X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

NFL Draft - Team Winners and Losers

NFL Draft 2018 fantasy football analysis. Justin Carter identifies which teams improved their offenses by selecting the right QB, RB, WR, or TE and which teams may be fallers this season.

The 2018 NFL Draft has come and gone and most of the teams in the leagues have to be excited about what they ended up with, even if that excitement is misplaced in some instances (*cough* Raiders).

How we evaluate these picks will change between now and fantasy draft season, once we see training camp and preseason football. Those of you with rookie drafts coming up might not have the luxury of waiting for all that data to come in before making decisions. That's why RotoBaller is here, giving you some early scouting reports on this year's draft class.

Let's take a look at three NFL teams who are putting their draft picks in good positions, and three teams who left the draft feeling very, very empty from an offensive standpoint.

Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.

 

Winners

Arizona Cardinals

Key picks: Josh Rosen (QB), Christian Kirk (WR), Mason Cole (C), Chase Edmonds (RB)

The Cardinals went offense with their first four picks. These moves might not pay off much during the 2018 season, but I see a ton of promise moving forward with this class.

Let's start with Josh Rosen, who starts the year behind Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon the depth chart. (Bradford will get hurt, Glennon will get cut, and Rosen will end up starting late in the year, right?) Rosen is my favorite quarterback from this draft -- a great pocket passer with a strong arm who can make any throw. There were off the field questions, but those questions were...I mean, it was the movie Draft Day brought to life, where the Kevin Costner Browns refused to draft a quarterback because his teammates didn't go to his birthday party. I think these concerns are overblown and the fact that Rosen's the best pure pocket passer in this class is going to lead to a long, successful career.

Christian Kirk is a great pick too. He's not the outside receiver that they'll eventually need to replace Larry Fitzgerald, but with John Brown and Jaron Brown both gone, the Cardinals needed another receiver and Kirk gives a potentially elite option in the slot. I can see him having re-draft value by the mid-point of the season as the Cardinals other receivers -- Chad Williams, J.J. Nelson, and Brice Butler -- aren't world beaters.

Arizona had PFF's 31st-ranked offensive line last season. Maybe it would have been nice to see them spend a higher pick on the line, but Cole was the best center prospect in a draft that was weak on center prospects. He could end up as a starter by the time the season comes around and should help improve the line.

Chase Edmonds should see the field this year as a change-of-pace back for Arizona. David Johnson is a great back, but he's coming off a wrist injury. The Cardinals also don't have much running back depth behind Johnson. It shouldn't be too hard for Edmonds to become the RB2 in Arizona.

Denver Broncos

Key picks: Courtland Sutton (WR), Royce Freeman (RB), DaeSean Hamilton (WR)

The Broncos completely revamped their offense this offseason, bringing in quarterback Case Keenum to lead the team, cutting C.J. Anderson, who played for Denver for five seasons, and drafting two players who should be able to contribute fairly soon (Sutton and Freeman) and another promising player (Hamilton) who could fill an important role when the team inevitably transitions to the post-Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders era in Denver.

Sutton is a big, downfield threat who can make plays in the red zone. He's not going to outrun defenses, but he can make contested catches due to his height and hands. He'll play on the outside for Denver with Thomas and Sanders in the flex spot, which limits his re-draft upside in year one, but I love his long term value in Denver.

In theory, Royce Freeman can do it all: he's got incredible vision to make plays in the run game, he has a productive college career that suggests he can make plays in the passing game, and he's been an incredibly efficient red zone player. Freeman might not have the game changing speed that some might want to see in their running backs, but he has the potential to put up very strong numbers this year for the Broncos. I like him in re-draft and dynasty leagues.

Hamilton won't be able to play outside in the NFL, but he's a good route runner and will have a chance to carve out a role in the slot for Denver...in 2019...if the team moves on from Emmanuel Sanders. There are a lot of conditionals there, but Hamilton could be worth a later round pick in rookie drafts.

New York Giants

Key picks: Saquon Barkley (RB), Will Hernandez (OG), Kyle Lauletta (QB)

DISCLAIMER: I do not like this draft from a real life perspective -- picking a running back that high in the draft has salary cap and team-building ramifications that ultimately will hurt the Giants down the line, but his selection should have a strong positive impact on the Giants offense and has the team trending the right direction for fantasy purposes.

Barkley was an otherworldly prospect and the 1.01 in every dynasty rookie draft that will take place this offseason. I'm not even sure what to write about him that isn't already written everywhere else on the Internet. He's fast. He's elusive. He can make plays in the run game and in the passing game. He'll be given every chance to succeed with the Giants.

If there's a worry in regards to Barkley, it's how he'll play behind an offensive line that PFF ranked as the 26th best in the NFL last season. The good news? The drafting of Will Hernandez and the signing of Nate Solder should help that line improve significantly. Barkley's presence should also provide a boost to quarterback Eli Manning, who will now have a great safety valve at the running back position. Expect a lot of dump-offs to Barkley and a lot of yardage for Manning from those plays.

Lauletta won't make an immediate impact, but New York picked a promising passer who could make waves in the future. It will be interesting to see how the battle to be Eli Manning's backup goes between Lauletta and Davis Webb. Lauletta is an interesting prospect -- he can move well in the pocket and put up great numbers at Richmond, but there's a big jump between the levels of competition he faced there and that he'll face if he sees an NFL field. It's far too early to suggest he has a future in the post-Eli world, but he should be given a chance to compete for the second string role.

