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 Starts/Sits: Week 11
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp finished Sunday's win over the Patriots by amassing six receptions (10 targets) for 106 yards. He also found the end zone twice, bringing his total to four during the 2024-25 campaign. Without question, the wideout has been on a roll, catching 24 passes from Matthew Stafford in the last three games. Of course, Kupp still remains a starting fantasy option in the Week 12, Sunday Night Football matchup with Philadelphia. He just may have a tougher time being as productive against a challenging Eagles defense.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson had only one catch for 19 yards in Sunday's win over the Patriots. Fortunately, it at least resulted in a trip to the end zone, with the 25-year-old bringing in one of Matthew Stafford's four touchdown throws near the end of the third quarter. With that in mind, Parkinson wasn't targeted in the Rams' previous two contests, so fantasy managers shouldn't look in his direction as a streaming option for the Week 12 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 23 of 33 pass attempts (70%) for 196 yards and three touchdowns in the 21-30 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Mahomes passed for under 200 yards in this contest but made up for it with three passing scores for the second time this season. Mahomes also threw multiple interceptions for the third time this season, including a game-ending pick in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. The Chiefs quarterback also finished the game with zero rushing yards for the first time this season. Mahomes has continued to be a disappointing fantasy asset, especially in the team's last two games with tough matchups. The veteran quarterback will look to bounce back from the team's first loss next week against the Carolina Panthers, who rank 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season. Mahomes will likely be ranked as a low-end QB1 next week, with one of the most favorable matchups for quarterbacks.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua looked great in Sunday's victory over the New England Patriots. The wideout finished Week 11 by leading his team on the receiving end, pulling in seven of his nine targets for 123 yards. He also finally found the end zone, catching a 12-yard toss from Matthew Stafford in the second quarter. With Nacua coming off his second 100-yard outing this season, he'll look to keep it going against a tough Eagles defense in a Sunday Night Football meeting between the clubs.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught two passes for eight yards in the 21-30 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs were handed their first loss of the season, and Kelce was the target on the game-ending interception. The veteran tight end finished the game with just four targets against the stingy Buffalo defense. Despite being the focal point of the Kansas City passing attack every week, Kelce was held in check in this contest. The 35-year-old will look to bounce back in a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers next week. The Panthers rank 32nd in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, so Kelce should have his way against them. Despite this underwhelming performance, Kelce should still be considered a top-tier tight-end option for the rest of the season.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams had 86 yards off 15 carries in Sunday's win over the Patriots. It wasn't a horrible showing from the 24-year-old. However, after Williams found the end zone in seven consecutive games this season, he hasn't scored in any of the Rams' previous three contests. While the team leaned on him more while Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp were on the shelf, fantasy managers are hoping he'll get back on track versus the Eagles in Week 12, a team that has played well against the run all year.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson put himself back on the fantasy map on Sunday, totaling three TDs, one via pass and two via rush, in a tight 28-27 win over the Jets. Coming into the game with a 44.4% completion rate, the 22-year-old completed 20 of 30 pass attempts (66.7%) for 272 yards and a touchdown. While it was an improvement for sure, especially given that he did not throw an interception, it wasn't pretty at times and the former first-round draft pick fumbled twice, losing one of them. The 6-foot-4 signal-caller added 10 rushes for 32 yards and two scores, finishing the day well within the top 10 at the position in fantasy scoring. The Colts and Richardson will have a tough matchup at home next week against the Lions, but it may be fruitful for fantasy if they are playing from behind all day.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Charkand tight end Hayden Hurst won't play in Sunday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Both players are healthy. However, with receivers Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, and tight end Will Dissly all active, the move was made to give Hurst and Chark the night off. But considering Hurst has only seven catches and Chark doesn't have any this season, their absences won't have much of an impact on fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson completed 20-of-30 passes for 272 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, adding 32 rushing yards and two more scores in a win against the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: This may have been the best game he's played in his young career. After being benched for Joe Flacco, Richardson looked energized today and also in control, something we hadn't seen much of this season. The Jets area. mess, but this was a huge step in the right direction and should put his dynasty value drop to a sudden halt.
