Studs and Duds: Week 5

Mon Oct 11 9:28am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Herbert produces huge in Week 5


Well, that was quite the week for fantasy scoring. It was one of the highest scoring weeks in recent memory. There were some huge fantasy games, making for some big scores. Several fantasy teams had more than 200 fantasy points, which is some accomplishment. The quarterback spot led the way with three players having more than 39 fantasy points. Hopefully, things turned out well for you in Week 5, taking advantage of some of these big games.

Rams 26, Seahawks 17

Fantasy Stud: Robert Woods. It took a little time but Woods finally had a huge game this season. He had 12 receptions for 150 yards. Woods was targeted 14 times in the game. He had season highs in catches, yards and targets. Woods did struggle some his first four games but still has at least 12 fantasy points four of five games. If he can keep getting big target numbers going forward, Woods can have a huge finish to this season and put his somewhat slow start behind him in a hurry.

Fantasy Dud: Alex Collins. Collins got a lot of play this week with Chris Carson out of the lineup. Collins started and had 17 touches in the game but did very little with that work. He ran 15 times for just 47 yards. And he had two receptions for 25 yards. This was a tough matchup for Collins, though, against one of the best run defenses in football. If he starts again, he can improve in a more favorable matchup.

Game Notes: Russell Wilson dislocated his finger on his throwing hand and needed surgery to repair the injury. He is going to miss four to eight weeks of action. Wilson was 11-of-16 for 152 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Geno Smith played pretty well in relief and is going to take over as the starter while Wilson is out. Smith was 10-of-17 for 131 yards and a touchdown with an interception.

Darrell Henderson had a season high in rushing yards. He ran 17 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. He also got a catch for 17 yards, giving him 99 total yards. Henderson has 80-plus rushing yards two straight games.

Falcons 27, Jets 20

Fantasy Stud: Kyle Pitts. Pitts had a breakout game as the top target in the Falcons passing attack. He had nine receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown. With the Falcons top two receivers out, Pitts had a season high 10 targets. Pitts seems to be coming into his own and might be ready for more consistent production for all his fantasy owners. This game showed his huge weekly ceiling.

Fantasy Dud: Zach Wilson. Wilson looked to be making progress last week, playing a very good game in an upset win. But he took a step backwards this week, struggling much of the game despite a favorable matchup. He was 19-of-32 for 192 yards with an interception. He failed to score a touchdown or throw for 200 yards. Wilson is not a player fantasy owners can trust. He needs a lot of work to be a dependable option.

Game Notes: Cordarrelle Patterson continued his strong play. He actually led the Falcons in rushing, running 15 times for 54 yards. He got a lot of work in the passing game once again, catching seven passes for 60 yards, giving him 114 total yards. Patterson has 16-plus fantasy points four straight games.

Michael Carter is emerging as the lead back for the Jets. He had 10 carries compared to four for Ty Johnson. Carter ran 10 times or 38 yards and a touchdown. He also had three receptions for 20 yards, giving him 58 total yards.

Packers 25, Bengals 22

Fantasy Stud: Davante Adams. Adams had his best game of the season. He had 11 receptions for 206 yards and a touchdown. This was his second game with 30-plus fantasy points. Adams has 100-yard games three of his last four. He is well on his way to another monster season.

Fantasy Dud: Tyler Boyd. Boyd saw a dip in production with Tee Higgins back in the lineup. Boyd had four receptions 24 yards. Boyd had 13-plus fantasy points three straight games before this dud. He should be fine doing forward but might be a little hit or miss with a lot of receiver vying for targets in Cincinnati.

Game Notes: Joe Mixon was limited in the game but had double-digit touches. He produced pretty well on his sore ankle. He had 10 carries for 33 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a pass for two yards. Samaje Perine led the Bengals in carries, running 11 times for 59 yards. He caught four passes for 24 yards and a score.

Ja’Marr Chase remains red hot and the favorite target of Joe Burrow. Chase caught six passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. Chase has scores four of five games.

Vikings 19, Lions 17

Fantasy Stud: Alexander Mattison. Mattison got another start because of Dalvin Cook missing the game. Mattison hit the 100-yard mark for the second time in three games. He ran 25 times for 113 yards and caught seven passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. Mattison has 23-plus fantasy points two of three games. Mattison is a solid No. 1 fantasy back in a starting role for the Vikings.

