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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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (hamstring) is uncertain to suit up for Monday's practice session, according to head coach Sean McVay. Stafford has been sidelined since leaving early during Wednesday's practice due to hamstring tightness. The Rams are downplaying the severity of the issue but will likely re-evaluate his status on Monday. The 36-year-old is fully expected to be ready to play in the season opener. In the meantime, Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn will continue getting increased reps under center.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver James Washington has been released by the organization on Sunday. It looks like Washington was the odd man out as the Falcons needed to cut someone to add safety Justin Simmons to the roster. At this point, Washington is nothing more than depth on any NFL roster. His best season came in 2019 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Washington recorded 44 receptions, 735 receiving yards and three touchdowns during that season. Since then, Washington has regressed appears to be nothing more than a back-end depth option. He could land elsewhere before the season begins, but Washington is unlikely to make a big impact anywhere.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Raiders have named Gardner Minshew their starting quarterback. Dynasty Analysis: Minshew beats out Aidan O'Connell for the job, though neither was overly impressive this off-season. Minshew was fine in Indianapolis last season, throwing for 3,305 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He slots in as an uninspiring game manager who should help keep the offense afloat but far from elite. His grip on the job won't be too strong but this is a major blow to the draft stock of O'Connell.
Dynasty | Falcons running back Jase McClellan ran for 55 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in Atlanta's preseason loss to Baltimore. Dynasty Analysis: It was a solid performance for McClellan, who is attempting to make the team behind Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. While he likely won't have much of a role behind those two and has done little to push Allgeier for the backup job, McClellan's name remains one to keep on watch lists.
Dynasty | Bears receiver Dante Pettis had three catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears preseason win against the Bengals. Dynasty Analysis: Pettis is attempting to lock down the fourth receiver job behind DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze and this likely helped. He's bounced around the league for a few years but has typically produced when called upon. He's another name to keep filed away should he win the job and see the Bears incur an injury or two at the receiver position.
Dynasty | Bears receiver Rome Odunze had one catch for 45 yards and one carry for 16 yards in the Bears preseason win against the Bengals. Dynasty Analysis: Odunze nearly had a highlight reel touchdown catch but his foot touched out of bounds. Odunze has clearly looked NFL ready all off-season and could push Keenan Allen to be the second receiver for the Bears this season. While dynasty managers may need to be a little patient with him, it certainly seems as if this top-3 rookie pick has a long and productive career ahead of him.
Dynasty | Giants quarterback Daniel Jones completed 11-of-18 passes for 138 yards with two interceptions in the Giants preseason loss to Houston. Dynasty Analysis: Ouch. Jones was seeing his first action since tearing his ACL last season and this wasn't pretty as one of the interceptions resulted in a pick-six. Jones was fortunate to see the Giants pass on quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft but he's going to need to play much better quickly to retain his job beyond the first part of this season and certainly for anything beyond that.
Dynasty | Texans wide receiver John Metchie had six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in Houston's preseason win against the Giants. Dynasty Analysis: The preseason reports on Metchie have been all positive and this just solidifies those. Unfortunately, he's buried on a depth chart behind Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell at the moment. However, Diggs is on what amounts to a one-year deal and Metchie could be waiting in the wings for a bigger role in the future. He's a player to certainly keep your eye on in dynasty leagues and a possible back-of-the-roster stash at the moment.
Dynasty | Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had four catches for 54 yards in the Giants preseason loss to Houston. Dynasty Analysis: The Giants offense looks anemic but you can hardly blame Nabers, who looks like he can get open against just about anyone. Daniel Jones needs to improve quickly for Nabers to unlock his full potential but everything we've seen thus far merits him being a top two rookie draft pick. In short, Nabers looks the part of a future dynasty WR1.
Dynasty | Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy caught three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown in Kansas City's preseason loss to Detroit. Dynasty Analysis: Check, please. Worthy has done nothing but impress since joining the Chiefs and it's clear he's going to have an early role with Kansas City this season. With unparalleled speed to burn, Worthy is looking like a very solid first round rookie pick at the moment. While expectations need to be tempered a little, he sure looks like a lot of fun.
