The four-time Pro Bowler has thrown for at least 4,000 yards seven times in his nine-year career as a starter, while the Falcons have not had a 4,000-yard passer since Matt Ryan in 2020. If Cousins isn't limited by his major injury, he'll remain a fringe QB1 option surrounded by Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Darnell Mooney, and company.

From RotoBaller

Zay Jones May 10 3:50pm ET
Zay Jones

Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones is signing with the Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 29-year-old went on visits with the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys this week, but he ultimately landed in a spot where he can compete for targets right away. Jones was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars after they selected LSU wideout Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but there's a real chance his situation is better in Arizona. Rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. is expected to occupy the WR1 role right away, but Jones is almost certainly slated to start in three-wide sets, and he might even beat out Michael Wilson to start in two-wide sets. He and tight end Trey McBride could battle it out to be Kyler Murray's No. 2 option in the passing game. Pencil in Jones as at least a deep league flex option in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Tarik Cohen May 10 2:00pm ET
Tarik Cohen

The Carolina Panthers released veteran running back Tarik Cohen, who was attempting a comeback from a series of injuries that derailed his time as a Pro Bowl return man with the Chicago Bears. Cohen hasn't played in a regular-season game in the NFL since 2020, and it remains to be seen if he'll latch on with another club this offseason. The 28-year-old was a former fourth-round pick in 2017 by the Bears out of North Carolina A&T. He was never much of a ball-carrier at 5-foot-6, 181 pounds, but he excelled as a returner and as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Cohen suffered an ACL tear in Week 3 of 2020 and also tore his Achilles in May of 2022. He spent most of last year on Carolina's practice squad but missed two months with a hamstring injury.

From RotoBaller

Doug Pederson May 10 1:20pm ET
Doug Pederson

When asked who would be calling the team's offensive plays in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson remained non-committal. "Don't play a game until September. So, we've got some time," Pederson said. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor was responsible for calling most of the team's plays in a disappointing 2023 season, so Pederson is seriously considering taking back those duties in 2024. A lot of the team's offensive struggles in the second half of last year had to do with the fact that quarterback Trevor Lawrence was playing injured, and that they were missing one of their top receivers in Christian Kirk. The Jaguars finished with 339.5 total yards per game (13th in the league) and 22.2 points per game (tied for 13th).

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis May 10 1:20pm ET
Gabriel Davis

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said that wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) is working through an injury, so the team hasn't been able to see much from him yet after adding him in free agency this offseason. Davis missed the postseason last year with the Buffalo Bills due to a knee injury that he suffered in the Week 18 season finale against the Miami Dolphins, and apparently it's still an issue. While we don't expect the injury to keep him from participating in training camp or being ready for the start of the 2024 season, it's bad news for a player looking to learn a new offense in Jacksonville. The 25-year-old is another strong offensive situation in Jacksonville, but he'll face competition for targets from Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas and tight end Evan Engram, likely making him a boom/bust fantasy option yet again.

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Caleb Williams May 10 1:10pm ET
Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus officially named rookie quarterback Caleb Williams as the team's starting QB on Friday at rookie minicamp. Everyone already knew that Williams would be Chicago's starting signal-caller when they selected him first overall in last month's NFL draft out of USC. The path was cleared for the 22-year-old when they traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the offseason. There's always a learning curve for rookies that start right out of the gates in the NFL, but Williams may have the best chance for immediate success given all the weapons he has around him, especially in the passing attack. The trio of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie first-rounder Rome Odunze -- not to mention tight end Cole Kmet -- will help Williams immensely. As far as his fantasy value for Year 1 in the NFL, Williams will be on the QB2 map with upside.

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Malik Nabers May 10 1:10pm ET
Malik Nabers

The New York Giants signed No. 6 overall pick, wide receiver Malik Nabers, to his rookie deal on Friday. The deal is a four-year, $29,207,750 fully guaranteed deal that includes an $18,062,000 signing bonus and a fifth-year team option. The Giants passed on adding competition for quarterback Daniel Jones in this year's NFL draft and instead gave Jones big-time receiving help with perhaps the most explosive and athletic wideout in this year's strong class of receivers. The 20-year-old from LSU will immediately slot in as New York's No. 1 pass-catcher in 2024. He was wildly productive for the Tigers and should be heavily targeted as he transitions to the NFL, but he won't turn 21 until later this summer and could struggle for consistency if Jones continues to struggle as a passer. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues shouldn't be relying too heavily on Nabers in his rookie season in a Giants offense that has had its share of problems with Jones leading them.

