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.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle didn't have the best start to his 2024 season. The 26-year-old was expected to split up the touches with veteran Ezekiel Elliott during Sunday's season opener. The two of them did split up the carries, but Dowdle failed to do much with them. He rushed eight times for 26 yards while hauling in one reception for six yards in the blowout win. Elliott didn't do much better on the ground with 40 yards, but he was able to find the end zone. The expectation is that these two will continue to split up the job until one of them pulls away with it. That being said, Dowdle should still have some streaming value in Week 2, but he has lost some appeal after that lackluster start.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford is set to be the backup option for the Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. It was uncertain who was going to start for the Packers with Jordan Love (ankle) facing a multiple week absence. Head coach Matt LaFleur cleared that up on Monday by naming Malik Willis the starter for Week 2. He also mentioned that Clifford is set to back him up, so he'll be elevated from the practice squad. Normally, someone becoming the backup isn't noteworthy, but this case is a little different. Willis has only been with the Packers for a few weeks and has yet to prove himself at the professional level. Clifford has been with the Packers for a full season and he should know the offensive scheme fairly well. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Packers turn to Clifford if Willis fails to impress them. Fantasy managers don't need to be jumping at the waiver wire to grab the former fifth-round pick. However, it wouldn't be shocking if Clifford does get snaps at some point in the next few weeks. Neither quarterback is going to be a viable fantasy option in most formats.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed safety Terrell Edmunds on Monday. The former first-round pick has been snagged by Pittsburgh off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. Edmunds did suit up for the Jaguars in Week 1, but he only saw a handful of snaps. This is a welcoming sight for Edmunds as he played his first five years of his career with the Steelers. The 27-year-old was a full-time starter then, but now he figures to serve as depth in the secondary. This is a low-risk move for Pittsburgh as Edmunds could end up being a legitimate help on the defensive side of the ball as the season goes on.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) was a limited participant during Monday's practice. This doesn't comes as much of a shock after Phillips was on a snap count during the season opener. The Dolphins don't want to push anything with Phillips dealing with a serious injury. He played 33 snaps on Sunday and recorded one sack and two tackles during his time on the field. The expectation is that Phillips will be on a snap count again with the short week. The Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, so Phillips doesn't have a ton of time to get back to full speed. The former first-round pick should give this defense a nice boost once he's back to full health.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (abdomen) looked good on the field during the season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Walker rushed for over 100 yards, but also picked up an injury in the fourth quarter. This doesn't sound like an injury that is going to sideline Walker for a lengthy amount of time. Head coach Mike Macdonald said on Monday that the team doesn't have much of an update on his status, but they're taking it day-by-day. Walker said he was fine after Sunday's game, but we'll see if the Seahawks limit him at all during practice this week. For now, fantasy managers should expect Walker to be fine in time for the Week 2 matchup against the New England Patriots.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Rams have placed wide receiver Puka Nacua on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: Uh oh. Nacua will now miss at least the next four weeks and we won't see him until week seven at the earliest after the Rams have their bye week - this means dynasty managers will be without him until at least October 20th, a brutal blow to just about any dynasty franchise this year. Cooper Kupp will soak up a massive amount of targets and dynasty managers need to plan accordingly. As for Nacua, this is a short-term issue and won't affect anything other than his short-term outlook.
Dynasty | Free agent wide receiver Kadarius Toney has signed with the Cleveland Browns. Dynasty Analysis: Toney will start his Cleveland tenure on the practice squad but certainly intends to be elevated to the active roster in short order. This is a decent landing spot for Toney, who also visited Seattle in the last few days. Toney has little dynasty value at the moment but he's certainly worth watching as the weeks move forward.
