Mon Aug 4 4:22pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
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. I also give you a look at my pick each round and my thought process with that pick.
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
1.1 PaurPlay - Ja’Marr Chase
1.2 Fozzy Dog - Bijan Robinson
1.3 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Jahmyr Gibbs
1.4 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Saquon Barkley
1.5 Super Paurs - CeeDee Lamb
1.6 Sensei John Kreese - Justin Jefferson
1.7 Suncoast - Ashton Jeanty
1.8 Bubbles Army - Christian McCaffrey
1.9 Yang's Team - Malik Nabers
1.10 Crusty - Devon Achane
1.11 Birds - Puka Nacua
1.12 Wreckingcrew - Derrick Henry
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 seven running backs and five receivers picked in Round 1. The trend of more running-back heavy in the early rounds continued in this draft. Last season in this same league, five running backs were picked in Round 1 compared to seven this year. It was not a surprise to see no tight ends or quarterbacks picked in the first round. Amon-Ra St. Brown was the only player with a current ADP in the first round that wasn’t picked by this group. And St. Brown went with the first pick in Round 2.
MY PICK: CeeDee Lamb. I felt Lamb was the safest of the options on the board. I didn’t expect any of the top three backs to be there and felt Lamb was going to be the pick. It played out that way and I’m happy with getting him. He should be a target monster in a pass-heavy offense. I feel he might be the safest of all the first-round picks this year. His floor is super high in this offense.
ROUND 2
2.1 Wreckingcrew - Amon-Ra St. Brown
2.2 Birds - Brian Thomas Jr.
2.3 Crusty - Josh Jacobs
2.4 Yang's Team - Nico Collins
2.5 Bubbles Army - Drake London
2.6 Suncoast - A.J. Brown
2.7 Sensei John Kreese - Jonathan Taylor
2.8 Super Paurs - Chase Brown
2.9 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Lamar Jackson
2.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Bucky Irving
2.11 Fozzy Dog - Brock Bowers
2.12 PaurPlay - Alvin Kamara
NOTES: Round 2 saw our first quarterback and tight end picked. BigHawgBreach grabbed Lamar Jackson with the ninth pick this round. This might be a tad early on Jackson (26.69 ADP), but it was a tossup on whether he would be available for him the next round. . . . .Brock Bowers goes to Fozzy Dog at the end of the round. He goes a little after his ADP (20.14) but not by much. . . . .Two teams (Birds and Yang’s Team) go receiver-receiver with their first two picks. And Maxx_Money is the only team to take running backs with his first two picks.
MY PICK: Chase Brown. I was hoping for Jonathan Taylor here but he goes one pick before me to Sensei John Kreese. I’ll take Brown, though. Had some debate between him and Bucky Irving, but just feel Brown is the better pick at this point. He had a breakout season last year and didn’t even open the year as the starter. He starts from day one this year in an explosive offense. Plus, he has little competition for carries. I think he can build on last year.
ROUND 3
3.1 PaurPlay - Kyren Williams
3.2 Fozzy Dog - Garrett Wilson
3.3 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Ladd McConkey
3.4 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Trey McBride
3.5 Super Paurs - Breece Hall
3.6 Sensei John Kreese - Tyreek Hill
3.7 Suncoast - Tee Higgins
3.8 Bubbles Army - Jaxon Smith-Njigba
3.9 Yang's Team - Josh Allen
3.10 Crusty - Marvin Harrison Jr.
3.11 Birds - Omarion Hampton
3.12 Wreckingcrew - James Cook
NOTES: Just like the previous round, this round had a quarterback and tight end selected. The rest of the picks were running backs and tight ends. Trey McBride and Josh Allen were the players selected at tight end and quarterback. BigHawgBreach is the only team without a receiver on their roster after three rounds. . . .Yang’s team took Allen and is the only team without a running back after three rounds. . . . Birds picked rookie running back Omarion Hampton with the 11th pick this round. Hampton’s ADP is climbing in a hurry, though, after the injury to Najee Harris. Hampton’s ADP has jumped five spots recently (33.45).
