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 3
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) is officially active for Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and will start under center, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Herbert, who has 274 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception this season, was questionable with a high-ankle sprain. The Chargers took the decision up until the final minute in order to evaluate the quarterback's injury pregame. In the end, he's suiting up. However, the Chargers are carrying three active quarterbacks (Herbert, Easton Stick, and Taylor Heinicke) for the first time this season, which means they have a contingency plan in case Herbert isn't able to play the full game. Fantasy managers should treat him as a low-end QB2 this week.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running backTyjae Spears(ankle) is officially active for Week 3 versus the Green Bay Packers. Spears had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction heading into the weekend.Tony Pollardremains the top running back in this Tennessee offense, but Spears has still been able to carve out a role this year. Through two games, he has 10 carries for 41 yards on the ground, plus six catches for another 22 yards through the air. He ranks as the overall RB42 in fantasy football so far. Managers can deploy him as a solid RB3 or FLEX in leagues with at least 14 teams.
From RotoBaller
The Houston Texans have declared RB Dameon Pierce, LB Jamal Hill, C Jarrett Patterson, RB Joe Mixon, WR John Metchie, CB Myles Bryant and DE Rashad Weaver inactive for Week 3.
From TheHuddle
The Cleveland Browns have declared QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, OG Javion Cohen, OT Jack Conklin, CB Kahlef Hailassie, TE David Njoku, RB Pierre Strong and WR Jamari Thrash inactive for Week 3.
From TheHuddle
Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young's benching following the team's Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in favor of QB Andy Dalton is not considered to be permanent, according to multiple sources. The thinking is that Young will regain the starting role at some point later this season, although head coach Dave Canales did not detail how long he would remain on the sidelines. The organization still views Young as their long-term solution at quarterback and feels that he would benefit most from watching.
Fantasy Spin: Dynasty owners should continue to hold on to Young, who had recently attracted the interest of multiple NFL teams looking to see if the Panthers were considering trading him. Dalton should be viewed as a midrange QB2 option for as long as he is the starter, although his fantasy ceiling isn't very high.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints TE Taysom Hill (chest) has been ruled out for Week 3's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fantasy Spin: Hill logged a pair of limited practice sessions during the week but saw his injury report status downgraded from questionable to doubtful to out over the last 48 hours. TE Foster Moreau will likely receive the starting nod but he and the other New Orleans tight ends can be ignored for fantasy purposes this afternoon.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (chest), who was doubtful to play in the Week 3 showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, has officially been ruled out on Sunday. Hill suffered a chest injury in the Week 2 blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys and was even hospitalized shortly before being released. The do-it-all offensive weapon will now try to work his way back for a Week 4 meeting against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons next weekend. The 34-year-old is one of the most versatile players in all of football, but he has only eight carries for 53 yards and has caught two of his three targets for two yards in two blowout victories for the Saints so far in 2024, so it's hard to really rely on him in fantasy as anything more than a boom/bust TE2 on a weekly basis. With Hill sidelined against Philly, expect more targets for Juwan Johnson.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (foot) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Gardner-Johnson was unable to practice on Thursday or Friday, which puts him in a bad spot ahead of Sunday's game. Despite that, the Eagles are hopeful that Gardner-Johnson will play, but they will have to wait until warmups. The loss of Gardner-Johnson would likely mean Avonte Maddox starts at safety. The absence of Gardner-Johnson would be a downgrade for this secondary and defensive unit as a whole.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders has been unable to get much going on the ground this season. He has rushed for 42 yards and hauled in three receptions for five yards through two games. The 27-year-old remains the primary backup to Chuba Hubbard. The Panthers figure to continue splitting up the workload, but Hubbard has been the much more effective back between the two. The hope is that the Panthers offense can finally get something going against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3. They've scored only 13 points, but a change at quarterback could help them. Possibly, Sanders gets more involved with Andy Dalton under center, but fantasy managers shouldn't take that risk. Sanders remains an avoidable option until he proves otherwise.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Easton Stick could be asked to start under center during Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team is preparing to start Justin Herbert (ankle), but they haven't made a final decision. If Herbert sits, the Chargers plan to use some strategy that involves both Stick and veteran quarterback Taylor Heinicke. This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen against a tough Steelers defense. Stick threw for 1,129 passing yards with three touchdowns and one interception in five games (four starts) with the Chargers last season. The former fifth-round pick seems like a capable backup, but is not a recommended fantasy option if Herbert is unable to play.