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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'Onta Foreman Aug 2 11:10pm CT
D'Onta Foreman

Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman (neck) returned to the team on Friday. On Thursday, Foreman was airlifted to a hospital in Roanoke, Virginia, after suffering a neck/head injury in practice. He took a direct blow to the head during a special teams drill and was immobilized, though he never actually lost any feeling in his extremities. Cleveland signed the 28-year-old in March to serve as depth while Nick Chubb (knee) works his way back from a devastating knee injury. He should return to the field during training camp at some point as long as the injury is not severe, and with no timetable for Chubb's return, Foreman will be vying with backfield mate Jerome Ford for touches on the Browns' offense. He's currently an NFFC afterthought at RB65, No. 223 overall, but remains intriguing in best ball formats if he can put this injury behind him, as he still had some juice in the tank playing with the Bears in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Jake Haener Aug 2 11:00pm CT
Jake Haener

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer on his facial area and is scheduled to have a procedure performed Monday to address the issue. Reports say Haener should be expected back on the field for practice on Wednesday following the regularly scheduled off day for the Saints on Tuesday. The former fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is set to compete for the backup role behind incumbent starter Derek Carr with 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler. The second-year signal-caller is a Fresno State alum -- like Carr -- and enjoyed a breakout season in 2021, where he tossed 4,096 yards, completing 67% of his passes with a 33:9 TD: INT ratio. Carr is locked in as the starter, but it's anyone's game behind him. Haener presents as little more than a deep-league dynasty stash until he proves himself as the backup in question.

From RotoBaller

Greg Joseph Aug 2 11:00pm CT
Greg Joseph

Green Bay Packers kicker Greg Joseph has been outperforming returning starter Anders Carlson thus far in camp. Joseph is connecting on kicks at a 94% clip (29-of-31), including 7-for-7 at Thursday's practice, while Carlson has hit just 81% of his total attempts (25-of-31). This is a significant development as the Packers ranked 12th last season in points per game and project to be better this year with another year of growth for Jordan Love. Whoever holds the starting kicker position for Green Bay is sure to provide substantial value for fantasy managers this coming fall. Joseph is RotoBaller's K20, and Carlson was the K24 in 2023. There is an excellent chance for this ADP to be outperformed by one of these players while kicking for a rising Packers offense.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Aug 2 10:50pm CT
Isiah Pacheco

When Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was asked by reporters who would fill the void of the 3rd-down running back role left by Jerick McKinnon, he praised Isiah Pacheco and his readiness to take on the responsibility. "He's ready to be able to do all that. He's good with the protections, he's good with the technique and fundamentals, he can run all the routes, he's got great hands." Pacheco out-targeted McKinnon (49-to-32) in 2023 and led him in receptions and yardage. Though McKinnon did outscore the Rutgers product 4-to-2. If what Reid means is that Pacheco is meant to absorb this workload, that would be fantastic news. The third-year Chiefs running back is the RB10 in RotoBaller rankings and the No. 27 overall player in NFFC ADP (RB11). Pacheco had 49 receptions last season and would see his fantasy floor and ceiling rise if his snap share increases.

From RotoBaller

T.J. Hockenson Aug 2 7:20pm CT
T.J. Hockenson

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee), currently over seven months into his recovery from a torn ACL, is advancing faster than anticipated and could be an option for Week 1. Hockenson, who recorded 95 receptions for 960 yards and five touchdowns in the first 15 games of the season before his injury, suffered the ACL tear on December 24. He had to wait until January 29 for surgery due to knee swelling. Given the timing of his injury and his crucial role on the team, it seems unlikely that he will be ready for the start of September. The Vikings are expected to prioritize his full recovery, which might delay his return into the regular season. Although Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is optimistic about Hockenson's progress, Hockenson will probably begin the season on reserve/PUP, sidelining him for at least the first four games of 2024. In his absence, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, and Robert Tonyan will be the tight ends on the roster, but none currently offer significant fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Robert Tonyan Aug 2 7:20pm CT
Robert Tonyan

Minnesota Vikings tight end Robert Tonyan (back) is out of practice currently dealing with lower back spasms. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell hopes he will return in time for the preseason games. O'Connell noted, "He'll be out today (Friday), but we'll keep an eye on his progress over the next few days. We want to ensure he's ready for the upcoming preseason games and fully prepared when the time comes." T.J. Hockenson (knee) the team's top tight end, is still recovering from an ACL tear in his right knee and is not expected to be available for the start of the regular season. Tonyan was signed to help cover Hockenson's pass-catching duties, but with both tight ends potentially sidelined, the Vikings' tight-end depth chart now includes Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick Muse, N'Keal Harry, and Trey Knox. With a limited tight-end group, the focus will shift to increasing targets for vital offensive players such as Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Aug 2 7:10pm CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has been making a compelling case for the WR3 position, showing significant promise during training camp. Selected 92nd overall in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, McMillan, a former standout for the Washington Huskies, has garnered praise from quarterback Baker Mayfield, who noted, "What people don't realize, he was their (Washington's) leading guy in '22 before he got hurt. And so, for him to get back to true form -- he's a stud." Despite leading the Huskies in targets and catches in 2022, a knee injury in his final season limited him to 45 catches for 559 yards and five touchdowns, likely contributing to his fall to the third round. He led the Washington Huskies in targets and catches in 2022 despite playing with future 1st and 2nd round picks. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin ahead of him on the depth chart, McMillan may struggle to secure a substantial target share but could still deliver valuable fantasy weeks as a perimeter receiver. If he secures the WR3 role, he becomes a more intriguing option, particularly in best-ball leagues.

