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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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 4

Player Notes
George Kittle Sep 30 3:30am ET
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle caught all four of his targets for 45 yards and a touchdown in the team's 30-13 home victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday. The All-Pro's status was in doubt for most of the week after missing Week 3 with a hamstring injury but came through for fantasy managers in this one, the highlight a 12-yard head-top touchdown with multiple defenders draped over him in the corner of the endzone. Kittle now holds the lead in fantasy half-PPR points per game among tight ends. It's worth noting that Kittle left the field briefly due to an apparent injury late in the game, but did return. Assuming he's active in Week 5 at home against the Arizona Cardinals, he'll again be a top option for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Tank Bigsby Sep 30 3:30am ET
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby had a great performance in Week 4, putting up 90 yards rushing on just seven attempts in a 24-20 loss to the Houston Texans. The second-year pro improved on his great Week 1 performance of 73 yards on 12 attempts. Travis Etienne Jr. still had more touches than Bigsby, but the young back is making a case to get more playing time going forward. That is great to hear for Jaguars fans, but not for fantasy managers. If Bigsby continues to perform, he will continue to cut into Etienne Jr.'s workload, limiting each player's upside. Bigsby showed off his big play ability with a 58 yard rush and putting up 12.9 yards per carry. That likely isn't sustainable, but it does show he can potentially be at least a solid fantasy option with a limited workload. In Week 5, the Jaguars face the Indianapolis Colts, where Bigsby will look to once again make the most of his touches.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Sep 30 3:20am ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. had a quiet day, rushing for just 50 yards on 11 carries in a 24-20 loss to the Houston Texans. He also added one catch for 10 yards. Etienne Jr. wasn't that involved in the running game or the passing game, as he was outshined by Tank Bigsby, similar to Week 1. A big pull for fantasy managers to draft the Clemson product in the early rounds was his potential volume, but through four games, that just hasn't materialized. The Jaguars have been losing in most of their games, meaning more passing situations, and Bigsby is cutting into some of his work. In weeks where he doesn't score a touchdown, Etienne Jr. may struggle to prove his worth to fantasy managers going forward. While the Jaguars running back is still a good start in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts, it is clear his upside is far lower than what fantasy managers expected heading into the season.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Sep 30 3:10am ET
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had his best fantasy output of the season, passing for 169 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-20 defeat to the Houston Texans. While those numbers still are below expectations for the former number one pick, the offense is at least showing signs of improving. The Jaguars are now 0-4, and are in desperate need of a good game to turn things around. This wasn't quite that, but it was nice to see Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. do well. While Lawrence himself hasn't had any fantasy success, he at least seems to be building rapport with his receivers. Once Evan Engram returns from injury, Lawrence could finally put it all together and have an above average fantasy performance. The Jaguars face another division rival in the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 who just let up 312 passing yards and 30+ fantasy points to Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields. Lawrence will look to continue improving steadily as the season progresses.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Sep 30 3:00am ET
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings proved that he's become more than just an injury replacement in the team's 30-13 home victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday. In Week 3, Jennings had the game of his life, an 11-catch, 175-yard, three-touchdown performance, partially explainable by the injury absences of receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and tight end George Kittle. However, in Week 4 Jennings kept the momentum rolling even with both players back on the field. He led the 49ers in yards and targets by posting three catches -- including a ridiculous over-the-wrong-shoulder snag for 45 yards -- on six targets for 88 yards. Jennings is unlikely to continue pacing all 49ers receivers but has at least forced his way into fantasy consideration until further notice. Jennings gets the Arizona Cardinals at home in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Sep 30 2:30am ET
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remained in a fantasy football rut during a 30-13 home win over the New England Patriots on Sunday. Aiyuk came away with two receptions on five targets for 48 yards and is still searching for touchdown number one -- though he did get another end zone target that was picked off. Those looking for more volume from Aiyuk have to be disappointed as today's yardage matches last week's but with five fewer targets. At least this year's career-low yards per reception figure increased today, which was his calling card in 2023. While smart money still says that Aiyuk will turn it around eventually, it has to be disturbing for Aiyuk managers to see third receiver Jauan Jennings outproduce Aiyuk in yards, receptions, and targets again in this one after Jennings' bonanza last week in the absence of Deebo Samuel Sr. It might be true that 2024 won't end up as Aiyuk's best statistical year because of the sluggish start, but he's still young and has too good of a track record to give up on. If anything, he's a good buy-low candidate from managers who have grown impatient and unaware that Aiyuk has always been somewhat volatile and dependent on big plays. He'll get another crack at it next week versus the Arizona Cardinals at home.

