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FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

Draft Day Winners and Losers

Mon Apr 29 11:53am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

White should be lead back


The draft is always so exciting, seeing where all the players get picked. But after the draft, the big issue is figuring out what it all means for their fantasy value. We thought it would be a good idea to look at some of the biggest fantasy winners and losers from draft day. These are some of the players that were picked but also some of the guys that were already on rosters, seeing their fantasy value get impacted from the draft. Adjust your rankings accordingly!

WINNERS

Bryce Young, QB, Panthers. The Panthers did a great job of getting Young some much needed offensive help. The team took a receiver, running back and tight end in three of the first four rounds of the draft. Carolina already added Diontae Johnson this offseason, so the receiver corps should be much better after getting Xavier Legette in the first round. The receivers got very little separation last year, so it was hard to gauge Young. He needed help and got some this offseason. Carolina also took a possible franchise running back in Jonathon Brooks and hopefully a solid starting tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders. Things are looking up for Young and this offense.

Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs. Worthy could not have landed in a much better spot. He heads to one of the best offenses in football that has some openings at receiver, especially with the status of Rashee Rice a bit up in the air. Worthy has electric speed and the Chiefs should find plenty of ways to utilize that. He could be the new Tyreek Hill for this offense. Look for Worthy to make an impact right away.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys. Maybe one of the biggest surprises of the draft was the Cowboys not addressing their running back spot. Instead, the team signed Elliott after the draft. He is likely to be the starter in this top offense. He might not rack up the yards of past seasons, but has big touchdown potential in this offense. Elliott seems a pretty sure bet to get double-digit touchdowns. He could be a solid No. 2 for fantasy teams.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Panthers. Brooks is returning from a major knee injury and could be slowed a little early in the season, but once he is back healthy look for him to the three-down back for the Panthers. He lands in a great spot for playing time, having little top talent to compete with for playing time. Brooks could really get the volume in this offense. He is our top rookie fantasy back.

Zamir White, RB, Raiders. Many thought the Raiders were another team that could address their running back spot during the draft, but that didn’t happen. They used a sixth-round pick on Dylan Laube, but he is not expected to challenge White for that starter’s job. It sure seems the Raiders are comfortable with White as their lead back. He has a chance to get a lot of touches in year two. His stock is going up.

Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers. The Chargers need help at receiver and McConkey helps fill that need. It would not surprise if he quickly became Justin Herbert’s favorite target in the passing game. We really like his chances to rack up the weekly looks in this offense. Someone has to fill the Keenan Allen void and McConkey seems the best bet out of the options at receiver for the Chargers.

Keon Coleman, WR, Bills. Coleman is another rookie receiver that lands in a great spot for playing time. The departure of Stefon Diggs leaves a big opening for the Bills. Coleman could help fill that void. He has great size for the position and could be a top red-zone threat from day one for Buffalo. Coleman should get his chances from the get go, giving him a high ceiling for the coming year.

LOSERS

Raheem Mostert, RB, Dolphins. Mostert had a monster season last year and helped many fantasy teams to championships. He is going to have a very hard time repeating, especially after the Dolphins picked Jaylen Wright in the fourth round. Wright is a speed back similar to Mostert but a lot younger with less wear on his tires. Remember, Mostert is 32 years old. He might end up falling to third on the depth chart after the addition of Wright.

Rome Odunze, WR, Bears. Odunze is a super talented player that could be a star in the NFL. But for his year, you have to worry about him being up and down. He has two really good receivers ahead of him on the depth chart in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. This is going to limit the ceiling of Odunze. He will be a much better fantasy player in a few more seasons. For now, expect erratic production from the talented rookie.

Kyren Williams, RB, Rams. Williams remains the lead back for the Rams and is coming off a breakout season. But the Rams picked Blake Corum in the third round. He is going to be a factor in the offense. He might get put a huge dent in Williams’ workload but the big concern is the goal-line work. Corum is more of a between the tackles runner that does well on short-yardage work. He could end up stealing some touchdowns from Williams, hurting his fantasy value.

Michael Mayer, TE, Raiders. Mayer was a second-round pick for the Raiders last year and showed well at times his rookie season. The Raiders couldn’t pass on the talented Brock Browers in this year’s draft, though. This move absolutely kills the fantasy value of Mayer. He is going to play second fiddle to Browers, getting few weekly looks. Browers is the clear tight end to own in this offense.

Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers. Pearsall is a talented pass catcher that can get in and out of his breaks in a hurry. He is a really good fit for the slot and could fill that role for the 49ers his rookie season. The problem is he has some of the top talent in all of football to compete with for targets. He could really be up and down his rookie season. He will look better in a year or two when he has a more defined role and less to compete with at receiver. His rookie season could be a tough one to gauge for fantasy owners.

Malik Nabers, WR, Giants. Many considered Nabers the top receiver in this year’s draft. He is super talented with a high fantasy ceiling. The problem for Nabers is he got drafted by the Giants, a team that really struggled offensively last year. Plus, he has Daniel Jones throwing him passes. This is not a great landing spot for the talented Nabers. Jones needs to make some big strides this season if Nabers hopes to reach his potential. We aren’t sure that happens.

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

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 5

Player Notes
Davante Adams Oct 1 1:20pm ET
Davante Adams

According to a league source with knowledge of the situation, the Las Vegas Raiders are growing open to the idea of trading wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring). The source said the Raiders have begun reaching out to teams to gauge interest in the veteran wide receiver, who was inactive in the Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns due to a hamstring injury. It remains to be seen if something will actually happen by the trade deadline late in October, but the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs are several teams that could be looking for upgrades at wideout. The six-time Pro Bowler would be an excellent addition to any offense looking for more production at wideout, as he has five career 1,000-yard seasons. Adams has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown through three games in 2024, but it's unclear if he'll be available to play in Week 5 due to his hamstring issue.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Oct 1 1:10pm ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he is preparing for quarterback Justin Fields to start again versus the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. Russell Wilson (calf) will reportedly do more in practice this week, and the Steelers are coming off their first loss of the year in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, but the team appears to be sticking with Fields for at least another week. Despite his first loss as the starter, the 25-year-old Fields put up his best numbers of the year, throwing for 312 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball 10 times for 55 yards and two more scores to almost lead the Steelers to a comeback win on the road. If Fields continues to play the way he has been as a dual threat at the position, it seems hard to imagine Pittsburgh turning to Wilson anytime soon. Fields will have high-end QB2 value in fantasy against Dallas in primetime.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Oct 1 1:10pm ET
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said the team is somewhat in the same boat still with quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) this week, although he will be doing more work in practices. According to Steelers.com's Teresa Varley, Tomlin said he's preparing for Justin Fields to make yet another start in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Although the Steelers lost for the first time in 2024 in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, Fields threw for over 300 yards and a touchdown and scored two rushing TDs in a valiant comeback effort. The 35-year-old Wilson has been battling a calf strain since training camp and has been relegated to backup duties in Pittsburgh for now. However, if Wilson doesn't suffer a setback as he ramps up this week, he could officially be active as Fields' backup on Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Oct 1 11:13am ET
Jared Goff

Dynasty | Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 18-of-18 passes for 292 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Seattle. Dynasty Analysis: He also caught a touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown. His effort featured the most completions in a game without an incompletion in NFL history. Goff was masterful on the evening and has complete control of this Lions offense here in his fourth season. A relative "throw-in" years ago in the Matthew Stafford trade, Goff continues to impress. He'll remain being a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 as we move forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Oct 1 11:13am ET
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dynasty | Jaxon Smith-Njigba had eight catches for 51 yards in a loss to the Lions on Monday night. Dynasty Analysis: JSN now has 25 catches in four games in what amounts to be his breakout season thus far. While he is still looking for his first touchdown, his floor is starting to look pretty safe on a weekly basis. While best served as a secondary option as long as DK Metcalf is around, his dynasty value seems to be on the rise again.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Zach Charbonnet Oct 1 11:13am ET
Zach Charbonnet

Dynasty | Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker had 80 rushing yards, four catches, 36 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a loss on Monday night to Detroit. Dynasty Analysis: Walker returned from a short-term injury with a fury as he did all his rushing damage on just 12 carries. Even better, Zach Charbonnet had only two carries, looking like a backup and not a "1B" yet again. Walker looks locked in as a RB1 moving forward and his dynasty value is going to continue ticking up.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Mason Rudolph Oct 1 11:13am ET
Mason Rudolph