Fantasy Dud: T.J. Hockenson. This looked like a good matchup for Hockenson but he was held in check once again. Hockenson had two receptions for 22 yards. He has fewer than double-digit fantasy points three straight games after having 20-plus fantasy points each of his first two games. Hockenson remains a solid No 1 fantasy tight end but his erratic production is a concern for fantasy owners.

Game Notes: Amon-Ra St. Brown led the way at receiver for the Lions. He caught seven passes for 65 yards on eight targets. St. Brown has 13 receptions his last two games and eight targets each of those games.

D’Andre Swift topped 100 total yards. He had 11 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown. He also had six receptions for 53 yards. Swift has 22-plus fantasy points three of five games.

Steelers 27, Broncos 19

Fantasy Stud: Courtland Sutton. Sutton had seven receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown. He was targeted 11 times in the game. Sutton has been a little hit or miss this year but had more than 120 yards two of four games. He has a very high ceiling but probably a lower floor than fantasy owners would like.

Fantasy Dud: Noah Fant. Fant got little work in the game with the receivers getting out of the looks. Fant had three receptions for 20 yards. Fant had just five fantasy points and has five or fewer points two of three games. He is a little hit or miss right now for fantasy owners.

Game Notes: JuJu Smith-Schuster left the game very early because of a shoulder injury. He was unable to return, finishing without a catch. Smith-Schuster is having a disappointing season and this injury just add insult to injury for his owners. There is speculation he could miss significant time because of the shoulder injury.

Chase Claypool hit the 100-yard mark for the first time this season. He had five receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown on six targets. He has double-digit fantasy points every game he has played this year.

Bucs 45, Dolphins 17

Fantasy Stud: Tom Brady. Brady just continues his assault on the league, showing few signs of slowing down. He had a monster game, going 30-of-41 for 411 yards and five touchdowns without a turnover. Brady has three games with four or more touchdowns. He has 16 total scores to one interception for the year.

Fantasy Dud: Jaylen Waddle. Waddle was one of the only disappointments in this high-scoring fantasy game. He had just two receptions for 31 yards. You expected better in a game the Dolphins threw for nearly 300 yards. Waddle has fewer than double-digit fantasy points two straight games.

Game Notes: Myles Gaskin was a much bigger part of the gameplan this week for the Dolphins. He had a huge game in the passing attack. He ran just five times for 25 yards but had 10 receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns.

Antonio Brown and Mike Evans both hit the 100-yard receiver mark. Brown had seven receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Evans had six receptions for 113 yards and two scores.

Saints 33, Washington 22

Fantasy Stud: Jameis Winston. Winston had a season high in pass attempts, which led to a big fantasy game for Winston. He was 15-of-30 for 279 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. Winston had more than 30 fantasy points after three straight with fewer than 16 points. Winston has been erratic this year but maybe this game will start a streak of consistency for Winston.

Fantasy Dud: Terry McLaurin. McLaurin had a rare down game for his standards. He had four receptions for 46 yards. This was his first game all season with fewer than double-digit fantasy points. He also had at least 62 yards every game before this one. He’ll rebound but this game likely stung a lot of his fantasy owners.

Game Notes: Antonio Gibson was held in check running the ball but found the end zone twice. He ran the ball 20 times for 60 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 12 yards.

Marquez Callaway had his best game, scoring two touchdowns. He had four receptions for 85 yards and two scores on eight targets. Callaway has touchdowns two of three games.

Eagles 21, Panthers 18

Fantasy Stud: Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard got another start with Christian McCaffrey out and did a good imitation of McCaffrey in this one. He ran 24 times for 101 yard and caught five passes for 33 yards. Hubbard had a season high 18.4 fantasy points. Hubbard hasn’t been huge in a starting role but effective for fantasy teams. He has more than 70 total yards every game.

Fantasy Dud: Sam Darnold. Darnold had his first really poor game for the Panthers. He turned the ball over three times and failed to hit 200-passing yards. Darnold was 21-of-37 for 177 yard and a touchdown with three interceptions. Darnold had at least 22 fantasy points four straight games before this game, finishing with just 10.9 fantasy points.

