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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Draft Day Winners and Losers

Mon Apr 29 11:53am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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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Player Notes
Kalif Raymond May 22 11:20pm ET
Kalif Raymond

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (knee) was photographed participating in OTAs on Wednesday, via the team website. There hasn't been much information available regarding Raymond's status until this latest development, which suggests that he has made progress in his recovery ever since missing the NFC Championship in January. Raymond managed to carve out a role on offense despite competing for targets with plenty of offensive playmakers. He finished 2023 with 35 catches, 489 yards, and one touchdown over 17 games (three starts), serving as a reliable option for Jared Goff. This year, Raymond will once again be in play for a non-zero target share given his familiarity with Detroit's offense. However, he remains off the fantasy radar in most formats as he operates behind the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle May 22 11:10pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has started to lose his grasp on the top role in the team's backfield. "Elliott is being viewed as the leader of the [running back] room, but it is already beginning to look like a committee approach as he and Rico Dowdle split nearly all of the first-team reps on Wednesday," wrote Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com. This will be an important competition to watch as offseason programs unfold and both Elliott and Dowdle compete for more opportunities. Elliott, of course, has spent most of his career with the Cowboys but did join the Patriots for the 2023 season. He's not getting any younger, but Dallas still values his experience and pass-catching skills, both of which could boost his fantasy value down the stretch. Dowdle has youth on his side, though, and it sounds like there's a real chance he could push to earn just as many touches as Elliott.

From RotoBaller

Marquise Brown May 22 9:50pm ET
Marquise Brown

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid praised new wide receiver Marquise Brown at organized team activities on Wednesday. "Hollywood (Brown) does a nice job at receiver. Looks like he and Pat are developing a chemistry," Reid said. Anytime Mahomes is developing chemistry with a receiver, fantasy managers should take notice. The speedy Brown made a highlight-reel, one-handed catch during 7-on-7 drills on Wednesday and appears to have put the heel injury that bothered him last year in the rearview mirror. Tight end Travis Kelce is going to remain a favorite target of Mahomes in 2024 as long as he's healthy, but the 26-year-old Brown has an opportunity to become heavily involved as well, especially with Rashee Rice likely to be hit with a suspension from the league. The former 25th overall pick by Arizona in 2019 out of Oklahoma had a 1,000-yard receiving season in his final season in Baltimore in 2021.

From RotoBaller

AJ Barner May 22 9:40pm ET
AJ Barner

Seattle Seahawks rookie tight end AJ Barner (hamstring), who didn't take part in rookie minicamp, is still sidelined during organized team activities this week due to a hamstring injury. It remains to be seen if Barner's hamstring issues will keep him sidelined for the start of training camp at the end of July, but he's still missing valuable repetitions as he tries to learn Seattle's offense heading into his first NFL season. The 22-year-old was taken in the fourth round of last month's NFL draft and was considered more of a project at the position, so he was unlikely to play a key role in 2024 anyway. When healthy, he's going to provide the Seahawks with depth at the tight end position behind Noah Fant, Pharaoh Brown, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson. At best, Barner may be a red-zone weapon for the Seahawks offense down the road.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith May 22 9:30pm ET
Geno Smith

The Seattle Seahawks are in the early stages of installing new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's offense during organized team activities this spring. However, quarterback Geno Smith feels that he has "a really good grasp" of the offense so far and that it fits his skillset in a few ways. "I feel like I'm a dropback passer and I feel like this is a dropback offense," Smith said. The signal-caller went on to describe it as "an offense that's going to spread the ball around and trust the quarterbacks to make the right decisions... pre-and-post snap. I feel like that's something I'm really good at." A spread offense would be good for Smith and his receivers. The 33-year-old was a Pro Bowler in each of the last two years, but he was definitely not as productive in 2023 and missed two games with injuries. Smith probably won't ever be as good as his 2022 campaign again, but he can be a serviceable No. 2 in superflex fantasy formats.

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Anthony Richardson May 22 9:20pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) made his return to 11-on-11 action during organized team activities on Wednesday on the day he turned 22 years old. It's the first time the media got a look at him in a practice/game since last October. It looked as though Richardson didn't miss time at all with a shoulder injury that required surgery. The former first-rounder went 4-for-6 in two 11-on-11 periods, and the motion and velocity on his throws looked normal. There are some days Richardson said he feels "a little achy," but it's part of his recovery process. Unless soreness pops up, Richardson is expected to have no restrictions in offseason workouts as he heads into Year 2 in the NFL. The 22-year-old injured his throwing shoulder in just the fourth game of his rookie year in 2023, but Richardson was already showing why he has high-end QB1 upside if he can stay healthy.

