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.
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: RB Strength of Schedule
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: QB Strength of Schedule
- 49ers sign WR Jauan Jennings through 2025 season
- Vikings re-signing veteran G Dalton Risner
- Jets signing RB Tarik Cohen to one-year deal
- QB Stetson Bennett back with Rams after addressing mental health
- Texans extend WR Nico Collins for 3 years, $72.75 million
- Patriots sign first-round pick QB Drake Maye
- Saints DE Tanoh Kpassagnon (Achilles) out indefinitely
- Retired S Tony Jefferson wants to play in '24
- Two women sue K Brandon McManus, alleging sexual assault
- Ravens convert Malik Cunningham from QB to WR
- Veteran C Billy Price (blood clot) announces retirement
- Travis Kelce weighs in on Harrison Butker commencement speech
- Raiders DE Maxx Crosby receiving $6M raise
- Sean Payton calls Broncos' quarterbacks 'orphaned dogs'
- Cardinals first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. signs contract
- Giants coach on QB Daniel Jones: 'He's making progress'
- Steelers add RB La'Mical Perine on 1-year contract
- Eagles sign WR John Ross to 1-year deal
- Falcons release TE Tucker Fisk, sign two wide receivers
- Ravens QB Lamar Jackson aims to be more elusive at lighter weight
- Fantasy Six Pack: IDP Minicamp Rookie Battles
- Fantasy Six Pack: IDP Football Green Dot Defenders
The Paur Report
New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught 61 passes for 621 yards last season while primarily catching passes from Zach Wilson. All things considered, it was a decent year, but the New York offense was one of the worst units in the league, and Conklin failed to catch a touchdown. Jets reporter Connor Hughes believes the 28-year-old could be a riser heading into 2024 with the return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles). Conklin reportedly developed great chemistry with Rodgers last offseason, and the pair is picking up where they left off in OTAs this year. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson is the unquestioned No. 1 option in the passing game, but Conklin could be at least the No. 3 option. Mike Williams is coming off a torn ACL, while Malachi Corley is a rookie and could take time to develop. Conklin was the overall TE18 in PPR leagues last year without a single end-zone trip, so an uptick in scoring could lead to him being firmly on the fantasy radar.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets rookie running back Braelon Allen is the early favorite to be Breece Hall's primary backup in 2024, according to Zack Rosenblatt of the Athletic. "He's known for his ability in pass protection but also flashed as a receiver on Wednesday, getting open against linebackers in coverage." Rosenblatt wrote. "He showed some shiftiness after the catch too." Allen was once viewed as a potential contender for the RB1 in the class of 2024, but he regressed following his freshman season. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Wisconsin product posted 1,307 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns while averaging 6.8 yards per attempt as a 17-year-old freshman, but he fell to a 5.4 yards-per-carry clip in his junior season and fell short of 1,200 yards from scrimmage. This likely led to him falling to the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Either way, he looks to be the leader for the RB2 job, making him worth stashing as Hall's "handcuff" in 2024. If New York's offense turns things around with a healthy Aaron Rodgers, Allen could have a few spike weeks in his rookie campaign.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears figure to share the backfield in 2024 under new head coach Brian Callahan, and the Titans are high on both players as receiving threats. "Anytime we can find ways to match those guys up in the passing game on linebackers is a huge benefit to us. They are hard to cover. They can run routes like receivers, which is unique," Callahan said. "I have not seen guys like them very often and we have two of them...they catch naturally which is exciting." Pollard, who spent the last five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, was often used as a receiver out of the backfield as a change-of-pace complement to Ezekiel Elliott. Meanwhile, Spears played 52.9% of Tennessee's offensive snaps last year -- primarily on passing downs. It's going to be a challenge to project each back's workload in the new-look Titans' offense, but given the predicted identity shift to a pass-first approach, both could have flex value in PPR formats. Pollard is being drafted as a low-end RB2 in early fantasy drafts, while Spears is going off the board around the low-end RB3 range.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan signed his rookie contract on Wednesday, according to NFL.com. The Washington alum was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft and is set to compete with 2023 sixth-round pick Trey Palmer for the No. 3 WR role behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. While sharing a field with Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk, McMillan caught 124 passes for 1,657 yards and 14 touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons. He outproduced Polk in 2022 but regressed and became the No. 3 receiver in 2023. Regardless, the 22-year-old flashed upside and earned Day 2 draft capital, so he could be a fantasy football sleeper at some point in his career. For now, he has limited upside in a crowded wide receiver group.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs is facing two misdemeanor warrants issued by Tuscaloosa police for second-degree cruelty to dogs, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The 27-year-old is accused of leaving two dogs locked on his property without access to food or water. Needless to say, these are serious allegations and could put the veteran journeyman on the roster hot seat. Buggs entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2019 and has totaled 89 tackles and two sacks with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions. He signed with Kansas City's practice squad on January 4 but did not appear in one of their postseason games.