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FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

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
Cade Otton Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Cade Otton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton was basically invisible to begin the season, but has turned it around over the last few weeks. On Sunday, Otton hauled in six of his nine targets for 52 yards in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Otton now has 13 receptions on 17 targets for 99 yards over the last two games. Otton remains third on the pecking order, but he has found a way to produce over the last two games. He has forced himself into the TE2 discussion heading into next week's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Breece Hall Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Breece Hall

Following Sunday's 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh commented on running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen and how they might be used in goal-line situations moving forward. Specifically, reporters asked Saleh why he chose not to sub out Hall for Allen when the team was deep in Broncos' territory. "It was still kind of early when that play came about, but definitely something we can look at," said Saleh, "We're always going to lean on Breece, he's our workhorse back... It's definitely something to look at." The comments in question regard a series of plays where New York had a first-and-goal from the one-yard line, and Hall was stuffed on first and second-down handoffs. Braelon Allen was subbed in on third, but the Jets ran a pass play that fell incomplete. Despite intending to go for it on fourth-down, a penalty forced them to settle for a field goal. It's encouraging to see the Jets head coach give his RB1 the vote of confidence. However, one has to wonder if this will affect his decision-making for the remainder of the season. The rookie RB was a far more effective rusher Sunday, averaging 4.3 yards on his eight carries, while the presumed starter finished with four yards on ten attempts. The former Cyclone is unlikely to lose his job as the 1A in New York's backfield, but he may lose out on some valuable touches moving forward. The Jets will be the "home" team in Week 5 when they square off against the Minnesota Vikings in London

From RotoBaller

Jalen Hurts Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 18 of 30 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown, adding eight carries for 20 yards, an additional score, and lost one of his two fumbles during the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The loss of A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith was felt early and often in this game. Eagles wide receivers combined for just 34 yards, catching seven of their 20 targets. For context, tight end Dallas Goedert nearly doubled that receiving yard total on his own in this game. The lack of pass-catching talent was not the only issue. This was another game where Hurts has started slow and had to play catch up. The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Eagles. It should give them the chance to regroup and regain their top two pass catchers before a showdown with the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Jerome Ford Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Jerome Ford

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball 10 times for 58 yards and added seven catches for 27 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Ford appeared to be on his way to another mediocre rushing day before ripping off a 35-yard run late in the fourth quarter to boost his overall numbers. Despite his struggles on the ground, Ford supplemented his fantasy output with another strong day in the receiving department, catching all seven of his targets in the loss. Ford has now hauled in 17 of 20 targets through four games this season. With Nick Chubb (knee) still at least a few weeks away from being activated from the PUP list, Ford will be a solid RB2 heading into Week 5 against the Washington Commanders.

From RotoBaller

Amari Cooper Sep 29 8:30pm CT
Amari Cooper

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper caught four of his eight targets for 35 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Cooper could have had a much bigger afternoon but he had an 82-yard touchdown catch wiped away thanks to a holding penalty on center Nick Harris. As has been the case multiple times this season, Cooper also committed another tough drop, this time allowing an on-target pass to slip through his hands into a defender's for an interception. Cooper now has 16 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns through four games. Despite struggling in three of his four games in 2024, Cooper will be a strong fantasy play against a weak Washington Commanders secondary in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Cameron Dicker Sep 29 8:20pm CT
Cameron Dicker

Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker attempted three kicks in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, making two of them. He made his only extra point try and one of his two field goal attempts. The field goal he made was a first quarter kick from 50 yards out. He missed a later 55 yard try in the third quarter. Dicker has been extremely accurate to start his career since last season, but his only weak spot might be kicks from outside of 50 yards. He and the Bolts head into their bye week and will return for a Week 6 game against the Broncos in Denver.

