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.
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad on Monday, according to a source. The former second-rounder in 2022 out of Baylor will now get another opportunity with the defending Super Bowl champions after the Patriots waived him on Saturday. The 24-year-old caught 35 of his 68 targets for 338 yards and two touchdowns in 22 games (12 starts) in his first two years in New England before catching just four passes on eight targets for 47 yards in six games with the Patriots this year. Thornton certainly has some more intrigue in KC, but it remains to be seen if he can work his way into a big enough role down the stretch for the Chiefs. As things stand now, the Chiefs have a receiving corps that includes DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, rookie Xavier Worthy, Mecole Hardman and Justin Watson.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants ownership has suggested that head coach Brian Daboll will return in 2025, but according to sources, there's a growing sense that he is now coaching for his job over the final seven games in 2024. The heat on Daboll is partially why the Giants chose quarterback Tommy Devito as the starter under center over Drew Lock after benching Daniel Jones coming out of the Week 10 bye. The team's relationship with Jones has been described as "a bit awkward," according to multiple sources. "It was like flirting with someone new while your date is still at the table," one source said. The G-Men are now 2-8 heading into a Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and are probably looking at an offseason full of changes, even if they pick things up down the stretch. DeVito has experience in Daboll's system and wasn't terrible in six starts in 2023, but the upside is going to be minimal in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said there are currently no updates on the status of linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) after he injured his hamstring in the Week 11 loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. "No updates right now. Just monitoring it as we go," Harbaugh said. Smith injured his hamstring early in the fourth quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly after. Before leaving, the 27-year-old was busy, collecting 13 tackles (two for loss) against the Steelers. We'll have a better idea on Smith's Week 12 status once the Ravens resume practicing on Wednesday, but if he's unable to play, it will be a big loss for Baltimore's defense next Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Smith currently checks in as the No. 3 fantasy linebacker in IDP leagues in overall points.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that the team's short turnaround this Thursday night against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 played a role in running back Nick Chubb only playing 22 snaps on offense on Sunday in the Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Chubb finished with 11 carries for 50 yards and was not targeted through the air for the first time since making his 2024 debut on Oct. 20 in the loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. The limited workload on Sunday was disappointing with the Browns coming off their bye, but the good news is Chubb should be more involved out of the backfield this Thursday, albeit in a tough matchup against one of the best defenses in the NFL. The 28-year-old has a career-low 3.1 yards per carry on 53 rushing attempts in four games so far in his return from a serious knee injury in 2023.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (concussion) is officially in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Week 11 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Spears was forced to leave the game late in the fourth quarter. He finished with a disappointing three carries for no gain while catching two of his three targets for just eight yards in the 23-13 defeat. The 23-year-old will now have to pass through the NFL's concussion protocol this week in order to gain clearance to play in Week 12 versus the division-rival Houston Texans on Sunday. Already a low-upside, low-floor RB3/flex in deeper fantasy leagues, Spears is shaping up as a depth RB to avoid going into Week 12. If he is unable to clear the concussion protocol, it would give Tony Pollard RB2 upside, while Julius Chestnut's role would expand behind Pollard.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. hauled in 5-of-7 targets for 82 yards in the team's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. The rookie wideout was the only Jaguars player to record more than 28 receiving yards on a day when quarterback Mac Jones tossed for 138 yards. His target and reception total tied tight end Evan Engram for the highest marks on the team. BTJ recorded three receptions of at least 20 yards and could have had an even bigger day if a late 33-yard reception wasn't overturned. Despite the woes of the Jags' offense, the sensational 22-year-old continues to perform, though it's worth noting that he did appear to get injured on the overturned reception. Fortunately, he'll get a bye in Week 12 before a divisional clash against the Houston Texans in Week 13.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones completed 17-of-29 passes for 138 yards and one interception in Sunday's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. He rushed for seven yards on his two carries. Yikes. The Jags recorded just ten first downs to the Lions' 38 and were overmatched from the start. Jones wasn't much better than his performance against the Vikings the week prior, as he has yet to throw a passing touchdown in either of his starts. In his defense, he's faced quite the gauntlet of defenses in his first taste of action since Week 12 of 2023. Still, he's averaging an abysmal 4.88 yards per attempt in his two outings. With the Jags on bye in Week 12, the door is open for QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) to make a return against the Texans in Week 13 if he can heal up enough over the week off.
