Champions Draft Recap

Mon Aug 4 4:22pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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RealTime Fantasy Sports is proud to present you the results of our “Champions Draft." The draft this season once again consists of the top rated fantasy players on our site. We invited players rated near the top of our Top Fantasy Players report. So this is the best of the best on our site.

In this column, we'll give you a round-by-round look at the draft. Each round includes some notes on that round, talking about what just went down. Hopefully, this gives you some insight into the draft and helps prepare you for all your drafts this coming year. I also give you a look at my pick each round and my thought process with that pick.

Before we get to that, here is a quick overview of the league format. We used the same rules as we do for the "All-Pro" fantasy leagues on our site. So you can view the entire set of rules on our main page for that game. But here is a brief look. Each team starts a quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, a tight end, a defensive/special teams, a kicker and a flex player (RB, WR or TE). Scoring is pretty standard. Touchdowns are worth six except for passing touchdowns, which are worth four. And it is a points per reception league, giving every player a point per reception. Defenses get points for sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries. The rules are pretty standard with how many leagues operate these days.

ROUND 1

1.1   PaurPlay - Ja’Marr Chase

1.2   Fozzy Dog - Bijan Robinson

1.3   MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Jahmyr Gibbs

1.4   BigHawgBreach Silverback - Saquon Barkley

1.5   Super Paurs - CeeDee Lamb

1.6   Sensei John Kreese - Justin Jefferson

1.7   Suncoast - Ashton Jeanty

1.8   Bubbles Army - Christian McCaffrey

1.9   Yang's Team - Malik Nabers

1.10  Crusty - Devon Achane

1.11  Birds - Puka Nacua

1.12  Wreckingcrew - Derrick Henry

NOTES: The first round was pretty chalk, going very similar to the current ADP. These savvy owners didn’t take many chances with the first round. There were seven running backs and five receivers picked in Round 1. The trend of more running-back heavy in the early rounds continued in this draft. Last season in this same league, five running backs were picked in Round 1 compared to seven this year. It was not a surprise to see no tight ends or quarterbacks picked in the first round. Amon-Ra St. Brown was the only player with a current ADP in the first round that wasn’t picked by this group. And St. Brown went with the first pick in Round 2.

MY PICK: CeeDee Lamb. I felt Lamb was the safest of the options on the board. I didn’t expect any of the top three backs to be there and felt Lamb was going to be the pick. It played out that way and I’m happy with getting him. He should be a target monster in a pass-heavy offense. I feel he might be the safest of all the first-round picks this year. His floor is super high in this offense.

ROUND 2

2.1   Wreckingcrew - Amon-Ra St. Brown

2.2   Birds - Brian Thomas Jr.

2.3   Crusty - Josh Jacobs

2.4   Yang's Team - Nico Collins

2.5   Bubbles Army - Drake London

2.6   Suncoast  - A.J. Brown

2.7   Sensei John Kreese - Jonathan Taylor

2.8   Super Paurs - Chase Brown

2.9   BigHawgBreach Silverback - Lamar Jackson

2.10  MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Bucky Irving

2.11  Fozzy Dog - Brock Bowers

2.12  PaurPlay - Alvin Kamara

NOTES: Round 2 saw our first quarterback and tight end picked. BigHawgBreach grabbed Lamar Jackson with the ninth pick this round. This might be a tad early on Jackson (26.69 ADP), but it was a tossup on whether he would be available for him the next round. . . . .Brock Bowers goes to Fozzy Dog at the end of the round. He goes a little after his ADP (20.14) but not by much. . . . .Two teams (Birds and Yang’s Team) go receiver-receiver with their first two picks. And Maxx_Money is the only team to take running backs with his first two picks.

MY PICK: Chase Brown. I was hoping for Jonathan Taylor here but he goes one pick before me to Sensei John Kreese. I’ll take Brown, though. Had some debate between him and Bucky Irving, but just feel Brown is the better pick at this point. He had a breakout season last year and didn’t even open the year as the starter. He starts from day one this year in an explosive offense. Plus, he has little competition for carries. I think he can build on last year.