From RotoBaller

Logan Thomas Aug 2 7:00pm CT
Logan Thomas

San Francisco 49ers tight end Logan Thomas (hamstring) missed practice due to a hamstring injury. Thomas, who joined the 49ers in early June after four seasons with Washington, has yet to disclose the full extent of his injury. More information is anticipated in the coming days. The Arizona Cardinals drafted Thomas from Virginia Tech in the fourth round (No. 120 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. Last season, he caught 55 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (15 starts) with the Commanders, participating in 70 percent of the offensive snaps. His early camp setback raises concerns, given Thomas's history of frequent injuries. With starter George Kittle often sidelined, the 49ers need a dependable backup, and Thomas's reliability is questionable at best. Monitor the situation closely, as the starting tight end for San Francisco could hold significant fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Jerry Jeudy Aug 2 7:00pm CT
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (knee) was limited in practice on Friday due to a knee injury. He participated in individual drills with the team for the first time this summer. Although Jeudy has been dealing with a leg issue, he wasn't on any injury report, so he didn't require formal activation to take the field. Jeudy signed a three-year, $52.5 million contract extension with the Browns after being acquired in a trade from the Broncos this offseason. In exchange, the Browns sent a 2024 fifth-round pick (from the Panthers via the Baker Mayfield trade) and a 2024 sixth-round pick (from Houston via the Deshaun Watson trade) to Denver. Jeudy should have the opportunity to surpass the 54 receptions, 758 yards, and two touchdowns he recorded in 16 regular-season games with the Broncos last season once he's fully healthy. As a former first-round pick out of Alabama, Jeudy has the potential to be a key player on your fantasy roster, but his performance on the field has yet to match his pedigree. Despite the Browns' significant investment in him, his role in a crowded receiving corps makes this season unlikely to be a breakout year.

From RotoBaller

Sione Vaki Aug 2 2:10pm CT
Sione Vaki

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki's (shoulder) shoulder injury, which forced him out of practice on Thursday, isn't a long-term concern, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters at Friday's training camp. The Lions grabbed Vaki in the fourth round of this past spring's NFL Draft to bolster their backfield depth chart, but he'll most likely be a healthy inactive on game days this fall while co-starters David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are healthy. The 23-year-old rookie tailback out of Utah should see a decent amount of run in the preseason, however, which starts up on Thursday against the hosting New York Giants in the Meadowlands. For the time being, Craig Reynolds will serve as Detroit's No. 3 back at practice.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Aug 2 2:10pm CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers was consistently making plays in every drill all over the field during Friday's practice at training camp. Nabers has put on a show as a camp standout this summer, further generating the hype machine amongst fantasy managers after the Giants selected him sixth overall in this past spring's NFL Draft. With negligible competition around him in New York's receiving corps, Nabers projects to be peppered with targets all year long during his first year in the Big Apple. Despite getting a shaky quarterback situation in Year 1 with Daniel Jones (knee) coming off a torn ACL, the 21-year-old LSU standout is being treated as a fringe WR1/2 pick with an ADP sitting in the third round of FFPC fantasy drafts this summer after posting 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in just 13 games last year.

From RotoBaller

MarShawn Lloyd Aug 2 2:00pm CT
MarShawn Lloyd

Green Bay Packers rookie third-round running back MarShawn Lloyd flashed on Thursday why offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said this offseason that the team needs to get him on the field. Lloyd took a run against the starters up the middle and cut left before darting up the sideline for what probably would've been a long run of about 50 yards, and he also reeled in a pass over the middle that was slightly high, showcasing a pass-catching ability the Packers value. Lloyd's shiftiness and burst have stood out since the offseason program, and his total skill set might be enough to unseat veteran AJ Dillon as the primary backup to workhorse Josh Jacobs. There's been plenty of positive coach speak on both Lloyd and Dillon during camp, with the latter shaping up as the preferred pick in best ball drafts in Green Bay's upstart offense. Dillon has been rumored to be a potential cap casualty this summer.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Aug 2 1:50pm CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants co-owner John Mara says that he doesn't have any regrets about signing quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) last year, even if the team flirted with finding his potential replacement this offseason. Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract last offseason, had two touchdowns and six interceptions while playing just six games because of neck and knee injuries, including a torn ACL in his right knee. The Giants seriously inquired about moving into the top three of this past spring's NFL Draft with their eye on a quarterback, but they'll ultimately kick off the 2024 season with Jones at the helm. While the 27-year-old former first-round pick has gotten the vote of confidence from the front office, he'll need to overcome his shortcomings as a passer to be a viable fantasy option in two-QB leagues this fall. In 2023, Jones did rank fourth at his position with 34.3 rushing yards per game.