From RotoBaller
Per head coach Antonio Pierce, the Las Vegas Raiders are sticking with quarterback Gardner Minshew for at least one more week. Paul Gutierrez of ESPN reported the news. The 28-year-old has been fine this season, albeit unspectacular, as the Raiders attempt to figure out their long-term quarterback solution. Las Vegas will line up against the Denver Broncos this Sunday in a divisional clash, and it could be Minshew's last week as the starter, with QB Aidan O'Connell (thumb) eligible to return from IR the following week. It will be interesting to see if AOC slots back in as the team's starter upon his return, but Minshew will get one more crack at the starting job against a stout Denver Broncos defense at home in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts in Week 11, hitting from 41 and 51 yards out and restoring some semblance of confidence in his abilities after missing three of four chances in Week 10. Unfortunately for the Falcons, Koo's two field goals were the totality of the scoring for Atlanta, losing 38-6 on the road in Denver. Between missing seven field goals this season and the Falcon offense sputtering as of late, Koo is looking like somewhat of a risky play for the rest of the season. If you're a streamer, look to use him in more favorable matchups, and Week 13 versus the Chargers may be a decent one as L.A. has been fairly good at holding opponents out of the end zone.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Dallas Cowboys have officially placed quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) on injured reserve. The move was merely a formality, as it was expected that he'd miss the remainder of 2024 after suffering an avulsion fracture in his hamstring. In his absence, Dallas will continue to roll with quarterback Cooper Rush as their starter, though for how long remains to be seen. Rush didn't have a particularly encouraging outing last weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles when he completed 13-of-23 passes for 45 yards. With fourth-year player Trey Lance the only other active quarterback on the roster, it might be worth it for the Cowboys to see what they've got in the 24-year-old.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier did not receive a single carry in Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Broncos but caught a pass for the first time in four weeks, although it was for a one-yard loss. The Falcons fell behind quickly and trailed the entire game, so the running game suffered, but even when many of the starters came out of the game in the fourth quarter, it was not Allgeier who entered for Bijan Robinson, but rookie Jase McClellan, who received eight carries in garbage time. Had the game been closer, Allgeier likely would have been more involved, so the 24-year-old will look to get back on track in Week 13 against the Chargers. Los Angeles has been good against the run, though, so the former fifth-round draft pick will likely be in the RB3/4 range for fantasy purposes.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will decide on running back Isiah Pacheco's (fibula) status for Sunday's matchup against the Carolina Panthers after this week of practice. Reid was discussing Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee) when he noted they'll "just have to see how each player does in practice this week." It's encouraging that the head coach didn't outright rule out the 25-year-old. Still, it would be nice for him to exhibit more confidence regarding the third-year back's status. Pacheco, who has been out since fracturing his fibula in Week 2, would immediately boost the Chiefs' offense and fantasy manager's lineups when he's healthy. Keep an eye on his practice participation over the next few days, as that will likely be telling of his status for Sunday's outing.