Dynasty | Deshaun Watson has been named in a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault in 2020. Dynasty Analysis: As if the week couldn't get worse for Watson, who was putrid in Cleveland's season opener. This case will simply be added to the mound of 25 (yes, 25) different civil lawsuits that have come his way. Watson has settled 23 of those thus far. The NFL will monitor the situation and it may be unlikely he faces further discipline since he's already been punished for the other large group of lawsuits. Regardless, this is yet another red flag against Watson, whose career looks to be spiraling down the tubes since his trade to Cleveland. Stay tuned.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) is set to miss some time after getting injured in the Week 1 season-opening loss in Miami to the Dolphins on Sunday, according to head coach Doug Pederson. When asked if Campbell could be back in time for a trip to London in Week 6, Pederson said he didn't want to put any kind of timeline on his return. We don't have any idea just yet how many weeks the 24-year-old will have to miss, but either way, it's a serious blow to Jacksonville's secondary, as Campbell came into the year as their top corner. For the foreseeable future, the Jags will have to turn to some combination of Deantre Prince and Montaric Brown in the starting lineup, beginning in Week 2 at home against the Cleveland Browns. Campbell, a second-round pick in 2021 out of Georgia, had 145 solo tackles, six interceptions and 30 pass breakups in 43 games (42 starts) in his first three seasons.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda is a healthy scratch for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener at Levi's Stadium on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Abanikanda enters the 2024 season as the team's RB4 behind starter and bell-cow Breece Hall and rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. As such, the 21-year-old is obviously off the fantasy radar in most single-year leagues for the time being unless injuries push him into a relevant game-day role. The former fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh last year was also buried on the depth chart in his rookie season and finished with 22 carries for 70 yards while catching seven passes for 43 yards in only six games. Abanikanda has breakaway speed but is once again buried on the depth chart and will have to wait for his opportunity beyond Week 1.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) is dealing with a minor hamstring injury that he suffered in the Week 1 blowout win over the Carolina Panthers, according to a source. Lattimore said he wasn't concerned about his injury, but it's still in question whether he'll be able to suit up in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys on the road to potentially try and shut down receiver CeeDee Lamb. The 28-year-old left the game in the second half on Sunday and never returned, and his status for Week 2 will ultimately come down to how much he can practice later this week. If Lattimore doesn't play this weekend, it will make the Saints' underrated defense much more vulnerable against one of the best receivers in the league. Expect rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry to see his role increase dramatically against Dallas if Lattimore is eventually ruled out.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) is officially inactive for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night versus the New York Jets. Hufanga suffered a torn ACL late last year and was listed as doubtful for this week's game, so fantasy managers in IDP leagues should have already had the 24-year-old defensive back on their benches. Hufanga is no lock to make his 2024 debut in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, either, and he very well could be eased into a full-time role again when he does find his way back onto the field. The Niners' already strong defense/special teams will remain a must-start on a weekly basis for however long Hufanga is out. When healthy, Hufanga is a ball-hawking defensive back worth holding onto in IDP leagues. George Odom could start in his place on Monday.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers lifted All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams' roster exemption and he is active for the Week 1 contest on Monday night against the visiting New York Jets. Williams was in a contract holdout all during training camp over the summer, but he and the 49ers agreed to a new contract last Tuesday, so he's been back with the team ever since and is ready to go for the regular-season opener. The 36-year-old's conditioning could very well be less than par after being away from the team for all that time, but his presence on the field at Levi's Stadium is certainly a plus for quarterback Brock Purdy and the entire San Fran offense, which will be without star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) on Monday. The 49ers' offensive line will need all the help they can get to slow down New York's vaunted pass rush.
From RotoBaller
The initial belief is that Chicago Bears rookie first-round wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) suffered a Grade 1 knee sprain in the Week 1 season-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Odunze will seek a second opinion after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday, but this is a best-case scenario for the talented rookie pass-catcher. For now, the 22-year-old is being considered week-to-week, but fantasy managers should probably already be expecting him to sit out in Week 2 versus the Houston Texans on the road. In addition to his injury, Odunze had a very quiet NFL debut against Tennessee, catching just one of his four targets for an 11-yard gain. The future is bright for Odunze, but it was always going to be an uphill battle in terms of target load in his rookie season. For any time that Odunze misses, DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and tight end Cole Kmet will likely benefit the most.
