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 2
New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught one of his two targets for 10 yards in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Conklin was quiet in a game where Aaron Rodgers only completed 18 passes against the Titans. The veteran tight end has not been a major part of the New York offense through two games as he has drawn just four targets, turning those into two catches for 16 yards. Conklin should be on waivers in fantasy leagues heading into Week 3's Thursday night game against the New England Patriots.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews received the second-most targets in the team's three-point loss at home to the Las Vegas Raiders. While he received more work this time compared to Isaiah Likely, he was unable to turn it into that much. He finished with four receptions for 51 yards on five targets but couldn't find the end zone. The fact that Andrews was more involved in this game was encouraging, but the passing game has been lackluster so far outside of one pass-catcher per game. He'll need to be a big part of the offense if the Ravens want to find their first win on the road against a capable Dallas Cowboys defense in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had a rough afternoon at Arizona after losing his top target Cooper Kupp (ankle) in the team's 41-10 loss on Sunday. Stafford completed 19 of 27 passes for 216 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He did lose a fumble in the game and was sacked five times. With Kupp exiting after four catches for 37 yards on six targets, Stafford found it tough sledding against the Cardinals' defense. The injuries to the Rams' offensive weapons are piling up and it's fair to wonder how the veteran QB will fare without his top two playmakers in Kupp and Puka Nacua (knee). The extent of Kupp's injury is still unknown but he was seen leaving the locker room in a walking boot. It was a disastrous day for the Rams in Arizona so they'll want to put this one behind them and regroup. Sean McVay and his staff will be busy this week figuring out how to get Stafford going with limited weapons.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss had an underwhelming Week 2 showing versus the Chiefs. After finding the end zone in Week 1, the 26-year-old finished Sunday's contest by amassing 34 yards off 12 carries. With Tee Higgins (hamstring) sidelined, some believed Moss would have a more prominent role, especially as a pass-catcher. Yet, that didn't happen, with the 2020 No. 86 overall pick catching one pass for 13 yards. He still had more carries than Chase Brown, who had four touches for 31 yards. However, fantasy managers will still likely be nervous about Moss' potential in Week 3 against the Commanders. With that in mind, he still deserves at least flex consideration, although the topic can be revisited based on his performance after Monday night's showdown with Washington.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein made his lone field-goal try and added three extra points in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Zuerlein drilled a 33-yard try in the third quarter, his first field-goal attempt through the first two games of the season. It has been slow going thus far but the veteran kicker should start to see field-goal chances more frequently as the New York offense comes together. He will have a short turnaround as the Jets play the New England Patriots in Week 3's Thursday night game.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason once again rewarded fantasy managers in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings in Minnesota. The second-year undrafted pro from Georgia Tech racked up exactly 100 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and caught his only target for four yards receiving. He fumbled once, in the second quarter, but quickly recovered it. Mason once again looked the part of a Shanahan zone running back, showing vision and burst with a one-cut downhill style throughout the game. With Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) out for the season and All-Pro starter Christian McCaffrey out until at least Week 6 and possibly even longer, those who have rostered Mason have to be excited about what he's doing with the keys to the backfield. Mason will run up against the Rams in Los Angeles in Week 3 next Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr had four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns in Arizona's demolition of the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: A week after Harrison had just one catch for four yards, he single-handedly roasted the Rams and amazingly did all his damage in the first quarter before the Cardinals went conservative in a blowout win. Harrison reminded everyone just what kind of talent he has and solidified his status as the top overall rookie in dynasty leagues this season. The "buy low" window was pretty quick and Harrison is a "locked and loaded" option moving forward. Dynasty managers can now breathe easy.
Dynasty | Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson had ten rushing yards on 11 carries in Arizona's blowout win against the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: Benson is playing a distant second behind James Conner (124 total yards and a touchdown on 22 touches today) and not doing much with the opportunities he's been given thus far. At this point, Conner (4.6 yards per carry and two scores) is simply outplaying Benson (1.7 yards per carry and no scores), making Benson simply a handcuff moving forward. This could open a solid "buy low" opportunity for dynasty managers but Benson has been relatively ineffective so far in his career and needs a big performance here soon.
Dynasty | Kyler Murray completed 17-of-21 passes for 266 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Cardinals blowout win over the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: With no turnovers, four touchdowns, 116 rushing yards, and a completion percentage over 70% on the season, it's fair to really say Murray looks back. With Marvin Harrison Jr erupting for two touchdowns on the day, the dynasty arrow on Murray is pointing up and he looks like a clear QB1 moving forward. In short, it really looks like the Cardinals made the right choice in staying the course with Murray this season, despite some speculation they'd move on from the talented signal caller. Dynasty managers should have no hesitation in playing Murray from this point forward.
Dynasty | Rams running back Blake Corum had 28 yards on eight carries in his Rams debut. Dynasty Analysis: The good news is it seems Corum may have already passed Ronnie Rivers as the RB2 in Los Angeles. The bad news is he really didn't do much even against a defense that was up by more than 30 points and daring the Rams to run the ball. There really isn't much to read into this, honestly. Corum should remain on dynasty benches as a high-end handcuff at the moment.
