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 18
The Los Angeles Chargers have declared LB Denzel Perryman, QB Easton Stick, OG Jordan McFadden, WR Joshua Palmer, OT Rashawn Slater, RB Gus Edwards and DE Justin Eboigbe inactive for Week 18.
From TheHuddle
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) has officially been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. He suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and the team will play it on the cautious side. Watson finishes the game with one target and no catches. Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft have been the leading pass-catchers for the Packers in this game so far. Watson's status is worth monitoring heading into wildcard weekend for any DFS managers.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph took over as quarterback in the second half as Will Levis took a seat. The Titans could only muster up three points in the first half as Levis completed three of his five throws for 31 yards and was sacked once. Both quarterbacks have posted eerily similar stats this year, but Levis has started in one more win over Rudolph. They aren't playing for anything other than a better draft pick, so this seems to be a tryout to see if the team will hang on to both signal callers going into next season.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers DE A'Shawn Robinson (calf) suffered a calf injury during the Week 18 game and is considered questionable to return.
From TheHuddle
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (elbow) exited Sunday's game in the second quarter with what the team is calling a right elbow injury. Love expressed his discomfort after getting hit as he threw the ball and went to the sidelines shortly afterward. He posted 69 yards on 7-for-12 throwing before leaving, and Malik Willis has taken over at quarterback. The Packers likely won't rush him back since they've clinched a wildcard spot already.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) left Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears with an apparent knee injury and the team has ruled him questionable to return. The third-year receiver has appeared on the injury report a handful of times this season, so they may take the cautious route with the playoffs right around the corner. He saw one target but didn't register any stats before leaving. Dontayvion Wicks and Tucker Kraft have seen the bulk of the targets so far in this game.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was pulled from Sunday's AFC East clash with the Bills. The Pats are playing for draft picks, so the signal-caller will finish by failing to connect on his lone pass attempt. He wasn't the most reliable rookie quarterback during the 2024-25 campaign, throwing for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, adding 54 carries for 421 yards and two touchdowns. It's obvious New England has work to do to bolster depth on the offensive side of the ball. With that said, dynasty managers can consider retaining Maye for at least another season to see how things play out, although he may not be a viable fantasy starter in 2025-26. With Maye presumably done for the remainder of Week 18, Joe Milton III is in under center and has already thrown a touchdown.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons CB Mike Hughes (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury during the Week 18 game and is considered questionable to return.
From TheHuddle
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed all six attempts for 50 yards in Sunday's meeting with the Titans. He also threw a touchdown, finding Nico Collins in the first quarter for a two-yard score. The Texans are locked into a spot for the postseason, so Stroud is presumably done for the remainder of the contest. However, this shouldn't surprise anyone. Overall, the signal-caller had a good year, throwing for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns (12 picks) and adding 52 carries for 233 yards. Although Stroud was more productive as a rookie, injuries on the offensive side of the ball likely prohibited him from being more potent from a fantasy standpoint. With Stroud out of the contest, Davis Mills is in under center.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen logged one play in Sunday's meeting with the New England Patriots. The Bills have already punched their ticket to the postseason, so the move to bench him was expected. The signal-caller had a quality 2024-25 campaign, throwing for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns, and a career-low six picks. He added 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Allen is in the MVP conversation. Although there are a few others in the mix, fantasy managers were more than satisfied with his production and he'll undoubtedly be one of the first fantasy quarterbacks off draft boards heading into next season. With Allen's departure from the game, Mitchell Trubisky is in under center, with Mike White behind him.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons CB Mike Hughes (head) left the Week 18 game early and is being evaluated for a concussion. He is considered questionable to return.
From TheHuddle
Updating a previous report, Atlanta Falcons CB Mike Hughes (head) has been cleared to return to the Week 18 game after being checked for a possible concussion.
From TheHuddle
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs acknowledged that he doesn't expect to handle a large number of touches during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Chicago Bears. "Just being honest, being realistic, I don't see me taking that many carries in this game," Jacobs previously said. "Obviously, I want to play. I'm going to push to play, and I'm playing. But I don't see myself taking 30 carries." The Packers are locked into a Wild Card spot, so the Packers might consider reducing some of their starters' workloads to preserve their health. That list of players would surely include Jacobs, who has 1,625 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns this season. He could still lead the Green Bay backfield on Sunday, but we would expect Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson to remain involved so that Jacobs can stay fresh for the playoffs.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (rest) is not active for Week 18's game versus the New York Giants.
