Guest of the League
ALLWORLD Est. 2007
FFL: Week 3 | NFL: Week 3

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 3

Player Notes
Kyren Williams Sep 23 8:50am ET
Kyren Williams

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams turned in a huge fantasy performance in Week 3's win over the San Francisco 49ers. The versatile running back rushed 24 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 27 yards and a TD. He is fantasy's RB2 on the week behind only Saquon Barkley. Williams dominated the Rams' backfield with Ronnie Rivers getting just two carries as his backup. Against a good 49ers defense, Williams turned his best game of the season and looks like a sure-fire RB1 at the moment. He should continue to dominate touches and be a focal point of the Rams' offensive game plan with Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) sidelined. His touchdown potential and involvement in the passing game make him a good bet to score in each game.

From RotoBaller

Tutu Atwell Sep 23 8:50am ET
Tutu Atwell

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell led all Rams' pass-catchers with 90 receiving yards on four catches in Week 3 against San Francisco. Atwell caught a 50-yard pass to help pad his stats in this one. He saw five targets which tied tight end Colby Parkinson for the team-high as the Rams came back to stun the 49ers. Atwell thrived as the slot receiver with Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) out. There is a lot of uncertainty with the Rams' receiving corps week-to-week as far as who will command the most targets between Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington. Each of the foursome saw 3-plus targets in Week 3 but it was Atwell who was able to do the most damage. The unpredictability makes it tough to rely on any of the group as a fantasy option moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Sep 23 8:40am ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was 16-of-25 passing for 221 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions in leading the team to a win over the 49ers on Sunday. The veteran quarterback turned in a pretty efficient outing in helping the team to a comeback win but for fantasy purposes, his 13.84 fantasy points put him at QB18 for the week. With Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) ruled out in Week 3, the Rams not surprisingly leaned on Kyren Williams, who had 24 rushing attempts and caught Stafford's TD pass. That limited Stafford's fantasy output as Tutu Atwell led the pass-catchers with four catches for 93 yards. Until Kupp and/or Nacua return, Stafford's fantasy prospects are hazy at best. He needs one or both of those players to boost his totals and touchdown potential and put him on the fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

JuJu Smith-Schuster Sep 23 8:20am ET
JuJu Smith-Schuster

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Smith-Schuster was not on the field for much of the game on Sunday night, but he made the most of his opportunities. Patrick Mahomes found Smith-Schuster on a crossing route toward the end of the third quarter to extend Kansas City's lead in the game. Smith-Schuster will look to be more involved against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the 13th-fewest passing yards this season, but the Chiefs offense should still be able to move the ball through the air. Smith-Schuster was not involved enough in this contest to feel confident starting him moving forward. This Chiefs wide receiver is best left on the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Sep 23 8:10am ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy had two catches for 17 yards in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Worthy also added 13 rushing yards on three carries. With four or fewer targets in each of the first three weeks, the Chiefs have continued to utilize Worthy as a gadget type of player in their offense. Worthy is seeing a few looks in the passing game each week and some rushing opportunities, but his workload is not nearly large enough to justify a weekly start in fantasy football. The Chiefs rookie wide receiver will look to change the narrative against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the 13th-fewest passing yards this season, but Worthy's involvement as a rusher and a receiver increases his chances of breaking off a big play. Worthy is not reliable enough to be a fantasy starter, but his Week 1 performance shows he can break the game with his speed. Worthy is best viewed as a high-upside bench stash or desperation flex play for now.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Sep 23 8:00am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had four catches for 30 yards in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Kelce was targeted five times in this contest, second-most on the team behind Rashee Rice. Rice has undoubtedly passed Kelce as the top option in the Patrick Mahomes-led offense. The 34-year-old has not reached five receptions or 35 receiving yards in any game this season, which is highly concerning for the Chiefs tight end. Kelce has long been a top 3 option at the tight end position, but it looks as though those days are over. Kelce is averaging 5.0 PPR points per game this season, which is a far cry from his expected production based on his ADP. Kelce will try to right the ship against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the 13th-fewest passing yards this season, but Mahomes should be able to get Kelce the ball if he is open. The Chiefs tight end remains a must-start tight end, given the high-powered offense, but I would rank Kelce as a low-end TE1 moving forward until he shows any improvement.

