Studs and Duds: Week 4
Mon Oct 3 10:17am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
- Broncos release QB Ben DiNucci
- Chiefs' Rashee Rice suspect in alleged assault in Dallas
- Broncos' 'Orange Crush' DC Joe Collier dies at 91
- Giants add QB Nathan Rourke
- Reinstated S C.J. Moore agrees to deal with Lions
- WR Tyler Boyd to sign 1-year deal with Titans
- Ex-Jags WR Zay Jones visits Cardinals
- Bengals QB Joe Burrow resumes throwing at offseason workouts
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling visiting Chargers
- Raiders sign free agent WR Jalen Guyton
- Panthers to sign RB Rashaad Penny
- Pats waive Nathan Rourke, down to four QBs
- RB Duke Johnson retires from NFL after 8 seasons
- Former Bears QB Bob Avellini dies at age 70
- J.J. Watt leaves door open (slightly) for potential return to Texans
- Seahawks sign first-round pick Byron Murphy II
- Jets QB Aaron Rodgers: 'No restrictions' at OTAs
- Former Giants TE Aaron Thomas dies at 86
- Michael Irvin out at NFL Network
- Bills sign Chase Claypool, Deion Jones, Dawuane Smoot
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Rankings | Post-NFL Draft Update
The Paur Report
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) has looked like a star at times through the first two seasons of his NFL career, but lingering hamstring issues caused the former second-round pick to miss eight games in 2023. The organization is focused on how to prevent flare-ups moving forward, and passing game coordinator Jason Vrable said Watson is "in a great place now" with his hamstring. The 24-year-old has plenty of big-play ability and has racked up 1,033 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns through his first 23 games, but he's become tough to trust in fantasy football due to his availability concerns. Hopefully, he really has turned a corner, because he could have at least WR2 upside catching passes from breakout quarterback Jordan Love. Green Bay is sure to be more careful in managing his reps in hopes of keeping him on the field.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints waived quarterback Kellen Mond on Wednesday, according to NFL insider Field Yates. He will now go through the waiver process, and it would not be a surprise if he goes unclaimed. The 2021 third-round pick enjoyed a strong college career at Texas A&M, racking up 9,661 passing yards, 93 total touchdowns, and just 27 interceptions in 46 games played. He has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and New Orleans Saints, but he's thrown just three regular-season passes in his young career. Teams in need of extra quarterbacks for training camp might be interested in the 24-year-old signal-caller, but he's unlikely to ever earn a starting job and could have a tough time making a 53-man roster.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones is on a visit with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The eight-year NFL veteran was recently let go by the Jacksonville Jaguars after the team added Gabe Davis as a free agent and Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Jones has caught just 287 passes for 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns through his first 104 NFL games with the Bills, Raiders, and Jaguars, but his 2022 season performance (823 receiving yards) showed he can be a key contributor to an offense. CeeDee Lamb is the clear No. 1 target in Dallas, but Brandin Cooks looks to be slowing down, and Jalen Tolbert has under 300 receiving yards through his first two NFL seasons. If Jones lands in Dallas, he could become the No. 2 option for Dak Prescott, which would raise his fantasy value and ceiling in 2024.
From RotoBaller
According to a source, the New York Jets had been monitoring rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley as high as pick No. 40 for a potential trade in this year's draft. They ended up selecting him in the third round after trading up to pick No. 65, and general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh were both elated. A veteran scout described Corley as "rugged." Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been excited to work with Corley since watching tape on him last month. The 22-year-old had 29 touchdowns in his last three seasons at Western Kentucky and will give the Jets some solid depth at the position behind Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams in 2024 and beyond. Corley could play right away in the slot for the Jets, but it remains to be seen how his after-the-catch prowess will translate to the NFL.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys notified wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Wednesday that they are moving in a different direction and will release him, according to a person familiar with the situation. Dallas gave Bryant a chance to jump start his NFL career, but he will now need to seek employment elsewhere. The move to release him results in no dead money against the team's 2024 salary cap. The 32-year-old veteran hasn't played in the NFL since 2018 with the Raiders. He could latch on with another team now that he's available on the open market, but Bryant will be a long shot to carve out a substantial role again in his career. The former fourth-rounder in 2014 by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Clemson caught 145 passes for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns in his four NFL seasons.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Justin Shorter is expected to compete for a depth role in training camp this summer behind wideouts Khalil Shakir, rookie Keon Coleman and veteran Curtis Samuel. Shorter, who was taken in the fifth round last year out of Florida, didn't play at all in his first season in the NFL due to a hamstring injury that landed him on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old stands at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds and will be competing with the likes of Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, KJ Hamler, Andy Isabella and Quintez Cephus for the No. 4 role in Buffalo. Shorter will most likely have to contribute on special teams to make that happen, but there's no denying that there is plenty of opportunity in Buffalo's receiver room in 2024 now that both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are out of town.
