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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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had an uneven game as the Packers suffered defeat at the hands of the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions 24-14. Watson led the Packers in targets with seven, only bringing in three receptions for 37 yards. In the fourth quarter, Watson added a successful two-point conversion with a catch to prop up his fantasy day a little more. It's been an up-and-down season for Watson and he's had a hard time separating from a talented group of pass-catchers in Green Bay, which limits his fantasy value. The Packers have a week off in Week 10 but against the division-rival Chicago Bears in Week 11, Watson should be a boom-or-bust flex play for fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft blended into the background a bit as the Packers suffered defeat at the hands of the Detroit Lions 24-14. Kraft has been very productive for fantasy managers this season but his Week 9 output was very quiet. With six targets on the afternoon, Kraft put up just four receptions for 34 yards. Kraft also had one rushing attempt for two yards to convert a fourth-down conversion early on in the game. With the wide array of pass-catchers on the Packers, it can be a bit easier to blend in and with the Lions pressuring quarterback Jordan Love, that's exactly what happened. Kraft and the Packers will have Week 10 off on bye, but will be back on the field in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears. For fantasy purposes, Kraft should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in that matchup.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was one of the bright spots for the Packers as the team lost at home to the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions 24-14. Reed led the Packers in receptions (5) and receiving yards (113), while finishing second on the team in targets with six. Reeling in all three passes that traveled at least 20+ yards, Reed's role was stark compared to the last couple of weeks, where Reed had been used in a lot of short-area throws from quarterback Jordan Love. This impressive game was a great to see from his fantasy managers, but he'll have to wait to build upon that performance as the Packers are on bye in Week 10. Reed should be considered a mid-range WR2 for fantasy when Green Bay travels to take on their division rival Chicago Bears in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff delivered a subpar fantasy outing in the team's 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers, finishing with just 9.6 fantasy pointshis second-lowest total of the season and only his second game without reaching double digits. Despite the weather and a limited passing workload, Goff completed 18 of 22 passes for an efficient 81.8% completion rate. He totaled 145 yards with one touchdown and kept his streak of five straight games without an interception intact. While the game didn't yield high fantasy numbers for Goff, his consistency and ability to manage the game helped secure another win for the Lions, solidifying their spot atop both the division and conference standings. The Lions will look to keep their momentum going against the Houston Texans in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught seven passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams. With no DK Metcalf (knee) in the lineup, Smith-Njigba made the most of his increased opportunities. He once again led Seattle in targets and scored his second and third touchdowns of the season. Smith-Njigba continues his up-and-down season in 2024. He seems to deliver great fantasy output in random games. When he was the No. 1 wide receiver in Week 8, he had a modest output but he was the total opposite in Week 9. The Seahawks are headed into their bye and continue to be inconsistent on offense from week-to-week or even quarter-to-quarter. Perhaps the bye will give both the Seahawks and Smith-Njigba time to figure a few things out.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett scored for the second time in 2024 in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams. As expected, Lockett was a safety valve for quarterback Geno Smith with DK Metcalf (knee) out of the lineup. While Smith struggled with interceptions all game long, Lockett was still able to deliver solid fantasy value. Lockett has rarely sunk your week in any given week in 2024. That should continue to be the trend once Metcalf returns and there is less attention on Lockett and fellow wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks head into a bye in Week 10 and need to sort things out on offense. Hopefully the reset helps all the skill players in this offense moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (groin) was good to go to play in Week 9 after two limited practices and a questionable tag, but he was lackluster in the Packers' 24-14 loss at home to the Detroit Lions. Love was 23-of-39 passing for 273 yards, but did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season and threw an interception which led to a return for a touchdown by Kerby Joseph that broke the game open at the end of the first half. While Love was not sacked, he was pressured from the jump by the Lions' defense and fumbled the ball three times, but he didn't turn the ball over on those instances. The Packers get their bye at a great time as Love can rest up during Week 10 before heading to take on their oldest rival, the Chicago Bears, in Week 11. A healthy Love is still in the fantasy QB1 conversation despite Week 9's misstep.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III finally received high-end rushing volume once again in Week 9 when the Seahawks met the Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, he was highly inefficient with his volume. Walker only averaged 3.3 yards per carry on 25 carries. However, he did manage to catch all three of his targets for 24 yards. Walker's receiving numbers in 2024 have given him a great base in fantasy football. After being on fire earlier in the season, Walker has faltered in recent weeks. While he is still delivering useable fantasy numbers, he has been nowhere near producing the top five weeks that he was providing fantasy managers earlier in the season. Some of it is not his fault as the Seahawks' offense has been unable to get out of its own way over the past couple of weeks. Turnovers and mental errors have derailed drives and put the Seahawks in unfortunate circumstances. With their bye ahead of them in Week 10, look for this offense to right the ship moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert rushed the ball ten times for 56 yards and added two receptions for 32 yards in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He also lost a fumble. While Mostert has been putting up solid rushing stats since his return in Week 5, his fumbling troubles have overshadowed some of the production. Miami is third in fumbles since 2023 (14). He contributed four of them in 2023 and has two more in 2024. Nonetheless, his yards per carry output remains solid, and he still received 12 touches. The 2023 rushing touchdown leader went empty on the day, but that won't be a regular occurrence. De'Von Achane was able to get in twice from inside the red zone, obviously hurting Mostert's production. He'll look to bounce back in Week 10 at the Los Angeles Rams.