A 20-game win streak? Billerica boys' lacrosse built for a trip to Division 2 semifinals
Billerica's set defense was nearly impenetrable with Caden Canney, Daniel Kinsella, and senior captain AJ Parrella holding down the back line in front of junior goalie Nolan Heffernan (8 saves). Walpole (17-4) came in averaging over 13 goals per game, but could never get rolling, with five of its six goals coming unassisted.
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'We knew defensively, we had to minimize their guys and did a really good job on that end,' said Parrella, 'It was just a really good team win.'
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When Walpole started to chip away at a 6-2 halftime deficit in the third quarter, Gearin provided the response. The electric middie, who missed the majority of the season with a broken tibia, scored three times in the frame and provided the first four goals for his squad in the second half to keep the Wolves at bay. Gearin also provided an early spark with three assists in the first quarter.
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'[Gearin has] been itching to go,' said Nickerson. 'He had some pent up energy and tonight was a big release for him. We knew it would be a good matchup for him against their defense, but I didn't think it would be this good. He was awesome tonight.'
Division 1
Lincoln-Sudbury 14, Concord-Carlisle 5 —
With a decisive third-quarter surge, the third-seeded Lincoln-Sudbury boys' lacrosse team pulled away from No. 6 Concord-Carlisle quarterfinal.
Junior Brady Malo paced Lincoln-Sudbury (15-4) with three goals, and seniors Rex Friedholm, Nolan Martindale, and Will Fosnot added two apiece.
'Our seniors really stepped up today,' Lincoln-Sudbury coach Brian Vona said.
Lincoln-Sudbury built a 3-2 edge through one quarter and 6-3 halftime advantage after a slick behind-the-back pass from Friedholm to Malo in the final seconds. The Harvard-bound Friedholm dictated the action throughout the night, and senior Dante Venuto was sharp at the face-off X.
Senior Jason Swaim (3 goals) helped the Patriots (17-4) stay within striking distance, then Fosnot spearheaded a 6-2 third quarter for Lincoln-Sudbury to make it 12-5. The Patriots made some noise in the fourth, but the outcome had already been sealed.
After quarterfinal exits each of the past two seasons, the Warriors are back in familiar territory. They'll face No. 2 St. John's Prep in the semifinals Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Burlington High.
'I've never been to a Final Four game,' Friedholm said. 'A lot of these guys have never been. We were dying, we were dying. We were just clawing, scratching, everything we needed to do.'
Division 2 State
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Westwood 9, Longmeadow 8 —
Senior Troy Fredrickson fired in the winner with 2:15 remaining (and assisted on another) to propel the 10th-seeded Wolverines (16-4) to the first semifinal appearance in program history.
'Today is one of the best days of my life,' an ecstatic coach Todd Zahurak said after the win. While there's not a singular star on the roster, 'we have a bunch of 'A' players that nobody really knows about,' said Zahurak.
Junior attackman Sam Cochran had a trio of goals and classmate Jaden Pollack had 12 saves as the Wolverines completed a nearly 200-mile trip to upset No. 2 Longmeadow (17-4). Zahurak credited his defense, including junior Ryan Williams and senior Kyle Harvey for keeping a solid Longmeadow attack off the board.
'This group just really believes in each other, and they play for each other,' said Zahurak.
Corresponents Lenny Rowe and Chloe Wojtanik contributed.
