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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
D.J. Moore Sep 30 10:40am CT
D.J. Moore

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore capitalized on a favorable matchup against the Los Angeles Rams' struggling secondary in Week 4. He caught three of six targets for 22 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' 24-18 victory. Moore tied with Cole Kmet for second on the team in both receptions and targets. The highlight of his day came when he made a perfectly executed nine-yard touchdown catch from Caleb Williams, extending the Bears' lead to 17-9 late in the third quarter. Although his production was slightly lower this week, it's likely an outlier, considering his consistent involvement in previous games. Moore will look to rebound against a weak Panthers secondary at home in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

D'Andre Swift Sep 30 10:30am CT
D'Andre Swift

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift delivered his best performance of the season in Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams. Swift totaled 165 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown, leading the team in rushing and receiving yards. The Bears successfully established a run game by utilizing Swift and getting him into open space. He finished with 16 carries for 93 yards, averaging a solid 5.8 yards per carry, and added seven receptions for 72 yards. Notably, he broke off a 36-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 24-15. Signed to a three-year, $24 million contract in March, Swift managed 114 total yards through the first three weeks, averaging only 1.8 yards per carry. The Bears combined for 131 rushing yards after only managing 63 against the Colts. Swift also achieved season highs in receptions and receiving yards, making it a successful outing both on the field and for fantasy football owners. With the lead-back role firmly in his hands, he will next face the Panthers' defense in a Week 5 home matchup.

From RotoBaller

Roschon Johnson Sep 30 10:30am CT
Roschon Johnson

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson saw increased usage in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, serving as a change-of-pace option to help secure tough yards. He scored a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter, capitalizing on a strip-sack by Montez Sweat deep in Rams territory. Johnson's downhill rushing style made him an ideal choice for goal-line situations, while D'Andre Swift, who had struggled early in the season, found his rhythm once the Bears got him into open space. Chicago finished the game with 131 rushing yards, a significant improvement from the 63 they managed against the Colts. After impressing in his first outing of the season in Week 3, Johnson solidified his role as the clear No. 2 running back behind Swift. Although Swift had his best game yet, Johnson may have established himself enough to maintain his change-of-pace role and secure future goal-line opportunities.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Sep 30 10:20am CT
Caleb Williams

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a strong performance against the Los Angeles Rams. Once Williams and the Bears' offense found their rhythm, they began to string together the kind of possessions the team and its fans hope to see regularly. It was Williams' most efficient outing yet, as he posted a quarterback rating of 106.6 and led four scoring drives. He threw for 157 yards and a touchdown, following a Bears rookie record of 363 yards on 52 attempts in a loss to Indianapolis the previous week. Williams described this game as a step forward, completing 17 of 23 passes, including a nine-yard touchdown to DJ Moore in the third quarter. Notably, he did not commit any turnovers after facing issues in the previous game, where he was intercepted twice and lost a fumble. This week, he took care of the football and orchestrated multiple drives that resulted in touchdowns. Williams bounced back from two consecutive games with multiple turnovers, showcasing an encouraging development as he prepares for a favorable Week 5 matchup against the Panthers next Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Wil Lutz Sep 30 10:10am CT
Wil Lutz

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz came into the Week 4 contest against the New York Jets with a perfect 9-for-9 mark on field goals and 3-for-3 mark on extra-point tries through the first three weeks of the 2024 season. Unfortunately, he was not able to extend his perfect streak in the 10-9 upset win over the Jets on Sunday, going 1-for-2 on his field goals while making his lone extra-point try in a game that featured just one touchdown on the day. The 30-year-old's first miss of the year came from 50 yards out as the Broncos tried to make it a four-point lead late in the contest. In his defense, the field was wet from a steady rain all day. Lutz has been reliable so far in his time in Denver, dating back to last year, but he measures up as a volatile fantasy kicker in an offense that is averaging just 15.5 points per game through four weeks. He will have a little more streaming potential in deep fantasy leagues in Week 5 against the division-rival Raiders in Denver.