Dynasty | Titans quarterback Will Levis injured his shoulder and was replaced by Mason Rudolph in a win against Miami on Monday night. Dynasty Analysis: Levis completed the game going 3-for-4 for 25 yards with one interception on the night. After spending the rest of the game roaming the sidelines and not getting medical attention, it's fair to wonder just how "injured" he was. Tennessee is saying he's the starter moving forward, but his play has been less than inspiring this season. In fact, Levis now has 12 touchdowns and ten interceptions over his 13 games in the NFL, with four of those scores coming in his first ever start. The ice is getting thin in Tennessee.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Tyler Huntley Oct 1 11:13am ET
Tyler Huntley

Dynasty | Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley completed 14-of-22 passes for 96 yards, adding 40 rushing yards and a touchdown in a loss against Tennessee. Dynasty Analysis: Huntley's fantasy day was saved with his rushing yards, but the Dolphins offense looks absolutely lost without Tua Tagovailoa right now. Tyreek Hill (four catches for 23 yards), and Jaylen Waddle (four for 36), have been relegated to fantasy benches and Huntley doesn't look like the quarterback who is going to salvage any of this right now. In short, this is a mess. Huntley isn't worth a dynasty roster spot after this performance.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jaylen Wright Oct 1 10:50am ET
Jaylen Wright

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright toted the rock nine times for 32 yards in the team's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, failing to bring in his lone target. The rookie running back averaged 3.2 YPC on his nine touches, out-gaining backfield mate De'Von Achane on his ten carries (1.5 YPC). For the second week in a row, Wright has been the more efficient runner than Achane, albeit on fewer touches. It's unclear what type of role the fourth-round pick will have when running back Raheem Mostert (chest) returns to the field. However, no Dolphins skill player can be trusted for fantasy purposes in this version of the team's offense. They'll square off against one of the better defensive matchups in their Week 5 outing when they hit the road and travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. Despite this, Wright is not in consideration for fantasy managers, and the remaining Dolphins' offensive pieces will continue to receive downgrades until (if) quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) returns from injured reserve.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Oct 1 10:40am ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo recorded one catch for five yards in the team's win over the Dolphins on Monday night. With quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) exiting early, Okonkwo was not a factor, seeing just three targets in the game as the Titans relied heavily on the running game. The three targets were actually a season-high for the tight end, who has not become a big part of the Titans' offense yet. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for options at the position, and Okonkwo can be left on the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Waddle Oct 1 10:40am ET
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle hauled in 4-of-6 targets for a team-leading 36 yards in Monday night's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Waddle matched running mate Tyreek Hill for the team lead in receptions while earning one less target. It's the second time in three weeks that the former has led the latter in receiving. However -- like Hill -- it's his third-straight outing with single-digit fantasy points. Despite the fourth-year wideout's output, he's racked up just a 15.1% target share on the team through four weeks, while the 30-year-old speedster is sitting at 23.1%. It's becoming increasingly difficult to trust any Miami skill player sans quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), regardless of work. Fortunately for the Fins, they'll get one of the more enticing matchups this weekend when they take on the New England Patriots -- a defense that's given up the fifth-most passing yards to opposing offenses. However, the 25-year-old is nowhere near the WR2 lock he was earlier in the season. He'll be a low-end WR3 for the contest.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Oct 1 10:30am ET
Jared Goff

The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams had a tough outing in Week 4. After being one of the top units through the first three weeks of the season, the Seahawks allowed 389 yards and 42 points in Week 4. They also allowed Lions quarterback Jared Goff to go 18/18 through the air. The jury is still out on how good this defense actually is. This game turned out to be a track meet and resulted in 71 total points between the two teams. The Seahawks D/ST did manage to record three sacks against a talented Lions O-line. That is encouraging going forward. The Seahawks have now recorded 14 sacks on the season.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Oct 1 10:30am ET
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught 4-of-7 targets for 23 yards in the team's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. He added 19 yards on three carries. Hill's receiving yardage is a new season-low, while the four catches he racked up were the most since he had seven way back in Week 1. The Dolphins offense as a whole has been largely disappointing since losing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) in the team's loss to the Bills in Week 2, and the veteran wideout now has three consecutive single-digit fantasy point outings. On a positive note, Hill still garners a 23.1% target share on the team, but his managers are in a tough spot, considering that a top-three pick was used on him in this summer's drafts. Miami's next time out will be a juicier matchup when they hit the road to square off against the New England Patriots. However, expectations of the 30-year-old's output must be tempered as this offense doesn't move the same without their field-general. Hill will again be a low-end WR2 for the matchup.

