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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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The Paur Report
The New England Patriots are releasing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Friday, according to a source. The writing was on the wall all offseason after the Patriots snagged rookie wideouts Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in April's NFL draft. Smith-Schuster was a non-factor for the Patriots last year, even after Kendrick Bourne (knee) tore his ACL, finishing with just 29 catches on 47 targets for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games (seven starts). The 27-year-old wasn't targeted at all in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions while playing 11 offensive snaps. He'll look to latch on with another organization before the start of the 2024 regular season, but even if he does, he'll likely be off the fantasy radar. The release of Smith-Schuster is good news for Jalen Reagor and KJ Osborn as they look for roles in New England's receiving corps.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner will be a factor in the offense this year, considering his strong training camp and Michael Gallup's retirement. The Raiders were counting on Gallup for 40-plus catches in 2024, so that production will now go elsewhere. "All of a sudden he's had a great offseason and is getting plays at wide receiver and he's flashing -- balls down the field, plays across the middle, screens," head coach Antonio Pierce said of Turner. "He's got a thick body, built like a running back, so hopefully we can get some YAC out of him." The 27-year-old will be competing for the WR3 role with Tre Tucker behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Unless Adams or Meyers miss time with an injury, Turner will most likely be off the fantasy radar in this offense.
From RotoBaller
The Las Vegas Raiders themselves aren't expecting a juggernaut offense with either quarterbacks Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell running the show. "We're probably not going to be, to be honest, a juggernaut offense," head coach Antonio Pierce said. "Would I love to be? Yeah. To sit here and say we're going to score 30 points a game, that's not realistic." Pierce has deemed the QB battle at 50-50 right now, with both Minshew and O'Connell to play one quarter each over the first two preseason games before a winner is announced. Minshew is good when the pocket breaks down, while O'Connell can deliver accurate balls in the pocket. Neither signal-caller will be much more than a low-upside, low-end QB2 in fantasy, and the winner of the battle will likely come down to who takes better care of the football.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has "really, really, really stepped up his game" in Year 2 with the team, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. "Since the offseason, he's been lights-out," Pierce said. Things couldn't have gone much better for Meyers in his first season with the Raiders in 2023, especially considering the quarterback situation, as he finished with 71 receptions (106 targets) for 807 receiving yards and a career-high eight touchdowns in 16 starts. He also rushed for two scores. The 27-year-old pass-catcher is almost certainly going to face touchdown regression in 2024, especially since he'll be working with either O'Connell again or newcomer Gardner Minshew. Meyers' numbers in the other receiving categories could also take a step back after the addition of rookie pass-catching tight end Brock Bowers.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, who is in a contract year, will very much remain the focal point for the team's backfield for the foreseeable future. Fowler thinks Conner still has untapped potential as an RB2 for fantasy managers after coming off a career-best 5.0 yards per carry and his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign in 2023. The only thing that could hold him back from a volume standpoint is durability. The 29-year-old has never played a full season in the NFL, so the Cardinals might manage his workload accordingly. But if his health cooperates, another 200-plus-carry season should be in the cards for Conner. Fantasy managers that roll with Conner as their RB2 would be wise to handcuff him later in drafts with rookie third-rounder Trey Benson, who should eventually leapfrog Emari Demercado as the primary backup in Arizona.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson and the vast majority of the team's starters will see action in the preseason opener this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium against the visiting Denver Broncos, according to head coach Shane Steichen. "The starters will play a series or two and then we'll get the young guys in there," Steichen said after Friday's practice. It will be Richardson's first time playing in an NFL game since suffering a season-ending right-shoulder injury in Week 5 of last year. He then had surgery on Oct. 24 to fix a sprained AC joint. The 22-year-old former first-rounder has little experience in the league and is more of an injury risk than most QBs because of his propensity to run with the ball, but his dual-threat upside is elite and will make him a popular QB1 target in fantasy drafts once the top-tier names come off the board.