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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Dynasty | Colts quarterback Joe Flacco completed 33-of-44 passes for 359 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a loss to the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: It was just another day at the office for Flacco, who has made a habit of coming out of the bullpen and putting up huge games. Flacco made Deshaun Watson look pretty bad last year and his performance today didn't exactly make Anthony Richardson's early season struggles look any better. Still, it was against the Jaguars and they aren't exactly employing the Legion of Boom. Flacco will be under consideration to play again as long as Richardson sits out.
Dynasty | Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had three catches for 134 yards and a touchdown in a loss against the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: Pierce could have easily had two scores, but was ruled down inside the five yard line on a deep catch from Joe Flacco. Pierce has turned into a bit of a one-trick pony with the deep ball being his most effective weapon, but he certainly made the most of it today. With Joe Flacco at the helm, Pierce looks to have more fantasy appeal. We'll see what happens moving forward but Pierce looks like he's at least solidified his spot on dynasty rosters this season.
Dynasty | Colts wide receiver Josh Downs had nine catches for 69 receiving yards in a loss against Jacksonville. Dynasty Analysis: Downs was solid again this week and had 12 total targets to lead the Colts. While Michael Pittman is the clear WR1 in the offense, Downs has started to finally fulfill his potential. With Joe Flacco at the helm, it seems all the Colts pass catchers simply have more value. We'll see what happens with this group when Anthony Richardson comes back but this is very positive for Downs after being very up and down throughout his career.
Dynasty | Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels completed 14-of-25 passes for 238 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while adding 82 rushing yards in a blowout win against Cleveland. Dynasty Analysis: Daniels is the real deal and may be the closest thing we've seen to Lamar Jackson since, well, Lamar Jackson. While this wasn't his best game, it may also represent a fantasy floor that's insanely high on a weekly basis. Daniels makes every routine play but also has a flair for the dramatic and looks like a true long-term QB1. If you took the plunge on Daniels this off-season, congratulations.
Chicago Bears WR DJ Moore ended up with five receptions for a game-high 105 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, his former team.
Fantasy Spin: Ouch. The Panthers traded Moore and several draft picks, including the 2024 No. 1 overall for QB Caleb Williams, and that combination was lethal against Carolina. After going without a score in the first three games, Moore has three touchdowns in the past two games. He is back as a solid WR3 or flex fantasy option in leagues of 12 or more teams in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed the football 20 times for 82 yards and a touchdown in the team's last-second loss to the Houston Texans. The Bills leaned on Cook as the passing offense struggled. Josh Allen completed just nine of his 30 passes. Cook's five-yard touchdown plunge midway through the third quarter was the Bills' first touchdown of the game. Cook added two receptions for 17 yards, finishing just one yard short of 100 total yards. The 25-year-old has established himself as one of Buffalo's most important players on the offensive side of the ball and will be an RB1 when the Bills face the Jets in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) had just one catch (three targets) for 14 yards in Sunday's loss to the Commanders. The 28-year-old had been sidelined since the opener because of an ankle injury. However, there's a chance the team may be without Njoku again, with Mary Kay Cabot reporting he suffered a knee injury during the contest. It's unknown how severe the injury is. Still, it's not ideal for a player who just returned from a three-game absence. At any rate, there should be an update on Njoku's status soon. If he can't suit up in Week 6 against the Eagles, Jordan Akins, who had a touchdown in Week 5, will likely fill the void in the lineup.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught one of five targets for 49 yards and a touchdown in the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. The rookie secured a reception on a curl route, broke a tackle, and sprinted into the endzone in the third quarter to pull the Bills within three points. Coleman missed several other targets, including one that hit him in the helmet when he wasn't looking. There was no noticeable increase in targets for the second-round pick, despite top receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) being out of the lineup. Coleman will remain a boom/bust option in Week 6 against the New York Jets.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught two passes for 34 yards in the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. Kincaid tied with Mack Hollins for the team lead in targets. He had a sideline catch that the refs called incomplete that could have been reviewed and just missed on a couple of more opportunities. It's a disappointing result for Kincaid, especially considering top receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) was inactive. However, Josh Allen only completed nine of 30 pass attempts on the afternoon, limiting the upside for Kincaid and the rest of the Buffalo pass-catchers. Kincaid has failed to reach 50 yards in any contest this year and is shaping up to be one of the bigger busts in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews finally broke his streak of goose eggs during the three-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The veteran caught four of his five targets for 55 yards including a 27-yard catch for his longest play of the day. While this game was a move in the right direction for Andrews, the worrisome part was that both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar were still in the mix and they both caught touchdowns. Sharing snaps with Likely was enough to drop his target share, now fantasy managers have to worry about Kolar stealing some targets away too. The biggest factor will be if the Ravens need to throw as much as they did in this game because Lamar Jackson was finally able to spread fantasy points around to more than one pass-catcher. Andrews and the Ravens will take on the Washington Commanders at home in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed just nine of 30 pass attempts for 131 yards and a touchdown in the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. He added 54 yards on the ground on four carries. The rushing yardage helped salvage a disappointing day that saw the Buffalo offense struggle. Allen nearly hit tight end Dalton Kincaid on a couple of big plays and clearly missed his go-to option Khalil Shakir (ankle). The touchdown came on a 49-yard catch-and-run by rookie Keon Coleman in the third quarter. Allen briefly departed the game after taking a big shot and hitting his head on the ground. The medical staff cleared him and he just missed one snap. The Bills draw a matchup against the stout Jets' secondary on Monday Night Football in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers WR David Moore managed two receptions for 13 yards on three targets in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears.
