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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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Player Notes
D.J. Moore Jul 31 9:14am CT
D.J. Moore

Dynasty | The Bears have signed wide receiver DJ Moore to a contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: It's the largest contract extension in team history and pays Moore $110 million over four years with nearly $83 million guaranteed. This contract puts him right in line with megastuds Justin Jefferson and AJ Brown in terms of receiver contracts. The Bears struck gold last year by trading the top pick in the NFL Draft to the Panthers for what ended up being Caleb Williams (this year's #1) and Moore. After a 96/1,364/8 season, Moore is now locked in long-term and remains a low-end WR1 moving forward. Meanwhile, the Bengals and Cowboys are clearly losing any leverage with Ja'Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb, respectively.

Joe Milton III Jul 31 9:10am CT
Joe Milton III

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft following a six-year college career. The six-foot-five gun-slinger spent his final three seasons at Tennessee and started in 16 games. Last year, he completed 64.5% of his passes for 2,769 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions and added six touchdowns as a runner. He's been recognized for his rocket arm, but accuracy has been a concern throughout his career. However, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com, he has had a promising start to training camp. "With most of the attention on Brissett and Maye, Milton has put together a solid start to camp," Lazar wrote. "He has the liveliest arm I've ever seen in person, and that's not hyperbole. Milton's arm strength shrinks the field, and his drive throws are more impressive than his deep ball." While this is a positive report, the Patriots also added veteran Jacoby Brissett this offseason and drafted North Carolina's Drake Maye in the first round of April's draft, so he has almost no opportunity for playing time.

From RotoBaller

Javon Baker Jul 31 9:00am CT
Javon Baker

New England Patriots rookie wide receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker figure to play significant roles in their rookie seasons given the weak group of veteran pass-catchers on the roster. Evan Lazar of Patriots.com reports that the rookie duo has been "as advertised" to start training camp. "Polk has been featured with other regulars in the Patriots offense as a reliable underneath target," Lazar wrote. "As for Baker, he had a string of days with highlight-reel grabs. If all goes according to plan, the Patriots would have a big play (Baker) and possession (Polk) receiver, and that's how it's looked in practice." Polk was selected in the early second round of April's draft, which will likely give him a leg up against Baker, who was taken in Round 4. That said, the Patriots have a difficult target pecking order to navigate, and the passing offense will likely have limited upside under quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye. The future sounds bright for the rookie teammates, but both are likely stronger dynasty league options than 2024 fantasy studs.

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Andrei Iosivas Jul 31 8:50am CT
Andrei Iosivas

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but 2023 sixth-round pick Andrei Iosivas could have a lead on him in the battle for the WR3 job following Tyler Boyd's departure. "For all the hype of Burton and his potential to make an impact filling the role vacated by Boyd, there's just no way to avoid the Andrei Iosivas hype," Paul Dehner Jr. of the Athletic said. " He's been the offensive star of camp, a trend that continued after his initial eye-popping debut playing in the slot for the first time in his life Wednesday." Dehner Jr. noted that Bengals wide receiver coach Troy Walters called Iosivas the team's third-best wide receiver last week. This position battle will be important to monitor in fantasy football, especially since Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have failed to play a full 17-game schedule over the last two years. Iosivas caught 15 passes for 116 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie campaign, but his path to playing time is a lot more clear heading into Year 2. He should be on the fantasy football radar as a late-round dart throw in best ball setups and deep fantasy leagues.

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Romeo Doubs Jul 31 8:40am CT
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs reportedly had a "fantastic" Spring earlier this offseason, and he has been a standout performer during training camp. The 2022 fourth-round pick has tallied 101 receptions for 1,099 yards and 11 touchdowns through his first 30 NFL games, and he posted an incredible 151-yard performance in his first postseason game last January. He often gets overlooked in the crowded Green Bay receiver room, but all signs point toward him remaining a key target for quarterback Jordan Love. "It has been really cool watching Romeo over these last three seasons; the steps he makes every single year," offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. "His route-running right now has been pretty tremendous. He's always had super-strong hands but the routes that he's putting on tape right now are pretty impressive and he ended the season last year, the last half of the season, he was playing at a pretty high level. He's really continued that in camp so far." Doubs has an average best-ball ADP around the 106 slot, while teammates Jayden Reed and Christian Watson come off the board well before him. If Green Bay's offense takes another step forward in 2024, Doubs could be a tremendous middle or late-round value heading into his third NFL campaign.