Dynasty | Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson completed 8-of-10 passes for just 47 yards in Pittsburgh's 9-3 preseason loss to Buffalo. Dynasty Analysis: This was Wilson's first preseason action and it wasn't pretty. At this point, it honestly seems as if Wilson has lost the mojo he once had in Seattle and has turned into more of a game manager than a playmaker. While Justin Fields hasn't done much to unseat him, Fields does at least add a different dynamic with his rushing ability. It seems this quarterback battle is far from settled and we're going to need to see more before truly evaluating the fantasy potential of this offense. Wilson remains a flimsy QB2 at the moment.
Dynasty | Cardinals rookie Trey Benson ran for 43 yards on nine carries in the Cardinals preseason loss to the Colts. Dynasty Analysis: it's been a relatively quiet preseason for Benson, though he looked a bit better in this one. Still, he's done little to unseat James Conner and is looking like a clear handcuff and backup at the moment. A solid second round rookie pick, Benson is going to need an injury or some ineffectiveness from Conner to carve out a meaningful role early it seems.
Dynasty | Panthers rookie running back Dillon Johnson had 83 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers preseason loss to the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: You have to take this with a grain of salt as the Jets sat out 32 (!) players in this one. Still, Johnson churned out some tough yards and is making a case to make the team behind Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Jonathan Brooks and Raheem Blackshear. He's another player to simply keep on preseason dynasty watch lists at the moment.
Dynasty | Rams rookie receiver Jordan Whittington had five catches for 52 yards in the Rams preseason win against the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: Texas does nothing but produce wide receivers it seems. Whittington has done nothing but impress thus far in camp and at this point, it would be a shock to see him not make the final roster. While he's stuck behind Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and possibly some others, he's looking roster worthy in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance completed 15-of-23 passes for 151 and a touchdown, while adding 34 rushing yards and another score in the Cowboys preseason win against the Raiders. Dynasty Analysis: Lance has been working to unseat Cooper Rush for the backup job behind Dak Prescott and this won't hurt. It's really the first positive sign we've seen from Lance in some time and it could even make a quarterback-needy team knock on Dallas' door to see if a trade is possible next week. Lance remains a possibility for a back-end roster spot in deep dynasty leagues, despite his early career struggles.
Dynasty | Gardner Minshew has been named the starter for the Las Vegas Raiders, pushing Aidan O'Connell to the bench. Dynasty Analysis: Yikes. It seems O'Connell just didn't show enough improvement this off-season for the Raiders to truly trust him with the job. Instead, they're going with a more conservative Gardner Minshew and likely playing some run-first football moving forward. This is a massive blow to the stock of O'Connell, who the Raiders could be quick to turn to, but will be holding a clipboard for the foreseeable future. He's a tough hold on dynasty rosters after this turn of events.
Dynasty | The Falcons have released wide receiver James Washington. Dynasty Analysis: Washington was hoping to make a comeback with the Falcons but he was apparently unable to make a strong enough impression in camp to stick around. He'll look to latch on somewhere else but it's late in the game for a veteran to make a team. His career prospects seem to be on fumes at the moment and he's not someone to consider on a dynasty roster at the moment.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, there hasn't been much talk between Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and the team regarding a new contract. Chase, who has a base salary of $1.1 million for the 2024-25 campaign and a $21.8 million team option for 2025-26, has been with the Bengals at training camp. However, he hasn't been participating. Without question, Chase is a top wideout in the National Football League, recently finishing the 2023-24 season by catching a career-high 100 passes for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns. Yet, with other top wideouts getting big money, Chase wants to be paid sooner rather than later. There haven't been any updates on whether the contract situation will keep him off the field. But Chase's fantasy value will dip if he doesn't start practicing soon.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has the "edge" to win the No. 1 spot on the depth chart for Week 1. While Fowler added Justin Fields has at least done enough to make things "interesting," head coach Mike Tomlin appreciates Wilson's "command of the offense." The 35-year-old is coming off two miserable seasons in Denver. He also battled a calf injury during training camp. With that said, Tomlin will likely wait a bit longer before announcing the team's starting signal-caller. Although Wilson may have always been the favorite to start in Week 1, Fields could enter the equation if things don't go as planned for the veteran.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is the favorite to be named the team's starter. The rookie has been working with the first team over Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham during practices and will begin Sunday's preseason matchup with the Packers. In addition, he will also play all the snaps with the offensive starters. At any rate, the latest update improves Nix's standing with fantasy managers moving toward Week 1. However, he has a long way to go before being considered a reliable fantasy signal-caller.
From RotoBaller
