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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
DeAndre Hopkins Sep 30 11:20pm CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught two passes on four targets for 31 yards in a 31-12 min over Miami on Monday night. It was the second consecutive week Hopkins lead the team in receiving, although he was only able to muster 4.1 half-PPR fantasy points in this one. After quarterback Will Levis went down in the first quarter, the Titans virtually abandoned the passing game for the remainder of the contest and forced Miami to stop their ground attack, which they were unable to do. Because of this, Hopkins saw a limited number of looks with backup quarterback Mason Rudolph only attempting 17 passes in the game. The Titans now head into their bye week, but will likely need to throw a lot more when the Colts come to town in Week 6. Consider Hopkins a WR4 for fantasy moving forward due to the continued uncertainty surrounding this offense.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Sep 30 11:10pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears rushed 15 times for 39 yards and a touchdown, adding two catches for zero yards against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. It was Spears' highest touch-total of the season by a considerable margin, with the Titans opting for a ground-and-pound game plan based on the ineptitude of Miami's offense. Spears' wasn't very efficient on the ground with a 2.6 YPC mark, but he made up for this with a seven-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, juking a defender out of his socks before plowing into the end zone untouched. After a tough start to the year, it was great to see Spears that involved in the offense, and he should continue to be a heavily featured player after the Titans return from their Week 5 bye to face the Colts.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Ridley Sep 30 11:10pm CT
Calvin Ridley

