Studs and Duds: Week 2
Mon Sep 19 10:59am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Tua comes up huge in Week 2
This was a week where certain players scored so many fantasy points that they likely led teams to victories all by themselves. Some players had just huge, huge fantasy performances. It was a much better week of fantasy scoring than the opener. Hopefully, you were on the winning end of these big games in Week 2.
Chiefs 27, Chargers 24
Fantasy Stud: Mike Williams. Williams was a bust in the opener but was huge in this game, having a monster game with Keenan Allen out of the lineup. Williams had eight receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown. He has a huge weekly ceiling in this offense, so expect more of the same with Williams going forward. Hopefully, you didn’t overreact to his showing in Week 1 and bench him.
Fantasy Dud: JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster had a second game to forget, catching three passes for 10 yards. You just expected more from him after his big Week 1. This might be the norm for the Chiefs receivers, though, seeing them be hit or miss throughout the season. Smith-Schuster could end being a frustrating player for fantasy owners in this offense.
Game Notes: Justin Herbert gutted it out in this one, despite injuring his ribs. He was 33-of-48 for 334 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. His injury is a concern going forward, so keep an eye on the players notes for the latest.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire had just 12 touches but still produced well for fantasy teams. He ran eight times for 74 yards, averaging 9.3 yards per carry. He also caught four passes for 44 yards, giving him 118 total yards.
Jaguars 24, Colts 0
Fantasy Stud: Christian Kirk. Kirk has firmly established himself as the top target in the Jaguars passing game. He had six receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He has six receptions each of his first two games and at least 75 yards each of those games. Kirk is on his way to a career best season.
Fantasy Dud: Jonathan Taylor. This looked like a favorable matchup for Taylor, but that didn’t come to fruition with the entire Colts offense struggled. Taylor ran nine times for 54 yards and caught just a pass for nine yards. It was not a good showing for the big-time back. Things will look better for him in the coming weeks when the Colts receivers get healthier.
Game Notes: Matt Ryan really struggled with his options in the passing game hurting. He was 16-of-30 for 195 yard without a touchdown and three interceptions. It was a game to forget for Ryan.
Trevor Lawrence had an impressive showing against a good defense, taking a step forward in his development. He was 26-of-31 for 241 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He also ran three times for 11 yards.
Patriots 17, Steelers 14
Fantasy Stud: Nelson Agholor. Agholor led the way at receiver for the Patriots this week. He had six receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. He had just 28 yards the previous game, so this was a little bit of a surprise. But Agholor is more than capable of the big game, so this didn’t come out of left field. Agholor was targeted just six times, though, so he didn’t get a ton of volume. He made the most of his chances.
Fantasy Dud: Rhamondre Steveson. Stevenson took a backset to Damien Harris much of the game. He ran nine times for 47 yards and caught just a pass for four yards. You can’t trust him right now in fantasy lineups. You kept hearing Stevenson would get more work in the passing game this year, but he has three catches on four targets in two games. Stevenson needs more volume to help fantasy owners.
Game Notes: Najee Harris played on his sore foot and had 20 total touches. He had 15 carries for 49 yards and caught five passes for 40 yards. He didn’t have a great fantasy performance but played a ton and still posted some decent point totals.
Jakobi Meyers had nine receptions for 95 yards. He has 13 receptions on 19 targets in two games. He gets a lot of volume in this passing game.
Giants 19, Panthers 16
Fantasy Stud: Christian McCaffrey. He didn’t have one his normal monster games, but it was a good rebound performance from McCaffrey. He hit the 100-yard rushing mark. He had 15 carries for 102 yards and caught four passes for 26 yards. So he finished with 128 total yards and four catches. This looked a lot more like the McCaffrey we are used to for fantasy teams.
Fantasy Dud: Robbie Anderson. Anderson came back down to earth after his huge fantasy game in Week 1. He caught just three passes for 32 yards. It was not a good follow up to his great game. Hem might be erratic like this throughout the season, though. This has been his track record some throughout his career.
Game Notes: Kadarius Toney was active but didn’t do much once again in a reserve role. He caught two passes for no gain. Toney is yet to have a receiving yard in two games.
Richie James actually led the Giants in receiving yards. He had five receptions for 51 yards. James has five receptions and 50-plus yards in each of his first two games.
