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.
The Washington Commanders released running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. on Tuesday, according to source. Rodriguez didn't survive cutdown day after the Commanders added Austin Ekeler in free agency in the offseason. The 23-year-old former sixth-round selection last year out of Kentucky finds himself on the open market now after carrying the ball 51 times for 247 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games in his rookie season in 2023. He added only two receptions for 12 yards. In the end, Rodriguez lost out on the competition for the No. 3 role behind Brian Robinson Jr. and Ekeler to Jeremy McNichols. If the power back doesn't get picked up by another team in search for RB depth, it's possible that Rodriguez will stay in D.C. on the team's practice squad. Before suffering an ankle injury, Rodriguez had a nice little five-game stretch in which he averaged 37.2 yards per game.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that running back Kyren Williams will be the team's punt returner this year. While this could boost Williams' fantasy value slightly in leagues that count return yardage, it's another sign that the Rams could be preparing to lessen Williams' load as a three-down RB out of the backfield after they added rookie Blake Corum out of Michigan. It's also another way for Williams to get injured. However, although the news isn't idea, it shouldn't keep Williams from remaining a low-end RB1 selection in upcoming drafts. The 24-year-old will still open the 2024 season as the Rams' primary RB after breaking out in 2023 with 1,144 rushing yards, a league-leading 95.3 yards per game and 12 touchdowns in just 12 regular-season games. Williams also had 32 catches for 206 yards and another three scores.
From RotoBaller
The Washington Commanders released wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Tuesday despite the fact that he scored a touchdown in the preseason finale over the weekend. Bryant was with the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason as he attempts to get back into the NFL, but he now hits the open market again. The 32-year-old pass-catcher could land with another team before the start of the 2024 regular season, but it remains a long shot that he'll find a meaningful role this year. The former fourth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014 out of Clemson hasn't appeared in the NFL since 2018 with the Raiders, when he caught 19 passes for 266 yards and no touchdowns in eight games (two starts). There's also a chance that Bryant will stick around in Washington and join the team's practice squad to open the year.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos waived wide receiver Brandon Johnson on Tuesday, according to a source. In addition to Johnson, the Broncos also parted ways with Tim Patrick, who quickly signed with the Detroit Lions, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and David Sills to trim their roster down to 53 by the deadline. Johnson improved in Year 2 with Denver last year by catching 19 of his 30 targets for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games (two starts), but he wasn't able to make the final cut this summer after the offseason additions of Josh Reynolds and rookie fourth-rounder Troy Franklin. The 26-year-old rejoin the Broncos practice squad to give the team additional depth during the regular season, though. Johnson joined Denver as an undrafted free agent out of Central Florida in 2022.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (core) will be placed on Injured Reserve after undergoing a core-muscle repair, according to an NFL source. Okwuegbunam has a projected six- to eight-week recovery timeline from the date of his surgery and will be eligible to return this season. With the reported release of E.J. Jenkins, the Eagles will initially carry just two tight ends -- Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra. However, Jack Stoll could reunite with Philly after being released by the New York Giants. If Okwuegbunam's rehab goes well, there's a chance he could make his 2024 debut in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 13 -- the team has their bye in Week 5. The 26-year-old appeared in just four games in 2023 in his first year with the Eagles and failed to catch his only target. Albert O is miles from fantasy relevance.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings are moving on from running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu, according to a source. The Vikings are expected to cut or trade him by Tuesday's deadline. With Nwangwu and Myles Gaskin out of the picture in Minnesota, the Vikings only have running backs Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler in the RB room, alongside fullback C.J. Ham. The former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Iowa State has plenty of speed, so at the very least, he should get another opportunity elsewhere as a kick returner on special teams in 2024. The 26-year-old had a career-low five carries for just 13 yards in nine games with the Vikings last year. Nwangwu has been more useful as a returner on special teams than as an offensive asset, as he's totaled just 88 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 27 career carries for a weak 3.3 yards per tote in 37 total games (zero starts).
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing running back Boston Scott to their practice squad. Scott was released by the Los Angeles Rams earlier this week. He brings veteran experience to the Steelers after having spent his first six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Scott lost a lot of his touches to D'Andre Swift and Kenneth Gainwell in 2023. He only ran the ball 20 times for 86 yards and zero touchdowns in 15 games. The Steelers only have running backs Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren (hamstring), and Cordarrelle Patterson listed on their depth chart. With Warren not 100%, Scott may have a chance to be elevated to the active roster at some point. Either way, this move is likely to be inconsequential for fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Running back Samaje Perine was officially released by the Denver Broncos on Tuesday. Perine was previously reported as a cut candidate if the Broncos could not find a trade partner. The Broncos are moving forward with a younger running back group featuring Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Audric Estime. Perine was a productive back with Denver in 2023 after several solid years with Cincinnati. He finished the season with 238 rushing yards and a touchdown on 4.5 yards per carry. More importantly, Perine caught 50 passes for 455 yards. That kind of production is sure to land Perine a job in 2024. His release opens up more opportunities for McLaughlin in the Denver offense. McLaughlin will now jump up to the No. 2 running back spot behind Williams.