ROUND 3

3.1   PaurPlay - Kyren Williams

3.2   Fozzy Dog - Garrett Wilson

3.3   MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Ladd McConkey

3.4   BigHawgBreach Silverback - Trey McBride

3.5   Super Paurs - Breece Hall

3.6   Sensei John Kreese - Tyreek Hill

3.7   Suncoast - Tee Higgins

3.8   Bubbles Army - Jaxon Smith-Njigba

3.9   Yang's Team - Josh Allen

3.10  Crusty - Marvin Harrison Jr.

3.11  Birds - Omarion Hampton

3.12  Wreckingcrew - James Cook

NOTES: Just like the previous round, this round had a quarterback and tight end selected. The rest of the picks were running backs and tight ends. Trey McBride and Josh Allen were the players selected at tight end and quarterback.  BigHawgBreach is the only team without a receiver on their roster after three rounds. . . .Yang’s team took Allen and is the only team without a running back after three rounds. . . . Birds picked rookie running back Omarion Hampton with the 11th pick this round. Hampton’s ADP is climbing in a hurry, though, after the injury to Najee Harris. Hampton’s ADP has jumped five spots recently (33.45).

MY PICK: Breece Hall. I was worried about the backs that will be left once I pick again, so felt going Hall was the right move. I know he carries some questions with more of a timeshare expected in New York this year, but he is the top pass-catching back. This gives him a high weekly ceiling in my view. I still think he can produce big even if he is splitting more work. Hall has a lot to prove this year and should play with a chip on his shoulder.

ROUND 4

4.1   Wreckingcrew - Joe Burrow

4.2   Birds - Jayden Daniels

4.3   Crusty - Davante Adams

4.4   Yang's Team - Chuba Hubbard

4.5   Bubbles Army - George Kittle

4.6   Suncoast - Jalen Hurts

4.7   Sensei John Kreese - Kenneth Walker III

4.8   Super Paurs - D.J. Moore

4.9   BigHawgBreach Silverback - Rashee Rice

4.10  MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Mike Evans

4.11  Fozzy Dog - Terry McLaurin

4.12  PaurPlay - Tetairoa McMillan

NOTES: This was the first round that had multiple quarterbacks picked, seeing three fly off the board. Surprisingly, there were just two running backs selected. That is the fewest in any round to start the draft. . . . .The most popular strategy through four rounds is to have two running backs and two receivers on your roster. Five of the 12 teams have this combination on their team. . . .PaurPlay is the first team to pick a rookie receiver, getting Tet McMillan with the last pick in the round. This is a tad sooner than his ADP (57.55), but he wasn’t going to be there when PaurPlay got to pick again at the end of the sixth round.

MY PICK: D.J. Moore. This pick scares me some with all the mouths to feed in Chicago and still some questions about quarterback Caleb Williams. But even with that said, Moore is a super consistent player in what should be a pass-heavy offense. I think he can rack up the catches once again and serve as a more than solid WR2 for me. I was really close to getting Tet McMillan here but passed in hopes of him being available for me in Round 5.

ROUND 5

5.1   PaurPlay - D’Andre Swift

5.2   Fozzy Dog - Courtland Sutton

5.3   MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Xavier Worthy

5.4   BigHawgBreach Silverback - James Conner

5.5   Super Paurs - Calvin Ridley

5.6   Sensei John Kreese - Sam LaPorta

5.7   Suncoast - D.K. Metcalf

5.8   Bubbles Army - TreVeyon Henderson

5.9   Yang's Team - RJ Harvey

5.10  Crusty - Travis Kelce

5.11  Birds - DeVonta Smith

5.12  Wreckingcrew - Zay Flowers

NOTES: There was not a single quarterback picked this round but two tight ends were selected (Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce). It was another receiver-heavy round, seeing six receivers get picked. . . . .PaurPlay is the only team to have three running backs after five rounds, getting D’Andre Swift with the first pick this round. . . .On the flip side, five teams have three receivers on their roster at this point of the draft. Running backs went early and often in the draft but teams are now loading up on receivers after those first few rounds.

MY PICK: Calvin Ridley. Ridley is one of my favorite values this year. He is the clear top target for Cam Ward and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a career-best season. This is a huge upgrade for him at quarterback, which is great for Ridley, who was still able to produce good numbers last year in this offense. I absolutely love Ridley as a WR3 or flex play on a weekly basis.