Jets 31, Browns 30
Fantasy Stud: Garrett Wilson. Wilson had a coming out party for the Jets. He was the main target at receiver throughout the game. He had eight catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns. It was an impressive showing for the rookie. Wilson is quickly building a rapport with Joe Flacco and looks to be the real deal at receiver for the Jets.
Fantasy Dud: Donovan Peoples-Jones. Peoples-Jones was targeted 11 times and caught six passes for 60 yards in Week 1. He didn’t catch a pass in this game and had just a target. Peoples-Jones showed he could be a frustrating player fantasy owners all season long.
Game Notes: Nick Chubb had a great game, rushing 17 times for 87 yards and three touchdowns. Chubb also caught three passes for 26 yards.
Amari Cooper showed his worth as the No. 1 target for the Browns. He hit the 100-yard mark, catching nine passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Lions 36, Commanders 27
Fantasy Stud: Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown continues his torrid streak for the Lions. He continues to find the end zone on a weekly basis. He had nine receptions for 16 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran twice for 68 yards. St. Brown has established himself as an elite fantasy receiver. He just keeps posting big numbers.
Fantasy Dud: T.J. Hockenson. There were a ton of fantasy points in this game, but Hockenson wasn’t a part of much of this. He had three receptions for 26 yards. Hockenson is off to a bit of a quiet start to his season. He has seven receptions but just 64 yards. He has time to get it going but suddenly has a lot more to compete with for targets in the Lions offense.
Game Notes: D’Andre Swift was limited in the game but made the most of his chances. He ran five times for 56 yards, averaging 11.2 yards per carry. He also caught two passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. His sprained ankle didn’t seem to be much of an issue for him when in the game.
Curtis Samuel was a big part of the offense once again for the Commanders. He had seven receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. He led the Commanders in receptions and receiving yards.
Bucs 20, Saints 10
Fantasy Stud: Bucs defense. The Bucs defense had a dominating performance. This unit had three interceptions, six sacks and held the Saints to just 10 points. The Bucs also returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown. This defense is one of the best in all of football and a must start for fantasy teams on a weekly basis.
Fantasy Dud: Tom Brady. Brady had another ho-hum game for his fantasy owners. He failed to throw for 200 yards and scored just a touchdown. He was 18-of-34 for 190 yards and a touchdown with a lost fumble. Brady will get better in the coming weeks as they get healthier at receiver. But for now, it could be more of the same.
Game Notes: Mike Evans had three receptions for 61 yards before getting ejected in the second half for a fight. The good news is he was able to play and looked healthy before the ejection.
Michael Thomas found the end zone for the second straight game. He had six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Dolphins 42, Ravens 38
Fantasy Stud: Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa had the best game of his career, leading his team to a huge come from behind victory on the road. He was 36-of-50 for 469 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. It was some kind of performance from Tagovailoa. He is shaping up to be a legit QB1 for fantasy teams in this explosive offense.
Fantasy Dud: Chase Edmonds. Edmonds took a backseat to Raheem Mostert most of this game, which was a surprise after his Week 1 workload. He had just five carries for 33 yards and caught a pass for eight yards. He did about nothing until breaking a 28-yard run late in the game. The Dolphins running back situation might be a hard one to figure out once again this season.
Game Notes: The Dolphins had two receivers with double-digit receptions, 100-yard performances and two touchdowns. Tyreek Hill had 11 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylen Waddle was nearly as good, catching 11 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
Lamar Jackson will get overlooked because his team lost, but Jackson was spectacular for the Ravens. He was 21-of-29 for 318 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. He also hit a 100 yards rushing, running nine times for 119 yards and a touchdown.
49ers 27, Seahawks 7
Fantasy Stud: Tyler Lockett. Lockett was one of the few bright spots for the Seahawks. He had a 100-yard showing, finishing with nine receptions for 107 yards. Lockett didn’t even top 30 yards in Week 1, so this was a welcome sight for fantasy owners. Lockett might still have some fantasy value this year - even with Geno Smith as his starting quarterback.
Fantasy Dud: Rashaad Penny. Penny is another player off to a rough fantasy start. He had six carries for just 15 yards and didn’t catch a pass. Penny has failed to top double-digit fantasy points each of his first two games. And Kenneth Walker is back in the mix, taking work from Penny this week. Things are not looking good for Penny right now.
Game Notes: Trey Lance broke his ankle injury early in the game and had to be carted off the field with an air cast. It was not a pretty site for Lance, who needs surgery to fix the injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Jimmy Garoppolo played well in relief of Lance and will be the likely starter the rest of the season. He was 13-of-21 for 154 yards and a touchdown without a turnover. He also ran four times for five yards and a touchdown, giving him two scores without a turnover in the game.