Nate Weitzer can be reached at
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Fox Sports
32 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
NBA mock draft: While Duke's Flagg stands out, guards could have their own big Round 1 showing
Associated Press While Duke's Cooper Flagg is the headliner, this month's NBA draft could be just as much about the high-end guard prospects available. Flagg has long been the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. But beyond the versatile forward is a bevy of guards prominently positioned in the top tiers of the talent pool, which could make for a very good night for the position when the first round begins June 25. It starts with multiple freshmen in Rutgers' Dylan Harper, Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, Texas' Tre Johnson and Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears. Throw in Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis, and guards make up five of the top nine picks — and ultimately, roughly half of the first-round selections — in the second edition of The Associated Press' NBA mock draft. 1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke Fresh off trading away Luka Doncic, the Mavericks luck into a versatile 6-foot-8, 221-pound forward who led the Blue Devils to the Final Four while becoming only the fourth freshman named AP men's college basketball national player of the year. He can thrive as a scorer ( Atlantic Coast Conference freshman-record 42 points against Notre Dame) or playmaker (team-best 4.2 assists). His length and competitive edge can impact games defensively (team highs of 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks). And he has an all-around game more advanced than his age with room to develop as he turns 19 in December. 2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers The son of former NBA guard Ron Harper offers size at the point (6-5, 213 pounds) and averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a freshman. He could join NBA rookie of the year Stephon Castle in the backcourt for star Victor Wembanyama. Still, there's an awkward question of how a team with Harper and fellow one-and-done prospect Ace Bailey went just 15-17. 3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, guard, Baylor The only benefit to injury-riddled seasons for stars Joel Embiid and Paul George was landing a high pick for a team that still has designs on contending in the Eastern Conference. The 6-4, 193-pound Edgecombe, who turns 20 in July, could help with two-way potential, rim-attacking athleticism and 3-point shooting. 4. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey, forward, Rutgers The 6-8 forward is a versatile athlete capable of stretching defenses (five January games with at least four made 3s) and tools to develop defensively. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, though for a losing team despite featuring Bailey and Harper as the NBA-bound headliners. The Hornets already have 2023 No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller as a wing forward, so this would bet on talent over position need. 5. Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson, guard, Texas It's a simple selling point for the league's worst team: the 6-5, 190-pound freshman can score. He averaged 19.9 points to lead the Southeastern Conference and all freshmen nationally while shooting 39.7% on 3s. He broke Durant's freshman Longhorns record when he scored 39 points against Arkansas in February. 6. Washington Wizards: Jeremiah Fears, guard, Oklahoma The Wizards need help in multiple areas after winning 18 games. They can start with the 6-3, 180-pound combo guard who averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his lone college season. Highlights included a four-point play to beat a ranked Michigan team, along with scoring 57 points in two SEC Tournament games. He also got to the line 6.3 times per game while ranking tied for 11th in Division I by making 183 free throws. But he made just 28.4% of his 3s and must add bulk. 7. New Orleans Pelicans: Kon Knueppel, forward, Duke The 6-7, 217-pound Knueppel is an efficient scorer who was named ACC Tournament MVP while Flagg was sidelined by injury. Knueppel shot 40.6% on 3-pointers and ranked sixth in Division I by shooting 91.4% at the foul line. The freshman also had 10 games with at least four assists to show potential as a secondary playmaker for a Final Four team. 8. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, center, Duke With four first-round picks, the Nets could start with a long-term bet on the 7-1, 253-pound South Sudanese big man to hit his potential as a rim-protecting lob threat. Maluach had the combine's biggest wingspan (7-6 3/4) and showed stretches of capably defending guards on switches in his lone college season. He shot 71.2% largely on dunks and putbacks, so he'll need time to refine a raw offensive game. 9. Toronto Raptors: Kasparas Jakucionis, guard/forward, Illinois The 6-5 freshman has shown an all-around floor game. He averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a freshman, including one run of six straight 20-point games that featured matchups against three ranked teams — including then-No. 1 Tennessee. He also had four double-digit rebounding games and eight games with at least seven assists. 