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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

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.

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Player Notes
Xavier Worthy Jul 3 7:30pm ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown are expected to bring big plays back to the Kansas City offense this season, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN. While the Chiefs finished the season with the seventh-most total passing yards last season, they were near the bottom with just eight plays of 40 yards or more. This is a significant reason why the Chiefs brought in veteran Marquise Brown, who finished near the top of all receivers last season with 84.6 air yards per game last season. In addition, with the 28th overall selection of this year's NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected Xavier Worthy from Texas, who set a new record in the 40-yard dash at the combine. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes expressed, "I think we've done a great job of mastering the intermediate and short stuff, but we want to get back to having that part of the offense as well." While it is currently unknown who will emerge as alpha in this wide receiver room amid a potential multi-game suspension for Rashee Rice, both of these wideouts will raise Mahomes' weekly ceiling due to their game-changing speed.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Jul 3 7:10pm ET
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs recently appeared on the NFL Network's NFL Insiders program and expressed his great excitement about the potential of the Green Bay offense. The 26-year-old signed a four-year contract with Green Bay this offseason worth $48 million. Jacobs missed a few games last season but ended with 805 rushing yards and 296 through the air with six total touchdowns. The former Alabama product told the NFL Network, "I honestly think the sky is the limit in this offense." He further stated "To be able to see the game plan and things they want me that they want me to do this year, the things that they're allowing me to do, I just think it's going to be a special year." This could be a telling sign that Green Bay plans to use Jacobs in a potential three-down role, which would provide him with several scoring opportunities on a weekly basis. Jacobs currently sits with an ADP of 33 in standard leagues and has the potential to finish near the top of his position this season.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Moore Jul 3 7:00pm ET
D.J. Moore

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore's current contract runs through the 2025 season, so nothing is urgent at this time, but he's currently 17th among wideouts in terms of average salary and is coming off a career year in his first year in Chicago in which he caught 96 passes on 136 targets for a career-high 1,364 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 17 starts. Moore has become one of the faces of the franchise, and general manager Ryan Poles might want to reward him with a new deal sooner than later. Fellow receiver Keenan Allen will be a free agent after the 2024 season and is likely to enter the year on an expiring contract, as the Bears want to see what he has left at 32 before considering keeping him around beyond one year. Moore certainly has more competition for targets with Allen around now, but he's a pretty safe WR2 target this fall.

From RotoBaller

J.J. McCarthy Jul 3 7:00pm ET
J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was recently praised by fellow teammate Blake Cashman. Cashman, a linebacker, recently joined Minnesota this offseason and has been around several young quarterbacks. He began his career in the Big Apple with Zach Wilson and played with former second-overall pick C.J. Stroud last season. The 28-year-old defender said on the Jim Rome Show that McCarthy "Is 21 years old, but a great young man. He's a leader and he's eager to learn." This is great to see McCarthy's leadership translate quite well and quickly to the NFL as he led the Michigan Wolverines to two consecutive playoff appearances, including a national championship this past season. Cashman further expressed how well the young quarterback has thrown the ball in minicamps. Even though the 21-year-old is reportedly not starting in Week 1, according to Alec Lewis of the Athletic, it is great to see his veteran teammates express their excitement and support for him. McCarthy was a popular first-round selection in rookie drafts this past spring and remains a coveted asset in dynasty leagues.

