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
Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Week 18
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off a stellar performance against the Carolina Panthers last week. Mayfield threw for 359 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions in the blowout win last weekend. The 29-year-old now looks to end his 2024-2025 regular season on a high note with a plus-matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The last meeting between these teams Mayfield threw for 325 yards with four touchdowns. The Saints are banged up on both sides of the ball and this is a must-win game for the Bucs. Fantasy managers who have championship games this weekend should consider Mayfield a QB1. Otherwise, Mayfield is probably an expensive, but reliable DFS option for this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins is a high-risk but high-upside option in a Week 18 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chargers enter the weekend with some uncertainty around Sunday's game. Depending on the results of Saturday's games, the Bolts could be shooting for the No. 5 seed with a win, or could be locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of their own game's result. If they have the five seed to play for, the Chargers are sure to go all-in with their starters, making Dobbins an easy RB2 with upside. If they end up in a meaningless game however, Dobbins could sit out entirely or play in a limited role to rest for the playoffs. Essentially, Dobbins is an RB2 if the Bengals win on Saturday, and too risky to start (unless coach Jim Harbaugh commits to his starters regardless) if they don't.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is coming off another solid performance during last week's win over the Carolina Panthers. Irving rushed 20 times for 113 yards while hauling in all four of his targets for 77 additional yards during the blowout win. The rookie back has now rushed for over 100 yards in three of his last five games. Irving has literally run away with the lead back job in Tampa Bay and looks to finish his regular season on a high note. He'll get a solid matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Week 18. Irving continues to impress and should remain on the RB1 radar for this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty will be kicking indoors at home against the Seahawks in the season finale of his rookie year. So far this season, the sixth-round pick from Stanford has made 25-of-30 field goals and 31-of-35 extra points. This week, his Rams are resting multiple starters with a first-round home playoff game secured by a five-game winning streak. Karty helped lock up the Week 17 win by converting both field goals and one extra point last week in the team's 13-9 victory against Arizona, and he hasn't missed a field goal since Week 12. Still, without his regular offense and against a stingy Seahawks defense, he's a mediocre play in Week 18. He's RotoBaller's K17, meaning he is a mid-level option this week.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Kimani Vidal could potentially take a starting role in a Week 18 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Much about the Bolts lineup depends on the results of Saturday's Bengals-Steelers game. If the Bengals win, the Chargers will likely play all of their starters as they could move up to the No. 5 seed in the playoffs with a win over the Raiders. If the Steelers win, however, Los Angeles would be locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of the results of their own game. Vidal is likely to start while J.K. Dobbins rests if the Steelers win, but Dobbins will almost certainly resume his (almost) every-down role if the Bolts are playing for a win. If Vidal starts, he could be a volume-based RB2 even though the Raiders defense has been solid against opposing running backs. Fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on Saturday's results before finalizing their lineups.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Rams defense and special teams unit has been a huge part of their late-season success, and they'll look to finish the season strong in a matchup with the Seahawks. The Rams are resting multiple offensive starters, but it isn't clear how many defensive stars could also have a lighter workload. The young unit has held opponents under 10 points in three straight games while forcing four turnovers and totaling eight sacks. They had two goal-line interceptions against Kyler Murray last year to seal the win that earned them the NFC West title, which is why they have already clinched the playoffs. Seattle has been a pretty good matchup for DST this season, turning the ball over 24 times in 16 games and giving up 52 sacks. The Seahawks only scored six points last week in Chicago, and the Rams will hope to keep them in check again on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (hip), outside linebacker Amare Barno (shoulder), linebacker Josey Jewell (concussion), safety Lonnie Johnson (neck, shoulder) and outside linebacker DJ Johnson (personal) have all been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Additionally, defensive end A'Shawn Robinson (neck) and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (rest) are listed as questionable. Horn, a former first-rounder in 2021, will end up missing the final two games of his fourth and best season in the NFL. In 15 starts, Horn compiled a career-high 68 tackles (49 solo), two sacks, five tackles for loss, an interception and a career-high 13 pass breakups. With Horn out again, Caleb Farley will