The NFL Draft is the last major offseason event that can instantly impact player values in fantasy football. With a bunch of fantasy-relevant players drafted and even more potentially relevant players taken, values have changed.
Let’s take a look at some of the notable fantasy winners and losers from the draft, with the focus on how the draft impacted veterans.
The Biggest Fantasy Football Winners
Devin Singletary Looks Locked In as the New York Giants’ RB1
After recklessly investing absurdly high draft capital in the failed Saquon Barkley experiment, the new Giants regime has gone in the complete opposite direction. Despite letting Barkley walk in free agency, the Giants’ only meaningful addition to their backfield in free agency was Devin Singletary.
In the draft, the Giants only took one running back and waited until the fifth round to draft Purdue’s Tyrone Tracy Jr. Suffice it to say, Singletary’s job is looking very secure.
We’ve seen the Giants not only use Barkley as a three-down back but even Matt Breida in spurts as well. Singletary has played many games with well over a 70% snap share. He’s even seen as many as 100% of the snaps before.
This offense may not be great, but it should be better than it was last season. Volume is king in fantasy football, and Singletary is looking like an appealing RB3 with RB2 upside.
It’s Wheels Up for Zamir White
After minimal production through two seasons, the Raiders easily could have looked to upgrade on Zamir White. Instead, they brought back Ameer Abdullah, and their only draft capital spent on the position was sixth-rounder Dylan Laube.
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Given Laube’s receiving profile (he had 68 receptions his final year at New Hampshire), he’s definitely a threat to take on the receiving-back role. But that’s a problem for Abdullah. White wasn’t going to catch passes anyway.
The stage is set for White to be the Raiders’ early-down grinder and goal-line back. He will be a bit touchdown-dependent, but that goes for any running back who doesn’t catch passes. At the very least, White’s RB2 fantasy value is secure.
Rachaad White Is Poised To Be a Value Once Again
Sometimes, we just need to accept reality and not question it. Last season, I was out on Rachaad White because he’s one of the worst rushers in the league. That remains true. It also doesn’t matter if he continues to excel as a receiver.
The Bucs did draft RB Bucky Irving in the fourth round. However, he profiles as a satellite back. While it’s great that he can catch passes, he’s not the archetype that’s a threat to what gives White his fantasy value.
After finishing as an RB1 last season, White is not being valued as if he can repeat what he did. I believe he can.
Joe Mixon May Not Be Exciting, but He Will Be Reliable
There were talks that the Texans may draft a running back. They did. But not until taking Louisville’s Jawhar Jordan in the sixth round. A sixth-round running back is not a threat to a veteran like Joe Mixon.
Over the coming months, you are going to hear a lot of talk about the running back dead zone and how unsuccessful 27+-year-old running backs going in the third or fourth round have been. That’s all true, but this projects to be one of the best offenses in football and Mixon will handle all the early down work and goal-line touches. He will also see enough receiving work to sustain a solid floor.
Mixon is not exciting. He is not a league-winner, but injury is the only way he is likely to fail in 2024.
Isiah Pacheco Is an RB1
Fantasy managers can and should remain skeptical about Day 3 running backs and UDFAs maintaining job security. That was the impetus behind Isiah Pacheco‘s depressed ADP last season.
After two seasons now, we should no longer worry about the fact that Pacheco is a seventh-round pick. The Chiefs did not draft a single running back. They are running it back with Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Pacheco is an RB1 this year.
Drake London Is Ready for Liftoff
The Falcons went into this year’s draft with the potential to take a wide receiver early. Rome Odunze was definitely an option for them. Instead, they didn’t take one until the sixth round.
Not only is Drake London locked in as the Falcons’ WR1, but now there’s some security in the event Kirk Cousins goes down. We can question the prudence of burning the No. 8 overall pick on a 25-year-old backup quarterback, but it’s certainly not a bad thing for Michael Penix Jr. to be insurance behind Cousins.
We have to pay for the breakout in advance, but all signs indicate it will be worth it.