10. Houston Rockets: Derik Queen, center, Maryland The 6-9, 248-pounder earned a spot in March Madness lore by banking in a buzzer-beating runner to beat Colorado State and reach the NCAA Sweet 16. The nimble move illustrated the still-developing upside for a skilled freshman who nearly averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). 11. Portland Trail Blazers: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina The sophomore has a strong frame (6-7, 240) that could allow him to work some on the wing and bang inside with a nearly 7-1 wingspan. He contributed as a capable scorer (16.8), rebounder (8.3) and defender (1.3 blocks, 1.5 steals). 12. Chicago Bulls: Carter Bryant, forward, Arizona The 6-7, 215-pound freshman reserve shot 37.1% on 3s and showed defensive potential by averaging a block per game despite playing just 19 minutes a night. He had one of the top max vertical leaps at the combine (39.5 inches). 13. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell, forward/center, Georgia The 6-9, 224-pound freshman who helped the Bulldogs return to the NCAAs for the first time in a decade offers an upside that could allow him to contribute as a small-ball big man or alongside another big man as a power forward. He could be a home-state frontcourt boost for the Hawks, though the 19-year-old must get stronger and improve his shooting (29.2% on 3s). 14. San Antonio Spurs: Noa Essengue, forward, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) The lanky 6-9, 194-pound forward from France has been honing versatile skills in Germany and turns 19 in December. He has the ability to run the court and attack off the dribble, averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in Germany this season. 15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber, center, Georgetown The 6-9, 263-pound freshman offers a sturdy interior presence with a 7-6 wingspan, proving capable of operating in the post or in traffic while also flashing face-up skills. Sorber, 19, also averaged 2.0 blocks to offer defensive potential. It would help for him to improve his 3-point shot (6 of 37, 16.2%) but he would be a luxury boost up front for a team that won a league-best 68 games and reached the NBA Finals. 16. Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson, guard, Michigan State The son of former NBA guard Jason Richardson is small (6-1, 178) for a combo guard, and he mentioned after a recent workout with Portland that he's working to prove he can play the point. Shooting 41.2% on 3s is enticing regardless. 17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rasheer Fleming, forward/center, Saint Joseph's The 6-8, 232-pound Fleming increased his output in three college seasons and brings a sturdy frame to the NBA. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, and has improved his 3-pointing from 31.3% through his first two college seasons to 39% last year. He also had one of the combine's biggest wingspans at better than 7-5. 18. Washington Wizards: Egor Demin, guard/forward, BYU A top international prospect from Russia, the 19-year-old Demin spent a season at BYU as a playmaker with size (6-9, 199). That could allow teams to run offense through him as a strong passer who had 15 assists against two turnovers in 54 minutes of work during his last two NCAA Tournament games for a Sweet 16 team. 19. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf, guard, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) After grabbing Maluach at eight, the Nets could bolster their perimeter with the 6-6, 201-pound lefty from Israel. Saraf has proven adept as a scoring playmaker, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists this season in Germany. 20. Miami Heat: Liam McNeeley, forward, UConn The 6-7, 215-pound McNeeley jumped right in as a freshman starter for the two-time reigning NCAA champion Huskies and projects as a floor-stretching wing, including with 22 points in the NCAAs against eventual champion Florida and a 38-point showing against then-No. 24 Creighton. 21. Utah Jazz: Danny Wolf, forward/center, Michigan The 6-11, 252-pound junior thrived in moving from the Ivy League (Yale) to the Big Ten as a low-post presence, averaging 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds while ranking among Division I leaders with 15 double-doubles. He also showed the ability to step outside (38 made 3s in 37 games). 22. Atlanta Hawks: Nolan Traore, guard, Saint-Quentin BB (France) The 6-5, 175-pound guard from France is a scoring playmaker and has been regarded as a possible lottery prospect. The 19-year-old had previously drawn recruiting interest from programs like Duke, Alabama and Gonzaga before opting to remain in his home country last year. 23. Indiana Pacers: Cedric Coward, guard, Washington State The 6-5, 213-pound Coward has taken an interesting path. He started his career at Division III Willamette and spent two seasons at Eastern Washington, then played six games at Washington State due to injury and planned to transfer to Duke. But he stayed in the draft after testing well at the combine, including the best wingspan (7-2+) and standing reach (8-10) among guards, a 38.5-inch max vertical leap, and solid shooting-drill showings. 