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Jelani Woods May 22 9:20pm ET
Jelani Woods

Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods (hamstring) is back in action at organized team activities this week after missing all of last year due to hamstring injuries. Woods caught a pass on Wednesday from second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson while running a post route on air. The 25-year-old third round pick in 2022 out of Virginia will be competing for targets with Kylen Granson, who is in a contract year, and Drew Ogletree, but if he can stay on the field in 2024, he'll have some TE2 sleeper appeal with Richardson running the offense in Indy. In his first year in the NFL in 2022, Woods caught 25 passes on 40 targets for 312 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games (two starts). The Colts' tight end room has been one to avoid for fantasy managers for a while, but Woods is certainly worth watching this summer.

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Lamar Jackson May 22 9:10pm ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, last year's NFL MVP, said that he dropped weight this offseason to "be more agile." Jackson said he weighed 205 pounds, which is 25 pounds less than his 2022 weight and 10 pounds less than last year. The 27-year-old is already the most prolific running QB in the NFL, as he's gained 5,258 yards on the ground in his first six seasons in the league, 1,399 more than any other signal-caller. He led the NFL by averaging 5.5 yards per carry in 2023, but that was his lowest in any full season. Jackson had nine runs in his first three seasons in which he reached a maximum speed of 20 mph or faster, but he's managed just one of those runs in his last three seasons. He doesn't think the weight loss will impact how he takes hits, and it shouldn't deter fantasy managers from taking him as a high-end QB1.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Tolbert May 22 4:10pm ET
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert looks like he has added muscle this offseason, according to Nick Harris of DallasCowboys.com. The 25-year-old is expected to have a more significant role behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks this season, and his added bulk could help him take a step forward. After catching just two passes in just eight games as a third-round rookie in 2022, Tolbert caught 22 passes for 268 yards and two scores in 2023. After the team moved on from Michael Gallup this offseason, his path to the WR3 role is more clear. It's also worth noting the Cowboys will have to replace 67 targets vacated by Tony Pollard after he signed with the Tennessee Titans at the start of free agency, so there could be more targets up for grabs in the short and intermediate areas of the field for Tolbert.

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Ashton Dulin May 22 4:00pm ET
Ashton Dulin

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (knee) did not practice on Wednesday as he works his way back from a torn ACL suffered in training camp last year. The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Malone University has had a limited role on offense during his five years with the organization, but he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 for his special teams ability. Assuming he's healthy and makes the 53-man roster this year, he projects to open the season as no better than the team's No. 5 wide receiver behind Michael Pittman Jr., Adonai Mitchell, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce. For now, he's not worth fantasy consideration in any format.

From RotoBaller

Parris Campbell May 22 3:50pm ET
Parris Campbell

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell was a frequent target for quarterback Jalen Hurts during Wednesday's practice, according to Eagles reporter Brandon Lee Gowton. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have occupied the WR1 and WR2 roles over the last two seasons and will continue to do so, but Philadelphia has lacked a legitimate No. 3 wideout during Hurts' tenure. Campbell, who has missed 39 games over his first five NFL seasons due to injury, has a chance to crack the starting lineup in three-wide sets. The former Ohio State Buckeye tallied 117 receptions for 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns in four years with the Indianapolis Colts and one season with the New York Giants. Although he's been disappointing overall, he'll get a new opportunity in Philly, and his competition for the WR3 role became easier after the retirement announcement of DeVante Parker. Campbell won't begin the season on the fantasy football radar in traditional leagues, but he could be worth a late-round pick in best ball formats.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy May 22 3:30pm ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (hamstring) is not participating in OTAs on Wednesday after tweaking his hamstring earlier in the week. While it's concerning that the 165-pound wideout is already dealing with an aliment, it's too early in the offseason to have a takeaway from this report. The No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Texas is one of the most intriguing rookies for fantasy football this season, especially given the off-field concerns surrounding second-year wideout Rashee Rice. Worthy was an exciting prospect after posting 197 receptions for 2,755 yards, and 26 touchdowns in three collegiate seasons, and his stock grew after he set the NFL record for the fastest official 40-yard dash (4.21). Assuming he can get past his hamstring injury and stay healthy, he should have spike weeks catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in his debut season. All that said, his slight frame could mean he'll be more prone to injuries.

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Michael Pittman Jr. May 22 3:30pm ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (knee) left Wednesday's offseason practice early after taking a fall during team period. The 26-year-old limped off the field with trainers, but head coach Shane Steichen said he "should be fine." Pittman reportedly just bumped his knee, but organizations are going to be extra careful with their stud players at this point in the offseason. The 2020 second-round pick had an excellent 2023 campaign while playing mostly with quarterback Gardner Minshew. He caught 109 passes for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns. It's tough to know what to expect out of him with a healthy Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor to begin the 2024 season, and the team drafted Texas wideout Adonai Mitchell in the second round of last month's draft. Either way, he remains the No. 1 option in the passing game for the Colts, and another 1,000-yard season should be the expectation.