Rams 31, Falcons 27
Fantasy Stud: Cooper Kupp. Kupp did lose a fumble late in the game but that didn’t stop him from having a huge fantasy game once again. He had 11 receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Kupp has double-digit receptions and 100-plus yards each of his first two games. He has 30-plus fantasy points each of those games. Kupp is as good as it gets right now.
Fantasy Dud: Kyle Pitts. Pitts continues to have a rough start to his expected breakout season. He had two receptions for 19 yards. Pitts has the exact same line each of his first two games, catching two passes for 19 yards. He has plenty of time to turn it around, but his start has been really disappointing for all his fantasy owners.
Game Notes: Cam Akers was back in good graces with the Rams coaching staff. He actually led the Rams in rush attempts after barely touching the field Week 1. Akers ran 15 times for 44 yards while Darrell Henderson had 10 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Allen Robinson was a bigger part of the offense this week after barely seeing the ball his first game with the Rams. Robinson had four receptions for 53 yard and a touchdown.
Cowboys 20, Bengals 17
Fantasy Stud: Noah Brown. Brown has a clear rapport with new quarterback Cooper Rush and it showed in this game. He had five receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. Brown has five receptions in each of his first two games and has legit fantasy value in this offense as long as he is in the starting lineup.
Fantasy Dud: Joe Burrow. There were a lot of duds for the Bengals, but Burrow is the top one for the Bengals. He didn’t even top 200-passing yards. Burrow was 24-of-36 for 199 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Burrow has been under heavy pressure each of the first two games, which is a big concern for his fantasy owners right now. He needs to stay upright to make plays.
Game Notes: Cooper Rush showed well in his first start this season. He was 21-of-33 for 244 yards and a touchdown without a turnover. He moved the offense and led his team to a victory against a good team.
Tee Higgins looked just fine in his return from a concussion. He had six receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Broncos 16, Texans 9
Fantasy Stud: Coutland Sutton. Sutton was one of the few good fantasy performers in this game. He had seven receptions for 122 yards. Sutton has 17 targets the first two games and is the clear top target for Russell Wilson in the passing game. He should continue to get a heavy workload going forward.
Fantasy Dud: Javonte Williams. This looked like a great matchup for Williams to post a huge line, but that didn’t happen. He made plays but his lack of work in the passing game really hurt his fantasy line, especially since he didn’t score a touchdown. Williams had 15 carries for 75 yards and caught a pass for 10 yards. The good news is he had five more touches than Melvin Gordon, getting more playing time than the veteran back.
Game Notes: Jerry Jeudy suffered a shoulder injury early in the game and was unable to return. He had a catch for 11 yards and a carry for a yard before leaving. This is an injury to watch going forward. He could miss some time.
Dameon Pierce had a much bigger role in the offense in Week 2. He ran 15 times for 69 yards. Rex Burkhead didn’t even have a carry in the game. Pierce also caught a pass for eight yards.
Cardinals 29, Raiders 23
Fantasy Stud: Darren Waller. Waller had a six receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. He had a good showing at a position that has really struggled this year. Waller has played pretty well to start his season, catching 10 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Waller is an elite talent at a shallow fantasy position.
Fantasy Dud: Davante Adams. Adams did find the end zone, but was still a disappointment because he caught just two passes in the game. He still failed to score double-digit fantasy points in the game. He had two receptions for 12 yards and a touchdown. It was not the showing you would expect from Adams, who posted a monster game in Week 1.
Game Notes: James Conner had to leave the game early because of an ankle injury. Given his injury history, this is a concern for Conner going forward. His injury opened the door for Darrel Williams to get his first work of the season. He played well, running eight times for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Zach Ertz had eight receptions for 75 yards. He led the team in receptions and yards. Ertz seems to be getting healthier and healthier each week, finally getting over that calf injury.
Packers 27, Bears 10
Fantasy Stud: Aaron Jones. Jones had maybe the best performance of any running back this week. He was huge, rushing 15 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 170 total yards and two touchdowns. The Packers made it a point to establish the run and Jones took advantage of the workload.
Fantasy Dud: Cole Kmet. Well, we guess last week wasn’t as much of a fluke as we thought. For the second straight game, Kmet went without a catch. Many thought this was going to be a breakout season for Kmet, but that seems a little far fetched after two games. He is not involved in the offense at all right now. This has been a disastrous start for him.
