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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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa told reporters on Tuesday at training camp that he hopes to play in Saturday's preseason game versus the visiting Washington Commanders at Hard Rock Stadium. After seeing no action in Friday's preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons, Tagovailoa wants to get some exhibition reps this weekend. If he's active on Saturday against Washington, he's unlikely to play more than a drive or two. The former No. 5 overall pick and first-time Pro Bowler in 2023 led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards a season ago, throwing a career-high 29 touchdowns in 17 appearances for the Dolphins. With little to no rushing upside but featuring a top-tier supporting cast in Miami, Tagovailoa is a low-end QB1 pick in fantasy drafts.

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Brandon Aiyuk Aug 13 1:20pm CT
Brandon Aiyuk

The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers have a trade framework in place for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk if the Niners sign off on the deal. At the moment, San Francisco is waiting to hear back on a long-term contract offer out to Aiyuk that he hasn't yet accepted. On the other hand, Pittsburgh is reportedly in a good place on a contract for Aiyuk. This saga continues to drag and take various twists and turns, considering it sounded like a trade was close to being finalized last week involving either the Cleveland Browns or New England Patriots. If Aiyuk ends up staying put in San Fran after all, he'll remain a borderline WR1/2 fantasy option in a high-powered offense. While the 26-year-old star wideout would certainly see more opportunities as the Steelers' clear-cut alpha target in the event of a trade, Aiyuk would likely sacrifice efficiency in a run-first attack with uncertainty at quarterback.

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Martavis Bryant Aug 13 1:13pm CT
Martavis Bryant

Dynasty | The Commanders have signed free agent Martavis Bryant. Dynasty Analysis: The Commanders are giving Marty B a shot after a long and winding journey back to the NFL. Bryant had a promising start to his NFL career but that was derailed quickly by a whole host of suspensions. Bryant will attempt to latch on as a depth piece and possible red zone threat but it's highly unlikely he carves out any real dynasty value. He should stay on waiver wires for the time being as we wait and see if he can crack the final roster.

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Chase Claypool Aug 13 1:13pm CT
Chase Claypool

Dynasty | The Bills have placed wide receiver Chase Claypool on IR. Dynasty Analysis: The Bills haven't decided if they'll choose to keep him on IR for the year with a toe injury or designate him to return. It's also possible they simply cut ties with him since he's been unable to practice since arriving. It's an unfortunate turn of events for Claypool, who was again hoping to re-ignite his career. At this point, he's tough to have on a dynasty roster as his immediate future is cloudy.

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Devin Singletary Aug 13 1:13pm CT
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Dynasty | Giants running back Tyrone Tracy was carted off the field at practice with a non-contact leg injury. Dynasty Analysis: That's not good. Tracy was apparently hurt during a kickoff and was carted off the field with an air cast on his leg. This has the initial look of a season-ending injury but we'll withhold any true evaluation until we see the extent of the injury. Should it prove serious, the values of both Devin Singletary and Eric Gray will get a bit of a boost. Stay tuned.

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Taysom Hill Aug 13 1:00pm CT
Taysom Hill

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Nate Peterman Aug 13 12:51pm CT
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Alvin Kamara Aug 13 12:50pm CT
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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamar's contract impasse hasn't affected his preparation for the 2024 season, and the Saints believe he can regain his peak performance. Kamara is still looking for his first 1,000-yard rushing season. "He's really embraced the change in the offense," head coach Dennis Allen said. "Fits his running style." The 29-year-old has two years left on his current deal and includes $22.4 million in non-guaranteed salary in 2025, which is untenable for both sides. Kamara, who was a Pro Bowler in each of his first five seasons in the NFL, averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry in a stale Saints offense last year, but he made up for it in fantasy with 75 receptions for 466 yards in 13 games. There could be more efficiency in a new offense, but Kamara is also at the age when RBs typically start to show signs of decline. He's best targeted as an RB2 in PPR leagues.

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Derek Carr Aug 13 12:40pm CT
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Chase Young Aug 13 12:30pm CT
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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that New Orleans Saints edge rusher Chase Young's (neck) enormous skill set has impressed the team in training camp after he signed a one-year, $13 million deal in free agency. Young has been kept on a pitch count coming off offseason neck surgery, but he'll soon be full-go. He was considered a top-10 edge rusher after his rookie year in 2020, but injury problems and a lack of focus in Washington set him back. "He's disruptive -- he's big, he's physical, he's fast, he's motivated," head coach Dennis Allen said. The former second overall pick in 2020 out of Ohio State matched his career-high of 7.5 sacks in 16 combined games with Washington and the San Francisco 49ers last year and could help the Saints' defensive line become a formidable pass-rushing unit in 2024 if he can stay on the field.

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Trey Lance Aug 13 12:20pm CT
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Dallas Cowboys former first-round quarterback Trey Lance has displayed a mixed bag in training camp and so far in the preseason, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that he's currently in the QB3 developmental phase in Dallas. The Cowboys feel good about Cooper Rush as a QB2, and if they needed to try to win a game without Dak Prescott right now, Rush would be in there, not Lance. The 24-year-old went 25-for-41 for 188 yards in the preseason opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, adding 44 rushing yards on six carries. Rush made the start and played just one offensive series. Lance still has plenty of rushing ability and a strong arm, but there still accuracy issues. He's going to need to put forth some better performances in the preseason to make the Cowboys consider moving him up to QB2.

