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
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 11
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr completed 21 of his 27 pass attempts for 248 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. Carr's first touchdown pass was a 71-yard job to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who covered most of the ground after the catch as opposed to last week's deep shot through the air. Carr's other score went to Juwan Johnson from a yard out, giving the tight end his first trip to the end zone since Week 1. Carr looked great in the first half, with just two incompletions and a streak of 13 consecutive completed passes that stretched into the start of the third quarter. The performance marked just the second time this season that he eclipsed 20 completions in a game and he now has multiple touchdown passes in five of the eight games he has played. Carr's productivity since returning from his oblique injury is surprising, considering the losses the Saints have sustained to their receiving corps. He will be hard to trust as a QB1 but will be a candidate in formats that utilize two quarterbacks after New Orleans returns from their Week 12 bye.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara handled 16 carries for 67 yards and caught all four of his targets for 22 receiving yards in Sunday's 35-14 win over the Browns. Kamara found enough space to take his first handoff 13 yards and had an 18-yard gain on the ground in the fourth quarter but was stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage seven times. It was the first time since Week 7 that he finished short of 100 scrimmage yards and it was his fifth straight week without a touchdown. The four targets were the fewest that Kamara has seen in a game since Week 3. His use in Week 11 was a surprising step back from the norm, considering how thin the Saints are on offense thanks to their recent spate of injuries. Kamara should return to being the focal point of New Orleans' attack after their Week 12 bye and has a favorable schedule for the fantasy playoffs including a matchup against the Raiders in the championship round.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer made two catches in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer was targeted four times, making the two grabs for a total of 23 yards. Palmer has made two or fewer catches for four games in a row and has scored just one touchdown so far. He's playing a fairly important role in the "real life" Chargers offense, but it hasn't translated into any kind of consistent fantasy value and that's unlikely to change. Palmer and the Chargers will play on Monday Night Football in Week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers was targeted 16 times in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins, catching 13 of those passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. He was once again the lone bright spot in the team's loss, as no other offensive or defensive player on his team shined as bright as he did. It's becoming a common theme in his inaugural season, and it seems set to continue. As long as quarterback Gardner Minshew II starts, at least. But he's an elite player at his position already, and it seems that any QB that plays for this team would be well served in spamming the ball in his direction. He's an elite TE option in fantasy and should be started every week from now on, even in Week 11 against a tough Denver Broncos defense.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker had an excellent game in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Dicker attempted two field goals and made them both and also added four extra points on his four tries. Dicker's first field goal came from 19 yards out at the end of the first half, and his second was a 53-yarder in the third quarter. He's remained consistent at one of fantasy football's least reliable positions, and should once again be a top-10 option next week against the Baltimore Ravens.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made both his field goals, attempts of 22 and 27 yards, and nailed his only extra point try in his team's loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. Though he didn't face too difficult of a test, at least he didn't miss any of his kicks, which is more than can be said for other kickers. Regardless, it wasn't a great week for him for fantasy football, and he continues to see very little volume, which he would need to be fantasy relevant. He'll face the Denver Broncos in Week 12, who have a defense that will likely limit the Raiders' scoring potential. Denver boasts an excellent defense that just aided the team in winning a 38-6 blasting over the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker still hasn't found the stride he had for a two-game stretch earlier in the season. He caught three of his four targets for 28 yards and ran the ball one time for seven yards. He hasn't been a big factor in the offense yet, and he's clearly taken a back seat to fellow WR Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brock Bowers. He'll likely stick in his role as third fiddle on this offense. Despite being a speedster, he simply hasn't been putting himself in position to make many impactful plays for Las Vegas. Week 12 won't present any easier opportunities for him to achieve this, as he'll face the rival Denver Broncos, who are coming off a blowout win against the Atlanta Falcons. Denver limited a much better offense to just six points in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Will Dissly scored a touchdown in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Dissly was targeted six times and made four catches for 80 yards. His touchdown came on a 29-yard pass from Justin Herbert near the end of the first quarter. Dissly has become much more heavily involved in the passing game lately, and he's quickly working his way into the lower-end TE1 conversation. He and the Bolts will take on the Baltimore Ravens next week on Monday Night Football.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston scored another touchdown in Week 11, his sixth of the season. Johnston was targeted eight times but only came down with two catches, totaling 48 yards. His touchdown came on a 26-yard pass from Justin Herbert in the second quarter. Johnston has seen a lot of red zone and end zone targets this season and has really boosted his value by scoring touchdowns, but he hasn't been particularly efficient. Johnston has improved on the drop issues that plagued him in his rookie season, but he still has more work to do before he can consistently be relied upon as a WR2/3 option in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey had a big game in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. McConkey ended up leading the team in targets, catches, and yards, making six catches on nine targets for 123 yards. The rookie ended up missing a few plays after being forced to leave with a shoulder injury, but he was back on the field soon after. He made some huge catches at the end of the fourth quarter that helped lead the Chargers to score a game winning touchdown with just 18 seconds left in the game. McConkey has clearly gotten comfortable with quarterback Justin Herbert and is often the first read over the middle of the field. He should continue as a solid and reliable WR3 option most weeks.