From RotoBaller

Carson Steele Sep 23 7:40am ET
Carson Steele

Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Steele was also targeted twice out of the backfield and brought in one catch for two yards. As expected, Steele was the lead back for the Chiefs and was heavily involved in this contest. Steele averaged 4.2 yards per carry, and his longest run was nine yards. He was not particularly explosive, but he is a hard-nosed running back who runs downhill. Steele looks to be a serviceable replacement in the absence of Isiah Pacheco, but the Falcons were among the easier matchups for the running back position. Steele will have to do more to prove himself against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the ninth-fewest rushing yards this season, so it will be a tougher matchup for the Chiefs running back. It remains to be seen when the Chiefs will get Kareem Hunt involved in the offense and how that split will affect Steele's value, but if he gets this workload every week, he will be a viable option for fantasy in a good offense that wants to run the ball. Steele should be a solid start with touchdown upside in the Chiefs offense.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Sep 23 7:20am ET
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice caught 12 of his 14 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Rice was a force on Sunday Night, accounting for nearly a third of the Chiefs' total yards in the contest. The second-year receiver led all Chiefs pass-catchers in receptions, targets, and receiving yards again in Week 3. With each passing week, Rice proves he is the undisputed top option for Patrick Mahomes. With the loss of Isiah Pacheco, Mahomes attempted 11 more passes than his previous season-high, which benefitted Rice more than anyone. Rice has two touchdowns and has reached 100 receiving yards in a game twice this season. The Chiefs receiver will look to continue his dominance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the 13th-fewest passing yards this season, but Rice should be able to produce at his typical level against them. Rice should be started as a locked-in WR1 moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Sep 23 7:10am ET
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 26 of 39 pass attempts (66.7%) for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. This marks the third straight game that Mahomes has passed for fewer than 300 yards to begin the season and the second straight game that he passed for fewer than 225 yards. The Chiefs quarterback has also thrown at least one interception in every game this season, as Justin Simmons picked him off in this contest. Mahomes connected with Rashee Rice and JuJu Smith-Schuster for his two passing touchdowns of the evening, bringing his total to five this season. His 39 pass attempts were his most this season, eclipsing his previous high of 28 in Week 1, but Mahomes was far less efficient as this was his lowest completion percentage of the year. The loss of Isiah Pacheco out of the backfield will take time to adjust to, but Mahomes will get a chance to turn it around against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The divisional rival Chargers have been above average against the pass, with the 13th-fewest passing yards allowed, but they have been more stingy against the run. Mahomes must improve his passing efficiency to extend the Kansas City winning streak to four games. The Chiefs quarterback has been lackluster so far, so he may be a mid-to-backend QB1 instead of the top-end option he was drafted to be.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Sep 23 4:20am ET
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave led the team in production in Week 3, catching all six of his targets for 80 yards and snagging the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes left in what ended up being a 15-12 loss to the Eagles. Olave was also on the receiving end of New Orleans' longest play of the day, a 29-yard pass that helped to set up his eventual score. Olave's production was one of the few bright spots in the game as Derek Carr fought against heavy pressure and had a difficult time delivering the ball to other receivers. Fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed came up empty on his five targets and Alvin Kamara ended up as the second-leading receiver with three catches for 40 yards. In Week 4, the Saints face the Atlanta Falcons, who just gave up 110 yards and a touchdown to Rashee Rice.

From RotoBaller

Rashid Shaheed Sep 23 4:20am ET
Rashid Shaheed

Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed had five targets in the New Orleans Saints' 15-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. Unfortunately, he finished the game without a single reception to the dismay of fantasy managers (not to mention Saints fans) who were expecting another big game against a secondary that has looked vulnerable in the young season. The explosive receiver, who caught a touchdown in each of the first two games in 2024, was in line for another score on two occasions in the game. On the first attempt, Derek Carr underthrew Shaheed, forcing him to turn back into his defender just to get a hand on the ball. Then in the fourth quarter, Darius Slay was in the right place at the right time to disrupt what would have been a 25-yard score. Shaheed and the Saints will try to get back to their high-scoring ways against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Carl Granderson Sep 23 4:20am ET
Carl Granderson

The New Orleans Saints D/ST put up a solid effort from a fantasy perspective in Week 3. In what was expected to be a shootout between two dynamic offenses, the Saints gave up only 15 points in their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The squad had four sacks in the game, seven tackles for a loss, and recorded two takeaways. Safety Tyrann Mathieu intercepted a pass in the Saints' end zone to start the second quarter and the Eagles' next possession ended on a Jalen Hurts fumble, forced by defensive end Carl Granderson and recovered by Willie Gay. Perhaps most exciting was the blocked punt by J.T. Gray in the third quarter that set New Orleans up at Philadelphia's 27-yard line. Unfortunately, the Saints seemingly had no answer for Saquon Barkley on Sunday who ended the game with 147 rushing yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Pending Monday's results, the Saints D/ST ranks fifth in fantasy points scored and could be in store for another double-digit game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Sep 23 4:10am ET
Alvin Kamara