MY PICK: Breece Hall. I was worried about the backs that will be left once I pick again, so felt going Hall was the right move. I know he carries some questions with more of a timeshare expected in New York this year, but he is the top pass-catching back. This gives him a high weekly ceiling in my view. I still think he can produce big even if he is splitting more work. Hall has a lot to prove this year and should play with a chip on his shoulder.
ROUND 4
4.1 Wreckingcrew - Joe Burrow
4.2 Birds - Jayden Daniels
4.3 Crusty - Davante Adams
4.4 Yang's Team - Chuba Hubbard
4.5 Bubbles Army - George Kittle
4.6 Suncoast - Jalen Hurts
4.7 Sensei John Kreese - Kenneth Walker III
4.8 Super Paurs - D.J. Moore
4.9 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Rashee Rice
4.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Mike Evans
4.11 Fozzy Dog - Terry McLaurin
4.12 PaurPlay - Tetairoa McMillan
NOTES: This was the first round that had multiple quarterbacks picked, seeing three fly off the board. Surprisingly, there were just two running backs selected. That is the fewest in any round to start the draft. . . . .The most popular strategy through four rounds is to have two running backs and two receivers on your roster. Five of the 12 teams have this combination on their team. . . .PaurPlay is the first team to pick a rookie receiver, getting Tet McMillan with the last pick in the round. This is a tad sooner than his ADP (57.55), but he wasn’t going to be there when PaurPlay got to pick again at the end of the sixth round.
MY PICK: D.J. Moore. This pick scares me some with all the mouths to feed in Chicago and still some questions about quarterback Caleb Williams. But even with that said, Moore is a super consistent player in what should be a pass-heavy offense. I think he can rack up the catches once again and serve as a more than solid WR2 for me. I was really close to getting Tet McMillan here but passed in hopes of him being available for me in Round 5.
ROUND 5
5.1 PaurPlay - D’Andre Swift
5.2 Fozzy Dog - Courtland Sutton
5.3 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Xavier Worthy
5.4 BigHawgBreach Silverback - James Conner
5.5 Super Paurs - Calvin Ridley
5.6 Sensei John Kreese - Sam LaPorta
5.7 Suncoast - D.K. Metcalf
5.8 Bubbles Army - TreVeyon Henderson
5.9 Yang's Team - RJ Harvey
5.10 Crusty - Travis Kelce
5.11 Birds - DeVonta Smith
5.12 Wreckingcrew - Zay Flowers
NOTES: There was not a single quarterback picked this round but two tight ends were selected (Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce). It was another receiver-heavy round, seeing six receivers get picked. . . . .PaurPlay is the only team to have three running backs after five rounds, getting D’Andre Swift with the first pick this round. . . .On the flip side, five teams have three receivers on their roster at this point of the draft. Running backs went early and often in the draft but teams are now loading up on receivers after those first few rounds.
MY PICK: Calvin Ridley. Ridley is one of my favorite values this year. He is the clear top target for Cam Ward and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a career-best season. This is a huge upgrade for him at quarterback, which is great for Ridley, who was still able to produce good numbers last year in this offense. I absolutely love Ridley as a WR3 or flex play on a weekly basis.
ROUND 6
6.1 Wreckingcrew - Evan Engram
6.2 Birds - Kaleb Johnson
6.3 Crusty - Rome Odunze
6.4 Yang's Team - Joe Mixon
6.5 Bubbles Army - George Pickens
6.6 Suncoast - David Montgomery
6.7 Sensei John Kreese - Patrick Mahomes
6.8 Super Paurs - Tony Pollard
6.9 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Isiah Pacheco
6.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Aaron Jones
6.11 Fozzy Dog - Jaydon Blue
6.12 PaurPlay - Jerry Jeudy
NOTES: Rookie Jaydon Blue continues to shoot up draft boards, being the first of the Cowboys running backs picked. Fozzy Dog got him with the 11th pick this round. His ADP is 108.89, so this pick was a little earlier than anticipated. . . . .This is another round with just a quarterback and tight end picked. It was a more running-back heavy round, seeing seven backs go. . . . .Half the teams have a quarterback after six rounds. And half have a tight end as well. Three teams (PaurPlay, Maxx_Money and Super Paurs) only have running backs and receivers on their roster.