From RotoBaller

Diontae Johnson Jul 3 6:40pm ET
Diontae Johnson

The Carolina Panthers made no move to extend wide receiver Diontae Johnson after trading for the former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout in March, as they prefer to see whether he emerges as the explosive, coverage-separating pass-catcher that quarterback Bryce Young and the offense lacked in 2023. If Johnson proves he's a difference-maker in his first year in Carolina and if he doesn't become a distraction when the ball doesn't come his way, he could be set to cash in next offseason in a receiver market that has exploded in recent years. The 27-year-old disappointed as Pittsburgh's top receiver last year, catching a career-low 51 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns. Johnson will now be competing with veteran Adam Thielen for targets in what was the worst offense in the league last year. Most of Johnson's fantasy value will be tied to how much Young improves in Year 2. Consider Johnson a low-end WR3/high-WR4 target in fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

Spencer Brown Jul 3 6:30pm ET
Spencer Brown

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown was a question mark heading into last season after a rocky sophomore campaign. But the 2021 third-round pick answered with authority and played every single one of the team's 1,305 offensive snaps. Pro Football Focus charted him for only two more pressures than Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins. He's now entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Bills will have a lot of salary cap space next year after receiver Stefon Diggs' dead money clears, but Buffalo could save a lot by giving Brown an extension in the next few months and not letting him get close enough to free agency for him to get curious about testing the open market.

From RotoBaller

Marlon Humphrey Jul 3 6:20pm ET
Marlon Humphrey

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey still has three years remaining on the contract extension he signed with the team during the 2020 season. The 27-year-old is a three-time Pro Bowler, but he's struggled to stay healthy in two of the last three years and isn't consistently making the impactful plays he did earlier in his career. With his salary cap number rising north of $25 million next year, Humphrey probably needs a strong bounce-back season this fall to remain with the Ravens in 2025 and beyond. The former 16th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Alabama, Humphrey played in a career-low 10 games during the regular season in 2023 and finished with a career-low 26 tackles (22 solo), one interception and only five pass breakups.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Jul 3 6:10pm ET
Saquon Barkley

The Philadelphia Eagles have a new offensive coordinator this year in Kellen Moore and will have a new bell-cow running back in Saquon Barkley. It's a big weapon to add to an offense that already includes one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league in Jalen Hurts. The Eagles could utilize their tight ends more in 2024 in Moore's scheme as well. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has talked to scouts that believe Barkley could see a similar boost that Christian McCaffrey had when he went to the San Francisco 49ers. Barkley is heading to a Philadelphia offense that has never had this kind of supporting cast around him. Injuries have been a concern with the 27-year-old, but if he stays healthy in his first year with the Eagles, Barkley's upside at the RB position is as high as any in the league as a strong RB1 target.

From RotoBaller

Kwity Paye Jul 3 2:00pm ET
Kwity Paye

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye has not been an ultra-productive sack artist since entering the league as the No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Michigan, but his goal is to reach at least double-digit sacks in 2024. "I had (4.0) sacks as a rookie, (6.0) as a sophomore, and now 8.5 in my third season," Paye told the Draft Network's Justin Melo recently. "I definitely want to get at least 10.5 sacks this year. I'm really shooting for 12-15 sacks, but double digits is the goal at the end of the day. I have to get there this year." Paye has gotten better every season and is playing on a talented defensive front, so it's not out of the realm of possibilities. Through his first 43 NFL games, the 25-year-old has compiled 129 tackles, 18.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one pass deflection.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Jul 3 1:50pm ET
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has not lived up to his status as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Although he has a playoff win under his belt from the 2022 campaign, the rest of his career has been underwhelming. The Duke alum has thrown for 12,512 yards, 62 touchdowns, and 42 interceptions in his first 60 games and has lost 24 fumbles in his career. On the premiere episode of "Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants", general manager Joe Schoen said "This is the year for Daniel. Plan all along was [to] give him a couple years. Is he our guy for the next 10 years? Or do we need to pivot and find somebody else?" After a disastrous 2023 campaign that ended with Jones suffering a torn ACL, the idea that 2024 would be a "make-or-break" season for him was already in the minds of football fans. However, Schoen confirmed it. The 27-year-old will either sink or swim this season, and his dynasty-league value for fantasy football could see an uptick or crater to nearly zero. His pass-catching group of Malik Nabers, Jalin Hyatt, Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, Daniel Bellinger, and Theo Johnson isn't pretty on paper, but he could be playing behind the best offensive line of his career heading into a pivotal season.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Jul 3 1:40pm ET
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk reportedly had a great meeting with the organization last week and said he wants to remain with the team, but NFL insider Mike Garafolo said the two sides are "no closer to a deal" following their in-person talks. The wide receiver market is blowing up this offseason, as four pass-catchers have signed deals that include at least $28.25 million annually. Aiyuk, after posting a career-high 1,342 receiving yards last season, likely wants to be the next in line. The Niners are loaded with talent and will have to pay quarterback Brock Purdy in the coming offseasons, so it's a tricky situation to navigate. Aiyuk has been in trade rumors, and this is still an ongoing predicament that will be worth monitoring leading up to the start of the 2024 campaign.

