Guest of the League
TBL2 Est. 2008
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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 2

Player Notes
Jalen Hurts Sep 14 8:40pm ET
Jalen Hurts

Atlanta Falcons D/ST held the Steelers to only field goals in Week 1 and racked up two sacks. The new defense led by Matthew Judon was excellent despite the loss, but heading into Week 2, they are an easy sit/drop for all fantasy managers. They face a Philadelphia Eagles team on Monday night who scored 34 points in Week 1, led by their new offensive weapon, Saquon Barkley, who found the end zone three times last Friday night in Brazil. However, the Eagles could be without star wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring), who is questionable with a hamstring injury. Even if Brown is sidelined, the Falcons potentially could be down early and often in this one, with the likes of Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, and Barkley lining up on the opposite side, making the decision not to play them in Week 2 a pretty easy one. RotoBaller Week 2 DST rankings are onboard benching Atlanta's defense and have them ranked 27th among all DSTs in Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Younghoe Koo Sep 14 8:30pm ET
Younghoe Koo

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

Kyle Pitts Sep 14 8:30pm ET
Kyle Pitts

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

Drake London Sep 14 8:20pm ET
Drake London

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

Kirk Cousins Sep 14 8:10pm ET
Kirk Cousins

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

Bijan Robinson Sep 14 8:00pm ET
Bijan Robinson

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

Marquise Brown Sep 14 7:10pm ET
Marquise Brown

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

Jameson Williams Sep 14 6:50pm ET
Jameson Williams

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

Tim Patrick Sep 14 6:30pm ET
Tim Patrick

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

Myles Gaskin Sep 14 6:30pm ET
Myles Gaskin

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

Johnny Wilson Sep 14 6:20pm ET
Johnny Wilson

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

Christian McCaffrey Sep 14 6:13pm ET
Christian McCaffrey

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.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Christian McCaffrey Sep 14 6:13pm ET
Christian McCaffrey

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.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Gunner Olszewski Sep 14 5:10pm ET
Gunner Olszewski

New York Giants wide receiver Gunner Olszewski (groin) landed on the injured reserve list on Saturday. The wideout injured his groin in August. However, after it appeared he'd be good to go for the Week 1 opener against the Vikings, he reaggravated the ailment during warmups. Unfortunately, he'll now be on the shelf for a while. Olszewski has appeared in 65 games for the Patriots and Steelers throughout his career, amassing 15 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown. Without question, that type of production won't land him on most fantasy rosters. Still, the 27-year-old was expected to contribute as a return man, so the special teams unit will take a hit without him.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Sep 14 4:40pm ET
Caleb Williams

The Bears have announced that offensive lineman Ryan Bates (shoulder/elbow) has been placed on IR and will be eligible to return for their Week 6 game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Bates' absence, Nate Davis will take over as the starting right guard, as confirmed by Coach Matt Eberflus. Davis will start in this role for Sunday's game against the Texans. Bates had played 68 percent of the Bears' offensive snaps in Week 1 against the Titans, filling in for Davis, who originally started at right guard. Although Davis may have a higher potential, his performance on Sunday revealed a lower floor that could lead to significant issues. Bates' roster spot will be filled by long snapper Scott Daly. The Bears' interior offensive line struggled last week against the Titans, and adding another injury to the mix is a setback for quarterback Caleb Williams and running back D'Andre Swift.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Sep 14 4:40pm ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is questionable for Monday's clash with the Atlanta Falcons. The 27-year-old popped up on the injury report on Friday because of hamstring tightness. As a result, he practiced in a limited fashion. However, the concern about Brown's availability for Monday night grew after he didn't participate in Saturday's session. Fantasy managers should begin preparing immediately, especially since there is a good chance the wideout won't be out there. The safest approach would be to add Jahan Dotson off waivers, where available. If successful, fantasy managers can make an immediate lineup swap if Brown is officially ruled out. But if Dotson has been claimed, it may be best to keep Brown out of the starting lineup altogether, considering the Eagles play on Monday night, well after all of the Week 2 contests have concluded. With that said, DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, and Dallas Goedert could benefit the most if Brown isn't healthy enough to get on the field against Atlanta.