MY PICK: Tony Pollard. I go with Titans on back-to-back picks. This wasn’t a plan by any means, getting players on what could be bad teams, but it just worked out that way. Pollard might split more work this year but at this point of the draft, I’m totally fine with getting him as my third running back. I can use him as a flex play in the right matchup and spot play as my RB2.
ROUND 7
7.1 PaurPlay - Matthew Golden
7.2 Fozzy Dog - T.J. Hockenson
7.3 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Jameson Williams
7.4 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Chris Godwin
7.5 Super Paurs - Baker Mayfield
7.6 Sensei John Kreese - Chris Olave
7.7 Suncoast - Deebo Samuel
7.8 Bubbles Army - Jaylen Waddle
7.9 Yang's Team - Travis Hunter
7.10 Crusty - Stefon Diggs
7.11 Birds - Jordan Addison
7.12 Wreckingcrew - Cam Skattebo
NOTES: Receivers were flying off the board this round. There were a total of nine receivers picked. It was a mix of veterans, rookies, players returning from injury and some wild cards. There were a lot of boom or bust picks. . . .Rookie Cam Skattebo was the only running back selected, going with the last pick. Wreckingcrew took Skattebo, who went ahead of teammate Tyrone Tracy. . . .PaurPlay and Maxx_Money continued their trend of going running back and receiver. It is just those two teams that have all running backs and receivers after seven rounds. Super Paur took quarterback Baker Mayfield, giving him a different position for the first time. . . . .Fozzy Dog is the first team to take a second tight end, selecting T.J. Hockenson with the second pick. He pairs Hockenson with Brock Bowers, giving him quite the one-two punch at tight end.
MY PICK: Baker Mayfield. I just couldn’t pass up the value of Mayfield here. I was surprised he was still sitting there. Sure, he isn’t a running quarterback, but his passing numbers can be off the charts. He has some of the best receivers to work with in all of football - even better than last year. Mayfield is going to post some huge numbers. I wouldn’t be surprised if he leads all of football in passing yards and passing touchdowns.
ROUND 8
8.1 Wreckingcrew - Jauan Jennings
8.2 Birds - Zach Charbonnet
8.3 Crusty - Caleb Williams
8.4 Yang's Team - Tyrone Tracy Jr.
8.5 Bubbles Army - Bo Nix
8.6 Suncoast - Jaylen Warren
8.7 Sensei John Kreese - Brian Robinson Jr.
8.8 Super Paurs - Tank Bigsby
8.9 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Emeka Egbuka
8.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Ricky Pearsall
8.11 Fozzy Dog - Javonte Williams
8.12 PaurPlay - Colston Loveland
NOTES: Two more teams got their quarterback this round, making it eight of 12 teams with a signal caller. . . .This was the round with running backs in possible time shares. Some of the backs picked were Tyrone Tracy, Jaylen Warren, Brian Robinson, Tank Bigsby and Javonte Williams. All of these guys have some question marks and some undefined roles for the coming season. The position is thinning out in a hurry after eight rounds.
MY PICK: Tank Bigsby. This is my real first risky pick. Bigsby has been getting the first snaps often in training camp, so he is the back I trust most in this offense right now. I’m good with taking a chance on him as my fourth running back. Bigsby has some potential if getting the goal-line work and early-down carries for the Jaguars.
ROUND 9
9.1 PaurPlay - Tyjae Spears
9.2 Fozzy Dog - Cooper Kupp
9.3 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - J.K. Dobbins
9.4 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Mark Andrews
9.5 Super Paurs - Jake Ferguson
9.6 Sensei John Kreese - Travis Etienne
9.7 Suncoast - Jayden Reed
9.8 Bubbles Army - Jordan Mason
9.9 Yang's Team - Quinshon Judkins
9.10 Crusty - Jerome Ford
9.11 Birds - Tyler Warren
9.12 Wreckingcrew - Rhamondre Stevenson
NOTES: This was the most tight-end heavy round, having three picked. We had a rookie (Tyler Warren) and two veterans (Mark Andrews and Jake Ferguson). . . . .Yang’s team took a chance on rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who faces an uncertain future because of his off-the-field issues. Judkins is plummeting in drafts right now, seeing his ADP dip 15 spots the last week. . . . .There was not a single quarterback picked in Round 9, so four teams still need a QB1 after nine rounds.