From RotoBaller

Josh Reynolds Sep 30 10:00am CT
Josh Reynolds

Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds entered the Week 4 contest against the New York Jets as Denver's leading receiver through the first three games. But in the 10-9 rain-soaked upset victory on Sunday over the Jets in Week 4, rookie quarterback Bo Nix only looked Reynolds' way two times, and he was unable to catch either of the two targets. We warned fantasy managers that Reynolds was an extremely volatile and desperate flex play in an offense that is among the worst in the NFL after four weeks of the 2024 campaign. Reynolds and the Broncos should be able to move the ball much better in a Week 5 divisional matchup versus the Las Vegas Raiders, but expectations should remain low for Broncos pass-catchers not named Courtland Sutton. The 29-year-old caught 11 of his 17 targets for 174 yards and no touchdowns through the first three games.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Likely Sep 30 10:00am CT
Isaiah Likely

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely led the tight end group in receiving again but didn't ultimately make much of a difference in a blowout victory over the Buffalo Bills. The Coastal Carolina product finished with one reception for 26 yards on two targets. His counterpart, Mark Andrews, only received one target and failed to catch it. Likely's Week 1 performance is starting to look like a big outlier, as both tight ends have combined for just eight receptions and 107 yards since then. Likely seems to be the better of the two, as Andrews has posted goose eggs in the last two games, but neither one of them has contributed much towards a fantasy win. The Ravens will go on the road in Week 5 and take on one of their AFC North rivals in the Cincinnati Bengals.

From RotoBaller

Greg Dulcich Sep 30 10:00am CT
Greg Dulcich

Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich failed to haul in his only target of the day in Sunday's 10-9 upset win over the New York Jets on the road on Sunday. Both teams struggled to move the ball on a rain-soaked afternoon in the Big Apple, with Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix throwing for a total of 60 yards. Dulcich had five catches on 11 targets for 28 yards through the first two weeks of the season, but he has zero catches on just one target in the last two weeks as Nix continues to struggle as a passer early in his NFL career. Things are looking up for this lackluster offense with a Week 5 divisional clash at home against the Las Vegas Raiders, but Dulcich shouldn't be anywhere near starting fantasy lineups, even in two-TE leagues. Nix can barely support one receiver in fantasy, let alone an oft-injured tight end.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Sep 30 9:50am CT
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews continues his disappointing stretch of play in another winning effort by the team. The veteran especially looked bad after uncharacteristically dropping a wide-open catch that would have gone for a first down. That was his only target of the game as Lamar Jackson only threw the ball 18 times with the ground game cutting up the Bills' defense with ease. Andrews now has a total of six receptions for 65 yards and no touchdowns while putting up goose eggs in two straight weeks. His yards per game total of 16.3 is the worst mark of his career so far with his second-worst coming in at 34.5 during his rookie campaign. Moving forward, Andrews isn't a reliable starter, even in their AFC North matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Jaleel McLaughlin Sep 30 9:40am CT
Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin and the team's ground game was the most productive its been all year in the 10-9 upset win over the New York Jets on Sunday in Week 4. McLaughlin averaged 5.11 yards per carry on nine attempts, finishing with 46 rushing yards. He caught his only target for no gain. The 24-year-old could see more run moving forward if the back injury that caused Tyler Badie to be carted off is serious, but McLaughlin is still the clear No. 2 to Javonte Williams in an offense that has averaged 15.5 points through four games, which is fifth-worst in the NFL. McLaughlin was out-touched 18 to 10 and out-gained 80 to 46 in the win over the Jets. Even in a plus matchup in Week 5 against the division-rival Raiders, McLaughlin will belong on benches in most fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues and has very little to no standalone value right now.

From RotoBaller

Zay Flowers Sep 30 9:40am CT
Zay Flowers

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers was virtually invisible in the team's blowout win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. As the number-one receiver, Flowers only saw two targets, one reception, and 10 yards with no carries. The game script was very run-heavy in this game, much like their game plan against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. The difference was that there weren't many manufactured touches for Flowers in this one. Justice Hill was the one to get the lion's share of targets in this game as the trend continues with Lamar Jackson only being able to feed one pass-catcher per game. Flowers will go up against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 who are currently giving up an average of 25.6 fantasy points per game to opposing receiver groups in half-PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

