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NFL Playoffs League - FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Studs and Duds: Week 4

Mon Oct 3 10:17am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Ekeler has huge Week 4 game


It was good to see the running back position have a bit of a resurgence, having several players post some huge games. This hasn’t been the case many weeks for the position, but Week 4 had some big performance. The quarterback spot continues to be a bit of a strange one, though, with Jared Goff and Geno Smith leading all fantasy quarterbacks in scoring this week. Who would have thought? This has been the theme of the season for nearly all the positions out side of receiver, though, seeing players that weren’t drafted very high leading the way. Will this continue all season? That is the big question. 

Bengals 27, Dolphins 15

Fantasy Stud: Tyreek Hill. Hill had a great rebound game after a down showing, carrying the passing game much of the night. He had 10 receptions for 160 yards. He scored 26 fantasy points, giving him 18-plus fantasy points three of four games. Hill is on his way to another huge season, posting just as good of numbers with his new team.

Fantasy Dud: Jaylen Waddle. Waddle lost out on targets with Hill getting so much attention in the passing game. Waddle had just two receptions for 39 yards on five targets. It was his first game all season without at least 15 fantasy points. Waddle will be just fine. He had a down game. It happens.

Game Notes: Tua Tagolvailoa took a scary hit in the game and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. He was 8-of-14 for 110 yards with an interception before the injury. This one could knock him out for some games, so stay tuned

Tee Higgins had his first 100-yard game of the season, catching seven passes for 124 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Higgins has at least 70 yards three straight games. 

Vikings 28, Saints 25

Fantasy Stud: Justin Jefferson. Jefferson did a great job of rebounding from two poor performances for his standards. He had 10 receptions for 147 yards and ran once for a 13-yard touchdown. Jefferson showed why many consider him the best fantasy receiver in the game right now. 

Fantasy Dud: Dalvin Cook. The good news is the shoulder didn't seem to be an issue for Cook. The bad news is he didn’t do much with all his work. He ran 20 times for just 76 yards and caught two passes for 10 yards. Cook scored just 10.6 fantasy points. He has been a bit of a bust to date, having failed to stop 15 fantasy points in any game. Cook still has time to get it going but things haven’t been as expected to date. 

Game Notes: Alvin Kamara was a late scratch, missing the game because of his rib injury. Latavius Murray and Mark Ingram pretty much split the work for the Saints. Ingram had 10 carries for 30 yards while Murray ran 11 times for 57 yards and a touchdown. 

Chris Olave scored his first NFL touchdown. He had four receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown. Olave has at least 12 fantasy points three straight games. 

Falcons 23, Browns 20

Fantasy Stud: Nick Chubb. Chubb just keeps getting it done on a weekly basis. He hit the 100-yard mark, rushing 19 times for 118 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for nine yards. Chubb has hit the 100-yard mark three of four games. He is producing as well as any fantasy back in the game through four games.

Fantasy Dud: Kyle Pitts. Pitts was back to his ways from earlier in the season. He had just a catch for 25 yards, really disappointing his fantasy owners once again. He has fewer than 30 yards three of four games and fewer than four fantasy points those three games. Just when you think he can get it going, he reverts back to his bad ways. 

Game Notes: Tyler Allgeier had his best game as a pro, rushing 10 times for 84 yards. Caleb Huntley also got work and played well, coming out of nowhere. Huntley ran 10 times for 56 yards and a touchdown. 

David Njoku had five receptions for 73 yards. He has 14 receptions his last two games and 70-plus yards each of those games. 

Cowboys 25, Commanders 10

Fantasy Stud: CeeDee Lamb. Lamb had six receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. Lamb has really started to heat up, having 15-plus fantasy points three straight. He has 20-plus points his last two games. Lamb is having a fine season despite being without Dak Prescott for most of it. He just keeps getting it done for fantasy teams. 

Fantasy Dud: Curtis Samuel. Samuel had his first poor showing of the season. He caught just four passes for 38 yards and didn’t have a rush attempt. Samuel had at least seven receptions three straight games before this showing. He still was targeted seven times in the game, which was encouraging for Samuel. He will be just fine. 

Game Notes: Michael Gallup played his first game since tearing his ACL and found the end zone. He had two receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown. 

Cooper Rush keeps playing well in a starting role for the Cowboys. He led the team to another win and was 15-of-27 for 223 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. Rush is yet to throw an interceptions in four games. 

