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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

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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Top 3 Busts

Player Notes
Trey Sermon Aug 11 1:50pm CT
Trey Sermon

The Indianapolis Colts have ruled out running back Trey Sermon (hamstring) due to a hamstring injury sustained during Sunday's preseason game against the Broncos. Sermon, who saw his first action in the game's third series while Jonathan Taylor played the first two, recorded one reception for 12 yards but had no carries. The injury likely occurred during special teams play. The backup running back role behind Taylor was expected to be highly competitive at the Colts' training camp, but Sermon appeared to have secured the position. Head coach Shane Steichen had praised Sermon's performance, particularly his pass protection and vision on runs. With Sermon sidelined, Tyler Goodson has moved ahead of 2023 draft pick Evan Hull as the next running back in line. While no Colts running back is expected to have a significant fantasy impact as long as Jonathan Taylor remains healthy, the backup role can be valuable. Zack Moss demonstrated this last season, finishing as the No. 28 running back in PPR points per game, showing the potential for substantial fantasy value in the No. 2 spot.

From RotoBaller

Drew Lock Aug 11 1:40pm CT
Drew Lock

Due to a sore hip, New York Giants backup quarterback Drew Lock will miss practice this week. Lock was injured late in the first quarter after being hit and going to the ground. Although he remained in for one more play, he eventually had to leave the field in pain. Head coach Brian Daboll has announced that Lock is expected to miss at least three practices and will be unavailable for the Giants' second preseason game against the Houston Texans on Saturday. Before the injury, Lock struggled, completing just 4-of-10 passes for 17 yards and an interception. With Lock sidelined, the Giants will rely on Daniel Jones and Tommy Devito as their only healthy quarterbacks. Lock signed a one-year deal this offseason with $5 million guaranteed and was expected to compete with Jones for the starting role. Given his injury and poor performance before it, Lock is unlikely to challenge Jones significantly for the starting job. No matter who starts, the Giants' quarterback situation offers limited fantasy value, apart from supporting Malik Nabers.

From RotoBaller

Braelon Allen Aug 11 1:20pm CT
Braelon Allen

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh expressed his enthusiasm for the running back room, noting its significant improvement since his first year with the team. He described rookie Braelon Allen as a "very heavy runner," mentioning that it's "painful" for other players to try to tackle him. Allen, starting in place of the sidelined Breece Hall, rushed for 54 yards on six carries in his preseason debut. He also demonstrated his pass-blocking skills and looked promising as a receiver, though his only catch was nullified by an ineligible man downfield. Despite playing only one half, Allen did more to boost his stock than any other player on the roster. Entering the game as the leading candidate for the RB2 role, the Wisconsin product solidified his position as the top contender for that spot this summer. He looks like the ideal handcuff to roster if you select Hall in the first round of fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Aug 11 1:00pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will get the "vast majority of the reps" against the Minnesota Vikings in joint practices this week, but he won't play in the second preseason contest game next Saturday against the Vikings despite being cleared for full contact. Watson hasn't had any setbacks in his recovery from right-shoulder surgery last year, but the Browns are being careful with the 28-year-old, and it now looks like he won't get any preseason reps until perhaps the final game. The former 12th overall pick by the Houston Texans in 2017 out of Clemson is a three-time Pro Bowler but has played in only 12 games total since joining Cleveland in 2021 due to a suspension and injuries. Draft him as a QB2 with upside as he looks for a bounce-back campaign in 2024.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Aug 11 12:50pm CT
CeeDee Lamb

The Dallas Cowboys consider themselves further long on a new deal with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb than with quarterback Dak Prescott. Multiple sources believe a Lamb extension will get done, possibly soon. The team has been talking to Lamb's agent, Tory Dandy, and Lamb's stance is clear: His numbers and the market speak clearly. The Cowboys know it will have to be $30-plus million annually. Meanwhile, Dallas' conversations with Prescott's agent, Todd France, are ongoing. Although a deal isn't considered close, the Cowboys think they are in a better place than they were this offseason. Owner Jerry Jones made news late this week by saying the team is in no rush to extend Lamb, but the reality is the Cowboys need the 25-year-old pass-catcher on the field sooner than later so that he's in midseason form for the start of the 2024 regular season.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Jones Aug 11 12:40pm CT
Aaron Jones

Based on conversations ESPN's Dan Graziano had with Minnesota Vikings officials, he expects the team to try to get running back Aaron Jones 15 to 18 touches per game and use Ty Chandler as a 1B to Jones' 1A. It's possible some weeks will call for Jones to see upwards of 20 touches, but the Vikings have watched him closely for years and think he has always been at his best when he has had a complementary back such as Jamaal Williams or AJ Dillon. With that said, Jones will offer a more explosive element in the running game than Alexander Mattison did last year, and Minnesota believes the 29-year-old still has plenty left in the tank to be their lead back in 2024. But he's right around the age where RBs start to break down, so the Vikes will be careful with his workload, which makes him more of a low-end RB2 target in his first year in Minnesota.