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers caught just four passes on six targets for 28 yards and rushed for an additional 28 yards, netting him 8.8 PPR points in fantasy football on the week as his team fell to the Miami Dolphins 19-34. It was a quieter day than usual for Meyers, and he had less than half the target volume of teammate tight end Brock Bowers. Meyers is the clear WR1 of this team, but he was handled effectively by Dolphins quarterback Jalen Ramsey and his fellow defensive backs. Things won't get any easier in Week 11, when Las Vegas has a date with the Denver Broncos -- cornerback Patrick Surtain II is elite and is licking his chops at a chance to lock down Meyers. He's a risky start next week, as are all WRs that face the Broncos.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah rushed just one time for one yard and caught three passes for sixteen yards, but one of those receptions went for a touchdown in his team's Week 11 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Teammate Alexander Mattison (ankle) was pulled from the game with an ankle injury, allowing Abdullah to earn some playing time. He capitalized by finding the end zone. It's not known whether Mattison will play in Week 11, but even if he doesn't, Abdullah may have to compete with Zamir White (quad). If neither can play, it's probably not worth starting him anyway, as he will fact a stiff Denver Broncos defense that just held Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson to 63 total yards and 2.9 yards per carry.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins scored two touchdowns in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Dobbins ran the ball 11 times, gaining 56 yards and scoring on the ground twice. He was only targeted once in the passing game and made the grab for a three-yard gain. Dobbins ran well in this one despite a usually strong Bengals run defense. His first touchdown was on a one-yard goal line plunge in the second quarter, and his second was a game-clincher in the fourth quarter that came on a 29-yard rush with 18 seconds left. Dobbins was once again in charge of this backfield despite only tallying 11 carries, as all other Chargers running backs combined for eight total carries. Dobbins will again be on the RB2 radar next week on Monday Night Football against the Ravens.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) caught two passes for 55 yards in the team's 30-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Cooper returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with a wrist injury. Unfortunately, he didn't see a lot of opportunities. Josh Allen only targeted Cooper three times. Fortunately, there were no setbacks to his injury and he'll have extra time to further recover as Buffalo takes their bye week. The veteran will be a WR3 when the Bills host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II completed 30 of his 43 pass attempts for 282 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in his Week 11 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He also carried the ball two times for seven yards. He was once again outmatched by the opposing quarterback, and wasn't able to lift his team to a victory, in what is becoming a common theme for the team. He actually started the game by leading drives of 61 and 66 yards, but both ended with field goals. His TDs twice brought the Raiders within five points of the opposition, but the offense fizzled, and he threw a pick to effectively seal the deal on his next drive. He's likely to be the starter again next week, but will be a risky option in fantasy -- Las Vegas will face the tough Denver Broncos defense, which just handled the Atlanta Falcons with ease.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards tallied just six carries in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Edwards ran it the six times for a total of 27 yards with a long run of nine yards. He was not targeted in the passing game. Edwards settled in behind starter J.K. Dobbins in a role that he'll likely fill for the rest of the season as long as everyone remains healthy. Edwards does not have much standalone value, but he could be an immediate fantasy starter if Dobbins were ever forced to miss any time.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught eight of 12 targets for 70 yards in the team's 30-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The slot receiver led the Bills in targets, receptions, and yards. However, he did not find the endzone. Buffalo's lone passing touchdown went in Curtis Samuel's direction. Shakir hasn't scored since Week 3. Still, he's been Allen's go-to receiver this season and will be in the WR2/3 range when Buffalo returns from their bye week.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. stayed involved in the offense in Sunday's 38-6 blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11 after receiving a season-high seven touches in last week's loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Mims caught both of his targets for 49 yards and his first touchdown of the year while also carrying the ball three times for a pickup of four yards. The 22-year-old, who also contributes on special teams in the return game, has given the surging Broncos offense a different dynamic the last two weeks, but his involvement hasn't been enough to really turn the heads of fantasy managers. That will especially be the case whenever Josh Reynolds (finger) returns from Injured Reserve. With quarterback Bo Nix spreading the ball around to a receiving corps that is suddenly ripe with options, Mims will continue to struggle to find weekly fantasy relevance.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel caught five of six targets for 58 yards and a touchdown in the team's 30-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Those were season-best marks in catches and yards. It was also his first touchdown of the 2024 campaign and the only touchdown pass for Buffalo in Week 11. Samuel took advantage of Keon Coleman's (wrist) absence by operating as Josh Allen's primary outside receiver. The Bills will take their bye in Week 12. Coleman could be back when the Bills return to action which would move Samuel back down the depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had an up and down game in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Herbert was excellent in the first half before struggling in most of the second half but then turning it on for a game-winning drive at the end. In total, Herbert completed 17 of the 36 passes he attempted for 297 yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception, but took two sacks and lost a fumble. On the ground, he added 65 yards on five carries, leading the team in rushing yards. The Chargers ended up with an important win, and will play again in eight days for Week 12's edition of Monday Night Football.
From RotoBaller
