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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Studs and Duds: Divisional Round

Mon Jan 22 9:38am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Kelce comes up big for Chiefs


Well, that was a lot better. The games were really good this weekend. Even the first one that ended up pretty lopsided. It was still good for the half. The rest of the games were really entertaining, though. Most of them were really back and forth, and could have gone to either team in the end. It made for some great entertainment. And the fantasy numbers weren’t too bad, either. There were some really big games this weekend. Hopefully, you were able to take advantage of some of those big games on all your playoff fantasy teams.

Ravens 34, Texans 10

Fantasy Stud: Lamar Jackson. Jackson proved why he is the front runner for MVP this year. He had a great game, going 16-of-22 for 152 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He also led the team in rushing, hitting the 100-yard mark. Jackson ran 11 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson scored 37.6 fantasy points. He has 35-plus fantasy points three of five games

Fantasy Dud: C.J. Stroud. The Ravens did a great job of holding the impressive rookie in check. He did not score a touchdown in the game and failed to hit 200-passing yards. Stroud was 19-of-33 for 175 yards without a score or turnover. He still had a monster rookie season and is going to be one of the best fantasy quarterbacks for years to come.

Game Notes: Justice Hill had 13 carries for 66 yards, leading the Ravens in rushing for ar running back. He also caught two passes for 11 yards, finishing with 77 total yards.

Dalvin Cook made his Ravens debut and ran eight times for 23 yards. He got nearly all his work with the Ravens up big late in the game.

49ers 24, Packers 21

Fantasy Stud: Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey had his usual huge fantasy game. He ran 17 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns. He also had seven receptions for 30 yards. McCaffrey had 31.8 fantasy points. This was his fourth game this season with 30-plus fantasy points. McCaffrey just keeps posting huge numbers on a weekly basis

Fantasy Dud: Brandon Aiyuk. With Deebo Samuel sidelined much of the game, you thought Aiyuk might get a little more work. Well, that didn’t happen. Aiyuk was a disappointment to fantasy teams, catching just three passes for 32 yards. It was a down game for the star receiver.

Game Notes: Deebo Samuel injured his shoulder early in the game and was unable to return. He had two receptions for 24 yards. This is an injury to watch going forward. Samuel is a huge part of the 49ers offense.

Aaron Jones hit the 100-yard rushing mark. He had 18 carries for 108 yards. Jones finishes the season with five straight 100-yard games.

Lions 31, Bucs 23

Fantasy Stud: Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs had a big game rushing and receiving, showing his dual threat ability. He ran nine times for 74 yards and a touchdown. He also had four receptions for 40 yards, giving him 114 total yards and a score. Gibbs outproduced starter David Montgomery running the ball despite having one less carry.
  
Fantasy Dud: Chris Godwin. Godwin had one of his down games this week, catching four passes for 40 yards. He was up and down all season, so this shouldn’t be a huge surprise. Godwin still had a fine season but here is to hoping he can produce more consistent numbers next year.

Game Notes: Mike Evans had eight receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown. This was his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Evans had a huge season and shows few signs of slowing down.

Jared Goff continued his great play in the playoffs, going 30-of-43 for 287 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He has 275-plus passing yards each of his two playoff games without a turnover.

Chiefs 27, Bills 24

Fantasy Stud: Travis Kelce. Kelce showed he can still play a big role in the playoffs. He had five receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns. This was his first two-touchdown game of the entire season. It was the fourth time he topped 20 fantasy points in a game, though. Kelce scored 24.5 fantasy points in this one.
  
Fantasy Dud: Stefon Diggs. Diggs was held in check once again, catching three passes for just 21 yards. It was kind of the theme of the second half of his season. Diggs really disappeared down the stretch, causing some concern for next season.

Game Notes: Josh Allen was huge in defeat, especially as a runner. He ran 12 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns. He also was 26-of-39 for 186 yards and a touchdown.

Isiah Pacheco had a solid game, rushing 15 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. He had a catch for 14 yards, giving him 111 total yards.

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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Player Notes
Austin Ekeler Jun 14 9:20am ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury appears to be using some two-running back sets during mandatory minicamp this week involving Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler. In what will be a vastly different offense under Kingsbury in 2024 with rookie first-round quarterback Jayden Daniels at the helm, Washington figures to use Robinson as more of the between-the-tackles, early-down back, with Ekeler serving as the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield. The 25-year-old Robinson had 43 targets in 2023, but he stands to lose a hefty amount of targets to Ekeler this year. With more competition from Ekeler, B-Rob is going to need to remain productive and hold onto the football to be a viable RB3/flex for fantasy managers in standard-scoring leagues. Ekeler should be more valuable as an RB3/flex in point-per-reception formats.