Seahawks 48, Lions 45

Fantasy Stud: T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson took advantage of injures at receiver and led the way in the passing game for the Lions. He had eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns. This was his first game all season with more than 40 yards. He had been a non-factor most weeks for the Lions. Hockenson does have touchdowns two straight games, though. 

Fantasy Dud: Craig Reynolds. Reynolds did not get much work despite serving as the top backup for the Lions this week. He ran two times for 30 yards and caught a pass for 12 yards. He did produce good numbers with his chances but had  just three chances. Reynolds is not a player fantasy teams can trust - even if he keeps serving as the No. 2 back the next few weeks. 

Game Notes: Rashaad Penny finally got it going and in a big way, rushing 17 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 8.9 yards per carry. 

Jared Goff produced a great game despite being down his top two receivers and starting running back. Goff was 26-of-39 for 378 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. 

Titans 24, Colts 17

Fantasy Stud: Mo Alie-Cox. Alie-Cox came out of nowhere to lead the Colts in receiving. He had just a catch each of the last two games and failed to top 30 yards all season, but had a monster showing in this one. He had six receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. He should remain up and down going forward, but this game showed his potential if getting the chances. 

Fantasy Dud: Jonathan Taylor. Taylor got 20 carries but left the game before it was over because of an ankle sprain. He ran 20 times for just 42 yards. He also caught just a pass for a yard. Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for Taylor, they might be now with the injury. He has been a real disappointment for fantasy owners. 

Game Notes: Derrick Henry had his first 100-yard game of the season. He ran 22 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. He also had three receptions for 33 yards, giving him eight catches his last two games. 

Giants 20, Bears 12

Fantasy Stud: Saquon Barkley. Barkley keeps churning out the big fantasy numbers. He had 31 rushes for 146 yards. He also caught two passes for 16 yards, giving him 162 total yards. Barkley has 100-yard rushing games two of three and is just 37 yards shy of 500-rushing yards. 

Fantasy Dud: Richie James. James got some play because many thought he would lead the way in targets for the Giants with all the injuries at receiver. That didn’t happen with James getting just a catch for nine yards. He had at least four receptions his first three games, so this game was a surprise, especially with the Giants down so many options in the passing game. 

Game Notes: Daniel Jones was banged up in the game, hurting his ankle, but was able to return. He was 8-of-13 for 71 yards. He scored two rushing touchdowns, running six times for 68 yards and two scores. 

Darnell Mooney had four receptions for 94 yards. This was his first game all season with more than 25 yards. Mooney finally got some chances to make some big plays and produced well. 

Eagles 29, Jaguars 21

Fantasy Stud: Miles Sanders. Sanders had his best game of the season, getting 27 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 22 yards, giving him 156 total yards. This was his first 100-yard rushing game, but Sanders has at least 80-rushing yards three of four games. Sanders is off to the best season of his career. 

Fantasy Dud: James Robinson. Robinson had his first dud game of the season, which wasn’t a huge surprise against a good Eagles defense. Robinson ran eight times of 29 yards and didn’t catch a pass. This was his first game all season being held out of the end zone. This also was his first game without a reception. 

Game Notes: Trevor Lawrence had a game to forget, struggling to hold onto the ball in wet conditions. He lost four fumbles in the game. Lawrence also threw an intesrcpeoitn, giving him five total turnovers. Lawrence was 11-of-23 for 174 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. 

A.J. Brown had five receptions for 95 yards. Brown has at least five receptions all four gams and 85 or more yards three of those games. 

Jets 24, Steelers 20

Fantasy Stud: Corey Davis. Davis led the way at receiver for the Jets this week, catching five passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Davis has 70-plus yards three of four games. He also has touchdowns two of his last three. Davis has been a very pleasant surprise for fantasy owners, having at least 13 fantasy points three of four games. 

Fantasy Dud: Diontae Johnson. Johnson had a rare down showing, having just two receptions for 11 yards. Johnson had least six receptions every game before this game. Johnson remains a steady presence in this offense, so don't get too down on him over a game. He’ll get it going. 

Game Notes: Zach Wilson played pretty well in his first start of the season. He led his team to a win, going 18-of-36 for 252 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. He ran twice for 15 yards and caught a touchdown pass. 

Mitchell Trubisky was benched for rookie Kenny Pickett. Trubisky was 7-of-13 for 84 yards with an interception. Pickett moved the offense but turned the ball over three times. He was 10-of-13 for 120 yards with three interceptions. He ran six times for 15 yards and two touchdowns. 

Bills 23, Ravens 20

Fantasy Stud: J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins had a multiple touchdown showing. He ran 13 times for 41 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 22 yards and a touchdown. He had 63 total yards and two scores. Dobbins looks to be rounding into form, leading the Ravens backfield in carries. 