Game Notes: Jalen Hurts didn’t throw in a touchdown but ran in two. He was 22-of-37 for 198 yard and an interception. He ran the ball nine times for 30 yards and a touchdown, though. Hurts has multiple touchdowns all but one game.

DeVonta Smith had seven receptions for the second straight game. He had seven receptions for 77 yards on eight targets.

Titans 37, Jaguars 19

Fantasy Stud: Derrick Henry. Henry just keeps racking up the points for his fantasy owners. He had 29 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns. He didn’t catch a pass but that didn’t matter for his fantasy owners. Henry has four straight 100-yard games and touchdowns three of those games. Henry is already at 640-rushing yards after just five games.

Fantasy Dud: A.J. Brown. Brown returned from his hamstring injury but wasn’t much of a factor with the Titans having so much success on the ground. Brown had three receptions for 38 yards. Brown is still yet to have 50 yards in a game. He has been a big disappointment for all his fantasy owners.

Game Notes: James Robinson continues to run well for the Jags, hitting the 100-yard mark. He ran 18 times for 149 yards and a touchdown. Robinson has three straight games with 20-plus fantasy points.

Dan Arnold was the surprise leading target in the Jaguars passing game. He had six receptions for 64 yards. Arnold has multiple catches every game this year but this was just his second with more than 50 yards.

Patriots 25, Texans 22

Fantasy Stud: Davis Mills. Mills had his best game of his young career against a defense that normally gives rookies fits. Mills was 21-of-29 for 312 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. It was an impressive performance for the young player, hitting 27.8 fantasy points. This was his first game with more than 200-passing yards and multiple scores.

Fantasy Dud: Brandin Cooks. With the Texans throwing for more than 300 yards, you figured Cooks would be in on the fun. That was not the case, though. Cooks had just three receptions for 23 yards. This was actually his worst game of the season in a game the Texans threw the ball probably their best. Strange stuff.

Game Notes: Chris Moore was active for the first time this year and made the most of it. He played great, catching five passes for 109 yard and a touchdown. Moore might have played his way into a bigger role going forward.

Hunter Henry had his best game as a Patriot. He found the end zone for the second straight week. Henry had six receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown on a season high eight targets.

Bears 20, Raiders 9

Fantasy Stud: Damien Williams. Williams didn’t lead the team in carries with David Montgomery out but scored a touchdown and had 84 total yards. Williams ran the ball 16 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. He also had two receptions for 20 yards. Williams is going to be  solid play for fantasy teams while Montgomery is out of the lineup.

Fantasy Dud: Derek Carr. Carr failed to score multiple touchdown for the first time this season. He has a really poor game compared to his other this year, finishing 22-of-35 for 206 yards with an interception. Carr has cooled some since having three straight games with 380-plus passing yards to start the year.

Game Notes: Khalil Herbert was a big part of the Bears rushing attack with Montgomery out. He actually led the Bears in rushing, running 18 times for 75 yards.

Justin Fields didn’t even throw for 120 yard but led his team to a win, which is all that matters to the Bears. He was 12-of-20 for 111 yards and a touchdown without a turnover.  Fields is yet to top 11 fantasy points in any game this year.

Chargers 27, Browns 42

Fantasy Stud: Austin Ekeler. There were a lot of great fantasy performances in this one, but Ekeler is the only non-quarterback to score three touchdowns. He had a huge game, rushing 17 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. He also had five receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. He had 119 total yards and three touchdowns. Ekeler has at least 22 fantasy points four straight games.

Fantasy Dud: Odell Beckham. There were a ton of fantasy points in this one, but Beckham did not get many. He had just two receptions for 20 yards. Beckham has fewer than 30 yards two straight games. He is a hard fantasy player to use right now because of his inconsistent play. He has been more down than good most of the year.

Game Notes: Mile Williams quickly rebounded from his worst game of the season. He had his best, catching eight passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He has more than 80 yards four of five games.

Nick Chubb hit the 100-yard mark for the second straight game. He had 21 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown. Chubb has at least 83-rushing yards every game.

