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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
Jerod Mayo May 21 3:00pm ET
Jerod Mayo

New England Patriots starting offensive guard Cole Strange (knee), who is still dealing with a significant knee injury that he suffered late last year, is expected to miss the start of the 2024 regular season and may be out until the middle of 2024, according to sources. Strange has started every game he's played in New England since he was the 29th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Chattanooga, so it would be a pretty big loss for New England's offensive line in new head coach Jerod Mayo's first year at the helm. The 25-year-old initially injured his knee in Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs and is currently being labeled as month-to-month by the organization.

From RotoBaller

Tank Dell May 21 2:40pm ET
Tank Dell

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (leg) was back in his element at organized team activities on Tuesday while running routes. Dell has proved to be extremely resilient this offseason after recovering from a gunshot wound to his leg as a victim of a mass shooting in Florida after he previously suffered a season-ending broken fibula in his rookie season in 2023. The 24-year-old third-round pick last year out of Houston was a young star on the rise while catching passes from quarterback C.J. Stroud before suffering a broken fibula, as he caught 47 of his 75 targets for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games (eight starts). There's a lot to like about Dell's long-term outlook, but unfortunately he could take a step back in Year 2 after the Texans added Stefon Diggs this offseason to a wideout room that already included Nico Collins, Noah Brown and Robert Woods.

From RotoBaller

Jamal Adams May 21 2:40pm ET
Jamal Adams

Former Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams is visiting with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday. The Seahawks released Adams in March after he suffered yet another injury in 2023 that limited him to just nine games played. The 28-year-old former sixth overall pick by Seattle in 2017 out of LSU made the Pro Bowl in three consecutive seasons from 2018-20 but hasn't played in a full season since his second year in the league in 2018 due to injuries. When he was healthy earlier in his career with the Jets, Adams was the most valuable defensive back in IDP leagues because of his elite tackling ability and pass-rushing skills. All of his injuries over the years have taken their toll, and he's no longer the elite safety we've come to know him as, although Baltimore would be a nice landing spot as he tries to bounce back in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa May 21 2:20pm ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has dropped around 10 to 15 pounds this offseason and is down to 220 pounds, which is his ideal playing weight this year as he seeks more agility/escapability. Tagovailoa is currently set to play on his fifth-year option in 2024, but sources are optimistic that the former first-rounder and the Dolphins will be able to work out a long-term contract extension before the 2024 regular season starts this fall. Reports recently were overblown that Tagovailoa was skipping some of the team's offseason meetings. He reported to the first day of voluntary organized team activities on Monday and was seen throwing passes on Tuesday, so he remains fully committed to Miami and is unlikely to stage any sort of holdout this summer. The Dolphins aren't too concerned that Tua's drop in weight will make him more fragile. Tagovailoa doesn't have high-end fantasy upside, but he's at least a midrange QB1 in Miami's high-scoring offense.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice May 21 2:20pm ET
Rashee Rice

The photographer who said that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice punched him has asked the police to drop the charges. It's good news for Rice, who has had an eventful offseason off the field, to say the least. However, the 24-year-old second-year pass-catcher is still likely facing a suspension after he left the scene of a six-car accident in Dallas in late March. Rice is facing charges of aggravated assault, collision involving serious bodily injury and collision involving injury. We don't know exactly how many games Rice is going to be suspended to start the 2024 season, but the impending suspension is obviously bad news for his fantasy value after he won a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season and had a 79-938-7 line in 16 regular-season games (eight starts).

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers May 21 2:10pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said that quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) is doing everything at organized team activities this week and has no restrictions. This was the expectation all along after Rodgers was practicing with the team late last season despite tearing his Achilles in Week 1 of 2023, but it's nice to see him back out there running around during offseason practices. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer didn't play at all last year due to his Achilles injury, and fantasy managers shouldn't forget that he had his worst season as a professional in his final year in Green Bay in 2022. Still, if Rodgers can stay healthy this year, he should at least be a QB1 streamer in the right matchups in fantasy leagues with all the weapons he has around him in New York. We'll continue to monitor Rodgers' recovery this offseason, especially once the team gets into full contact.

