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
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers received targets in all sorts of ways in Week 1, but it didn't amount to a touchdown or many yards. His value is at its highest in PPR and half-PPR formats, and that trend is likely to continue against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2. The main reason he hasn't reached steady WR1 territory is the lack of yards per route run (0.69) and his average depth of target (5.2 yards). With that being said, Flowers ran 48 routes and was targeted 20.8% of the time in those routes. He also has a top-30-rated matchup against the opposing defensive backs according to PFF. Fantasy managers can look toward Flowers to be a solid WR2 in this Week 2 slate.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson turned in a disappointing outing in a Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran signal-caller will look to bounce back in a road matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Jacksonville's defense struggled to contain opposing quarterbacks in 2023, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position and just over 18 fantasy points to Tua Tagovailoa in Week 1 this season. That being said, Watson's recent struggles don't evoke much confidence in him in fantasy, even in a favorable matchup. Treat him as a low-end QB2 heading into Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert will take on the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football in Week 2. The veteran had a decent showing last week, catching all four of his targets for a modest 31 yards receiving. Compared to all of the other typically drafted tight ends for fantasy, that was a solid output last week. Goedert could be in for a larger workload on Monday due to star receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) popping up on the injury report this Friday as a limited practice participant. If Brown sits or is at less than 100% on Monday, Goedert has the chance to be No. 2 in the target pecking order for quarterback Jalen Hurts. The 29-year-old is a solid starting option for fantasy managers in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott will face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 on Monday night. The 29-year-old was perfect in the opener, nailing two short-field goals and converting all four of his extra-point attempts. While it was a good week for kickers around the league last week, Elliott remains a top-tier fantasy option going up against Atlanta, who just allowed Steelers kicker Chris Boswell to score six field goals against them in Week 1. Continue to fire up Elliott as an elite fantasy option in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
The Philadelphia Eagles defense will host the Kirk Cousins-led Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 on Monday night. The team was a mixed bag last week, flashing at times on defense in pass coverage with their new-look secondary but also failing to stop big plays from the likes of Jayden Reed in Brazil. As the unit continues to mesh, they face a much less potent Atlanta offense that struggled to put points on the board last week against the Steelers. Pittsburgh's defense looks like it will rank toward the top of the league again in 2024, but Philadelphia has a chance to capitalize against prime-time Kirk Cousins who looked shaky in his first start after having an Achilles injury last season. Consider the Eagles' defense on the streaming radar this week.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith will take on the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night in Week 2. The 25-year-old had a solid performance in the regular season opener, nabbing seven of his eight targets and racking up 84 receiving yards. He was outdone by teammate A.J. Brown (hamstring) but may be forced into the No. 1 role with Brown being marked as a limited participant in Friday's practice. Fantasy managers should have confidence starting Smith regardless of Brown's status on Monday, but his upside could creep into WR1 territory if the star receiver is forced to sit this week out.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson will take on the Atlanta Falcons in the Eagles' first true home game of the season on Monday night. The third-year receiver failed to catch his lone target last week during the team's win over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil but has the potential to see an increased role heading into Week 2. Star receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) was listed as a limited participant in Friday's practice and has the potential to either miss the game Monday or play at less than 100%. With no other real competition for targets behind him, Dotson could see an increase in snaps and routes run Monday night. He is not in serious consideration unless you are in a large league, but keep an eye on Dotson this week in case he proves that he needs to see more targets in the future.
From RotoBaller
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense was expected to do much better during the season opener against the Washington Commanders. This unit ranked 10th in terms of fantasy production last season, but had plenty of issues in the opener. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels rushed all over the field for 88 yards and two touchdowns. He didn't have too much success through the air, which is the Bucs biggest weakness on defense. The Bucs now head into a road matchup against the Detroit Lions in Week 2. Quarterback Jared Goff didn't have a great start to the season, but has enough passing weapons to do damage against the Bucs defense. This is looking like possible shootout which isn't good news for either defense. The Bucs defense will likely do the same if not worse in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
With Seattle Seahawks starting running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) doubtful for Sunday, Zach Charbonnet figures to see an enhanced workload. Charbonnet finished Week 1 in relief of Walker. He finished with eight carries for 12 yards and two receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown. Charbonnet was completely ineffective on the ground. If it weren't for a 30-yard reception touchdown on a defensive miscommunication, his stat line would look much worse. Even so, Charbonnet is likely going to be elevated to the starting position in Week 2. He should have an even higher workload than Walker usually does due to the lack of competition behind him. Against a tough Patriots defense, Charbonnet can be deployed as a flex play with RB2 upside.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will face the Atlanta Falcons in the team's first true home game on Monday night. The 26-year-old had a rough start to the game last weekend, but after a handful of stagnant drives that were highlighted by a few turnovers, Hurts was able to turn things around and finish with a solid fantasy performance. He will now face an Atlanta defense that held the lowly Steelers offense and Justin Fields to nothing but field goals in the regular season opener. The Eagles should not have as hard of a time finding the endzone, but there are two noteworthy things to point out. Wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) was limited Friday in practice and if he is not at 100%, then Hurts passing upside is capped a bit. In addition, Saquon Barkley was the one to find the endzone on the ground when in the red zone last week. The Eagles quarterback will have rushing touchdowns in 2024, but the number compared to previous years is likely to come down and it makes Hurts' upside come down with it. All that said, Hurts faced plenty of adversity last week and was a solid fantasy option, and should be considered top five at his position heading into Monday night.