ROUND 6

6.1   Wreckingcrew - Evan Engram

6.2   Birds - Kaleb Johnson

6.3   Crusty - Rome Odunze

6.4   Yang's Team - Joe Mixon

6.5   Bubbles Army - George Pickens

6.6   Suncoast - David Montgomery

6.7   Sensei John Kreese - Patrick Mahomes

6.8   Super Paurs - Tony Pollard

6.9   BigHawgBreach Silverback - Isiah Pacheco

6.10  MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Aaron Jones

6.11  Fozzy Dog - Jaydon Blue

6.12  PaurPlay - Jerry Jeudy

NOTES: Rookie Jaydon Blue continues to shoot up draft boards, being the first of the Cowboys running backs picked. Fozzy Dog got him with the 11th pick this round. His ADP is 108.89, so this pick was a little earlier than anticipated. . . . .This is another round with just a quarterback and tight end picked. It was a more running-back heavy round, seeing seven backs go. . . . .Half the teams have a quarterback after six rounds. And half have a tight end as well. Three teams (PaurPlay, Maxx_Money and Super Paurs) only have running backs and receivers on their roster.

MY PICK: Tony Pollard. I go with Titans on back-to-back picks. This wasn’t a plan by any means, getting players on what could be bad teams, but it just worked out that way. Pollard might split more work this year but at this point of the draft, I’m totally fine with getting him as my third running back. I can use him as a flex play in the right matchup and spot play as my RB2.

ROUND 7

7.1   PaurPlay - Matthew Golden

7.2   Fozzy Dog - T.J. Hockenson

7.3   MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Jameson Williams

7.4   BigHawgBreach Silverback - Chris Godwin

7.5   Super Paurs - Baker Mayfield

7.6   Sensei John Kreese - Chris Olave

7.7   Suncoast - Deebo Samuel

7.8   Bubbles Army - Jaylen Waddle

7.9   Yang's Team - Travis Hunter

7.10  Crusty - Stefon Diggs

7.11  Birds - Jordan Addison

7.12  Wreckingcrew - Cam Skattebo

NOTES: Receivers were flying off the board this round. There were a total of nine receivers picked. It was a mix of veterans, rookies, players returning from injury and some wild cards. There were a lot of boom or bust picks. . . .Rookie Cam Skattebo was the only running back selected, going with the last pick. Wreckingcrew took Skattebo, who went ahead of teammate Tyrone Tracy. . . .PaurPlay and Maxx_Money continued their trend of going running back and receiver. It is just those two teams that have all running backs and receivers after seven rounds. Super Paur took quarterback Baker Mayfield, giving him a different position for the first time. . . . .Fozzy Dog is the first team to take a second tight end, selecting T.J. Hockenson with the second pick. He pairs Hockenson with Brock Bowers, giving him quite the one-two punch at tight end.

MY PICK: Baker Mayfield. I just couldn’t pass up the value of Mayfield here. I was surprised he was still sitting there. Sure, he isn’t a running quarterback, but his passing numbers can be off the charts. He has some of the best receivers to work with in all of football - even better than last year. Mayfield is going to post some huge numbers. I wouldn’t be surprised if he leads all of football in passing yards and passing touchdowns.

ROUND 8

8.1   Wreckingcrew - Jauan Jennings

8.2   Birds - Zach Charbonnet

8.3   Crusty - Caleb Williams

8.4   Yang's Team - Tyrone Tracy Jr.

8.5   Bubbles Army - Bo Nix

8.6   Suncoast - Jaylen Warren

8.7   Sensei John Kreese - Brian Robinson Jr.

8.8   Super Paurs - Tank Bigsby

8.9   BigHawgBreach Silverback - Emeka Egbuka

8.10  MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Ricky Pearsall

8.11  Fozzy Dog - Javonte Williams

8.12  PaurPlay - Colston Loveland

NOTES: Two more teams got their quarterback this round, making it eight of 12 teams with a signal caller. . . .This was the round with running backs in possible time shares. Some of the backs picked were Tyrone Tracy, Jaylen Warren, Brian Robinson, Tank Bigsby and Javonte Williams. All of these guys have some question marks and some undefined roles for the coming season. The position is thinning out in a hurry after eight rounds.