From RotoBaller
Per head coach Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) will miss the remainder of 2024 after sustaining a meniscus tear in the team's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. Ian Rapoport reported the news. It's an unfortunate turn of events for the Jaguars, who are already without wide receiver Christian Kirk (collarbone) after losing him for the season. Davis, who was in his first year with the Jaguars, will finish his season with 20 receptions, 239 yards, and two touchdowns on 42 targets. Fellow wideouts Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Devin Duvernay project to run in three-wide-receiver sets, while tight end Evan Engram will likely see an increase in usage.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts faded into obscurity again in Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Broncos, catching just one of his three targets for a paltry nine yards. No one stood out on offense in Denver so it is not entirely on Pitts, but so much for having a regular role in the 2024 version of this offense. Just when it looked like he was on a bit of a roll in Weeks 5 through 8, the 24-year-old has posted two one-catch performances in the last three weeks. As inconsistent and frustrating as it has been to have him in fantasy lineups, believe it or not, the former first-round draft pick is still well within the top 12 in fantasy scoring at the position, so he likely warrants a starting role going forward as painful as it may be from week to week. After the Falcons' bye, Atlanta will face the Chargers who have been pretty good at defending the tight end position, even limiting the Bengal TEs on Sunday night to just three catches for 22 yards. Pitts likely finds himself as a volatile back-end TE1 that week.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DT Turner II (clavicle), who has taken over a starting role this year, is feared to have suffered a fractured clavicle in the Sunday night loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to sources. Turner is getting a second opinion on Monday, but he'll likely be forced to miss the rest of the season. The 24-year-old defensive back came down hard on the turf at SoFi Stadium while breaking up a pass on Sunday night and stayed down before trainers came out to check on him. He was questionable to return to the contest but never made it back in the seven-point loss. Turner, a second-rounder last year out of Michigan, will finish his second year in the NFL with 29 tackles (24 solo) and eight pass breakups in 11 games (six starts). It's a blow to an already shaky Bengals secondary that has been dominated the last two weeks by the Ravens and Chargers.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns left tackle Dawand Jones (ankle) will miss the rest of the 2024 season after fracturing his left ankle in the Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, according to a source. Jones is expected to make a full recovery for next year, where he'll be looking to build on what has been a strong 2024 campaign. The 23-year-old had his left leg put in an air cast on Sunday before he was carted off the field in New Orleans. The fourth-rounder last year will need surgery. Jedrick Wills (knee) was inactive for the Week 11 contest, but with Jones now out for the season, Wills is expected to reclaim his starting job at left tackle if he's able to play in Week 12 against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. If Wills is not ready, expect Germain Ifedi to protect quarterback Jameis Winston's blind side. It's more bad news for a bad Browns offense.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) was seen on the practice field on Monday morning for a bonus practice with the team coming out of their bye in Week 11. Evans said he could have tried to push through and play in Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers, but Week 12 against the New York Giants after the bye was his target all along. Barring a setback once official practices begin on Wednesday, it looks like Evans will be back this Sunday for fantasy managers. A right-hamstring strain kept the 31-year-old future Hall of Fame pass-catcher out of action for the team's last three games. With Chris Godwin (ankle) done for the year, Evans will operate as Tampa's clear-cut WR1 the rest of the way. Evans will draw more attention from opposing defenses, but he should receive plenty of volume to make him a must-start in fantasy once he's back.
From RotoBaller
According to a team source, "everything right now is pointing for him to play" in reference to Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's (back, shoulder) status for Monday night's contest against the Houston Texans. Lamb was already dealing with a shoulder injury but also popped up as questionable for the Week 11 game after suffering a back injury in practice on Saturday. Barring a setback with his back during pre-game warmups, the 25-year-old should be active against Houston, where he should serve as quarterback Cooper Rush's top target in the passing game. In the first game without Dak Prescott (hamstring) in last week's blowout loss to the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, Lamb had six catches for just 21 yards on 10 targets. He has seen double-digit targets in each of the last four games, but with Prescott done for the year, Lamb's rest-of-season fantasy upside will take a big hit.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Giants are turning to Tommy DeVito to replace the benched Daniel Jones instead of Drew Lock. Dynasty Analysis: The logic here seems pretty simple - Lock isn't going to be on the roster next season and the Giants want to see if DeVito could possibly become a bridge quarterback to a rookie they inevitably draft this Spring. It's also fair to wonder if they believe Lock gives them a better chance to win, something the team will want but management may not. The Giants are looking at a massive rebuild at this point and Lock just isn't in their plans. He's not roster-worthy in dynasty leagues at this point.
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle, foot) is likely to be out for the team's Week 12 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday after injuring his ankle/foot in the Week 9 win over the New York Giants in Germany. It's a bad sign for Sanders, as the Week 10 bye didn't provide him with enough time to recover from the injury. On top of it, Sanders' already limited fantasy appeal in 2024 is taking another hit with rookie second-rounder Jonathon Brooks (knee) on track to make his NFL debut against the Chiefs. The 27-year-old lost the starting job to Chuba Hubbard last year and will likely find himself third on the RB depth chart in Carolina by season's end. In his second year with the Panthers, Sanders has 38 carries for 139 yards and one TD, averaging 3.7 yards per carry in his 10 games played. Sanders has also caught 21 of 26 targets for an additional 98 yards.
From RotoBaller