Trevor Lawrence Jun 14 2:13am ET
Trevor Lawrence

Dynasty | The Jaguars have signed quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: Lawrence and the Jags agree to a five-year, $275 million contract extension with a reported $200 million guaranteed, including $142 million up front. Lawrence also received a $37.5 million signing bonus. It's a massive contract for a quarterback billed as the "next great thing" but realistically performing as "the next good thing." Lawrence is currently ranked as our QB9 and that seems about right for a player who has yet to really show he's truly an elite fantasy option.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Marcus Maye Jun 14 1:03am ET
Marcus Maye

The Miami Dolphins officially signed free-agent S Marcus Maye (Saints) on Thursday, June 13.

From TheHuddle

Jordan Phillips Jun 13 10:53pm ET
Jordan Phillips

New York Giants DT Jordan Phillips (wrist) has not participated in minicamp and was limited to individual work during offseason activities as he recovers from wrist surgery.

From TheHuddle

Calais Campbell Jun 13 8:43pm ET
Calais Campbell

Free-agent DE Calais Campbell (Falcons) agreed to terms with the Miami Dolphins Thursday, June 13, according to sources. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

From TheHuddle

Myles Garrett Jun 13 5:13pm ET
Myles Garrett

Updating a previous report, Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett (hamstring) is expected to be fine despite suffering a hamstring injury during practice Thursday, June 13, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski.

From TheHuddle

Lamar Jackson Jun 13 4:23pm ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson could earn more pre-snap responsibilities in his second year under offensive coordinator Todd Monken, according to recent comments from quarterbacks coach Tee Martin. 'It takes him understanding how we're blocking things up front to get us to the best run and the best pass for whatever coverage we're facing. He's accepted it and done a heck of a job of getting us into the right play, and today was probably the best day in a long time of him really just having the freedom to do what he wants to do. We saw some really good plays and some positive gains with him doing that today,' Martin said.

Fantasy Spin: Jackson reportedly dropped 20 pounds this offseason and appears to be taking on more of a leadership role than he ever has in 2024. The addition of Derrick Henry - combined with what should be a more explosive Jackson than we have seen in recent years - could set up the two-time NFL MVP for another career year. Jackson should be considered a strong overall QB1 candidate this season.

From TheHuddle

Marlon Humphrey Jun 13 4:03pm ET
Marlon Humphrey

Baltimore Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey (undisclosed) has been limited to mostly individual work this offseason, but head coach John Harbaugh suggested after the team's final minicamp practice on Thursday, June 13, that Humphrey 'should be ready for training camp.'

From TheHuddle

Taysom Hill Jun 13 3:33pm ET
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints QB Taysom Hill reportedly agreed to a restructured contract that converted his base salary to a signing bonus and lowered his salary cap number from $15.7 million to $6.8 million.

From TheHuddle

Myles Garrett Jun 13 3:13pm ET
Myles Garrett

Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett (hamstring) suffered an apparent left hamstring injury during an early defensive line drill during minicamp practice on Thursday, June 13.

From TheHuddle

Marcus Mariota Jun 13 2:43pm ET
Marcus Mariota

Washington Commanders QBs Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota each saw significant snaps with the first team during the spring and nothing has been determined yet in regards to which one will start the season, according to head coach Dan Quinn on Thursday, June 13.

Fantasy Spin: By all accounts, Daniels has been sharp so far - a sentiment that Quinn confirmed Thursday. It would likely take a meltdown of epic proportions for the No. 2 overall pick in this spring's draft to not win the job. Assuming that is the case, Daniels' combination of anticipation and athleticism should make him a strong fantasy QB1 option right out of the gate.

From TheHuddle

Alvin Kamara Jun 13 2:23pm ET
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara skipped the team's final mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday, June 13, due to what is believed to be contract-related reasons, according to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com.

Fantasy Spin: Kamara will get nearly a $10 million bump on his base salary over the last two years, so that is likely not the issue. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports the two sides have been discussing a contract restructure for a few months, likely with an eye on 2025 when Kamara is set to make $25 million. Expect the two sides to get something worked out over the next month or two to keep Kamara in New Orleans at a much lower number past this season.

From TheHuddle

DeAndre Carter Jun 13 12:13pm ET
DeAndre Carter

Free-agent WR DeAndre Carter (Raiders) signed an undisclosed deal with the Chicago Bears, according to sources Thursday, June 13.

From TheHuddle

James Cook Jun 13 12:10pm ET
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook dropped five passes last season, which ranked sixth among all qualified running backs. Early in offseason activities, the third-year pro out of Georgia has continued to struggle in that area, according to Bills reporter Alex Brasky. "James Cook allowed a pass to bounce off his hands, high into the air near the start of team drills at Wednesday's mandatory minicamp." Brasky wrote, "Cook encountered issues with drops last season and has done little to ramp down those concerns during offseason activities." While this is somewhat of a concern, it can often be overplayed when analyzing a player's fantasy football value. After catching 44 passes for 445 yards and ranking second among running backs in yards per reception, the team is unlikely to pull back his receiving workload. That said, rookie fourth-rounder Ray Davis caught 62 passes over his final two collegiate seasons in the SEC and could become a factor on third downs.