get another start. Despite the Falcons starting a rookie QB, Carolina's defensive unit should be well off the fantasy radar in Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett is not worth a fantasy roster spot in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. While Lockett would likely like to have a good game in what could be his final game in a Seahawks uniform, the fact is that he has been completely phased out of Seattle's offense with the emergence of wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Week 17 against the Chicago Bears was Lockett's best game in weeks. He caught three passes for 20 yards last Thursday. It was encouraging to see Lockett earn more than three targets for the first time since Week 9. However, his four targets were not exactly groundbreaking. Unless Lockett finds the end zone, he will be a useless fantasy asset this week. Leave him on waivers once again in Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant has built some momentum in recent weeks. He has earned at least five targets in three straight games. He has also reached at least 43 yards in two straight games. Fant will look to carry that momentum into a Week 18 road tilt with the Los Angeles Rams. Fant's issue recently has been his inability to find the end zone. The Seahawks have had trouble throwing touchdowns all season with quarterback Geno Smith having only tossed 17. While Fant has never scored more than four touchdowns in a season, he has been especially dry over the last couple of years. Fant has not scored a touchdown since the 2022 season. In Week 18, Fant will play a Rams defense that is No. 27 against opposing tight ends in fantasy. It feels like a game in which he could get loose. With many teams resting players and a few quarterback injuries around the league affecting the output of their skill players, Fant could be a desperation option for fantasy managers in need of a tight end this week.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet is in another great spot to succeed in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. With Kenneth Walker III (ankle) on injured reserve, Charbonnet will have the backfield all to himself. With the exception of Week 17 against the Chicago Bears, Charbonnet has put up massive numbers in his starts in place of Walker this season. Even his outing against the Bears was serviceable, and his lack of high-end output was more a product of the offense's inefficiencies as a whole. The Rams are middle-of-the-road against opposing running backs in fantasy this season. They have allowed 19.5 PPR points per game to opposing backfields. Expect the Seahawks to lean on Charbonnet early and often in both the running and passing games. He should be in every championship lineup in Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is potentially a strong fantasy option in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chargers will either be locked into the No. 6 seed or have a chance at the No. 5 seed in the final game of the regular season, depending on the results of Saturday's games. If the Bolts have a chance to better their playoff position, Herbert will certainly play and should be a top-10 option at the position against a Raiders defense with nothing to play for. Fantasy managers should have a backup option available, however, as Herbert and other Chargers starters could sit out if the team is locked into the sixth seed, which would give the start to backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said he'd "do what's best for the team" when asked about whether starters would play.
From RotoBaller
The Seattle Seahawks D/ST is a potential fantasy option in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are resting several key starters ahead of this matchup. Backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is slated to start with a crew of backup weapons around him. The Seahawks have improved defensively as the season has worn on. With the Rams short-handed this week, this unit should have no trouble getting to the quarterback and creating turnovers. They are an excellent streaming option and will look to build momentum heading into the offseason. With head coach Mike Macdonald already showing that he has made a mark on this defense, expect bigger things from the Seahawks D/ST in 2025. For now, you can safely deploy them in fantasy championships.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has played limited snaps in the last two weeks, and his workload against the Seahawks is very uncertain. The veteran tight end worked his way back after a catastrophic knee injury suffered in the playoffs last year. He played 14 snaps against the Jets and 17 snaps against the Cardinals, and in those two games, he had three catches for 20 yards and a memorable touchdown. With the Rams resting key starters in Week 18 like Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Cooper Kupp, Higbee could continue to ramp up, or he could sit entirely. Even if he does play, though, the Rams will likely avoid putting him in harms way if at all possible. Higbee is RotoBaller's TE34 this week, so he's not a great start in any format.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will make his first start of the season when the Rams host the Seahawks in their regular season finale. With their playoff spot secure, the Rams will rest multiple starters including Matthew Stafford, letting Jimmy G see his first action of the season. The 33-year-old backup signed a one-year deal with the Rams and will be a free agent after this season. He last played in 2023 for the Raiders when he completed 110 of 169 pass attempts (65.1%) for 1,205 yards in 12 games with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. He's RotoBaller's QB29 this week and is not a good fantasy option since the Rams won't have their starters on offense, but they'll likely face most of the Seahawks' regulars.