From RotoBaller

Deuce Vaughn Aug 2 1:40pm CT
Deuce Vaughn

Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring issue that has kept him off the practice field for the last two days. For however much time Vaughn may miss at training camp with the issue, the speedy Rico Dowdle and veteran Royce Freeman will jockey for positioning as Dallas' No. 2 back behind incumbent starter Ezekiel Elliott. Vaughn made seven appearances for the Cowboys in his rookie season in 2023, rushing for a mere 40 yards on 23 carries with seven receptions for 40 yards. The pint-sized 22-year-old former Kansas State standout is battling to keep his roster spot in Arlington this summer, and he's not guaranteed to still be with the team when the regular season begins in September.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Aug 2 1:30pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) is resting on Friday after throwing the last six days straight, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters. Stefanski added that Watson has had no limitations with his surgically-repaired right shoulder in training camp. It remains to be seen if he'll be available for the Aug. 10 preseason opener against the visiting Green Bay Packers, but fantasy managers want to get a look at the 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler as soon as possible after he recorded just 2,217 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions over two years (12 games) since joining Cleveland in 2022. In 2021 with the Houston Texans, Watson led the league in passing yards (4,823), yards per attempt (8.9), and yards per completion (12.6) in his last fully healthy season and is a sleeper target for late-round QB strategists at the end of drafts this summer.

From RotoBaller

Tyson Bagent Aug 2 1:13pm CT
Tyson Bagent

Dynasty | Bears quarterback Brett Rypien went 11-for-15 for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the 2024 NFL Preseason Hall of Fame opener. Dynasty Analysis: The stats are a little empty based on the competition level but Rypien certainly did all he could to give Tyson Bagent a run as the QB2 behind Caleb Williams on the roster. Bagent will have his tine in the sun later this preseason as well but for now, file this away in deep 2QB leagues.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Keenan Allen Aug 2 1:13pm CT
Keenan Allen

Dynasty | Bears receiver Collin Johnson had three catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns in this year's Hall of Fame game. Dynasty Analysis: Johnson is somehow 26 already and has bounced around the league with stops in Jacksonville, New York and Chicago. He only has 30 career catches to his name but has always been a bit of a sleeper. Suddenly buried on a depth chart behind DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and others, any dynasty manager still hoping for a breakout will likely need him to be released and sign elsewhere. Regardless, this performance was something to at least make note of as Johnson has always had some talent but never been given much of an opportunity in meaningful games.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Chris Olave Aug 2 1:10pm CT
Chris Olave

The New Orleans Saints signed wide receiver Samson Nacua on Friday, the team announced on X. The brother of 2023 breakout star Puka Nacua spent four seasons at Utah before one year at BYU in 2021 and tallied 103 receptions for 1,344 yards and 14 touchdowns in 58 collegiate games. He went undrafted and last played for the Michigan Panthers of the UFL this spring, catching 11 passes for 125 yards. The 26-year-old is unlikely to be a fantasy football contributor in 2024, but he has an outside chance of making the team's roster given the lack of depth behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Aug 2 1:10pm CT
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce saw his fantasy stock drop after the team selected former Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, Mitchell has struggled early in training camp, and Pierce remains ahead of him on the depth chart. As it stands now," James Boyd of The Athletic wrote. "Pierce remains firmly in place as the Colts' third starting receiver." Pierce, a second-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, has racked up 73 receptions for 1,107 yards and four touchdowns in his first 33 NFL games. Given the quarterback situation for the Colts since he joined the team, it hasn't been a horrible start, but the franchise likely hopes Mitchell will eventually surpass him in the offense. As the potential No. 3 target in Indianapolis, Pierce has limited fantasy upside and should be considered a late-round best ball flier.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Aug 2 1:00pm CT
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell is struggling to make an impact early in his first NFL training camp, according to James Boyd of the Athletic. "Mitchell has not been the same playmaker he was during the spring when the rookie seemingly made a noteworthy catch every practice." Boyd wrote. "But the second-round pick has been relatively quiet throughout team periods, especially when he's been with the first unit. As it stands now, however, [Alec] Pierce remains firmly in place as the Colts' third starting receiver." While this isn't a promising report, it often takes time for rookie wideouts to transition to the pro game, so it's too early to overreact. That said, the speedster out of Texas will likely have limited fantasy upside in Year 1 while competing for targets with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Pierce in a potential low-volume passing offense led by quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor.

From RotoBaller