From RotoBaller

Chris Boswell Sep 30 2:20am ET
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell drilled his lone field goal and converted on all three of his extra-point tries in a 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Pittsburgh's offense struggled mightily in the first half, but Boswell managed to get the Steelers on the board with a 50-yarder to close the second quarter. Quarterback Justin Fields eventually got things rolling and led the team to the end zone on three of its last four possessions. If the Steelers can carry their momentum from the second half into Week 5, Boswell could be busy against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. In any case, the 33-year-old should at least provide a stable floor for fantasy purposes moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Sep 30 2:10am ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth hauled in five of seven targets for 57 yards and a touchdown in the team's Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. With Pittsburgh hoping to mount a comeback, Freiermuth made an excellent effort play late in the fourth quarter to score on a short pass from signal-caller Justin Fields. It marked the 25-year-old's first touchdown since Week 3 of the 2023 campaign. Freiermuth continues to be a dependable weapon for Fields as the two have connected on at least four passes in every contest this season. He represents consistency at a position that has been mostly devoid of it for fantasy purposes. Because of his utilization, Freiermuth should remain in fantasy consideration next week despite a tough matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Sep 30 2:00am ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens recorded seven receptions for 113 yards on 11 targets in a 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. This was Pickens' best fantasy showing of the season in what was, by far, his most favorable matchup yet. Unfortunately, a few mistakes prevented Pickens from posting even better results. The 23-year-old was careless with the football late in the second quarter and lost a fumble after Pittsburgh drove 91 yards down the field. Later, he dropped an eight-yard pass from quarterback Justin Fields for what would've been his first touchdown of the campaign. Fantasy managers should be encouraged by Pickens' 32% team target share and know that better days are ahead. He'll have an opportunity to bounce back during prime time next Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Sep 30 1:50am ET
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris handled 13 carries for 19 rushing yards and hauled in three of his six targets for 54 receiving yards in a Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Harris was surprisingly unable to get much of anything going on the ground against a Colts run defense that was shaky through the first three weeks of the season. He still managed to make an impact late in the contest, running through defenders for a 32-yard gain on a short pass from Justin Fields that eventually led to a Steelers touchdown. With Jaylen Warren (knee) inactive, Harris operated as the clear lead back, but Pittsburgh gave opportunities to Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) early and often before he exited with an injury. Harris has drawn at least five targets in back-to-back weeks and is proving to be a dependable option for Fields. If Patterson and Warren are sidelined in Week 5, Harris will get an abundance of touches in a Sunday night clash with the Dallas Cowboys.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Sep 30 1:40am ET
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce caught one of his two targets for nine yards in the team's 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. This comes after a string of productive games by the third-year receiver that eventually came to a stop in today's matchup. Despite the low production, Pierce has remained a mainstay in the receiving rotation, playing just three fewer snaps than Michael Pittman Jr. and running just one less route. Given the snap share, Pierce remains a rosterable option in most formats. That being said, he is likely no more than a WR4/5 option in the team's Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Sep 30 1:30am ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed 22 of 34 pass attempts for 312 yards and a touchdown through the air while logging 10 carries for 55 yards and two additional rushing scores in a 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers struggled on both sides of the ball in the first half, but Fields put the offense on his back and nearly led the team to a comeback win. Fields was sacked four times on Sunday and lost what could have been a costly fumble, but Indianapolis missed a field goal on its subsequent possession. Although he made a few mistakes, Fields reminded fantasy managers of his high-end QB1 upside on Sunday. The 25-year-old is developing chemistry with pass-catchers George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth while continuing to be a threat with his legs. Fields will look to get Pittsburgh back in the win column against the Dallas Cowboys next week.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Sep 30 1:30am ET
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs caught eight of his nine targets for 82 yards and a touchdown in the team's 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Downs caught seven of his eight catches from QB Joe Flacco, who replaced QB Anthony Richardson (hip) in the first quarter after he was ruled out of the game. An excellent second game of the season for Downs, who has fully worked himself back into a starting role in the offense. Downs tied Michael Pittman Jr. for the most targets, played the third most snaps, and ran the third most routes behind Pittman and WR Alec Pierce. While it's unclear if Downs' production came from the increased passing volume with Flacco entering the game, it was still an encouraging showing for fantasy managers. Downs is a worthwhile Waiver Wire addition in most formats with his usage and production today, and can be considered a WR4 option in Week 5 when the Colts take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Andrew Ogletree Sep 30 1:30am ET
Andrew Ogletree