Game Notes: David Montgomery was the only bright spot for the Bears offensively. He hit the 100-yard mark, rushing 15 times for 122 yards. He averaged 8.1 yards per carry.
Allen Lazard returned from his injury and found the end zone. He didn’t get a ton of work, but caught two passes for 13 yards and a score. His playing time should ramp up as he gets back to full strength.
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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The Paur Report
The Kansas City Chiefs have really been working to see if they can move up from No. 32 in the first round of Thursday night's NFL draft. The belief around the league is that the Chiefs moving up from No. 32 would be for one of the speed wide receivers in this talented draft class at the position. It makes sense given the fact that the Chiefs are expecting second-year wideout Rashee Rice to be suspended for multiple games in 2024 after his involvement in a car accident that involved injuries. Even with Rice in the fold, KC has the need to bolster their receiving corps behind Rice and aging tight end Travis Kelce. If the Chiefs do pull off a trade up in the latter portion of the first round, they could be targeting Texas receiver Xavier Worthy.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars are calling around in an effort to move up in the first round of Thursday's NFL draft, and teams taking their calls believe they are on the hunt for a specific pass-catcher, according to a source. Even though the Jaguars signed wideout Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, it appears the Jags are looking to make a splash early in the first round this year for another weapon for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville currently holds the No. 17 overall pick. If they were to trade into the top 10, players such as Washington receiver Rome Odunze, LSU receiver Malik Nabers, and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers could all be options as they look for extra pass-catchers after they lost Calvin Ridley in free agency. Stay tuned.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Jeff Darlington reports that the Minnesota Vikings are very tense with the first round of the 2024 NFL draft just hours away from starting on Thursday night as they look to trade up to No. 3 with the New England Patriots in an effort to take a quarterback of the future. The Vikings currently sit at the No. 11 pick and were unable to re-sign quarterback Kirk Cousins in the offseason. The player that has fascinated them throughout the pre-draft process has been North Carolina QB Drake Maye, but there is serious competition for the No. 3 pick, including the Patriots themselves. If Minnesota can't get Maye at No. 3, they'd likely need to jump the Giants at No. 6 in order to get Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. If they whiff on Maye and McCarthy, Washington's Michael Penix Jr. could be the fallback option for the Vikes.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers have been in trade rumors regarding star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk all offseason, but NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports the team has also talked with teams about trading fellow star wideout Deebo Samuel. Russini said one of the teams the 49ers have talked with currently holds a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, so a blockbuster deal could be in the works. Aiyuk is reportedly asking for more money than the 49ers are willing to give him, while Samuel has been in the trade rumor circles for multiple seasons. With high-priced assets like George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner on the roster, the organization will have to make moves in order to re-sign quarterback Brock Purdy in the near future. If one of the wideouts is traded, they should retain plenty of fantasy value with their new team.
From RotoBaller
Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham has seemingly been a rising prospect as the 2024 NFL draft approaches, and NFL draft expert Todd McShay suggested he could be the first offensive lineman off the board on Thursday. Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt has been the popular choice to take that honor, but McShay believes the Los Angeles Chargers could draft Latham over Alt with the No. 5 overall pick. Latham played right tackle for the Crimson Tide, making him a perfect fit on the other side of stud left tackle Rashawn Slater. Los Angeles has been one of the trickiest teams to predict during this draft cycle, and new head coach Jim Harbaugh could choose to go an unconventional route.
From RotoBaller
The Indianapolis Colts hold the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz reports the team has done a ton of pre-draft work on the wide receiver position, and they are interested in Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. The organization is likely trying to surround quarterback Anthony Richardson with as much pass-catching talent as possible, so upgrading his pass-catchers behind Michael Pittman Jr. makes sense. Youngsters Alec Pierce and Josh Downs have shown flashes of upside, but they are far from stud wideouts based on their early-career results. The Colts might be able to land LSU wideout Brian Thomas Jr. with the No. 15 selection, but they could also look to trade up for Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, or Rome Odunze. Additionally, the team has not had a tight end reach the 400-yard mark since 2019, so the upside of Bowers could be intriguing.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears are expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but they are willing to trade down from the No. 9 overall selection, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Chicago only has four total picks in this year's draft, so moving down to acquire more selections makes plenty of sense. The team has been linked to Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner, and UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu if they stay put, but the options become plentiful if they decide to move down the board. QB-needy teams like the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders could be potential trade partners. Quarterbacks Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy could still be available at that spot.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings secured an additional first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft via a trade with the Houston Texans in March. The organization held the No. 11 overall pick after finishing 7-10 in 2023, and they sent a bundle of picks to acquire the No. 23 overall selection from Houston (via Cleveland Browns). Many believe the Vikings are trying to use their two picks to move into the range to select a quarterback, and NFL insider Peter Schrager projects the Titans to be that trade partner. Tennessee holds the No. 7 selection, which could put the Vikings in range to pick Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Schrager has the Vikings making that pick and the Titans landing Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt at pick 11. There are likely multiple avenues Minnesota can take if the speculation is current, but Tennessee could be willing to trade down since they do not have a third-round selection.
