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.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Russell Gage Jr. was released from the active roster on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. However, the team plans to sign him to their practice squad, and they will elevate him to the active roster if he's still available on gameday. The 29-year-old is best known for the first few years of his career with the Falcons, but he also scored five touchdowns in 2022 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gage actually hasn't been targeted since the 2022 season, but San Francisco clearly likes what it sees from the former sixth-round pick. If he does suit up for Sunday's game, he'd be off the fantasy radar.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie two-way star Travis Hunter is listed as a starting wide receiver and backup cornerback on the team's initial depth chart. Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. are listed in the first-team offense, along with Dyami Brown. The Colorado product exploded for 96 catches, 1,258 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns last year, cementing his status as a top prospect. He was ultimately drafted second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded up to select him. He was just as dominant on the defensive side of the ball at school, totaling 36 tackles, four interceptions, and 11 passes defended during his final collegiate season. He won the Heisman Trophy and was also named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. There is still some uncertainty about whether Hunter can stay healthy for a full season while playing on both sides of the ball, but if he can, the sky is the limit. He's a solid low-end WR3 option heading into the 2025 fantasy season.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints have re-signed quarterback Jake Haener to their active roster, according to Ross Jackson of Locked On Saints. The 26-year-old is heading into his third pro season, including his third with the Saints. Haener didn't play as a rookie in 2023, but he took on a bigger role last year and even made one start. He finished the season with a 46.2 percent completion rate, 226 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He can be left on fantasy waivers as long as he remains the Saints' third-string quarterback behind Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler. In fact, Haener will likely be inactive as the emergency third quarterback on gamedays.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos hosted free agent running back Deuce Vaughn for a workout on Tuesday, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The 23-year-old spent each of the last two seasons in a depth role with the Dallas Cowboys. Through 14 career games (zero starts), he has 110 rushing yards and 58 receiving yards. However, he's still searching for his first NFL touchdown. If signed, Vaughn would offer additional running back depth behind J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey, Tyler Badie, and Jaleel McLaughlin. He can be avoided in all fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is set to make his first appearance with his new team this Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pickens arrived in Dallas after an offseason trade, and he's expected to have a sizable role in an offense that should lean heavily on the passing attack this year. The 24-year-old has eclipsed 800 yards in each of his three pro seasons, and he could soar even higher this year if opposing defenses commit most of their attention to covering CeeDee Lamb. Plus, we expect Dallas to be playing from behind in a potential shootout against the Philadelphia Eagles, which means that Lamb, Pickens, and other Cowboys pass catchers could be peppered with targets. All in all, managers should trust Pickens as a low-end WR3/FLEX option in 12-team leagues this week.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey should be inserted into fantasy managers' starting lineups despite a difficult matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. Kicking on the road isn't easy, especially when the venue doesn't have a roof. However, Aubrey has repeatedly shown that he can nail long kicks in difficult conditions. Although he went 0-for-1 on field goals in Philadelphia last year, that came during a rough period of time when Dak Prescott was sidelined. He looked better when the Cowboys hosted the Eagles, going 2-for-2 on field goals with a successful 46-yarder. The biggest reason why you should start Aubrey, though, is his track record. He has been either K1 or K2 in each of his two NFL seasons, and Aubrey in an unfavorable venue is still better than many kickers in the serenity of a dome. Philadelphia's defense may limit Dallas' red-zone opportunities, but the Cowboys' kicker should still have several opportunities to add points via field goals. Start him with confidence in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has the potential to be a big-time contributor in fantasy football this season, but Week 1 might not be the week to start him. On one hand, there's merit behind the idea that Ferguson could benefit from the Cowboys throwing the football a lot, assuming they fall behind early. However, he still faces an uphill battle to produce against an Eagles defense that shut down the tight end position last year. Through 17 games in 2024, Philadelphia's defense allowed the fewest receiving yards, third-fewest catches, and third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Ferguson likely doesn't have the top-tier talent that's required to buck that trend. After all, in his two games against the Eagles last year, he totaled seven catches for a measly 42 yards. Additionally, each of his two fumbles last season came against Philadelphia. He ranks outside the top 12 at his position this week.