From RotoBaller

Nate Wiggins Aug 11 12:30pm CT
Nate Wiggins

The Baltimore Ravens are confident that rookie first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins (shoulder) avoided a significant injury when he left the preseason opener on Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles with a shoulder injury. Wiggins could miss some practice time at training camp, but the Ravens are optimistic he'll be ready for the Week 1 season opener on Thursday Night Football against the defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs. The Clemson product looked really good in his NFL debut on Friday night against the Eagles and figures to be a big part of Baltimore's secondary in his first year if he can stay healthy. The 20-year-old was the 30th overall selection back in April and figures to start immediately across from Marlon Humphrey.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Aug 11 12:20pm CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants rookie first-round wide receiver Malik Nabers (ankle) limped off the practice field at training camp early on Sunday, but the belief is that it's just a minor left-ankle sprain. It appeared that Nabers was stepped on near the end of team drills in practice. It's something to watch for the 21-year-old, but it shouldn't keep him out of action at camp for too long, if at all entering next week. He played just 12 offensive snaps in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions and wasn't targeted at all by quarterback Drew Lock. The sixth overall pick in this year's NFL draft may very well lead the G-Men in targets in his first year in the NFL, which will make him a WR2/3 target for fantasy managers in upcoming drafts. Any missed time by Nabers in camp will open up more opportunities for receivers Jalin Hyatt, Wan'Dale Robinson, Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton and Isaiah McKenzie.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Aug 11 12:20pm CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will likely play in the team's second preseason contest against the Houston Texans next Saturday, according to head coach Brian Daboll. Jones is on the mend this offseason after suffering a season-ending torn ACL in 2023. The 27-year-old former first-rounder was medically cleared for all activities to start training camp at the end of July, but the Giants chose to keep him out of the preseason opener this past Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. It's unlikely that Jones will play very much against the Texas, but it will give us a chance to see how he's moving around as he returns from a serious knee injury. Jones got an upgrade in the receiving corps with first-round wideout Malik Nabers this year, but he's in a prove-it season in New York and should be treated as a low-end QB2 in fantasy in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Marquise Brown Aug 11 12:10pm CT
Marquise Brown

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder), who suffered a dislocation of his sternoclavicular shoulder join in Saturday's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, was discharged from a Jacksonville-area hospital on Sunday morning and has been cleared to return to Kansas City. Tyreek Hill suffered the same injury back in 2019 with KC and ended up missing four weeks in the regular season. So fantasy managers should expect Hollywood to miss some time and be questionable for the regular-season opener in Week 1 to kick off the season against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football. It puts a damper on Brown's fantasy value to open his first year with the Chiefs. Any time missed by Brown will be an opportunity for rookie Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney to see more snaps. Rashee Rice could also open the year serving a suspension.

From RotoBaller

Braelon Allen Aug 11 10:38am CT
Braelon Allen

Dynasty | Jets rookie running back Braelon Allen rushed for 54 yards on six carries in the Jets preseason opener. Dynasty Analysis: If there were any questions about who the backup is to Breece Hall, those were likely answered today. Allen has reportedly had a solid camp both rushing and receiving and has quickly climbed the depth chart. This performance all but makes him the handcuff to Breece Hall, barring a late surge from someone else late in camp. Allen remains a solid late round rookie pick with upside.