From RotoBaller
With the San Francisco 49ers surprisingly ruling running back Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) out for Monday night's showdown against the New York Jets, backup Jordan Mason will now get the start in the backfield. Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookie Isaac Guerendo will also be active and available as depth, with Guerendo likely returning kicks on special teams. Fantasy managers that were fully expecting CMC to play on Monday could be in trouble if they don't already have Mason on their roster or he's not immediately available to pluck off the waiver wire. The 25-year-old Mason has had limited opportunities in his two NFL seasons in San Fran, but he has averaged 5.6 yards per carry and has scored four times in 33 total games (zero starts). In a strong Niners offense, Mason is an appealing handcuff with upside as a plug-in-play option for those that have McCaffrey rostered.
From RotoBaller
In a big surprise, San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles), the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, is inactive for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night against the visiting New York Jets, according to sources. McCaffrey practiced on a limited basis with the team last week before being handed a questionable tag for Week 1, but he expressed optimism that he would play over the weekend and handle a near-normal workload. CMC was apparently more optimistic than the coaching staff, and they have decided to hold him out for another week. If CMC's fantasy managers don't already have backup Jordan Mason handcuffed, they could find themselves in a bind on Monday night. Mason is starting on Monday, with Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookie Isaac Guerendo also active and available. Guerendo will likely return kicks.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle, foot) suffered an ankle/foot sprain in the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday and will miss a couple of weeks as a result, according to sources. It's a big loss for the Buccaneers secondary, but it's obviously not a worst-case scenario. Fantasy managers using in IDP formats will have to pivot for several weeks while keeping Winfield stashed on their benches. The loss of Winfield will make Tampa's secondary more vulnerable, starting with a tough Week 2 Divisional Round rematch this weekend against the Detroit Lions. The 26-year-old safety was seen wearing a walking boot on Monday. With Winfield expected to miss time, Christian Izien is going to see extra playing time. In Sunday's convincing win over the Commanders, Winfield had seven tackles (four solo).
From RotoBaller
The Washington Commanders released kicker Cade York on Monday and are expected to replace him by signing free-agent kicker Austin Seibert, according to sources. The Commanders cut York on Monday after he missed both of his field-goal tries in the Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 23-year-old made both of is extra-point attempts, but he gets the axe after just one week after missing from 47 and 56 yards out in the season opener in Tampa. Seibert comes to D.C. after being cut by the New York Jets in training camp. The 27-year-old should take over immediately as the replacement for York, but fantasy managers should ignore him in an offense being run by a rookie QB. Seibert entered the league as a fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2019 out of Oklahoma. He has made 80.4% of his 56 field-goal tries in five years with four different teams.
From RotoBaller
Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney signed with the Cleveland Browns on Monday, according to sources. Toney also visited with the Seattle Seahawks and had visits with other teams lined up, but he'll head to Cleveland for now as the Browns look to add another playmaker. The 25-year-old former first-round pick by the New York Giants will start with the Browns' practice squad as he tries to work his way up to the active 53-man roster. Toney has always had elite playmaking ability because of his quickness, but he has not lived up to his draft pedigree, mainly because of nagging lower-body injuries. For the time being, Toney is just a player to watch in most fantasy leagues as he adds depth to Cleveland's receiving corps behind Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman. Only in the deepest of fantasy leagues with large benches should fantasy managers add Toney off the wire.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running backs De'Von Achane (ankle) and Raheem Mostert (chest) were both listed as not practicing on the estimation of Monday's practice report. Heading into a short week, the Dolphins are likely just being cautious with their top two backs. However, if either of them remain DNPs on Tuesday, fantasy managers may want to start getting worried for Thursday's contest against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. If one or both of Achane and Mostert cannot play this week, it would thrust Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jaylen Wright into much bigger backfield roles. Wright was a healthy scratch in the Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Achane had only 24 yards on 10 carries but found the end zone and added seven catches for 76 yards in Week 1. He will continue to split touches with Mostert, but Achane is the better upside RB play in fantasy on a weekly basis.
From RotoBaller