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
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that new tight end Evan Engram fits the Joker role well. "I'm excited," Payton said. "The vision is pretty clear. Obviously we feel like he's someone who can run, gives us a passing threat on third down and in the red zone. He's got good body control and I think he's really good when he gets the ball in his hands. His run-after-catch numbers, statistically-wise, have been good." The 30-year-old former 23rd overall pick by the New York Giants in 2017 out of Mississippi had a career year in Jacksonville with 114 catches, 963 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. He played in only nine games in 2024, though before needing surgery to fix a torn labrum in his left shoulder. However, as a likely high-volume target for quarterback Bo Nix, Engram will have clear bounce-back potential in fantasy and will be a nice low-end TE1 target with upside.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears new head coach Ben Johnson said the team plans to go "back to the basics" with quarterback Caleb Williams heading into his second year as a pro after a disappointing rookie campaign after he was the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft. "It's the fundamentals of the quarterback position: What's our footwork going to look like under center? From the shotgun? What are we calling the formations? What's the defensive identification going to look like? So that we're all speaking the same language," Johnson said. The 23-year-old will take more snaps under center during offseason workouts to gauge his comfort level. Chicago ran 70.8% of their plays from shotgun in 2024 (tied for 16th-most), but the Lions lined up in shotgun less than any other team under Johnson. Williams took a league-high 68 sacks last year, so using more play-action should help better protect him. On paper, the addition of Johnson should be excellent news for Williams' development.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones will split first-team repetitions in practices as soon as the team begins offseason workouts on April 21, according to head coach Shane Steichen. The Colts don't plan to ease the two QBs into the competition for the starting job. Steichen said "it's going to come down to who's the most consistent, who's the most productive, will be the starter." The Colts still hope that Richardson, the former fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, will develop into the long-term franchise starting signal-caller. But the 22-year-old has been way too inconsistent as a passer in his first two NFL seasons and has missed 17 of a possible 34 games due to four separate injuries. He completed just 47.7% of his passes in 2024, but his dynamic abilities as a runner make continue to give him high-end QB1 upside if he can ever put it all together and stay healthy.
From RotoBaller
When asked if the Washington Commanders have a desire to give wide receiver Terry McLaurin a new deal before the 2025 season, general manager Adam Peters said they've had talks with McLaurin's agent, and they've been positive so far. "We want to make Terry a Commander for a long time," Peters said. McLaurin was a Pro Bowler for the second time in 2024 and posted his fifth straight 1,000-yard campaign by catching 82 of his 117 targets for 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts with impressive rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The 29-year-old has one year left on the three-year, $68.2 million extension he signed in 2022. The addition of wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. shouldn't really affect Scary Terry's overall volume, although fantasy managers should expect TD regression. Still, with McLaurin paired with the upside of Daniels, he should be a popular WR2 target this fall.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee), who missed all but the opening month of 2024 after having knee surgery for a torn LCL, is expected to be ready for training camp in July, according to head coach Andy Reid. "He's on track to be ready," Reid said. "We'll see. He's working his tail off right now, I know." Before suffering his season-ending knee injury in Week 4, Rice was leading the league in catches through three weeks and was second in receiving yards as quarterback Patrick Mahomes' favorite target. While Rice should continue to be a bit part of KC's passing attack in 2025 if healthy, he'll also be sharing targets with both Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy. The 24-year-old former second-rounder is a physical freak, though, and excels at generating yards after the catch in one of the best offenses in the league. As long as his knee injury doesn't cause him to lose a step, he'll have WR1 