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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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 4

Player Notes
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

Dalton Kincaid Sep 30 8:10am CT
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught five passes for 47 yards in the blowout loss to the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. The second-year professional was involved early in the offensive game plan but the Bills found themselves down big in the first half. Despite a game script that favored Bills' pass catchers, Kincaid turned an average fantasy football stat line. Still, he had season-high marks in targets, receptions, and yards and scored enough to be the TE10 entering Monday Night Football. Kincaid provides a safe floor at a struggling position and will be viewed as a TE1 against the Texans in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Sep 30 8:10am CT
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney continues to see a steady diet of targets from Kirk Cousins as they take down the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The former Chicago Bear has now seen at least six targets in each of the last three games. In the two-point win over the Saints, Mooney caught three of his six targets for 56 yards with the longest play going for 36 yards. He has been a solid medium-to-deep-threat this season as his yards per reception are currently sitting at the highest mark of his career at 15.0. At times, it seems that Cousins trusts Mooney more than anyone else on the team, which is a surprising turn of events. Drake London saw 12 targets in this game, but Mooney has the second-most through four games with 24 compared to Ray-Ray McCloud III's 22, Kyle Pitts' 15, and Bijan Robinson's 16. Mooney and company will look to find the end zone through the air in a short week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next.

From RotoBaller

Keon Coleman Sep 30 7:50am CT
Keon Coleman

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught three passes for 51 yards in the team's 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The rookie had two receptions of over 20 yards in the second half, but his night will be remembered for a drop on a deep pass from Josh Allen late in the first half. With the drop, the Bills were kept out of the endzone in the first half and struggled to generate much momentum for most of the night. They found themselves down 18 points at halftime. Coleman is the third option in the Buffalo passing game behind Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid and can't be trusted in fantasy football lineups moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Sep 30 7:50am CT
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London has received more targets in each game so far this season and received a season-high 12 targets in their 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. London hauled in six of his 12 targets for 64 yards but couldn't find the end zone to stretch his scoring streak to three games. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to put him into the WR2 conversation in half-PPR formats as he finished as the WR35 with the Monday night games still to be determined. The increasing target share and trust from Kirk Cousins are encouraging signs for London as the season progresses, but he hasn't produced up to expectations just yet as he sits at WR20 through four games. He'll look to get back into the end zone on a short week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Sep 30 7:40am CT
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir secured four receptions for 62 yards in the team's 35-10 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Shakir caught two quick passes midway through the first quarter but briefly left the game following his second catch. The training staff retaped Shakir's ankle and he was back on the field on Buffalo's next drive. Shakir was on the receiving end of Buffalo's biggest play of the day, a 52-yard catch on a prayer throw from Josh Allen. Shakir nearly scored on the play but got dragged down at the three-yard line. Even with a game script that called for more Buffalo pass attempts, the Bills couldn't generate much offense. Midway through the fourth quarter, Shakir and the rest of the Buffalo starters were done for the night. Shakir has cemented his status as Buffalo's top wide receiver and will be viewed as a WR3 when the Bills face the Texans in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

James Cook Sep 30 7:30am CT
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook carried the football nine times for 39 yards and caught one pass for nine yards in the team's blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. It was the lowest touch total for Cook so far this season. Cook ran efficiently early in the game against a stout Baltimore run defense but didn't see many touches in the second half. The Bills found themselves down 18 points at halftime and turned to an aerial attack to attempt to come back. Buffalo's lone touchdown was scored by backup running back Ty Johnson from three yards out following a long completion by Khalil Shakir. Cook should see a rebound in Week 5 when the Bills travel to Houston.

From RotoBaller

Josh Allen Sep 30 7:10am CT
Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 16 of his 29 pass attempts for 180 yards and no touchdowns in the team's 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Allen added 21 yards on the ground on five attempts. It's the first game Allen has failed to find the endzone since Week 9 of the 2021 season. Like the prior two weeks, Allen was kept on the sideline for parts of the fourth quarterback due to a blowout. The Ravens jumped out to a quick lead and didn't allow the Bills to generate many big plays. Allen consistently worked in the short area of the field. The team's longest completion (52 yards) to Khalil Shakir was the product of a scramble drill. Fantasy managers should chalk up Allen's performance as a bad week and start him confidently against the Houston Texans in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Carlson Sep 30 5:20am CT
Daniel Carlson

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson shook off his Week 3 miss, drilling kicks from 32 and 54 yards out and adding two extra points in the Raiders' Week 4 win against the Cleveland Browns. He had 10 total points in Sunday's 20-16 win. The 29-year-old usually does well when afforded the opportunity to kick at least a few field goals, and the Raiders offense strung together enough drives to make that happen. Carlson is still an excellent kicker, but the Raiders offense hasn't shown many signs of improvement as the season continues. Carlson is a decent streaming option against bad teams, but any opposing team that can dominate time of possession or stymie the Raiders offense is a tough matchup for Carlson. He's not worth starting yet but is on the streaming radar in deep leagues against the Denver Broncos in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Zamir White Sep 30 5:20am CT
Zamir White

