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
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney is heading into a make-or-break year in 2024 as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. Toney missed training camp and the preseason in 2023 while recovering from surgery to fix the meniscus and cartilage in his knee. He struggled in the regular season with drops and was benched in December. Not only must Toney stay healthy, but he needs to rebuild his chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes while also showing he can be a top target for backup Carson Wentz in the preseason. Even after the offseason additions of Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy, there's an argument to be made that Toney is the team's most talented pass-catcher. However, the 25-year-old needs to show consistency in camp this summer and in the preseason to secure a spot on the active roster. If not, he's a candidate to be traded.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has two years left on a four-year, $72 million contract extension he signed in 2021. However, the remaining seasons include zero guaranteed dollars. There's a potentially incompatible $23 million salary cap hit in 2025, with only $6 million in dead cap. Washington drafted defensive tackle Johnny Newton in the second round this year, meaning there's a potential Allen replacement on the roster should another extension or restructure not be in the cards before the 2025 season. A knee injury kept Allen from playing in the season finale last year, but the 29-year-old took part in OTAs this offseason and should be ready for Week 1 this fall. The former 17th overall pick in 2017 out of Alabama dipped to 5.5 sacks in 2023 after recording 16.5 sacks the two previous seasons.
From RotoBaller
The best and perhaps most direct way for Kansas City Chiefs running back Louis Rees-Zammit, a speedster and former rugby star, to earn a spot on the initial roster is by excelling as a kickoff returner. However, he will also compete with Deneric Prince and Keaontay Ingram for the third RB spot on the depth chart this summer in training camp. "He's done above and beyond what I've expected," special teams coordinator Dave Toub said of Rees-Zammit in late May. The 23-year-old's chances of making the Chiefs roster are aided by new rules allowing an extra 17th practice-squad spot during the regular season for international players. It will be interesting to see how offensive mastermind and head coach Andy Reid utilizes Rees-Zammit, but expecting the former Welsh rugby star to make an immediate impact in fantasy would be foolish.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (ankle) said he will do his trip with his pass-catchers before training camp kicks off at the end of July as he has done the last several years. Prescott said the plan for now is for receiver CeeDee Lamb to be in attendance. The 30-year-old caused a stir over the weekend when he was seen wearing a walking boot while on vacation, but he was wearing it strictly as a precaution after some soreness developed in his surgically repaired right ankle following two hard workouts. Prescott was just being cautious and does not anticipate it being an issue when camp begins. He had surgery on his ankle back in 2020 due to a compound fracture and dislocation. Prescott should be 100% for the start of the 2024 season and should be considered a solid midrange QB1 target after coming off a great 2023 campaign.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent running back Leonard Fournette is motivated to continue his NFL career and intends to sign with a team before the 2024 season. Fournette has hired former agents, Ari Nissim and Pat Capra, to help in that pursuit. "Leonard's in the best shape of his career and I expect he will have a new home soon," Nissim said. It would be a surprise to see the 29-year-old veteran latch on with a team after training camp begins, but expecting Lenny to become fantasy relevant this year is a different story. His last 1,000-yard rushing campaign came back in 2019 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, although he did have over 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2021 and 2022 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fournette played in just two games with the Buffalo Bills in 2023 and had 12 carries for 40 yards. At best, Fournette will be a complementary depth option for a team's backfield in 2024.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Jeff Darlington, the Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have had "active negotiations" regarding a new contract. Although this situation has been ongoing for months, both sides have remained amicable through the process. With Tyreek Hill also looking for more money, Miami has been busy. However, the team is prioritizing Tagovailoa's demands, considering he's entering the final year of his rookie deal. The signal-caller is coming off a solid 2023-24 campaign, throwing for 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while completing 69.3% of his attempts. Without question, the Dolphins would love to keep him around for years to come, especially since he proved he can stay healthy by appearing in all 17 games last season.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Washington Commanders have been linked to wide receiver. Brandon Aiyuk. Dynasty Analysis: Aiyuk posted a cryptic message including him reviewing Washington Commanders game film so the Internet expectedly lost its mind. Rumors will swirl constantly until Aiyuk is either traded or signs a new long-term deal with San Francisco, so this is likely much ado about nothing. Still, Aiyuk remains in a dynasty hold pattern as nobody seems to truly know what's going to happen here.
