Guest of the League
USFFL Est. 2015
FFL: Offseason | NFL: Offseason

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

RTSports Super Bowl Preview

Player Notes
Kadarius Toney Feb 12 5:20pm ET
Kadarius Toney

Former New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney has been arrested on one count of aggravated assault by strangulation of a woman, per TMZ. Toney was booked in Douglas County in Georgia on Feb. 6 on counts of aggravated assault -- strangulation and obstructing/harassing 911 calls. A judge set a bail of $25,000 on each count, and records show that Toney was not in custody on Feb. 7. Police documents allege that Toney put his hand around a woman's throat and squeezed "with enough force to cause her to be unable to breathe." The 26-year-old former first-round pick by the Giants played in three games with the Cleveland Browns in 2024 but didn't catch any passes before being waived in early December. Per the NFL's personal-conduct policy, Toney could be facing a suspension to begin the 2025 season.

From RotoBaller

Kadarius Toney Feb 12 4:13pm ET
Kadarius Toney

Dynasty | Former Giants, Chiefs and Browns wide receiver Kadarius Toney was arrested on two counts -aggravated assault - strangulation and obstructing/harassing 911 calls. Dynasty Analysis: And that'll likely do it for the former first round pick. Toney has all the athletic ability in the world, but he hasn't been able to keep himself out of the spotlight in any way, shape or form off the field. At this point, it would be shocking to see another team take a chance on him. While these are simply charges and he needs to be considered innocent until proven guilty, this news is just one more in a long list of red flags and quite simply could also be the most serious of the bunch.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Cam Ward Feb 12 3:00pm ET
Cam Ward

Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders said he has visits lined up with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants when top 30 visits begin in early March. The Browns and Giants hold the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2025 NFL Drafts and are pegged as two of the most QB-needy franchises. Sanders is viewed by many as the QB2 in the upcoming draft class behind Miami's Cam Ward, and there has been speculation that the Tennessee Titans, who hold the first overall pick, could trade down or pass on a quarterback to get April's draft started. Both the Browns and Giants are firmly on the radar as potential suitors for Sanders.

From RotoBaller

Trey Hendrickson Feb 12 2:50pm ET
Trey Hendrickson

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt requested a trade on Wednesday, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Pratt was a captain for the Bengals last season and posted a team-high 143 total tackles (80 solo) to go along with five tackles for loss, six passes defended, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career with the Bengals since being selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of N.C. State. With the Bengals looking to find a way to keep Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson long-term, they could be willing to honor Pratt's request.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Feb 12 11:50am ET
Travis Kelce

On his New Heights podcast, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said that he is planning to take his time this offseason as he decides whether to retire from professional football following a 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. "I'm gonna take some time to figure it out. And I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back that it's gonna be a wholehearted decision and I'm not half-assing it, and I'm fully here for them," Kelce said. "I think I can play, it's just whether or not I'm motivated or it's the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility." The 35-year-old 10-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro managed 97 receptions in 16 regular-season games but had only three touchdowns and 823 yards, his fewest since his rookie season when he played just one game. If Kelce does return in 2025, he'll still be on the TE1 radar in fantasy, but his days of being the first TE off the board are over.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Feb 12 9:43am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is mulling retirement. 'I'm gonna take some time to figure it out. And I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back that it's gonna be a wholehearted decision, and I'm fully here for them,' Kelce said. 'I think I can play, it's just whether or not I'm motivated or it's the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility.'

Fantasy Spin: Despite a down year, he was still the TE5 in PPR leagues last season. That's about the range to expect to take him next year if he returns.

From TheHuddle

Dak Prescott Feb 11 11:13pm ET
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (hamstring) noted that 'my health is good' and he is 'looking to amp (his recovery from a torn hamstring) up' during a news conference promoting a fashion show on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Fantasy Spin: Prescott is 12 weeks into his rehab and appears to be quite confident he will be 100% sooner than later. While he stated during the news conference he is excited to have new head coach Brian Schottenheimer take over, fantasy managers should be skeptical - at least as it pertains to Prescott reaching the heights he once did under former head coach Mike McCarthy. He should be valued as a decent QB2 option in most drafts this spring and summer.

From TheHuddle

Drake Maye Feb 11 11:00pm ET
Drake Maye

ESPN's Adam Schefter writes that the New England Patriots will be a team to closely follow this offseason, mainly because they have a league-high $110 million in salary cap space. They'll have plenty of financial flexibility to upgrade a roster that needs to improve at almost every position as Mike Vrabel takes over head-coaching duties. They could look to pay Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins $30 million a year while also upgrading their offensive line. Although he had an up-and-down rookie year, quarterback Drake Maye has a chance to develop into a star moving forward, especially if the Patriots give him more help in the passing game. Having the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft will also help New England's cause as they look to add immediate playmakers.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Feb 11 10:50pm ET
Tee Higgins

ESPN's Adam Schefter writes that the Cincinnati Bengals could work to re-sign impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins before he officially becomes a free agent or put the $26 million franchise tag on him, which is lower than what he'd likely receive on the open market. The Bengals could also choose to tag and trade Higgins, but that option would require carrying their cap space past the new league year. Complicating matters is the fact that fellow wideout Ja'Marr Chase is entering the final year of his contract and will be looking to become the highest-paid receiver in NFL history in a deal that could average close to $40 million per year. Cincy has around $46 million in salary cap space, but it remains to be seen if they can pull off retaining both Higgins and Chase. Higgins has 34 touchdowns and two 1,000-yard seasons in five NFL seasons but could become a legitimate WR1 in 2025 if he leaves the Bengals.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Feb 11 10:30pm ET
Tyler Lockett