From RotoBaller

Mike Williams May 21 2:10pm ET
Mike Williams

New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) is not cleared yet for football activities and was seen working off to the side during organized team activities on Tuesday. It shouldn't be much of a surprise after Williams suffered a season-ending torn left ACL while playing for the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3 in 2023. The 29-year-old is missing valuable repetitions as he tries to learn a new offense in New York, but barring setbacks in his rehab, he should be ready for on-field work for the start of training camp at the end of July. When healthy, he'll give quarterback Aaron Rodgers a big-bodied target down the field and in the red zone across from young stud receiver Garrett Wilson. Fantasy managers aren't going to spend much to roster Williams because of his lengthy injury history, and he's likely to be a boom-or-bust, touchdown-dependent wideout in an offense with a lot of mouths to feed.

From RotoBaller

DeVante Parker May 21 1:13pm ET
DeVante Parker

Dynasty | Now former Eagles wide receiver DeVante Parker is retiring. Dynasty Analysis: Still just 31 years old, Parker has clearly had a change of heart after recently signing a free agent contract with the Eagles. Always long on talent but short on production, Parker's career just never did materialize. He ends with 402 catches, 5,660 yards and 27 touchdowns. However, he posted a ton of that in what turned out to be a fluky 2019 season with the Dolphins where he posted a 72/1,202/9 line which represented career highs in every category. After the short two-year stint with New England, it seems Parker is just ready to move on. Dynasty managers will be happy to do the same as Parker has clogged some rosters in recent years.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Najee Harris May 21 8:23am ET
Najee Harris

Dynasty | Steelers running back Najee Harris has apparently changed his diet in order to improve his performance. Dynasty Analysis: Well, it can't hurt. Harris is now in a contract year after having his option declined and appears motivated to perform at a higher level as he seeks a lucrative second contract in the league in Pittsburgh or elsewhere. Harris was much better towards the end of last season but Jaylen Warren continues to push for carries and it's hard to believe this won't end up in a timeshare. Harris is best served as a RB2/Flex at the moment but he does have a runway to move up in the rankings should he finally reach his potential.

Lucas Havrisik May 20 10:10pm ET
Lucas Havrisik

The Cleveland Browns re-signed kicker Lucas Havrisik to an undisclosed deal on Monday and waived quarterback Jacob Simon in a corresponding move. Havrisik returns to the team after recently being waived on May 14. The 24-year-old spent time on Cleveland's practice squad last year and also went 15-for-20 on his field-goal attempts and 19-for-22 on extra-point tries in nine games in his rookie season for the Los Angeles Rams. As things stand right now, Havrisik is third on the Browns' kicking depth chart behind Dustin Hopkins and Cade York, so he's clearly not a lock to make the team's final roster for the 2024 season out of training camp and the preseason.

From RotoBaller

Eddy Pineiro May 20 10:00pm ET
Eddy Pineiro

Carolina Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro continues to skip the portion of the team's voluntary offseason program, which has allowed undrafted rookie Harrison Mevis to shine during organized team activities. Mevis made all five of his field-goal attempts on Monday, including a long of 47 yards. Pineiro is the league's 21st-highest-paid kicker and is in the final year of his two-year, $4.1 million deal. "I'm sure Eddy has a plan for this whole thing," head coach Dave Canales said. The 28-year-old veteran missed the final two games in 2023 for the Panthers with a hamstring injury, but he's likely healthy now and should report for mandatory minicamp next month. Carolina's offense should improve with more offensive weapons in quarterback Bryce Young's second season in 2024, but fantasy managers in standard-sized leagues can avoid Pineiro on draft day.

From RotoBaller

Jaycee Horn May 20 9:50pm ET
Jaycee Horn

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn did more weightlifting over the winter in hopes that it will keep him healthy after he missed more games than he played in his first three seasons in the NFL due to injuries. The 24-year-old is big and physical and has always had the talent to be elite if he can just stay on the field. His injury history includes soft-tissue problems, including a hamstring injury from Week 1 last year that required surgery and cost him 10 games. The former eighth overall pick in 2021 out of South Carolina has 85 tackles (60 solo), four interceptions and 13 passes defended in his three years in the league. The Panthers secondary will be much more effective if Horn can stay healthy for a full season. "Just trying different things. Obviously, what I did the years before didn't work with dealing with injury and it can be some unlucky-ness," Horn said.

