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
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 10
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Tylan Wallace broke out for the best game of his career on Thursday night in the 35-34 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The 25-year-old finished the contest with three receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown on three targets. He produced a game-changing moment when he caught a sideline pass from Lamar Jackson, broke a tackle, and ran down the field to complete an 84-yard touchdown play at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Wallace has the speed to break off some big plays, but he's fourth on the depth chart at best. He'll try to shake free again in Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry seemed like he was headed for a fantasy dud as the offense couldn't get much going during the first half on Thursday night. Luckily, Henry scored on a goalline run towards the end of the third quarter and salvaged his fantasy week for many managers. He ended the game with 68 yards and one score on 16 carries with one reception for three yards. The only threat to Henry's fantasy output is the defense allowing tons of points to force games into a shootout. He'll try to find some running room against the Steelers in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson continues his marvelous season as he led the team to a comeback win over their AFC North rivals on Thursday night. In the 35-34 win, Jackson registered 290 yards and four touchdowns while throwing 25-for-33 and adding 33 yards on seven carries. The offense had a slow start to the game but put 28 points in the second half including a 21-point fourth quarter. Jackson completed passes to nine different receivers while delivering touchdown strikes to four of them. He's already tied his passing touchdown mark from last season in six fewer games while he tries to go for even more against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) has been limited all week at practice due to a shoulder injury. According to Ian Rapoport, the former number-one overall pick is unlikely to play against the Vikings in Week 10. While he hasn't been ruled out officially, Rapoport points to the fact that Lawrence has been very limited this week leading up to their game. If he's unable to suit up, backup Mac Jones would step in and make his first start since Week 12 of the 2023 season. A clearer picture will be available after the injury report comes out on Friday.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) was forced to leave Thursday night's game after making an awkward plant on his right foot. He did not return to the game, but Ian Rapoport is now saying that the star safety suffered an ankle sprain and it's not considered serious. With how bad the Ravens' defense has been, losing Hamilton for any amount of time would have been a devastating hit. He'll get a few extra days to prepare for Week 11, but his status will be something to monitor throughout next week.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki had four catches for 30 yards in Thursday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The veteran had two touchdowns in the win over the Raiders in Week 9. However, he cooled off significantly on Thursday. Granted, he had nine targets from Joe Burrow. Still, fantasy managers were disappointed with the end result. With the Bengals sitting on a 4-6 record, the team will look to rebound in Week 11 against a capable Chargers defense. Gesicki should be viewed as a risky, high-upside fantasy option for that one, although his outlook won't be as favorable if Tee Higgins (quadriceps) is back on the field.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson had 42 yards and a touchdown off six catches in Thursday's loss to the Ravens. With Erick All Jr. (knee) done for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, Hudson had a chance to get more involved behind Mike Gesicki. He made the most of his opportunity, although Cincinnati couldn't pull off a win. Hudson easily had his best showing of the season on Thursday. However, the 29-year-old still has more work to do before earning a spot in fantasy lineups moving ahead.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow played well in Thursday's narrow loss to the Baltimore Ravens. While he wasn't as potent as he was when these clubs last met, he still threw for 428 yards and four touchdowns off 34-for-56 passing. Outside of two fumbles, the signal-caller did his part on Thursday night. However, the Bengals defense allowed the Ravens to overcome a 14-point deficit and eventually take the lead halfway through the fourth quarter. But as far as Burrow is concerned, he continues to have an MVP-caliber season. With that in mind, Cincinnati will get some extra time off before taking the field again versus a capable Chargers defense in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had one of the best showings of his career in Thursday's meeting with the Ravens, finishing with 11 receptions (17 targets) for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, the former LSU Tiger's efforts weren't enough, with the Bengals dropping their sixth game of the 2024-25 campaign on Thursday night. With that said, Chase now has 10 touchdowns this season, with fantasy managers hoping for more when the Bengals meet a potent Chargers defense in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown ran for 42 yards and a touchdown off 14 carries in Thursday's one-point loss to Baltimore. He added nine catches for 52 yards. The 24-year-old has been solid of late. Although Brown played better in the Week 9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, he still picked up his seventh touchdown in his last seven appearances. With a tough Chargers defense on the horizon for Week 11, Brown remains a viable fantasy option, even more so with Zack Moss (neck) done for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) injured his right ankle in the second quarter and will not return in the second half. Hamilton stepped awkwardly with his right foot and went down in a heap before leaving the field under his own power. He went to the locker room to undergo X-rays and won't return for the rest of the game. Until we have the results of the X-rays, we won't have a great idea on how much time the 23-year-old defensive back might miss. Hamilton is one of the best all-around safeties in the NFL, though, so any time he's forced to miss will be significant for a Ravens secondary that has really struggled in 2024. The former 14th overall pick back in 2022 out of Notre Dame was a first-time Pro Bowler in his second season in 2023 and came into Thursday's game with 67 tackles (48 solo), two sacks and five pass breakups in nine games.