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith struggled once again in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams. Without his top target in DK Metcalf (knee) for a second straight week, Smith threw three interceptions. He did continue his high-end passing yardage output and he threw multiple touchdowns in a game for just the second time this season. Despite the interceptions, Smith likely did not sink your fantasy team in Week 9. Due to a solid rushing baseline, Smith continues to be a useable asset in fantasy. Smith did find his footing towards the end of this game when he was able to find wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a game-tying drive in the fourth quarter. Nobody seems to need Seattle's Week 10 bye more than Smith who clearly needs Metcalf back in the lineup. Hopefully, things will improve for Smith and Seattle's offense come Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) was questionable heading into Week 9 and was cleared to play against the Detroit Lions, where the Packers lost 24-14. Jacobs was efficient on the ground, totaling 95 rushing yards on just 13 attempts before the Packers were in catch-up mode for the sizable portion of the second-half. In the receiving game, Jacobs also added two catches for 13 yards on three targets. With the Packers on bye heading into Week 10, that will give Jacobs this week to get healthy before a divisional slugfest with the Chicago Bears in Week 11. For that contest, Jacobs should be considered a low-end RB1 for fantasy purposes given his huge chunk of the rushing volume for the Packers.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley took 27 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown, added three receptions for 40 yards and an additional score, and lost a fumble during the team's 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 27-year-old's 199 scrimmage yards were his most in a single game this season, and he posted his best numbers as a receiver this year as well. Quarterback Jalen Hurts did not take any goal line opportunities away from Barkley this week, and got things started for the Eagles and threw a 20-yard score to the star back to give Philadelphia its first points scored in the first quarter all season. The Eagles may be without A.J. Brown (knee) for the second time in 2024, but regardless of his status next week the Eagles will likely lean on Barkley again as they face a struggling Dallas team.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught six passes for 50 yards in the team's 30-27 win over the Miami Dolphins. The slot receiver only trailed rookie running back Ray Davis in receiving yards and led the team in receptions. As usual, Shakir was efficient with his targets. He missed one this week, bringing his total uncaught targets this season to three. Shakir has at least six catches in three straight games and will bring a safe PPR floor into Indianapolis in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught one pass for 21 yards on two targets in the team's 30-27 win over the Miami Dolphins. It was a disappointing afternoon for the rookie who had been breaking out in recent weeks. Coleman's uncaught target went right off his hands inside the 10-yard line and landed in cornerback Jalen Ramsey's lap. He was unofficially targeted on the Bills' game-winning drive, resulting in a penalty that set up a Tyler Bass field goal. Amari Cooper (wrist) may return in Week 10. His presence has helped the second-round pick. The Bills travel to Indianapolis next weekend.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 18 of 24 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns, adding 13 carries for 67 yards and an additional score, during the team's 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. This game marks the fourth in a row that the 26-year-old has not committed a turnover and he had a fantastic day as a passer despite losing A.J. Brown (knee) in the early third quarter. The brotherly shove was actually ineffective this week but Hurts still found his way into the end zone on an 18-yard run where he went over a defender to dive in for the score. We will need to wait for an update on Brown's status, but even if he is absent, Hurts will remain a must-start against a Dallas team that is reeling with injuries.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught four of 10 targets for 32 yards in the team's 30-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins. That was a season-high target mark for Kincaid but he could not reel in half of them. Kincaid has over 30 yards in every game except the opener this season but hasn't logged more than 52. It's a continuation of a disappointing 2024 campaign for the second-year tight end. He'll look to have his breakout game in Week 10 against the Indianapolis Colts.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 25 of 39 pass attempts for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the team's 30-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins. He also threw one interception on a mishandled pass by wide receiver Keon Coleman. As has been the case for the last few weeks, Allen didn't do much with his legs (two carries for seven yards). Rookie running back Ray Davis did the heavy lifting on Allen's longest touchdown pass, turning a short gain into a 63-yard catch-and-run. Allen's other two scores were short completions to Mack Hollins and Quintin Morris. Allen will be ranked as a QB1 next weekend when the Bills travel to Indianapolis.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed the football 10 times for 44 yards and caught five passes for 25 yards in the team's last-second victory over the Miami Dolphins. It was the second-fewest carries that Cook has logged in a game this season (nine versus Baltimore). Backup running backs Ray Davis and Ty Johnson combined for seven carries. Cook's stat line was far from what he did against the Dolphins in Week 2 when he scored three touchdowns. Fantasy managers in PPR leagues got a double-digit performance out of Cook, but non-PPR and half-PPR managers weren't as fortunate. Cook draws a positive matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) will undergo an MRI to address an AC joint issue in his shoulder. The wideout exited Sunday's meeting with the Atlanta Falcons, although he still managed to return to finish with eight catches for 47 yards. Without a doubt, the Cowboys can't afford any more injuries, considering Dak Prescott (hamstring) will also need an MRI to address the hamstring injury suffered in Week 9. If Lamb can't play in the NFC East showdown with the Eagles, Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin, and Jake Ferguson would all likely see more attention on the receiving end.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney hauled in five of nine targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-21 win over Dallas. With fellow wideout Drake London going down with an injury early on in the game, Mooney and Bijan Robinson picked up the slack, accounting for 12 of Kirk Cousins' 19 completions. The 27-year-old has now earned six or more targets in seven of nine games and has gone over 80 yards receiving in four of them, with Sunday's TD giving him five on the season. An early look at next week's contest with New Orleans provides another favorable matchup with the Saints in the top third in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. If London were to miss any time, it would give an additional boost to Mooney and the rest of the receiving corps.
From RotoBaller