MY PICK: Tank Bigsby. This is my real first risky pick. Bigsby has been getting the first snaps often in training camp, so he is the back I trust most in this offense right now. I’m good with taking a chance on him as my fourth running back. Bigsby has some potential if getting the goal-line work and early-down carries for the Jaguars.

ROUND 9

9.1   PaurPlay - Tyjae Spears

9.2   Fozzy Dog - Cooper Kupp

9.3   MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - J.K. Dobbins

9.4   BigHawgBreach Silverback - Mark Andrews

9.5   Super Paurs - Jake Ferguson

9.6   Sensei John Kreese - Travis Etienne

9.7   Suncoast - Jayden Reed

9.8   Bubbles Army - Jordan Mason

9.9   Yang's Team - Quinshon Judkins

9.10  Crusty - Jerome Ford

9.11  Birds - Tyler Warren

9.12  Wreckingcrew - Rhamondre Stevenson

NOTES: This was the most tight-end heavy round, having three picked. We had a rookie (Tyler Warren) and two veterans (Mark Andrews and Jake Ferguson). . . . .Yang’s team took a chance on rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who faces an uncertain future because of his off-the-field issues. Judkins is plummeting in drafts right now, seeing his ADP dip 15 spots the last week. . . . .There was not a single quarterback picked in Round 9, so four teams still need a QB1 after nine rounds.

MY PICK: Jake Ferguson. If I’m going to wait to take a tight end, Ferguson is one of my favorite targets. I hate to get two Cowboy pass catchers in my starting lineup, though. That is my only trepidation with this pick. But even with that said, they are going to throw the ball a ton and I think Ferguson gets the second most targets. He will be a pretty dependable weekly tight end for me.

ROUND 10

10.1  Wreckingcrew - Kyler Murray

10.2  Birds - Braelon Allen

10.3  Crusty - Kyle Pitts

10.4  Yang's Team Tucker Kraft

10.5  Bubbles Army - Isaac Guerendo

10.6  Suncoast - Najee Harris

10.7  Sensei John Kreese - Jakobi Meyers

10.8  Super Paurs - Khalil Shakir

10.9  BigHawgBreach Silverback - Jalen McMillan

10.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - David Njoku

10.11 Fozzy Dog - Justin Fields

10.12 PaurPlay - Dak Prescott

NOTES: Two of the three teams without a quarterback took one this round. Maxx_Money is now the only team without a quarterback after 10 rounds. The quarterbacks picked this round were Kyler Murray, Justin Fields and Dak Prescott. . . .Wreckingcrew is the first team to get a second quarterback. He pairs Joe Burrow with Murray. . . .This is the first round Maxx_Money took a player other than a running back or receiver. He got tight end David Njoku to be his TE1. . . . Bubbles Army picked running back Isaac Guerendo with the fifth pick. He is considered the top handcuff in the game and he did well to pair him with his first-round pick of Christian McCaffrey

MY PICK: Khalil Shakir. His high-ankle sprain is a concern, but Shakir should be ready for Week 1. And I still think he leads the team in targets despite the Bills upgrading options in the passing game this offseason. He had a breakout season last year and has quickly become the favorite target of Josh Allen. I like him as a reserve receiver at this point of the draft. This might be my favorite pick of my draft.

ROUND 11

11.1  PaurPlay - Josh Downs

11.2  Fozzy Dog - Miles Sanders

11.3  MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Rachaad White

11.4  BigHawgBreach Silverback - Brock Purdy

11.5  Super Paurs - Michael Pittman Jr.

11.6  Sensei John Kreese - Trey Benson

11.7  Suncoast - Dallas Goedert

11.8  Bubbles Army - Dalton Kincaid

11.9  Yang's Team - Keon Coleman

11.10 Crusty - Austin Ekeler

11.11 Birds - Tre Harris

11.12 Wreckingcrew - Jonnu Smith

NOTES: There is still one team without a quarterback (Maxx_Money) while BigHawgBreach is the second team to add a second quarterback. He took Brock Purdy with the fourth pick, putting him with Lamar Jackson. . . .Suncoast is the last team to get a TE1, taking Dallas Goedert with the seventh pick. He pairs Goedert with his starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts. . . .There were three tight ends picked. And five of the 12 teams now have two tight ends on their roster.