Cowboys 44, Giants 20

Fantasy Stud: Kadarius Toney. Toney took advantage of injuries at receiver to be the prime target for the Giants passing game. He has a monster game, finishing with 10 receptions for 189 yards. He also ran once for seven yards, giving him 196 total yards. Toney has 16 receptions on 19 targets his last two games. He is quickly gaining fantasy value.

Fantasy Dud: Daniel Jones. Jones wasn’t in there a real long time, leaving with a concussion. But when he was in there he did little. You thought he was setup for a big game against a shaky secondary. Jones was just 5-of-13 for 98 yards without a touchdown. It was a terrible week to take a chance on Jones, who had been producing big in recent weeks.

Game Notes: Daniel Jones, Kenny Golladay and Saquon Barkley all left early because of injuries. This was not a good day to be a Giant. Keep an eye on the player notes for the latest on these guys. This offense is in shambles right now because of injury.

CeeDee Lamb scored a touchdown for the first time since Week 1. He had four receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Lamb has 17-plus fantasy points three of five games.

Cardinals 17, 49ers 10

Fantasy Stud: DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins had his best game since the first week of the season. He had six receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown. Hopkins isn’t having his best season but been pretty consistent. He also has been slowed by a rib injury, so maybe he is finally getting healthy and ready to produce some big fantasy games.

Fantasy Dud: Kyler Murray. Murray wasn’t terrible by any means but didn’t have the game fantasy owners hoped. He was 22-of-31 for 239 yards and a touchdown without a turnover. This was his first game of the year, failing to have more than 20 fantasy points. Murray scored a season low 16.1 fantasy points.

Game Notes: Trey Lance played alright in his first NFL start. He was 15-of-29 for 192 yards with an interception. Lance did lead the team in rushing, running 16 times for 89 yards.

Eli Mitchell returned from his shoulder injury this week and led the way at running back for the 49ers. He ran nine times for 43 yards, averaging a solid 4.8 yards per carry. Trey Sermon ran just once for seven yards.

Bills 38, Chiefs 20

Fantasy Stud: Josh Allen. Allen had a huge game, leading the team in passing and rushing. He was 15-of-26 for 315 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. He also ran 11 times for 59 yards and a touchdown, giving him four total scores. Allen is red hot right now, having 11 touchdowns his last three games. He is making big play after big play for the Bills. Allen is showing why he was one of the first quarterbacks selected come draft day.

Fantasy Dud: Stefon Diggs. Despite a lot of fantasy points on both sides of the ball, Diggs had just two receptions. He finished with two catches for 69 yards. This was his first game all season with fewer than double digit fantasy points. He also had a season low five targets in the game. Diggs will be just fine going forward for fantasy teams, but this game was a disappointing performance. 

Game Notes: Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered a knee injury and left the game. The injury did not look good and could be very serious. Keep an eye on the player notes for the latest. Darrel Williams is the likely starter if Edwards-Helaire had to miss any time. Williams had five carries for 27 yards and three receptions for 18 yards in this game

Dawson Knox found the end zone for the fourth straight game. He also had a big yardage game in this one, catching three passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Player Notes
Gus Edwards Apr 18 12:13am CT
Gus Edwards

Dynasty | The Chargers are signing running back JK Dobbins to a one-year deal. Dynasty Analysis: Once one of the most coveted running backs in all dynasty leagues, Dobbins' career has been shattered by injuries, including a torn Achilles that happened in week one last season. When healthy, Dobbins has been one of the most effective runners in the league. However, since being drafted in 2020, he has been able to suit up in only 24 career games. He'll conceivably pair up with Gus Edwards and could have some dynasty value again should Los Angeles fail to add to the depth chart through the upcoming NFL Draft.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Rashaad Penny Apr 17 11:10pm CT
Rashaad Penny

The Seattle Seahawks reportedly visited with unrestricted free-agent running back Rashaad Penny on Wednesday. Seattle is pretty familiar with Penny after taking him with the 27th overall pick in the 2018 draft out of San Diego State. The 28-year-old flashed moments of brilliance in the first five seasons with the Seahawks but just was never able to stay healthy enough to stay on the field for long stretches. Penny averaged 5.7 yards per carry with 1,918 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 337 carries in Seattle while also catching 27 passes for 222 yards and another score. He had his smallest role yet with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, carrying the ball 11 times for 33 yards in three regular-season games. A move back to Seattle would have Penny serving as backfield depth behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.