Fantasy Dud: Gabriel Davis. This looked like a good matchup for Davis against a bad Ravens secondary, but that didn’t turn out to be the case. He had just a catch for 13 yards, continuing to be a boom or bust play for fantasy owners. Davis has fewer than seven fantasy points two straight games. 

Game Notes: Lamar Jackson was held in check, going 20-of-29 for 144 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. His biggest positive was his rushing totals, running 11 times for 73 yards. 

Josh Allen had a similar showing to Jackson, but a rushing touchdown helped push his fantasy totals to a much better place. Allen was 19-of-36 for 213 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He ran 11 times for 70 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 26.6 fantasy points in a down game for his standards. 

Chargers 34, Texans 24

Fantasy Stud: Austin Ekeler. Ekeler carried many fantasy teams to victory this week with a three-touchdown performance. He had 13 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns. He also had six receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. Ekeler has at least 11 fantasy points all four games. Ekeler continues to get a bunch of work in the passing game, having at least six receptions three straight. 

Fantasy Dud: Josh Palmer. Palmer caught just a pass for 25 yards. He was coming off a game with six receptions for 99 yards, so you were hoping for better with Keenan Allen still out of the lineup. He had just a target, though. He had 17 targets his previous two games, so this was an outlier of a performance for Palmer. 

Game Notes: Mike Williams had seven receptions 120 yards. He has 100-yard games two of three. Williams has been up and down but a huge ceiling every week. 

Cardinals 26, Panthers 16

Fantasy Stud: Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey looked like the McCaffrey of old in this one, getting a ton of work in the passing game for the first time this season. He was held in cheek on the ground, rushing eight times for just 27 yards. But he had nine receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. It was great to see McCaffrey so involved in the passing game once again. And he looked healthy in the game despite being questionable because of a quad injury.

Fantasy Dud: Greg Dortch. Dortch caught just a pass for six yards. The rookie had at least 13 fantasy points three straight games before this dud of a game. He had 20 receptions in three games but was an afterthought in Week 4. Dortch had just a target. This was a worrisome performance from the rookie, especially with the Cardinals starting to get healthy at receiver. 

Game Notes: Marquise Brown found the end zone for the second time this season. He had six receptions for 88 yards and a score. Brown has at least six receptions three straight.

D.J. Moore finally got some work in the passing game, catching six passes for 50 yards. Moore did not have more than three receptions in a game before this one.

Packers 27, Patriots 24

Fantasy Stud: Romeo Doubs. Doubs continues to emerge in the Packers offense. He had five receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Doubs had scores two straight games. He also has at least 14 fantasy points each of those games. He should continue to produce as a featured receiver in the Pacers passing game. 

Fantasy Dud: Hunter Henry. Henry continues to do next to nothing in the Patriots offense after having a big first season with the Patriots. He caught just two passes for 13 yards. Henry is not a usable fantasy option and could even be dropped in standard leagues. Henry has just five receptions for 41 yards on the season and has failed to score a touchdown. 

Game Notes: Brian Hoyer left the game early because of a head injury. He was just 5-of-6 for 37 yards before the injury. Third stringer Bailey Zappe actually played well in relief, finishing 10-of-15 for 99 yards and a touchdown. 

Allen Lazard had his first 100-yard game, catching six passes for 116 yards. Lazard has 14-plus fantasy points two straight games. 

Raiders 32, Broncos 23

Fantasy Stud: Josh Jacobs. Jacobs got a ton of work and produced great with all his chances. He rushed 28 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns. He also had five receptions for 31 yards. So Jacobs had 175 total yards and two scores. Hopefully, this game gets Jacobs going as a feature piece of this Raiders offense. 

Fantasy Dud: Derek Carr. Carr was held out of the end zone and failed to hit 200-passing yards. He was 21-of-34 for 188 yards without a touchdown or interception. Carr had two touchdowns each of his first three games, so this game was a big disappointment for his fantasy owners. You expected better from the consistent fantasy quarterback. 

Game Notes: Javonte Williams suffered a possible major knee injury. He had 10 carries for 28 yards before the injury. Melvin Gordon should get first crack to start if Williams misses any time. Gordon had three carries for eight yards with a lost fumble in this game. 

Russell Wilson had his best game as a Bronco. He was 17-of-25 for 237 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He also led the team in rushing, running four times for 29 yards and a touchdown. He had three total scores without a turnover.  