MY PICK: Michael Pittman. This is a boom-or-bust pick but I like taking a chance on Pittman here. He is a guy that has topped 100 receptions in the past and remains the No. 1 receiver for the Colts. If Anthony Richardson can figure it out, you have to like Pittman for a rebound season. Remember, He was slowed by a back injury most of last year. His past numbers don’t lie. He can be a very productive fantasy receiver if all is well for him.

ROUND 12

12.1  Wreckingcrew - Jayden Higgins

12.2  Birds - Ray Davis

12.3  Crusty - Tyler Allgeier

12.4  Yang's Team - Drake Maye

12.5  Bubbles Army - Darnell Mooney

12.6  Suncoast - Christian Kirk

12.7  Sensei John Kreese - Brandon Aubrey

12.8  Super Paurs - Luther Burden III

12.9  BigHawgBreach Silverback - Brandon Aiyuk

12.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Jared Goff

12.11 Fozzy Dog - Denver Broncos

12.12 PaurPlay - Nick Chubb

NOTES: We have our first kicker and defense picked this round. Sensei John Kreese picked kicker Brandon Aubrey with the seventh pick. And Fozzy Dog picked the Broncos with the 11th pick. . . .Maxx_Money finally got his QB1, taking Jared Goff with the 10th pick. There are just three teams with two quarterbacks on their roster after 12 rounds.

MY PICK: Luther Burden. I would have liked the rookie receiver a lot more if he landed on a different team, but I still think he has a solid rookie season as the No. 3 receiver in this offense. He is enjoying an up-and-down training camp but flashed plenty of great things, showing his potential. He can be a top player in this league and I look for the Bears to get him involved in the offense plenty his rookie year. This is a good depth piece for me.

ROUND 13

13.1  PaurPlay - C.J. Stroud

13.2  Fozzy Dog - Kyle Williams

13.3  MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Justin Herbert

13.4  BigHawgBreach Silverback - Marquise Brown

13.5  Super Paurs - Chigoziem Okonkwo

13.6  Sensei John Kreese - J.J. McCarthy

13.7  Suncoast - Dylan Sampson

13.8  Bubbles Army - Trevor Lawrence

13.9  Yang's Team - Brenton Strange

13.10 Crusty - Xavier Legette

13.11 Birds - Elijah Arroyo

13.12 Wreckingcrew - Jaylen Wright

NOTES: Four teams got their backup quarterback this round. Some notable names selected were C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert. Maxx_Money went back-to-back quarterbacks after waiting 11 rounds to get his first. He pairs Herbert with Goff. . . .There were plenty of teams taking chances on rookies, seeing Kyle Williams, Dylan Sampson and Elijah Arroyo picked. . . . There was not a single kicker or defense picked after seeing two get picked for the first time the previous round.

MY PICK: Chigoziem Okonkwo. This gives me a third Titan. Not ideal. But I like the prospects of Okonkwo with Cam Ward now his starting quarterback. Rookie quarterbacks like to target the tight end. Okonkwo didn’t have quite the breakout season most expected last year but Ward is a huge upgrade at quarterback for him. I think Okonkwo can have a career-best season and serve the backup tight end role well for me.

ROUND 14

14.1  Wreckingcrew - Jalen Royals

14.2  Birds - Buffalo Bills

14.3  Crusty - Tua Tagovailoa

14.4  Yang's Team - Rashid Shaheed

14.5  Bubbles Army - Bhayshul Tuten

14.6  Suncoast - Jordan Love

14.7  Sensei John Kreese - Philadelphia Eagles

14.8  Super Paurs - Bryce Young

14.9  BigHawgBreach Silverback - Brashard Smith

14.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Kareem Hunt

14.11 Fozzy Dog - Will Shipley

14.12 PaurPlay - Houston Texans

NOTES: Three defenses were picked but not a single kicker. You do not need to leave the draft with a player drafted at every position, though, so some teams are likely to just not draft a kicker or defense. . . .Quarterback Jordan Love was a popular pick last season but falls all the way to the sixth pick in Round 14. He will be the backup quarterback for Suncoast, backing up Hurts. . . .There were two Chiefs running backs picked with consecutive picks. Rookie Brashard Smith was picked right ahead of veteran Kareem Hunt. BigHawgBreach already had Isiah Pacheco on his roster before taking Smith this round.