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley caught one pass for five yards on three targets and gained 10 yards on one rushing attempt in a 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins. It was clear from the get-go that the Titans were going to rely heavily on their ground game, which was even more evident after quarterback Will Levis left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. While it was a massively disappointing fantasy day for Ridley, the Titans simply did not need to throw the ball much at all because of how poor the Dolphins' offense was in this game. Next up is a bye week for the veteran receiver, but after that comes a choice matchup with a very beatable Colts secondary in Week 6. Ridley has been very hard to trust of late, but if the Titans can figure some things out on offense during the bye week Ridley should still be on the fantasy radar as an OK flex option in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Sep 30 10:40pm CT
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard rushed 22 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, adding two receptions for 20 yards in a 31-12 win over Miami. The Titans ground game was stifled early, as Pollard was only able to muster 20 yards from his first ten carries. He broke this open with a 41-yard scamper in the 3rd quarter, almost scoring a touchdown but was eventually brought down at the seven-yard line. Miami's defense was worn down from that point forward, as Pollard enjoyed multiple runs of 10+ yards, capping off his productive night with a TD on a fourth and goal with 24 seconds left. While Tyjae Spears received 17 touches in this game, Pollard remains the workhorse and should be a top-12 option vs. a soft Indianapolis run defense in Week 6 after the Titans bye.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Sep 30 10:20pm CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph went nine of 17 for 85 yards in a 31-12 win at Miami on Monday night. Rudolph entered the game after Will Levis injured his shoulder while diving for a first down in the opening quarter. Levis came out of the medical tent and appeared to be healthy enough to re-enter the game, but head coach Brian Callahan opted to go with the veteran Rudolph the rest of the way, which featured a very run-heavy game plan. With the Dolphins not being able to do much of anything on offense, the Titans didn't ask much of Rudolph, but the former Steeler was mistake-free and was able to lead the Titans to multiple scoring drives. It's possible that there may be a quarterback controversy in Nashville based on the decision from the Titans' head coach, but neither player will be a great fantasy option in Week 6 vs. the Colts.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Sep 30 9:00pm CT
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is off to a rough start to his 2024 season. The veteran tight end dropped his lone target of the game during the Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills. That is now back-to-back games that Andrews has delivered duds to fantasy managers. Ravens' head coach John Harbaugh continues showing faith in Andrews and says that he'll still have some big games catching the ball. It's completely justifiably for fantasy managers to sit Andrews until he starts getting involved on offense. Andrews is heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and has zero receptions on two targets over the last two games. Fantasy managers are better off looking elsewhere for help ahead of Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Sep 30 8:50pm CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Mike Evans (knee, calf), Jalen McMillan (hamstring), and Trey Palmer (concussion) all sat out of Monday's practice session. It's worth noting that Monday's practice is an estimation since the team didn't hold an official practice. The biggest concern here is Evans who played through a knee issue last week. It didn't seem to bother him on the field as he secured eight receptions for 94 yards in the win. This is likely more about getting the veteran wideout some rest ahead of the Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. McMillan sat out on Sunday, which moved Palmer into a bigger role, but he was forced to exit early due to a concussion. If both players sit out on Thursday, Sterling Shepard and tight end Cade Otton figure to have bigger roles on offense.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Sep 30 8:40pm CT
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III (ankle) was limited during Monday's practice session. It's worth noting that Monday's practice was an estimation and the team didn't have an official practice. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned over the status of McCloud right now. The Falcons have a quick turn around with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. The next two days will give a better idea surrounding the availability of McCloud. He's coming off a 6-catch game for 52 yards in Week 4, so it appears like McCloud's value is on the rise.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Sep 30 8:30pm CT
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is currently considered as day-to-day, according to head coach Doug Pederson. The team was hopeful that Engram would return to the field in Week 4, but that didn't happen. He didn't practice at all last week, so maybe this week will be better. Engram hasn't played since Week 1 as he continues to recover from a lingering hamstring injury. The fact that he's now day-to-day should mean that Engram is trending in the right direction. Brenton Strange has been filling in as the starting tight end over the last three weeks. He has eight receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown over the last three games. He figures to continue starting and will be a low-end streaming option until Engram is able to play again.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Sep 30 8:30pm CT
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (ankle) was a limited participant during Monday's practice. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried about this. Robinson was on the injury report with a shoulder issue last week and still suited up in Week 4. The Falcons have a quick turn around with a Thursday night matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week. The next two days will go a long way to deciding whether or not Robinson will play. If he sits, Tyler Allgeier will gain plenty of value and be a popular waiver wire addition.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Sep 30 8:20pm CT
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) was forced to exit early during Sunday's Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Rice was carted off the field after quarterback Patrick Mahomes accidentally dove into Rice's knee while attempting to make a tackle. It didn't look good on the field and the first thought was that Rice had torn his ACL. After further testing, there remains uncertainty over the extent of the injury. Rice has met with the team doctors and had a second opinion on his knee. It sounds like more testing is going to happen before the team knows the full extent of the injury and how long Rice is going to be sidelined. Fantasy managers who have Rice rostered should prepare for him to miss some time. Fellow wide receiver Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce figure to be the primary focus on offense now.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Sep 30 7:30pm CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) suffered a right-shoulder injury in the first quarter of Monday night's game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium and is questionable to return. Levis was injured after scrambling and landing on his shoulder and was seen on the sidelines being looked at before being replaced by backup Mason Rudolph. Before leaving, Levis went 3-for-4 for 25 yards and a bad interception. Rudolph proceeded to lead the Titans on two field-goal drives to take the lead in the game after replacing Levis under center. The 25-year-old Levis appeared to be trying to re-enter the game, but head coach Brian Callahan is going to stick with Rudolph for now. If Rudolph leads Tennessee to a win and plays well, the Titans could stick with him through their bye in Week 5 given how poorly Levis has played early in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Jeff Wilson Sep 30 6:40pm CT
Jeff Wilson

Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (knee) suffered a knee injury during pre-game warmups on Monday night and is questionable to play against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium. Raheem Mostert (chest) was already ruled out for this game for the third straight week, so if Wilson doesn't play, rookie Jaylen Wright could see a healthy amount of touches as the change-of-pace back behind starter De'Von Achane. Among Miami's four running backs, the 28-year-old Wilson is the least intriguing fantasy option, especially after this injury. In the first four games of 2024, Wilson has only eight carries for 40 yards and has caught two passes for 12 yards. Wright rushed only twice for 17 yards in last week's loss to the Seattle Seahawks and doesn't have as much upside now in single-year formats with the Dolphins down to quarterback Tyler Huntley. However, his explosive abilities and intriguing upside still make him worth stashing in deeper fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Sep 30 6:20pm CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ribs), linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (shoulder) are all considered day-to-day as of Monday after their victory over the New England Patriots in Week 4 on Sunday. Kittle injured his hamstring and was unable to play in the Week 3 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams before suiting up against the Pats. The 30-year-old caught all four of his targets for 45 yards, including a touchdown for his second straight game. However, he also injured his ribs in the first half and was questionable to return before rejoining the team after halftime. Kittle had a full workload on Sunday and should be able to play in Week 5 versus the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. We'll keep an eye on his practice later this week, but plan on starting Kittle in fantasy lineups against a shaky Arizona defense, especially if receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) misses another contest.

