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
San Francisco 49ers tight end Eric Saubert is on the fantasy radar for Week 11 after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that George Kittle (hamstring) is expected to be inactive Sunday. Kittle has only missed one other game this season, but in that contest, Saubert played 86 percent of the offensive snaps and caught two passes for 41 yards. While his production wasn't otherworldly, he clearly earned additional looks on offense, and that should remain true this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Saubert finds himself ranking as a low-end TE2 at best.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (illness, wrist) was a full participant in practice Friday and is expected to play versus the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Adams has 38 catches, 415 yards, and two touchdowns this year. This week, he ranks as a high-end fantasy WR2 tier against Indy.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (personal, neck) has traveled to Los Angeles and is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Chargers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 29-year-old had been listed as questionable but is now trending in the right direction after the Bengals summoned him to travel separately and join them out west. Hendrickson has 28 tackles and 11 sacks so far this year, putting him near the must-start range in IDP formats.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is expected to be inactive for Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Kittle had been listed as questionable and will test his injury pregame, but the expectation is that he won't be able to suit up for Sunday's divisional battle. Kittle has appeared in eight games this year, ranking as the overall fantasy TE1 with his 43 catches, 560 yards, and seven touchdowns. Eric Saubert should step up as the Niners' top tight end with Kittle active on Friday.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau began the 2024-25 campaign by catching all four targets for 43 yards and a touchdown. However, outside of two more trips to the end zone, the 27-year-old has been quiet through the first 10 weeks. Granted, he has logged more snaps than Juwan Johnson, although he hasn't been as productive. Still, even with the potential for more attention from Derek Carr in the Week 11 meeting with the Cleveland Browns, Moreau is hard to trust from a fantasy standpoint, meaning he's only a starting option for those with nowhere else to turn.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson burst on to the scene as a rookie and finished his first season by making nearly 85% of his kicks. However, he has seemingly regressed over the years and is currently having the worst season of his career, successfully draining just 76.5% of his attempts. While McPherson is still a capable performer, he hasn't been too productive for fantasy managers in 2024-25. Still, considering injuries and teams on a bye, the 25-year-old has a place in all fantasy lineups for the Sunday night encounter with the Los Angeles Chargers.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton looked good during the preseason, finding the end zone twice. As a result, expectations were high for the 2024 No. 80 overall pick heading into the regular season, even with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the equation. However, he hasn't done much, amassing only three catches (10 targets) for 99 yards. Burton has also been held out of a few contests, one of which was for disciplinary reasons. With that in mind, the 23-year-old may have a bright future, so keeping him stashed on dynasty rosters is recommended. Yet, his fantasy outlook for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign doesn't look promising, including in Week 11 versus the Chargers, especially with Chase, Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Chase Brown, and Mike Gesicki all looking for Joe Burrow's attention.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (back) is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens. He didn't practice on Thursday, although he was back on the practice field for a limited session on Friday. Still, it wasn't enough for Warren to avoid a questionable tag heading into Week 11. The 26-year-old hasn't done much to benefit fantasy managers this season, totaling 217 yards off 55 carries to the tune of 3.9 yards per touch, adding 14 grabs for 96 yards. With Najee Harris in the lineup, Warren isn't expected to be involved enough to be considered a reliable fantasy option, so managers should consider keeping him on the bench for the AFC North matchup.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo can be safely avoided by fantasy managers this Sunday when he squares off against the visiting Minnesota Vikings. The 25-year-old is Tennessee's clear TE1, though it has yet to amount to much in the fantasy department. Okonkwo is averaging an abysmal 2.3 receptions and 19.2 receiving yards per contest through nine games. Additionally, he'll face a tough test this weekend in a Vikings defense that has been stout against opposing passing attacks this season, letting up the seventh-fewest yards per pass attempt (5.7). Minnesota has been solid against tight ends, too, with 5.3 fantasy points allowed per game to the position. The Maryland product is RotoBaller's PPR TE29 for this weekend's slate.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson is not a viable fantasy option in Week 11 when his team lines up against the Los Angeles Chargers on the road at SoFi Stadium. The seventh-year veteran has seen his usage tick up since rookie TE Erick All Jr (knee) went down for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. In Week 10, Hudson had his best outing of the season when he churned out 42 yards and a touchdown on 6-of-7 receiving against a sieve-like Baltimore Ravens defense. However, he'll have a much more difficult outing this weekend against one of the top defenses in the league. The Chargers are affording opposing tight ends an average of 4.7 fantasy points per outing and are the top scoring defense in the NFL -- letting up just 13.1 points per game. Additionally, the 30-year-old will continue to contend with teammate Mike Gesicki for targets and now has wide receiver Tee Higgins (quad) back in the fold, vying for his own share. Hudson is RotoBaller's PPR TE28 ahead of Week 11's outing.