MY PICK: Bryce Young. I like taking a chance on Young as my QB2. He had a great finish to last season, finally showing his potential. The Panthers did well to upgrade around him offensively, finally giving him a legit No. 1 receiver. Young can build on last year and see his numbers be even more consistent this season. He should be a solid backup for me.

ROUND 15

15.1  PaurPlay - Mason Taylor

15.2  Fozzy Dog - Jarquez Hunter

15.3  MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Zach Ertz

15.4  BigHawgBreach Silverback - Marvin Mims

15.5  Super Paurs - Cameron Dicker

15.6  Sensei John Kreese - Darren Waller

15.7  Suncoast - Isaiah Likely

15.8  Bubbles Army - Baltimore Ravens

15.9  Yang's Team - Pittsburgh Steelers

15.10 Crusty - Jake Bates

15.11 Birds - Chase McLaughlin

15.12 Wreckingcrew - Brandon McManus

NOTES: There were four backup tight ends picked this round, including Mason Taylor, Zach Ertz, Darren Waller and Isaiah Likely. . . . .Six of the other eight picks were either kickers or defenses. It was pretty standard for this point of the draft.

MY PICK: Cameron Dicker. I really wanted to get Brandon Aubrey a few picks earlier but he went before I could take him. I see the value in getting a top kicker a little more these days. I think Dicker is a top-five option his year, capable of very consistent numbers in this offense. He should get plenty of weekly chances.

ROUND 16

16.1  Wreckingcrew - Los Angeles Rams

16.2  Birds - Anthony Richardson

16.3  Crusty - New York Giants

16.4  Yang's Team - Ka’imi Fairbairn

16.5  Bubbles Army - Wil Lutz

16.6  Suncoast - Josh Palmer

16.7  Sensei John Kreese - Jack Bech

16.8  Super Paurs - Dallas Cowboys

16.9  BigHawgBreach Silverback - Kansas City Chiefs

16.10 MAXX_MONEY CHAMPS - Minnesota Vikings

16.11 Fozzy Dog - Devin Neal

16.12 PaurPlay - Harrison Butker

NOTES: This was mostly a not very exciting round of kickers and defenses. Of the 12 picks, eight were either kickers or defenses. PaurPlay had the honor of the last pick in the draft and took kicker Harrison Butker to round out his roster.

MY PICK: Cowboys defense. This unit didn’t live up to quite their potential this year but injuries were an issue. They can get after the quarterback and their secondary will take chances. I think they will be a more than solid No. 1 defense for me. 

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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Hendon Hooker Aug 27 10:20pm CT
Hendon Hooker

The Carolina Panthers plan to sign quarterback Hendon Hooker to their practice squad, according to Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer. Hooker was cut loose by the Detroit Lions earlier this week after head coach Dan Campbell publicly admitted the quarterback might need a change of scenery. The former third-round pick has only attempted nine passes through two seasons in the NFL, completing six for 62 yards. His role on the Panthers' practice squad positions him third on the depth chart behind Bryce Young and Andy Dalton.

From RotoBaller

Jacob Cowing Aug 27 10:10pm CT
Jacob Cowing

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring) was placed on the Injured Reserve list on Wednesday, guaranteeing that he will miss at least the first four games of the season. Cowing was battling a hamstring injury for most of training camp and suffered a major setback while trying to return for the team's final preseason game. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan provided a six-week return timeline for Cowing, making his IR placement an easy decision. The 24-year-old would have had a chance to make an early-season impact had he been able to stay healthy, as the 49ers' wide receiver room has been besieged by injuries behind WR1 Ricky Pearsall. With the delayed start, Cowing should be off the radar of fantasy managers for the time being. However, he could be an under-the-radar midseason pickup, depending on the status of currently sidelined 49ers wideouts Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jauan Jennings (calf).