From RotoBaller

Deuce Vaughn May 20 9:40pm ET
Deuce Vaughn

Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn could see more playing time in the slot next season as a way to utilize his talents in space more often. The 5-foot-6, 176-pounder was taken in the sixth round last year, and he finished with just 23 carries for 40 yards while catching all seven of his targets for 40 yards through the air in seven regular-season games. But with Tony Pollard no longer in town, the Cowboys could look to get Vaughn more involved in the passing game to capitalize on Vaughn's burst, quickness and change-of-direction abilities in open space. It would make him intriguing as a sleeper in PPR leagues, but the fact remains that Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott will likely be ahead of Vaughn on the RB depth chart. For now, it's just something to watch for fantasy managers in deep PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young May 20 9:30pm ET
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers second-year quarterback Bryce Young, who looked lost in his rookie campaign in 2023, has impressed head coach Dave Canales at offseason workouts. Canales loves the way Young has picked up an offense that has helped Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson and Geno Smith to career-best seasons. "He's doing fantastic with it," Canales said Monday after the first full day of voluntary workouts. "So, for us the formations are pretty vanilla so we can just teach the concept we want out of each route, the depth, the footwork we want." Young said having just Canales' voice in his ear has been "super important" after a rough rookie season in which he ranked 29th out of 30 QBs in total QBR (33.4). It will be hard for Young to be much worse in his sophomore season in 2024, and the Panthers also added some playmakers around him via the draft and trade market, but he'll still merely be a low-end QB2 with upside in fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones May 20 9:10pm ET
Daniel Jones

The New York Giants said that quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) took part in 7-on-7 drills during organized team activities on Monday. Jones and the team have said that the expectation is that he'll be fully cleared for the start of training camp this summer after he tore his ACL in November of last year. In addition to his season-ending knee injury last year, Jones also missed some time with a neck injury that is apparently a thing of the past. The 26-year-old former first-rounder didn't have much of a chance behind the team's atrocious offensive line in 2023, but he's going to need to show more in 2024 while coming off a major injury after signing a four-year, $160 million deal last offseason. In his six starts last year, Jones threw for 909 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions. His rushing upside keeps him relevant as a QB2 in fantasy, but that could be negatively affected by his knee injury.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford May 20 9:03pm ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford participated in the voluntary workout Monday, May 20.

Fantasy Spin: Stafford has been looking to rework his contract but is not holding out during the offseason. He has one of the better receiving duos to work with in the NFL and should throw for plenty of yards in 2024. Fantasy players in most leagues probably can consider Stafford a No. 2 fantasy quarterback.

From TheHuddle

Matthew Stafford May 20 9:00pm ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is present at OTAs. The veteran signal-caller wants more money, so there were rumblings he wouldn't attend. He finished last season by throwing for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while completing 62.6% of his passes. Stafford is due to make $31 million guaranteed this year. However, he is only guaranteed $10 million for the remaining two seasons after the 2024-25 campaign. At any rate, Stafford is predicted to be a semi-reliable fantasy option for at least a few more seasons. But his fantasy stock will fall if he doesn't report to training camp if a new deal isn't reached.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins May 20 8:50pm ET
Tee Higgins

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins isn't expected to attend OTAs next week. This isn't surprising, considering the wideout wants a new contract. He also requested a trade in March, although it doesn't appear that the Bengals are looking to move him. The 25-year-old had a down season in 2023-24, amassing 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns, all the lowest marks of his career. He was also limited to just 12 games due to injury. With that said, there's still a chance things will get resolved heading into training camp. If that's the case, Higgins could turn things around in 2024-25, especially if Joe Burrow (wrist) stays healthy. Yet, if both parties can't reach an agreement, he'll play on a franchise tag.

From RotoBaller

DeVante Parker May 20 8:33pm ET
DeVante Parker

Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVante Parker announced his retirement from professional football Monday, May 20.

From TheHuddle

CeeDee Lamb May 20 8:30pm ET
CeeDee Lamb

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is not expected to attend OTAs, which will commence on Tuesday. This isn't anything new, although the latest report indicates things seemingly haven't changed regarding Lamb's desire for a new deal. He's due to make nearly $18 million in 2024-25 on his fifth-year option. However, as expected, Lamb wants to be one of the league's highest-paid wideouts. The 25-year-old was a top contributor throughout the 2023-24 campaign, finishing with 135 receptions (181 targets) for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's anticipated to be one of the first fantasy options taken in drafts heading into the new season. But that could change if Lamb doesn't get what he wants, especially if it means he doesn't show up for training camp in July.

From RotoBaller