Dynasty | Jets running back Breece Hall had 78 rushing yards, seven catches, 43 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a loss against the Colts. Dynasty Analysis: The Jets looked competitive in this one and much of the credit should go to Hall, who finally looked like a RB1 in fantasy leagues today. While this is just one game, Hall could be poised for a better second half of the year as the Jets look to get him involved since their Plan A has clearly not worked this season. His dynasty buy low window may have closed this afternoon.
Dynasty | Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had six catches for 142 yards and a touchdown in the Browns loss to the Saints. Dynasty Analysis: Jeudy had an 89-yard touchdown, but still had a big game without it as he had a team-leading 11 targets. He came into the game with a 33/418/1 line in nine games, so you could say this came out of nowhere. Jeudy clearly has a lot of talent and is still relatively young, but we'll need to see a few more big games before recommending him in lineups moving forward.
Dynasty | Saints hybrid player Taysom Hill had 138 rushing yards, eight catches, 50 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in a win against Cleveland. Dynasty Analysis: Well, here we go again. With Dennis Allen out in New Orleans, it seems the Saints may be willing to use Hill in a variety of crazy ways again. Today certainly worked out as Hill had one of his signature epic performances. If the Saints decide to deploy him this aggressively moving forward, he's going to be a big-time player who could decide some fantasy leagues this season. Stay tuned.
Dynasty | Browns running back Nick Chubb had 50 rushing yards in a loss to the Saints. Dynasty Analysis: Chubb had a good matchup on paper and posted a healthy 4.5 yards per carry on the day. However, a negative game script put him on the bench for most of the game as Jameis Winston threw the ball 46 times on the day. Chubb has been decent since returning, but the Browns offense just isn't one to rely on at the moment. He should be on dynasty benches for the time being.
Dynasty | Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua had seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in a win over New England. Dynasty Analysis: Nacua has missed much of the season, but he looked like his rookie self today, making a number of contested catches. He and Cooper Kupp (6/106/2) dominated targets with 19 combined and both look like viable fantasy starters moving forward, with Nacua having both more short and long-term upside. He's a solid hold in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers had 13 catches on 16 targets for 126 yards and one touchdown in a loss against Miami. Dynasty Analysis: He's pretty good. Bowers was option 1, 2, and 3 on the day as the Raiders seem to be content just riding their rookie tight end each and every week. There are some veteran tight ends who could keep up with his production, but Bowers is quickly becoming the TE1 in dynasty leagues and it's really not close. He's nearly untouchable on rosters at this point.
Dynasty | Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith had six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Raiders. Dynasty Analysis: Smith has always had a lot of talent, but it just hasn't translated to the field consistently. Today was different as Smith tied for the team lead in targets and made the most of them. He's still more TE2 than TE1, but the Dolphins are starting to roll again, making him a player with second half upside as we move through November. Smith is a decent hold in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine had two catches for 117 yards and a touchdown in the Titans loss to the Vikings. Dynasty Analysis: Westbrook-Ikhine had a 98-yard touchdown reception in this one, the longest play in the NFL this season. He has now amazingly scored in five-of-six games, despite having fewer than 300 receiving yards and only 15 catches on the season. The ultimate boom or bust in dynasty leagues right now, it's hard to see this streak continuing for a player getting targeted this little. Still, it's hard to argue against his big-play ability and that should keep him on dynasty rosters for the moment.
Dynasty | Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 24-of-29 passes for 412 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a demolition of the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: Jacksonville was no match for Detroit in this one as Goff bounced back from a five-interception performance to post a four-touchdown day with no mistakes. Goff posted season highs all around and the Lions looked like one of the best teams in the NFL by far today, even if they were playing what could be the worst one. Goff looks like a solid hold in dynasty leagues and a back-end QB1 moving forward.
Dynasty | Jaguars running back Travis Etienne had 27 rushing yards, three catches and six receiving yards in a loss against Detroit. Dynasty Analysis: The Jags had no chance in this one, but this was still a disappointing day for Etienne considering Tank Bigsby was out. Etienne has had a simply terrible season thus far and his dynasty value is sufferering. At this point, he belongs on fantasy benches and may not have real value again until next season. Yes, it's that bad.
Dynasty | Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had 11 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: ASB caught every one of his targets and could have honestly went for more than 200 yards today if the game was even remotely competitive. Whlie Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson get a lot of the headlines, there are few players better to have in dynasty leagues than St. Brown, who has looked every bit the part of a dominant wide receiver in dynasty leagues all season. He's untouchable at the moment.
