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
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 11
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey has a tough matchup in a Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. McConkey is in the middle of a very solid rookie season, as he is currently the overall fantasy WR31 in points per game despite playing on an offense that only recently decided to start throwing the ball. McConkey is tied for the team lead in end zone targets and leads the team overall with a 21.8% target share. This week could be tough on McConkey, though. The Bengals defense has been top-10 against slot receivers this season in both receiving yards per game and total fantasy points per game. McConkey is shaping up to be more of a floor FLEX option than a true WR2 this time.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston is set for a strong performance in a Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnston has been the overall WR37 in fantasy this season, but he has scored a touchdown in two straight games and matches up well with the Bengals defense. "QJ" ranks first on the Chargers yards per route run against defenses similar to Cincinnati's. They've allowed the third-most receiving yards and fantasy points per game to outside wide receivers since Week 5. While the running game might struggle against a solid Bengals front, the pass game could thrive, making Johnston a WR3 with clear WR2 upside this week.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer is not worth using in a starting spot in most fantasy formats in Week 11 when the Chargers take on the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer has been playing well in his "real life" role on the Chargers offense, but it absolutely has not translated to much fantasy value. He's been targeted just 28 times since the season began, making 18 catches. He's had a few deep balls thrown his way and that could always become a huge play that can win a fantasy week, but he's a boom-or-bust option with a lot less boom than others in similar roles. He can be left on the bench in deeper fantasy leagues and on the waiver wire in standard ones.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Will Dissly has an outstanding matchup in a Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Dissly has seen at least five targets in four of the past five games, and has totaled 32 targets and 24 catches in that span. He's become a key part of the short passing game, and against defenses like Cincinnati's, Dissly leads the team in first-read share and is second in yards per route run. The Bengals defense has allowed opposing tight ends to thrive, giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to the position. It should be a high floor game for Dissly at worst, with one of his higher possible ceilings of the season.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker is a solid option as usual for Week 11 fantasy lineups. The Chargers will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football in what could be a high-scoring game, giving Dicker multiple chances to put up points. He's been a top-15 fantasy kicker six times this season and has remained consistent and reliable while adding a little distance to his arsenal. He's a safe top-10 option for Week 11.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers defense will face their first real challenge in a few weeks in a Week 11 Sunday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chargers had a stretch of opponents with limited offenses, and they put up strong games against them. They were the overall DST3 in Week 8 against New Orleans, the DST2 in Week 9 against Cleveland, and the DST12 in Week 10 against Tennessee. The Bengals pose a much bigger threat than any of those three teams, but this Chargers defense has certainly shown the ability to slow down almost any opponent. Khalil Mack (groin) is questionable after not practicing all week, making the Bolts defense a bit riskier as a fantasy starter this week, but they are still likely to end up as a top-12 option at the position.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki combined for 12 catches for 173 yards and two scores in Weeks 8 and 9. As a result, he was a hot commodity in league's where he was still unclaimed heading into the Week 10 one-point loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old caught only four of his nine targets. With Tee Higgins (quadriceps) returning in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Gesicki may have a tough time staying involved. However, with Sam LaPorta (shoulder) and Dalton Kincaid (knee) sidelined, fantasy managers in need should consider Gesicki a viable option, even with a tough matchup on the horizon.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown has emerged as one of the best fantasy options at the position. He got off to a slow start this season. However, since the Week 4 win over the Carolina Panthers, the 24-year-old has totaled seven touchdowns. He's also coming off a potent Week 10 performance versus the Ravens, finishing the night by amassing a career-high nine receptions. With Tee Higgins (quadriceps) cleared to return on Sunday night versus the Chargers, Brown will likely see fewer looks from Joe Burrow. Still, Brown's potential can't be ignored, especially with Zack Moss (neck) done for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey will look to get into a better rhythm when the team hosts the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11. McCaffrey's season debut last week against the Bucs was disappointing, ending with 39 yards on 13 carries but adding six receptions on seven targets for 68 yards to save his day in PPR formats. On the bright side, McCaffrey emerged healthy from his first game back since Super Bowl LVIII. The two limited practices he logged on Wednesday and Thursday before practicing in full on Friday can likely be chalked up to load management. It was also positive that McCaffrey only ceded two touches to his backups versus Tampa Bay. CMC is likely to increase his efficiency on the ground while maintaining his involvement in the passing game on Sunday. He's also more likely than not to break the seal on this year's touchdown total. Seattle is allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Sounds like enough good reasons to put McCaffrey into the overall RB1 spot in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins will look to rebound in a Week 11 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Dobbins saw a few of his snaps taken by the return of Gus Edwards (ankle), but it was likely much more due to the game script than to any actual change in the backfield. Dobbins is the overall fantasy RB25 this season, and he's been a top-15 fantasy finisher five times this year. He offers at worst a solid and consistently high floor, but is a weekly threat for a touchdown and has pass catching upside as well. This week, he'll face a Bengals defense that has been mostly solid but not unbeatable against the run. He missed a practice this week, but it was not injury related so there's no reason for concern. Trust Dobbins as a reliable RB2 in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