From RotoBaller

Chris Godwin Sep 29 8:20pm CT
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin surprisingly took a backseat for the first time this season. Fellow wideout Mike Evans did a majority of the damage as he saw 14 targets on the day. However, Godwin was still productive as he hauled in six of his nine targets for 69 yards in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Todd Bowles mentioned earlier in the week that they wanted to get Evans more involved. They've done that and it could mean a dip in value for Godwin going forward. However, Godwin should still get a steady workload as he has proven himself to be a viable option. Fantasy managers should consider Godwin a WR2 for Thursday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Austin Hooper Sep 29 8:20pm CT
Austin Hooper

New England Patriots tight end caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Hooper's touchdown came on fourth down as Jacoby Brissett sold the hand-off and found his tight end wide open near the goal line. Although he's the Patriots' No. 2 tight end behind Hunter Henry, Hooper has still put together a solid start to the season, catching six passes for 68 yards and the score. He'll continue to make an impact on offense but can be avoided in most fantasy leagues given the Patriots' subpar offense and his role behind Henry.

From RotoBaller

Josh Palmer Sep 29 8:10pm CT
Josh Palmer

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (calf/elbow) returned to the field for a Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs and was targeted four times, making three catches for 36 yards. Palmer missed the Week 3 loss to the Steelers and started off Week 4 with a limited practice before being able to practice in full twice at the end of the week, entering the game without an injury designation. He ended up tied for third on the team in targets but second in catches and yards. It was a mostly slow game for the Chargers offense once again, and despite plenty of preseason hype around Palmer as potentially being quarterback Justin Herbert's go-to guy in the passing game, Palmer will go into the Chargers bye week with a total of seven catches for 70 yards. A healthier Herbert after the bye week could start throwing more, but for now Palmer needs to remain on most fantasy benches until he shows something different.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Sep 29 8:10pm CT
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas caught all three of his targets for 13 yards during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Douglas had caught seven passes for 79 yards back in Week 4, so there was optimism that he might be able to build on that effort this week against the Niners. Instead, his target total declined and he delivered an underwhelming fantasy performance. Unfortunately, the Patriots don't have enough passing and scoring opportunities to make Douglas a reliable fantasy option. Jacoby Brissett is averaging just 15.1 completions and 0.5 passing touchdowns per game, so when you divide those numbers over a large group of capable wide receivers and tight ends, you're left with a bunch of depth players who lack much fantasy value, outside of an occasional breakout game. That's the case with Douglas, who has either gone under 4.5 fantasy points or over 14.5 fantasy points in all four of his games this season. He's too dependent on volume in an offense that can't consistently support a player like that. Douglas ranks as a fantasy WR5 going forward.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Sep 29 8:10pm CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has been quiet the last few games, but picked it up during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran wideout hauled in eight of his 14 targets for 94 yards and a touchdown in the win. Head coach Todd Bowles said he wanted to get Evans more involved and that's exactly what happened. Those 14 targets were a team-high as Evans earned a 30 percent target share on Sunday. It appears Evans is back to putting up elite numbers so he should be on the WR1 radar for Thursday's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Quentin Johnston Sep 29 8:10pm CT
Quentin Johnston

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston put up a dud in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was targeted five times, the second most on the team, but was only able to come up with one catch for a nine yard gain. He added a rushing play in which he gained four yards on the ground. Johnston came into this game as the overall WR21, having scored three touchdowns in the past two games. This one was a little different, as he totaled less than two fantasy points in standard scoring and half-PPR formats. The Chargers actually threw the ball more times than they ran it for the first time this season, but Johnston just wasn't able to do much with the balls thrown his way. The Bolts will head into their Week 5 bye and will take on the Broncos in Denver in Week 6. Johnston should remain a large part of the passing game, but this was quite a dud for fantasy managers expecting to see his touchdown streak continue.