From TheHuddle
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has already tied his career-high for touchdowns in a single season after hauling in his second of the year on Sunday. During the 41-38 overtime win over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, the fourth-year wideout caught four of his eight targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. The coaching staff hyped up Bateman's growth and hard work throughout the offseason, and so far, he's looked deserving of the positive feedback. His yards per target are currently at a career-high (10.3). and he has his second-highest catch percentage (64.3%). Zay Flowers remains the No. 1 weapon of the receiving corps, but Bateman has been a quality outlet for quarterback Lamar Jackson. He'll look to keep the good times rolling against the Washington Commanders in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar scored the second touchdown of his career in the overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The third-stringer registered three receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown on four targets. He was the second-most targeted tight end in this game with Mark Andrews getting five and Isaiah Likely getting three. Kolar normally serves as a blocking tight end in big packages, but he had a big part in the passing game in this one. He even had the longest play for the Ravens on a 55-yard catch-and-run. Fantasy managers with stock in any of the Ravens' tight ends will continue to see frustrating usage if Kolar gets thrown into the passing game more often.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) is inactive for Sunday's meeting with the Cowboys. However, he will be available in case of an emergency. The signal-caller has made progress in his return from a calf injury. But for another week (at least), Justin Fields will remain under center. The 25-year-old got off to a slow start this season. Yet, he's coming off a stellar showing, throwing for 312 yards and accounting for three scores (one passing, two rushing) in the Week 4 loss to the Colts, making him worthy of a spot in most fantasy lineups.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers have declared WR Roman Wilson, LB Alex Highsmith, QB Russell Wilson, OT Max Scharping, RB Jaylen Warren, TE MyCole Pruitt and RB Cordarrelle Patterson inactive for Week 5.
From TheHuddle
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (foot) won't return to Sunday's matchup with the Broncos. Vegas was fortunate to get Maxx Crosby (ankle) back for this one. However, the team lost Wilkins for the second half. The 28-year-old had a fantastic showing in his limited time on the field, ending the day with five tackles and a sack. If he can't get on the field for the Week 6 meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Vegas could turn to Adam Butler to fill the void.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans TE Dalton Schultz caught four passes for 34 yards against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. He was targeted six times during the game.
Fantasy Spin: Schultz tied his season high for receiving yards this week but has not been a big factor in any of the games this season. He should see a decent amount of targets again next week but probably will only be a possible starting option in deeper leagues.
From TheHuddle
Carolina Panthers QB Andy Dalton completed 18-of-28 passes for 136 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears, and he ran once for three yards before QB Bryce Young came on in mop-up duty.
Fantasy Spin: The Panthers aren't likely to switch gears and go back to Young, but you never know. If Dalton remains the starter, as expected, he remains nothing more than a low-end QB2 in most fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams. The Panthers host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6.
From TheHuddle
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely was one of three tight ends to receive targets from Lamar Jackson during their 41-38 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Likely kept finding himself in the right place at the right time during Lamar Jackson scrambles. He finished the game with three receptions on three targets for 13 yards and two scores. His biggest score of the day was on the receiving end of a fantastic play by Jackson when he recovered a bobbled snap, stiff-armed a lineman, and found Likely in the back of the end zone to make it a three-point game near the end of the fourth. Moving forward, now that Charlie Kolar has been more in the mix, Likely's usage could fluctuate even more.
From RotoBaller
