Draft Day Winners and Losers
Mon Apr 29 11:53am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
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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The Paur Report
Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb (knee) will not be activated from the Physically Unable to Perform List before the season kicks off. As reported by Ari Meirov, the star edge rusher will be forced to miss at least the first four games of the new season since he hasn't progressed enough to be activated from the PUP list. Chubb tore his right ACL during the team's Week 17 contest against the Baltimore Ravens last season which was just three seasons after tearing his left ACL while he was still a member of the Denver Broncos. He played a big part in the Dolphins' success on defense last year, so it remains to be seen how this will effect him and the team's pass-rush moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard got into the end zone for his first score of the preseason in the final game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The veteran back finished the game with five carries for 17 yards and a touchdown while collecting 27 yards through the air on two receptions. He may not have the most efficient game to end the preseason, but getting the goalline carry is a good sign. Tyjae Spears is likely to steal at least a handful of snaps every game, but Pollard seems to have at least established a sizeable chunk in the offense. Right now, he's ranked as the 26th running back in half-PPR leagues in the RotoBaller rankings. If he can regain the passing work he once received in Dallas, he may be in for a better year, but it's hard to rely on that heading into the start of the season.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis almost put together a perfect passing day in the team's 30-27 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. He completed seven of his eight passing attempts while leading the team to a touchdown and a field goal in the first two drives. He ended with 118 yards through the air while the touchdown came from Tony Pollard on the ground. Levis looked poised and found some room for big plays like a 33-yard completion to Calvin Ridley. After this showing, he seemingly has give the Titans more confidence in letting him be the full-time starter, but until he proves he can consistently produce, he'll be a shaky fantasy asset at quarterback for 12-team leagues.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk caught two of three targets for 33 yards through the air during Sunday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. Polk, a rookie, will make the initial 53-man roster but was still competing for opportunities on Sunday. The depth chart isn't finalized yet and it's still unclear exactly what role he'll have in his rookie campaign, but there's a decent chance he could start alongside Demario Douglas. His usage could also depend on whether New England starts Jacoby Brissett (shoulder) or Drake Maye at quarterback in Week 1. As it stands, Polk is a solid dynasty target but can be avoided in most redraft leagues.
Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb (knee) is expected to remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start the season, which would make him ineligible for the first four games.
Fantasy Spin: No surprise here as Chubb was being drafted as a stash option. Jerome Ford's ADP of 111 is likely to increase with the news. He'll make a solid flex option early in the year and could have roster viability all season.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Patriots) agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Aug. 26.
Fantasy Spin: Marquise Brown is recovering from a dislocated clavicle and JuJu will provide depth to a suspect receiving corps. Target him as a WR5, but after 28 catches last year, temper your expectations.
From TheHuddle
Free agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is heading back to Kansas City for a reunion with Andy Reid and company. According to Jordan Schultz, the reigning Super Bowl champs are adding the seven-year veteran to their receiver corps. Smith-Schuster last played for the Chiefs in 2022 when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl for the first half of their back-to-back wins. Last year, the 27-year-old experienced the worst season of his career with the New England Patriots when he caught just 29 of 47 targets for 260 yards and one touchdown across 11 appearances. Then, he was cut by the Patriots this offseason which led to him being available for the Chiefs to scoop up. It's unclear how many opportunities he'll see, but the chemistry with Patrick Mahomes is already there. He'll still have to compete with Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and eventually Marquise Brown (shoulder) for targets.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is expected to remain on the Physically Unable to Perform List to start the season. According to Adam Schefter, the Browns are not ready to activate the star back and that means he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. This doesn't come as too big of a surprise since Chubb's major injury last season, but now it becomes a waiting game. With Chubb on the sidelines for at least four games, Jerome Ford will likely take on the bulk of the workload again while Pierre Strong Jr., D'Onta Foreman, and maybe even Nyheim Hines (knee) battle for reps behind him.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back Tony Jones took seven carries for 29 yards in Sunday's preseason finale. He also caught two passes for 14 yards. The Cardinals went to the fourth-year veteran early and often, getting Jones a touch on five of their first seven offensive plays. Jones was knocked out of his final audition for the team early when he suffered a shoulder injury after getting tackled in the second quarter. Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad's blow also knocked the ball out of Jones's possession, the first of two red zone turnovers committed by Arizona in the game. James Conner is locked in as the Cardinals' starting running back with Trey Benson drafted to be his understudy. Even if Jones makes the final 53-man roster on Tuesday, he will not have the opportunity to provide fantasy value and can be ignored.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back Hassan Hall led the team in rushing attempts and yardage in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos. Hall was given 19 carries and rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown. He also had four receptions for another 28 yards through the air. Hall also showed a penchant for blocking, on one play intercepting a blitzing safety then popping up to throw to more blocks ahead of a scrambling Clayton Tune. Hall's solid performance in the preseason finale might have earned him a spot on Arizona's final roster. Even if he makes the cut, he will be buried on the Cardinals' depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune went 12-for-18 for 119 passing yards and an interception in Sunday's preseason loss to the Denver Broncos. Tune drew the start and was swapped out for Desmond Ridder at halftime. Unfortunately, Ridder was forced to exit with a head injury late in the fourth quarter, requiring Tune to resume signal-calling duties. On Tune's first play back, he gave up an interception that linebacker Levelle Bailey returned 94-yards for a touchdown. Assuming Tune makes the final roster on Tuesday, he will merely be Kyler Murray's backup and can be dismissed in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley had his best game of the preseason on Sunday evening as he caught four passes for 37 yards. This starkly contrasts the previous two games, as he was held off the scoresheet against the Jets and caught only two passes for eight yards last week against the Dolphins. While he did not stand out during the first two games, his performance on Sunday evening may have earned him a spot on the final roster. Tinsley made the Washington roster as an undrafted free agent last summer after a big preseason but made only three minor appearances during the regular season. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to who will emerge as the No.2 wideout opposite of Terry McLaurin during the early parts of the season, as that role is still unknown as we enter the opening week of the regular season.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders kicker Cade York went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and 1-for-1 on extra-point attempts on Sunday evening. York joined the Commanders via a trade from the Cleveland Browns on Thursday in exchange for a seventh-round pick. The Commanders waived Riley Patterson, who had struggled this preseason, which left York as the only kicker on the roster for Sunday's game. The 23-year-old was perfect on Sunday evening and should be expected to serve as the primary kicker in Washington going forward. York was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft but only saw attempts in that season as he was waived before the 2023 season after struggling in his rookie campaign. While York will be left on the waiver wire in most leagues, he could be worth a look as a streaming option as the season progresses, especially if Jayden Daniels adjusts quickly to the professional level.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Trace McSorley shined in the second half as he threw for 125 yards with a passing score and added 40 yards on the ground. The former Penn State product led the Commanders to all of their 20 points in the second half. McSorley tallied his passing score in the final minutes of the game on a four-yard pass to Martavis Bryant. Jeff Driskel got the starting nod as he is currently listed as the No.3 quarterback on the depth chart, but McSorley's performance does put him in the conversation to take over that role. McSorley appeared in six games in the 2022 season and got the start in a Week 16 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and threw for 217 yards. While his performance on Sunday evening may have earned him a spot on the final roster, he will only be fantasy-relevant if the quarterback room suffers numerous injuries.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker was targeted seven times during Sunday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders, but he finished the game with just two catches for 33 yards through the air. The fourth-round pick will make the initial 53-man roster, but his exact slot on the depth chart isn't yet confirmed. He's unlikely to crack the starting lineup and therefore can be avoided in most redraft leagues. Managers could justify selecting him in deeper dynasty leagues, though.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III completed just five of his 17 pass attempts for 78 yards through the air during Sunday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. He finished the game with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. Although Milton's stats were far from promising, he should still hold on to the third-string quarterback role given that his main competition, Bailey Zappe, didn't enter until the final drive Sunday. As long as Jacoby Brissett (shoulder) and Drake Maye are active on gameday, Milton will ride the bench as the emergency third-string quarterback during his rookie campaign.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Jeff Driskel got the starting nod in Sunday's preseason finale as the Commanders opted to rest starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and backup Marcus Mariota. Driskel tallied 73 passing yards while going 12-for-18 with an interception and no scores. His longest pass of the evening was for 12 yards to wideout Mitchell Tinsley. While his performance was quite underwhelming, he faced many New England starters. Over the previous two preseason games, the 31-year-old totaled 169 passing yards with 68 rushing yards. Driskel is currently listed as the number three option on the depth chart, and seeing him get the starting nod in this game solidifies his position on the depth chart. Driskel has a tough path to being fantasy-relevant in 2024 and will only get an opportunity in the regular season due to injuries to the other two passers on the roster.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie running back Michael Wiley tallied 26 yards on the ground with a rushing score on Sunday evening. This was his second rushing score of the preseason, and he ran for 67 yards over the past three weeks. Wiley joined the Commanders as an undrafted free agent this offseason and could have earned a spot on the final roster, given his strong performance on Sunday. The Arizona product may eventually slot in as the No. 3 or 4 option on the depth chart as Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. have fallen short of expectations this preseason. Wiley remains a name to watch in deeper leagues but will likely not be fantasy-relevant during his rookie campaign.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions during Sunday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. He also had a deep touchdown pass that was nullified due to an offensive line penalty. Furthermore, Maye rushed three times for 17 yards in the contest. The No. 3 overall pick has progressively improved throughout his three preseason games, and when Jacoby Brissett (shoulder) exited Sunday's game early, Maye took full advantage of the extra reps. The Patriots' 2024 outlook is bleak, but it seems like the team may have a solid quarterback prospect in Maye. Now, all eyes will be on head coach Jerod Mayo as he names a starting quarterback, presumably within the next week. Brissett had been the early favorite to start Week 1, but Maye has made quite the push for that job lately. As soon as Maye is named the starter, he'll become a high-end QB3 for redraft purposes.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty rushed four times for 21 yards during Sunday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. He also caught all three of his targets for an additional 24 yards through the air. Hasty is expected to make the Patriots' roster and could carve out a receiving role alongside fellow pass-catching back Antonio Gibson. This backfield still belongs to Rhamondre Stevenson, but Hasty and Gibson will earn some opportunities, especially after the latest chatter that New England wants to get its running backs heavily involved on screen plays. With that said, Hasty is a depth option within a weak offense. He can be avoided in most fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