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Kimani Vidal Aug 27 9:50pm CT
Kimani Vidal

The Los Angeles Chargers waived running back Kimani Vidal on Tuesday, but Vidal is expected to return to the team via its practice squad, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. With Najee Harris (eye) able to avoid a trip to the NFI list, Vidal lost the battle with Hassan Haskins for the third and final running back slot on the Chargers' active roster. Los Angeles drafted Vidal in the sixth round in 2024, and he recorded 217 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 48 total touches as a rookie. The soon-to-be 24-year-old could get a second chance to make an impact with the team if a backfield injury leads to his activation from the practice squad, but he should remain off the radar of fantasy managers for the time being.

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Dontayvion Wicks Aug 27 9:40pm CT
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf) returned to practice on Wednesday, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Wicks missed a good chunk of August with a calf injury, but it appears he has a chance to be ready for Week 1. The third-year wide receiver could slot in alongside Matthew Golden and Romeo Doubs as Green Bay's WR3 early in the season, with Jayden Reed (foot) questionable for Week 1 with a foot injury. Wicks is a talented player, but he struggled with drops and inconsistency in 2024, hauling in just 39 of his 76 targets. Wicks has some upside as a late-round dart-throw in deep leagues, but he would likely need multiple injuries in the Packers' wide receiver room to really take off in 2025.

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Aidan O'Connell Aug 27 9:30pm CT
Aidan O'Connell

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (wrist) was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Wednesday, per an announcement from the team. O'Connell suffered a fractured wrist in the team's final preseason game, which is expected to sideline him for six to eight weeks. O'Connell's placement on the Reserve/Injured list guarantees that he will miss at least the team's first four games, although the six-to-eight-week timeline indicates it will most likely be a longer absence. The Raiders acquired quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Browns on Monday to take O'Connell's place as the backup behind Geno Smith. Neither Pickett nor O'Connell will have any fantasy value in 2025 unless Smith were to get injured.

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Malik Nabers Aug 27 9:20pm CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (back) said the back issue that caused him to miss the team's final two preseason games was a "minor thing" and he'll be ready for Week 1, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan. Nabers also missed time during training camp due to a shoulder issue and has been nursing a toe injury since his college days at LSU. However, Raanan writes that Nabers does not expect his ailments to prevent him from being himself when the season begins. The 22-year-old averaged 11.3 targets per game as a rookie in 2024 and should be among the league leaders in target share once again in 2025. As long as he stays on the field, Nabers is a clear WR1 in fantasy with overall WR1 upside in PPR-scoring formats.

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Jordan James Aug 27 9:20pm CT
Jordan James

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Jordan James (finger) returned to practice on Wednesday, per David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. James has been sidelined since early August with a broken finger, but appears on track to be ready for Week 1. The 21-year-old was pushed down the team's depth chart when the 49ers acquired veteran running back Brian Robinson Jr. from the Washington Commanders. However, James could open the season as the RB3 in San Francisco if second-year back Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) misses time due to an ongoing shoulder issue. James would likely need multiple injuries to the backs ahead of him to be fantasy-relevant in 2025, but he's a name to be aware of in dynasty leagues.

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Riley Patterson Aug 27 7:00pm CT
Riley Patterson

The Miami Dolphins officially signed free-agent kicker Riley Patterson to their practice squad on Wednesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Patterson is expected to be elevated to kick against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7, in place of the injured Jason Sanders (hip). The Dolphins put Sanders on short-term Injured Reserve on Tuesday, meaning he'll miss at least the first four games of the 2025 season. The 25-year-old Patterson will get a shot to fill in as Miami's kicker until Sanders returns, although he won't really be a starting kicking option in 12-team fantasy leagues. Patterson has already kicked for five different teams in his four NFL seasons and has made 85.1% of his 74 field-goal attempts and 96.5% of his 112 extra-point tries. He's gone just 4-for-9 from 50-plus yards out.

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Jalen Reagor Aug 27 6:40pm CT
Jalen Reagor

The Los Angeles Chargers re-signed wide receiver Jalen Reagor and running back Nyheim Miller-Hines to their practice squad on Wednesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Reagor and Miller-Hines will return to the Bolts to provide depth entering the 2025 regular season at their respective positions. Even if they are both brought up to the active roster at some point this year, they most likely will not be on the fantasy radar. The 26-year-old Reagor never lived up to his draft stock as the 21st overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 out of TCU. In his five NFL seasons with four teams, Reagor has 86 catches, 1,037 yards and four touchdowns in 64 games (27 starts). He hasn't scored since 2022. Miller-Hines, 28, has mostly operated as a light pass-catching back in his five NFL seasons, but he hasn't played since 2022 due to a torn ACL.