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Alex McGough May 10 12:20am ET
Alex McGough

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Alex McGough, a former USFL MVP who transitioned from quarterback this offseason, could use his pure athleticism to secure a roster spot prior to the 2024 campaign, head coach Matt LaFleur told the media. McGough spent all of 2023 operating as Green Bay's No. 3 quarterback. "He's a really athletic guy," LaFleur explained. "He spent a lot of time on the scout team running receiver routes, and he did such a great job. We feel like he's such a talented athlete, [so] why not give him a chance there? He's a smart guy, works his tail off. I think he can contribute [on special teams] as well. We felt like that might be his best chance here." These comments suggest that the Packers place great value on McGough's athleticism and don't want to risk losing someone like him, even if his impact is limited to special teams in 2024.

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Stephon Gilmore May 10 12:10am ET
Stephon Gilmore

Free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore still wants to play football but is waiting for the right opportunity, he told NFL insider Josina Anderson. "I know the value I still bring," Gilmore said. "If you watch the tape, I feel like I played well the last two years, and literally almost played every snap last year." Indeed, Gilmore was impactful in 2023. He started all 17 games for the Cowboys, registering two interceptions, 13 passes defended, 68 tackles, and one forced fumble. He's still a starting-caliber defender who could justify holding out for a specific opportunity, perhaps with a contender.

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Evan Hull May 10 12:00am ET
Evan Hull

Indianapolis Colts running back Evan Hull could still earn the backup role despite some speculation suggesting the job belonged to Trey Sermon. According to James Boyd of The Athletic, "it remains unclear" who will operate as the No. 2 option behind Jonathan Taylor in 2024. He notes that while Sermon may be the early favorite, the former 49ers draft pick has just 78 carries for 346 yards and one touchdown in his career. Whoever takes over as Taylor's backup will be filling big shoes. Last season, that role belonged to Zack Moss, who finished the year with 986 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. Moss is now in Cincinnati, leaving a competition of sorts for Sermon and Hull. As a rookie last year, Hull mustered just one rushing yards and six receiving yards.

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Jelani Woods May 9 11:50pm ET
Jelani Woods

The Athletic's James Boyd has Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods projected as the team's starting tight end in May because he remains bullish on his potential, despite the fact he was sidelined all of last year due to hamstring injuries. Woods should be healthy for organized team activities, and his next-level athleticism will mesh perfectly with head coach Shane Steichen's play-calling to create mismatches all over the field. He's also big enough to block when needed, and Kylen Granson can continue to use his speed and route-running to help move the chains. Mo Alie-Cox will remain in the mix as a seasoned veteran. While Woods should have a bigger pass-catching role if he can stay on the field, this could once again be a frustrating committee situation at TE for fantasy managers.

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Ryan Flournoy May 9 11:40pm ET
Ryan Flournoy

The Dallas Cowboys signed rookie offensive tackle Tyler Guyton to his rookie deal on Thursday. In addition to Guyton, Dallas locked up rookies Cooper Beebe, Maris Liufau, Caelen Carson, Ryan Flournoy, Nathan Thomas and Justin Rogers. The only rookie that remains unsigned now is second-rounder Marshawn Kneeland. Guyton was selected 29th overall in the first round after Troy Fautanu and Amarius Mims came off the board earlier in the first round. The 6-foot-8, 322-pounder has excellent physical traits and the potential to play tackle at the next level, but it remains to be seen if he'll eventually develop as a starting-caliber left tackle. When the 22-year-old did enter the starting lineup at Oklahoma, he only played on the right side.