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Jalen McMillan Jul 31 8:30am CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan continues to draw positive reviews out of training camp, this time coming directly from quarterback Baker Mayfield and head coach Todd Bowles. The third-round pick out of Washington saw his draft stock take a hit following a 559-yard season in 2023, but he has exceeded expectations early in his career. "He's a guy that runs so smooth," Mayfield said. "He does some things at the top of his routes -- he's so friendly to the ball -- that veterans do." Bowles, who doesn't go out of his way to sugarcoat statements, echoed these statements. "He's a good football player. Since he's come in, he's making plays since Day 1," said Bowles. "He wants to be good, he wants to learn, and the receiving group loves him." These quotes are a great sign for McMillan's potential role as a rookie, but he could still have trouble becoming a fantasy-relevant option in 2024 while competing with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for targets. Still, he's an intriguing best-ball option and late-round flier in deeper fantasy football setups.

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Jordan Whittington Jul 31 8:20am CT
Jordan Whittington

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft following a five-year career at Texas. The 23-year-old caught 42 passes for 505 yards and one touchdown while sharing a field with Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and Ja'Tavion Sanders in 2024. It's rare for sixth-round rookies to see first-team opportunities in training camp, but Cameron DaSilva of the Rams Wire said he has been mixing in with the starters in Sean McVay's offense. "It can be hard for a rookie receiver to earn first-team snaps in training camp, especially on a team as deep as the Rams," DaSilva wrote. "But Whittington has been so impressive already that he's gotten opportunities to run with the starters. He even made a nice catch against Tre'Davious White last week during one of those reps with the first-team offense." Fellow wideout Cooper Kupp said Whittington is "pretty special" and is learning the offense quickly. While it's too early to project fantasy relevance for Whittington, this report should put him on the fantasy football radar in ultra-deep dynasty leagues.

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Chase Claypool Jul 30 11:20pm CT
Chase Claypool

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Chase Claypool (toe) remained out of training camp practice on Tuesday. Claypool suffered a minor toe injury in practice on Sunday and has missed the last two days at camp as a result. The 26-year-old is considered day-to-day, so his toe injury shouldn't impact his readiness for the start of the 2024 season. However, Claypool can't really afford to miss any practice time as he tries to win one of the final roster spots this summer. The former second-round pick (49th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020 out of Notre Dame is close to being run out of the league after two straight disappointing seasons with the Chicago Bears, Steelers and Dolphins. Last year, he caught just eight of 21 targets for 77 yards and a touchdown in 12 games. The good news for him this year is that the Bills are looking for receivers to step up, but it remains to be seen if he can do so.

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Ben Skowronek Jul 30 11:20pm CT
Ben Skowronek

Houston Texans wide receiver Ben Skowronek has stood out so far in the early portions of training camp as he looks to earn a roster spot despite mostly working with the second-team offense. Skowronek is a long shot to have a substantial role in his first year in Houston if he even makes the team, but the 6-foot-3, 224-pounder has so far impressed on contested catches down the field. If the 27-year-old is competing with the likes of Noah Brown, Robert Woods and John Metchie III in a crowded receiving corps behind starters Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The former seventh-rounder in 2021 has 58 total receptions for 575 yards and just one touchdown in 45 regular-season games (12 starts) in his three years in the NFL and isn't on the fantasy radar heading into the 2024 season.

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Rashaad Penny Jul 30 9:13pm CT
Rashaad Penny

Dynasty | Panthers running back Rashaad Penny has retired. Dynasty Analysis: The oft-injured Penny lasts only six years in the league after once being a first round draft pick of Seattle back in 2018. It was likely clear he wasn't going to make the final roster in Carolina and after a largely disappointing one-year stint in Philadelphia last season, Penny likely saw the writing on the wall in terms of his future. He had an amazing one month run back in 2021 but will largely be remembered more for his inability to avoid the injury bug more than anything else. Penny can be effectively dropped from rosters.

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James Washington Jul 30 9:13pm CT
James Washington

Dynasty | The Falcons have signed former Pittsburgh receiver James Washington. Dynasty Analysis: Washington fizzled out in Pittsburgh and didn't fare much better in Dallas, New Orleans or Indianapolis the past few years. Washington has only played in two games since 2021 so expectations should be tempered dramatically. Still, he's a player to keep on a watch list should injuries start to pile up with the Falcons.

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Roman Wilson Jul 30 9:13pm CT
Roman Wilson

Dynasty | Steelers rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson was carted off the field with an ankle injury. Dynasty Analysis: Any time you see "carted off," it merits quick attention. However, it seems Wilson has avoided a major injury and is considered week-to-week. One would imagine he has a high ankle sprain, which could be tricky to navigate. His absence will likely allow Calvin Austin to further the gap in between the two. Wilson remains a solid mid-round rookie pick and Austin should be rostered as well.