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said quarterback Kyler Murray has gone "above and beyond" in responding to challenges from his coach, which coupled with his competitive spirit and immense talent, gives the Cardinals hope for the future. Murray completed 65.7% of his passes for 1,799 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games after coming back from a torn ACL in 2023. The former first-rounder was urged by Gannon to get "submerged with the group," particularly on offense, including offseason throwing sessions. The Cardinals will hold the 27-year-old signal-caller out of preseason action this year. With a fully healthy offseason under his belt, Murray is rising as a fantasy QB1, especially after the addition of rookie first-round receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as his new No. 1 weapon in the passing game.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is not likely to be ready for Week 1 of the new NFL season. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Hockenson could miss anywhere from three to seven weeks to start the season as he still recovers from an ACL tear last year. Despite some of the latest reports saying that he's recovering ahead of schedule, it doesn't seem like the Vikings will take any chances and make sure he's as close to 100% healthy as possible. That means backups Josh Oliver, Robert Tonyan, and Johnny Mundt will compete to see who gets a bulk of the workload while Hockenson remains sidelined.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye only saw six plays in his preseason debut and sat out for the rest of the game. The rookie is taking things day by day as he continues to get plenty of reps in practice. Head coach Jerod Mayo said that there are still two more preseason games to get him some more game speed reps, but he's not going to force Maye to play with backup offensive linemen or put him in any tough situations. This all seems to be a way to protect Maye, so he'll likely be the top quarterback on the depth chart this season, but how safe the Patriots are willing to be is to be determined. Dynasty managers will want to check for updates as the preseason rolls on.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent quarterback Nick Foles has officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday. The Super Bowl-winning backup quarterback was still searching for a new team this offseason but has decided to step away from the game instead. In 11 seasons, Foles appeared in 71 games while starting in 56 of them. He posted 14,227 yards 82 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions with a completion percentage of 62.4%. His playoff run in 2017 will go down in Philadelphia lore as one of the best runs in football when he threw six touchdowns to one interception and 971 yards in three games. On top of that, he won a Super Bowl MVP against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants third-string quarterback Tommy Devito was thrown into the fire in the team's preseason opener against the Lions after Drew Lock (hip) exited early with an injury. While he didn't light up the stat sheet, he managed to steady the ship. DeVito went 8-for-15 with 92 passing yards, showing flashes of composure but failing to find the end zone. The young quarterback also chipped in two yards on four rushes, but his legs weren't much of a factor. DeVito's performance was far from fantasy-relevant, but he did what backup quarterbacks are supposed to do: keep the offense moving without making costly mistakes. While his yards per attempt won't supplant Daniel Jones, DeVito's ability to avoid turnovers is a positive takeaway. If Lock's injury lingers, DeVito may see more snaps in training camp and the final two games.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants rookie sensation Dante Miller made his presence known in the team's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. The undrafted free agent out of South Carolina showcased his elite burst, tallying 57 yards on just 11 carries. While the stat line might not jump off the page, Miller's performance was a clear indicator of his potential value as a change-of-pace back in the Giants' offense. Miller's 5.2 yards per carry highlighted his ability to find seams and turn the corner with ease, a skill set the Giants have sorely lacked. His combination of speed and vision was on full display, especially during a 19-yard scamper that electrified the Giants' sideline and gave fantasy managers a glimpse of his upside. With Devin Singletary locked in as the starter, Miller is carving out a role that could see him make this team.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants first-round pick Malik Nabers made his highly anticipated NFL debut on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. The rookie wide receiver, who has been a camp standout, saw limited action, playing just 12 snaps with the second-team offense. Despite running eight routes, Drew Lock didn't target Nabers, leaving fantasy managers with a goose egg in the stat column. However, don't let this quiet night fool you. Nabers was open on several occasions, showcasing the route-running prowess that has coaches buzzing. While the box score may be barren, his ability to create separation is undeniable. Keep a close eye on Nabers as he earns more playing time; his breakout potential remains sky-high in this Giants' offense. This is a classic "don't chase the points, trust the process" situation for savvy managers.