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Trevon Diggs Aug 13 12:20pm CT
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J.J. McCarthy Aug 13 12:10pm CT
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Tyrone Tracy Jr. Aug 13 11:10am CT
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New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (leg) was carted off the practice field on Tuesday following a kickoff drill, team beat reporter Pat Leonard reported on X. Leonard wrote that the injury looked bad, and Tracy had an air cast put on his leg. This is an unfortunate development for the 2024 fifth-round pick, as he has been making waves in training camp thus far. There will surely be further updates on his status, but if he has to miss time, it could clear an easier path for Eric Gray to occupy the RB2 role behind veteran Devin Singletary. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for updates.

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Tyrone Tracy Jr. Aug 13 10:23am CT
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ESPN reporter Jordan Raanan is reporting rookie RB Tyrone Tracy just went down untouched on a kickoff return. The cart is out and they are putting his leg in an air cast.

Hunter Henry Aug 13 9:40am CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (unspecified) won't practice Tuesday. Head coach Jerod Mayo says he doesn't anticipate it being a long-term injury. The issue reportedly emerged during Sunday's practice, leading to Henry sitting out on Monday and now being set to miss at least one more session. After being rested for the preseason opener, he seems unlikely to play in Thursday's exhibition against the Eagles. However, the Patriots don't appear overly concerned about his availability for Week 1. Henry, who signed a three-year deal with New England in 2021, was a top offseason priority for Eliot Wolf, who secured a new three-year contract for him just before he hit free agency. The deal includes a base salary of $27 million, with a maximum value of $30 million, reflecting the franchise's high regard for him. Over his first three seasons with the Patriots, Henry averaged 44 receptions, 510 receiving yards, and six touchdowns per year. Despite experiencing standout games and periods of inconsistency, his production has been solid, especially considering the turnover in offensive coordinators and inconsistent quarterback play. Additionally, New England's offensive line struggles often required him to stay in as an extra blocker. A two-time Pro Bowler, Austin Hooper appears poised to take over as the primary backup, replacing Mike Gesicki from last season. If Henry returns to full health, he could be a reliable bye-week replacement tight end.

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Malik Nabers Aug 13 9:20am CT
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Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (ankle) underwent a complete evaluation for his ankle injury, and head coach Brian Daboll confirmed that he's "good" and the issue is not "long-term." Daboll indicated that while Nabers will miss some practice time, he's not expected to be sidelined for an extended period. Nabers, who has stood out as New York's top receiver this summer, suffered the injury during a drill at Sunday's practice and was absent from Monday's sessionthe first practice he has missed since being selected as the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft out of LSU. During his absence, Veteran Darius Slayton stepped into Nabers' role as the X receiver. Daboll declined to provide a diagnosis, confirming that the tests didn't reveal a serious injury. There seem to be no significant concerns for Week 1. Nabers might be held out of the remaining two preseason games. Still, his rising ADP in recent weeks underscores the importance of his return to full health for fantasy managers hoping to see him reach his potential.

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Darius Robinson Aug 13 9:10am CT
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Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon has confidently stated that first-round pick Darius Robinson has a "1,000 percent" chance of earning a starting role. The rookie defensive lineman, selected 27th overall by the Cardinals, made a strong impression in his preseason debut against the New Orleans Saints. Robinson's performance included a tackle and a quarterback pressure in ten snaps during the Cardinals' 16-14 loss on Saturday. His first play saw him tackle running back Alvin Kamara, marking his initial impact on the game. Robinson reflected on this moment, saying, "I'm ready to give my all each day, but it really hit me when I tackled Kamara. It was like, 'Alright, I'm here, ready, and focused.'" While Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones seem to be the leading candidates for the starting defensive end spots, Robinson's high draft position suggests he will be a crucial player for the Cardinals in the future. When he assumes a starting role, it may depend on his continued performance and development.

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Chase Claypool Aug 13 8:50am CT
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The Buffalo Bills have placed wide receiver Chase Claypool (toe) on IR, ending his season. Signed to a one-year deal during the offseason, Claypool had previously struggled with the Dolphins and Bears, recording just eight receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown over 12 games. Originally listed as a day-to-day concern, Claypool missed most of training camp due to a toe injury sustained on July 28. Claypool will not play this season unless he secures an injury settlement with the Bills and becomes a free agent. With Claypool sidelined, veteran wide receivers Mack Hollins and Marquez Valdes-Scantling emerge as the top contenders for depth roles in Buffalo's receiving corps.

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Martavis Bryant Aug 13 8:40am CT
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The Washington Commanders have signed veteran wide receiver Martavis Bryant. Bryant, who has not played in an NFL game since 2018, spent time on the Cowboys' practice squad last season following his reinstatement from an indefinite suspension. Known for multiple suspensions due to substance abuse violations, Bryant last saw action in the XFL during its 2023 season. He was a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in 2014 and played three seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to the Raiders. The Raiders released him after the preseason but re-signed him a few weeks later, completing the final year of his four-year, $2.7 million rookie contract and becoming a free agent in 2019. In his NFL career, Bryant has appeared in 44 games, recording 145 receptions for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns. If he can recapture some of his old form, he could provide a significant boost as a big-play receiver for new quarterback Jayden Daniels.

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