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J.J. McCarthy Jul 30 9:10pm CT
J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy has taken a back seat to Sam Darnold during the opening days of training camp. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said today that McCarthy will eventually get some consistent first-team reps in camp, but that Sam Darnold had earned the right to get the bulk of them to this point. O'Connell also said he will use that time both to evaluate McCarthy and also see if Darnold can "elevate" a different set of receivers other than Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The 21-year-old first-round pick is getting more comfortable during camp, but the Vikings have stressed that patience will be key in the development of McCarthy, their 2024 first-round pick. Sam Darnold is currently the favorite to open Week 1 as Minnesota's starting quarterback, but with the playmakers at the skill positions for the Vikings, McCarthy will be an attractive streaming quarterback if he gets the opportunity to start this season.

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Emari Demercado Jul 30 9:00pm CT
Emari Demercado

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado has firmly placed himself as a player in the training camp battle to be the team's RB2. Demercado has been subbing in for James Conner during first-team work with Michael Carter taking second-team work and 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson spelling Carter. Demercado was a regular contributor last season for the Cardinals thanks to his pass-blocking work but he also started two games for the team in Weeks 7-8. Demercado's skillset is valuable and looks to be in line for a roster spot for the Cardinals, but it's only a matter of time before Benson moves up the depth chart considering the draft capital the team spent on him this past April. Demercado shouldn't be drafted in fantasy for this upcoming season but could find some waiver wire buzz if injuries strike the Cardinals' backfield.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Jul 30 8:50pm CT
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) returned to practice on Tuesday in a limited fashion, but the Steelers are going to take things slowly with him. Head coach Mike Tomlin did state that Wilson played some 7-on-7, but "not a lot" of 11-on-11 work. While Wilson is progressing well from his calf injury, it's expected he'll increase his activity soon in preparation for the team's first preseason game on Aug. 9 against the visiting Houston Texans. Embroiled in a fierce quarterback battle with Justin Fields, the 35-year-old Wilson is looking to prove that he still has some productive years as an NFL quarterback. If Wilson is the Week 1 starter for the Steelers, he's a low-end quarterback for single-QB formats and a low-end QB2 in superflex.

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Jawhar Jordan Jul 30 8:40pm CT
Jawhar Jordan

With the Hall of Fame game days away, backup running backs Dameon Pierce and Jawhar Jordan are expected to see a bulk of the carries in Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears. With Joe Mixon (hamstring) nursing an injury, it's likely Mixon's work would have been minimal at best even when healthy, but Pierce, last season's Week 1 starter, has been getting some good buzz in camp with his efforts thus far. Jordan, the team's sixth-round pick, is expected to compete with Pierce as the primary backup to Mixon. Pierce disappointed last season as the starting running back for the Texans and lost his job to Devin Singletary. As long as Mixon is healthy, the backup running back in Houston probably wouldn't be anything but a contingency-based handcuff for fantasy this season.

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Roman Wilson Jul 30 8:30pm CT
Roman Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson was carted off from practice on Tuesday with an ankle injury. Wilson, Pittsburgh's third-round pick, left practice after having his ankle rolled up on while running a jet-sweep during drills. Jeremy Fowler did report that Wilson would be "Ok", but could "miss some time" and labeled the injury week-to-week. In a wide-open Steelers passing game where the opportunity for targets after George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth is up for grabs, Wilson missing any time is detrimental to him getting reps within the offense. This setback puts Wilson behind fellow wide receivers Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson in the pecking order for work in camp.

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D.J. Moore Jul 30 8:20pm CT
D.J. Moore

On Tuesday evening, wide receiver DJ Moore and the Chicago Bears agreed to a four-year deal worth $110 million, with $86 million guaranteed, per Adam Schefter. With two years remaining on his previous deal, Moore now joins the ranks of other big-name wide receivers who have signed lucrative extensions this offseason, like Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and a host of others. Moore spent the first five seasons of his career in Carolina, but it was after being traded to the Bears last offseason that Moore became a true WR1. For the Bears in 2023, Moore set career-highs in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,364), and total touchdowns (nine) en route to his top-10 fantasy season at wide receiver. This extension secures Moore's future in Chicago with rookie signal-caller Caleb Williams, and for fantasy, places Moore as a rock-solid WR2 in drafts.

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Shelby Harris Jul 30 7:03pm CT
Shelby Harris

Cleveland Browns DT Shelby Harris (undisclosed) did not participate in practice Tuesday, July 30, because of an undisclosed injury. The injury is not believed to be serious.

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Arik Armstead Jul 30 6:40pm CT
Arik Armstead

The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed former Bears defensive end Rasheem Green. The 27-year-old has not had a prolific NFL career but has recorded 19 sacks throughout six seasons. He has also remained healthy, which is essential as a depth piece in the NFL. Green projects to be a backup in Jacksonville just as he was in Chicago last season when he recorded two sacks and 15 total tackles. With Arik Armstead on the active/PUP list, the Jaguars may have felt like they needed to make a move.

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