From RotoBaller

Trevon Wesco Apr 17 11:10pm CT
Trevon Wesco

The Cleveland Browns reportedly visited with Tennessee Titans undrafted free-agent tight end Trevon Wesco on Wednesday. Wesco was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round (121st overall) in 2019 out of West Virginia. The 28-year-old spent the first three years of his NFL career in New York before single-year stints with the Chicago Bears and Titans in each of the last two seasons. He has just nine receptions on 17 targets for 134 yards and no touchdowns in 69 games (23 starts) in his five-year NFL career. Wesco has made a career out of being a blocking-first tight, so he won't even be close to the fantasy radar if he lands in Cleveland as depth in the TE room behind David Njoku and alongside names like Jordan Akins, Giovanni Ricci and Zaire Mitchell-Paden.

From RotoBaller

J.K. Dobbins Apr 17 7:00pm CT
J.K. Dobbins

Free-agent running back J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) plans to sign a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers according to his agent. Dobbins appeared in just one game in 2023 before he tore his Achilles and missed the remainder of the campaign. The veteran runner will be reunited with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who called plays for the Baltimore Ravens during a portion of Dobbins' stint there. Signs indicate that new head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to operate a run-heavy offensive approach with the Chargers, which would be good news for Dobbins, provided he's healthy. Consider this a good landing spot for Dobbins, who will look to prove his health in hopes of landing a long-term deal next offseason.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slay Apr 17 3:50pm CT
Darius Slay

The Philadelphia Eagles concluded pre-draft visits with Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold and Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean this week. Philly is clearly interested in adding defensive back talent to its defense after allowing 252.7 passing yards per game last year (second-worst). The organization holds the No. 22 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which is right in the range where Arnold and DeJean could be selected. Arnold, a 2023 first-team All-American, racked up 20 pass deflections and six interceptions over the last two seasons. DeJean totaled 13 pass deflections and seven interceptions in his final two collegiate campaigns, and he averaged 13.1 yards per punt return. Both players are considered top cornerback prospects in this cycle, so Philadelphia would make a great landing spot for either one as James Bradberry (30 years old) and Darius Slay (33 years old) have likely seen their best days in the NFL.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Apr 17 3:40pm CT
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton has not yet reported to voluntary offseason workouts this week, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. The 27-year-old is seeking a contract extension after posting 50 receptions for 770 yards and four touchdowns last season. He led the team in receiving yards last year, and he has done so in four of the last five campaigns. He's due to make $6.2 million in 2024. Although Slayton is far from a fantasy football superstar, he's been productive at times -- making this a situation worth monitoring. He should be a top wideout target in New York's offense once again, though they might take a wideout in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and second-year receiver Jalin Hyatt could take on a larger role.

From RotoBaller

Cam Brown Apr 17 3:30pm CT
Cam Brown

Free-agent linebacker Cam Brown is signing with the Miami Dolphins, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Brown spent the last four seasons with the New York Giants after being selected by the organization in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Penn State. In his first 60 NFL games, the 26-year-old accumulated 35 tackles (24 solo) and two forced fumbles. He posted seven special teams tackles last season, which is where he will likely contribute for the Fins in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Apr 17 1:50pm CT
Jalen McMillan

Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan has a pre-draft visit scheduled with the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday. McMillan was a three-year starter in college and is projected to be a Day 2 selection in the upcoming NFL draft next week. The 22-year-old ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in February and also has good size at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds. In his career with the Huskies, McMillan had 164 receptions for 2,143 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in 38 games played. Even though Cincy still has Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins around, they are expected to take a receiver in this year's draft. They have three Day 3 picks, including two third-round picks at Nos. 80 and 97.