After his one-carry Week 10 versus the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams just can't be trusted in starting fantasy lineups for a Week 11 tilt against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Williams had been Denver's primary backfield option through the first nine weeks, but rookie Audric Estime took on a bigger role last week with a team-high 14 carries on 26 offensive snaps. Estime is expected to continue to see more reps in the offense, which made the 24-year-old Williams drop-worthy in a lot of fantasy leagues this past week. Williams should be able to top just one carry against the Falcons on Sunday and should remain involved in the passing attack, but if Estime continues to lead the backfield moving forward, Williams' days of fantasy relevance could be at an end. He was a low-upside RB3/flex in fantasy before Estime took the lead last weekend.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has gradually become one of quarterback Drake Maye's most trusted weapons. He has commanded six targets in each of his last three games, and last week, he finished with an impressive four catches for 47 yards. The second-year LSU product still isn't a top recommendation for fantasy lineups, but he should at least continue to generate some buzz and is worth monitoring going forward. His next chance to turn heads is this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, who have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Boutte currently ranks as a low-end WR4.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye has low-end streaming appeal heading into Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams. For the most part, the veteran kicker has been inconsistent this season, posting double-digit fantasy points in three of his 10 contests so far. Last week featured one of his best outings of the year as he went 4-for-4 on field goals and also converted an extra point. It's hard to tell whether that trend will continue this week against the Rams, but as the Patriots look to stay competitive against Los Angeles, Slye is at least worth considering as a streamer. Fantasy managers should note that the Rams have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points per game to opposing kickers in 2024. Jason Sanders made all five of his kicks against the Rams last week, including a pair of field goals from beyond 50 yards.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye should be viewed as a low-end fantasy QB1 heading into Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams. Through five games as the Patriots' starter, Maye has impressed, especially in terms of fantasy football performance. The No. 3 overall pick has scored at least one touchdown in each of his four complete games, including one game with two scores and another with three. Turnovers have been a concern for the rookie, but he makes up for them with impressive rushing production. Maye is averaging 44 rushing yards per start, headlined by an impressive 95 yards on the ground back in Week 9. The Rams have been modest against opposing fantasy quarterbacks this season, leaving Maye in a decent position to fulfill his top-12 quarterback projection.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson faces a consistent struggle for fantasy success -- limited opportunities to kick field goals and extra points. Luckily for him, the opposing Miami Dolphins team, who the Raiders face in Week 11, allow plenty of points to opposing kickers. It could be because they allow teams to drive down the field, but stiffen in the red zone. This would be a perfect situation for Carlson. Still, starting him in fantasy leagues comes with plenty of risk -- he's the 17th ranked kicker on the season, so outside of very deep leagues, there are likely better options to put in your starting lineups. But he's a decent player to start nonetheless.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson ranks as a low-end fantasy RB2 heading into Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams. While Stevenson has struggled with efficiency lately and has seen his fantasy value become largely dependent on touchdowns, the Patriots' lead back has firm control on his role and continues to be a high-volume option on offense. Just last week, he touched the ball 21 times, salvaging a fantasy-relevant performance despite failing to find the end zone. This week, he'll be in a decent position to contribute significant yardage, catch passes, and perhaps score a touchdown against a Rams defense allowing mediocre results to opposing running backs in 2024. Stevenson is a fringe top-24 fantasy running back at the moment.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (foot) practiced in full on Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game versus the Los Angeles Rams. Henry began the week by practicing in a limited capacity because of a foot issue. But the Pats will have the veteran on the field for Week 11. He has had flashes of efficiency, compiling seven or more catches three times this season. However, outside of that, Henry has been relatively quiet. But with notable tight ends like Dalton Kincaid (knee) and Sam LaPorta (shoulder) sidelined, Henry could find a place in fantasy lineups in Week 11, even more so if George Kittle (hamstring) doesn't suit up.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker will do his best to get things into gear against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. He hasn't scored double-digit PPR fantasy points since Weeks 3-4, where he had a nice duo of fantasy-relevant games. Since then, he's managed just nine receptions and 85 receiving yards despite being targeted 22 times. He's rushed twice for 18 yards in that stretch. After initially seemingly breaking out, he's fallen back to Earth. The departure of former lead WR Davante Adams likely means Tucker has to face better coverage from opposing teams. That could be making it harder for him to succeed. He's not worth rostering in the vast majority of leagues.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas has emerged as one of quarterback Drake Maye's most dependable options on offense. As a result, Douglas generates enough volume to give himself legitimate WR3/FLEX appeal in full-PPR and even some half-PPR leagues. Over the last two weeks, Douglas has totaled 14 targets, 11 catches, and 85 yards all despite playing fewer than 50 percent of the offensive snaps last Sunday. This week, the Patriots face the Los Angeles Rams, whose defense has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. They're a little better against slot receivers (like Douglas) than perimeter receivers, but the Patriots' 23-year-old pass-catcher should be trusted as a WR3 in most fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers should remain a sure lock for fantasy football starting lineups when he plays against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11 of NFL action. The rookie pass-catcher has had a stellar season so far, especially considering the low production of the offense he's on. He's caught 57 of his 73 targets for 580 yards and two touchdowns, and while his scoring number leaves something to be desired, his value in PPR leagues can't be understated. This hasn't been a great year for tight end production, and he's been a nice reprieve from the misery many fantasy managers face. Set and forget him in your lineups. He's the TE2 in PPR despite having been on bye in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