The New Orleans Saints relied heavily on running back Alvin Kamara against the Eagles in Week 3. He ended the game with 26 carries for 87 rushing yards and caught all three of his targets for 40 yards through the air. Kamara handled the ball nine times on the Saints' 17-play opening drive that chewed up half of the first quarter and later turned to him on seven consecutive plays across their first two drives of the second half. New Orleans remained dedicated to force-feeding their dynamic back even though their offensive line could not make much headway against Philadelphia's defensive front. Over the first two weeks of the season, Kamara had 10 runs of 10 yards or more but didn't break a gain that big until the fourth quarter when he turned loose for 16 yards, one of just five carries that went for more than five yards on Sunday. In Week 4, Kamara and the Saints will face off against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Eric Saubert Sep 23 1:40am ET
Eric Saubert

San Francisco 49ers tight end Eric Saubert was minimally involved but efficient in the team's passing game during a 27-24 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles. Saubert, filling in for George Kittle (hamstring), did good work in the run-block game and caught two-of-two targets for 41 yards. There are no updates on Kittle's injury at this time, but there are no indications that he's dealing with a multiple-week injury. Even if Kittle were to miss again, it seems likely that Sunday's performance is on the high side of what might be expected from Saubert in Week 4 versus the New England Patriots.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Sep 23 1:20am ET
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell could not reel in his only target of the day in the team's 21-16 win over the Chicago Bears. Mitchell took the biggest hit in snaps with the return of WR Josh Downs, who missed the season's first two games with an ankle injury. Mitchell played on just seven snaps, running two routes, receiving one target. Fantasy managers who were keeping the rookie on their radar will want to make note of the loss of opportunities with the return of Downs. He can remain benched in all formats barring any significant changes in playing time moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Sep 23 1:20am ET
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings erupted in a 27-24 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles on Sunday. All he did filling in for Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) was catch 11 of 12 targets for 175 yards and three touchdowns, not only nearly doubling Malik Nabers' overall WR2 performance, but leading all players at any position in fantasy thus far in Week 3. For gamers who took a lineup risk, Jennings caught the wide-open ones and the ridiculous ones alike, catching 10 straight after having the ball jarred loose on his first target. Jennings' output today obliterates his previous best outing when he had 94 yards and two touchdowns in the last game of his rookie year, 2021. Samuel Sr. is not expected to reclaim his starting role next week at home against the New England Patriots, so Jennings is in line for more opportunities to produce. He'll be a top waiver target in most leagues heading into Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Trey Sermon Sep 23 1:10am ET
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon ran the ball two times for 16 yards and a touchdown in the team's win over the Chicago Bears. Sermon was out-touched by RB Jonathan Taylor 23-2, but he did receive a carry on the goal line, and he was able to punch in for a touchdown. It's clear that Taylor is the only fantasy-viable running back in this offense given the current splits in usage, but it is worth noting that Sermon has been the only back outside Taylor to see touches on the season. Fantasy managers with Taylor on their roster should look to ensure they are rostering Sermon in the event of injury. Aside from that, Sermon is off the radar in the team's upcoming Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pittman Jr. Sep 23 1:00am ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught four of his five targets for 36 yards in the team's 21-16 win against the Chicago Bears. While Pittman has retained his elite target share in this offense, the team's lack of production through the air has continued to hurt his fantasy production. Pittman led the team in snaps with 47, was tied with WR Alec Pierce for most routes run with 20, and tied with WR Josh Downs for most targets with five. Pittman and the Colts now gear up for a Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers in the young season. Given his lack of production thus far paired with a tougher matchup, fantasy managers can view Pittman as a WR3/4 option in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Sep 23 1:00am ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 16 times for 83 yards during Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. He didn't catch a pass in the contest, but he did take a lateral from Amon-Ra St. Brown for an extra 20 yards into the end zone. He finished the day with over 100 scrimmage yards and the score, giving him 16-plus fantasy points in each of the Lions' three games this year (PPR scoring). Gibbs has been out-produced by David Montgomery so far, but both running backs have emerged as very strong fantasy options. The 22-year-old is a fringe RB1 heading into Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Sep 23 1:00am ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown turned eight targets into seven catches for 75 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. The 24-year-old has bounced back ever since a subpar Week 1 performance. In two games since then, he has 18 catches, 194 yards, one touchdown, and more than 43 fantasy points (PPR). Despite his role in a crowded offense, St. Brown should continue to be started as a strong WR1 option in all fantasy leagues ahead of Week 4 versus the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller