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.
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Bender's Favorite NFL DFS Pick Em Picks: Week 9
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: RealTime DFS Strategy: Week 9
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 8
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 8
- Bills activate edge rusher Von Miller after 4-game suspension
- Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott (disciplinary reasons) out vs. Falcons
- Packers QB Jordan Love expected to start vs. Lions
- Patriots QB Drake Maye clears protocol, in line to face Titans
- Browns place LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on IR
- Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, TE Noah Fant ruled out vs. Rams
- Top 10 Player Props for NFL Week 9
- Titans QB Will Levis (shoulder) questionable for Sunday vs. Patriots
- Texans G Kenyon Green (shoulder) out for season
- Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs game-time decision vs. Falcons
- Bengals WR Tee Higgins, OT Orlando Brown Jr. doubtful vs. Raiders
- Patriots QB Drake Maye (concussion protocol) could play vs. Titans
- Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (back, knee) returns to practice
- Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. among GTDs vs. Eagles
- Week 9 NFL Capsules
- Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren among 9 coaching candidates for HOF
- Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (back/knee) misses second straight practice
- Cowboys All-Pro Micah Parsons (ankle) likely out vs. Falcons
- Week 9 TNF: Texans-Jets Preview, Props & Prediction
- Field Level Insights: Will Jets show up for second half to tame Texans?
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Players to Stash Week 9 | Don’t Forget Legette
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Week 9 Preview
- Fantasy Six Pack: IDP Start Sit Week 9 | Jump on Ernest Jones
- Fantasy Life: Sneaky Starts & Stashes For Week 9
- Fantasy Life: Target Eagles Player Props In Week 9
- Fantasy Life: Anytime Touchdown Scorer Bets For Week 9: Chase Brown Primed For Paydirt
- Fantasy Life: Will Jonathon Brooks Play This Season?
- Fantasy Life: Week 9 NFL Player Props: All Hail King Henry
The Paur Report
Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was expected to take a backseat during last week's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Robinson did only see three targets, but he hauled in two of them for 35 yards and two touchdowns in the win. His fantasy value was saved by the two scores otherwise it would've been a quiet night for Robinson. The expectation is that Robinson would see less targets with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua (knee) back in the mix. However, Nacua is banged up and could see a limit on his snaps if he does play on Sunday. That means, Robinson could see more targets coming his way on Sunday. Fantasy managers shouldn't rush to add Robinson, but he could be a boom-or-bust option for desperate fantasy managers in deep leagues.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson hasn't been able to do much damage as the backup this season. Wilson did rush for 54 yards in Week 6, but since then Wilson has been held to 16 yards over the last two games. The 25-year-old hasn't seen the field much lately with Josh Jacobs (ankle) healthy. There was some concern over Jacobs' status earlier in the week, but he appears to be good to go for Week 9 against the Detroit Lions. That being said, Wilson will remain the backup and isn't worth rostering in most redraft formats. He's worth a stash in deep leagues or dynasty formats because he'd likely become the starter if anything happens to Jacobs.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants. Robinson was limited throughout the week, which put his status for Sunday in real danger. However, Robinson is reportedly making great progress and appears to be good to go for Sunday's divisional contest. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of kickoff for official confirmation. Austin Ekeler would remain as the primary backup, assuming Robinson is able to go on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver David Moore saw his biggest performance of the season during last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. Moore hauled in four of his five targets for 39 yards, which are all season highs for the 29-year-old. After a few injuries and trades, Moore has become the WR3 in Carolina right now. That doesn't mean a lot given how bad the Panthers offense has been this season. However, it's worth noting that Moore played 82 percent of the snaps last week. He isn't a reliable fantasy option for Week 9, but could creep into the flex conversation with another decent performance this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill has been a boom-or-bust option throughout most of the season. Last week, Hill rushed twice for five yards while hauling in one target for 14 yards through the air. It was a dud outing for Hill who is the primary backup for Derrick Henry in the backfield. Hill has struggled on the ground throughout most of the season, but salvaged his value at times with touchdowns through the air. He'll likely struggle once again to move the ball on the ground against the Denver Broncos tough defense. Hill hasn't done enough to earn the trust of fantasy managers for this Week 9 contest.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders saw increased involvement in the offense during last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. Sanders only rushed the ball once for seven yards, but was extremely active through the air. The 27-year-old hauled in all seven of his targets for 38 yards which are both season highs for Sanders. The expectation is that Sanders is going to continue having a minimal role behind Chuba Hubbard in the backfield. That seven-catch performance was likely more of a fluke than anything else. Fantasy managers should consider Sanders a risky flex option for the Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert was a healthy scratch from last week's loss to the Washington Commanders. Now, it's being reported that the organization has given Herbert permission to seek a trade. Herbert has fallen out of the rotation with D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson playing well right now. That being said, the Bears don't have much incentive to play Herbert who is in his final year of his contract. The 26-year-old has rushed for over 600 yards over the last previous seasons. He has a cheap salary and could be worth the risk for a contending team trying to add depth to their roster. Herbert might be worth a stash but there is no guarantee he gets traded.