Chiefs 41, Bucs 31

Fantasy Stud: Mike Evans. Evans had a great return to the lineup after his one-game suspension. He had eight receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Evans has touchdowns two of three games. This was his first 100-yard game of the season. He has topped 60 yards in every game, though, so he has been pretty consistent in the Bucs top passing attack. 

Fantasy Dud: Russell Gage. The return of both Evans and Chris Godwin to the lineup made Gage almost invisible after his monster performance the previous week. He had just two receptions for 24 yards. Gage showed he could be very erratic going forward as long as Godwin and Evans are playing. 

Game Notes: Clyde Edwards-Helaire just keep producing. He ran 19 times for 92 yards and a touchdown against a very good Bucs rush defense. He also caught a pass for a two-yard score. He has five touchdowns on the season and scores three of four games. 

Chris Godwin looked healthy in his return from a hamstring injury. Godwin had seven receptions for 59 yards on 10 targets. 

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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Bo Nix May 10 9:10pm ET
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Aidan O'Connell May 10 4:30pm ET
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Kirk Cousins May 10 4:00pm ET
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (Achilles) is working his way back from a Week 8 Achilles tear from last season, and reports out of Atlanta suggest he is making great progress. "Kirk is every day improving," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "He's been doing all those things, he's been throwing, he's been out there pretty much full-go. Now, we got him in a limited basis, obviously 'cause he's still in his rehab and his treatment and all those types of things." The 35-year-old signal-caller has not been dropping back behind an offensive line or facing a rush, but he's evidently looked good on his dropbacks and reps with his new wide receiver group. Despite Atlanta selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Cousins remains the clear starter in 2024 as long as he holds up. The four-time Pro Bowler has thrown for at least 4,000 yards seven times in his nine-year career as a starter, while the Falcons have not had a 4,000-yard passer since Matt Ryan in 2020. If Cousins isn't limited by his major injury, he'll remain a fringe QB1 option surrounded by Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Darnell Mooney, and company.

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Zay Jones May 10 3:50pm ET
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Tarik Cohen May 10 2:00pm ET
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Malik Nabers May 10 1:10pm ET
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Alex McGough May 10 12:20am ET
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Stephon Gilmore May 10 12:10am ET
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Free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore still wants to play football but is waiting for the right opportunity, he told NFL insider Josina Anderson. "I know the value I still bring," Gilmore said. "If you watch the tape, I feel like I played well the last two years, and literally almost played every snap last year." Indeed, Gilmore was impactful in 2023. He started all 17 games for the Cowboys, registering two interceptions, 13 passes defended, 68 tackles, and one forced fumble. He's still a starting-caliber defender who could justify holding out for a specific opportunity, perhaps with a contender.

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Evan Hull May 10 12:00am ET
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Indianapolis Colts running back Evan Hull could still earn the backup role despite some speculation suggesting the job belonged to Trey Sermon. According to James Boyd of The Athletic, "it remains unclear" who will operate as the No. 2 option behind Jonathan Taylor in 2024. He notes that while Sermon may be the early favorite, the former 49ers draft pick has just 78 carries for 346 yards and one touchdown in his career. Whoever takes over as Taylor's backup will be filling big shoes. Last season, that role belonged to Zack Moss, who finished the year with 986 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. Moss is now in Cincinnati, leaving a competition of sorts for Sermon and Hull. As a rookie last year, Hull mustered just one rushing yards and six receiving yards.

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Jelani Woods May 9 11:50pm ET
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The Athletic's James Boyd has Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods projected as the team's starting tight end in May because he remains bullish on his potential, despite the fact he was sidelined all of last year due to hamstring injuries. Woods should be healthy for organized team activities, and his next-level athleticism will mesh perfectly with head coach Shane Steichen's play-calling to create mismatches all over the field. He's also big enough to block when needed, and Kylen Granson can continue to use his speed and route-running to help move the chains. Mo Alie-Cox will remain in the mix as a seasoned veteran. While Woods should have a bigger pass-catching role if he can stay on the field, this could once again be a frustrating committee situation at TE for fantasy managers.

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Ryan Flournoy May 9 11:40pm ET
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The Dallas Cowboys signed rookie offensive tackle Tyler Guyton to his rookie deal on Thursday. In addition to Guyton, Dallas locked up rookies Cooper Beebe, Maris Liufau, Caelen Carson, Ryan Flournoy, Nathan Thomas and Justin Rogers. The only rookie that remains unsigned now is second-rounder Marshawn Kneeland. Guyton was selected 29th overall in the first round after Troy Fautanu and Amarius Mims came off the board earlier in the first round. The 6-foot-8, 322-pounder has excellent physical traits and the potential to play tackle at the next level, but it remains to be seen if he'll eventually develop as a starting-caliber left tackle. When the 22-year-old did enter the starting lineup at Oklahoma, he only played on the right side.