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb should be started in all fantasy leagues despite having a tough Week 1 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old is coming off a strong year in which he caught 101 passes for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns despite missing two games. Yet, those numbers represented a step down from his final statistics in both 2022 and 2023, so we know that Lamb has the potential to be even better. A big factor toward Lamb's success is the availability of Dak Prescott, who has a clean bill of health to open the 2025 season. With his talented quarterback healthy and the Cowboys expected to be trailing in several shootouts this year, Lamb has tremendous upside. This week's matchup against a well-rounded Eagles defense isn't great, but managers should still confidently deploy him as a mid-range WR1 in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams will likely lead the team in rushing attempts against the Philadelphia Eagles. Purely by volume, he warrants consideration as a mid-range RB3/FLEX option in most fantasy leagues. In addition to rushing the football, he could carve out some targets, especially as the Cowboys wait to fully phase in Jaydon Blue. While Williams' volume and receiving upside are exciting, his matchup is not as glamorous. The Eagles allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards, second-fewest rushing touchdowns, and the fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2024. While some of last year's Eagles defense have departed, the team also brought in new faces to stop the run, including rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell. Not only could Williams' efficiency suffer as a result, but the Cowboys might also fall into an early deficit and feel more pressure to throw the ball downfield. Purely based on volume, Williams is a fringe fantasy starter in 12-team leagues, but the matchup is nothing to get excited about.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is making his big return from injury this Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran signal-caller missed nine games last year, but he's now healthy and possesses significant fantasy upside. Most of the excitement around Prescott stems from concerns about the Cowboys' defense and running back room. If Dallas' defense struggles as much as expected, the offense will need to play catch-up and score a lot of points. However, without much star power in the backfield, most of Dallas' offensive attack will need to come through the air. Prescott could easily be asked to throw the football 600 times this year, and his career 66.8 percent completion rate, 5.1 percent touchdown rate, and 2.0 percent interception rate are all very appealing. This week, he faces off against a very strong Eagles defense. This unit allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks last year, and they only got slightly worse during the offseason. As 8.5-point underdogs, Prescott and the Cowboys could have some solid garbage-time stats, but it seems somewhat unlikely the quarterback lights the world on fire against a very tough opponent. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable with Prescott's floor, but refrain from expressing much optimism about his ceiling. He's merely a low-end QB1 this week.
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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has named Braxton Jones as the team's starting left tackle in Week 1, per ESPN's Courtney Cronin. Jones has started 40 games for Chicago over the past three seasons. Still, he was pushed in training camp by second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo and former undrafted free agent Theo Benedet. The Bears remade the interior of their offensive line heading into 2025, but 2024 starting tackles Jones and Darnell Wright will remain in place. Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams took the most sacks in the NFL (68) last season. However, the second-year signal caller was to blame for a significant number of those sacks and needs to be better at reading defenses and getting the ball out quickly in 2025.
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Quarterback Sam Howell is likely to serve as the Philadelphia Eagles' QB2 behind Jalen Hurts in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Eagles acquired Howell from the Minnesota Vikings in late August after projected backup quarterback Tanner McKee (thumb) went down with a fractured thumb. McKee is not expected to be ready for Week 1, but he is expected to re-take Philadelphia's QB2 role when fully healthy. If pressed into action, Howell has 18 games of starting experience in the NFL. He led the NFL in pass attempts (612) and interceptions (21) in 17 games for the Washington Commanders in 2023.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is expecting defensive lineman Cameron Heyward to play in Week 1 against the New York Jets, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Heyward was a limited participant in training camp as he seeks to re-negotiate his current contract. The 36-year-old collected eight sacks and 35 solo tackles in 17 games last season and was named a first-team All-Pro. Heyward is a huge part of the Steelers' defense, particularly against the run. With Heyward on the field, it could be a tough day for Jets quarterback Justin Fields, as well as running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, in the season opener.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have released veteran wide receiver Robert Woods from their practice squad, per an announcement from the team. Woods played in 15 games for the Houston Texans in 2024, recording 20 catches for 203 yards. The 33-year-old has been a steadily productive NFL receiver for over a decade, but he could be nearing the end of the road. Pittsburgh does not have much proven wide receiver depth behind top wideout DK Metcalf, so giving up on Woods could be telling of just how little juice the veteran has left in the tank. Even if Woods signs elsewhere, he should remain off the fantasy radar in 2025.