Fantasy Football Losers
Jonathon Brooks Will Take Chuba Hubbard’s Job
Unless Jonathon Brooks experiences an issue with his surgically repaired knee, he should step in immediately as the RB1 once he recovers.
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Chuba Hubbard performed admirably last season and was looking like a value behind a good offensive line in what should be a better Panthers offense. Now, those things all apply to Brooks, who is more talented than Hubbard.
Hubbard may still open the season as the starter, but it’s only a matter of time before Brooks overtakes him. Fantasy managers should consider Hubbard as nothing more than an upside handcuff.
James Conner May Not Be the Same Workhorse
There weren’t many running backs selected that are an obvious concern to the incumbent starter. I wouldn’t go so far as to say Trey Benson is an obvious threat to James Conner, but he’s more of a threat than anyone other than Brooks is to Hubbard.
There were only four running backs selected on Day 2 (after none in the first round). Benson was drafted early enough and has a strong enough profile that he could carve out a role rather quickly. If Conner gets hurt and Benson excels, Conner may very well return to more of a timeshare than before. At his advanced age, fantasy managers should not assume the same role for Conner in 2024 that he had in 2023.
Stick a Fork in Michael Mayer’s Fantasy Value
The Raiders spent an early second-round pick on TE Michael Mayer last season. For a tight end, that’s premium draft capital. Unproductive rookie seasons are not uncommon for tight ends who wind up being excellent. Just look at Trey McBride.
With that said, Brock Bowers is a generational prospect. He’s going to immediately be the TE1 and likely No. 2 option in the passing game behind Davante Adams.
Mayer may still end up being a useful NFL TE, but it won’t be with the Raiders, and it certainly won’t be in 2024.
Other Fantasy Takeaways From the 2024 NFL Draft
We close out with some additional general thoughts I have based on what transpired over the weekend. These aren’t necessarily winners or losers but merely observations about potentially fantasy-relevant ramifications from the draft.
The Cowboys Reuniting with Ezekiel Elliott Appears to be a Foregone Conclusion
We’ve all heard the phrase “Running backs don’t matter.” It appears the Cowboys are taking that to the extreme.
After letting Tony Pollard leave in free agency, the Cowboys entered the NFL Draft with Rico Dowdle atop their depth chart. They did not draft a single running back.
All signs point to a reunion with Ezekiel Elliott. How ironic that just one year after they cut Zeke to roll with Pollard it’s going to be Elliott as the clear RB1 with Pollard on another team.
This obviously still needs to officially happen, but there’s just too much smoke for there not to be fire. As much as it may pain fantasy managers to admit this, Zeke will be a very appealing fantasy option if he’s back in Dallas.
Don’t Expect James Cook’s Role To Change Much
James Cook was a polarizing player in fantasy circles last season. There were many who expected a breakout, and there were many who thought he lacked sufficient touchdown upside. Depending on your perspective, you could say both were right.
Cook only scored six touchdowns all season, but he very clearly was not the goal-line back. Now, the Bills have added Ray Davis via the draft.
At 211 pounds, Davis projects to take the Latavius Murray/Leonard Fournette role. He’s not necessarily a threat to take significant work away from Cook, but his presence pretty much solidifies that Cook is not going to suddenly see goal-line work. That makes Cook more of a floor play than a guy with a league-winning upside.
The Chargers Are Going To Run … a Lot
Sometimes, it’s about what you don’t do. The Chargers not drafting a running back until the sixth round isn’t what’s important here. Rather, it’s them opting to go with OT Joe Alt at No. 5 overall instead of WR Malik Nabers.
While the Chargers did select WR Ladd McConkey early in the second round, they still are entering the season with McConkey, Joshua Palmer, and Quentin Johnston as their top three receivers.
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Gus Edwards might be the least exciting RB1 on an NFL roster right now, but Jim Harbaugh’s offenses have never been bad. There’s some serious touchdown upside here.
On the flip side, we must remember talent is only part of the equation when evaluating players in fantasy football. Justin Herbert is immensely talented. However, his receivers are lacking, and he’s about to see his volume take a significant dip. I’m not so sure Herbert is even a top-12 QB this season.