 

Losers

Buffalo Bills

Key picks: Josh Allen (QB), Ray-Ray McCloud (WR), Austin Proehl (WR)

Here's the thing: I'm not going to use this space to talk about how much I dislike the Bills picking Josh Allen. I did that on this site a few days ago and you can read those thoughts here. No, instead I'm going to talk about how much I dislike that Allen was the only offensive player until round six, when they took wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud.

Despite making the playoffs last year, the Bills entered this offseason looking like a team that was closer to the bottom of the league than they were to a return to the postseason. They replaced quarterback Tyrod Taylor with former Bengal A.J. McCarron. Wide receiver Jordan Matthews is gone. LeSean McCoy is a year older. Adding youth to a defense that ranked 26th in yards allowed last season is a smart move, but that came at the expense of adding possible weapons for whoever the quarterback ends up being this season. The Bills have essentially pushed back the task of revamping their defense a year and will hope that wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones will continue to show improvement. If Benjamin doesn't look like the player he was becoming in Carolina and Jones doesn't take the next step forward? Then Buffalo will need to make some serious moves to improve this offense next year. As it is now, the fantasy prospects for everyone on this roster is trending down.

Kansas City Chiefs

Key picks: Uhhhhhhh

The Chiefs were the only team that didn't use a single pick on an offensive player. No skill position guys that could provide depth for a team that has high quality starters and question marks behind them. Not a single lineman for an offensive line that struggled some down the stretch. I understand the mantra of if it ain't broke, don't fix it in regards to the running back and tight end positions, but this is an offense that's going to be relying on Chris Conley to be their WR3. The Chiefs starters have a ton of fantasy upside, but the team's offense is in a precarious place with a rookie quarterback and questionable depth.

Tennessee Titans

Key picks: Luke Falk (QB)

I'm resisting the urge to pile on the Raiders draft here, because maybe lineman Kolton Miller will be fine. If he is, the Raiders should see improvements from the improved line play.

But the Titans... A series of trades left with them with just four picks in this year's draft and they only went offense with one of them, grabbing quarterback Luke Falk from Washington State, who the Titans hope will never see the field in anything but garbage time playing behind Marcus Mariota. The Titans made some moves in the offseason, including the addition of running back Dion Lewis, but they also let wide receiver Eric Decker leave and will replace him from within with second-year wide receiver Taywan Taylor. There's also wide receiver Rishard Matthews entering the last year of his contract.

It's true that the Titans offense didn't have many needs after they invested in it fairly heavily in last year's draft, but one spot I'd have considered making a move was at tight end. With Delanie Walker inching closer and closer to the end of his career, the Titans have an unexciting group of tight ends behind him. Yes, Jonnu Smith has upside and yes, Phillip Supernaw is the son of a country musician and every country song teaches us that he will end up being an NFL legend, but I still wonder about the future of that position.

 

More NFL Draft Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Travis Etienne Jr.

Needs to Bounce Back in 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson

Wants More Downfield Opportunities this Season
Quinshon Judkins

Arrested on Saturday for Battery and Domestic Violence
Terry McLaurin

Could be a Holdout at Training Camp
Roger McCreary

a Candidate for a Contract Extension?
Max Fried

Exits Start With Blister
Mike Evans

Buccaneers Could Have Difficult Time Retaining Mike Evans
Charles Cross

Could Sign Extension Before Training Camp
Xavier Restrepo

One to Watch Going into Training Camp
Calvin Ridley

Appears Re-Energized
Mark Andrews

Still a Key Piece in Ravens Offense
Ndamukong Suh

Officially Announces his Retirement
Jaylen Waddle

Motivated After Disappointing Season
Tre Harris

Still Unsigned
Hunter Dobbins

to Miss Rest of Season With Torn ACL
Nolan Arenado

Held Out of Lineup on Saturday
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Carlos Correa

Sitting on Saturday
Austin Riley

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Nolan Arenado

Exits Friday's Contest With Sprained Finger
Jake Burger

Expects to Play on Saturday
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Wyatt Langford

Records Four-Hit Night
Cal Raleigh

Homers Twice, Drives in Five
Cody Bellinger

Swats Three Homers in Victory
Jake Burger

Leaves With Quad Discomfort on Friday
Carlos Correa

Exits Game With Mild Ankle Sprain
Edward Cabrera

Dealing with Posterior Elbow Discomfort
Austin Riley

Leaves Game Early on Friday With Abdominal Tightness
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Rafael Devers

Dealing With Back Inflammation
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Returning on Friday
Sauce Gardner

Wants to be Highest-Paid Cornerback
Rhamondre Stevenson

Heading into an Important Season
Minnesota Vikings

Josh Metellus, Vikings Have Mutual Interest in Extension
Tua Tagovailoa

2025 Could be Tua Tagovailoa's Last Season in Miami
Rashawn Slater

has "Full Confidence" a Deal Will Get Done
Byron Buxton

Returns on Friday
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Jake Meyers

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Calf Strain
Brandon Lowe

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Tightness
Kodai Senga

Reinstated to Start on Friday
Alex Bregman

Officially Activated and Starting on Friday
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Chicago Bears

Bears Extend General Manager Ryan Poles
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
MarShawn Lloyd

in a "Much Better Spot" Heading Into Training Camp
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Dustin Hopkins

Browns Still Counting on Dustin Hopkins
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF