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 11
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is officially deemed inactive for the Week 11 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. He was already not expected to play, so it doesn't come as too much of a surprise. That leaves Eric Saubert as the next man up. Deebo Samuel Sr., Jauan Jennings, and Christian McCaffrey could also see some added targets.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and edge rusher Nick Bosa (hip) have both been ruled active ahead of their Week 11 matchup against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. Williams has constantly been a key piece to the offensive line and the pass protection for quarterback Brock Purdy, while Bosa is just as important on the other side of the ball for the defense. Having two major pieces ruled active is a big relief for a 49ers team that will be without tight end George Kittle (hamstring) on offense.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau (shoulder) has returned to the game on Sunday after briefly exiting with a shoulder injury. So far, Taysom Hill and Juwan Johnson have taken the bigger snap share when it comes to the tight end spot. Moreau will look to get into the mix during the second half while the Saints lead 14-6.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury in the first half of their game against the Cleveland Browns and is now considered questionable to return. The 27-year-old is usually good for a couple of targets per game but hasn't registered anything just yet in this matchup. Taysom Hill and Juwan Johnson will continue in the tight end spot in his place if he can't return.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion) has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with a concussion. Bates was the only healthy left guard on the depth chart heading into this game, so the Bears will have to shuffle around some linemen to make up for the loss. So far, Caleb Williams has only been sacked once, but it could be tough sledding for the rest of the game with such a depleted line.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (back) is expected to suit up on Monday night against the Houston Texans. The 25-year-old popped up on the injury report with a back injury on Saturday, resulting in a limited practice session. However, head coach Mike McCarthy already indicated Lamb's injury was" not of high concern," so the latest update suggests he's nearly guaranteed to get on the field. Of course, anything can happen, and setbacks occur, meaning fantasy managers should have a backup plan just in case. If Lamb can't play on Monday, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, and Jake Ferguson would be the favorites to see an uptick in attention from Cooper Rush.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (knee) should return from injured reserve as soon as he is eligible to be activated, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. That timeline would put him on track to play in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns. Glazer noted that Butker tore his meniscus and had two potential surgery options: a full repair and a less extensive trim. A full repair would have ended Butker's season, but he and the Chiefs chose the surgery with the trim, so he should be good to go by Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd (back) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. He was a late addition to the injury report on Saturday, garnering a "questionable" designation despite being a full participant in practice all week long. Boyd has appeared in all nine games this year but hasn't caught a pass since Week 8 against Detroit. On the season, he has 21 catches, 184 yards, and zero touchdowns. He's off the fantasy radar in his current role behind Calvin Ridley on a struggling Titans squad.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kadarius Toney is active for Sunday's Week 11 game against the New Orleans Saints. The 25-year-old was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday and will make both his Browns debut and his season debut on Sunday afternoon. Toney is expected to operate behind Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, and Cedric Tillman, keeping him off the fantasy radar for the time being.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) is officially active for Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams. He had been listed as questionable after logging three limited practices in a row. Dugger's presence on Sunday marks the end of a three-week absence for the talented defender. He'll provide a key reinforcement to the Patriots' defense as they look to slow down an offense featuring Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints. With Nick Chubb now back to 100 percent and Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. playing well in their depth roles, there simply isn't room within Cleveland's backfield for Foreman, an NFL veteran. Fantasy managers can justify dropping him in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula) is expected to be healthy before next week's game against the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. This is a promising update, but it's important to note that Rapoport described Pacheco as "expected to be healthy" rather than "expected to play." In a follow-up post on X, Rapoport noted that the Chiefs have a short week in Week 13, so "it's a coaching decision for whether Pacheco plays" next Sunday against the Panthers. In any case, he expects Pacheco to be ready for his return from injured reserve, whether that comes in Week 12 against the Panthers or Week 13 against the Raiders. He'll rank as a high-end RB2 upon his return but could lose some opportunities to Kareem Hunt, who has performed quite well as the Chiefs' fill-in workhorse running back.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. Bryant had not been listed on the injury report, and his absence is a direct result of Michael Mayer (personal) returning from an extended absence on Sunday. Even with Mayer taking Bryant's place on the gameday roster, Brock Bowers remains the only Raiders tight end worth starting in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He had been listed as questionable after missing three consecutive practices. The 33-year-old hasn't missed a snap since Week 4, and he'll look to extend that streak when the Dolphins host the Raiders in Miami. His presence is great news for fantasy managers who have Tua Tagovailoa, De'Von Achane, or Raheem Mostert in their lineups.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams. This is the fourth time this season that Osborn has been sidelined. The veteran receiver expressed interest in being moved at the trade deadline, but New England held onto him and is now making him inactive as they prioritize reps for some of their younger pass-catchers. Osborn should be dropped in all fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) is active on Sunday for the Week 11 contest against the Cleveland Browns, while rookie receiver Mason Tipton is a healthy inactive. With Chris Olave (concussion) on Injured Reserve and Rashid Shaheed (knee) out for the season, the Saints' receiving corps is extremely thin. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has essentially become quarterback Derek Carr's top receiving target now after going for three catches, 109 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 10 win over the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Wilson, meanwhile, missed two of the last three games with hip and shoulder injuries, but he should have a significant role on Sunday against Cleveland in his return. Still, the 28-year-old should be considered a desperation flex option in deeper fantasy leagues in a Saints offense that runs through running back Alvin Kamara.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) stayed in Los Angeles to see a specialist following last Monday's game against the Rams, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Hill has been dealing with a lingering wrist issue since a joint practice with the Washington Commanders back in training camp. While it hasn't been enough to hold him out of a game yet, he has repeatedly appeared on the injury report. After visiting with the specialist, Pelissero notes that surgery is on the table for Hill, but it's unclear if an operation would even fix the injury. In the interim, Hill continues to manage his pain and play through his injury. He's officially active for Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders and will be a "full-go", according to Pelissero. The speedy receiver is looking to bounce back from last week's modest showing in which he caught three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) is expected to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11 despite being listed as questionable, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. However, Schefter was less certain about the veteran receiver's usage, saying, "We'll see if it's in full capacity." As a result, fantasy managers should feel comfortable deploying Cooper as nothing more than a WR3/FLEX. He has been productive when healthy, but a potential snap count or partial decoy role could limit some of his upside on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints WR Cedrick Wilson (shoulder) is officially active for the Week 11 game.
Fantasy Spin: Wilson should see a decent amount of targets in the passing game after missing some time because of the injury. He can be a possible flex option in deeper leagues.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets WR Davante Adams (illness, wrist) is active for Week 11's game versus the Indianapolis Colts.
Fantasy Spin: Adams had been listed as questionable on the injury report after only participating in one of the Jets' three practice sessions during the week. In four games with New York, he has 20 receptions with 206 yards and a touchdown and has been targeted 39 times. He should be a starting option in all fantasy formats.
From TheHuddle