When asked whether wide receiver Tyler Lockett would be on the roster for the 2025 season, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the team is "working through that" and will make a decision in the next month or so. It's not a ringing endorsement for the 32-year-old veteran pass-catcher after he fell to 49 receptions on 74 targets for 600 yards and just two touchdowns in 17 games (14 starts) in 2024 in his 10th year with Seattle. His 600 receiving yards and two TDs were his fewest since the 2017 season, his third year in the league. Lockett will have a $30.8 million salary cap figure this year, and releasing him would save the Seahawks $17 million against the cap. If Lockett doesn't take a pay cut, Seattle will most likely release him after the emergence of second-year wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Feb 11 10:20pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

The New York Jets are fully expected to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2025, but The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that the team presented the future Hall of Famer with a plan to move forward with him as their QB. The Jets' plan included stipulations about outside media work during the season and required that he attend all mandatory offseason workouts, according to team and league sources. Specifically, Rodgers would no longer be allowed to make regular, paid appearances on "The Pat McAfee Show." Apparently, Rodgers wasn't inclined to agree with those stipulations, and the Jets are expected to release the 41-year-old, who still has one year left on his contract. If the four-time MVP chooses to return for a 21st year in the NFL, it will be with another organization. Rodgers' two-year run in New York was highly disappointing after he tore his Achilles in Week 1 in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Jonathon Brooks Feb 11 10:20pm ET
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after his second ACL tear in 2024 as a rookie. In addition to Brooks, the Panthers are expected to cut running back Miles Sanders. It's why The Athletic's Joseph Person has the Panthers taking SMU RB Brashard Smith with a fifth-round selection in his 2025 mock draft. Smith could be a nice change-of-pace option behind starter Chuba Hubbard next year in the Panthers' backfield. The 21-year-old Brooks can be avoided in all single-year fantasy drafts this fall after suffering a gruesome injury in his first year in the NFL. Brooks could have a lengthier recovery after already tearing the same ACL in his final collegiate season at the University of Texas. In three games in 2024, Brooks had nine carries for 22 yards and caught all three of his targets for 23 yards.

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Feb 11 7:13pm ET
DeAndre Hopkins

Kansas City Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins shot down any notion that he is contemplating retirement Tuesday, Feb. 11. 'Don't know what you heard but I'm not done yet,' Hopkins wrote in a since-deleted post.

Fantasy Spin: It was a rough season for Hopkins, who averaged 7.4 fantasy points and 38.1 receiving yards per game in 2024. Hopkins is set to be a free agent this offseason and if he intends to play, it will be interesting to see where he lands. Either way, it's difficult to see him being overly fantasy-relevant in 2025.

From TheHuddle

Tyler Lockett Feb 11 4:03pm ET
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett appears unlikely to be on the roster in 2025, according to comments made by head coach Mike Macdonald. When asked about Lockett on Tuesday, Feb. 11, Macdonald would only say the Seahawks are 'working through that.'

Fantasy Spin: Lockett is set to turn 33 in late September and scheduled to count $30.8 million against the cap. Releasing him would save the team around $17 million, so Lockett would seemingly have to accept a huge paycut to stick on the roster. Either way, it would seem Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf won't have much competition for targets.

From TheHuddle

Matthew Wright Feb 11 3:00pm ET
Matthew Wright

The Carolina Panthers signed kicker Matthew Wright to a reserve/future contract on Tuesday, which is a one-year, non-guaranteed contract that allows players to participate in offseason activities and compete for a roster spot. Wright has spent time with nine NFL organizations, and this is the third time he has signed with Carolina. Overall, the UCF product has connected on 55 of his 63 field goal attempts and 41 of his 43 extra point tries across 21 games with the Steelers, Jaguars, Chiefs, Panthers, 49ers, and Titans. Current Panthers starting kicker Eddy Pineiro ranks third all-time in career field goal percentage (88.095%), so it would be a surprise if Wright wins the job over him this offseason.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Feb 11 2:53pm ET
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr has $10 million guaranteed for 2025 with another $30 million scheduled to kick in March 15. His release would only save his cap-strapped team a couple of million dollars and the team is unlikely to be in a position to draft a blue-chip quarterback, which makes it likely that Carr will remain the starting quarterback for at least one more season.

Fantasy Spin: This comes as little surprise for most NFL fans, as the Saints enter the offseason about $60 million over the salary cap and are in no position to part with a capable quarterback with so many other needs on the roster. The best thing new head coach Kellen Moore and the front office can do for Carr right now is continue to add quality pieces to an offensive line that has fallen off dramatically since the end of the Sean Payton era. Carr should be considered no more than a middling QB2 option in fantasy in 2025.

From TheHuddle

Brandon Aiyuk Feb 11 2:50pm ET
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) could be ready for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season, though his status is uncertain for now. The 26-year-old suffered a torn ACL and MCL in October of last season, so the recovery timeline makes it realistic for him to be ready for the start of the new campaign. Following a 1,400-yard receiving season in 2023, the 49ers signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million contract. Unfortunately, he could only produce 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns in seven games in 2024. That said, Aiyuk could be a value pick in fantasy football coming off the injury, especially since Deebo Samuel appears to finally be on the way out of San Francisco via trade at some point this offseason.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Feb 11 2:30pm ET
Derek Carr

Rumors have been swirling that New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr could be traded or cut this offseason, but NFL insider Adam Schefter said Carr "will probably be the team's QB1 entering 2025." Carr has $10 million in contract guarantees with another $30 million scheduled to kick in on March 15. The organization moving on from the veteran would only save them a few million dollars against the cap, so it's not likely to happen. Since signing with New Orleans ahead of the 2023 campaign, the former Las Vegas Raider has thrown for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 27 games. At Fresno State, Carr played against Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, who is now his head coach in the NFL.

From RotoBaller