From RotoBaller

Ladd McConkey Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey scored his second NFL touchdown in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. McConkey led the Bolts in catches, yards, and targets and was the only Charger to score a touchdown. He ended up seeing seven targets, making five catches for 67 yards, including a seven yard touchdown on an excellent catch and throw in the first quarter. McConkey heads into the Chargers bye week as the clear top target in the passing game and should be an asset in PPR leagues especially when the Chargers return for a Week 6 game in Denver against the Broncos.

From RotoBaller

Rhamondre Stevenson Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He also converted five targets into four catches for 19 yards through the air. On a more negative note, Stevenson did lose a fumble in the effort. He has now fumbled in all four games this season and has lost a fumble in each of the last two contests. Evidently, the running back's productivity and versatility on offense have been somewhat canceled out by his ball security issues. At the same time, fellow running back Antonio Gibson has tallied 219 scrimmage yards over the last three games, showing a combination of burst and ball security that we simply haven't seen from Stevenson in the last couple of weeks. Stevenson should still be the Patriots' No. 1 running back against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, but the gap between the two of them is likely shrinking as Gibson makes a case for more snaps and touches.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving came into the game as questionable due to a hamstring issue. However, Irving suited up and played well during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie back rushed 10 times for 49 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown of his career. It's worth noting that Irving saw just as many carries as lead back Rachaad White. Irving has continued to run the ball well on a weekly basis and that has earned him a larger role on this offense. He's beginning to creep into the RB3 conversation heading into Thursday's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson completed 24 of his 32 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while rushing for 32 yards on eight carries in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. It could have been a much bigger game for Watson but the Cleveland offense was plagued by multiple mistakes, including a holding penalty on center Nick Harris that wiped away an 82-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper in the fourth quarter. The interception was also hard to pin on Watson as he hit Amari Cooper in the chest but the receiver allowed the ball to go through his hands and right to safety Tre'von Moehrig for the pick. Watson has now thrown four touchdowns and three interceptions through four games while leading the Browns to a 1-3 record. He will look for a bigger outing in Week 5 against a red-hot Washington Commanders team.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Lynn Polk Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk converted seven targets into three catches for 30 yards during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Polk had not commanded more than three targets in a single game through the first three weeks of the season, but that evidently changed this week as Polk led the Patriots with seven passes thrown his way. Despite the increased volume, Polk still didn't deliver a very appealing fantasy performance due to his lower catch and yardage totals. On a promising note, he made an impressive grab in heavy coverage along the sideline. It was ruled incomplete, but only because Polk just barely missed getting both feet in bounds. The play should give fantasy managers optimism that Polk can make flashy catches against starting cornerbacks in the NFL. The rookie isn't a reliable option for Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, but his long-term value continues to grow as he makes an impression early in his Patriots career.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Sep 29 8:00pm CT
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was considered questionable coming into Sunday's game due to an illness. Despite that, White suited up and had a decent day on the ground. He rushed 10 times for 49 yards while hauling in two receptions for an additional 35 yards through the air. The biggest problem for White is that fellow back Bucky Irving continues to out-rush. White has struggled on the ground and has a result the Bucs continue giving Irving more chances and it's paying off for them. Both backs saw 10 carries each during Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Eagles. White should be considered a low-end RB2 for the Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Sep 29 7:50pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins had 60 yards off a team-high six catches in Sunday's win over the Panthers. The wideout returned from a two-game absence for the Week 3 loss to the Commanders. However, he had only three receptions in that one. But with 10 targets in Week 4, it appears Higgins still has the attention of Joe Burrow, making him worthy of a starting spot in all fantasy formats when the Bengals meet the Ravens in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Badie Sep 29 7:50pm CT
Tyler Badie

The New York Jets defense played well in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. The Jets were unable to notch any sacks but did force a turnover while holding the Broncos to just 186 yards of total offense in the close loss on a rainy afternoon in New Jersey. New York's defense got their lone takeaway when they recovered a Tyler Badie fumble in the contest. The Jets will have their work cut out for them when they take on a red-hot Minnesota Vikings offense in London in Week 5.

From RotoBaller