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The Houston Texans have signed quarterback Davis Mills to a one-year, $7 million extension, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Mills is now under contract with the team through the 2026 season. Houston drafted Mills in the third round of the 2021 draft, and he started 26 games for the team over his first two NFL seasons. He has not started a game since, serving as the team's third-string quarterback in 2023 behind C.J. Stroud and Case Keenum and the backup in 2024 behind Stroud, a role he is now likely to hold for 2025 and 2026. In 38 career games played, Mills has completed 62.6% of his passes and thrown 35 touchdowns. If Stroud were to get injured, Mills would profile as a fantasy QB3.
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The Seattle Seahawks have released rookie running back Damien Martinez from their practice squad, per John Boyle of Seahawks.com. Seattle selected Martinez in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, but he failed to make the team's 53-man roster and has now been bumped off the practice squad as well. Martinez averaged over six yards per carry in each of his three college seasons, so his track record of production could lead to him landing another practice squad deal with a different team. However, Martinez is highly unlikely to be fantasy-relevant in 2025 and does not hold much dynasty value at this point either.
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The Houston Texans restructured tight end Dalton Schultz's $36 million contract for salary cap purposes on Tuesday, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Schultz will make the same $11.508 million this year through a simple conversion of his $11 million base salary into a signing bonus that lowers his salary cap figure. He will be due $11 million in 2026 under the three-year extension he signed in 2024. The 29-year-old had 53 catches on 85 targets for 532 yards and only two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (13 starts) in 2024 in his second year with the team. It was a disappointing showing for fantasy managers, especially when considering the injuries to Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. His numbers last year were his fewest since his second year in the league in 2019 with Dallas. Schultz enters Week 1 against the Rams as a low-end TE2 in fantasy.
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The Denver Broncos' unofficial depth chart for Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans has running back J.K. Dobbins listed as the starting RB ahead of rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR. Tyler Badie is the RB3, and Jaleel McLaughlin is the RB4. Dobbins was brought in as a free agent this offseason to help make up for the departure of Javonte Williams, and he's fully expected to play a big role in Denver's backfield in 2025. However, the Broncos drafted Harvey in the second round in April for a reason, and although he's starting as the RB2, fantasy managers are fully expecting Harvey to lead this backfield when all is said and done in 2025. Not only does Dobbins not have the home run ability that Harvy has, but he has a history of pretty serious leg injuries. At best, he should be considered an RB3/flex play in fantasy in Week 1 against the Titans.
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Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. is listed as a starter on the team's unofficial depth chart heading into a Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots this Sunday. Meanwhile, Amari Cooper is listed on the second string after signing with the team late in training camp. Cooper could eventually become a bigger part of Vegas' offense, but going into the season opener, Thornton figures to have a big role in the passing attack. He should start in three-wide sets alongside Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. The 22-year-old fourth-rounder has emerged ahead of fellow rookie Jack Bech after a strong training camp and preseason, but it remains to be seen exactly how much he'll be targeted by quarterback Geno Smith out of the gates. But Thornton's output alone this summer makes him deserving of a roster spot for receiver depth in deeper fantasy formats.
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On the Carolina Panthers' first unofficial depth chart of the regular season, they have listed wide receiver Hunter Renfrow as a starter alongside rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. Renfrow initially did not make the 53-man roster out of training camp and was released, but that was before Carolina traded Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings and placed Jalen Coker (quadriceps) on Injured Reserve. Now that the 29-year-old is back in Carolina, he could start in three-wide sets next to McMillan and Xavier Legette, but that may not equal enough targets to make him fantasy relevant in starting lineups. Renfrow will play in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but we wouldn't recommend starting him in fantasy lineups, even in deeper leagues. He will primarily be competing for playing time with David Moore.
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