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Brock Bowers May 9 11:30pm ET
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The Las Vegas Raiders signed first-round rookie tight end Brock Bowers to a fully guaranteed four-year deal on Thursday that is worth $18.1 million. He'll receive $10 million via a signing bonus and the standard fifth-year team option as a first-round pick. The Raiders held off on reaching for a quarterback in the first round in last month's draft and instead took one of the best players in the entire draft in Bowers at 13th overall. The 21-year-old was the highest-selected tight end since Kyle Pitts in 2021 and is athletic enough as a tight end to play pretty much anywhere on the field. Bowers set a school record at Georgia with 26 touchdowns in his time there and is the complete package. Even with Michael Mayer in town, Bowers should take over as the team's top pass-catching TE in his rookie year.

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Kyren Williams May 9 5:10pm ET
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The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Michigan running back Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft despite breakout star Kyren Williams racking up 1,350 total yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. In a media availability, general manager Les Snead said that the decision to draft Corum was related to keeping Williams fresh. "It's a tough league. It's a 17-game season plus playoffs, so we always felt like we needed to have as many quality runners as possible... so we don't just totally run down Kyren," Snead said. "And we have one or two or even three guys that can contribute... keep everyone fresh." The organization implemented a workhorse backfield approach with 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley, and he ultimately had a short shelf life as a pro due to durability concerns. As most teams shift to a committee backfield, high-end fantasy running back producers are becoming more scarce. Williams missed five games last year on the Injured Reserve list, so the organization is being proactive and adding depth in the backfield. Williams remains an RB1 candidate, but his floor and ceiling take a hit with the addition of Corum.

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Jared Goff May 9 4:30pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has vastly exceeded expectations since being traded from the Los Angeles Rams to Detroit ahead of the 2021 season. The former No. 1 overall pick has thrown for 12,258 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions through his first 48 games with the organization. More importantly, he led the team to Detroit's first playoff win since 1991 last year, and he had the San Francisco 49ers on the ropes in the NFC Championship game. He did not sign a contract extension along with right tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown two weeks ago, but general manager Brad Holmes said the two sides are working on a deal. "He's earned an extension. It's important, it's a high priority for us. Both sides are working really, really hard. These things just take time," Holmes said. "In a perfect world, we would've had all three of them done. Bang, bang, bang. But these things just kind of take a while, especially with the quarterback market, but I do have faith that it's gonna get done." Assuming Goff receives a high-dollar multi-year deal, his dynasty value with be secure over the next three or four years. While his ceiling is capped by a lack of rushing upside, he should remain a fringe QB1 as long as the Lions retain key offensive linemen and pass-catching weapons.

From RotoBaller

Treylon Burks May 9 4:20pm ET
Treylon Burks

Despite the Tennessee Titans signing veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd this week, head coach Brian Callahan and the organization still have hope for third-year wideout Treylon Burks. "We've made very clear to Treylon that the signing of Tyler is not about him. It's about helping our team get better, adding better players to our team, making us a competitive football team," Callahan said. "What he's done and how he's worked has been great, and I'm anticipating him still being able to play a good role for us." While the Boyd signing almost surely pushes Burks to the WR4 role and destroys any 2024 fantasy football value he had, it sounds like the team is not going to trade him this offseason as many have speculated. Burks was a promising prospect coming out of Arkansas, but he's totaled just 665 receiving yards and one touchdown through his first two NFL seasons. He might be worth holding in deep dynasty leagues, but it'd be surprising if he's on the fantasy radar in redraft formats.

From RotoBaller

Ben Skowronek May 9 3:00pm ET
Ben Skowronek

The Houston Texans acquired wide receiver Ben Skowronek from the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, according to sources. The Rams were set to waiver Skowronek, but the Texans swooped in before he hit waivers to get something done to add receiving depth behind Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Noah Brown, John Metchie III and others. The 26-year-old Skowronek was the Rams' seventh-round pick in 2021 and has mostly been limited to a role on special teams in his three years in the NFL. That will likely continue to be the case with his move to Houston, and he won't be on the fantasy radar at all. In his three years in the NFL in LA, Skowronek only had 58 receptions for 575 yards and one touchdown on 93 targets in 45 games (12 starts).

From RotoBaller