Dynasty | Chiefs rookie receiver Xavier Worthy had two catches for 17 yards in a win against the Bengals. Dynasty Analysis: Worthy added five rushing yards on the day. Patrick Mahomes was bottled up for just 151 passing yards on the day, so dynasty managers don't need to panic. Still, this goes to show what we though - Worthy is going to be a "boom or bust" option early on in his career until he establishes solid trust and rapport with Mahomes. Worthy won't be a strong consideration next week but he's clearly a strong dynasty asset who has more than justified his rookie draft slot thus far.
Dynasty | Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice had five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs win against the Bengals. Dynasty Analysis: On a day where Patrick Mahomes was quiet, Rice showed he's becoming matchup-proof with another big game, highlighted by a 44-yard touchdown. Rice is a clear WR2 who is likely going to post some WR1 games moving forward. While his maturity (and possible looming suspension) are in question, his talent clearly is not.
Dynasty | Bengals running back Zack Moss had 34 rushing yards, one catch, and 13 receiving yards in a loss against Kansas City. Dynasty Analysis: Moss (13 touches) looks to be the clear top dog in the offense as Chase Brown (four touches) looked like more of an afterthought. Still, Brown was more effective today and neither of these two is looking like an option in dynasty leagues at the moment. It's early, but it also looks like Cincinnati is going to live and die on the arm of Joe Burrow and their running backs should be nowhere near fantasy lineups at the moment as neither has taken advantage of a golden opportunity to emerge as a real fantasy factor this season (or possibly beyond) yet.
Dynasty | Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed 13-of-20 passes for 117 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in Pittsburgh's win against Denver. Dynasty Analysis: This game was as ugly as the 13-6 score indicates but Fields again did what Pittsburgh asked him to do - manage the offense and not make mistakes. His 27 rushing yards all come at big times and Fields has now gone two straight weeks without turning the ball over. Pittsburgh is winning with an elite-level defense and Fields still has work to do to hold off Russell Wilson, but it's hard to see Wilson starting a game before Fields loses one. He'll remain a QB2 moving forward but things are looking up for Fields as he looks like he's matured under Mike Tomlin (who somehow continues to win despite sub-par talent).
Dynasty | Broncos quarterback Bo Nix completed 20-of-35 passes for 246 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the Broncos loss to Pittsburgh. Dynasty Analysis: Nix was only able to lead the offense to six total points on the day. Sadly, he also led the team in rushing yards for the second straight week with just 25 yards. This offense has been unimaginative and stale through two weeks and Nix is getting next to nothing from his running game, making life that much harder. Nix will look to bounce back next week, but a trip to Tampa Bay isn't exactly a recipe for success for a rookie quarterback struggling to make things work with pieces who are seemingly less talented than those featured by their opponent.
Dynasty | Broncos running back Javonte Williams had just 17 yards rushing in a loss to Pittsburgh. Dynasty Analysis: He added 48 yards on five catches to salvage his day. However, Williams now has just 40 rushing yards on 19 carries (2.1 yards per carry) through two weeks and the talk of his resurgence seems to have been premature. Denver is going to need to do some soul searching this week but it's not going to be surprising to see Jaleel McLaughlin or Blake Watson start to be more involved in the offense. Williams is going to be tough to start moving forward until we something positive from him in the box score.
Dynasty | Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich had just three catches for 16 yards Denver's loss to Pittsburgh. Dynasty Analysis: The supposed "summer sleeper" now has just five catches for 28 yards on the season. On the plus side, he did have eight targets (leading the team by three). Still, he had some drops again this week and hasn't looked like a breakout performer at all through two weeks. Dulcich will need to be better next week to be recommended moving forward.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson couldn't lead the team to their first win of the season after they blew a 10-point second half lead to the Las Vegas Raiders. The reigning MVP put together a decent stat line by throwing 21-for-34 for 247 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also added 45 yards on five carries. The ground game went through Derrick Henry in this game as Jackson did a lot less on the ground, and he wasn't able to fully make up those fantasy points through the air. While he connected with Zay Flowers throughout the game, Jackson hasn't been able to establish more than one big connection per game. He'll now have to go on the road and take on another good defensive unit in the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones took nine carries for 32 yards in the team's 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. He also caught 5-of-6 targets for an additional 36 yards. Jones was out-produced by backup Ty Chandler on the ground in this one (82 yards) and received one less carry than the 26-year-old, but was able to salvage his fantasy day with his work in the passing game. The former Green Bay Packer has led the Vikings backfield through two games, out-touching his running mate 30-to-21 and out-gaining him 177-to-124 while scoring the lone touchdown between the two. This week's rushing split is slightly concerning for managers of the 29-year-old veteran, though it is unclear whether or not it's prescriptive moving forward. Continue to fire Jones up as a mid-to-low-end RB2 on a surprisingly effective Minnesota offense in advance of his Week 3 tilt against the Houston Texans.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson caught four of his six targets for 57 yards in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Wilson finished second on the team in targets, behind only Breece Hall, while his 57 receiving yards were good enough to lead the team in the close win over Tennessee. Wilson has been steady through the first two weeks of the season but fantasy gamers are still waiting for a dominant performance from their first-round draft pick. He will look to provide that for them in Week 3's Thursday night game against the New England Patriots.
From RotoBaller
