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.
TFC Champion is Crowned
An MRI exam on Monday morning revealed that San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (ankle, knee) suffered an MCL sprain and an ankle sprain in the loss to the division-rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to a source. Guerendo will have plenty of time to heal up in the offseason, and the best news is that he didn't suffer any damage to his ACL. Both of the injuries are to his left leg. The 24-year-old fourth-round pick didn't see much of an opportunity in 2024 until late in the season when both Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) were ruled out for the year, but when he did get his chances, he was pretty effective out of the Niners' backfield. Guerendo finished with 5.0 yards per carry for 420 yards and four TDs on 84 carries through 16 games. He should serve as valuable insurance for McCaffrey in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed on Monday that wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) suffered a torn right ACL in the loss to the division-rival Chicago Bears on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale and will miss the rest of the season. "It's not good," LaFleur said. Watson suffered a bruise in his knee in Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints and was held out of the Week 17 loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings before returning on Sunday, only to suffer a season-ending injury. It's a big blow to the Packers heading into the postseason as one of the team's best deep-threat wideouts. The 25-year-old former second-rounder finishes his third NFL season with only 29 receptions and two touchdowns but with a career-high 620 receiving yards in 15 games. Given the timing of his injury and his reputation as a slow healer, there's a good chance Watson won't be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers have signed running back Ezekiel Elliott on Monday. The former first-round pick will get a chance to compete for a Super Bowl this season. The Chargers are lacking depth at the running back spot, so the addition of Elliott does make sense. The three-time Pro Bowl back might play a minimal role during Saturday's Wild-Card game against the Houston Texans. This season, Elliott rushed for 226 yards on 74 carries with three touchdowns in 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys. The 29-year-old brings knowledge and leadership, but he hasn't rushed for over 1,000 yards since 2021. This is a depth move that gives the 29-year-old a chance to win a Super Bowl.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots kicker John Parker Romo has signed a reserve/future deal with the organization on Monday. Romo joined the Pats practice squad in December after a stint with the Minnesota Vikings. Romo filled in for the injured Will Reichard for four games in Minnesota this season. He converted 11-of-12 field goal attempts and 7-of-8 extra point attempts in his time with the team. Current Pats' kicker Joey Slye made only 79 percent of his field goal attempts this season. Romo should get a legitimate shot at the kicking job in New England heading into next season.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent RB Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys) is signing to the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad, per source on Monday, Jan. 6.
From TheHuddle
The Atlanta Falcons have signed wide receiver Phillip Dorsett to a reserve/future deal on Monday. The veteran wideout signed with the Falcons in late October after failing to catch on elsewhere. He remained on the practice squad throughout the season, but never played for the Falcons. He last played with the Denver Broncos during the 2023 season. Dorsett is best known for his number of seasons with the New England Patriots. He'll look to snag a role as a depth option in training camp next season.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears running back Royce Freeman has been cut by the organization on Monday. Freeman joined the Bears practice squad in mid-December after being released by the Cleveland Browns in October. The veteran back has now been cut from the practice squad on Monday. Freeman never made it to the active roster for the Bears this season. He didn't have much of a chance to see reps with D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson getting a majority of the snaps in the backfield. Freeman will look to catch on elsewhere ahead of next season.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints quarterback Ben DiNucci has signed a reserve/future contract with the organization on Monday. DiNucci spent most of the season as a free agent before signing with the Saints in mid-December. He was signed as depth after Derek Carr (hand) went down for multiple weeks. The 28-year-old hasn't seen NFL action since the 2020 season with the Dallas Cowboys. However, DiNucci will get a chance to earn a spot on the roster in training camp.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said top personnel executives Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith will remain with the organization into the 2025 season and will both be involved in head-coaching interviews to find the successor for Jerod Mayo, who was fired following the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Wolf is the club's executive vice president of player personnel and is expected to remain with the team as their general manager moving forward. He joined the Patriots in May of last year and served as the GM throughout the offseason. As the Pats search for a new head coach, their primary selling point will be young quarterback Drake Maye, who showed flashes of being a franchise signal-caller in his rookie season despite a concerning lack of talent at mostly every other position on the roster.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (knee) said he is nearly fully recovered from his knee injury and believes he would have been available for the playoffs if the 49ers clinched a spot. He said he will be able to participate in organized team activities.
Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey was limited to only four games this season because of multiple injuries but seems to be on track to take part in the offseason workouts. He is a must-start option in fantasy leagues when healthy but is a risky option because of his injury history.