From RotoBaller

Trey McBride Jul 3 1:30pm ET
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is one of the most promising young players at the position in the NFL, and after catching 81 passes for 825 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, he is aiming for an even better season in 2024. One of McBride's personal goals for his third NFL campaign is to reach 1,000 yards receiving. "It was close last year," McBride said. "But I think that maybe it's realistic this year." The Colorado State product took part in "Tight End U" in Nashville hosted by Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Greg Olsen. Kittle, a five-time Pro Bowler, had great things to say about the Cardinals pass-catcher. "Trey McBride is a young guy who had a great year last year and is just going to keep getting better," Kittle said. McBride is being selected as a late-second-round pick in FFPC best ball drafts, which has tight-end premium scoring. He is in play to be the TE1 overall in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Legette Jul 3 1:20pm ET
Xavier Legette

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (hamstring) sat out offseason workouts last month due to hamstring issues, but the rookie first-round pick looks healthy in an Instagram video showing him working out. While this is not clear evidence that he's cleared and ready to go when training camp begins, it's a great sign for his potential availability. The No. 32 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of South Carolina has every opportunity to be a top-two option in the passing game for second-year quarterback Bryce Young. Legette has off-the-charts speed and athleticism at 220 pounds, but since he failed to reach 500 receiving yards in his first four collegiate seasons combined, he is a controversial prospect and fantasy football option. Unless Carolina takes a significant step forward on offense, Legette is likely to be a fringe fantasy-relevant wideout as a rookie.

From RotoBaller

Aidan O'Connell Jul 3 1:10pm ET
Aidan O'Connell

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell was unexpectedly moved into the starting role last season after veterans Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer flamed out and head coach Josh McDaniels was fired. The Purdue product completed 62.1% of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He played well enough to contend to be the starting in 2024, but he'll have to beat out Gardner Minshew II. Hoyer, a 15-year NFL veteran, isn't counting O'Connell out. "Maybe I'm biased," Hoyer said. "But I think what Aidan did last year -- I know he hasn't shown it as much as Gardner Minshew has throughout his career -- but I know the guys really gravitated to the way Aidan took over and his leadership as a young player." O'Connell has familiarity with the organization and chemistry with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, so he could have a slight edge in the battle for the QB1 spot. If he wins the job, he might have underrated value in Superflex and two-QB formats.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Mims Jul 2 4:50pm ET
Marvin Mims

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. was the first selection of the Sean Payton era, landing with the organization at the end of the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, he caught just 22 of his 33 targets for 377 yards and one touchdown. He was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro selection as a returner, and Jon Heath of Broncos Wire believes he should be more involved in the offense in 2024. "Mims is poised to make a big impact as a returner again in 2024, but his contributions won't end there," Heath wrote. "Mims averaged 17.1 yards per reception last fall, but he was used sporadically on offense. After trading Jerry Jeudy to the Browns this spring, the Broncos will have more snaps (and targets) available for Mims on offense this fall. The 22-year-old special teams ace could be on the verge of a breakout year as a receiver." Mims will compete with Josh Reynolds, Troy Franklin, and Tim Patrick for snaps, all of whom aren't standout pass-catchers. The Broncos are likely to have one of the worst offenses in the NFL under rookie quarterback Bo Nix, but Mims could still be a solid late-round fantasy option considering his price outside the top 75 wide receivers.