From RotoBaller

Devon Achane Oct 1 10:10am ET
Devon Achane

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane rushed ten times for 15 yards and brought in all three of his targets for an additional 14 yards in Monday night's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Woof. The carries, targets, receptions, and yards were all season-low marks for Achane. He was out-gained on the ground by quarterback Tyler Huntley (40), wide receiver Tyreek Hill (19), and backfield mate Jaylen Wright (32), who all racked up fewer carries than the second-year RB. While Wright was more efficient with his work, he didn't receive his first touch until halfway through the second quarter. It's an outing to forget for the former Aggie, but fantasy managers have to be disappointed, as it's the second contest in a row in which he's failed to score more than single-digit fantasy points. The former third-round pick will have a better matchup his next time out when the team takes on the New England Patriots in Week 5. However, it's hard to trust him as anything more than an RB3 for the time being, with Miami's offense in a tailspin.

From RotoBaller

Zach Charbonnet Oct 1 10:10am ET
Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet was limited to two carries for 15 yards but did record five catches for 39 yards in a loss to the Lions in Week 4. With Kenneth Walker III returning to action, Charbonnet was not involved in the run game as Walker saw a team-high 12 carries. The UCLA product salvaged his night with his pass-game work and he could keep that going moving forward. However, with Walker back in the mix as the lead back, Charbonnet's value and upside are limited. He had some good games with Walker out, but it appears that Charbonnet will take a bit of a back seat in the running-back pecking order.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Oct 1 10:00am ET
Nick Chubb

The Cleveland Browns will open the 21-day practice window for Nick Chubb (knee), and Browns coach Kevin Stefanksi expects the talented running back to return to practice on Wednesday. Chubb has been on the Physically Unable to Perform list but once he practices the Browns will have 21 days to put him on the active roster. Chubb is coming off a brutal knee injury that he suffered last season and required two surgeries and will likely take a while to ramp up activities in practice and get in game shape. Fantasy managers will want to be patient with the return of the star running back but this is good news from a fantasy perspective. Chubb will have Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman to contend with in the Browns' backfield once he does return to games and it is unclear how he will respond to the injury.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Huntley Oct 1 9:50am ET
Tyler Huntley

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley completed 14-of-22 passes for 96 yards in the team's 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, adding 40 yards and a touchdown on the ground on eight carries. It looked like Huntley and the Fins' offense were off to a good start on their first drive of the game, picking up 30 yards on their first two plays from scrimmage. However, two plays later, he'd throw a swing pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill out of the backfield, which fell incomplete. Upon further review, it was a backward pass that Tennessee challenged and gained possession of. He would later save his night with a rushing score in the fourth quarter -- Miami's first touchdown since the first quarter of Week 2 -- but that would be all the offense they could muster. It's another disappointing day for the Dolphins as a whole. Whether Huntley will again get the start in Week 5 when the team takes on the New England Patriots is unclear. He should not be in fantasy managers' lineups despite the excellent matchup.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Oct 1 9:30am ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) is reportedly "symptom-free" and is on track to return to the field as soon as Week 8 according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Tagovailoa is eligible to return from the IR in Week 8 and could be back on the field by then after suffering a concussion in the team's Week 2 loss to the Bills. With a history of concussions, Tagovailoa's return to the field was not a given but it looks like he is eyeing a comeback from his latest scary head injury. The Dolphins are now 1-3 and the offense is struggling mightily without Tagovailoa on the field.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Oct 1 9:00am ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff on Monday night against Seattle and led the team in receiving with two catches for 80 yards. Williams saw just two targets in the game but showed his big-play ability by turning in the 70-yard TD. The Alabama product can turn a few touches into a big fantasy day because of that big-play threat. It makes him a little bit risky week-to-week but he has mostly rewarded fantasy managers this season. Williams will have to fight for targets with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta in the Lions' offense but his explosiveness on the outside makes him fantasy viable.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Oct 1 8:50am ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery scored a rushing touchdown in Week 4 against Seattle, carrying 12 times for 40 yards and a 1-yard score while adding one catch for 40 yards on Monday night. The Lions' power back showed off his strength by shaking off a tackle in the backfield on his touchdown run but was not overly efficient at 3.3 yards per carry in this game. Jahmyr Gibbs was the featured runner against Seattle with 14 carries for 78 yards and two TDs. Montgomery continues to be heavily involved in tandem with Gibbs and there has been plenty of fantasy production to go around for the talented duo. Montgomery has also shown he can be productive catching passes out of the backfield which only adds to his fantasy value. He should be a fantasy RB1 moving forward.

From RotoBaller