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
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- Week 10 Inactives
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's NFC East showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. The 33-year-old entered Week 10 with 27 tackles, one forced fumble, and five passes defensed. But after missing the Week 9 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars because of a groin injury, he lasted just three plays in this one before going down with an ankle injury. If he doesn't return, he'll finish without making any statistical contributions on the defensive end. Isaiah Rodgers could see more time on the field if Slay can't make it back.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 15-of-25 passes for 126 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a win against the Giants. Dynasty Analysis: He added 30 rushing yards. Young has looked far from dynamic recently but he's also not looking like a complete bust, either. At this point, Carolina is likely going to give him the rest of the season to prove he can be counted on and he's been doing much better of late. Young made some difficult throws today and managed the game well, even having a second touchdown pass wiped off due to a penalty. His dynasty value has been crushed, but he's still roster worthy at the moment.
Dynasty | Giants running back Tyrone Tracy had 103 rushing yards and a touchdown, but also a costly fumble in a loss to Carolina. Dynasty Analysis: Tracy put up another solid day of running, including a 32-yard touchdown scamper in the second half. Unfortunately, he coughed the ball up deep in Giants territory in overtime and that set up the Panthers for the game winner. He was visibly upset on the sidelines and it marred an otherwise solid performance. Tracy has supplanted Devin Singletary as the starter and that shouldn't change. His dynasty value is still pointing up, despite the miscue.
Dynasty | Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard had 153 rushing yards, four catches, and 16 receiving yards in a win against the Giants. Dynasty Analysis: Hubbard isn't going away, folks. The Panthers rewarded him with a solid contract extension and while Jonathon Brooks is waiting in the wings, Hubbard is still going to likely operate as the primary running back or "1A" in the offense when Brooks makes his debut. This has the makings of an ugly timeshare at some point, but Hubbard has been borderline amazing this season and the Panthers are going to keep riding him moving forward. He looks like a relative bargain at this point in dynasty leagues.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson reeled in 8-of-9 targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 12-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was anticipated that his usage would begin to tick up as he got further out from his knee injury, but the former Iowa Hawkeye pulled out an excellent performance in just his second game back from the IR. Hockenson's reception and yardage total both led the team, while his nine targets tied wide receiver Justin Jefferson for the most on the squad. The only thing missing from his line was a touchdown. Fellow tight end Josh Oliver was still decently involved (4/52), but this performance from the 27-year-old should put any feelings of unease about his workload moving forward to rest. The Vikings will hit the road in Week 11 to take on the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 308 yards on 23 of 38 passing, but failed to throw any touchdowns and tossed one interception in the 20-17 loss to the undermanned Saints. Bijan Robinson recorded both of the Falcon touchdowns on the ground, with many drives stalling and leading to four field goal attempts for kicker Younghoe Koo, only one of which he converted. There have been just two games this season in which Cousins was held without at least one TD pass, and both have come against the Saints. Now averaging 263 yards passing per game through the first ten weeks with a 17:8 TD:INT, the 36-year-old will look to get back on track next week, although it won't come easy against a strong Broncos pass defense. Look for him to be in the QB2 range in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels went 17-for-34 for 202 passing yards and no scores in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon. He tallied just five rushing yards on three rushing attempts. This was his lowest output since his NFL debut in the opening week of the season. When the Commanders reached the red zone, they opted to let their running backs punch in the scores. Daniels found his top wideout, Terry McLaurin, throughout the game as he led the team with 113 yards with his longest reception going for 54 yards. Despite the poor showing, fantasy managers should continue to view the LSU product as a high-end QB1 heading into Week 11 when he faces the Philadelphia Eagles in a pivotal divisional tilt.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler took the lead role in the backfield once again with Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) sidelined and performed well as he tallied 44 yards and two scores in the Week 10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He added seven yards off one reception. This was his second straight game reaching the end zone and topping double-digit PPR points. While he could not get much rhythm in the running game, he was a force in the red zone as he ran in two short scores at the goal line. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Robinson's status during the short week, as Ekeler could again lead the backfield on Thursday evening against the Philadelphia Eagles.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols made the most of his limited workload on Sunday afternoon as he tallied seven yards and a score off four attempts in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He did not see a target in the passing game. After taking the backseat to Chris Rodriguez Jr. last weekend, McNichols returned to the No.2 role behind Austin Ekeler. McNichols salvaged his fantasy day by punching in a one-yard score in the third quarter. Even if Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) cannot return on Thursday evening, McNichols would again be considered a high-risk flex option, given his limited opportunities.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin led the team with 113 yards off five receptions in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. McLaurin's best catch of the afternoon came on a short slant that the wideout took for 54 yards in the third quarter. Despite only bringing in five receptions, McLaurin's big-play ability makes him a matchup-proof option from a fantasy perspective. Since Week 3, McLaurin has scored double-digit PPR points in every game. Fantasy managers should continue to view the former Ohio State Buckeye as a high-end WR2 heading into Week 11 when he faces the Philadelphia Eagles, who have allowed the 16th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown brought in three of his seven targets for 33 yards in their Week 10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown continued to be deployed as the No.2 wideout opposite of Terry McLaurin as he saw the second-most targets on the team. Despite the poor showing in the box score, it was promising to see Jayden Daniels continue to look his way quite often. Brown has now caught at least three passes in each of the past three contests and has seen at least six targets in each of them. Given his current target share, Brown has emerged as a low-end flex option in 3WR formats, and he could be in store for another productive showing against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday evening.