Champions Draft Recap

Mon Aug 4 4:22pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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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.

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Daniel Jones Aug 14 9:00pm CT
Daniel Jones

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was picked off twice in 16 pass attempts by the Green Bay Packers' defense during the joint practice between the two teams on Thursday, per James Boyd of The Athletic. Boyd writes that the "Colts' offense was overwhelmed by the Packers' defense" and "the dink-and-dunk offense (Jones) was commanding was far from fruitful." Jones is competing with Anthony Richardson Sr. for the QB1 role in Indianapolis, but both quarterbacks are reportedly struggling in training camp. Jones is starting the Colts' second preseason game against the Packers on Saturday. The 28-year-old has mostly been a non-factor in fantasy throughout his six-year NFL career, which should be expected to continue if he does indeed win the starting job in Indianapolis.

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J.J. McCarthy Aug 14 8:50pm CT
J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy had his "best practice of camp" on Thursday and impressed with both his consistency and accuracy, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Lewis notes that McCarthy had a stretch of practice where he completed 13 straight passes and threw for six touchdowns. The 22-year-old former first-round pick is preparing for his first year as an NFL starter after missing his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus in his knee. McCarthy will likely experience some growing pains, but he has a lot of playmaking talent around him in Minnesota and an excellent play-calling head coach in Kevin O'Connell. He profiles as a mid-tier QB2 in fantasy, but he's got more upside than some of the other quarterbacks being drafted in his range.

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Cooper Kupp Aug 14 8:30pm CT
Cooper Kupp

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp has "plenty left in the tank" and has shown the ability to "get open against (star cornerback) Devon Witherspoon" in training camp practices, according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Kupp is entering his first year in Seattle after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Rams. The 32-year-old recorded 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games for Los Angeles in 2024. Seattle signed Kupp to complement third-year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is coming off a breakout season. Kupp has had major struggles staying healthy (18 missed games over the last three years), but he can still be productive in fantasy when he's on the field. He profiles as a WR4 in PPR-scoring and could outperform that rank on a per-game basis.

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River Cracraft Aug 14 8:20pm CT
River Cracraft

The Washington Commanders have signed wide receiver River Cracraft, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Cracraft has played for three different teams across seven NFL seasons entering 2025, but has never recorded more than nine catches in a single year. He played eight games for the Miami Dolphins in 2024 and caught seven passes for 66 yards and zero touchdowns. The 30-year-old Cracraft is a long shot to make the Commanders' 53-man roster. Still, it's somewhat notable that the team is looking to fortify its wide receiver depth amidst its ongoing contract dispute with star wideout Terry McLaurin.

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Mason Rudolph Aug 14 7:50pm CT
Mason Rudolph

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Thursday that quarterback Mason Rudolph will again be the team's starting QB for their meeting with the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. Tomlin also noted that the players who didn't play in their win against the Jaguars last week will sit out once more. It seems we'll have to wait at least one more week before we see veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers don the Steelers' black and yellow for the first time. Rudolph was efficient in their preseason opener, completing 90% of his passes for 84 yards and a score before teammate Skylar Thompson relieved him. It will be that duo again this weekend, unless Will Howard (hand) is cleared for action.

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Spencer Rattler Aug 14 7:40pm CT
Spencer Rattler

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore told reporters on Thursday that he has yet to decide on a starter for Sunday's home meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Spencer Rattler got the nod last weekend and played one quarter in their loss to the Chargers before giving way to rookie signal-caller Tyler Shough. Shough saw the most work in that one, and that Moore is still tinkering with his lineup suggests the Saints' QB situation is far from clear-cut. One of Shough or Rattler figures to eventually pull ahead in that race, but Jake Haener can't be counted out just yet. Whomever eventually wins out will determine the value of New Orleans' skill players. Still, outside of running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Chris Olave, there aren't many other enticing options. Perhaps the situation will shake itself out this weekend when the Jaguars come to town.

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A.J. Brown Aug 14 7:20pm CT
A.J. Brown

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that he doesn't "sense any great concern" regarding Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown's (hamstring) injury. Brown has been in and out of practice over the last few weeks while dealing with a nagging hamstring issue. There was some worry that he'd suffered a setback when he was downgraded from a limited session earlier in the week, although it doesn't appear to be a serious ailment. With that said -- and the regular season looming -- it's worth keeping an eye on. Hamstring injuries can be tricky, and any time missed by the Ole Miss product would be a boon to teammate DeVonta Smith's production. Brown could be a decent value at his current draft spot -- just inside the top 20 -- but the inherent risk in selecting him grows greater each day he misses practice time.

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Nick Bosa Aug 14 6:40pm CT
Nick Bosa

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (neck) is dealing with neck soreness, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. The head coach said that the hope is that Bosa will be back at practice next week. Bosa did not practice at training camp on Thursday and will not take the field for the team's second preseason contest on Saturday versus the Las Vegas Raiders. Injuries are nothing new for the 27-year-old five-time Pro Bowler, as he missed three games a year ago with knee and oblique injuries. But as long as he's able to get back to practice at some point next week, he should be good to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. The 2024 season was the first since 2020 that Bosa didn't have double-digit sacks, although he was only one away with nine. The former Defensive Player of the Year is a risk/reward IDP fantasy selection at defensive line.

