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Studs and Duds: Championship Games

Mon Jan 29 8:39am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

McCaffrey comes up big again


That was a fun weekend of games. Both came down to the wire, making for some great entertainment. The Chiefs/Ravens game didn’t have many big fantasy performances, though, which was a bit of a downer. Now the NFC game had a lot more offensive fireworks. That game had plenty of fantasy production, helping make up for the first one. Hopefully, you scored a lot of fantasy points this week and are looking good to win your league.

Chiefs 17, Ravens 10

Fantasy Stud: Travis Kelce. He might not have enjoyed his best regular season but Kelce is coming up huge in the playoffs. He was vintage Kelce in this one. Kelce has 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown. This was his third game of the season with double-digit receptions

Fantasy Dud: Both Ravens running backs. Gus Edwards had just three carries for 20 yards while Justice Hill ran three times for three yard. And neither did much in the passing game. Hill had four receptions for 34 yards, and Edwards caught a pass for 16 yards. It was a disappointing showing for both backs, especially if you consider how well the Ravens ran the ball all season.

Game Notes: Mark Andrews returned from his broken leg and had two receptions for 15 yards. Andrews didn’t do much in this game, but was able to play and played a good number of snaps in his first game back. He’ll be just fine for 2024.

Zay Flowers had good numbers but made a couple crucial mistakes, including losing a fumble at the goal line. He did have five receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown despite the mistakes.

Isiah Pacheco found the end zone for the seventh straight game he has played. He ran 24 times for 68 yards and a touchdown.

49ers 34, Lions 31

Fantasy Stud: Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey didn’t have one of his huge yardage games, but scored two more touchdowns and still produced good total yardage numbers. McCaffrey ran 20 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns. He also had four receptions for 42 yards, giving him 132 total yards and two scores

Fantasy Dud: George Kittle. Kittle was really held in checking, finishing with two receptions for 27 yards. It was a poor showing in a game that had a lot of offense. You just expected better from the elite fantasy tight end.

Game Notes: Deebo Samuel was able to play with his shoulder injury and led the 49ers in receiving. He had eight receptions for 89 yards and didn’t seem slowed by the injury at all.

The Lions had big rushing totals. David Montgomery led the way, rushing 15 times for 93 yards and a touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs ran 12 times for 45 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs did lose a key fumble in the game, though.

Jameson Williams had three touches but two went for touchdowns. Williams had a carry for a 42-yard touchdown. And he also had two receptions for 25 yards and another touchdown.

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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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 4

Player Notes
Kareem Hunt Sep 24 6:10pm ET
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was signed to the active roster on Tuesday. Hunt was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad after the loss of Isiah Pacheco (fibula). While he was inactive in Week 3, he appears to be on track to play in Week 4. Hunt returns to Kansas City after a productive five seasons in Cleveland. At 29 years old, Hunt is a relatively inefficient running back at this stage in his career. However, he has a nose for the end zone. In 2023, Hunt rushed for 411 yards and nine touchdowns. He was primarily a short yardage option and only averaged 3.0 yards per carry. With Samaje Perine and Carson Steele in line ahead of Hunt, he does not figure to have a lot of fantasy value. However, should either of those two players get hurt, Hunt should still have enough juice to be a solid flex play in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Austin Ekeler Sep 24 6:03pm ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) is in the concussion protocol, head coach Dan Quinn told reporters Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Fantasy Spin: If Ekeler has to miss time, Brian Robinson Jr. should get a nice bump in usage, making him a fringe RB1 against a vulnerable Arizona Cardinals defense.

From TheHuddle

Evan Engram Sep 24 5:33pm ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram (hamstring) is in question to play against the Houston Texans in Week 4, head coach Doug Pederson told reporters Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Fantasy Spin: Considering the short week, there's a good chance managers will need to find a pivot option for Engram again.

From TheHuddle

Kareem Hunt Sep 24 5:13pm ET
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt was signed to the active roster from the practice squad, and RB Keaontay Ingram was released Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Fantasy Spin: Hunt now joins the backfield with Carson Steele and Samaje Perine. It's likely to be a heavy rotation with Steele working on early downs and Perine on passing downs. Where Hunt fits in isn't yet clear so it's best to temper expectations until the splits are revealed. Steele is an RB3 while Perine and Hunt can be viewed as RB4 types.

