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FFL: Week 2 | NFL: Week 2

Draft Day Winners and Losers

Mon Apr 29 11:53am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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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Fantasy Preview: Week 2

Player Notes
Luke McCaffrey Sep 13 8:30am ET
Luke McCaffrey

Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Luke McCaffrey led all Commander wideouts in receiving yards in the season opener and will look to continue to stake his claim on the open No.2 spot against the Giants. The Rice product logged the second most snaps at the position, only behind Terry McLaurin, and caught all three of his targets for 18 yards. While 18 yards is not an impressive feat and will rarely be the most out of the wide receiving corps, seeing the 23-year-old look comfortable in an every-down role in his regular-season debut was promising. McCaffrey is worth taking a flier on as a stash option in deeper leagues but should not be relied on in any starting lineups this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Zach Ertz Sep 13 8:30am ET
Zach Ertz

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz caught three of his four targets for 28 yards in their Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the modest output, Ertz saw 24.0% of the team's air yards and 16.7% of the team's targets. In addition, the veteran logged 39 total snaps, just under 70% of the team's total snaps. As rookie QB Jayden Daniels continues to develop at the professional level, the 33-year-old should continue to establish a connection with him and serve as a safety valve in the middle of the field. For now, Ertz should just be deployed in DFS settings as a cheap value play, as he has not yet proven that he should be relied upon in a redraft setting.

From RotoBaller

Austin Seibert Sep 13 8:30am ET
Austin Seibert

Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert will make his 2024 regular season debut as the Commanders recently cut ties with Week 1 starter Cam York. York missed two field goal attempts in the season opener and will hit the free-agent market. Seibert has played on several teams throughout his four-year NFL career and holds an 80.4% field goal mark. From 50+ yards, he has gone just 2-for-6. Seibert should not be relied on as a streamer, given his inconsistencies over the past few seasons. However, if the 27-year-old could establish himself in D.C., he could eventually grow into a deeper league streaming option.

From RotoBaller

Emmanuel Forbes Sep 13 8:30am ET
Emmanuel Forbes

The Washington Commanders defense stumbled in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they have a great opportunity to turn things around in Week 2 as they face the New York Giants. Baker Mayfield looked unfazed last week against the Commanders as he went 24-for-30 with 289 yards and four touchdown passes. All three Tampa Bay wideouts found the end zone, with Chris Godwin leading the way with 83 yards. The Commanders will enter this game slightly short-handed in the secondary as they will be without cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, who underwent thumb surgery on Thursday. However, morale around the Washington defense could change quickly as they will face Daniel Jones, who went 22-for-42 with 186 yards, two interceptions, and no scores last week. While Jones usually terrorizes the Commanders with a stellar 5-1-1 record against them, given how poorly he played in the opener, the Commanders will be a popular streaming option this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels Sep 13 8:20am ET
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels relied on his legs in his regular season debut as he ran for 88 yards and two scores on 16 carries. Through the air, he went 17-for-24 for 184 yards. The Commanders could not find much consistency in their passing attack, which forced the reigning Heisman winner to utilize his legs much more than his coaching staff would like. However, fantasy managers hope that the LSU product does not shy away from taking off, as his running ability placed him as the No.3 QB in total points last week. This weekend, he will face the New York Giants, which allowed over 200 passing yards to Sam Darnold. While Daniels will still need time to develop as a passer, fantasy managers should feel confident starting him this weekend in any league size.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Sep 13 8:20am ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. looks to continue to stake his claim as the lead runner in the Washington offense and should be locked into all lineups as an RB2 this weekend. Robinson saw 12 carries in the season opener compared to two from backfield mate Austin Ekeler. Robinson caught three passes on four targets through the air, while Ekeler caught four. Robinson tallied 89 total yards and a score against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was just a few inches away from punching in a second score but was tackled at the one-yard line, which set up a Jayden Daniels QB run. It was a promising sign to see the Alabama product begin to emerge as not just the "1A" of the backfield but the clear leader. Fantasy managers should feel confident starting Robinson in a game where he should see plenty of red zone opportunities against a weak Giants team.

From RotoBaller

Austin Ekeler Sep 13 8:20am ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler led the team in receiving yards (52) in the season opener but had a limited role in the offense. In his Washington debut, Ekeler was exclusively deployed as a pass-catching running back as he saw just two rushing attempts, compared to Brian Robinson Jr.'s 12 attempts. However, through the air, Ekeler made the most of his limited touches as he caught all four of his targets. In addition, he ran 19 total routes and posted an average of 2.74 yards per route run, which was one of the best marks of the weekend. While the 29-year-old will typically serve as the No.2 option in a committee, his production on such limited touches is still worth noting as he still possesses some quality upside. For now, Ekeler remains a solid flex play in deeper PPR leagues but holds much less value in standard formats.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Sep 13 8:20am ET
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin had a disappointing season debut, as he caught just two passes for 17 yards (on four targets). He could not find a connection with his rookie QB as the Commanders' passing attack could not get untracked. In fact, Daniels overthrew the Ohio State product on a potential 70-yard score on the opening play of the second half. Despite the frustrating debut, fantasy managers should continue to start McLaurin in all formats. Even playing with sub-par QBs throughout his career, McLaurin has posted four straight 1,000-yard campaigns and only caught less than 70 passes in one season (his rookie campaign). This week, McLaurin will face a Giant defense that could not contain Sam Darnold in Week 1. The 28-year-old is a solid WR2 in all formats on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Sep 13 2:13am ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Dynasty | Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left Thursday night's game against Buffalo with a concussion. Dynasty Analysis: Tagovailoa tried to scramble to pick up a first down and sustained a head injury as he went down on a hard hit. Again, it was another scary sight as Tua went into the "fencing" position and it was immediately apparent he had suffered another serious head injury, reminiscent to what happened two years ago. This is significant as Tua had made it an entire season after enduring some scary concussions in 2022 and many are speculating already that he may consider retirement again (he has admitted he considered it in 2022) after this happened tonight. It's way too early to guess on what may transpire but it's also very apparent Tagovailoa is going to have some serious soul searching to do when he recovers. In short, this is scary.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Raheem Mostert Sep 13 2:13am ET
Raheem Mostert

Dynasty | Dolphins running back De'Von Achane had 96 rushing yards, seven receptions, 69 receiving yards and a touchdown in Miami's blowout loss to Buffalo. Dynasty Analysis: Achane was questionable entering the night but clearly performed more than admirably, leading the Dolphins in virtually every major statistical category. Raheem Mostert could be back as soon as next week, so Achane could have his workload scaled back. However, we've seen enough over the past season (and more) to say Achane is a lineup lock moving forward. He should be a matchup-proof option moving forward and his dynasty value seems to actually be trending up, despite it already being high. The best part of all this is he seemed to exit this game healthy and now has a nice break before the Dolphins play again in week three.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

James Cook Sep 13 2:13am ET
James Cook

Dynasty | Bills running back James Cook had 78 rushing yards, one catch, 17 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a TNF blowout win against the Dolphins. Dynasty Analysis: On a night where the defense was solid, Cook simply dominated the game from start to finish. After a quiet game last week, Cook clearly stated his case to be in the RB1 discussion with tonight's performance. We'll need to see more consistency from him moving forward, but it's clear his dynasty arrow is pointing straight up at the moment.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Keon Coleman Sep 13 2:13am ET
Keon Coleman

Dynasty | Bills rookie receiver Keon Coleman failed to record a catch in the Bills TNF win against the Dolphins. Dynasty Analysis: Well, this is a major buzzkill. Still, it needs to be taken with a grain of salt as Buffalo controlled this game from the start and rarely had to even throw the ball. Coleman has four catches for 51 yards on the season and while that's not great, it's still very early. He needs to be out of fantasy lineups until we see some production, but we may actually be seeing a quick "buy low" opportunity for dynasty owners. In short, it's not time to panic.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Cam Little Sep 13 2:10am ET
Cam Little