From RotoBaller
Former Atlanta Falcons free-agent wide receiver Scotty Miller is reuniting with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Smith was the head coach in Atlanta to begin last season before getting fired. In 17 games with the Falcons last year, Miller caught 11 of his 16 targets for 161 yards and two touchdowns. While he will reunite with Smith, the 26-year-old pass-catcher will merely operate as receiving depth in Pittsburgh behind George Pickens, Van Jefferson, rookie Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III. The 26-year-old speedster has a total of 85 catches on 144 targets for 1,085 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 67 games (eight starts) over his five seasons in the NFL. He was originally a sixth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 out of Bowling Green.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos released quarterback Ben DiNucci on Wednesday, according to a source. DiNucci was with the Broncos all of last year on the practice squad and was elevated to the team's game-day roster three times. He became expendable this offseason after the Broncos acquired Zach Wilson from the New York Jets and then took rookie QB Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in the first round. With DiNucci released, Denver now has three QBs on the roster in Nix, Wilson and Jarrett Stidham. All three signal-callers will compete for the starting job in training camp this summer. Wilson and Stidham obviously have the most NFL experience, but Nix is fully expected to be Denver's starter of the future after they used a first-round pick on him last month.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is unlikely to be traded entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2024, and the 49ers' focus remains on keeping the star wideout for the long term. Both sides are hoping that they can work out a well-earned contract extension eventually. The recent extensions for DeVonta Smith Amon-Ra St. Brown also give the Niners a little bit more clarity in what Aiyuk's next contract should look like. Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were both available for trade before and during last month's NFL draft, but nobody came through with an offer good enough for the Niners to pull the trigger. With Aiyuk being the bigger long-term priority, the 2024 season is likely the last that they'll have both Samuel and Aiyuk around. The 26-year-old Aiyuk, a former first-rounder, finished tied as the WR12 in half-PPR formats in 2023 with Samuel.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was viewed by many front offices as a backup-caliber player, according to NFL insider Todd McShay. As relayed by Scott Barrett of Fantasy Points, McShay spoke to roughly one dozen teams, and the Broncos were the only one that had a Round 1 grade on Nix. The other teams all had a backup-caliber grade on him. This doesn't necessarily mean that Nix will be a bust and the Broncos will be proven wrong, but it certainly suggests that Denver took a risk by selecting the Oregon product 12th overall in last month's draft. As spring turns to summer, Nix will embark on a competition for the starting quarterback job with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. He's an appealing dynasty option but can probably be avoided in most redraft leagues for now.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan drew the praise of wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon, according to PewterReport. McClendon told the media that he likes the rookie's flexibility to play outside or in the slot, and he also feels fortunate that McMillan fell to Tampa Bay in the third round. These comments suggest that not only did Tampa Bay grade McMillan higher than where he was picked, but they also intend to get him involved right away. He's currently projected to compete with Trey Palmer for the No. 3 wide receiver role, but he might have an early leg up on that competition given his versatility in the passing attack. He's a riser in most dynasty rookie drafts but isn't quite on the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) is progressing well and itching to get back to normal football activities, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. "Richardson feels he's full go at this point," Fowler said during an appearance on SportsCenter. "He's been throwing for a while now. He's gradually grown to where he can throw full time with minimal restrictions. The Colts could be deliberate. They could hold him out for OTAs, 11-man work, minicamp, but the feeling is he wants to get started." These comments suggest that Richardson is pushing to return in a full capacity but Indianapolis may choose to take a more cautious approach in the final stage of his recovery and rehabilitation. Regardless, he should be back to 100 percent in time for the preseason and Week 1 of the regular season. He can be a QB1 in fantasy football as long as he stays healthy. That's easier said than done given that Richardson's physical playing style made him more susceptible to big hits and injuries as a rookie. However, Richardson reportedly might tone down his physicality in 2024, which could lead to him finishing more games (even if it equates to slightly fewer rushing yards and touchdowns, as well as more sacks). He should be treated as a fringe top-12 quarterback heading into fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker drew the praise of running backs coach Skip Peete this week, according to PewterReport. Peete told the media that Tucker "showed a lot of promise early" last season before the Buccaneers ultimately started to lean on Rachaad White and Chase Edmonds. Peete is "excited to see [Tucker] grow this offseason," suggesting the second-year back could carve out a real role in the Tampa Bay offense. Tucker will have to compete with White, Edmonds, and rookie Bucky Irving, but Peete implied that there is plenty of room for competition and he's not the type of coach to lean on just one player. The likelihood of Tucker entering Week 1 with fantasy relevance is low, but he's still a name to watch once training camp gets underway.