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
Updating a previous report, Philadelphia Eagles CB James Bradberry (undisclosed) was taking some reps at safety before suffering an undisclosed injury during position drills on Tuesday, June 4.
From TheHuddle
Houston Texans WR Noah Brown (shoulder) is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
From TheHuddle
Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott will likely be the starting running back this season, but head coach Mike McCarthy sounds certain that as many as three running backs will be handling work - even if he doesn't know who the member of the committee are yet. 'Two or three (running backs), whatever it takes. ... I think you have to pay attention. Whether it's two or whether it's three, frankly, to be honest with you, the players will determine that,' McCarthy told ESPN.
Fantasy Spin: It appears more likely than not that Elliott will handle the bulk of the early-down work, while Rico Dowdle operates as his primary backup. Deuce Vaughn should be considered the favorite to handle most of the passing-down work and could end up carving out more of a role in the offense as the summer progresses, as he has the skill set to be used like Tony Pollard before 2023 - even if he lacks the size.
From TheHuddle
Philadelphia Eagles CB James Bradberry (undisclosed) suffered an undisclosed injury during position drills on Tuesday, June 4, and did not return for the rest of the session.
From TheHuddle
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey reportedly signed a two-year extension worth $19 million per season on Tuesday, June 4. McCaffrey will reportedly receive an additional $8 million over what he was scheduled to make in the first two years while adding $24 million in guarantees, according to sources.
Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey was set to become a free agent at the end of the 2025 season, so this deal likely ensures he will remain in the fantasy-friendly environment that is Kyle Shanahan's offense until his early 30s, The soon-to-be 28-year-old is coming off a season in which he won Offensive Player of the Year and his first rushing title. As has been the case multiple times in his career, McCaffrey is an easy choice to go No. 1 overall in fantasy drafts again this summer.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets EDGE Haason Reddick is expected back for the minicamp next week, according to head coach Robert Saleh.
From TheHuddle
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has not been spotted for the team's mandatory minicamp, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Lamb was also absent for voluntary OTAs, but his absence from mandatory team activities subjects him to fines. The 25-year-old is seeking a contract extension. Wide receivers Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra. St Brown, and Jaylen Waddle all signed deals this offseason that come with an average salary of at least $28.25 million. Meanwhile, DeVonta Smith, Nico Collins, Michael Pittman Jr., and Calvin Ridley also signed high-dollar contracts. After Lamb caught a league-leading 135 passes for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, he's likely to surpass the 30 million dollar salary range when he is ultimately extended. His early absence this offseason is not ideal, but it should not concern fantasy managers about his 2024 season availability yet. Lamb is in consideration for the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy football this year, especially in PPR setups.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The 49ers have signed free agent tight end Logan Thomas. Dynasty Analysis: The one-year deal will give San Francisco some solid depth at the position and some insurance behind George Kittle. Thomas was solid last year in Washington where he posted a 55/496/4 line in 16 games but has never really established himself as an elite-level option after converting from quarterback years ago. Thomas has some back-end roster appeal because the 49ers do utilize multiple tight ends but it's hard to see him being anything close to a weekly starter if Kittle stays healthy.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday that defensive lineman Arik Armstead (knee) should be cleared for the start of training camp in late July. Armstead had offseason surgery to fix a torn meniscus that Armstead played through during the team's run to the Super Bowl early this year. The 30-year-old veteran pass-rusher signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the Jaguars in free agency after recording 27 tackles (15 solo), five sacks, four tackles for loss and 13 QB hits in 12 regular-season starts in his ninth and final year in San Francisco. In addition to his knee injury, Armstead also missed time in 2023 with a foot injury. Armstead only played in nine games in 2022 due to injuries, which could become more of an issue now that he's on the wrong side of 30.