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba came out hot against the Denver Broncos in Week 1 with two receptions on the same drive in the first quarter. Smith-Njigba did not draw a target from that point on and finished with two receptions for 19 yards. Smith-Njigba was on the field for 79% of the offensive snaps but that number might have been inflated because of wide receiver Tyler Lockett coming off a thigh injury. The Seahawks offense did not really click until the second half of the game. Lockett and running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) enjoyed most of that production. Smith-Njigba will have to hope the offense is productive from the opening kickoff in Week 2. For now, wait and see how Smith-Njigba fares before deploying him in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf will draw his second tough matchup in as many weeks when the Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Week 2. Metcalf will likely be matched up with Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Gonzalez is known to shadow opposing teams' No. 1 receiver at times. While this matchup may not be as difficult as Metcalf's Week 1 matchup against Patrick Surtain II, he will still be challenged. Additionally, the Seahawks should have a positive game script against the Patriots and Metcalf's services may not be needed. Wait for Metcalf to exit this gauntlet of talented young cornerbacks before his true ceiling is reached this season.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will face off against the Atlanta Falcons in his first home game as an Eagle on Monday night. The star running back put any doubts that fantasy managers had to rest last week when he found the end zone three times against a solid Green Bay defense. He now faces an Atlanta defense that held the combo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren out of the end zone last week and kept them each to just 3.5 yards per carry. There should be no reason to expect a scaled-back workload this week, especially if star receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is ruled out or is played at less than 100%. Fire up Barkley with confidence as a high-end RB1 heading into Monday night.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin kicked off the season with a bang during the Week 1 contest against the Washington Commanders. McLaughlin connected on all three field goal attempts while hitting all four extra point attempts as well. The veteran kicker was fantastic for the Bucs last season, but a shaky preseason might've scared away some fantasy managers. The Bucs offense should once again be strong enough to give McLaughlin plenty of work on a weekly basis. He'll likely be busy again against the Detroit Lions in Week 2. Fantasy managers looking to stream a kicker might want to consider giving McLaughlin a chance.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson will likely have his fantasy value reduced quite a bit when the Packers host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. With the likely starting quarterback being Malik Willis, it's hard to imagine the Packers' wide receivers having the same value as they do with a healthy Jordan Love (knee) under center. Watson put up a middling three-catch line in Week 1 for just 13 receiving yards but salvaged his day with a touchdown. He had the opportunity for more as he had three total red-zone targets on the night. With the Packers reeling at the quarterback position, Watson is considered a low-end flex play where you're either hoping for a big play or a touchdown to make a mark in fantasy. The volume will most likely not be there for the Packers in Week 2, so if you have better fantasy options, it's a good idea to put them in your lineup.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh is in line to receive carries behind Zach Charbonnet in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. With Kenneth Walker III (oblique) unlikely to suit up, McIntosh should serve as the No. 2 back. He is unlikely to have a huge role in this game, but he is worth watching in case Walker is forced to miss extended time. For now, he is off the fantasy radar. However, McIntosh is talented enough to make some noise given the opportunity.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers should have another solid outing in Week 2. Myers finished with 10 fantasy points in Week 1 after connecting on all his kicks. The Patriots have a stingier defense than the Broncos, but Seattle's offense should still be able to move the ball and get into scoring positions. Insert Myers into your lineup for Week 2.
From RotoBaller
The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams has a chance to show some consistency in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. After spending Week 1 facing rookie quarterback Bo Nix, the Seahawks will get a veteran in Jacoby Brissett at quarterback in Week 2. The Seahawks D/ST harassed Nix all day and forced three turnovers by the Broncos offense. The Patriots offense only scored 16 points in Week 1 but Brissett had a QBR of 82.2 and the Patriots controlled the game. New Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive guru and presents a lot of optimism for this defense. Start the Seahawks D/ST with confidence in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is in store for his usual 15-20 fantasy points in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. Smith only threw for 171 yards in Week 1. He salvaged his fantasy day with a 34-yard touchdown run. The good news is that once Smith settled into offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's offense, he started to sling the ball like we know he can. His completion percentage was 72% and he currently sits at 10th in the league in QBR. This does not project to be a very high-scoring game so look for Smith to hover around 200 passing yards and a couple of touchdowns.
From RotoBaller
The Green Bay Packers defense/special teams unit is a middling option this week against the Indianapolis Colts and their threat of explosive plays around every corner. Anthony Richardson showed off his talents against the Texans last week with two long touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown tacked on. The Packers' defense will surely be tested against that group of receivers, not to mention Jonathan Taylor at running back. In Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Packers' defense tallied two sacks, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery while giving up 34 points. The Packers will surely need a strong defensive performance to help out likely starting quarterback Malik Willis, after Jordan Love (knee) left Week 1 in the final moments with a knee injury. For fantasy purposes, surely there are better options out there than the Packers, so putting their unit in your lineup is a risky endeavor.
From RotoBaller