MY PICK: Jake Ferguson. If I’m going to wait to take a tight end, Ferguson is one of my favorite targets. I hate to get two Cowboy pass catchers in my starting lineup, though. That is my only trepidation with this pick. But even with that said, they are going to throw the ball a ton and I think Ferguson gets the second most targets. He will be a pretty dependable weekly tight end for me.
ROUND 10
10.1 Wreckingcrew - Kyler Murray
10.2 Birds - Braelon Allen
10.3 Crusty - Kyle Pitts
10.4 Yang's Team Tucker Kraft
10.5 Bubbles Army - Isaac Guerendo
10.6 Suncoast - Najee Harris
10.7 Sensei John Kreese - Jakobi Meyers
10.8 Super Paurs - Khalil Shakir
10.9 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Jalen McMillan
10.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - David Njoku
10.11 Fozzy Dog - Justin Fields
10.12 PaurPlay - Dak Prescott
NOTES: Two of the three teams without a quarterback took one this round. Maxx_Money is now the only team without a quarterback after 10 rounds. The quarterbacks picked this round were Kyler Murray, Justin Fields and Dak Prescott. . . .Wreckingcrew is the first team to get a second quarterback. He pairs Joe Burrow with Murray. . . .This is the first round Maxx_Money took a player other than a running back or receiver. He got tight end David Njoku to be his TE1. . . . Bubbles Army picked running back Isaac Guerendo with the fifth pick. He is considered the top handcuff in the game and he did well to pair him with his first-round pick of Christian McCaffrey.
MY PICK: Khalil Shakir. His high-ankle sprain is a concern, but Shakir should be ready for Week 1. And I still think he leads the team in targets despite the Bills upgrading options in the passing game this offseason. He had a breakout season last year and has quickly become the favorite target of Josh Allen. I like him as a reserve receiver at this point of the draft. This might be my favorite pick of my draft.
ROUND 11
11.1 PaurPlay - Josh Downs
11.2 Fozzy Dog - Miles Sanders
11.3 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Rachaad White
11.4 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Brock Purdy
11.5 Super Paurs - Michael Pittman Jr.
11.6 Sensei John Kreese - Trey Benson
11.7 Suncoast - Dallas Goedert
11.8 Bubbles Army - Dalton Kincaid
11.9 Yang's Team - Keon Coleman
11.10 Crusty - Austin Ekeler
11.11 Birds - Tre Harris
11.12 Wreckingcrew - Jonnu Smith
NOTES: There is still one team without a quarterback (Maxx_Money) while BigHawgBreach is the second team to add a second quarterback. He took Brock Purdy with the fourth pick, putting him with Lamar Jackson. . . .Suncoast is the last team to get a TE1, taking Dallas Goedert with the seventh pick. He pairs Goedert with his starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts. . . .There were three tight ends picked. And five of the 12 teams now have two tight ends on their roster.
MY PICK: Michael Pittman. This is a boom-or-bust pick but I like taking a chance on Pittman here. He is a guy that has topped 100 receptions in the past and remains the No. 1 receiver for the Colts. If Anthony Richardson can figure it out, you have to like Pittman for a rebound season. Remember, He was slowed by a back injury most of last year. His past numbers don’t lie. He can be a very productive fantasy receiver if all is well for him.
ROUND 12
12.1 Wreckingcrew - Jayden Higgins
12.2 Birds - Ray Davis
12.3 Crusty - Tyler Allgeier
12.4 Yang's Team - Drake Maye
12.5 Bubbles Army - Darnell Mooney
12.6 Suncoast - Christian Kirk
12.7 Sensei John Kreese - Brandon Aubrey
12.8 Super Paurs - Luther Burden III
12.9 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Brandon Aiyuk
12.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Jared Goff
12.11 Fozzy Dog - Denver Broncos
12.12 PaurPlay - Nick Chubb
NOTES: We have our first kicker and defense picked this round. Sensei John Kreese picked kicker Brandon Aubrey with the seventh pick. And Fozzy Dog picked the Broncos with the 11th pick. . . .Maxx_Money finally got his QB1, taking Jared Goff with the 10th pick. There are just three teams with two quarterbacks on their roster after 12 rounds.