From RotoBaller
Wide receiver Robbie Chosen was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday. Chosen signed with the team earlier in training camp but ultimately failed to make the final roster. Chosen has bounced around the league with stops in Carolina, Arizona, and Miami over the last two seasons. Chosen recorded four receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown in nine games with Miami in 2023. For now, Chosen will have to hope he can sign on to another practice squad.
From RotoBaller
Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick is expected to sign with the Detroit Lions. Patrick did not make the Broncos' final 53-man roster earlier on Tuesday and appears to have found his new home. Patrick has battled injuries in recent years. He has not played since the 2021 season due to a torn ACL in 2022 and a torn Achilles in 2023. Before his injuries, Patrick was productive when healthy. His signing is slightly worrisome for fantasy managers hoping for more production from Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams. However, this could just be a depth move for a Lions team that has several unproven names behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Williams, and Kalif Raymond. Patrick is 30 years old after all and coming off two significant injuries.
From RotoBaller
The Arizona Cardinals released running back Michael Carter on Tuesday. Carter was clinging to a roster spot behind James Conner, Trey Benson, Emari Demercado, and DeeJay Dallas. Carter joined the Cardinals in the middle of the 2023 season and recorded 22 carries for 149 yards and no touchdowns in six games with the team. He was unlikely to factor into the offense in 2024 despite a solid preseason.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Jaguars have waived quarterback CJ Beathard. Dynasty Analysis: Beathard gets an injury settlement and Jones gets to be Trevor Lawrence's backup. This was a close battle but a late preseason injury to Beathard pretty much sealed the deal. Jones will now look to continue his development behind Lawrence and hope for a shot as a starter again elsewhere. The former first rounder is a tough hold on a dynasty roster, however.
Dynasty | The Bills have released wide receiver KJ Hamler. Dynasty Analysis: The Bills tried everything they could to make this work (even trying Hamer at running back) but it just didn't work out in the end. Hamler was a former second round pick of the Broncos and has had a hard time staying healthy and showing any form of consistency. He may emerge as an option elsewhere but this isn't good for his dynasty value.
Dynasty | The Saints are placing running back Kendre Miller on IR. Dynasty Analysis: He can return later this season, so this isn't season-ending. However, New Orleans is clearly not excited about what they've received from Miller in his short tenure and it's clear he's on very thin ice. While he should still hold a roster spot in most dynasty leagues based on his potential (and potential opportunity), his dynasty value is hanging by a thread,
Dynasty | The Chiefs have released tight end Irv Smith Jr. Dynasty Analysis: Smith is having a hard time sticking in the league after what amounts to failed stops in Cincinnati and now Kansas City. Once a highly regarded prospect with the Vikings, Smith may be running out chances in the NFL. He's not a roster worthy stash at tight end after this move.
Dynasty | The Chiefs have released wide receiver Kadarius Toney. Dynasty Analysis: The Chiefs really tried to make it work with Toney but he's proven to be more trouble than he's worth. There's really no doubting the talent here but Toney has also proven to be unreliable both on and off the field. Someone will certainly take a shot at him in the coming days, making him still a hold in deep dynasty leagues until we see the smoke clear.
Dynasty | The Commanders have released running back Chris Rodriguez. Dynasty Analysis: Rodriguez had some nice moments last year but was caught up in a numbers game after Washington traded for Austin Ekeler. With much of the "deep sleeper" bloom off the rose now with his release, it's going to be tough for dynasty managers to hold on to Rodriguez.
Dynasty | The Chiefs have cut wide receiver Justyn Ross. Dynasty Analysis: Ross was a major prospect at Clemson prior to a late-career injury. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to show that same ability at the NFL level and the Chiefs are throwing in the towel after a couple of seasons. Ross has tape good enough to garner some interest, however, so he should at least stay on some dynasty watch lists at the moment.
Dynasty | The 49ers have released wide receiver Robbie Chosen. Dynasty Analysis: The Chosen one will not be suiting up for the 49ers after all. With Brandon Aiyuk likely staying (at least at the moment), San Francisco didn't have a need for the speedster. After spending time with the Panthers, Jets, Cardinals, Dolphins and now the 49ers, it's fair to wonder if this may be the last we see of him. He's not worth a dynasty roster spot, unless you're in a league that rewards for multiple in-season name changes.
Dynasty | Packers running back AJ Dillon has been placed on season-ending IR. Dynasty Analysis: Wow. The Packers brought him back this year to back up Josh Jacobs and it seems he's not going to be recovered enough from last year's neck injury to do that. MarShawn Lloyd may have the inside track to back him up but Jacobs is in line for a monster workload. As for Dillon, this is going to be a tough time to justify keeping him on a dynasty roster.