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 2
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill can be left out of fantasy managers' lineups for the team's Week 2 home matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Hill took just one carry for three yards in Baltimore's Week 1 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also added 52 yards on six catches and eight targets. The fifth-year RB was heavily involved in the Ravens' passing game while tying for second in the team lead in targets and with the third-most receptions and yards. He was clearly the first up in passing situations for the Ravens, but will be challenging to project for such a role weekly. With backfield mate Derrick Henry to take most of the early-down work -- and project for most of the goal-line carries, too -- the 26-year-old RB will be a volatile, game-script-dependent play. He'll be tough to trust in Baltimore's home opener this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase stated he has no plans to negotiate a long-term deal with the team this season. The news comes after Chase felt slighted when the Bengals did not sign him to an extension this offseason after they told him repeatedly they would do so. The 24-year-old participated in 84% of Cincinnati's snaps this past weekend in their shocking 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots, catching all six of his targets for 62 yards. The LSU product was featured on the Bengals' injury report in Week 1 during his partial holdout. However, he seems to be putting negotiations behind him for the remainder of the season. The former Tiger has reportedly taken out a $50 million insurance policy on himself ahead of the rest of the 2024 season. He was solid last week, and Chase can be trusted as a WR1 moving forward as Cincinnati's offense attempts to get back on track after a so-so Week 1 performance.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney is a potential WR4 play when the team squares off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. Mooney registered a snap on 53 plays for the Falcons in their Week 1 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, reeling in 1-of-3 targets for 15 yards. He tied for third on the team with three targets and matched wide receiver Drake London's receiving total of 15 yards. This is likely one of the few times the 26-year-old ties Atlanta's WR1 in total yardage and targets. However, he'll be an imminent threat for a deep ball or two when the Falcons take on the Eagles on MNF. He's a nice flier in an Atlanta offense that projects to pick it up over the next few weeks, with Kirk Cousins working his way back to full health after a 2023 Achilles injury. For now, though, Mooney can be avoided until his production ticks up and the Falcons get on track.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III is an intriguing option ahead of the team's Week 2 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. McCloud hauled in 4-of-7 targets for 56 yards in last Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, with an additional 56 yards on two kickoff returns. The 27-year-old wideout played the fourth-fewest snaps of any Falcons skill player in Week 1 while recording a target on an impressive 46.7% of his routes. He also registered an other-worldly 3.47 yards per route run. It will be tough to trust him moving forward with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson to compete with for targets. However, McCloud will be a player to monitor in the coming weeks. His work in the return game and high YPRR make him an exciting player to watch. Aside from the Falcons' superstars, there isn't much regarding depth aside from wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor underwhelmed fantasy managers last week, totaling just 48 yards on 16 carries with no action in the receiving game. He was able to find the endzone, which helped boost his fantasy performance. Although inefficient, he received every running back carry, which should come as encouraging news to fantasy managers. He now gears up for a Week 2 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, a team that allowed RB Saquon Barkley to total three touchdowns in the two teams Week 1 matchup. On top of that, the Colts are favorites in Sunday's matchup with the likely absence of Jordan Love (knee), creating a favorable game script for Taylor. Fantasy managers in all formats can consider Taylor a strong RB1 option in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson impressed in Week 1, totaling three touchdowns with just nine total completions. Despite his low passing volume, Richardson remains a strong fantasy quarterback with his rushing upside, shown last week with his six attempts for 56 yards and accounting for one of his touchdowns. He now gears up for a Week 2 clash with the Green Bay Packers, a team that allowed 34 points last week to the Eagles as well as 270+ passing yards and two touchdowns to QB Jalen Hurts. As will be the case for most of this season, Richardson makes for a strong start and should be prioritized in almost all/leagues and formats.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | 49ers running back Jordan Mason will presumably be the team's starter while Christian McCaffrey recovers from his Achilles injury. Dynasty Analysis: And just like that, we could have a league-winning dynasty asset come out of nowhere. Mason was huge for the 49ers last week, rushing for 147 yards and will now likely be asked to be the workhorse for one of the league's friendliest offenses. While expecting McCaffrey-like numbers from him would be foolish, it's not unrealistic to expect him to post RB1/2 numbers each week until CMC returns.