From TheHuddle

Marcus Davenport Sep 24 4:33pm ET
Marcus Davenport

Detroit Lions LB Derrick Barnes (knee) and DL Marcus Davenport (elbow) were placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The Lions also signed WR Tim Patrick off the practice squad and added him to the active roster.

From TheHuddle

Yannick Ngakoue Sep 24 4:33pm ET
Yannick Ngakoue

Updating a previous report, free-agent DE Yannick Ngakoue (Bears) was signed to the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

From TheHuddle

Adoree' Jackson Sep 24 4:03pm ET
Adoree' Jackson

New York Giants CB Adoree' Jackson (calf) and CB Andru Phillips (calf) did not practice on Tuesday, Sept. 24. DL Dexter Lawrence (foot), CB Nick McCloud (knee), LB Micah McFadden (back) and WR Darius Slayton (thumb) were limited. OL Jermaine Eluemunor (thumb) and C John Michael Schmitz (knee) practiced in full. The Giants held a walk-through on Tuesday, so the report is an estimation.

From TheHuddle

John Ross Sep 24 3:43pm ET
John Ross

Philadelphia Eagles WR Britain Covey (shoulder) was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The Eagles also added TE Jack Stoll off their practice squad and signed WR John Ross to replace Stoll on the practice squad.

From TheHuddle

Dalvin Cook Sep 24 3:40pm ET
Dalvin Cook

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that he doesn't expect veteran running back Dalvin Cook to play in Week 4 on Thursday Night Football against the division-rival New York Giants. Cook will have to wait another week to make his Cowboys debut in 2024. The team will continue to roll with Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn in their backfield on a short week. Dowdle, Zeke and Vaughn have combined to average a weak 3.5 yards on 49 rushing attempts through the first three games in 2024. If that continues, the 29-year-old Cook will surely get his opportunity, but there's no guarantee he'll be much better after averaging 3.2 yards per carry on 67 rushing attempts last year with the Jets. For now, Cook will bide his time on the practice squad and can be left to the waiver wire in most fantasy formats.

From RotoBaller

Odell Beckham Jr. Sep 24 3:30pm ET
Odell Beckham Jr.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said he's seen some good progress from wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) and feels optimistic about Beckham when his practice window opens up, which would come after Week 4. Beckham has been dealing with an undisclosed injury that kept him out for all of training camp in the summer, and he opened the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, so Week 5 against the division-rival New England Patriots would be the earliest he could make his Dolphins debut. The fact that OBJ has yet to even practice with the team once all year, though, suggests it will still be a while before he's ready for game action. The 31-year-old veteran looked washed up last year in Baltimore and is well off the fantasy radar in 12-team leagues in 2024, especially with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) on Injured Reserve and out indefinitely.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Huntley Sep 24 3:30pm ET
Tyler Huntley

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said it's "a possibility, for sure" that quarterback Tyler Huntley would be the team's starting quarterback on Monday night against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4 with Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) on Injured Reserve and Skylar Thompson (ribs) day-to-day after getting injured in the Week 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Miami signed Huntley off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad last week as QB insurance. The 26-year-old has had very little time to learn a new playbook, but he might give the Dolphins more upside with both his legs and arm than either of Thompson or Tim Boyle, who both struggled on Sunday in Seattle. For fantasy managers desperate at the QB position in two-QB superflex leagues, Huntley is worth a flier. Still, a move to Huntley isn't going to suddenly make receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle studs again in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Sep 24 3:20pm ET
Mike Evans

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to get wide receiver Mike Evans more involved after their Week 3 loss to the visiting Denver Broncos. "We've got to get him involved more," head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday. Evans has only 15 targets through the first three games of the 2024 season, which is a 38 percent drop from his target share a year ago. The 31-year-old pass-catcher has had at least 100 targets every year of his 10-year career in Tampa, but right now he's on pace to finish with 85 targets. The five-time Pro Bowler has also had 10 straight seasons of 1,000 receiving yards, so the pace is going to need to be picked up if he wants to make it 11 straight in 2024. Sunday's game against Denver was a bit different since the Broncos had lockdown cornerback Patrick Surtain on Evans, and he caught two of three targets for 17 yards. Expect Evans to get the squeaky-wheel treatment in Week 4 against the Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Adam Thielen Sep 24 3:03pm ET
Adam Thielen

Carolina Panthers WR Adam Thielen (hamstring) was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Fantasy Spin: If there is good news, it is that Thielen is reportedly expected to be ready to play "sooner than later." It is unfortunate timing for Thielen in that Andy Dalton was dealing in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders and Thielen was one of the primary beneficiaries. Jonathan Mingo has played a few more snaps than rookie Xavier Legette so far and should make for a slightly better waiver wire pickup, although neither player should be started in most leagues for now.