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White was given 17 carries and one target in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns but managed just 50 rushing yards. White failed to crack 3.0 yards per carry for the second time this season as the Browns were able to contain him and prevent big runs. He scored just 3.0 PPR fantasy points since he also lost a fumble. The 25-year-old continued his string of poor efficiency and low yardage totals and was again not fantasy-viable. White received considerable hype due to his workload toward the end of last season, but he's been inefficient when given high volume. Though the Raiders' offense wasn't outstanding as a whole on Sunday, White will look to rebound and is a borderline flex play in deep leagues against the Denver Broncos in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Sep 30 5:10am CT
Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers was targeted 10 times by quarterback Gardner Minshew II but could only haul in five for 49 yards in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. He led the team in targets, though, and he's slid into the No. 1 wide receiver role in the absence of lead receiver Davante Adams (hamstring). The former New England Patriot will likely continue in this role until Adams returns. Minshew only threw 24 passes, meaning Meyers was targeted on nearly 42% of the quarterback's throws. This would be better for the 27-year-old if he were on a better offense, but the Raiders haven't been very explosive this season. Meyers has just one touchdown, and Minshew has thrown only three scores on the season, so it's hard to see Meyers being more than a WR3/FLEX option, and that's when Adams isn't playing. The Raiders and Meyers will face the tough Denver Broncos pass defense in Week 5, and even if Adams doesn't play, Meyers is a risky start.

From RotoBaller

Gardner Minshew II Sep 30 5:10am CT
Gardner Minshew II

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II was able to squeak out a win against the Cleveland Browns In Week 4 despite completing just 14 of 24 passes for 130 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. The game was primarily a defensive battle, with neither team surpassing 300 offensive yards. Minshew averaged less than four completed passes per quarter, but the Raiders' run-heavy approach could explain this. The Browns have a tough defense, so it's unsurprising that they mostly contained the Raiders' offense. He remains unstartable in single quarterback fantasy leagues, and his lack of volume generally holds back the fantasy value of his pass-catchers. The 28-year-old will face another tough test when the Raiders take on the Denver Broncos and their tough defense in Week 5, and we could see a similar game from Minshew then.

From RotoBaller

Tre Tucker Sep 30 5:00am CT
Tre Tucker

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker had another nice game in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. Tucker showed his versatility with a three-yard rushing touchdown to go along with five receptions on six targets for 41 yards. He was expected to have a decent role with lead receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) out for Week 4, and he capitalized on his opportunities. The 23-year-old's been showcasing his blinding speed, and Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy should find more ways to get him involved. Sunday's win is a good sign for Tucker, who had 22.60 PPR points in Week 3. The Browns have a stout defense, so his good performance against them shows he's talented enough to earn more opportunities. Tucker will look to continue working with more touches in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos. He may not have as big of a role if Adams returns, but he's at least worth stashing on benches for now.

From RotoBaller

Brock Bowers Sep 30 5:00am CT
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers was relatively quiet in Week 4, as he was targeted just three times, hauling in two passes for 19 yards, and handled one rush attempt for 12 yards in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. It was Bowers' worst game of the season despite the absence of lead receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) and fellow tight end Michael Mayer (personal). The Browns have historically held opposing tight ends to low yardage and touchdown totals, and this trend continued Sunday. The Raiders rookie tight end didn't have the worst day ever, considering Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II only completed 14 passes. Bowers will face a tough Denver Broncos defense in Week 5 but is still a must-start tight end because of the lack of depth at the position. Bowers is highly talented, but as it was known before the season, his biggest obstacles are target competition and poor quarterback play.

From RotoBaller

Alexander Mattison Sep 30 5:00am CT
Alexander Mattison

Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison rushed for 60 yards on five rushing attempts in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. He did have 10 more rushing yards than lead back Zamir White, outgaining him 60 to 50 in Week 4. Mattison punctuated his day with big runs of 24 and 16 yards. Interestingly, he was targeted just once and didn't record a catch on the day. The 26-year-old is usually more involved in the passing game, so, oddly, he was mostly kept out of it. He has not recorded a catch in the Raiders' wins this season but has nine receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown in losses this season, so his receiving production is game-script dependent. Mattison has scored 16.2 and 13.4 PPR points in losses and 6.1 and 6.0 points in wins, so his scoring will likely depend on whether the Raiders are playing from behind for much of the game. Mattison is not worth starting outside of very deep leagues in a tough Week 5 matchup against the Denver Broncos due to his inconsistency and low floor.

From RotoBaller

Rashid Shaheed Sep 30 4:40am CT
Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed's day got off to a terrible start when he muffed a punt inside his own five-yard line less than four minutes into their Week 4 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta pounced on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, putting the Saints in an early hole. That did not deter the team from turning to Shaheed thereafter. In Week 4, he saw a career-high 11 targets which led the team and resulted in eight catches (also a career-high) for 83 yards. He also handled two rushing attempts for 14 yards on the ground. Derek Carr looked Shaheed's way twice in the end zone late in the fourth quarter but both times delivered uncatchable balls. In Week 5, the Saints take on the Kansas City Chiefs whose lack of success in zone coverage might lead to more positive results for Shaheed, as long as he can avoid further miscues.

From RotoBaller