upside in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said it was miraculous that running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) even returned to the field last year from a knee injury that cut short his rookie year in 2023. "I'm almost certain he's going to be on a whole other level coming back this spring," Harbaugh said. The 23-year-old missed the first nine games of the 2024 season and ended up seeing action in only five games, carrying the ball 15 times for 30 yards and catching his only target for 28 yards. Mitchell's path to fantasy relevance in his third year in 2025 will be difficult as long as both Derrick Henry and Justice Hill are healthy, but the upside is evident after a rookie season that saw him average 8.4 yards per carry on 47 rushing attempts before his knee injury. It remains to be seen if he'll be as explosive coming off his serious knee injury, but he could be a nice buy-low target in dynasty/keeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets new head coach Aaron Glenn called wide receiver Garrett Wilson a "dynamic player" and said the team is going to look to get him the ball "as much as possible." That was expected to be the case as soon as the Jets decided to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Davante Adams. Wilson was still a top-12 fantasy receiver in half-PPR scoring last year despite Adams taking away valuable targets, but the 24-year-old's upside will be even higher as the unquestioned WR1 for new Jets quarterback Justin Fields, especially if they are force-feeding him targets. Fields has plenty left to prove as a passer, but it will be a bonus that Wilson and Fields already have plenty of chemistry from their days playing together in college at Ohio State. The volume should be there, but efficiency will be a question mark for Wilson, who should be considered a legitimate WR1 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that he'd like the team to extend running back Derrick Henry, who is heading into the last year of his current deal in 2025. It comes after Henry signed a two-year, $16 million deal last offseason and said in February that he'd like to finish his career in Baltimore. It makes sense for both sides after King Henry didn't show any signs of slowing down in 2024 with 1,921 rushing yards and a league-high 16 rushing touchdowns on 325 carries while adding 19 receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns through the air in 17 regular-season starts. It was good enough to make him the RB3 in half-PPR scoring, behind only Jahmyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley. Father Time is undefeated, but Henry is a different beast and pairs extremely well with quarterback Lamar Jackson's rushing ability. Henry is still much more attractive in standard-scoring fantasy leagues, but either way, he's a high-end RB1.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) is "healthy and doing great" this offseason. Despite playing in just four games in 2024 due to Achilles and knee injuries, McCaffrey said back in January that he was close to 100 percent and probably would have played if the team had advanced to the playoffs. The 28-year-old do-it-all back averaged a mediocre 4.0 yards per carry on his 50 rushing attempts in 2024. Jordan Mason was traded to the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, and although CMC is still the team's unquestioned lead back when healthy, it's possible that Isaac Guerendo could see more complementary work in the backfield in 2025. McCaffrey surely won't be the No. 1 overall fantasy pick this fall after being the biggest bust in 2024, but although there's plenty of injury risk, the upside will still make him hard to pass up as a high-end RB1.
From RotoBaller
At the Annual League Meeting on Tuesday, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales compared wide receiver Xavier Legette to Pittsburgh Steelers wideout DK Metcalf. The Panthers reportedly checked in on Metcalf before the Seahawks traded him to Pittsburgh, but Carolina's head coach touted one of his own when asked about him. "I think we got that guy," Canales said, "I think it's Xavier." The 24-year-old flashed in 2024 but was mostly underwhelming and struggled with drops (eight on 81 targets). However, Canales believes we could see big things from Legette with an entire offseason under his belt. He also noted the second-year wideout's work ethic. "You can't get him out of the building. He's there early and late...he's doing all the right things, and with the hard work, it will pay off." The South Carolina native has a bit to go before he's fantasy-relevant, but the vote of confidence from his head coach is encouraging. He sits favorably on the team's depth chart for now, but that could change later this month after the draft.