From RotoBaller
During an interview at organized team activities on Monday, Atlanta Falcons second-year running back Bijan Robinson said the plan this year is to use him as a runner first, kind of "like how they use Christian (McCaffrey) down there in San Francisco," while still being creative with how they use him out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. It will be hard for Atlanta to be more run-heavy on offense than they were last year under head coach Arthur Smith, but the bottom line is that to no one's surprise, Robinson is going to be a focal point for the new offense run by Zac Robinson, a Sean McVay disciple. In an offense that should be able to sustain more drives with quarterback Kirk Cousins, Robinson has high-end RB1 upside going into his sophomore season after totaling 1,463 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in his first year in the NFL in 2023.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks rookie tight end AJ Barner (hamstring) returned to organized team activities on Monday after sitting out of rookie minicamp and OTAs at the end of May with a hamstring injury. It's great news for the fourth-rounder, who can now start to get valuable on-field repetitions as he looks to learn a new offense and get up to speed before training camp starts at the end of July. The 22-year-old figures to be off the redraft fantasy radar in 2024 and should serve as depth at the position in Seattle behind Noah Fant and Pharaoh Brown. Barner is unlikely to play a significant role in his first year in the NFL and was seen on draft day as more of a project heading to the next level. He has an immense wing span and stands at 6-foot-6, but he accumulated only 610 yards and five touchdowns in 40 collegiate games at Indiana and Michigan.
From RotoBaller
According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase isn't expected to be offered a contract extension in the near future. With Justin Jefferson agreeing to a market-altering deal on Monday, Chase and his next contract are the next hot topic of discussion. However, with the Bengals notoriously known for waiting before securing their stars with new deals, Chase may not get an offer on an extension until the summer of 2025. Without question, the former LSU Tiger is worthy of a massive payday. He's appeared in 45 games for the Bengals since being selected with the No. 5 pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, accumulating 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns. As such, Chase will be a first-round fantasy option heading into the 2024-25 campaign with or without a new contract. But he's battled injuries over the years, which fantasy managers may need to deal with throughout the season.
From RotoBaller
According to Brad Stainbrook of the Orange and Brown Report, the Cleveland Browns aren't interested in signing free-agent wide receiver Hunter Renfrow. There was talk Cleveland would look to sign the wideout, considering his ties to quarterback Deshaun Watson. However, that isn't the case, although Stainbrook believes both sides could "revisit" things once training camp draws closer. Renfrow had logged five seasons with the Raiders after the team selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He appeared in 73 games for the club, amassing 269 catches for 2,884 yards and 17 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his production declined in the last few seasons. At any rate, Renfrow might get some calls from teams around the National Football League over the summer. But he has a way to go before earning a spot on fantasy rosters.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram has been impressive during offseason workouts, according to head coach Doug Pederson.
Fantasy Spin: Engram is coming off a career-high 963 yards this past season and should continue to have a big role in the passing game for the Jaguars. He should be a weekly starting option in fantasy leagues this upcoming season.
From TheHuddle
According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, free-agent tight end Logan Thomas agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers. The 32-year-old began his career by making stops in Buffalo and Detroit. However, he made a name for himself in Washington, where he amassed 184 grabs for 1,685 yards and 14 touchdowns in 52 appearances for the Commanders. While Thomas will be behind George Kittle (abdomen) on the depth chart, he could still get involved enough to warrant a spot on some fantasy rosters. Of course, Thomas' stock will rise higher during the season if Kittle goes down with an injury.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent S Tony Jefferson (Giants) is scheduled to participate in the Los Angeles Chargers upcoming minicamp on a tryout basis, according to a source.
From TheHuddle
Updating a previous report, free-agent TE Logan Thomas (Commanders) agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers Monday, June 3, according to a source. Financial terms were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent TE Logan Thomas (Commanders) agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers Monday, June 3, according to a source. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
Jacksonville Jaguars OT Anton Harrison (shoulder) and DT Arik Armstead (undisclosed) worked on the side during the voluntary workout Monday, June 3.
From TheHuddle
Dynasty | Giants tight end Darren Waller is expected to soon announce his retirement. Dynasty Analysis: Nothing is official as of yet but it certainly sounds like an announcement is imminent. The longer this mystery lasted, the more likely this was going to be the outcome. Waller has battled myriad injuries over the past few years and was only able to post a 52/552/1 season last year, his first (and likely only) with the Giants. Now 31, Waller's career will be remembered for two back-to-back monster seasons with little at the beginning or the end. Dynasty managers hoping for a late career resurgence will likely need to look elsewhere here soon.