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards (ankle) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. Edwards' 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve was opened when he returned to the practice field on Wednesday, but he's not necessarily guaranteed to be active on game day this Sunday against the visiting Tennessee Titans. And when the 29-year-old does return to the Chargers' backfield, he's expected to return to the clear backup role behind J.K. Dobbins. Edwards had taken a clear back seat to Dobbins, his former teammate in Baltimore, in his four games played, averaging a career-low 3.0 yards per carry on 38 rushing attempts after putting up a career-high 13 rushing scores in 2023 with the Ravens. If Edwards gets the green light to return in Week 10 against Tennessee, he won't be a recommended flex play in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) tweaked his right ankle in the second quarter of Thursday night's divisional game against the Cincinnati Bengals and is questionable to return. One of the best all-around safeties in the game stepped awkwardly with his right foot to cause his ankle injury and was immediately taken to the blue medical tent on the sidelines before eventually being taken to the locker room to undergo X-rays. The injury didn't look good for the 23-year-old, who immediately melted to the ground and did not move, although he was able to walk off the field under his own power. Before departing, Hamilton had four tackles (two solo) and two passes defensed. When healthy, he's an every-week, must-start defensive back in IDP fantasy leagues. Eddie Jackson could finish out the game in Hamilton's place if he cannot return.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (hamstring) was upgraded to a full participant during Thursday's practice. This is a welcoming sight considering Spears hasn't been on the field since Week 6. He was limited to open the week, so an upgrade to full practice is a good sign. Spears hasn't done much damage as the primary backup to Tony Pollard this season. However, Spears could see an increased workload with the Titans wanting to limit Pollard's workload going forward. Regardless, Spears isn't a trustworthy fantasy option against the tough Los Angeles Chargers defense in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd (shoulder) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice. This is now back-to-back limited practice sessions for Boyd to start the week. The 29-year-old is coming off a dud where he played a season-low 29 percent of the snaps during last week's win over the New England Patriots. There's no guarantee Boyd does anything on offense even if he's active this weekend. He'll get a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers defense. Jha'Quan Jackson could see more snaps if Boyd sits out, but neither of them are reliable streaming options right now.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) was upgraded to a full participant during Thursday's practice session. Levis hasn't played in a game since Week 6, so it's nice to see him back on the practice field. Head coach Brian Callahan said he's hopeful that Levis can play this weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers. Before going down, Levis was struggling with seven interceptions and only 699 passing yards across five contests. He won't be a recommended fantasy option even if he's healthy and ready to start in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (foot) was absent from Thursday's practice session. Pollard missed two practices last week, but still managed to play against the New England Patriots. He rushed for 128 yards during the overtime victory. Afterwards, head coach Brian Callahan said he plans to reduce Pollard's workload because they don't want him to get overworked. That being said, it's not shocking to see the Titans being light with Pollard in practice. He should be fine ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Although, fantasy managers should check back on Friday to see what Pollard does in practice. His fantasy value is likely to take a hit with the Titans limiting Pollard going forward.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (hamstring) was able to get through a limited practice session on Thursday. Gano has been out since suffering an injury during the opening kickoff in Week 2. Since then, the Giants have been using Greg Joseph (abdomen) at kicker, but he was placed on the injured reserve last week. Jude McAtamney took over the kicking duties in Week 9 and connected on his lone field goal attempt. Afterwards, McAtamney headed back to the practice squad with Gano possibly returning in Week 10. Whoever is the kicker for the Giants might actually have streaming appeal against the terrible Carolina Panthers defense this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (finger) was once again limited in practice on Thursday. The veteran back has now opened the week with back-to-back limited practice sessions due to a finger injury. Conner is coming off his third 100-plus yard rushing game of the season. He has been tough to stop on the ground and will be an important piece of this offense against the New York Jets in Week 10. If he sits, Trey Benson and Emari Demercado would split up the carries in the backfield. Although, it seems like Conner should be good to go and should be a solid RB2 this weekend.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (knee, back) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. This marks back-to-back days that Johnson has been limited due to multiple injuries. Normally, Johnson isn't much of a factor in the offense, but he's coming off his best game of the season last week. He hauled in three of his six targets for 51 yards and a touchdown during the Week 9 loss to the Washington Commanders. The Giants are banged up right now, so Johnson could continue seeing more targets going forward. He could be on the TE2 radar if active for the Week 10 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
From RotoBaller