From RotoBaller

Keaton Mitchell May 22 3:10pm ET
Keaton Mitchell

Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) is "on schedule" with his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in Week 15 of last season. However, the speedster won't take part in training camp this summer, and he's likely to miss at least a few games early in the 2024 campaign. This is no surprise given the usual timeline to return from a major knee injury. After going undrafted last year out of East Carolina, Mitchell rushed 47 times for 396 yards and two touchdowns. His sample size was small, but his 8.4 yards per carry led all running backs, and he flashed his splash-play upside. The 22-year-old should be stashed in dynasty formats, but he has a slim chance of being a significant fantasy contributor this year behind Derrick Henry. Justice Hill is slated to begin the season in the RB2 role, though fifth-round rookie Rasheen Ali could make a run at it.

From RotoBaller

Christian Kirk May 22 1:50pm ET
Christian Kirk

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (groin), who missed the final five games of last season with a groin injury, said he's feeling good and healthy this spring during organized team activities. The Jaguars receiving room lost Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones this offseason but added Gabe Davis via free agency and took Brian Thomas in the first round of the NFL draft. Especially with Ridley out of the picture in 2024, the 27-year-old Kirk is the team's most experienced pass-catcher who should be the favorite to be quarterback Trevor Lawrence's most trusted target. Before getting hurt last year, the former second-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 out of Texas A&M had 57 catches (85 targets) for 787 yards and three touchdowns in 12 starts. In his first year with Jacksonville, Kirk had a career-high 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns.

From RotoBaller

Trey Lance May 22 1:40pm ET
Trey Lance

The Dallas Cowboys are excited to work with backup quarterback Trey Lance this summer after trading for him before the 2023 season. Lance served as the No. 3 behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush last year and didn't play a single snap in his first year in Dallas. He hasn't played in a game since a preseason game on Aug. 19 of last year with the San Francisco 49ers. His last time in a regular season game came on Sept. 18 of 2022 in Week 2. Lance will enter training camp this year competing with Rush for the backup job. "We're excited to see him," executive vice president Stephen Jones said of Lance. "He's done nothing but impress around here. He's a pro, he works his ass off. No one gets to see him, because he hasn't been on the field (because) we got him late. But we're going to get to see him." Unless Prescott misses time with an injury in 2024, Lance will be off the fantasy radar.

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Luke Schoonmaker May 22 1:40pm ET
Luke Schoonmaker

Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out throughout organized team activities. Schoonmaker had shoulder surgery this offseason, but his hamstring injury is what is keeping him off the field this spring. He missed all of his 2023 rookie spring with a foot injury. The Cowboys took Schoonmaker in the second round of last year's draft out of Michigan, and he caught only eight of 15 targets for 65 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in 2023 while working in a backup role behind Jake Ferguson. Schoonmaker has had trouble with injuries early in his NFL career, but as long as he's able to get back on the field for training camp this summer, he should have a chance to be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 regular season. Barring an injury to Ferguson, Schoonmaker can be left to the waiver wire in most redraft fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Ladd McConkey May 22 1:30pm ET
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers rookie second-round wide receiver Ladd McConkey is already developing a connection with quarterback Justin Herbert at organized team activities this week. McConkey played both inside and outside on Monday, but the majority of his snaps with the first-team offense came in the slot. The 22-year-old from Georgia has a real opportunity to become a key piece of the Chargers' passing game in his rookie season with both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams moving on in the offseason. He should start in three-wide sets with second-year wideout Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer, and McConkey's speed and versatility could make him a reliable target for Herbert. The Bolts figure to run the ball more under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, but McConkey is in a situation to be worth taking a late-round flier on in deeper fantasy leagues this fall.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson May 22 1:20pm ET
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) threw on the first day of organized team activities on Tuesday but is scheduled for a day off on Wednesday, the only day of the week open to the media. Dorian Thompson-Robinson (hip) is still recovering from his hip injury and is also not expected to throw Wednesday. Watson threw during some individual drills on Tuesday and looked great after having offseason right-shoulder surgery. He said Dr. Neal ElAttrache wants him to be conservative during OTAs and minicamp so that he can be as healthy as possible for training camp this summer. Watson had his fractured shoulder socket and partially torn labrum fix in November. The 28-year-old said he's throwing full speed, and he should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season as long as he doesn't have any setbacks before then. Watson has QB1 appeal in fantasy, but he's also a big injury risk.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk May 22 1:10pm ET
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings have not yet reported for the team's offseason program. Aiyuk is seeking a long-term extension that will make him one of the highest-paid receivers in the league, while Jennings has yet to sign his one-year, restricted free-agent tender and is also interested in a long-term deal. Their absences this week have made receiver Deebo Samuel quarterback Brock Purdy's favorite target. Jennings will most likely show up for mandatory minicamp next month, but the 26-year-old Aiyuk could be a candidate for a holdout if the two sides can't make progress in contract talks by then. If he plays out his fifth-year option in 2024, he'll make $14.12 million. Aiyuk has now had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons and put up a career-high 1,342 yards and seven scores in 16 regular-season starts in 2023.

From RotoBaller