Dynasty | Patriots rookie tight end Jaheim Bell has been chosen as a potential rookie producer by several media outlets. Dynasty Analysis: This latest story pegs him as the second most likely rookie tight end to produce behind only (predictably) Brock Bowers. Bell has been a bit of a sleeper in most rookie drafts so these stories are at least worth noting. If you're in the midst of a late rookie draft, there are worse players to take a flier on, especially at the tight end position.
Dynasty | Browns running back Nick Chubb was selected as the second best running back by NFL executives in a recent ESPN poll. Dynasty Analysis: Chubb was ranked as the second best running back in the NFL behind only Christian McCaffrey. He has a lot to prove this season as he attempts to return from a gruesome knee injury but time will tell if he can regain his form and justify this lofty ranking. From a dynasty value perspective, few players have the upside of Chubb and with a ranking of RB37, he seems like a worthy high-risk proposition for contending teams at the moment.
The Houston Texans re-signed veteran defensive end Jerry Hughes on Monday, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The 35-year-old is heading into his 15th NFL season, but he'll likely act as a rotational pass-rusher after the team signed Danielle Hunter to play on the opposite side of Will Anderson Jr. this offseason. Hughes has 69.5 sacks and 19 forced fumbles in 218 games with the Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, and Texans. Should Hunter or Anderson Jr. have to miss time, he could become a major contributor to one of the league's fastest-rising teams.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton is being suspended for the first eight games of the 2024 season, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The stems from Sutton's arrest related to a domestic violence situation. He was charged with misdemeanor battery after he turned himself in at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Florida on March 31. The 29-year-old struggled mightily last season with the Detroit Lions, and the team released him just before he turned himself in. He signed with Pittsburgh this offseason, where he spent the first six seasons of his professional career.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus signed with the organization this offseason on a one-year, $1.28 million contract. His salary would suggest he's not guaranteed to make the roster, but Ben Standig of the Athletic believes he is close to being a lock. "The first three (wide receivers) are locks, and Zaccheaus probably adds that distinction over time," Standig wrote. Zaccheaus has collected 104 of his 171 targets for 1,492 yards and 10 touchdowns through his first 72 career games with the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles. It'd be a surprise if he's a fantasy football contributor in 2024, but it sounds like he could occupy the WR4 role behind Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Luke McCaffrey under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz was once one of the most productive players at the position. While his numbers have been on the decline over the last few years, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports that he looked good in offseason activities this summer. "Ertz, 33, showed more speed than expected in practices," Standig wrote. "Injuries are more concerning than the three-time Pro Bowler's remaining talent." The 2013 second-round pick could be heavily relied on by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels early in his NFL career, especially while rookie tight end Ben Sinnott makes the transition to the next level. Ertz is unlikely to possess TE1 upside at this stage of his career, but he might produce mid-range TE2 numbers, making him worth rostering in deep PPR setups. The former Stanford Cardinal enters 2024 in 12th place on the all-time receiving list by a tight end with 7,434 yards.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has reportedly been impressive this offseason, but not all organizations want to start their rookie quarterback right away. The No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU could sit behind veteran Marcus Mariota to begin his career, though Commanders reporter Ben Standig believes that will not be the case. "Daniels' development is the story. The competition for Week 1 starter isn't," Standig wrote. "Quinn will maintain lineup battle talk. There's a daily progression coaches have planned for the rookie, yet it's clear the dual-threat talent is the clubhouse leader to be QB1 thanks to his sizzling potential and Mariota's limitations." Daniels threw for 40 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,100 yards in his Heisman-winning 2023 campaign, and if his skills translate to the next level, he's a future high-end QB1 in fantasy football in the making. He's being selected as a high-end QB2 in preseason drafts, but if he starts right away and plays all 17 games, he has a clear path to beating his ADP.