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The former Raiders first-round pick in 2021 out of Alabama is set to join his fourth NFL team in as many years, but landing with an organization going through a rebuild could help him turn his career around. The 25-year-old won the 2020 Outland Trophy, which is given to college football's most outstanding interior lineman, and he was a first-team All-American while playing in the SEC. The Bolts are looking to become a physical football team under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, so it'll be interesting to see if Leatherwood can carve out a role in 2024.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $15.4 million that includes $10.5 million guaranteed on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jennings was a restricted free agent, but he'll remain with the organization ahead of the 2024 campaign. Jennings, who has been stuck in a crowded offense with Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle, has put up just under 1,000 yards in his first three NFL seasons. However, he's viewed as one of the best blocking wide receivers in the NFL and was likely to be named Super Bowl LVIII MVP had the 49ers won following his two-touchdown game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The former Tennessee Volunteer is unlikely to be a weekly producer in fantasy football, though he'll have a better chance if one of Samuel or Aiyuk are traded. Jennings is likely to lose snaps to first-round rookie Ricky Pearsall if Samuel and Aiyuk stick around in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (foot) was seen doing an up-tempo workout on a side field with athletic trainers during organized team activities on Wednesday. Williams isn't going to take part in OTAs or mandatory minicamp next month, but the Rams fully expect him to return for training camp this summer. The 23-year-old is worth keeping an eye on this offseason after he broke his foot early in his rookie season in 2022. In addition to his foot injury, Williams faces much more competition going into the 2024 season from rookie third-rounder Blake Corum, who the Rams think has three-down capabilities. Williams will open the year as LA's top RB on the depth chart, but if he gets hurt or starts out slow, Corum could become a bigger part of the backfield sooner than later.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley (undisclosed) left organized team activities on Wednesday with a trainer with an undisclosed injury. Corley later returned but was walking with a limp and didn't have his helmet with him. It doesn't appear to be a very serious injury, but the Jets will probably play it safe and hold the 22-year-old out for the rest of the week after taking him with the first pick of the third round in this year's NFL draft out of Western Kentucky. How much Corley is involved in his first year in the league will depend a lot on how healthy and productive new wideout Mike Williams (knee) is after coming off a torn ACL in 2023. Even if Williams stays healthy, Corley will have the inside track to become the team's No. 3 receiver, although it still seems like more of a long shot that he'll be an every-week fantasy starter in redraft leagues in his rookie campaign.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) has been rehabbing, and head coach Robert Saleh said he is progressing and looks good. However, Saleh told reporters on Wednesday at organized team activities that he doesn't have a timeline on Williams' return to practice. Williams suffered a torn left ACL in Week 3 last year in his final season with the Los Angeles Chargers and then signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Jets in free agency this offseason. The 29-year-old big-bodied wideout could be ready to go for the Week 1 regular season opener, but he's currently missing valuable offseason repetitions with the Jets' first-team offense and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. When he's healthy, he figures to be the team's No. 2 wideout behind Garrett Wilson, which will give him plenty of touchdown appeal as long as both he and Rodgers can stay healthy.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Breece Hall (undisclosed) is working in the rehab area during organized team activities this week. It's unclear what type of injury Hall is dealing with or when he suffered it, but it doesn't sound very serious and it shouldn't negatively impact his fantasy value as the 2024 season approaches this fall. If the 22-year-old RB1 is unable to take part in mandatory minicamp in June, it will then become a bigger issue. With Hall out this week, running backs Israel Abanikanda, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis should all see more work at OTAs, in addition to recent signee Tarik Cohen as he attempts to revive his career. With quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) returning, Hall's fantasy upside this year will be even higher with the offense expected to be more explosive.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers first-round rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette (hamstring) tweaked his hamstring during organized team activities on Tuesday and is erring on the side of caution and sitting out of practice on Wednesday. It's not a major injury for the 32nd overall pick last month, but he's going to miss some valuable repetitions as he heads into his first NFL season. The 23-year-old should be good for mandatory minicamp in June and training camp at the end of July, and despite other additions to the position in the offseason, Legette should have an opportunity for a big role in his first NFL season as the Panthers look to improve drastically on offense from a year ago. However, with veteran Adam Thielen and newcomer Diontae Johnson likely ahead of him in the target pecking order, fantasy managers should prepare for Legette to be inconsistent in 2024 as a deep threat.