From RotoBaller
It's no secret that the Buffalo Bills need to add some wide receivers in this year's NFL draft after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and losing Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason. At No. 28 overall in the first round of Thursday night's draft, the Bills would seem to be set to take a pass-catcher. However, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero thinks the draft class' depth at the receiver position could lead the Bills to wait perhaps until the second round to take a receiver, potentially adding a defensive player in the first round instead. As Buffalo's depth chart stands right now, their top three receivers are Khalil Shakir, Justin Shorter and veteran Curtis Samuel. Even if the team adds a few wideouts in this year's draft, tight end Dalton Kincaid could be Buffalo's leading receiver in 2024.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Rams, who haven't picked in the first round since 2016, are calling up to try to get into the top 10 of the first round of this year's NFL draft on Thursday evening, according to sources. The Rams currently sit at pick No. 19, so it would take a lot to pull off a move into the top 10 this year. It's unclear who they might be eyeing if they were to pull it off, but the best bet would be to select Georgia pass-catching tight end Brock Bowers, who has been projected to go at 10th overall to the New York Jets in a lot of mock drafts. The Rams have also been rumored to be looking for a successor to aging quarterback Matthew Stafford, but it's unlikely they pull off a move all the way into the top five to take one of the high-end signal-callers in this year's draft. A defensive tackle is also on their draft wish list.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos are a contender to select a quarterback and potentially make a move in the first round of Thursday night's NFL draft, even after trading for quarterback Zach Wilson earlier this week. Denver sits at No. 12 overall, but NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reiterated that he thinks the Broncos could trade down within the first round. They likely don't have enough draft capital to move into the top-four picks to take a high-end QB, so instead, they could move down to take a pass-rusher or even Oregon QB Bo Nix. The Broncos have been linked to Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy as well, but McCarthy's draft stock has been soaring in the lead-up to the draft, which means the Broncos would likely have to trade into the top five to get him. As of right now, Wilson is set to compete with Jarrett Stidham for the starting job under center in 2024.
From RotoBaller
The New York Giants have been trying to trade up to No. 3 overall with the New England Patriots in the first round of Thursday night's NFL draft, with the belief being that they want to select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, according to multiple league sources. The prevailing thought is that it's a long shot to happen, though, but the Patriots are listening to all calls. The Giants and Vikings appear to be the most aggressive teams that are trying to trade into the top five in order to take a QB of the future in this year's draft. The Patriots have been open to trading down, but so far they've reportedly not received any serious enough offers, and they are also looking for a QB of their own after trading away Mac Jones this offseason. Most pundits are expecting New England to stand pat and take Maye if LSU's Jayden Daniels goes to the Commanders at No. 2.
From RotoBaller
The Washington Commanders are declining the fifth-year contract option of linebacker Jamin Davis, according to a source. It's been heading this way for on and off-field reasons. The plan in 2024 is to have the athletically gifted Davis become a "hybrid" defender, which should translate to less pass coverage and more attempts to rush the quarterback. Davis played his rookie season in 2021 at Mike linebacker before moving to the off-ball role in the team's 4-2-5 base defense. According to Pro Football Focus, he tied for the highest yards per catch allowed (12.1) last year and ranked fourth-worst in average depth of target (5.5) because of his limited coverage instincts. The 25-year-old former 19th overall pick out of Kentucky has just seven sacks in his three seasons, but he could be more productive in that category if he's rushing the passer more in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Bengals are picking up the fifth year option on the contract of Ja'Marr Chase. Dynasty Analysis: Consider this a placeholder as Cincinnati now needs to prepare to make Chase the highest paid receiver in the league. Amon-Ra St. Brown has set the market with a four-year, $120 million extension ($77 million guaranteed), so the Bengals are going to need to assemble a few armored cars here soon. Chase and Justin Jefferson should both be set to sign historic deals and while the option being picked up buys the Bengals one more season, dynasty managers shouldn't worry about him hitting free agency any time soon. Chase remains a bona fide candidate for the top overall selection in dynasty leagues.