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor can be safely avoided for fantasy purposes this Sunday when the team travels to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans. The third-year wideout had a few useful fantasy performances in the season's early going but has recorded just four receptions and 34 yards on eight targets over the prior three contests. Nailor will get a difficult test this weekend against a Titans defense that has been excellent against the pass thus far in 2024. Tennessee is allowing their opponents 5.3 yards per pass attempt and has let up an average of just 13.6 fantasy points per game to the WR position. Additionally, Nailor has become an even more distant option in the Vikings' air attack, with tight end T.J. Hockenson back in the fold. The 25-year-old is RotoBaller's PPR WR74 in this week's rankings.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray will not be a recommended option this Sunday when his team squares off against the Buffalo Bills in a premiere matchup. The 25-year-old is far and away the team's second option at TE, registering nearly 300 more snaps than the next-closest player at the position sans Travis Kelce. However, his involvement needs to be more consistent to warrant fantasy viability. Gray is averaging just 2.1 receptions and 25.1 yards per contest as a distant fourth option at best in Kansas City's passing attack. If Kelce were to miss time, the Duke product would become an intriguing option. Until then, he can safely be avoided for fantasy purposes. Gray is RotoBaller's PPR TE27 in this week's ranks.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright is little more than a dart-throw option in Week 11 when his team lines up against the Las Vegas Raiders. The rookie back has seen his snap share dwindle over the last few weeks with the return of teammate Raheem Mostert, topping out at six carries since his return in Week 7. Week 10 was a low point for the 21-year-old, as he averaged just 0.6 yards on his five rush attempts (three yards). Wright has all the talent in the world but is buried on Miami's depth chart behind the veteran and second-year RB De'Von Achane -- who has dominated the Dolphins' snaps and touches out of the backfield. Until the former fourth-round pick's role is elevated, fantasy managers can continue to relegate him to their bench. He's RotoBaller's PPR RB42 for this weekend's slate of games.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith gets a great matchup in Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders. For most of the season, he has maintained a good target share and has carved out a meaningful role in the offense. He's garnered six or more targets in four of his last five games. The Raiders defense has been porous against tight ends this year, giving up the fourth most fantasy points per game to the position. They've also allowed the fifth most touchdowns to tight ends this season. In their last two games, Travis Kelce and Mike Gesicki had 90 receiving yards and a touchdown. If you need a replacement starter this week, Smith could be a viable option. He checks in as RotoBaller's TE17 for Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Patriots have waived wide receiver Tyquan Thornton. Dynasty Analysis: The former second round pick looks like a classic case of a workout wonder gone wrong. Thornton has the speed and genetic makeup to compete in the NFL, but he just never got it together, despite being a second round pick in 2022. In 28 total games, he has just 39 catches for 385 yards and two touchdowns, including a 4/47/0 line this season. Thornton could re-emerge somewhere, but he doesn't belong on dynasty rosters at the moment.
Dynasty | Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers may not be guaranteed a roster spot next season. Dynasty Analysis: Rodgers himself said this week he expects to be back with the Jets next season, but it certainly takes two to tango and New York may want to move in a different direction. This is just speculation at this point, but the Jets could be in position to draft his successor this off-season. It still seems likely Rodgers returns (especially since Davante Adams would have likely been assured of it), but teams that have performed this poorly rarely have anything set in stone. Rodgers is clinging to a little dynasty value, but it's dropping by the week.
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell once again finds himself in boom-or-bust Flex/WR3 territory with the Texans taking on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11. The 25-year-old receiver ranks a disappointing 40th at his position in PPR formats, though the Houston offense is due a major boost with the return of fellow receiver Nico Collins. Now that wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) is out for the year, the Houston offense could again look like it did in 2023 with Collins and Dell powering the passing attack. Even against middling Dallas pass defense, though, fantasy managers will have to weigh the risk of starting a No. 2 receiver on a team in the midst of major pass-protection issues.
From RotoBaller
Already in great form, Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon finds himself with an excellent matchup Monday against the fading Dallas Cowboys. The running back's age-28 season has seen him score touchdowns five weeks in a row, during which he is averaging 117 total yards and more than three targets per game. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are a mess. Dallas is a bottom-five defense against fantasy running backs that has allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns and third-most rushing first downs. Through nine games, opposing ball-carriers are averaging 4.7 yards per carry against the Cowboys. Mixon is a top-shelf running back in any format this week.
From RotoBaller
After a challenging past month, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud meets the struggling Dallas Cowboys at a great time. Last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year averaged under 200 yards during his past four games, during which he had just two passing touchdowns and two interceptions. Opposing defenses have exposed the Texans' pass protection for a dozen sacks in the past two weeks, obviously limiting Stroud's ability to deliver production. Now, however, comes a Dallas defense that ranks 26th against fantasy quarterbacks and is bottom-five against the run. Given Dallas' team-wide struggles, Stroud is starting-caliber in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine will remain the primary backup with Isiah Pacheco (ankle) ruled out for the Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Perine hasn't done much in the rushing game, but has hauled in two receptions or more in each of the last three games. Kareem Hunt has seen a majority of the workload in the backfield and that will likely remain the case once again this weekend. Perine doesn't carry enough value to be considered a reliable streaming option for Week 11.
From RotoBaller