24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nique Clifford, guard, Colorado State The 6-5, 202-pound Clifford took his time developing as a five-year player, though the 23-year-old is coming off a huge year (18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists). He also improved his outside shot, going from making 33.8% over three seasons at Colorado to 37.7% on higher volume in two years with the Rams. 25. Orlando Magic: Walter Clayton Jr., guard, Florida The 6-2, 199-pound combo guard was an AP first-team All-American and Final Four's most outstanding player in the Gators' national title run. That included monster tournament performances — notably the frantic comeback against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and a career-best scoring effort against Auburn in the Final Four — that bode well for a gamer who repeatedly rose to the challenge. 26. Brooklyn Nets: Will Riley, guard/forward, Illinois The freshman from Canada worked as a top reserve averaging 12.6 points. Riley, 19, has potential as a scorer and passer with size (6-8) as he refines his game and develops physically (186 pounds). 27. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell, guard/forward, North Carolina The 6-6, 195-pound freshman offers athleticism, outside shooting (37.9% on 3s) and defensive potential. Powell led all combine players in standing vertical leap (37.5 inches, 4+ inches more than anyone else) and max vertical (43.0) to go with a 7-foot wingspan. 28. Boston Celtics: Maxime Raynaud, center, Stanford The fourth-year senior from France is a skilled 7-footer who can step outside and space the floor. He joined Flagg as the only unanimous AP all-ACC first-team picks after averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds while making 67 3s in 35 games. 29. Phoenix Suns: Joan Beringer, center, Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia) Beringer, who turns 19 in November, projects as a mobile threat who can work in the pick-and-roll and as a lob threat. The French big man needs time to strengthen a lean 6-11, 230-pound frame. 30. Los Angeles Clippers: Hugo Gonzalez, guard/forward, Real Madrid (Spain) The 19-year-old with a 6-6, 205-pound frame has flashed shooting range and the ability to attack off the dribble. He earned MVP honors after helping the Under-18 Real Madrid team win last year's Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) in Berlin. ___ Also considered (in alphabetical order): Kam Jones, guard, Marquette; Ryan Kalkbrenner, center, Creighton; Noah Penda, forward, Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France); Hansen Yang, center, Qingdao (China). ___ The AP NBA mock draft analyzes the top prospects who have declared for the league's annual event. More AP NBA: ___ AP Basketball Writers Tim Reynolds, Aaron Beard, Brian Mahoney and John Marshall contributed to this report. ___ AP NBA: recommended
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
The 2026 World Cup is one year away: How plans for Boston's seven games are progressing and what comes next
Or New England, for that matter. 'It's bigger than I've ever seen in my lifetime and perhaps that we'll see in the next lifetime, I'm not sure,' said Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of Meet Boston. 'Nothing would compare to this. This is what we would call an outlier.' Next year's World Cup will be the first with 104 games to be played by 48 teams, an increase of 12 countries over the World Cups since 1998, and twice as many games and teams as there were in 1994, when the US last hosted the World Cup. In that World Cup, the six games at the smaller Foxboro Stadium generated some $50 million in revenues. Advertisement Organizers expect this one to create more than 5,000 jobs and for $60 million in revenues for the state and city. Not included in the $1.1 billion, a figure the organizing committee said is based on independent studies, is free media exposure estimated to be worth 'hundreds of millions of dollars,' said Mike Loynd, president and CEO of FIFA World Cup Boston 2026. Also left out of the billion-dollar equation is 'future legacy,' which Loynd said refers to economic growth that will accrue from 'the region being recognized as a great place to do business and visit. Advertisement 'I don't think we've ever seen this sort of density of events this close together with this amount of attention paid internationally. We're seeing hundreds of thousands of viewers per event, at a minimum, on average for the games, and the quarterfinal [on July 9] will be massive. The eyes of the world will be on us.' Before the hordes and cameras arrive, Boston organizers will continue to chip away