While the NFL Draft is a fun time for casual fans, hardcore dynasty fantasy football managers sit on the edge of their seats. With veteran players' fantasy outlooks potentially changing after any pick, it’s a white-knuckle ride not for the faint of heart.
Like every other year, the 2024 NFL Draft delivered blows to certain players' fantasy football value. Which players were affected by last week's selections? Today, we’re going to analyze some winners and losers following the draft.
Make sure you keep up to date with all your fantasy football needs by following RotoBaller on X and checking out RotoBaller.com. Here’s a quick look at several fantasy football veteran winners and losers after the NFL Draft.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Fantasy Football Winners After the 2024 NFL Draft
Zamir White (Las Vegas Raiders)
White is arguably the biggest fantasy football winner this offseason.
Nice vote of confidence from #Raiders in Zamir White this offseason:
1. Let Josh Jacobs walk in free agency
2. Only added Alexander Mattison, PFF's No. 56 RB among 63 qualifiers last season
3. Used just 1-of-8 draft picks at RB, a Round 6 pick on pass-catcher Dylan Laube
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) April 28, 2024
He played quite well in limited action last year. White finished 14th in Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expectation Per Attempt (RYOE/ATT). In his four 2023 starts, White averaged over 23 touches per game. That kind of volume puts him on the RB1 radar.
White emerges from the NFL offseason alone atop the Raiders' depth chart. He is a rock-solid RB2 option in all formats.
Gus Edwards (Los Angeles Chargers)
The Chargers were also rumored to be in the mix for a running back. However, they did not make a significant investment in the position. This leaves Edwards as the team’s RB1. He is coming off a career season that saw him find the end zone a career-high 13 times.
Gus Edwards continues his TD hot streak!
📺: #SEAvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/d4RDZpcMkc pic.twitter.com/CQtMdngVwH— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2023
There’s little competition standing in Edwards’ way. He will be a back-end RB2 option.
Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)
Murray gets an instant boost with Marvin Harrison Jr. coming to town. The sixth-year veteran now has an elite WR1 to pair with third-year tight end Trey McBride. Expect to see Murray return to form in 2024.
Fantasy Football Losers After the 2024 NFL Draft
Kyren Williams (Los Angeles Rams)
One of last season’s fantasy MVPs, Williams' value took a hit when the Rams selected Michigan back Blake Corum in the third round of last week’s draft. Corum was one of the most productive backs in college football and presents an immediate threat to Williams’ spot atop the depth chart.
.@RamsNFL @UMichFootball @blake_corum joins @Kyrenwilliams23 what a great 1-2 punch behind a vastly improved OL. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/2bWACCWCCe
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) April 27, 2024
Keenan Allen (Chicago Bears)
The Bears appeared to have Allen locked in as their WR2 following a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers. Then, they added Washington Huskies receiver Rome Odunze in Round 1 of the draft.
Allen should begin the season as one of the team’s top receivers. He still played at the top of his game in 2023 as he had a 31% targets per route run (TPRR), a 30% target share, and 2.56 yards per route run (YPRR), per Fantasy Points Data Suite. Allen did miss time due to injuries again last year and will be 32 this upcoming season. Old players who start getting hurt usually keep getting hurt. Combine that with a hungry, young lion behind him in Odunze, and Allen looks less appealing in fantasy drafts.
James Conner (Arizona Cardinals)
Conner enjoyed another solid season in 2023. He finished fourth in Pro Football Focus’s (PFF) signature Elusive Rating and third in Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expectation (RYOE).
Stop calling James Conner boring pic.twitter.com/G1CTXunGoW
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) April 22, 2024
Unfortunately, Arizona selected rookie RB Trey Benson in the third round of the NFL Draft. Conner is now 29 years old. Benson will press the veteran for reps immediately. We are likely looking at some kind of timeshare. Should Connor’s play begin to lapse, Benson will certainly take away touches and could eventually emerge as the full-time starter.
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