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba enters Week 18 five receptions short of fellow wide receiver Tyler Lockett's single-season team record. Smith-Njigba is in prime position to break the record in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. Smith-Njigba is entering the final week of what has become a breakout season. In 16 games, JSN sits as the WR7 with 1,121 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He has been nothing short of excellent as he has stepped into Seattle's No. 1 wide receiver role. The Rams have been relatively generous to opposing wide receivers in fantasy so Smith-Njigba should have no problems getting loose in the final game of the season. Additionally, JSN had his best outing of his career against the Rams in Week 9. He caught seven passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He has been nothing short of excellent ever since. Deploy JSN as a WR1 this week.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf will look to top 1,000 receiving yards for the third time in his career in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. Metcalf is currently 61 yards short. Unfortunately, Metcalf has been very quiet of late. He has not exceeded four receptions since Week 11, and he has not exceeded 70 yards since Week 7. His fantasy output has been heavily impacted by the lack of production. Metcalf's best outing since Seattle's Week 10 bye is 14.7 PPR fantasy points. If you have made it this far in your league, it is likely not because of Metcalf's performances. He is a risky flex play with limited upside this week. Soon, we will need to start considering Metcalf's future as a fantasy asset given the massive fall in production during the second half of this season.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers is a solid option as your fantasy kicker in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. While the Seahawks do not have much to play for as far as playoff seeding is concerned, they can push the Rams down to the No. 4 seed in the NFC and finish the season with 10 wins. As such, expect the offense to fight hard throughout this game. That should put Myers in scoring positions often. Myers has scored in the single digits in each of the last three games. This week provides him an opportunity to get back into double-digit scoring. He has been incredibly accurate all season long, having only missed four field goals. All he needs is a chance. He can safely be deployed in fantasy championships this week.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) was a full participant in Friday's practice but is still considered questionable to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Sanders also practiced in full on Wednesday but was limited on Thursday. The Panthers opened the 27-year-old's 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, but they'll have to officially activate him from IR on Saturday if they want to let him play in the final game of the season on Sunday. Despite having not played since Week 10, Sanders could be the favorite to lead Carolina's backfield this weekend in Atlanta if he's activated since Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) is on IR. However, if Sanders does return, we wouldn't recommend relying on him for fantasy purposes with Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone also likely being involved for Carolina.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith checks in as a QB2 in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. Smith has been a poor fantasy quarterback recently. He has only exceeded 13.32 fantasy points once since Seattle's Week 10 bye. The Seahawks will face a middle-of-the-road Rams defense in Week 18. Neither team has a lot to play for with the Rams guaranteed to win the NFC West and the Seahawks eliminated from playoff contention. However, Smith has several attainable incentives in his contract. Most notably, Smith will receive a bonus if the Seahawks reach 10 wins. Despite the lack of playoff motivation, expect Smith to come out and put his best foot forward this weekend. He also needs to prove to the Seahawks that he can be their quarterback of the future. He has a releasable contract at the conclusion of this season and he will likely want a contract extension should he remain with the team. Still, recent weeks have shown us that Smith is not a trustable fantasy asset right now. Deploy him as a QB2 in Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo (abdomen) popped up on the Week 18 injury report on Thursday and is now questionable to play on Sunday in the regular-season finale against the division-rival Houston Texans. Okonkwo was limited in Thursday's practice and missed Friday's session, so he should be considered on the wrong side of questionable. The Titans are only playing for draft positioning in the regular-season finale, so there's a good chance they'll hold out any injured players that are questionable like Okonkwo. If the 25-year-old doesn't play this weekend, look for Nick Vannett and Josh Whyle to get some more run at the tight end position for Tennessee. Although Okonkwo started making some noise in recent weeks as a pass-catcher, he was mostly off the fantasy radar in 2024 and will finish with 52 catches for 479 yards and only two TDs in 16 games if he doesn't play in Week 18.
From RotoBaller