at a formidable to-do list that's been growing since FIFA included Boston on its list of 16 North American host cities almost three years ago. A few items, such as festooning South Station with 'Boston 26″ paraphernalia and unveiling a countdown clock at Faneuil Hall Wednesday morning, are being activated at one year away. The biggest pieces of the puzzle, such as security, transportation, funding, and FanFest specifics, are still being hammered out. Other items, such as many of the stadium modifications, have to wait for the Patriots' upcoming season to end. There's a lot of legwork left before visitors start swiping and tapping their credit cards. Loynd and Sheridan sat down with the Globe recently to provide a progress report. Pillow talk There are enough beds for everyone. 'We'll be fine,' said Sheridan, citing a high density of hotel properties across Boston and southern New England. FIFA is holding about 3,900 rooms a night for approximately 40 days. Reservations should roughly happen in three waves, beginning this week when hotels open their systems 12 months out, after the draw in December when fans across the globe learn where their team will be playing, and in the weeks and days as the tournament approaches. Advertisement Immigration worries Because the Trump administration's aggressive stance and actions regarding illegal and legal immigrants is well-documented and ongoing, an influx of foreigners in every one of the 11 US host cities will be fraught. However, Boston organizers voiced confidence that the close relationship between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Trump, as well as the president's desire to pull off a tournament without controversy, will decrease the possibility of problems. 'The administration is hyperfocused on making this event successful; they know they're in the spotlight,' said Sheridan. 'I think the administration is going to be uber-focused on making sure that the inbound process is as smooth as possible.' Safe and sound Each host city has been in talks with the Department of Homeland Security and FIFA over the last two years to coordinate over common concerns and to anticipate trouble spots at the stadium, traffic routes, and fan-gathering sites. Locally, Loynd's organizing committee and the state chair a steering committee on security that has 18 subgroups that include representation from about 30 public agencies, including the Boston and state police, chiefs of staff from the governor and Boston mayor's office, the state's emergency operations center, MBTA, and Amtrak security. The federal government has dedicated $625 million to help with security in the US cities. No texting while idling Nobody should be under the impression that getting in and out of Boston Stadium will somehow be quicker and easier than the usual congestion around Gillette Stadium for concerts and Patriots and Revolution games. Because fewer spectators will be traveling to the Boston area with a car than for normal stadium events, there will be an even heavier reliance on public transportation. Advertisement The frequency of commuter rail trips will increase and bus routes will be added to supplement train service. Boston organizers and MBTA officials are working together on transportation issues. Organizers are still finalizing plans on whether satellite parking lots for buses will be used, plus working on other solutions to mitigate congestion. Stadium makeover In order to provide enough space for a properly sized FIFA pitch, crews will have to make four corner cuts in the curved corners of the lower seating bowl. Those will happen soon, with temporary seating provided during the Patriots season so capacity will not shrink. An exact capacity figure for the soccer games is not available, but with the corner cuts and an extra media tribune being built over seating in the south end of the stadium, capacity will be less than the 65,878 for Patriots games. Whenever the Patriots' season ends, crews will finish installing the subair system that, along with grow lights, will be needed for the new grass field. In addition to removing Gillette Stadium signage, any current corporate signage will be covered so that only FIFA's corporate sponsors' logos can be seen by fans and TV viewers. A Gillette Stadium makeover for World Cup games next year will be completed once the Patriots' upcoming season ends. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Who's got tickets FIFA maintains tight control on the vast majority of tickets for each game and has yet to provide information on sales and pricing. The Boston committee will receive a modest allotment that will be reserved mainly for its sponsors and donors. There will not be more information on tickets before the end of FIFA's Club World Cup taking place in the US now through mid-July. Keep an eye out for Advertisement More than a game There will be a central FanFest site located in Boston, but the big reveal on where and what it will entail is not ready. There also will be public viewing sites across New England. Once the draw is completed, the committee will try, if possible, to focus celebratory activities in any regional area heavily populated by native fans of incoming national teams. On Wednesday morning, a countdown clock for the start of the World Cup will start ticking outside Faneuil Hall. In the afternoon, Governor Maura Healey and assorted soccer luminaries will take part in a soccer demonstration and panel discussion at Boston University's Nickerson Field. There will be costs Loynd said the committee is working on a budget with an unknown final figure but one that is expected to fall between $75 million and $100 million. 