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Isaiah Likely Aug 27 6:00pm CT
Isaiah Likely

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said that "we expect him back in the early part of the season," when asked about the timetable for injured tight end Isaiah Likely (foot). Likely was not placed on short-term Injured Reserve on Tuesday despite suffering a small fracture in his foot early in training camp in late July that required surgery. While it's ultimately good news for the 25-year-old, it doesn't mean that Likely is going to be ready to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Buffalo Bills. Likely's injury definitely makes veteran Mark Andrews are more intriguing midrange TE1 target in upcoming fantasy drafts. Likely had a slightly bigger role alongside Andrews in 2024 and finished with a 42-477-6 line (all career-highs) in 16 regular-season games (nine starts). Likely is a low-end TE2 worth stashing in fantasy, especially TE-premium leagues.

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Nyheim Hines Aug 27 5:53pm CT
Nyheim Hines

Free-agent WR JaQuae Jackson (Chargers), RB Nyheim Hines (Chargers), WR Jalen Reagor (Chargers), QB DJ Uiagalelei (Chargers), RB Kimani Vidal (Chargers) and TE Thomas Yassmin (Chargers) were signed to the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad Wednesday, Aug. 27.

From TheHuddle

Anthony Richardson Aug 27 5:40pm CT
Anthony Richardson

The Indianapolis Colts do not have any current plans to trade quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., who lost out on the starting QB job to enter the 2025 season. "We're not trading him," general manager Chris Ballard said on Wednesday. Richardson, the former fourth overall pick out of Florida in the 2023 draft, is at a low point in his career entering the 2025 campaign after losing out on a competition to Daniel Jones. The 23-year-old has plenty of rushing ability but entered the league as a developemental prospect as a passer. Not only has he struggled to make strides with his accuracy and decision-making as a pure passer, but injuries have also gotten in the way. Richardson started just 15 games in his first two seasons and may only get another shot under center in Indy if Jones struggles. A-Rich is only stash-worthy in dynaty and two-QB superflex formats right now.

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Mark Andrews Aug 27 5:33pm CT
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews (undisclosed) participated in practice Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Fantasy Spin: Andrews seems to be on track to play in the season opener after missing a few days because of an injury. He should continue to see a decent amount of targets in the passing game and can be a No. 1 tight end in most fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

Marvin Mims Aug 27 5:30pm CT
Marvin Mims

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (groin) left practice on Wedneday with a groin injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Broncos are still evaluating him, but the team is "not overly concerned." It's not serious, but it still raises questions about whether Mims will be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Tennessee Titans. If he is limited or out for the season opener, it would open up playing time and targets for Troy Franklin and rookie Pat Bryant behind WR1 Courtland Sutton. The 23-year-old is expected to open the 2025 season as the team's No. 2 receiver after posting a 39-503-6 line in 17 regular-season games (two starts) a year ago. Mims is intriguing in Denver's improving offense, but as mostly a boom/bust deep threat, he will probably be hard to rely on on a weekly basis in fantasy. Draft him as a WR5/flex in deeper fantasy formats.

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Mark Andrews Aug 27 5:20pm CT
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (undisclosed) returned to practice on Monday, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. Andrews missed Monday's practice with an undisclosed issue, but the fact that he is back on the field a day later suggests it was very minor. Even though Andrews had a costly fumble and dropped pass in last year's Divisional Round loss to the Buffalo Bills in the postseason, the 29-year-old remains in play as a midrange TE1 target as one of quarterback Lamar Jackson's favorite options through the air, especially with Isaiah Likely (foot) potentially missing the start of the regular season. The three-time Pro Bowler finished 2024 with 55 catches for 673 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns on 69 targets over 17 regular-season games (13 starts). Fantasy managers can't expect double-digit TDs again, but Andrews has had at least six scores in all but two of his seven seasons.

From RotoBaller