Indianapolis Colts tight end Drew Ogletree caught his only target of the day for a 15-yard touchdown in the team's 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ogletree caught the pass from QB Joe Flacco in the fourth quarter to help seal the win for Indianapolis. The touchdown grab made for Ogletree's second catch of the season over the span of four games. The Colts offense has not featured a tight end this season, and Ogletree ran fewer routes than tight ends Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, and Will Mallory in the matchup. Given the incredibly low usage, Ogletree is off the fantasy radar in Week 5 when the Colts face the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Deebo Samuel Sep 30 1:20am ET
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. offered a decent performance in Week 4 during a 30-13 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday. The sixth-year pro finished the game with three receptions on five targets for 58 yards and no touchdowns, plus two carries for 14 yards on the ground. Samuel Sr.'s day was salvaged by a 53-yard third-quarter bomb that accounted for almost all of his receiving yardage on the day. It's worth noting that wideout Jauan Jennings out-targeted Samuel Sr. in this one, as well as Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle following Jennings' coming-out party in Week 3. While it's unlikely that Jennings continues to lead the 49ers in receiving for long, Samuel Sr. managers can't be thrilled with today's muddling of San Francisco's receiving hierarchy with everyone healthy. Samuel and the 49ers get the Arizona Cardinals at home in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Sep 30 1:10am ET
Joe Flacco

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco completed 16 of his 26 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the team's 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Flacco was put into the game in the first quarter after starting QB Anthony Richardson (hip) was ruled out due to injury. Flacco was productive in the game, finding Josh Downs for a four-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter and then hitting tight end Alec Ogletree on a 15-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to help put it away for Indy. Recent reports suggest that Richardson is unlikely to miss additional time, likely putting Flacco back on the bench in the team's Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Richardson fantasy managers, or managers who regularly stream QBs should keep a close eye on the situation in the coming days if Richardson is a no go in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Younghoe Koo Sep 30 1:00am ET
Younghoe Koo

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo had a terrific performance during Sunday's Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints, going 4-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points. Not only did he make all six of his kicks, but he also showed off his powerful leg as he converted field goals from 42, 44, 53, and 58 yards out. This was a refreshing game from one of the NFL's most prominent kickers after he had attempted just nine kicks (including only five field goals) through the first three weeks of the season. Sunday's win allowed him to showcase his dominant leg, and he racked up roughly 20 points in some leagues that award extra points for long-distance field goals. He's firmly back in the top-five fantasy kicker conversation ahead of Week 5 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

From RotoBaller

Troy Andersen Sep 30 1:00am ET
Troy Andersen

The Atlanta Falcons defense and special teams units combined for two touchdowns during Sunday's Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints. Atlanta's special teams tallied the first points of the game after recovering a Rashid Shaheed muffed punt in the end zone during the first quarter. The defense struck in the second quarter as Troy Andersen intercepted Derek Carr and returned the ball 47 yards to the end zone for a pick-six. Dee Alford rounded out the day by recording Atlanta's lone sack. All in all, it was a productive effort for the Falcons despite allowing the Saints to notch 24 points and 366 yards of offense. Evidently, scoring two touchdowns will do more than enough to cancel out those yards and points totals. Given that Atlanta hadn't scored a defensive touchdown prior to this week, it's hard to bank on the unit finding the end zone against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. Still, the Falcons have recorded an interception in each of the last three weeks against talented quarterbacks from the Eagles, Chiefs, and Saints, so perhaps they'll be able to remain on the fantasy radar against Baker Mayfield and the Bucs. Consider Atlanta a fringe top-12 option with borderline streaming appeal.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Sep 30 12:50am ET
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson rushed for 28 yards on seven carries during Sunday's Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints. He was even more productive in the passing game, hauling in all four of his targets for an additional 46 yards through the air. Fantasy managers would have liked to see more rushing yards or a touchdown, but you can't ignore Robinson's receiving contributions, especially in PPR leagues. The former first-round pick has produced double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in all four games this season despite scoring just one touchdown. One would imagine his scoring one touchdown through four games is an anomaly, so he should find the end zone more often (and, as a result, score more fantasy points) going forward. Continue to deploy him as an RB1 heading into Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Sep 30 12:50am ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was unable to haul in any of his three targets during Sunday's Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints. This was Pitts' first career game with zero receptions, and it's a result that fantasy managers hope was merely an anomaly. He hadn't been incredibly productive by any means over the first few weeks of the season, but he was still averaging over eight fantasy points per game in PPR leagues, good enough to rank among the top 12 fantasy tight ends. His average and ranking will both drop after Sunday's goose egg, though. He remains a frustrating low-end TE1 ahead of a Week 5 clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who just surrendered seven catches and 62 yards to Dallas Goedert.

From RotoBaller