'We're never going to build anything more than what we can financially afford,' said Loynd. Besides security and transportation costs, there are costs associated with FanFest and other celebratory sites, none of which have been finalized. Ronald O'Hanley, chair and CEO of State Street Bank, is chairing an honorary board with members, many of whom will be donors, being announced in the coming weeks. Meet Boston provided $5 million for Boston 26, said Sheridan. What's left behind It's too early for details, but Boston 26 will be building multiple soccer fields in underserved communities, said Loynd. Boston 26 also intends to develop programming for a 'collective group of social impact programs that exist across New England to work together,' he said. Advertisement Boston's World Cup games Boston will host seven games in the 2026 World Cup. The matchups and details will come after the draw is announced in December. Saturday, June 13 : Group C game Tuesday, June 16 : Group I game Friday, June 19 : Group C game Tuesday, June 23 : Group L game Friday, June 26 : Group I game Monday, June 29 : Group E winner vs. Group A/B/C/D/F third-place game Thursday, July 9 : Quarterfinal game Michael Silverman can be reached at
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
2025 breakout running backs, including Ashton Jeanty, Bhayshul Tuten and six more rookies
Normally, I focus on veteran running backs in this series. I don't include rookies I think will have great NFL debuts because they aren't really 'breaking out' from anything. Given all the rookie coverage I offer each year, it's also fun to highlight the veterans who are being overlooked. That said, this draft class essentially told me, 'Too bad, tough cookies.' (Mmm, cookies!) If I eliminated running backs with a previous RB1 finish and didn't include rookies, I'd struggle to find one breakout this year. So, in an unprecedented event, this year's breakout running backs piece will include rookies only. Case For: Even if Jeanty 'only' has a Bijan Robinson-like rookie season, he'd still be a Top 10 RB. Next! Case Against: He gets hurt? RB1 Likelihood: 9.5/10 (-0.5, only for injury risk) Case For: All the 'E's in his name stand for 'explosive.' Henderson has Top 20 upside, even in a timeshare. And he doesn't have to be limited to a timeshare, as Henderson has three-down ability. For a fantasy comparison, touch-wise, think of James Cook. Rhamondre Stevenson has struggled with performance and injury since his strong 2022 season. Advertisement Case Against: The Patriots offense could limit Henderson's ceiling, including touchdowns. Head coach Mike Vrabel might purposefully limit the workload due to Henderson's injury history. The average fantasy points needed to finish RB12 the past 10 years has been 221.6, and there has been just one instance of a running back having fewer than 200 touches and reaching the Top 12: James White in 2018, thanks in part to 87 receptions and 12 total touchdowns. Also, for Top 12 running backs without double-digit touchdowns, the minimum workload over the past 10 seasons was 272 touches. RB1 Likelihood: 6.5/10 Case For: Similar to 2023 draftees Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, the gap from Jeanty to Hampton is not as wide as some make it out to be. Hampton possesses workhorse ability, including significant receiving upside. In fact, you could use Robinson's 2024 campaign (RB4) as the statistical ceiling for Hampton. The Chargers, under Jim Harbaugh, have a high-quality rushing offense, which included a combined 296 carries for 1,270 yards and 13 touchdowns for J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, neither of whom played a full season. It helps that the Chargers have a really good offensive line. Case Against: Najee Harris has been rather volume-reliant, but he's still a productive running back with four-straight 1,000+ rushing yards seasons. Weeks 3-4 were the only games Dobbins had over 60.0% of the RB touches with Gus Edwards active. The Chargers have one of the toughest schedules for running backs … on paper. RB1 Likelihood: 6.5/10 Case For: Harvey is similar in style to Alvin Kamara, who not only was an RB1 under Sean Payton but the No. 1 RB1 in 2020. In fact, Kamara put up 274.4 fantasy points during his rookie season, finishing third in fantasy behind Todd Gurley and Le'Veon Bell. Audric Estime is a thumper, and Jaleel McLaughlin is a nice complementary piece, but neither has the upside of Harvey with his burst, elusiveness