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson took a backseat last week with rookie MarShawn Lloyd (ankle) getting into the mix. Wilson only saw five carries for nine yards in the win over the Indianapolis Colts. However, he figures to take a slightly larger workload with Lloyd headed to the injured reserve. Wilson put together a decent performance during the season opener, but there won't be a significant workload for him with Josh Jacobs healthy. That being said, Wilson is worth stashing in deep leagues or dynasty formats, but isn't a reliable starting option for Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine is likely to see an increased workload during the Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs are expected to go with a running back by committee approach with Isiah Pacheco (leg) sidelined. The assumption is that rookie Carson Steele is going to be the primary back, but Perine should mixed in as well. The veteran back will probably take over the receiving duties in the backfield, which could be good news for fantasy managers in PPR formats. However, it's unknown exactly how the Chiefs plan to split up the workload on Sunday. That being said, Perine shouldn't be trusted as anything more than a low-end flex option in PPR formats.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (quad) was removed from the injury report on Friday. The superstar wideout was dealing with a quad issue, but appears to be fine after getting in a full practice session on Friday. It sounds like Jefferson is a full-go for Sunday and won't have any lingering effects from his quad issue. That is great news for fantasy managers after Jefferson went down mid-way through Week 2. Fantasy managers should feel confident with Jefferson as a WR1 for Week 3 against the Houston Texans.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington is expected to see more involvement during Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The sixth-round rookie opened the season as depth, but now could be asked to possibly start. The Rams are without Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) for multiple weeks, which is a huge blow. That means, Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson figure to be the primary passing options. Tutu Atwell and Whittington could split up the third wideout role. Whittington hauled in both his targets for 22 yards last week. He's too risky to start in Week 3, but is worth stashing in deep leagues and dynasty formats.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (knee) is expected to play during Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Wilkins has been limited in practice all week due to a knee issue he picked up last week. The former first-round pick signed a hefty contract with the Raiders over the offseason. Wilkins and Maxx Crosby (ankle) are expected to dominate this defensive line. Wilkins is still seeking his first sack as a Raider, but has nine tackles through the first two games. The absence of either Wilkins or Crosby would be a significant blow to this d-line.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants defensive end Brian Burns (groin) is expected to play in Week 3 versus the Cleveland Browns. He had been listed as questionable after the Giants added him to their injury report late in the week. Nevertheless, he's going to suit up against the Deshaun Watson-led Browns on Sunday. Burns has seven tackles through two games but is still looking for his first sack as a member of the Giants.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) is expected to play in Week 3 versus the Green Bay Packers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Spears had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction heading into the weekend. Tony Pollard remains the top running back in this Tennessee offense, but Spears has still been able to carve out a role this year. Through two games, he has 10 carries for 41 yards on the ground, plus six catches for another 22 yards through the air. He ranks as the overall RB42 in fantasy football so far.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young will likely be re-installed as the team's starter later this season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The former No. 1 pick was benched earlier this week, but the team views the decision "as a break or timeout more than anything." Carolina reportedly still has confidence in Young, who has completed 55.3 percent of his passes for 245 yards, zero passing touchdowns, and three interceptions so far. He does also have 18 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to his name. Fantasy managers should hold Young in dynasty leagues but can drop him in single-QB redraft formats.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (hamstring) is expected to be active for Week 3 versus the Detroit Lions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dortch caught six of eight targets back in Week 1 but commanded just two targets on a 35 percent snap share last weekend. He is Arizona's No. 3 wide receiver behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, and he also has to compete with tight end Trey McBride and running back James Conner. Dortch can be left on waivers in most fantasy leagues this week.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) is preparing as though he will play in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. However, Herbert is still viewed as a game-time decision as the Chargers want to evaluate him further during pregame warmups. The former first-round pick has completed 31 of 46 passes for 274 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception this year. He also has 24 rushing yards and a lost fumble. Herbert ranks as a mid-to-low fantasy QB1 if he suits up. In the event that his high-ankle sprain is too much to play through, the Chargers would turn to either Easton Stick or Taylor Heinicke.
From RotoBaller