From RotoBaller

Trey McBride Sep 30 6:10pm CT
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Monday that tight end Trey McBride (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol but that it's looking good after McBride sat out of the Week 4 blowout loss to the Washington Commanders. McBride suffered a concussion in the Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions and was not cleared for Sunday's game. We'll have a better idea whether the 24-year-old has a shot to return in Week 5 versus the division-rival San Francisco 49ers once the Cardinals resume practicing on Wednesday. If McBride returns to practice and is cleared to face the Niners, he'll be a must-start TE1 in fantasy after catching 14 of his 21 targets for 122 yards in the first three games of the season. With McBride sidelined this past weekend, Elijah Higgins caught just two of three targets for 12 yards for the Cardinals in a game that featured plenty of good game script.

From RotoBaller

C.J. Beathard Sep 30 6:00pm CT
C.J. Beathard

The New York Giants worked out veteran free-agent quarterback C.J. Beathard (groin) on Monday. Beathard is on the free-agent market after being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars in August with an injury settlement after he lost the competition for the backup job to Mac Jones. The 30-year-old injured his groin in Jacksonville's second preseason game, but he figures to be healthy now as he looks to land a backup job with another club. The Giants currently have Daniel Jones as their starter under center, with Drew Lock backing him up and Tommy Devito as the QB3. None of New York's QBs are currently injured, so the G-Men are likely just doing their due diligence to potentially add more depth at the position heading into a Week 5 tilt on the road at Lumen Field against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Sep 30 5:50pm CT
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) is day-to-day after tweaking his ankle in the blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night in Week 4. Shakir had his ankle examined on Sunday night but went back in the game, and he came out of that contest with ankle soreness heading into a Week 5 tilt this weekend against the Houston Texans on the road. It doesn't sound like the 24-year-old's injury is very serious, but we'll keep an eye on his practice statuses later this week. Shakir is blossoming into quarterback Josh Allen's go-to target in the passing game in 2024, so losing him for any amount of time would be a big blow to this offense. Shakir checks in as the WR18 in half-PPR scoring through the first four weeks with 18 catches on 19 targets for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel would see increased roles if Shakir is out or limited at all in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Sep 30 5:40pm CT
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that tight end David Njoku (ankle) is expected to practice again this week, and the team will determine later this week if he'll be able to return in Week 5 to face the Washington Commanders. Njoku injured his ankle in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and hasn't played since. However, the fact that the 28-year-old is returning to practice is a good sign as he tries to get back on the field. If he is able to avoid any setbacks at practice later this week and play on Sunday, Njoku will be a low-end TE1, at best, in his return to a Browns offense that has been lackluster under quarterback Deshaun Watson. In the last three games with Njoku sidelined, Jordan Akins hasn't been fantasy relevant with a combined six receptions on 10 targets for 49 yards and no touchdowns. Check back later this week on Njoku's practice statuses.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Sep 30 5:30pm CT
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that running back Nick Chubb (knee) will return to practice on Wednesday. Stefanski also said he expects running back/kick returner Nyheim Hines (knee) to practice this week after tearing his ACL in July of last year. Chubb tore multiple ligaments in his left knee in Week 2 of last year and also is on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but the Browns will open both Chubb's and Hines' 21-day practice window this week. Cleveland is likely to bring both Chubb and Hines along slowly, so nobody stashing Chubb in fantasy leagues should expect him to be available to suit up in Week 5 versus the Washington Commanders. When the 28-year-old Chubb officially returns, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he's eased back into the backfield alongside Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman, either. Chubb could spend the rest of the 2024 just trying to get his feet under him after a gruesome injury early last year.

From RotoBaller

Raheem Mostert Sep 30 5:20pm CT
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) is officially inactive for Monday night's contest against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium. Mostert will miss his third straight game after suffering a chest injury in the Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 32-year-old veteran came into the Week 4 contest listed as questionable after three limited practices. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback in next week's practice sessions, Mostert will have a much better shot to return for a Week 5 matchup against the division-rival New England Patriots. De'Von Achane is Miami's clear lead back, especially with Mostert out again, but his fantasy upside took a big hit when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) landed on Injured Reserve. Behind Achane, expect the Dolphins to continue sprinkling in Jeff Wilson Jr. and rookie Jaylen Wright.

From RotoBaller