Cole Kmet Aug 11 10:30am CT
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet saw limited time in his first preseason game of the season and caught one of two targets for 26 yards in the team's 33-6 win over the Bills. Kmet had his first game action with quarterback Caleb Williams and dropped a pass that could have made his day even more productive. While the Notre Dame alum likely won't see the same volume he did a year ago, the offensive additions should improve the unit and give Kmet more opportunities near the end zone. His next chance to get reps in the preseason comes Saturday at home against the Bengals.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Aug 11 10:20am CT
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs recorded a rush attempt and a reception in the Packers' preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns. Jacobs and the starters only lasted three plays. The Packers offense scored on the third play from scrimmage on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Dontayvion Wicks. Jacobs was on the field for all three plays. His lone rush attempt went for seven yards and his reception went for a loss of two yards. Jacobs ran a short route on the touchdown pass as an outlet for Love. As expected, it appears that Jacobs will be heavily involved in the offense. However, it remains to be seen if he will share time in the backfield with either MarShawn Lloyd or AJ Dillon. The answer to that question may not come until the regular season gets underway in September. Jacobs has a Yahoo! ADP of 34 and is a borderline RB1 heading into fantasy football drafts.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Moore Aug 11 10:10am CT
D.J. Moore

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore played in his first game after signing a $110 million extension in Saturday's 33-6 preseason win against the Bills. Moore saw his first action with quarterback Caleb Williams and caught two of three targets for 27 yards, despite only playing the first two drives. Although many high-profile players like Moore often sit out preseason games, developing game chemistry with Williams is crucial for their success this season. Moore's next chance to suit up comes on Saturday at home against the Bengals.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Aug 11 10:00am CT
Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams played the first two drives in the team's 33-6 preseason win over the Bills. He completed four of seven passes for 95 yards and rushed once for 13 yards. Although his playing time was limited, Williams showcased his ability to throw accurately on the run and improvise effectively outside of the pocket. He targeted tight end Cole Kmet twice, resulting in one catch and one drop. Additionally, Williams connected with running back D'Andre Swift for a big gain and receiver D.J. Moore for his other two completions. His next opportunity to get more reps is Saturday at home against the Bengals.

From RotoBaller

D'Andre Swift Aug 11 10:00am CT
D'Andre Swift

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift made his team debut on Saturday in their 33-6 preseason win over the Bills. Despite limited playing time, Swift rushed once for three yards and caught his only target for a 42-yard gain from quarterback Caleb Williams. After signing a $24 million contract to join Chicago from Philadelphia, Swift appears set for a featured role on an improving Bears offense. If his dynamic play in the first game is any indicator, Swift could see more receiving volume than usual. His next chance to get playing time comes on Saturday at home against the Bengals.

From RotoBaller

Dallin Holker Aug 11 9:10am CT
Dallin Holker

New Orleans Saints rookie tight end Dallin Holker caught all three targets for 24 yards in his NFL debut. The 24-year-old undrafted rookie has an opportunity to earn a roster spot with Juwan Johnson (foot) currently on the PUP list. Holker was the only Saints tight end aside from Michael Jacobson (one catch for four yards) to record a catch in the preseason win over Arizona. He will be an intriguing name to keep an eye on throughout the rest of the preseason as he competes with Johnson, Foster Moreau, Jacobson, and Kevin Rader for a roster spot.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Aug 11 9:10am CT
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave drew four targets in Saturday's win over Arizona, but only caught one for 10 yards. Olave was the target of Derek Carr's first three pass attempts, indicating that he will be targeted early and often this season. With Rashid Shaheed (hamstring) sitting out, Olave was by far the most trusted receiver on the field with the starters for New Orleans. It remains unclear whether the third-year receiver will see any more preseason action prior to Week 1's matchup with the Carolina Panthers.

From RotoBaller

A.T. Perry Aug 11 9:00am CT
A.T. Perry

New Orleans Saints second-year receiver A.T. Perry impressed in Saturday night's preseason win over Arizona. Perry caught all four of his targets for a total of 85 yards, connecting with rookie Spencer Rattler for a 58-yard bomb for the night's longest play. The 24-year-old flashed as a deep threat last season and is currently competing for a starting role in the offense. He remains on the fantasy radar as a deep sleeper.

From RotoBaller

Spencer Rattler Aug 11 8:50am CT
Spencer Rattler

New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler strung together an impressive showing in Saturday's 16-14 preseason win over Arizona. Rattler was third in the pecking order behind Derek Carr and Jake Haener, but was able to play the entire second half. The rookie completed 9-of-17 passes for 70 yards while also rushing twice for eight yards and a touchdown. The game-winning drive was strung together in the game's final minute, which was capped off with a Charlie Smyth field goal. Rattler will continue to compete with Haener for the backup job.

From RotoBaller