Fantasy Spin: Barkley participated in just one limited practice session during the week but probably would have been active for the game if playoff seeding was impacted. All Philly offensive players should be avoided for fantasy purposes this afternoon.
From TheHuddle
FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz reports that there is a league-wide understanding that a complete overhaul, including parting ways with general manager Trent Baalke, is necessary for the Jacksonville Jaguars to attract top coaching candidates, according to sources. There was a belief a few weeks ago that the Jaguars might retain Baalke, but apparently the organization's decision-makers decided this week that a full overhaul is in the best interest of the team moving forward. The expectation is that both Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson will get the axe on Black Monday. Jacksonville has plenty of young pieces in place on both sides of the ball to attract coaching candidates. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will be at the top of the list for head-coach candidates around the league, but it's unclear if the Jags can pry him away from Detroit or the Chicago Bears.
From RotoBaller
As expected, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (hand) is officially active and will start on Sunday against the division-rival Buffalo Bills in the Week 18 regular-season opener. Maye has been dealing with a right-hand injury, and although he was questionable to play, there was never much doubt that he'd be active to close out his rookie season. It's been an up and down first year in the NFL for Maye, as he enters Week 18 action with a 66.8 completion percentage, 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 12 games (11 starts). The North Carolina product has shown flashes of upside, though, and given the lack of talent around him, it's hard to be too critical of the rookie in his first year. Despite some starters resting around the league, Maye will merely be a QB2 with upside in Week 18 against a Bills defense that will be pulling starters early.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (ankle, quadriceps) is officially active for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. However, the team already ruled out cornerback Christian Gonzalez (concussion) after he suffered a concussion in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Dugger has battled multiple lower-body injuries throughout the year but has mostly played through his ailments. Although the Patriots defense probably has more upside this weekend than they have all year with key starters on the Bills offense to play very little on Sunday, fantasy managers should continue to avoid their defense/special teams unit. In his fifth season with New England, Dugger enters the regular-season finale with 79 tackles (53 solo), one sack, eight tackles for loss, four pass breakups and a forced fumble in 12 starts.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants owner John Mara continues to evaluate head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen separately, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. As of Sunday in Week 18, Mara remains undecided on the futures of Daboll and Schoen with the organization. Schultz notes that "exploratory calls and feelers about potential scenarios if one were retained and the other let go have happened in recent days." Daboll has gone just 18-31-1 through three seasons with the Giants. He led them to a winning season and playoff berth in his first season at the helm, but he owns a miserable .273 winning percentage since then. Schoen has been with the Giants for three years, as well. He has some impressive moves on his resume, including this year's selection of Malik Nabers and the reinforcement of New York's offensive line, but has also received much-deserved criticism for the Daniel Jones extension and Saquon Barkley departure, among other moves. With many coaching staff shakeups expected across the NFL over the next few days, time is running out for Mara to make key personnel decisions. We would expect more clarity on the futures of Daboll and Schoen by Monday afternoon.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring) is officially active for the Week 18 game.
Fantasy Spin: Shepard had a decent role in the passing game a few weeks ago but has been targeted only four times over the last two games. He probably will see a few targets this week, but fantasy players should have better options available and can avoid Shepard.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (rib) is officially active on Sunday for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New England Patriots. Samuel will make his return after missing the last two weeks due to a rib injury. The 28-year-old hasn't had much of a role on offense for Buffalo in 2024, although he could get more run this weekend with Buffalo expected to sit their starters on both sides of the ball after a series or two. Amari Cooper (personal) was already ruled out. The Bills are locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC for the postseason, so there is no benefit to them playing all their key players in this one. However, if Samuel sees a season-high in snaps on Sunday in New England, he'd mostly be working with backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Samuel could be busier than usual, but it's hard to put any fantasy faith in a player with only 201 receiving yards and one TD in 13 games.
From RotoBaller