MY PICK: Luther Burden. I would have liked the rookie receiver a lot more if he landed on a different team, but I still think he has a solid rookie season as the No. 3 receiver in this offense. He is enjoying an up-and-down training camp but flashed plenty of great things, showing his potential. He can be a top player in this league and I look for the Bears to get him involved in the offense plenty his rookie year. This is a good depth piece for me.
ROUND 13
13.1 PaurPlay - C.J. Stroud
13.2 Fozzy Dog - Kyle Williams
13.3 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Justin Herbert
13.4 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Marquise Brown
13.5 Super Paurs - Chigoziem Okonkwo
13.6 Sensei John Kreese - J.J. McCarthy
13.7 Suncoast - Dylan Sampson
13.8 Bubbles Army - Trevor Lawrence
13.9 Yang's Team - Brenton Strange
13.10 Crusty - Xavier Legette
13.11 Birds - Elijah Arroyo
13.12 Wreckingcrew - Jaylen Wright
NOTES: Four teams got their backup quarterback this round. Some notable names selected were C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert. Maxx_Money went back-to-back quarterbacks after waiting 11 rounds to get his first. He pairs Herbert with Goff. . . .There were plenty of teams taking chances on rookies, seeing Kyle Williams, Dylan Sampson and Elijah Arroyo picked. . . . There was not a single kicker or defense picked after seeing two get picked for the first time the previous round.
MY PICK: Chigoziem Okonkwo. This gives me a third Titan. Not ideal. But I like the prospects of Okonkwo with Cam Ward now his starting quarterback. Rookie quarterbacks like to target the tight end. Okonkwo didn’t have quite the breakout season most expected last year but Ward is a huge upgrade at quarterback for him. I think Okonkwo can have a career-best season and serve the backup tight end role well for me.
ROUND 14
14.1 Wreckingcrew - Jalen Royals
14.2 Birds - Buffalo Bills
14.3 Crusty - Tua Tagovailoa
14.4 Yang's Team - Rashid Shaheed
14.5 Bubbles Army - Bhayshul Tuten
14.6 Suncoast - Jordan Love
14.7 Sensei John Kreese - Philadelphia Eagles
14.8 Super Paurs - Bryce Young
14.9 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Brashard Smith
14.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Kareem Hunt
14.11 Fozzy Dog - Will Shipley
14.12 PaurPlay - Houston Texans
NOTES: Three defenses were picked but not a single kicker. You do not need to leave the draft with a player drafted at every position, though, so some teams are likely to just not draft a kicker or defense. . . .Quarterback Jordan Love was a popular pick last season but falls all the way to the sixth pick in Round 14. He will be the backup quarterback for Suncoast, backing up Hurts. . . .There were two Chiefs running backs picked with consecutive picks. Rookie Brashard Smith was picked right ahead of veteran Kareem Hunt. BigHawgBreach already had Isiah Pacheco on his roster before taking Smith this round.
MY PICK: Bryce Young. I like taking a chance on Young as my QB2. He had a great finish to last season, finally showing his potential. The Panthers did well to upgrade around him offensively, finally giving him a legit No. 1 receiver. Young can build on last year and see his numbers be even more consistent this season. He should be a solid backup for me.
ROUND 15
15.1 PaurPlay - Mason Taylor
15.2 Fozzy Dog - Jarquez Hunter
15.3 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Zach Ertz
15.4 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Marvin Mims
15.5 Super Paurs - Cameron Dicker
15.6 Sensei John Kreese - Darren Waller
15.7 Suncoast - Isaiah Likely
15.8 Bubbles Army - Baltimore Ravens
15.9 Yang's Team - Pittsburgh Steelers
15.10 Crusty - Jake Bates
15.11 Birds - Chase McLaughlin
15.12 Wreckingcrew - Brandon McManus
NOTES: There were four backup tight ends picked this round, including Mason Taylor, Zach Ertz, Darren Waller and Isaiah Likely. . . . .Six of the other eight picks were either kickers or defenses. It was pretty standard for this point of the draft.
MY PICK: Cameron Dicker. I really wanted to get Brandon Aubrey a few picks earlier but he went before I could take him. I see the value in getting a top kicker a little more these days. I think Dicker is a top-five option his year, capable of very consistent numbers in this offense. He should get plenty of weekly chances.