From TheHuddle
The Chicago Bears requested to interview Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken for their head-coaching position, according to a source. The Bears are also considering Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, among others. There's a chance that quarterback Lamar Jackson could win a second straight MVP award this year while working with Monken in Baltimore. It's easy to see why Chicago would be interested in an offensive mind like Monken's as they look to develop former first overall pick Caleb Williams in 2025 and beyond after a frustrating rookie season. Monken is a native of the Chicagoland area and has been coaching for 30-plus years in the NFL and collegiate levels.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens WR Anthony Miller reverted back to the practice squad Monday, Jan. 6, after being on the active roster for the Week 18 game.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent RB Emani Bailey, OG Ja'Tyre Carter, TE Dominique Dafney, LB Kenny Dyson, LB Thomas Incoom, WR T.J. Luther, TE Jordan Matthews, WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym and OG Brandon Walton signed Reserve/Future contracts with the Carolina Panthers Monday, Jan. 6. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
When asked if quarterback Kyler Murray would be the team's starter in 2025, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said, "100 percent," on Burns And Gambo. "He's a top-level, franchise quarterback," Gannon said. Although he led the Cardinals to an 8-9 record and no playoff appearance, Murray did throw for 3,851 yards -- the second-highest total of his career -- 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 starts. His 572 rushing yards -- he added five touchdowns on the ground -- ranked fourth among all QBs in 2024. The 27-year-old isn't going anywhere heading into the second year of a five-year, $230.5 million extension that he signed in July of 2022. Arizona should keep most of their skill players on offense, but Murray will need to establish more chemistry with first-round wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. to take a step forward for the Cardinals and fantasy managers that make him their QB1.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent DE Jonathan Garvin, OT Sebastian Gutierrez, DE Tarron Jackson, OG Zack Johnson, CB Chase Lucas, S Jaylen Mahoney, QB Tanner Mordecai, OG Drake Nugent, WR Terique Owens, TE Mason Pline and WR Trent Taylor signed Reserve/Future contracts with the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Jan. 6. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy said he would like to have a long-term contract extension done sooner than later this offseason so that he can participate in full for the offseason program. "I want to obviously get it done. If that's an opportunity to be able to get that done quick, that'd be great. Just so we can get back for phase one," Purdy said. If how the 49ers have handled contract extensions with their star players recently is any indication, Purdy is likely to get his hopes up. However, the QB position is the most important when constructing a football roster, so perhaps the 49ers' decision-makers will find more urgency with Purdy's situation. Although the 25-year-old took a step back after his 2023 breakout, he was also without key offensive weapons for long stretches. Although it may not come quickly, San Fran is expected to get something done with Purdy this offseason.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said, "I'm not concerned" when asked about rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' leg soreness that led to him being pulled in the second half of the win over the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale. The Commanders pulled the impressive 24-year-old at halftime as a precaution since they had already locked up a playoff spot, with backup Marcus Mariota leading the team to a 23-19 victory. Daniels could be limited in practice this week, but all signs point to him being fine for Sunday night's wild-card matchup against the hosting Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their banged-up secondary. Although Daniels threw for under 200 yards and no touchdowns against Tampa in his NFL debut way back in Week 1, he should be considered a top-five fantasy QB play this weekend.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) said he's "definitely close" to fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his 2024 season early. McCaffrey told ESPN's Nick Wagoner he would have been able to return had the team made the postseason, but instead, he'll continue to rehab and expects to be ready for organized team activities in the spring. The 28-year-old was specifically dealing with a PCL injury in his right knee that caused him to miss the last five games of the year, but a calf strain and bilateral Achilles tendinitis led to CMC not making his 2024 debut until Week 10. The All-Pro RB was the biggest fantasy bust of the year without question, so his health will be closely watched heading into training camp in the summer. While McCaffrey's lengthy injury history will keep him from being a top pick in the first round in 2025, he's still deserving of first-round consideration.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent DT Junior Aho, WR Phillip Dorsett, RB Elijah Dotson, WR Dylan Drummond, OG Joey Fisher, OG Jovaughn Gwyn, CB Lamar X. Jackson, QB Emory Jones, DE Khalid Kareem, WR Jesse Matthews, CB Benny Sapp III and OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. signed Reserve/Future contracts with the Atlanta Falcons Monday, Jan. 6. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that wide receiver Amari Cooper (personal) hasn't rejoined the team after he was excused for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New England Patriots due to a personal matter. McDermott is hopeful Cooper will be available for the wild-card playoff game this Sunday against the visiting Denver Broncos, but right now the team is taking the situation a day at a time. The move from Cleveland to Buffalo at the trade deadline was supposed to give Cooper a much higher fantasy ceiling, but instead, consistent targets have been hard to come by in the Bills offense. The 30-year-old has caught just 20 of 34 targets for 297 yards and two TDs in his eight games with Buffalo and will be a low-end WR2, at best, in playoff leagues if he's active on Sunday. If he's not, Khalil Shakir and rookie Keon Coleman will become more interesting in fantasy.
From RotoBaller