From RotoBaller
Eric Gray showed the New York Giants that their investment in him is starting to pay dividends in Thursday's 14-3 win over the Detroit Lions. The second-year back had a breakout performance, totaling 98 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice. Gray's night was highlighted by a stunning 48-yard touchdown run that had echoes of his college days and reminded fantasy managers why the Giants took a flier on him in the fifth round last year. But it wasn't just the flashy run; Gray also showed versatility by adding 46 receiving yards on top of his 52 rushing yards, making him a dual-threat weapon. His second score, a gritty 1-yard plunge, sealed the victory and might have sealed his spot as a serious fantasy option moving forward. With Devin Singletary as the starter for now, Gray's emerging role could make him a sneaky pickup in deeper leagues, especially if the Giants look to lighten Singletary's workload.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld completed just 13 of 24 passes for 96 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants. He also rushed three times for an additional 14 yards on the ground. The 30-year-old played most of the game, only ceding reps to Hendon Hooker (head) in the third quarter. (Hooker departed after two drives and entered concussion protocol, bringing Sudfeld back into the game.) Neither player led a touchdown drive, and while Hooker was quite impressive on the ground, his new injury could give Sudfeld the early advantage in the fight to be Jared Goff's backup. If Hooker is expected to miss time, Detroit could add another quarterback to compete with Sudfeld ahead of the 2024 campaign.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki rushed four times for 29 yards during Thursday's preseason loss to the New York Giants. He broke off a solid 15-yard run in the effort, but perhaps his best play was a fumble recovery after a Giants defender lost the football on an interception return. A fourth-round pick out of Utah, Vaki projects to make the 53-man roster, slotting in behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs on the running back depth chart. He's an appealing option in deep dynasty leagues (and even deeper redraft formats) given that he could earn a handful of opportunities if Montgomery or Gibbs miss any time in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaiah Williams caught all four of his targets for a total of 35 yards during Thursday's preseason loss against the New York Giants. Undrafted out of Illinois, Williams is now firmly in the mix for a depth role after a solid showing in Week 1 of the preseason. He showcased considerable quickness and change of direction skills in the loss, even earning a shoutout from head coach Dan Campbell following the game. Williams has less than one month (and two more games) to show the coaching staff why he's worthy of a coveted 53-man roster spot.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (head) completed five of nine passes for 36 yards during Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants. He was also productive on the ground, rushing four times for a team-leading 34 yards on the ground. Nearly half of his yardage came on a 16-yard run, which was the Lions' biggest gain on the ground in their loss to New York. On a more negative note, Hooker departed the game in the second half and has since entered concussion protocol. It remains to be seen if he'll miss additional time and whether an extended absence could spoil his chance of winning the backup quarterback job over Nate Sudfeld.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught three of his six targets for a total of 53 yards during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. The former LSU receiver saw his snaps alongside quarterbacks Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe, who are competing for the third-string role ahead of the 2024 season. Boutte himself is competing for a roster spot after an uninspiring rookie campaign in which he was active for just five games, catching two of the seven passes thrown his way. A misdemeanor underage gambling charge and felony computer fraud charge also made his status a bit murky, but he's been cleared of those charges as of mid-July. Boutte has one month (and two more preseason games) to show the new Patriots coaching staff why he's worthy of a roster spot. Even if he does make the team, he'll be buried on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most formats.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton completed four of six passes for 54 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. He was also effective on the ground, rushing five times for 22 additional yards. The Tennessee product is believed to be competing for the No. 3 quarterback job given that it would take an enormous turn of events for him to surpass Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye on the depth chart. New England should carry three quarterbacks into the season, though, and a strong preseason could give him the edge over Bailey Zappe. Nevertheless, he remains off the fantasy radar.
From RotoBaller