ROUND 16
16.1 Wreckingcrew - Los Angeles Rams
16.2 Birds - Anthony Richardson
16.3 Crusty - New York Giants
16.4 Yang's Team - Ka’imi Fairbairn
16.5 Bubbles Army - Wil Lutz
16.6 Suncoast - Josh Palmer
16.7 Sensei John Kreese - Jack Bech
16.8 Super Paurs - Dallas Cowboys
16.9 BigHawgBreach Silverback - Kansas City Chiefs
16.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Minnesota Vikings
16.11 Fozzy Dog - Devin Neal
16.12 PaurPlay - Harrison Butker
NOTES: This was mostly a not very exciting round of kickers and defenses. Of the 12 picks, eight were either kickers or defenses. PaurPlay had the honor of the last pick in the draft and took kicker Harrison Butker to round out his roster.
MY PICK: Cowboys defense. This unit didn’t live up to quite their potential this year but injuries were an issue. They can get after the quarterback and their secondary will take chances. I think they will be a more than solid No. 1 defense for me.
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.
Champs Draft Live Stream Event (7-30)
The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms on a two-year, $30 million contract extension with offensive tackle Kaleb McGary, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. McGary has been a mainstay on the offensive line for Atlanta since being drafted in 2019, starting 92 of 93 career games at right tackle. He has been better as a run-blocker over his career and earned a run-blocking grade of 77.6 last season by PFF, which ranked 16th among tackles. His 63.8 pass-blocking grade was more middle of the pack, but lags compared to his performance in the run game. The 30-year-old will be trusted to protect quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s blindside this upcoming season with him being a lefty quarterback.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James returned to practice on Monday after dealing with a knee injury, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. The 2025 fifth-round pick returns to practice as Isaac Guerendo is expected to miss a few weeks with a shoulder injury, potentially opening a window for James to secure the number two running back role behind Christian McCaffrey. James was hyper-productive in 2024 at Oregon, accumulating 1,267 rushing yards while adding 209 as a receiver. Running backs under head coach Kyle Shanahan are always highly sought after for fantasy purposes, and along with McCaffrey's health concerns, James could be worth a late-round flier as a handcuff.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody beat out Greg Joseph in the kicker competition and is set to be the starter. Moody has gone 21-for-24 on kicks throughout training camp, compared to Joseph, who was slightly better at 22-for-24. The 2023 third-round pick has been disappointing so far in his career, making 76.3% of his career field goals. He struggled more in 2024, where he made only 70.6% of his kicks, which ranked fifth lowest among all kickers. He'll open the season with a favorable setup as the 49ers offense projects to be one of the best in football.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson (undisclosed) returned to practice on Wednesday, according to Brian Hines of SBNation. Gibson was dealing with an undisclosed issue, but everything appears to be all good with him health-wise. The 2020 third-round pick had a solid first season in New England in 2024, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and nine yards per reception. With the addition of 2025 second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson, along with the presence of Rhamondre Stevenson, Gibson will likely be reduced to a backup role behind them.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) is on the right track in his recovery from an ACL injury that he suffered in January. Watson is set to begin the season on the active/PUP list, but he reportedly does not look like someone who is in the process of recovering from a significant knee injury. The 2022 second-round pick is one of the most explosive size and speed threats at the receiver position when healthy and adds an element to the Green Bay offense that is missed when he is not on the field. His 21.4 yards per reception last season ranked second in the league among wide receivers. It's a positive sign to see him moving like himself early on, and it makes him an intriguing upside bet to make late in drafts and stash in an Injured Reserve spot.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots third-year wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has continued to impress during training camp, according to Taylor Kyles of Patriots CLNS. Boutte has reportedly been "the most consistent player" in the receiver group this summer and has been dominant in 1-on-1s. The former LSU wideout led all New England receivers in routes run last season, but his situation will be different in 2025 with the team adding veterans Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, along with drafting Kyle Williams in the third round. The 2023 sixth-round pick didn't take full advantage of his opportunity and had poor efficiency with a 1.3 yards per route run, but he is turning heads this summer and hopes to secure a role as an outside receiver in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is standing out in camp and looking like a "bounce-back" candidate heading into the new season, Zach Berman of PHLY observes. Smith missed four games a season ago, but his fourth year in the NFL was still yet another productive campaign. He hauled in a career-high eight touchdowns while amassing 833 yards on 68 catches (89 targets). Smith's yardage total was the lowest of his career, but he likely would've gone over the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight season had he been healthier. Although Smith is behind A.J. Brown in Philly's receiver pecking order, he's good enough to enter 2025 as RotoBaller's 25th-ranked WR.