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy had one catch for 11 yards in the 16-14 win against the Denver Broncos. Worthy finished the game with four targets but could not do much with his opportunities. The Chiefs remained undefeated by way of a last-second blocked field goal by Kansas City. Since the arrival of JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeAndre Hopkins, the rookie receiver has become a near afterthought in the Chiefs offense. The Chiefs style favors possession receivers, and Worthy has been more boom-or-bust so far. Worthy will look to be more successful in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills, who rank sixth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. Starting Worthy in any matchup will be difficult until he displays consistency as a pass catcher.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz saw a team-high eight targets in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon. However, he could only bring in four of them for 31 yards. Despite the modest output in the box score, this was a great bounce-back showing for Ertz, as he brought in his lone target last weekend for a mere five yards. During Weeks 6 through 8, the 34-year-old caught at least four passes in each game and saw at least five targets. Fantasy managers should continue to view Ertz as a low-end TE1 going forward, given his role as a prominent pass catcher in the Washington offense. Next week, he will face the Philadelphia Eagles, who have allowed the 17th-most PPR points to opposing tight ends.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers rushed 13 times for 38 yards and brought in his lone target for an additional nine yards through the air in Week 10's 12-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Akers didn't get his first touch until the second quarter but saw eight of them after backfield mate Aaron Jones (chest) exited the game in the second half after picking up an injury. Jones returned for Minnesota's final two drives, which is seemingly good news for his future status. However, fantasy managers will want to watch how he looks over the next week of practice. If he were to miss time, Akers would slot into the lead role in the Vikings backfield. The 25-year-old did share touches with fellow running back Ty Chandler (four rushes, 18 yards), but the former is the preferred option for the team. Minnesota will get another staunch test next Sunday when they square off against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson caught 5-of-9 targets for 48 yards in the team's 12-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. The Vikings offense sputtered on Sunday afternoon, failing to convert any of their five red zone trips into touchdowns. Quarterback Sam Darnold tossed three interceptions on the day -- one of them coming in the end zone, which was intended for the superstar wideout -- and was largely ineffective against a Jaguars defense that limited big plays and played Minnesota tough. The yardage total was a season-low for Jefferson, and it was the first time since Week 3 that he hauled in less than six receptions. The LSU product is always a bounce-back candidate after a poor showing, but he'll get another challenging outing next Sunday when the Vikings line up against the Tennessee Titans on the road.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had four catches for 56 yards in the 16-14 win against the Denver Broncos. Hopkins was third on the team with five targets in this contest. The Chiefs narrowly escaped with the victory on a game-sealing blocked field goal by Kansas City. Hopkins did not produce as he did against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, but he was still the undisputed WR1 for the Kansas City passing attack. Hopkins will look to produce in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills, who rank sixth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. It will be a tough matchup for the veteran receiver, but he's talented enough to produce with Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball. Fantasy managers should view Hopkins as a low-end WR2 heading into a tough matchup against the Bills.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 24-of-38 passes for 241 yards, tossing three interceptions in Sunday's 12-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He added 28 rushing yards on seven carries and was sacked once for a loss of eight yards. The troubles started early for Darnold and the Vikings, as two of his interceptions came on back-to-back drives in the first half -- one on a 16-play drive that took Minnesota down to the Jacksonville 7-yard line. It was a rough outing for the 27-year-old, who has now thrown five INTs in his last two games -- a number he reached through the team's first six outings. The Jags' defense did an excellent job limiting explosive plays and really clamped down in the red zone, holding the Vikes to field goals or less in all five opportunities. Better days are ahead for the team's offense, but they'll get another tough test next Sunday when they hit the road to take on the Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had 14 carries for 35 yards in the 16-14 win against the Denver Broncos. Hunt also had seven catches for 65 yards in this contest. The Chiefs running back led the Kansas City pass catchers in receiving yards despite not being heavily involved in the passing game coming into this contest. The Chiefs extended their winning streak on a last-second blocked field goal by the Kansas City defense. Hunt could not find the endzone in this game, but his 21 touches resulted in 100 scrimmage yards. Hunt will face the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, who rank 31st in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. Hunt should be in for a big game against the Bills as the undisputed lead back for Kansas City. Fantasy managers should continue starting Hunt as a locked-in RB2.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in the 16-14 win over the Denver Broncos. Kelce led the team in catches and targets again this week, and that trend will likely continue for the rest of the season. Kelce scored his touchdown on a two-yard strike from Patrick Mahomes in the second quarter. The Chiefs narrowly escaped with the victory in this contest on a last-second blocked field goal by the Kansas City defense. Kelce produced another high-end TE1 performance this week, and fantasy managers should excited about his matchup with the Buffalo Bills in Week 11. The Bills rank 15th in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, so Kelce should continue his elite production. The veteran tight end has seen immense volume every week since Rashee Rice's injury, and his fantasy production has skyrocketed ever since. Fantasy managers should continue starting Kelce as a TE1 every week.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (chest) returned late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had initially exited the game and was listed as questionable, but was able to check back into the contest for the final offensive drive. He finished Week 10 with 17 rushes for 88 yards on the ground. He also caught two of three targets for an additional 13 yards through the air. Jones will rank as a mid-to-high RB2 heading into next week's game against a strong Tennessee Titans run defense.
From RotoBaller