From RotoBaller
The New York Giants have re-signed linebacker Ty Summers to an undisclosed contract. Summers spent 2024 with the Giants -- his third team -- appearing in 16 games for the squad. Though the TCU product was mainly a special-teamer (61.4% of the team's snaps), he garnered two starts at the end of the year and produced an 11-tackle effort. He's likely to serve as a depth/special teams asset for New York again in 2025. However, he was productive from Week 16 to Week 18 when he saw the field on defense (22 tackles), and it wouldn't be surprising to see him push for more playing time this upcoming season. Summers started just one game in his career otherwise -- in 2020 with Green Bay.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos have reached a one-year agreement with former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger. FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported the news, though the contract details have not been reported. Ehlinger had multiple offers, per Schultz, but chose the Broncos because he saw the best fit with head coach Sean Payton. The Texas product was a sixth-round pick for Indianapolis in 2021 and made just three starts over his four seasons with the team. In four appearances -- all in 2022 -- Ehlinger has 573 yards and a 3:3 TD:INT ratio with a 63.3% completion rate. He'll compete with incumbent backup Jarrett Stidham for the second-string quarterback role behind second-year sensation Bo Nix.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Arizona Cardinals are signing veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell to a one-year, $5.5 million deal. The 38-year-old returns to the team that selected him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Campbell bounced around the league after departing from the Cardinals following the 2016 season, including stints in Jacksonville, Baltimore, Atlanta, and finally Miami in 2024. Even at 38, the Denver native played nearly 58% of the team's defensive snaps, collecting 52 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble in 17 appearances. Arizona has beefed up its defensive line in free agency, with Campbell joining Josh Sweat as pass-rushing reinforcement.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill (knee) is expected to miss training camp and could miss the start of the regular season, according to head coach Dan Campbell. McNeill suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 of last season and sounds likely to end up on the Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) to begin the 2025 campaign. McNeill is one of the better interior defensive linemen in the NFL and has compiled 137 tackles (66 solo), 11.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and 24.5 run stuffs in 61 career games since being selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of NC State. While it's not ideal for the 24-year-old to miss time early in the season, getting him back later in the year for another potential playoff run is the focus of the organization.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders offensive tackle Brandon Coleman is moving to the right side of the line after starting at left tackle in his rookie season in 2024, according to head coach Dan Quinn. The franchise traded for Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil this offseason, and Coleman is expected to provide depth or competition behind starting right tackle Andrew Wylie. Coleman was a third-round selection out of TCU in the 2024 NFL Draft and played in 16 games (12 starts) a season ago. While this move doesn't directly affect fantasy football, a stronger offensive line and versatile depth at tackle can only help the prospects of Jayden Daniels, Austin Ekeler, and Brian Robinson Jr.
From RotoBaller
The Carolina Panthers are re-signing running back Raheem Blackshear to a one-year deal, according to NFL.com. After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech, Blackshear spent the 2022 preseason with the Buffalo Bills before landing with the Panthers, where he has been ever since. In his three-year NFL career, the 26-year-old has totaled 52 carries for 203 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and 16 receptions for 138 yards through the air in 41 games. With Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, and potentially Jonathon Brooks (knee) in the Carolina backfield next season, it would be a surprise if Blackshear ends up on the fantasy football radar.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is not expected to participate in the team's voluntary offseason training program, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Cousins is just over a year removed from signing a four-year, $180 million contract ($100 million guaranteed) but was benched after throwing 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 games last season for first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. The team has stated they are comfortable keeping Cousins on the roster as a backup, but he could still be cut or traded at some point before the 2025 regular season.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been negotiating directly with All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons on a long-term contract extension and is offering him a contract that would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, according to DLLS Sports' Clarence Hill. The Cowboys have conducted all negotiations without Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta, and haven't talked with him since the scouting combine in late February. Parsons will not sign a new deal without his agent's approval, so this could be a sticking point in negotiations. The 25-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2021 out of Penn State has made the Pro Bowl in all four of his NFL seasons and has been a first-team All-Pro twice, having recorded a whopping 52.5 sacks in 63 regular-season games. Regardless of his contract situation, Parsons is an elite pass-rusher in IDP fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead said he expects center Coleman Shelton, who was re-signed to a two-year deal in free agency this spring, to start again in 2025. Shelton started for the Rams in parts of the 2022 season and for all of 2023 before spending last year with the Chicago Bears. Due to injuries in 2024, rookie sixth-rounder Beaux Limmer ended up starting at center. While Limmer held his own in a starting role last year, the Rams wanted to upgrade at the position and improve the communication along the offensive line. The Rams will continue to develop Limmer in 2025, and he could also be used at guard. The 29-year-old Shelton also started all 17 regular-season games while with the Bears in 2024. It's good news for quarterback Matthew Stafford and the rest of the Rams offense.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that he's optimistic that wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will be ready to play in Week 1 of the 2025 regular season. "I'm hoping he's on the field Week 1. I'll have more to know about that after [this] month goes on - see how he feels when he gets running and practicing and everything else," Bowles said. Despite suffering a dislocated left ankle in Week 7 of 2024 that sidelined him for the rest of the season, the Bucs re-signed Godwin this offseason to a three-year contract. The 29-year-old pass-catcher will continue to form an excellent one-two punch with veteran Mike Evans when he's healthy, but there will be plenty of skepticism about his fantasy value until we see him get back on the field this offseason. The good news is he was averaging a career-high 19.7 PPR fantasy points per game last year before his injury.
From RotoBaller