From RotoBaller
After sitting out Sunday, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (groin) returned to practice on Monday. Palmer spent the first four seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers before joining the Bills on a three-year contract in free agency this past winter. While Palmer caught fewer than 40 passes for under 600 yards in each of the previous two seasons, he could be in for a bigger role on a Buffalo team that lacks a star receiver. The team's most productive wideout from last season, Khalil Shakir (ankle), suffered a high-ankle sprain last Friday and is considered "week-to-week." It'll be all the more important for Palmer and others to step up if Shakir has to miss any regular-season action.
From RotoBaller
After 10 practices, New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler is "comfortably in the lead" for the starting job, according to Ross Jackson of LouisianaSports.net. Rattler, who's competing with second-round rookie Tyler Shough and Jake Haener, leads the group in first-team reps and has picked up the fewest third-team reps in camp. If Rattler plays well in Sunday's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, it could go a long way in locking up the job going into Week 1. A fifth-round pick from South Carolina in 2024, Rattler made six starts in seven games as a rookie and completed 57% of passes for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions.
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets have an established No. 1 wide receiver in star Garrett Wilson, but they're unsure who will complement him in the No. 2 role. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said the job is "up for grabs," but the Jets are "happy" with the competition so far. Veterans Josh Reynolds and Allan Lazard lead the team's unofficial depth chart after Wilson. Tyler Johnson, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, and rookie fourth-round pick Arian Smith are also in the mix to serve as targets for new quarterback Justin Fields. However, other than Wilson, nobody from the group is expected to provide much fantasy value in a run-heavy offense.
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New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor (ankle) did not practice on Monday because of an ankle injury, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. Head coach Aaron Glenn will provide an update on Taylor's status on Tuesday. A second-round pick from LSU, Taylor has been a standout this summer and will have a strong chance to earn the No. 1 tight end job if he's healthy. Jeremy Ruckert is listed as the starter ahead of Taylor on the Jets' unofficial depth chart, but he caught just 35 passes and no touchdowns over 41 games in his first three seasons. Taylor, on the other hand, racked up 129 receptions and six scores during his three-year run at LSU.
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Free-agent quarterback Tyler Huntley has agreed to sign with the Cleveland Browns, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. This will be the second stint with the organization for Huntley, who signed with the Browns in March 2024 but didn't earn a roster spot during the preseason. He ended up spending time with the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins after that. Huntley appeared in five games for the Dolphins last year and completed 64.7% of passes with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Overall, the 27-year-old has appeared in 25 games (mostly with the Ravens) and connected on 64.6% of attempts with 11 TDs and 10 picks. He'll give the Browns some insurance under center as Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel deal with hamstring injuries. For now, Huntley will join Joe Flacco and Shedeur Sanders as the team's healthy signal-callers.
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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (undisclosed) did not practice Monday as he continues working through an undisclosed ailment. McConkey has been dealing with an issue that Chargers coaches have classified as "minor," while the second-year man has also downplayed its severity. McConkey told Kay Adams that there's no "trouble with anything," adding "there's no reason to have a setback and, you know, make this longer than it should be." As long as he's healthy, McConkey is a lock to be quarterback Justin Herbert's favorite target. The former Georgia Bulldog thrived as a rookie with 82 catches on 112 targets, 1,149 yards, and seven touchdowns.
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The Tennessee Titans listed wide receivers Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson in their starting three-receiver set on Monday on their first official depth chart of training camp, according to Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt. Tennessee signed Jefferson to a one-year deal in the offseason to give them veteran depth at the position. While the 29-year-old is listed as a starter right now, that won't be a guarantee come Week 1 of the regular season. He is playing for his fourth NFL team since the start of the 2023 campaign and had just 24 receptions on 40 targets for 276 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (12 starts) with a Pittsburgh offense that had plenty of opportunity in the passing game. Fantasy managers will be avoiding Jefferson in 12-team leagues as a depth option in an offense led by a rookie QB in 2025.