From RotoBaller

Tashaun Gipson Jul 2 4:50pm ET
Tashaun Gipson

The NFL issued a six-game suspension to free-agent safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. on Tuesday, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The cause for the suspension is unclear, but it will make his path toward finding a landing spot tougher as the 2024 season rapidly approaches. The 33-year-old has played in 173 career games for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, and San Francisco 49ers and has racked up 684 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 33 interceptions, 67 pass deflections, and one forced fumble. He started for the 49ers in February's Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

From RotoBaller

Curtis Samuel Jul 2 4:20pm ET
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel is set to play with the best quarterback of his career in 2024, and his best season of production came under current Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. Samuel racked up 1,051 yards and seven touchdowns on 118 touches during his one season with Brady. According to Jacob Robinson of the Athletic, Samuel could be more involved in the offense than many expect. "Still just 27 years old, the explosive Samuel is now in one of the league's best offenses (with over 260 targets available)," Robinson wrote. "It's the best opportunity of his career, yet he's being drafted as the 40th wide receiver or later." Robinson noted that Khalil Shakir is the only wide receiver on the roster to catch a pass from Josh Allen in a game, so Samuel will have the opportunity to become at least Allen's No. 2 target in the passing game. Samuel, who has 121 career rushing attempts, could also see extra fantasy production on the ground.

From RotoBaller

Brandin Cooks Jul 2 4:10pm ET
Brandin Cooks

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks didn't make the impact many had hoped for in his first season with the organization. He caught just 54 passes for 657 yards, but his eight touchdowns kept him on the fantasy football radar. The six-time 1,000-yard receiver has now failed to reach 700 yards in two consecutive seasons, but he's reportedly looking like his old self offseason. "The Cowboys were 11-0 in the regular season when Cooks had at least 20 receiving yards and 0-5 when he had fewer than 20," wrote Saad Yousuf of the Athletic. "One of the most underrated players in Dallas, the 31-year-old Cooks still showed his signature speed while blowing past cornerbacks during OTAs." The former Saint, Patriot, Ram, and Texan is being selected outside the top 50 wide receivers in 2024 fantasy drafts, so he could be a steal at cost in the explosive Dallas offense. However, it's tough to ignore the statistical regression in recent seasons.

From RotoBaller

Kyler Murray Jul 2 4:00pm ET
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, meaning he has plenty of pressure on him to become a high-end blindside protector for quarterback Kyler Murray. Johnson was credited with giving up eight sacks last year while playing right tackle, according to PFF, but he's ready to make the Year 2 leap at his more natural position on the left side. "Yeah, I think personally, just Year 2, being able to fulfill all of the expectations that I have for myself, expectations that the team has for me being here," Johnson said. "My goal ultimately is to be the best tackle in the game." Johnson developing into at least an above-average left tackle in 2024 would be a significant boost for a potential ascending offense. Kyler Murray is back and healthy, and the team added Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey Benson to bolster its skill position group this offseason. Arizona could be an underrated offense for fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Jahlani Tavai Jul 2 3:00pm ET
Jahlani Tavai

The New England Patriots gave emerging star linebacker Jahlani Tavai a three-year contract extension on Tuesday, according to league source. The extension has a base value of $15 million and can be worth up to $21 million, according to sources. Tavai tied for second on the team in tackles last year while emerging as a key cog for one of the league's top-rated defenses. He was entering the final season of the two-year extension he signed in November of 2022 that was worth up to $4.4 million. Tavai was scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.625 million in 2204. The 6-foot-2, 255-pounder entered the league as a second-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2019. He's appeared in all 17 regular-season games in each of the last two years for New England and has made 28 starts. Tavai's 107 tackles last year were tied with safety Kyle Dugger.

From RotoBaller