From RotoBaller

Christian Wilkins Apr 17 1:30pm CT
Christian Wilkins

The Miami Dolphins will exercise the fifth-year option for linebacker Jaelan Phillips (Achilles), according to general manager Chris Grier. The former 18th overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft, Phillips has been an integral piece for the Dolphins defense since he entered the league three years ago. He set a Dolphins rookie record with 8.5 sacks in 2021 and had seven sacks in 2022 before playing in only eight games in 2023 because of an Achilles tear. Before his injury, he was on pace for a career-high 14 sacks. The Dolphins expect Phillips to make a full recovery for the start of the 2024 campaign. Miami can't afford for Phillips to regress after his injury after losing Christian Wilkins this offseason. If healthy in 2024, Phillips should be on the IDP fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

Devon Achane Apr 17 1:20pm CT
Devon Achane

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane has impressed fans after showing up to voluntary offseason workouts this month looking to be in excellent shape physically. Already one of the most impressive offensive rookies in 2023 with the most yards per rush (7.8) with a minimum of 100 attempts, his fantasy stock is soaring heading into his sophomore campaign this fall. Achane stands at only 5-foot-9, 188 pounds, but he packs a punch and is one of the fastest players overall in the NFL already. The only knocks on the 22-year-old are that he missed six games with injury, and that Raheem Mostert, who scored 21 total touchdowns in 2023, is still around. Achane had 103 carries for 800 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 regular-season games (four starts). Even with Mostert around, Achane, when healthy, has some of the most upside of any RB in the league.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Apr 17 1:10pm CT
Bo Nix

The New York Giants visited with Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler this week, according to sources. The Giants continue to do their due diligence on the QB position ahead of this month's NFL draft at all levels of the draft. Nix is a potential first-round pick, but he's not expected to go as early as New York's sixth overall pick. Rattler is seen as a mid-round selection. The G-Men have six picks in this year's draft with one in every round other than the seventh. They continue to say that Daniel Jones (knee), who is coming off a torn ACL, is their starter when healthy, but they are wisely planning to have better depth behind him in 2024 and beyond if he gets hurt again or disappoints this fall.

From RotoBaller

Brock Bowers Apr 17 1:10pm CT
Brock Bowers

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers is visiting with the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday. Bowers also has visited with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets this week, so he's making the rounds with interested club's with the NFL draft coming late next week. Even after missing his pro-day workout with a minor hamstring injury, the 21-year-old is projected to be a top-15 pick in this first round next week after dominating as a pass-catching tight end in college with the Bulldogs. Bowers had 2,538 receiving yards and 31 total touchdowns in three seasons, even after missing a big chunk of 2023 due to an ankle injury. It's probably unlikely the Bolts would take Bowers fifth overall, but if he did end up in LA, we could easily see him being fantasy relevant in Year 1 after the team lost pass-catchers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in the offseason.

From RotoBaller

Deuce Vaughn Apr 17 12:13pm CT
Deuce Vaughn

Dynasty | The Cowboys have signed free agent running back Royce Freeman. Dynasty Analysis: The well-traveled Freeman joins Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner in a makeshift backfield for the Cowboys at the moment. While the signing is a little intriguing on paper since Freeman has proven to be capable before, it seems highly likely Dallas takes a running back in the upcoming NFL Draft. At this point, he simply needs to be added to dynasty watch lists in case the Cowboys really do punt on the position and employ some kind of committee with this group,

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Royce Freeman Apr 16 8:10pm CT
Royce Freeman

The Dallas Cowboys signed free-agent running back Royce Freeman to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, according to a source. The former third-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2018 out of Oregon spent last year with the Los Angeles Rams and had 77 carries for 319 yards and two rushing touchdowns in 14 regular-season games (zero starts) while adding a 13-yard catch on two targets. Even with Tony Pollard departing via Tennessee in free agency this offseason, it might be tough for Freeman to make a huge impact in Dallas' backfield in 2024 alongside the likes of Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis. The Cowboys could also add more competition at the position via the upcoming draft. At best, Freeman could be a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex option in fantasy in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Apr 16 7:10pm CT
Nick Chubb

While Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) has been working hard in the weight room, there's no timetable yet for his return in 2024. "I don't know that we'll go past today and this week at least that's the way I'm looking at it," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "I can promise you he's working very hard early in the morning. He's here, he's attacking his rehab. That's the best way I can put it. When he's ready, he'll be ready." The 28-year-old suffered a gruesome season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of last year. While he'll be sticking around with the team in 2024, it's unclear if he'll be ready by training camp this summer or if the Browns will be forced to ease him into the fold in the opening portion of the 2024 campaign. Because of the uncertainty around how Chubb will bounce back, it will make him an extremely risky RB1 in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Trent Taylor Apr 16 7:10pm CT
Trent Taylor