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) has been making progress from his fractured leg he suffered in Week 2. The Chiefs said Pacheco was expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks, but rule out the possibility of Pacheco missing the rest of the regular season. Now, Pacheco is expected to make a late-November return. It'll be interesting to see how the Chiefs involve Pacheco once he's back on the field. Kareem Hunt has played well as the lead back over the last four games. The expectation is that the Chiefs have the two backs split up the duties in the backfield. That would likely make for a messy situation for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (suspension) won't suit up for this week's game against the Green Bay Packers. However, Williams is expected to return next week after serving a two-game suspension for violating the league's performance enhancing policy. It's worth noting that the NFL continues to monitor his legal situation in an unrelated gun case. That could take some time to resolve, but Williams isn't expected to miss time because of that. Fantasy managers can be hopeful to get Williams back in their lineups as early as next week.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime hasn't done much with his chances this season. The rookie back has been barely seen on the field this season, but that's likely to change in Week 9. The Broncos are reportedly hopeful to get Estime more involved during their matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. He's currently the third string back behind Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin in the backfield. Estime hasn't done enough to warrant adding in most fantasy formats but he's worth a stash in dynasty formats.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey (knee) is listed as questionable, but is expected to suit up for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. Humphrey has been limited in practice all week after missing last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns. The return of Humphrey would be a welcoming sight for the Ravens secondary that is banged up right now. It's possible that Humphrey is limited during his first game back, but his presence would be an upgrade for this defensive unit.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game versus the Las Vegas Raiders, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. The 26-year-old has delivered modest production in a split role with Chase Brown so far this year, totaling 242 rushing yards, 187 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. His usage had started to dwindle with Brown coming on strong lately, and now he's going to be sidelined altogether as he battles a neck issue. For the time being, Brown is the only Cincinnati running back worth starting in fantasy football. This week, with Moss sidelined, Brown ranks as a fringe top-24 fantasy option at the position.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson will likely play 10 to 15 snaps in his first game with the team on Sunday, according to CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson. Johnson was acquired from the Carolina Panthers earlier this week, and while he isn't fully acclimated to the Ravens' offense yet, it sounds like the Baltimore coaching staff will get him on the field for a percentage of plays in Week 9. Moving forward, he offers Baltimore an experienced weapon that can stretch the field in a supplementary role behind Zay Flowers. Johnson should be benched in fantasy football this week, but he could jump up to the low-end WR3 range by Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (concussion) has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The veteran defender had previously been listed as questionable, but that designation reflected Ward's place in the concussion protocol. Now that he has been cleared to play, that designation seems like a mere formality. We're expecting Ward to suit up as he looks to build on his 15 tackles this season and attempts to intercept his first pass since Week 9 of last year.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks (shoulder) is expected to play against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9 despite being listed as questionable, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 32-year-old defender played through the injury last week, registering nine tackles and bringing his season total to 61. He also has two sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception this year.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (calf) is expected to be a game-time decision against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Even though Diggs is listed as questionable and didn't practice this week, the Cowboys are leaving the door open for him to suit up against Atlanta. The 26-year-old defender is off to a quieter start this season, amassing 28 tackles and just one interception through seven games so far. If he can't suit up, Caelen Carson and Andrew Booth would earn additional opportunities on defense.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) has been ruled out for Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. Although Thielen did practice earlier this week, he was sidelined Friday and ultimately downgraded to out on Saturday. Sunday will represent his sixth consecutive absence, leaving Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker in line to operate as the Panthers' top receivers.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks won't make his NFL debut on Sunday. The rookie has been ruled out for Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. He'll have to wait at least one more week before getting back into a game for the first time since tearing his ACL at the University of Texas last year. Chuba Hubbard will continue to lead the Carolina backfield for the duration of Brooks' absence.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) is expected to play against the Philadelphia Eagles despite being listed as questionable, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Etienne has missed the Jaguars' last two games, and during that time, he lost significant ground to Tank Bigsby in the competition for the starting role. It's unclear what the backfield splits will look like this Sunday, but Bigsby figures to get first dibs on the majority share of carries while Etienne nestles into a supplementary role. For the time being, Etienne is not a reliable starter in leagues with 12 or fewer teams.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) is expected to play in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. There were concerns about the severity of Thomas' injury when he suffered it last weekend, but in the end, it looks like the rookie will be able to avoid missing any games. Instead, he'll play in a favorable matchup against the Eagles, and he figures to see a little extra volume with Christian Kirk (collarbone) done for the year. Thomas ranks as a low-end fantasy WR2 this week.
From RotoBaller