When asked by Rich Eisen if he has any idea on where he's going to end up in this week's NFL draft, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy hinted at the New York Giants, who currently own the No. 6 overall pick in the first round on Thursday night. "I have somewhat of an Idea, New York, #Giants, I've spent the most time with. They're a phenomenal staff," McCarthy said. The young QB's stock has been rising rapidly ever since his pro-day workout. Reports suggest the Giants and Vikings could be in a raise to trade up to select McCarthy, who is attractive because of his experience running a pro-style offense in college. With Daniel Jones (knee) coming off a torn ACL and with no guaranteed money owed to him beyond 2024, the G-Men have done their due diligence on QBs in this year's draft and feel like a lock to take one at some point this week.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos' connections to Oregon quarterback Bo Nix have persisted with the 2024 NFL draft just a day away on Thursday night. Nix is a player that teams could wait on until the second round, but the Broncos don't have a current second-round pick this year and are slated to select in the first round at No. 12. Their acquisition of former first-rounder Zach Wilson adds another layer to their QB situation heading into Thursday evening. The Broncos have done their homework on the QB draft class -- they hosted Washington's Michael Penix Jr. on a top-30 visit and watched Michigan's J.J. McCarthy work out -- and have discussed a potential trade up in the first round. However, they have plenty of other needs and have also talked about trading down. Right now, Jarrett Stidham and Wilson are slated to compete for the starting job in training camp.
From RotoBaller
The Las Vegas Raiders are thought to be high on Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., and if the QB market starts drying up quickly in the first round of Thursday night's NFL draft and they feel the need to trade up in order to avoid being shut out, the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5 and the Tennessee Titans at No. 7 are two teams that people think are willing to trade down. The Raiders would love to be able to get up high enough to take LSU's Jayden Daniels to reunite him with head coach Antonio Pierce, but they know they might not be able to do that. The Raiders have talked with the Arizona Cardinals about what it would take to trade up to No. 4, but Vegas' interest in that pick would likely cool off significantly if Daniels is among the top three picks, as expected.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots ownership seems to have a strong preference to come out of the first round of this year's NFL draft with a quarterback, so moving back to, say, No. 11 with the Minnesota Vikings or No. 13 with the Las Vegas Raiders might be too far of a drop for the team to still ensure their ability to do that. But if they move back only three spots to No. 6 in a trade with the New York Giants, they could still be in position to pick a QB in the first round and add multiple extra premium picks. The Patriots gathered information on Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. in the pre-draft process in case they decide to trade down. The Pats appear to be high on him, but ESPN's Dan Graziano doesn't think he'll be in consideration if they stay at No. 3. Most pundits believe New England will take North Carolina's Drake Maye if they stick in the third spot.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Jeff Howe predicts that New York Giants will trade the sixth overall pick in this year's NFL draft and a 2025 second-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in order to move up to fourth overall to take Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy on Thursday night. Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort is eager to trade down for a second straight year. If LSU's Jayden Daniels or North Carolina's Drake Maye remain available at No. 4, the Minnesota Vikings or Las Vegas Raiders would probably become more aggressive in pursuing the fourth overall pick. "I think there's going to be a race to McCarthy between the Giants and Vikings," a coach said. McCarthy doesn't have the upside that the top three QBs in this class do, but rival executives cited concerns with Giants current QB Daniel Jones' (knee) health after tearing his ACL and dealing with a neck injury in 2023.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Jeff Howe thinks No. 3 to the New England Patriots in Thursday night's NFL draft feels like the spot for North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, although a couple executives made a case for Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. Maye has prototypical size, arm strength and athletic ability, but there's genuine concern about his inconsistencies in 2023, and his tape shed light on some erratic throws and tendencies. He has a reputation as a high-character person with great leadership abilities. Maye would be the more traditional pick at No. 3 to the Pats, with McCarthy being viewed as more of a surprise. If Maye is still available at No. 3, one executive thinks the Minnesota Vikings "would move heaven and Earth" to try and move up to draft him. If Maye lands in New England, he could sit and learn behind veteran Jacoby Brissett in 2024.
From RotoBaller