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo managed only one extra point and one field goal attempt in the team's Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This week, Koo plays on Monday Night football outdoors against the Philadelphia Eagles, who could be out in front in this one often, potentially taking Koo out of the game script early, just like the Niners took Greg Zuerlein out of last week's Monday night matchup. Many kickers have a much more positive outlook this week. It's best to leave Koo on the waiver wire for another week, as he is currently 16th among all kickers in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will be looking for more volume in Week 2 heading into Monday Night's football game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he did find the end zone on broken coverage in Week 1, the volume was not what fantasy managers were hoping for with new quarterback Kirk Cousins under center. Pitts only saw three targets and caught all three for 26 yards beyond the lone touchdown. If the Falcons can make the adjustments they need in Week 2, Pitts remains a crucial weapon in this offense and should muster up more than the three targets he received in Week 1's underwhelming performance by Kirk Cousins and the rest of Atlanta's offense. His versatility between lining up as a tight end and as a wide receiver should make it difficult for the Eagles secondary to cover him. Despite the lack of targets in Week 1, Pitts remains a must-start and is currently TE6 in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons third-year wide receiver Drake London will look to bounce back in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles after a brutal Week 1 performance. Fantasy managers hoped for a step forward in production with newly signed quarterback Kirk Cousins. Still, London could only muster up three targets against a defense more known to be vulnerable through the air than the ground attack. Ray-Ray McCloud III ended up being the Falcons' No. 1 receiver in Week 1, but don't expect that trend to continue. The former USC Trojan is the No. 1 receiver for this team, and you can expect him to receive more than three targets in a game so that the Falcons could be down early and often. The Eagles allowed 260 passing yards and two receiving touchdowns, along with multiple big plays from the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, making London a prime candidate to have a solid bounce-back game in Week 2
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had an underwhelming debut for his new team in Week 1. He has an equally tough, if not more challenging, matchup this Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. It's not necessarily due to the Eagles' defense, who allowed 280 yards passing to Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers the week prior, but because of the high expectations and the pressure to perform to a much higher standard than his Week 1 showing. The Falcons could be down early and often, providing value for fantasy managers this week. Still, it is not wise to start Kirk Cousins in any lineups in any 10 or 12-team leagues until we see the camaraderie and potential this team could truly have. Cousins is mainly an option in superflex or 2QB leagues, ranking 21st among all quarterbacks in the latest RotoBaller Week 2 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson finally got the usage fantasy managers have been begging out of him since his debut in Week 1 of last season. He logged 23 touches in a low-scoring affair against the Pittsburgh Steelers' strong defensive line. This week, Robinson faces the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. The Eagles allowed 5.3 YPC to Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs in Week 1 and two receptions for 20 yards. The Falcons could be trailing early and often in this one against the Eagles, potentially leading to more targets and receptions coming Robinson's way. The 2023 first-round pick is a must-start and is RB3 in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) is reportedly likely going to be sidelined for the entire 2024 season. This has escalated quickly after Brown was originally only supposed to miss a game or two. Then on Friday, Brown was placed on the injured reserve because of a shoulder injury that requires surgery. That being said, Brown was expected to be out for at least four games, but was hopeful to return mid-season. Now, Brown is reportedly done for the entire season, which is a tough blow to the Chiefs offense. That means, Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, and rookie Xavier Worthy are all going to be asked to carry a heavier workload on offense. All of them should be viable fantasy options with Brown out of the picture.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite that, Williams will reportedly suit up and play on Sunday. This is great news for the Lions offense after Williams went off for five receptions and 121 yards with a touchdown in the Week 1 win. He should once again be heavily involved against a shaky Bucs secondary this weekend. Fantasy managers should be able to trust Williams as a low-end WR2 for what looks like a shootout with the Bucs.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick has been elevated from the practice squad on Saturday. That means, Patrick will be on the active roster for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Patrick was surprisingly cut by the Denver Broncos in late August. This comes after he hauled in 53 receptions for 734 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games with Denver last season. The Lions quickly scooped him up on their practice squad. Fellow wideout Isaiah Williams (abdomen) has been ruled out, which opens up a window for Patrick. However, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams remain the primary passing targets in this offense. Patrick will likely serve as depth, but will hopefully be given a chance to prove himself as a viable depth option.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Myles Gaskin has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Gaskin is back on the active roster for the second straight week. Last week, Gaskin served as the third string back during the win over the New York Giants. He only played seven snaps and rushed for negative yardage on his lone carry. That being said, Gaskin can be avoided in fantasy formats while Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler are healthy. Gaskin has proven to be a viable option during his days with the Miami Dolphins. However, there isn't much of a role for him with two healthy backs ahead of him on the depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Johnny Wilson (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Wilson seemed fine all week until he popped up on the injury report on Saturday due to a hamstring issue. The absence of the rookie wideout won't make a huge impact on the Eagles offense. Wilson only played 17 snaps in Week 1 and failed to haul in his lone target. His absence could mean that Parris Campbell gets elevated from the practice squad. However, neither player should be considered a viable fantasy option heading into Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The 49ers have placed running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: CMC will miss at least the next four weeks and will be eligible to return in week six. San Francisco also has a bye in week nine, leading to speculation they could keep him out even longer. This is a huge development in dynasty leagues as McCaffrey is simply the biggest weapon in fantasy football. CMC's short and long-term value is going to take a hit as the 28-year old could be starting to show his age just a touch.
Baltimore Ravens DB Ka'Dar Hollman and RB John Kelly were elevated for Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 14.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers LB Shaquille Quarterman and S Tony Jefferson were elevated from the practice squad for Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 14.
From TheHuddle