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little should be dropped in most leagues for Week 2 in a tough matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Little did nail a 53-yard field goal in Week 1, but the Jaguars only put up 17 points, giving Little seven fantasy points total. The rookie kicker did prove he has the leg to hit long field goals, but against the stout Browns defense, field goals and extra points may be hard to come by. The Browns were third-best against kickers in fantasy last season, meaning there should be plenty of better kicking options on waivers for fantasy managers to pick up. The Jaguars may look much better on offense in Week 2, making Little a decent option going forward, but for now, fantasy managers should avoid starting Little besides really deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Sep 13 1:30am ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram had a rough Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, posting only one catch for five yards. He did have four targets, which tied for the team lead, but in a lackluster offensive team performance, that isn't saying much. Engram will look to bounce back and show he is capable of playing like his TE2 finish in PPR leagues last year. However, Week 2 may be difficult for the 30-year-old, as he faces a stout Cleveland Browns defense that was elite against the pass last year. Establishing the run seems like the ideal strategy for the Jaguars, but they will have to throw the ball to someone. That leaves the door open for a potential mismatch like Engram to have a solid outing, and maybe catch a touchdown to produce a great fantasy outing. Engram is too talented at a shallow position to consider benching, but his upside is somewhat limited in a tough matchup.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Sep 13 1:00am ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead (shoulder) exited Thursday's game against the Buffalo Bills. He briefly returned to action but then exited again and was ruled out. As of now, the severity of Armstead's injury is unclear. On one hand, it was promising that he was able to come back in the game briefly, and it's also possible Miami kept him off the field as a precaution. On the other hand, if the injury is serious and will cost Armstead some time, Miami's offense will take a significant step back as a whole. The 33-year-old is a reliable, veteran presence on the offensive line. In addition to Armstead, the Dolphins are bracing for injury news regarding Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), Raheem Mostert (chest), and Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique).

From RotoBaller

Matt Gay Sep 13 12:40am ET
Matt Gay

Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay (hernia) was a full participant in practice on Thursday. He has now been listed as "full" for two consecutive days, suggesting he's back to 100 percent following a Week 1 absence. Barring any sort of setback, Gay should be able to operate as the Colts' primary kicker on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. With Indianapolis currently favored to win, there should be plenty of scoring opportunities for Gay. He's a low-end starter in most fantasy leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

Jeff Wilson Sep 13 12:20am ET
Jeff Wilson

Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique) exited Thursday's game against the Buffalo Bills and did not return. He finished Week 2 with just two catches for 12 yards through the air. Miami is dealing with a plethora of offensive injuries. Not only are they short two running backs in Wilson and Raheem Mostert (chest), but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) also suffered a very scary head injury during Thursday's game. If the Dolphins' injured players are sidelined for a while, we'll see a lot of De'Von Achane in the backfield with extra opportunities for rookie Jaylen Wright, too.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Sep 13 12:20am ET
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (concussion protocol) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. This is somewhat of an upgrade given that he wasn't able to practice at all on Wednesday. Still, he'll have to clear concussion protocol before the Giants can make him active in Week 2. If he does suit up, Slayton will benefit from a favorable matchup against the Washington Commanders as he looks to build on last week's three catches and 26 receiving yards. Even with a solid matchup on tap, Slayton lacks much fantasy appeal given his role in a struggling Daniel Jones-led offense.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Sep 12 11:50pm ET
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Downs suffered a left high-ankle sprain during training camp and did not recover enough to play in the Week 1 loss to the division-rival Houston Texans. The 23-year-old appears to be getting closer to making his 2024 debut, though, although it remains to be seen if he'll get the green light to play this Sunday at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. Before injuring his ankle, Downs was lined up to be Indy's WR2 behind Michael Pittman Jr. Alec Pierce played 84% of the offensive snaps last week and caught three passes for 125 yards and a score, but Downs should work his way back into being one of quarterback Anthony Richardson's top targets when he returns. Downs is rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues at the moment and is worth a pickup for WR depth.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Sep 12 11:00pm ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left Thursday night's matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The veteran quarterback took a significant shot to the head/neck area, rushing for a first down on fourth down late in the third quarter. While he walked off the field under his own power, the Dolphins quickly ruled Tagovailoa out for the rest of the game with a concussion. The veteran has a well-known history of concussions, suffering several in his five-year NFL career. Skylar Thompson took over under center after Tagovailoa left the game. Hopefully, he can clear the concussion protocol in time for Miami's Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. If not, Thompson would get the start.

From RotoBaller