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (knee) suffered a torn ACL during last year's training camp and has been limited this offseason, but he was seen working out and moving well in an Instagram post this week. This is a great sign for his potential training camp availability later this month. The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Malone University has hauled in just 33 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns through his first 55 NFL games, but he was named a second-team All-Pro in 2021 for his special teams ability. Dulin is unlikely to see meaningful action as a wideout behind Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Adonai Mitchell, and Alec Pierce, so he can be ignored in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. was handed a six-game suspension by the NFL last week, and although the veteran is not expected to appeal the punishment, he is looking to play in 2024. "During this offseason, I took a supplement one time, which I thought to be completely safe and well within any of the NFL's policies," Gipson wrote in a statement. "It was in no way related to performance, training, or gaining an advantage of any kind at any time. It is with great disappointment that I accept this suspension, and I do so knowing that I have never even attempted to cheat the game. I look forward to returning for my 13th NFL season and helping a team compete for a championship." Gipson, who has played in 173 NFL games, may have to wait a while to find a home, as the safety market has been stagnant this offseason.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is entering the second year of a two-year, $26 million deal that he made look like a bargain after bouncing back in 2023. In the spring, Hopkins removed pictures and affiliations featuring team logos from his social-media accounts, but he was around and joined quarterback Will Levis and other receivers on a trip to work and have fun this offseason. It remains to be seen if the Titans will try to extend Hopkins before the start of the 2024 season. It's not an easy decision for a 32-year-old wideout. If the Titans don't give him an extension, they could lose Hopkins just as he and Levis and this Brian Callahan offense starts to click. The Titans should throw more this year, but Hopkins' age, Levis' inexperience and the addition of Calvin Ridley are all reasons to doubt whether he can have another productive season in 2024.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Vic Tafur writes that it's the Las Vegas Raiders' plan to use more two-tight end sets this year involving rookie first-rounder Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, who was a second-round selection in 2023. In addition, the Raiders will line up Bowers out wide and behind the quarterback at times to give the defense unique looks. It's not that the Raiders suddenly don't like Mayer now after drafting Bowers in the first round, but they just thought they couldn't pass up on Bowers' explosiveness and even turned down a team trying to trade up for him. While Mayer will still have a role in the offense in his second NFL season, he's going to take a back seat to Bowers in 2024 and will go undrafted in standard 12-team fantasy leagues this fall. Bowers, meanwhile has the potential for a Sam LaPorta-like season in his rookie campaign.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White stepped up last season and is in great shape heading into the 2024 season, but he will have to prove it to the coaching staff again this year and to new general manager Tom Telesco. The Raiders lost Josh Jacobs in free agency but brought in Alexander Mattison because of his fit to the new offense. The Athletic's Vic Tafur also writes that the Raiders could add another running back if either White or Mattison get off to a slow start in training camp this summer. The 24-year-old White is expected to open the season as Vegas' lead back, with Mattison filling a complementary role ahead of RB3 Ameer Abdullah. As long as he doesn't fall flat in training camp and the preseason, fantasy managers should view White as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 as he takes on an expanded role with Jacobs out of the picture.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Vic Tafur writes that Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce seems to be the obvious first player in line to receive a long-term contract extension from new general manager Tom Telesco. Pass-rusher is a premium position, and the coaching staff seems pretty convinced Koonce is only scratching the surface of his potential. Robert Spillane might be second on the list for an extension given his improvement and how much he loves head coach Antonio Pierce and fellow pass-rusher Maxx Crosby. The 26-year-old Koonce had a breakout season in 2023, recording 43 tackles (32 solo), eight sacks and three forced fumbles in all 17 games for the Raiders. Six of his sacks came after Week 15. If Koonce continues his upward trajectory, no QB will be safe in 2024 when they face the Raiders and their formidable pass rush.
From RotoBaller