From RotoBaller

Jonathon Brooks Jun 13 12:10pm ET
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales wouldn't say whether or not second-round rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will be ready for the start of training camp next month. The Texas product is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered on November 11 against TCU last year. Although Canales did not provide an update, he did say the team would ease him into action when he's ready to go. While Brooks should eventually be the clear lead ball carrier in Carolina, he might be on a snap count early in his career. On top of that, the Panthers offense is likely to be one of the worst units in the NFL once again. Brooks is one of the tougher players to evaluate in fantasy football, but he should be able to produce at least low-end RB2 numbers in the second half of his rookie campaign. His upside could be capped if quarterback Bryce Young and his supporting cast don't take a significant step forward in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Romeo Doubs Jun 13 12:10pm ET
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs has had an "outstanding" offseason, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. The 2022 fourth-round pick hauled in 59 passes for 674 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and he delivered a six-catch, 151-yard, one-touchdown performance in the Wild Card win over the Dallas Cowboys. The 24-year-old should remain one of Jordan Love's favorite targets in 2024, though the team's pass-catching group is crowded with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Luke Musgrave, and Tucker Kraft. Given the uncertainty of the target pecking order, all of the Green Bay receivers and tight ends have an ADP outside the top 70 picks, and Doubs presents a potential value pick at his 138.4 ADP in classic FFPC drafts.

From RotoBaller

Marquise Brown Jun 13 12:10pm ET
Marquise Brown

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown signed a one-year deal with the organization this offseason, and he has been heavily involved in the passing attack during OTAs and minicamp. The 2019 first-round pick has a path to the No. 1 wide receiver role, especially with Rashee Rice's legal troubles and Xavier Worthy's (hamstring) injury that is keeping him out of practice. Brown said he is building chemistry with Patrick Mahomes early in camp. "It has been good, from when we first started going back in Dallas until now," Brown said. "Just keep improving. He's trusting me more, so that's good." While "Hollywood" has not lived up to his first-round status, he has a 1,000-yard season under his belt and has hauled in 313 passes for 3,644 yards, and 28 touchdowns through his first 72 games with the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals. He's unlikely to be a volume hog with Kansas City, but he should have chances for several spike weeks catching passes from the best quarterback of his career.

From RotoBaller

Juwan Johnson Jun 13 12:10pm ET
Juwan Johnson

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (leg) suffered a lower-leg injury and is expected to miss a good amount of time, according to sources. While it's unclear if Johnson is now a candidate to miss the start of the 2024 regular season, at the very least he's going to miss the start of training camp next month and valuable repetitions as the team looks to get ready for next season. The 27-year-old's injury will open up more reps for the likes of Foster Moreau, Taysom Hill, rookie Dallin Holker, Michael Jacobson and Tommy Hudson this summer. Johnson took a step back in 2023 and finished with 37 receptions for 368 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games (11 starts) in his fourth year in the NFL. Even if Johnson is ready for Week 1 of the regular season, Hill will probably cut into his targets enough to keep him as a low-upside, touchdown-dependent TE2 in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Jun 13 12:10pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase wasn't fully participating in practice at mandatory minicamp for the second straight day on Wednesday and was in tennis shoes with no helmet on, but he did take part in the install portion on both days. Chase didn't take part in 7-on-7 drills on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is seeking a long-term extension from the club, and while he is in attendance so he won't get fined, it appears he's not doing much on the field. Barring a surprise development, the Bengals and Chase should be able to eventually work something out to keep him in Cincinnati for the long haul. The former fifth overall pick in 2021 out of LSU has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons in the NFL and has gone over 1,000 receiving yards in all three years as well with a combined 29 touchdowns in 45 regular-season starts. Chase is an easy top-five fantasy wideout.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Jun 13 12:10pm ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) said it is "tough to say" what percentage health-wise he is at right now but reiterated "I'll be ready to go by the season." Burrow didn't look right early on in 2023 after injuring his calf during training camp last summer, and then he suffered a season-ending right-wrist injury in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. The former first overall pick in 2020 out of LSU has bookended his four seasons in the NFL so far with serious injuries, but he's been a solid QB1 option for fantasy managers otherwise. The 27-year-old should be full-go for training camp next month and should be ready for the Week 1 season opener this fall, barring any setbacks with his wrist in training camp and the preseason. With one of the better one-two punches at wideout in the league, Burrow should be a fine midrange QB1 target in fantasy drafts after the big names at the position come off the board.

From RotoBaller