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets signed free-agent running back Tarik Cohen to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Cohen was one of the league's top return specialists and a receiving threat with the Chicago Bears before serious injuries derailed his career. He last played in the NFL in 2020 but will not attempt a comeback with the Jets. The Bears took the 28-year-old in the fourth round (119th overall) in 2017 out of North Carolina A&T. Cohen was a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in 2018 as a kick returner, and he had 264 rushing attempts for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns in his four seasons in Chicago, adding 209 receptions for 1,575 receiving yards and nine touchdowns through the air. He spent most of last year on the Panthers' practice squad and is unlikely to make an impact for the Jets or for fantasy managers in 2024.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints hybrid offensive player Taysom Hill was seen taking direct snaps out of the backfield at organized team activities on Tuesday while also working with the special teams unit. SI.com's John Hendrix wrote that seeing Hill in the backfield is starting to be a pretty exciting thing. He lined up as the running back in shotgun formation and took the run left for a nice gain. In addition to taking direct snaps out of the backfield, Hill also caught some passes from quarterback Derek Carr as a pass-catcher. It remains to be seen exactly how Hill will be used in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's system, but he could be on the field often in a variety of roles. With tight end eligibility in fantasy, he will at least have value as a low-end TE1 with the possibility for more if he's more active as a ball-carrier out of the backfield in 2024.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints TE Taysom Hill's unique skill set has been on full display during organized team activities, according to Matthew Paras of NOLA.com. For example, Hill took part in individual drills with the running backs last week and is working with the tight ends this week. 'It's been a lot of fun. It's weird to say after seven years of doing what I've been doing that I'm being asked to do things I've never done before. That is exciting to me and it's challenging, and I love to be challenged like that. I'm grateful for those guys creating unique and fun opportunities for me,' Hill said.
Fantasy Spin: According to Paras, Hill has yet to throw a ball once in a live setting this spring, but he has lined up at running back and fullback several times. Furthermore, head coach Dennis Allen apparently "entertained" a reporter's suggestion that Hill might be the Saints' version of Kyle Juszczyk in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's offense. While it is unlikely Hill will top last year's career year (114 touches for 692 yards), fantasy managers should expect him to remain a key complementary part of the offense again in 2024.
From TheHuddle
Dynasty | The Texans have signed wide receiver Nico Collins to a contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: It's a three-year, $72.75 million extension that includes $52 million guaranteed. If there was any doubt about what Houston thought of Collins, this erases all of that as he gets a pretty tidy sum of money. Houston clearly thinks Collins and CJ Stroud have a special connection and Collins will now look to build on his 80/1,297/8 breakout season. As our WR21, there is still some runway for a value bump and he could actually be a "buy low" candidate should dynasty managers continue to believe his season can't be replicated with a healthy Tank Dell and newly added Stefon Diggs in the fold.
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur thinks cornerback Eric Stokes (hamstring) is in a great place physically and mentally this offseason after he missed most of the last two years with injuries. LaFleur also said he thinks Stokes is "in the best shape" he's ever seen him in. "When you look at him physically, his body looks different. He's hitting some fast speeds out there at practice. I can tell mentally he feels like he's in a great place," LaFleur said. The former first-round pick in 2021 was great as a rookie but suffered foot and knee injuries in Week 9 in 2022 and missed the final eight games. The 25-year-old played in just three games in 2023 due to hamstring issues. It's no surprise the Packers declined their fifth-year option on Stokes, so he's now in a contract year in 2024 as he looks to stay healthy. If healthy, the speedster could start opposite Jaire Alexander.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham is embracing the team's three-man QB competition this offseason between himself, former first-round Zach Wilson and this year's first-rounder Bo Nix. "I'm not going to just sit down and let someone else walk on in here -- I'm going to work my butt off to get the job. I'm super excited about it," Stidham said. The 27-year-old signed a two-year, $10 million deal prior to last season and could now be considered a mentor who could be an upset winner of the starting job this summer. Stidham, Wilson and Nix will get an equal split of the work during the offseason program, but we probably won't have a better sense of who is in the lead in the competition until training camp. Stidham has the advantage of knowing the offense from a season ago, but even if he's the starter in Week 1, he'll be on a short leash and will be a low-upside, low-end QB2 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Former Baltimore Ravens star safety Tony Jefferson is coming out of retirement and plans to play in 2024, according to a source. Jefferson has stayed in shape, has been training on his own, and wants to play again. He intends to start talking to teams in the near future after spending last year with the Baltimore Ravens as a scouting intern. In his last year in the NFL in 2022 with the New York Giants, Jefferson played in only nine games (one start) and had 23 tackles (16 solo). The 32-year-old former undrafted free agent entered the league in 2013 with the Arizona Cardinals and spent four years in the desert before joining the Ravens from 2017-21. Jefferson hasn't played in more than nine games in a single season since 2018 but could provide some nice veteran depth for a team in need of secondary help.
From RotoBaller
Updating a previous report, New Orleans Saints DE Tanoh Kpassagnon (Achilles) likely will not be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season but has a chance to play at some point during the season, according to head coach Dennis Allen.
From TheHuddle