From TheHuddle

Kendall Fuller Sep 24 3:00pm ET
Kendall Fuller

Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Terron Armstead (concussion) and cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) are both in the NFL's concussion protocol after both players exited the Week 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks early. In just a few weeks, the Dolphins have been crippled by injuries, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), running back Raheem Mostert (chest), and now a Pro Bowl left tackle in Armstead and starting corner in Fuller. The explosive trio of Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De'Von Achane was limited to just a combined 124 total yards in Week 3, and backup quarterback Skylar Thompson (rib) left the game early with a rib injury. Miami's offense is arguably the best in the league when healthy, but for now, fantasy managers can likely target its offense with opposing fantasy defenses.

From RotoBaller

Britain Covey Sep 24 2:50pm ET
Britain Covey

The Philadelphia Eagles placed wide receiver/return specialist Britain Covey (shoulder) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The team also signed tight end Jack Stoll to the active roster and wide receiver John Ross to the practice squad. Covey suffered a shoulder injury during the Week 3 win over the New Orleans Saints, so his brief stint in an elevated role has been cut short. With A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (head) dinged up heading into a Week 4 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team's receiver room is thinning out quickly. Brown could return in Week 4, but like Smith, his status is unclear early in the week. If both star receivers can't suit up on Sunday, Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson will see more opportunities, but tight end Dallas Goedert, who just posted 170 receiving yards, will likely be quarterback Jalen Hurts' No. 1 target.

From RotoBaller

Kendall Fuller Sep 24 2:43pm ET
Kendall Fuller

Miami Dolphins CB Kendall Fuller (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol as of Tuesday, Sept. 24.

From TheHuddle

Derek Carr Sep 24 2:40pm ET
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints center Erik McCoy (groin) suffered a groin injury during the Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and he is expected to miss six to eight weeks after he undergoes surgery. The good news is that his injury is not viewed as season-ending, but this development is obviously not ideal for the Saints offense that looked dominant in Week 1 and Week 2. McCoy, a 2019 second-round pick out of Texas, was named to his first Pro Bowl last season. His absence could create issues on the interior for quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Sep 24 2:40pm ET
Gabriel Davis

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) is considered day-to-day with a shoulder injury, according to head coach Doug Pederson. The former Buffalo Bill has seen 16 targets through his first three games with the Jaguars and has racked up 123 yards on eight receptions. His shoulder injury was not evident on Monday Night in the loss to Buffalo, but it doesn't sound as if the ailment is considered long-term. Either way, based on what we've seen thus far, he has limited upside as a part of a struggling offense led by Trevor Lawrence. Davis can continue to be stashed in deep leagues, but he's likely not worth rostering in traditional 10 or 12-team setups. Like when he was in Buffalo, he's mostly a touchdown-or-bust flex option in deep formats.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Sep 24 2:40pm ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) has missed each of the last two games after suffering a hamstring injury during pregame warmups in Week 2. He was initially deemed week-to-week by head coach Doug Pederson, and with a short week coming up following the Monday Night Football loss to the Buffalo Bills, his status remains unclear. Backup tight end Brenton Strange caught two passes for 12 yards and a touchdown in Week 3. Jacksonville is looking to get into the win column on Sunday, but that will be a tough task on the road against the Houston Texans. Houston has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends thus far, so Strange is likely not worth starting if Engram is out. If Engram can play, he'll have a high-end TE2 or low-end TE1 outlook. Fantasy managers should monitor Engram's practice participation when the Jaguars release the first injury report of the week on Wednesday.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Sep 24 2:20pm ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Trent Brown (knee) will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, according to NFL.com. The 10-year NFL veteran left the Monday night game against the Washington Commanders early after suffering the injury, and he will not be able to make it back this season. This is a significant blow for the Bengals, who are sitting in a 0-3 hole after Week 3. With quarterback Joe Burrow's recent injury history, losing a key piece of the team's pass protection is far from ideal. Amarius Mims, who was the No. 18 overall pick out of Georgia in the 2024 NFL Draft, will take over starting duties at right tackle.

From RotoBaller