From RotoBaller

Sam Darnold Sep 14 4:30pm ET
Sam Darnold

The San Francisco 49ers D/ST unit is in Minnesota to take on the Vikings in Week 2. In Week 1, the 49ers defensive performance looked sharp in real football terms, but only produced modestly for fantasy purposes. They gave up 19 points to the New York Jets offense and totaled one sack and one interception. The third touchdown came in garbage time, making San Francisco's defensive performance appear worse and knocking points off their fantasy total in standard formats. Minnesota's offense was productive in Week 1 against the Giants, as they come into this week's contest with the 13th-most yards in the league. But they had two turnovers in that one -- a Sam Darnold interception and a C.J. Ham fumble. The Niners are a solid choice for lineups, due to a solid pass rush and some ball-hawk skills in the secondary but they mostly suffered last year from a lack of D/ST touchdowns, which will always be the fickle mistresses of the fantasy football world. The 49ers defense will look to confuse a familiar Sam Darnold into some bad decisions when they check in as a Top-5 option on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Sep 14 4:20pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) was downgraded to doubtful for Sunday's meeting with the Indianapolis Colts. The signal-caller didn't practice all week, leaving most to assume he was heading in this direction anyway. However, head coach Matt LaFleur didn't rule out the chance of Love playing along with the team officially reporting him as questionable on the injury report, so it appeared there was a small chance he'd suit up. But now that there is a little more clarity regarding Love's health, fantasy managers should prepare for backup quarterback Malik Willis to handle things under center versus Indianapolis. Unfortunately, the former Titan is hard to trust based on his history. His presence also isn't good news for the Packers pass-catchers, who could struggle without Love. On the other hand, Josh Jacobs could thrive, especially if Green Bay opts to utilize the run more than initially planned. On a separate note, the Packers elevated Sean Clifford from the practice squad, adding more doubt about Love's potential availability on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Sep 14 3:50pm ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery will look to continue his strong performance in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who boast a tough run defense. In Week 1, Montgomery impressed with 91 rushing yards on 17 attempts, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, and scored the game-winning touchdown. He again led in touches over Jahmyr Gibbs, with a 20-15 split, though Gibbs scored earlier in the game on a rare goal-line carry. The Buccaneers' defense is anchored by elite run-stopper Vita Vea, and only seven running backs surpassed 60 rushing yards against Tampa Bay last season, with three needing at least 20 carries to do so. Given the strength of the Buccaneers' run defense, the Lions will likely implement a pass-heavy game plan targeting Tampa Bay's banged-up secondary. While it's promising that quarterback Jayden Daniels and running back Brian Robinson found success on the ground against the Buccaneers last week, Montgomery may find it challenging to replicate such a performance. As a running back who isn't heavily involved in the passing game, Montgomery should be considered a low-end RB2 or Flex option. Start him with caution and manage expectations, given the difficult matchup.

From RotoBaller

Collin Johnson Sep 14 3:10pm ET
Collin Johnson

With wide receivers Keenan Allen (heel) and Rome Odunze (knee) listed as questionable for Sunday night's game in Houston, the Chicago Bears have elevated wide receiver Collin Johnson from their practice squad. Johnson, who was released by the Giants during final cuts in 2023, was signed to the Bears' practice squad on October 10th and was later promoted to the active roster. He played 40 snaps over the last three games of the season, catching one pass for 11 yards. Johnson showcased his potential during the preseason, recording three catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns in the Hall of Fame Game against the Texans on August 1. Despite this, he did not play in the subsequent three preseason games due to injury and failed to make the Bears' 53-man roster. If Allen or Odunze are unable to play, the Bears will miss the size and physicality that Johnson, standing 6'6" and weighing 222 pounds, can provide. Johnson has had more time to learn the offense and could fill that gap. While he doesn't need to be rostered in fantasy leagues at this time, he could be a useful emergency fill-in if both Allen and Odunze are sidelined.

From RotoBaller