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.
Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Divisional Round
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) exited during the first half of Saturday's Divisional Round contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. Al-Shaair registered a tackle in the opening quarter but was unable to add another stat before departing. The 27-year-old amassed six tackles last week, and he had two sacks throughout the regular season. Neville Hewitt should earn more defensive snaps at linebacker until Al-Shaair is able to return.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had a cyst removed from his right hand/wrist area, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Last year's No. 1 pick was seen in public wearing a cast, but Rapoport notes that Williams' operation was minor and he is okay. Presumably, he'll have a short recovery team and will be healthy for offseason workouts in a few months. Williams played all 17 games in his rookie campaign, completing 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. As he continues to develop and get more comfortable in the NFL, he should rank as a high-end QB2 with additional upside for the 2025 fantasy football season.
From RotoBaller
According to the team, Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Jaylen Watson (leg) is active for Saturday's playoff game against the Houston Texans. Watson has been sidelined since suffering a fractured fibula during their Week 7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Watson was able to log three straight full practice sessions leading up to this game suggesting he will be a full go in this contest. During the first six games of the season, Watson tallied 29 tackles (19 solo) with ten assists and six deflections. Fantasy managers should expect Watson to have a key role in this contest as the Chiefs begin their playoff march.
From RotoBaller
According to the team, Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is officially active for Saturday's playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mixon popped up on the injury report as a limited participant on Wednesday and was downgraded to a non-participant on Thursday. However, the top running back was able to turn the corner in time for Saturday's game. Last weekend, during their wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Mixon ran for 106 yards and a score on 25 attempts. Through 14 regular season games, Mixon averaged a strong 17.1 PPR points per game and remains a top play in DFS competitions despite the tough matchup in Kansas City.
From RotoBaller
According to the team, Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) is officially active for Saturday's tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs. Al-Shaair opened the week as a non-participant but was able to upgrade to limited participation on Thursday and Friday. The 27-year-old saw his typical workload last weekend during their victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and tallied six tackles and three assists. During 11 regular season games, Al-Shaair tallied 70 tackles (45 solo) with two sacks, two forced fumbles, and four pass deflections. Al-Shaair should be expected to have a key role in the defensive gameplan against the reigning champions.
From RotoBaller
According to the team, Houston Texans wide receiver Robert Woods (hip) is officially active for Saturday's playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Woods was unable to practice all week due to a hip injury but was able to turn the corner in time to face the reigning champions. Last weekend, during their wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Woods caught four of his two targets for 22 yards. Over his previous four contests, the veteran wideout has begun to find a role in the Houston passing attack with Tank Dell (knee) sidelined. During this stretch, he has seen 3.8 targets per game and has been deployed as the clear No.3 wideout on the depth chart. Woods is worth a look as a WR3 in DFS formats in this contest.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass is a solid option in DFS competitions on Sunday evening when he faces the Baltimore Ravens. Last weekend, during their wild-card victory over the Denver Broncos, Bass went 3-for-3 on attempts and 2-for-2 on extra points. Over his previous five games, Bass has missed just one field goal attempt and has averaged a solid 8.2 fantasy points per game. During this stretch, he has been perfect on attempts from 40+ yards. On Sunday, he will face the Ravens who have allowed the 13th-fewest fantasy points to opposing kickers this season. Despite this, given Bass's recent stretch of performances, he is a top option in all DFS competitions on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is a low-end play in DFS competitions in the divisional round when he faces the Buffalo Bills on Sunday evening. Last weekend, during their wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tucker went 4-for-4 on extra-point attempts. He did not attempt a field goal. Despite holding a shaky 70.4% FG conversion rate during the first 13 games of the regular season, the veteran kicker has begun to turn the corner as he has gone perfect on all attempts over his previous five contests. However, the Bills have done well limiting the opposing kickers to the fifth-fewest fantasy points this season. As a result, Tucker is a low-end play this weekend.
From RotoBaller
The Atlanta Falcons announced on Saturday that they interviewed former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus for their vacant defensive-coordinator position. Eberflus becomes the seventh candidate interviewed for the job after the team fired Jimmy Lake after one season in the role in 2024. In addition to Eberflus, the Falcons have interviewed Jeff Ulbrich, Don "Wink" Martindale, Lou Anarumo and Steve Wilks. Eberflus went 14-32 in his three seasons as the Bears head coach but was fired after the team's Thanksgiving Day loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions. Before becoming Chicago's head coach, Eberflus was the Indianapolis Colts' defensive coordinator from 2018-21. Before coming to the NFL, he was Missouri's defensive coordinator from 2001-08. Eberflus got his start in the NFL in 2009 as the linebackers coach for the Cleveland Browns.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Chicago Bears recently reached out to the Pittsburgh Steelers to see if they could swing a trade for long-time head coach Mike Tomlin, according to league sources. However, the Steelers rebuffed the Bears' request. When asked this week about the idea that a team would inquire about his availability, Tomlin simply said, "Save your time." One other team asked about Tomlin's availability, and the Steelers informed them that Tomlin has a full no-trade clause in his contract. Despite the Steelers' fifth straight loss in the first round of the playoffs, the team has no interest in trading him. There are plenty of frustrations with Pittsburgh's fan base, but they just signed Tomlin to a three-year extension last offseason that made him one of the NFL's highest-paid head coaches. The Steelers have also had just three head coaches since 1969.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is interviewing for the New Orleans Saints' vacant head-coaching position on Saturday, one day before his Eagles take on the Los Angeles Rams in a Divisional Round playoff game. Moore is a popular head-coaching candidate this cycle after leading the Eagles to the No. 2 seed in the NFC this year. He also interviewed for the Jacksonville Jaguars head-coaching position on Friday and could be the favorite to return to the Dallas Cowboys to become their next head coach as well. Under the 36-year-old, the Cowboys led the league in total yards in both 2019 and 2021. This year under Moore, the Eagles ranked seventh in points per game (27.2) and eighth in total yards per game (367.2). The Saints are looking for a new head coach after firing Dennis Allen in the middle of the 2024 season.