and receiving. Clearly, Payton believes the same, as during this write-up, the Broncos signed J.K Dobbins. Even so, Harvey doesn't move much in my ranks, as quick mathing of my early projections (coming soon!) spit him out as a mid-low RB2. Oh, and the Broncos have one of the best offensive lines in the league. Advertisement Case Against: There are workload questions and snap-share risks, given Harvey's struggles with pass blocking. Payton uses multiple running backs, including four active ones on game day, at times. Somewhat a chicken-and-egg situation, but the Broncos' rushing offense finished mid-pack with just 12 touchdowns. Dobbins was recently signed, raising serious concerns that this backfield could become a full-blown committee and that anyone but Harvey sees the goal-line work. RB1 Likelihood: 5.0/10 Case For: Immediate lead option. Judkins has some overlap with Brian Robinson and Jordan Mason as an appealing RB2 … if given 65% or more of the work in Cleveland (more on that shortly). When drafted, Judkins had little preventing him from assuming a workhorse role (or one close to it). Case Against: The Browns followed up their early second-round Judkins pick by taking Dylan Sampson in Round 4. Sampson is a speedy weapon with some similarities to Justice Hill. Also, Jerome Ford is no slouch despite likely falling behind Judkins. The offensive line isn't what it was years ago, which, coupled with a likely low-scoring offense, will hamper any running back, even before factoring in a shared workload. RB1 Likelihood: 4.5/10 Case For: Johnson is a power back who fights for yards and rarely goes down easy — in other words, a tailor-made replacement for Najee Harris. For all the fantasy managers screaming the past two years, the Steelers haven't shown the willingness to let Jaylen Warren be a true lead/workhorse. And, we know how reliant they have been on the running game since Ben Roethlisberger retired. They are second only to the Eagles in Rush% in goal-to-go situations (62.6%) since Big Ben's exit, and Harris had 58 of those rushes over the past three seasons. That's the fourth-most attempts among running backs in that span, and that's with Warren in the mix. Case Against: Power backs carry more risk in fantasy due to limited passing game upside, especially when the second option is good in that area. The backfield split adds risk already. Warren could look and perform better, as he did in comparison to Harris, and get the lead. If Warren leads, Johnson's floor is more worrisome, as a power complementary piece could see a 30% share, whereas a nice receiving option would normally see more, around 40%, or even 45-50%. The offensive line is still worrisome. Advertisement RB1 Likelihood: 4.0/10 Case For: Tough as nails. Grittier than this … guy? A good receiver with three-down ability, Skattebo brings something the Giants have lacked for some time — unrelenting power. And they could lean into the run more often, given the quarterback situation. Even if Skattebo is in a timeshare, there's a great chance he's the goal-line option. Case Against: Not overly elusive. Tyrone Tracy is no slouch and is still in the mix to lead in touches, similar to Warren in Pittsburgh. The offense could easily limit any running back for the Giants, given the potential lack of scoring and offensive line concerns. The schedule — albeit, again, on paper — is brutal for any position. RB1 Likelihood: 3.0/10 Case For: Tuten is not only speedy, but he's also shown great ability at getting outside and to the edge with nice moves in space, making defenders miss. Head coach Liam Coen has no ties to Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, drafting Tuten in Round 4, LeQuint Allen in Round 7 and adding Ja'Quinden Jackson as an undrafted free agent. Hopefully, Coen can maximize Trevor Lawrence and this offense, which produced a Top 5 fantasy RB finish for Etienne in 2023. Case Against: Etienne has been sorely inefficient, but his career isn't dead … yet. Coen helping Etienne rebound isn't out of the question. Tuten isn't overly powerful, has fumbling concerns and won't shed many tackles. That means whether it's Etienne, Bigsby or even Allen, someone is likely sharing the touches. While Coen has been known to lean on his lead, there is still the potential for a full-blown committee, and the offensive line appears questionable at best. RB1 Likelihood: 3.0/10 Jordan Mason, MIN — Mason has been extremely efficient in his opportunities with 5.3 YPC and 8.7 YPR. Granted, that came in Kyle Shanahan's 49ers' offense, but Kevin O'Connell has proven to be one of the best offensive minds in the NFL. You could argue there isn't much, if any, of a downgrade for Mason. Aaron Jones had over 300 touches for the first time in his career, partly due to the lackluster backup options, and he's now 30 years old. Mason would need a Jones injury to break out, but if you're looking for a high-end backup to target in drafts, Mason could push into the RB1 tier if Jones gets hurt. (Top photo of Ashton Jeanty: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