Justice Hill Sep 30 9:30am CT
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill found the end zone for the first time this season as the Ravens dismantled the Buffalo Bills by a score of 35-10. Hill only saw four carries for 18 yards on the ground, but did most of his damage in the passing game. He saw six targets which he turned into six receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. The next-most targeted player in this game was Derrick Henry and Nelson Agholor who received three targets each. Hill has explosive ability when it comes to catching passes out of the backfield, and the Ravens' offense seems to rely a lot less on deeper throws this season. Head coach John Harbaugh will continue to get him involved, but Hill continues to be game script dependent, which would lead to more of a flex play in deeper leagues. He'll look to continue this type of performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Sep 30 9:20am CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson puts together another QB1 performance in a blowout victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. The two-time MVP finished the game with 156 yards and two touchdowns on 13-for-18 throwing as he added 54 yards and another touchdown on the ground with six carries. He did lose a fumble in the second quarter but made all the right plays outside of the one mistake. Currently, out of the top five fantasy finishers at quarterback, Jackson is the only one with fewer than 30 pass attempts. On the year, before the Monday night games take place, Jackson is the QB2 behind Jayden Daniels who had a fantastic game of his own. Jackson looked like a poised, veteran leader on Sunday night, as the offense finally returned to its run-first style of play. He'll go up against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 who just gave up a top-ten fantasy outing to Andy Dalton in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Derrick Henry Sep 30 9:10am CT
Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry put together one of the biggest performances in franchise history under the bright lights of primetime against the Buffalo Bills during a 35-10 blowout win. The King finished the game with 199 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries while adding three receptions for 10 yards and another score through the air. Henry could have had a second rushing touchdown but fumbled right on the goal line which was recovered by fullback Patrick Ricard for a touchdown. With 199 rushing yards, Henry posted the fifth-most in a single game in Ravens franchise history while registering the longest touchdown in the team's 29 years. This was also his first touchdown catch since 2019 and the fourth of his career. The Ravens will look to keep the good times rolling against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Raheem Mostert Sep 30 9:00am CT
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) is currently listed as questionable for the Monday night contest against the Tennessee Titans, but he's not expected to be upgraded to active. According to Tom Pelissero, the veteran back will miss another game with this chest injury which will already be his third missed game of the season. At 32 years old and with a long injury history, this has always been the risk with Mostert in terms of fantasy football. De'Von Achane will get as many opportunities on the ground and through the air as possible while Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jaylen Wright will split the backup duties against a Titans team who's on the tougher side against opposing running backs, giving up 16.8 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Higgins Sep 30 8:50am CT
Elijah Higgins

Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins caught two of his three targets for 12 yards in Sunday's loss to the Washington Commanders. Filling in for the injured Trey McBride (concussion), Higgins had a favorable matchup against a Commanders defense that has struggled in pass coverage this season. However, he failed to capitalize, as the Cardinals managed just 142 passing yards despite shifting to a pass-heavy game script. Although Higgins was on the field most of the snaps, there seemed to be no emphasis on getting him the ball. Given his limited involvement in this opportunity, Higgins remains a long shot as a streaming option next week against the San Francisco 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Greg Dortch Sep 30 8:50am CT
Greg Dortch

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch is still searching for his first touchdown of the season after the Cardinals suffered a blowout loss at the hands of the Washington Commanders. Dortch caught all four of his targets for 38 yards which tied him for second-most receiving yards on the team with Michael Wilson. Despite being down for three quarters in this game, the Cardinals threw the ball only 22 times compared to 32 attempts on the ground. Dortch was able to at least catch 100% of the throws his way, but it hasn't turned into much fantasy success at all. Before the Monday night games kickoff for Week 4, Dortch sits at WR66 in half-PPR formats, and Trey McBride will likely be back soon, which turns into even fewer opportunities for him. The Cardinals will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 on the road.

From RotoBaller

Michael Wilson Sep 30 8:40am CT
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson couldn't get going against the Washington Commanders as they dropped a home contest in blowout fashion. Wilson caught three of his seven targets for 38 yards and lost a fumble in the process. While he had the highest yards per reception out of the entire receiver group, he only posted a finish of WR64 in half-PPR formats. He's been an unreliable fantasy asset through four games as he averages just above six fantasy points per game and is currently listed as the WR58. He'll have a tough matchup to try to bounce back in Week 5 as they go up against the San Francisco 49ers on the road.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Sep 30 8:30am CT
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III received the second-most targets on the team in this two-point win over the New Orleans Saints. McCloud has now accrued 22 targets through the team's first four games which is already seven more than he had all last season, and just three shy of his second-best season. He turned seven targets against the Saints into six receptions for 52 yards but didn't make it into the end zone. McCloud has been a quality outlet for Kirk Cousins but it hasn't turned into fantasy success just yet. His upside is limited as long as Darnell Mooney and Drake London are still on the field, but McCloud could provide some scoring in deeper leagues with PPR scoring. He'll go up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a short week in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Sep 30 8:20am CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (ankle) has officially been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain after leaving Sunday's game with what looked like an injury that could have been more. The good thing is that a fracture has been ruled out according to Ian Rapoport, but Watson could still land on the IR. Unfortunately, it's been a rough start to the season for Watson as he's registered eight targets, five receptions, 80 yards, and one touchdown. He'll now have to miss some time, which we'll likely hear about soon, and that will boost Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs' value in the meantime. Dontayvion Wicks, who caught two touchdowns in Week 4, will likely see added opportunities as well.

From RotoBaller