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Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (quadriceps) passed his physical for a strained quadriceps and was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Pierce looked good while working off to the side at Monday's training camp practice, but now he'll officially be able to rejoin the rest of the team. The 25-year-old could see plenty of reps out of the backfield upon his return, too, with Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) still signed. Pierce will be battling with veteran Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks for a role in Houston's backfield in 2025 behind Mixon if he's healthy. He was rarely used when he was healthy in 2024, carrying the ball a career-low 40 times for 293 yards and two touchdowns in 11 regular-season games (no starts). Even if Mixon isn't ready for the start of the regular season, Pierce could be the RB3 in Houston.
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Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby are listed as co-starters on the team's first unofficial depth chart this week. Etienne and Bigsby have shared first-team reps during training camp so far this summer, so this doesn't come as much of a surprise. Bigsby is expected to handle most of the physical work between the tackles in 2025, while Etienne is being seen as a dangerous component as part of new head coach Liam Coen's screen game. Meanwhile, rookie Bhayshul Tuten is a speed threat with lots of home run ability. Even rookie LeQuint Allen Jr. could have a role in Jacksonville's backfield this year as a pass-catching option. After Bigsby looked like the more explosive back in 2024, Etienne's fantasy value has dropped to RB3/flex levels, with him being more attractive now in PPR formats.
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On the Jacksonville Jaguars' unofficial depth chart released on Monday, rookie first-rounder and two-way player Travis Hunter was listed as a starting wide receiver and as a backup defensive back. Unofficial depth charts should be taken with a grain of salt, but all signs this offseason have pointed to Hunter having a bigger role on offense than defense after the Jags traded up to second overall to take the Heisman Trophy winner out of Colorado. The Jaguars have every intention of having the 22-year-old play on both sides of the ball, and the uncertainty around how many snaps he'll have as an offensive playmaker plays into the volatility around him as a fantasy asset in his first NFL season. Even if he plays more on offense in 2025, Hunter could be limited to certain packages, making him a boom/bust WR3/flex option for fantasy managers.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that the plan is to play quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the team's preseason opener this Saturday against the Houston Texans. McCarthy isn't your ordinary NFL starting QB going into a new season. The 22-year-old former first-rounder from Michigan missed all of his rookie season in 2024 due a torn meniscus in his knee that required surgery. He is heading into 2025 without a single game started in the NFL, so the more experience he can get in game situations, the better. Still, he probably won't play all that much this weekend and could be held out of the second preseason game next week. McCarthy has perhaps the best 1-2 receiver duo in the league in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but we have yet to see him in a starting role. There are going to be growing pains, making him more of a QB2 with upside in fantasy.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that tight end T.J. Hockenson (groin) remained sidelined at training camp practice on Monday. O'Connell said Hockenson is dealing with some "day-to-day bumps." Hockenson reportedly suffered a minor groin injury during practice on Saturday and hasn't been on the field since. The 28-year-old was walking with a noticeable limp over the weekend, and it remains to be seen when he'll rejoin the rest of the team at camp. Until we hear more, it sounds like an injury that shouldn't keep Hock from being ready for Week 1 in early September. He got a late start in 2024 while recovering from ACL surgery and finished with 41 catches, 455 yards and no touchdowns in 10 regular-season games (nine starts) in his second year in Detroit. If Hockenson is healthy in 2025, he'll be a midrange TE1 while working with quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
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The Athletic's Jon Machota writes that Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue "has been standing out more and more, to the point he's been getting some first-team reps" at training camp. Blue has showcased his speed, athleticism and quality hands, all while taking care of the football. He appears to be getting more comfortable with the offense with each passing day. However, Machota also cautions that Javonte Williams entered camp as the probable RB1, with veteran Miles Sanders also standing out early in camp. Even though Blue has really impressed the Dallas coaching staff this summer, it seems more likely that the Cowboys will lean on Williams and Sanders as much as possible in the early going in 2025. Blue's size probably rules him out from ever having a workhorse role in the NFL, but he's not a bad dynasty/keeper stash or a late-round flier in deeper fantasy formats this fall.
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