The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent wide receiver Trent Taylor to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday. It will be a reunion between the two sides after the Niners selected Taylor in the fifth round (177th overall) in 2017 out of Louisiana Tech. The 29-year-old pass-catcher spent the first three years of his NFL career in the Bay Area before two years with the Cincinnati Bengals. He went catchless on two targets in 17 games (zero starts) for the Chicago Bears in 2023. Taylor is most likely to pitch in on special teams for the 49ers after Ray-Ray McCloud left in free agency this offseason. In his six NFL seasons, Taylor has 87 receptions on 137 targets for 834 yards and three touchdowns, with most of the production coming in his first two seasons with the 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Apr 16 3:50pm CT
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence missed just one game last season, but he dealt with multiple injuries to his lower and upper body that could have affected his play in 2023. In a media availability on Tuesday, the former No. 1 overall pick said he did not feel 100% healthy until March. "When March hit, I felt really good, like lifting and doing everything like totally normal," Lawrence said. "But until March, I'd say that's when I started to feel like 100%, do stuff that I normally do." The 24-year-old threw for 4,016 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, and the Jaguars lost a Week 18 game against the struggling Tennessee Titans that would have sent them to the playoffs. Ultimately, it was a disappointing season for Lawrence and the Jaguars alike, but a healthy Lawrence could yield better results in 2024. The team has uncertainty at the wide receiver position after the departure of Calvin Ridley, but they are likely to add weapons in the upcoming NFL Draft. Lawrence figures to have a low-end QB1 upside, though he's likely to produce mid-range QB2 numbers in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Rashard Higgins Apr 16 3:40pm CT
Rashard Higgins

Veteran wide receiver Rashard Higgins and linebacker Christian Kirksey are signing one-day contracts with the Cleveland Browns to retire with the organization, the team announced on Tuesday. Higgins was selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and racked up 137 receptions for 1,890 yards and 12 touchdowns in 82 games from 2016 to 2021. He spent the 2022 season with the Carolina Panthers but did not log a snap. Kirkey was a 2014 third-round pick by the Browns and played for the team until 2019 before brief stints with the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, and Buffalo Bills. Overall, he secured 779 tackles, 16.5 sacks, seven interceptions, and 34 passes defended in 114 career games.

From RotoBaller

Nyheim Hines Apr 16 3:40pm CT
Nyheim Hines

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he is "not sure" when running back Nyheim Hines (knee) will practice with the team for the first time. The 27-year-old is rehabbing from a torn ACL that he suffered off the field last offseason as a member of the Buffalo Bills. Despite that, the Browns signed him to a one-year, $1.15 million deal after free agency began. Since being traded to the Bills in the middle of the 2022 campaign, Hines has rushed for negative three yards and caught five passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Cleveland has Nick Chubb (knee), D'Onta Foreman, and Jerome Ford on the roster. That said, it'd be surprising if Hines has a role in the offense this season, but he could be a factor in the kick return game if he can work his way back from the unfortunate injury.

From RotoBaller

Matt Ryan Apr 16 3:20pm CT
Matt Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons secured quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason on a four-year, $180 million deal, setting them up to have above-average quarterback play for the first time since Matt Ryan parted ways with the organization. However, the team is not done adding to the quarterback room. "We're definitely gonna add a quarterback," Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said. "We're not going to into the season with two arms." The team has Cousins and Taylor Heinicke on the roster, but most teams carry between three and five quarterbacks in the offseason. It's unlikely that Atlanta will consider a first-round quarterback in this year's class, but they could begin to take fliers on signal-callers as soon as Round 2 begins. Cousins will turn 36 years old before the start of the 2024 season, so throwing a dart on players like Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix would make sense if they fall to the second round. On Day 3 of the draft, Spencer Rattler, Michael Pratt, and Joe Milton III are potential project options to consider. Although any quarterback Atlanta adds can be safely ignored in single-quarterback formats, they might be worth rostering in deep superflex and two-QB setups considering Cousins' age and the major Achilles injury he is coming off of.

From RotoBaller