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Alec Pierce Aug 14 6:20pm CT
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (groin) missed another training camp practice on Thursday with a groin injury, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. Pierce is considered day-to-day and almost certainly won't play in the second preseason game this Saturday against the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, fellow wideout Josh Downs suffered a hamstring injury in practice on Thursday and left early. The health of Indy's receivers is something to watch closely as we near the start of the 2025 regular season. With both Pierce and Downs banged up, Adonai Mitchell is the team's WR2 behind Michael Pittman Jr., while Ashton Dulin will also take on a bigger role. Pierce led the NFL with 22.3 yards per catch in 2024 and had a career-high 824 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games, but he'll have plenty of competition for targets with a QB situation that isn't ideal.

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Khalil Herbert Aug 14 6:20pm CT
Khalil Herbert

Indianapolis Colts running back Khalil Herbert (undisclosed) did not participate in practice on Thursday at training camp for an undisclosed reason, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. Herbert had seven carries for 29 yards and a touchdown in the preseason opener last Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens, but he hasn't practiced with the team since and apparently picked up an injury during that game. The 27-year-old losing valuable practice reps doesn't bode well as he competes for a depth role with rookie DJ Giddens and Tyler Goodson behind starter Jonathan Taylor. Herbert has shown elusiveness in his four-year NFL career, but he's fighting an uphill battle for playing time in Indy after rushing for just 130 yards and one touchdown in 14 games (one start) in 2024 with the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals.

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Hunter Henry Aug 14 6:00pm CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (undisclosed) returned to training camp practice on Thursday, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live. Henry missed some practice time earlier this week but is now back on the field. However, it doesn't mean that the 30-year-old veteran will suit up for the second presason tilt this Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings. He should be just fine for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September as the team's top pass-catching tight end. In his fourth year in New England in 2024, Henry had career-highs in catches (66), targets (97) and receiving yards (674) in 16 starts, but he found the end zone just two times. The addition of receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) will inevitably take targets away from Henry, but on the bright side, the TE did show good chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye. Henry is a low-end TE2 target with some upside.

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J.K. Dobbins Aug 14 5:50pm CT
J.K. Dobbins

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton promised that the team will have a "markedly different" running game in 2025 after they disappointed on the ground last year. Payton points to the upgrades with veteran running back J.K. Dobbins and rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey, with the two expecting to see the majority of the backfield touches this season. "We brought in leadership, with J.K., and we drafted Harvey early, and so you're going to see a difference," Payton said. Harvey was heavily involved in the preseason opener last Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers and has more big-play potential in an improving offense under Payton and second-year quarterback Bo Nix. At RotoBaller, Harvey is ranked as the RB25, with Dobbins checking in at RB35. Dobbins has the edge in experience, but he's also been very injury-prone in his NFL career.

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Jalen Nailor Aug 14 5:40pm CT
Jalen Nailor

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connel said that wide receiver Jalen Nailor (hand) is dealing with a hand injury and will be evaluated. Nailor's hand injury could end up being minor, but as The Athletic's Alec Lewis notes, Minnesota's receiver depth in training camp is now being tested. All-Pro Justin Jefferson (hamstring) has been out since early in camp, and the Vikes are also bracing for Jordan Addison to miss the first three games of the year due to a suspension. The 26-year-old Nailor should have an increased role early in the season with Addison suspended, but RotoBaller doesn't have him ranked inside the top 100 wideouts for fantasy. In his third season in Minnesota last year, Nailor only caught 28 of 42 targets for 414 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (seven starts) in a career year for quarterback Sam Darnold.

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J.J. McCarthy Aug 14 5:30pm CT
J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback J.J. McCarthy will not play in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the New England Patriots. Instead, Sam Howell will get the start. In the preseason opener last week against the Houston Texans, McCarthy went 4-for-7 for 30 yards and rushed one time for eight yards in his only drive of the game. The 22-year-old missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to a torn meniscus in his knee, but he enters 2025 as Minnesota's unquestioned starter under center. The former Michigan signal-caller has plenty of upside with Justin Jefferson (hamtring) and Jordan Addison (suspension) as his top two receivers, but Jefferson has been nursing a hamstring injury all summer, and Addison will miss the first three games. At best, McCarthy will be a midrange QB2 in fantasy.

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Brock Purdy Aug 14 5:00pm CT
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he expects to play quarterback Brock Purdy and some of the other starters in the team's second preseason contest this Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Purdy did not play in the preseason opener last Saturday against the Denver Broncos, so this will be his preseason debut this year, although he probably won't play more than a couple offensive series. The 25-year-old still has low-end QB1 potential with Shanahan running the offense and running back Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, but it's also concerning that San Fran's receiving corps is so beat up right now -- Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is on the PUP list and Jauan Jenninngs (calf), Jacob Cowing (hamstring) and rookie Jordan Watkins (ankle) are all hurt. Purdy's rushing ability gives him a higher floor for fantasy, even if the Niners' offense doesn't fully bounce back.

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