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Brooks could be heavily involved in the passing game this season. According to head coach Dave Canales, the rookie running back's versatility is "probably the biggest thing that stood out" when the Panthers studied Brooks prior to last month's draft. Although he's recovering from a torn ACL, Brooks was still the first running back off the board, emphasizing Carolina's interest in deploying him as soon as he's healthy. Brooks will compete for touches in a backfield that consists of Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, and Rashaad Penny, but he might be the best pass-catching option of that group. Canales' glowing comments boost Brooks' fantasy value, and so does the new head coach's experience in Tampa Bay. As Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Canales helped funnel plenty of targets to emerging dual-threat back Rachaad White. White finished last season as the RB4 in PPR leagues, so it's safe to say that Brooks' upside is quite high if he can indeed get involved both on the ground and through the air. Perhaps the biggest obstacle will be the Panthers' offense, which may have to prioritize throwing deeper if they're playing from behind in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis "could have a sneaky-big impact" in 2024, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The Kentucky product was selected with the 128th overall pick in last month's draft and has impressive power behind his 5-foot-8, 211-pound frame. One NFL scout told Fowler that Davis is a "great complement to [James] Cook and should get a lot of goal-line and short-yardage work, which should result in some touchdowns." Cook is a fine runner, but he struggled in goal-line and short-yardage situations last year, delivering just two touchdowns. On the other hand, he emerged as a real receiving threat, catching 44 passes for 445 yards through the air. It's easy to envision a scenario where the Bills rely on Cook on early downs and in passing situations before turning to Davis when they need a physical back to secure a few yards. Such a backfield dynamic would drop Cook to the RB2 tier in fantasy football while Davis could sneak into RB3/FLEX territory.
From RotoBaller
There's little ambiguity as the who the Baltimore Ravens' top three wide receivers are entering the 2024 season -- Zay Flowers at No. 1, Rashod Bateman at No. 2, and Nelson Agholor at No. 3. Devontez Walker, the speedy fourth-round rookie with big-play ability, will be in position to earn notable snaps this summer, and his size and speed combination adds diversity to the team's receiver corps. The fifth spot will likely be decided by whoever wins the return competition on special teams. Deonte Harty is a former Pro Bowl returner, while Tylan Wallace did a nice job returning punts in 2023. The 22-year-old Walker led North Carolina in touchdowns in just eight games last year and is an intriguing addition to this offense, but he'll be off the fantasy radar in single-year leagues in 2024 unless an injury to one of the wideouts in front of him opens up a bigger role.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reiterated after the NFL draft that quarterback Josh Johnson is his No. 2 quarterback right now behind starter Lamar Jackson. Harbaugh said that sixth-round rookie Devin Leary will "probably be the third quarterback this year in some way or fashion and grow into the job as we go." Malik Cunningham, who was signed off the New England Patriots' practice squad in December, has time to change the coaching staff's mind in training camp this summer, but the Ravens have been non-committal about their long-term plans for him. Now that Tyler Huntley is now in Cleveland, the 37-year-old journeyman Johnson will be the primary backup for Jackson entering the 2024 season. Needless to say, but the Ravens will be in trouble if Jackson misses time with an injury.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) threw in front of the media on Tuesday for the first time since injuring his right wrist last November. Burrow has been throwing for more than a month at the tail end of his expected six-month recovery process. Still, he expects this to take time to get all the way back to where he wants to be for training camp in late July. Burrow is fully cleared for everything except contact, which is supposed to come in around a month. "Whenever you have an injury to your throwing side, you're never quite sure how it's gonna turn out at the end, but I'm in a good spot," Burrow said. "I'm happy with where I'm at." Barring a setback when he starts taking contact, the 27-year-old should be ready to go for the start of the 2024 season as he looks to bounce back to being a high-end QB1 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Titans have signed wide receiver Tyler Boyd. Dynasty Analysis: Amazingly, Boyd has already spend eight years in the league (all with the Bengals). Over the span of his career, he's posted 513 catches for exactly 6,000 yards with 31 touchdowns. The Titans were steadfast in their approach to improve their offense and have now added Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley and Boyd to a new-look team. The move will certainly have fantasy implications, most notably pushing Treylon Burks down one more spot in the pecking order. Boyd remains a low-ceiling player to have on a dynasty roster but he could have real short-term value should an injury (or a suspension) occur with Hopkins or Ridley.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is under investigation for allegedly hitting a photographer on Monday night in a Dallas club, according to WFAA.com. The 24-year-old is already facing eight felony charges stemming from a multi-vehicle crash in March. Needless to say, this is a situation worth monitoring, as the 2023 second-round pick is beginning to pile up character concerns. He was already expected to face a multi-game suspension from his previous off-field situation, so this development could put his 2024 campaign even more in jeopardy.
From RotoBaller