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Brock Bowers May 9 11:30pm ET
Brock Bowers

The Las Vegas Raiders signed first-round rookie tight end Brock Bowers to a fully guaranteed four-year deal on Thursday that is worth $18.1 million. He'll receive $10 million via a signing bonus and the standard fifth-year team option as a first-round pick. The Raiders held off on reaching for a quarterback in the first round in last month's draft and instead took one of the best players in the entire draft in Bowers at 13th overall. The 21-year-old was the highest-selected tight end since Kyle Pitts in 2021 and is athletic enough as a tight end to play pretty much anywhere on the field. Bowers set a school record at Georgia with 26 touchdowns in his time there and is the complete package. Even with Michael Mayer in town, Bowers should take over as the team's top pass-catching TE in his rookie year.

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Kyren Williams May 9 5:10pm ET
Kyren Williams

The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Michigan running back Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft despite breakout star Kyren Williams racking up 1,350 total yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. In a media availability, general manager Les Snead said that the decision to draft Corum was related to keeping Williams fresh. "It's a tough league. It's a 17-game season plus playoffs, so we always felt like we needed to have as many quality runners as possible... so we don't just totally run down Kyren," Snead said. "And we have one or two or even three guys that can contribute... keep everyone fresh." The organization implemented a workhorse backfield approach with 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley, and he ultimately had a short shelf life as a pro due to durability concerns. As most teams shift to a committee backfield, high-end fantasy running back producers are becoming more scarce. Williams missed five games last year on the Injured Reserve list, so the organization is being proactive and adding depth in the backfield. Williams remains an RB1 candidate, but his floor and ceiling take a hit with the addition of Corum.

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Jared Goff May 9 4:30pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has vastly exceeded expectations since being traded from the Los Angeles Rams to Detroit ahead of the 2021 season. The former No. 1 overall pick has thrown for 12,258 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions through his first 48 games with the organization. More importantly, he led the team to Detroit's first playoff win since 1991 last year, and he had the San Francisco 49ers on the ropes in the NFC Championship game. He did not sign a contract extension along with right tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown two weeks ago, but general manager Brad Holmes said the two sides are working on a deal. "He's earned an extension. It's important, it's a high priority for us. Both sides are working really, really hard. These things just take time," Holmes said. "In a perfect world, we would've had all three of them done. Bang, bang, bang. But these things just kind of take a while, especially with the quarterback market, but I do have faith that it's gonna get done." Assuming Goff receives a high-dollar multi-year deal, his dynasty value with be secure over the next three or four years. While his ceiling is capped by a lack of rushing upside, he should remain a fringe QB1 as long as the Lions retain key offensive linemen and pass-catching weapons.

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Treylon Burks May 9 4:20pm ET
Treylon Burks

Despite the Tennessee Titans signing veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd this week, head coach Brian Callahan and the organization still have hope for third-year wideout Treylon Burks. "We've made very clear to Treylon that the signing of Tyler is not about him. It's about helping our team get better, adding better players to our team, making us a competitive football team," Callahan said. "What he's done and how he's worked has been great, and I'm anticipating him still being able to play a good role for us." While the Boyd signing almost surely pushes Burks to the WR4 role and destroys any 2024 fantasy football value he had, it sounds like the team is not going to trade him this offseason as many have speculated. Burks was a promising prospect coming out of Arkansas, but he's totaled just 665 receiving yards and one touchdown through his first two NFL seasons. He might be worth holding in deep dynasty leagues, but it'd be surprising if he's on the fantasy radar in redraft formats.

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Ben Skowronek May 9 3:00pm ET
Ben Skowronek

The Houston Texans acquired wide receiver Ben Skowronek from the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, according to sources. The Rams were set to waiver Skowronek, but the Texans swooped in before he hit waivers to get something done to add receiving depth behind Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Noah Brown, John Metchie III and others. The 26-year-old Skowronek was the Rams' seventh-round pick in 2021 and has mostly been limited to a role on special teams in his three years in the NFL. That will likely continue to be the case with his move to Houston, and he won't be on the fantasy radar at all. In his three years in the NFL in LA, Skowronek only had 58 receptions for 575 yards and one touchdown on 93 targets in 45 games (12 starts).

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