From RotoBaller
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Buffalo Bills could restructure quarterback Josh Allen's contract in the offseason. The MVP candidate has four years left on his current deal and received a $5 million pay bump before the start of the 2024 campaign. He's scheduled to make only $14.5 million next season on a front-loaded contract. Rapoport says that the Bills and Allen have an excellent relationship, so he would not be surprised if the team looks to adjust his contract after their season is over. The 28-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2018 out of Wyoming has become one of the best QBs in the NFL, even though he failed to reach 4,000 passing yards in 2024 for the first time since his second year in the league in 2019. Allen more than made up for it with his rushing prowess with 531 rushing yards and 12 rushing TDs while also throwing a career-low six interceptions.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren will both be free agents in March, and Cordarrelle Patterson has one year left on his two-year deal. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac expects only one of those three RBs to return in 2025. Harris' return could be in jeopardy despite the fact that he's just one of 14 players in NFL history to start their career with four straight 1,000-yard seasons. The writing was on the wall when the team didn't pick up his fifth-year option last spring, and bringing him back on the franchise tag would cost $13.6 million. Dulac suggests the Steelers would prefer to look for a replacement in the NFL draft, which should have a deep class at the position. Warren is a restricted free agent, so he has a greater chance to return. While Harris did have 1,000 yards rushing in 2024, it was the second straight season he went without a TD reception.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee), who is doubtful to play in Sunday's Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills, had a positive workout on Friday and could return to action next weekend if the Ravens advance to the AFC Championship. Flowers suffered a sprained knee in the Week 18 win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns and hasn't practiced since. He was unable to suit up for the team's win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round last Saturday. It's good news for Baltimore, but they must first take down the Bills in Buffalo this weekend to give Flowers a shot at coming back next week. Without Flowers again this week, Rashod Bateman and tight end Mark Andrews will most likely be quarterback Lamar Jackson's most-targeted pass-catchers in what could be a shootout at Orchard Park.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac writes that in all likelihood, the Pittsburgh Steelers will start the 2025 season with a new starting quarterback, and he thinks that Justin Fields will be given the job. It's the third time in the last four years that the Steelers head into the offseason with uncertainty at the most important position. Both Fields and Russell Wilson will be free agents, and it's highly unlikely the Steelers will bring them both back. With the way the season ended with five straight losses and a disconnect with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Dulac believes the Steelers will let Wilson walk. Fields, meanwhile, is only 25 and showed improvement in his 10 games played (six starts), completing a career-high 65.8% of his passes for 1,106 yards, five TDs and one interception while adding 289 rushing yards and five more scores.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon (ankle), who is questionable to play in the Divisional Round on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs after being limited in practice this week, will play, according to sources. Mixon was limited in practice on Wednesday and did not practice on Thursday, leading to his questionable tag. However, the Texans said on Friday that the 28-year-old was expected to play, and now it's official that he'll be active to kick off the Divisional Round of the postseason as the Texans look to pull a huge upset on the road in KC. The two-time Pro Bowler ran for 1,016 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns in the regular season and also had over 100 yards rushing and a TD in last week's win over the Chargers. However, his ankle could limit him somewhat on Saturday against a Chiefs defense that allowed the fewest PPR points to RBs all season long.
From RotoBaller
The Rams defense/special teams put on an impressive show last week against the Vikings, and they'll need to show up again on Sunday in their road game against the Eagles. On Monday, the Rams dropped Sam Darnold nine times for sacks, forced two turnovers and even scored a defensive touchdown while holding the vaunted Vikings' offense to nine points. Not counting the last game of the season when starters rested, they have allowed under ten points in four straight games while recording seven takeaways and 17 sacks. They'll have a tough task against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles this week. Last week, the Eagles did not turn the ball over in their win against the Packers while allowing two sacks. Adverse weather could keep the game low scoring, and the Rams' defense will again look to rise to the challenge and make big plays to help their team advance.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty has a brutal matchup in less-than-ideal conditions this week, so he's probably not the best fantasy option. The rookie did have a strong finish to the season, making 15 straight field goal attempts over the last six games. However, the Eagles have allowed the fewest fantasy points in the NFL to opposing kickers this season, and the weather is expected to be cold and wet. Since most of Karty's recent success has come indoors at SoFi Stadium, it seems like a difficult place to count on him for a big fantasy week in the Divisional Round.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp has struggled down the stretch, but the Rams will need him to step up with a throwback game in Philadelphia if they want to knock off the Eagles. Last week against the Vikings, Kupp played only 55% of snaps and was only targeted one time. He converted that target to a 29-yard catch, but the Rams will need him much more involved this week. Over their last five games, Kupp has totaled just five catches, although he did rest for one of those contests. The drop off has come quickly for Kupp, who had several strong games earlier in the season. He'll remain behind Puka Nacua in terms of workload for this week, but the Rams will need his playmaking abilities if they want to get to the NFC Championship Game. He's a high-risk fantasy play this week given his recent struggles, but Kupp does still have upside as a flier.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson played 72% of the team's snaps in their Wild Card Round win over the Vikings. He actually played more snaps than Cooper Kupp but only had two targets, one catch, and 23 receiving yards. The Rams passing game could struggle in the weather in Philadelphia, but Robinson is getting enough playing time to deserve consideration as a punt play for DFS contests. He did have some good games earlier in the season and scored seven touchdowns. One of those scores came against the Eagles in their regular season meeting, and he'll have touchdown-dependent upside this week in the rematch.
From RotoBaller