FantasyPros – Fantasy Football Podcast
Episode: NFL Draft Winners & Losers + Biggest Rankings Movers (Ep. 2004)
Date: April 28, 2026
Host: Ryan Warmley, with Pat Fitzmaurice & Scott "Bogman" Baughman
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the fantasy football fallout following the 2026 NFL Draft, focusing on the biggest rookie winners and losers, some veteran value changes, and notable shifts in the FantasyPros dynasty rankings. The hosts analyze rookie performances and landing spots, discuss their own personal rookie drafts, and debate both immediate and long-term fantasy implications. Key moments include an ongoing dynasty rookie draft dilemma, the fallout of uncertain running back and tight end landing spots, and several spirited debates about player tiers and strategy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The State of Dynasty Rookie Drafts (00:37–06:43)
- Offseason Vibes: The trio recognizes it’s a unique part of the fantasy football year, with rookie drafts launching shortly after the NFL Draft. Many leagues start immediately, giving managers little time to prepare.
- Current League Draft Dilemma: Ryan opens with a real league story: Bogman held the 1.05 rookie pick, where a consensus "top five" had formed. Instead of sticking with the expected players, Bogman selected RB Jadarian Price over WR Jordan Tyson, surprising other managers and potentially shifting the draft board.
- Bogman’s Rationale: “It's because it's a dynasty league and my running backs are not great, like, for the long term… I just needed the back more than I needed the wide receiver… I just felt the need more towards the running back.” (04:10)
- Fitz’s BPA Counterpoint: Fitz advocates for "best player available," calling Tyson “still like a tier above Jadarian Price and I'm always going BPA there. It's a dynasty league. We can make trades later to balance it out.” (05:00)
- Trade Values: Discussion on A.J. Brown-for-Tyson type offers, with Fitz noting he'd likely need an additional piece with Brown to get Tyson due to dynasty value disparity, though it's close (06:45).
2. Rookie Winners
Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks (07:35–13:56)
- Bogman: Price “had the second best elusive rating behind only [Jeremiah] Love among drafted running backs… 20% of his rush attempts in 2025 went for 10 plus yards. 45% of his yards were breakaway yards too… He did win the landing spot lottery for running backs.” (07:35)
- Seattle’s Backfield: With Charbonnet injured and a depleted running back room, Price faces a three-way battle but could emerge as the top back. Even if Charbonnet returns, his contract is expiring.
- Consensus Ranking: All hosts agree on RB21 being an appropriate dynasty ranking for Price. “I think that like RB21ish range, like that looks pretty correct to me.” – Ryan (11:52)
- Price vs. Charbonnet: All three agree Price's injury-free status trumps Charbonnet’s better prospect profile (12:40).
Ty Simpson, LA Rams (14:19–23:22)
- Fitz: “No greater rookie winner than Ty Simpson… the Rams blew everyone out of the water and just took him 13th overall.” (14:19)
- Development Path: With Stafford entrenched, Simpson waits in a Jordan Love-style situation. “It is a lot like the Jordan Love situation… He had paid his dues...by 2023, he was raring and ready to go.”
- McVay’s Buy-in Questioned: They discuss whether McVay endorsed the pick, with Fitz ultimately stating there's no sign of a rift: “...if McVay was glum about that selection, he did not show it in that call with Ty Simpson, he seemed like he was totally on board.” (17:51)
- Superflex Value: “As a quarterback drafted in the top half of the first round by a team with a fantastic offensive ecosystem... Simpson should be a top seven or eight pick in Superflex drafts.” – Fitz (16:57)
- Bogman’s Ranking: Simpson at 12th in rookie Superflex, “You have to wait at least a year, maybe two years for [him]” (20:18)
Chris Bell, Miami Dolphins (24:04–30:59)
- Bogman: “He had a 25% target share for Louisville and he missed four games... I just think that right now and for the long term, Chris Bell in a really good spot now. This team is tanking... could easily be the number two next year next to Jeremiah Smith.” (24:04)
- Fitzy’s Skepticism: “I'm not going to read too much into the fact that he wasn't even the first wide receiver taken... I love the size speed combination... but I just... wasn't impressed.” (27:52)
- Peers: Bell sits in a WR45-ish range for Bogman; Fitzy prefers several WRs (Addison, Worthy, Higgins, Golden) before Bell.
Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders (32:45–38:27)
- Fitz: “The Commanders only had two picks in the first four rounds... and Washington took this guy; that speaks to how much they value him... really good route runner, I think he’s going to mesh pretty well with Jaden Daniels right from the start.” (32:45)
- Wormley: “Such a clear pathway to opportunity with a quarterback that we really like... in a class like this where outside of the first round, like, boy does it get ugly quick. He will be an early second round pick for me at every opportunity.” (34:33)
- Tiering: He lands in that 13th–15th overall rookie range, clearly inside or just after the traditional top 12 rookies.
- Fitz is Highest: Has Williams at 8th among rookie WRs, citing a weak depth chart and high value from the team.
3. Rookie Losers
Mike Washington, Las Vegas Raiders (38:45–42:45)
- Fitz: “Definitely not ideal is going to the Ashton Genty team... at best, what, 6–8 touches a game? And that's not someone you're starting in any given week. It would take Genty getting hurt for you to ever want to start Mike Washington in Dynasty.” (38:45)
- Bogman: Sees him as a Tyler Allgeier type at best and ranks him below other late-round rookie RBs. “He really has to hope for a Genty injury to matter.” (41:14)
Max Clare, LA Rams (43:56–47:56)
- Bogman: “It's gotta be Max Claire. I wasn't big on him going in, but at least, you know, if he landed in a spot where they're, you know, devoid of a tight end, he could have been the guy. But... he's behind a ton of competition. Even if they cut some guys, he’s still not the top receiving option.” (43:56)
- Fitz: Points out the Rams are “at the vanguard” of multi-tight-end sets, which could offer occasional opportunity—but “ultimately, how could you confidently start Max Claire?” (46:00)
- Comparables: Jake Seeley dropped Clare to 50th in overall rookie ranks post-draft, and all hosts agree he’s now a late fourth/fifth-round flier at best in dynasty.
4. Veteran Losers from the Draft
R.J. Harvey, Denver Broncos (51:06–54:49)
- Fitz: “I don't think the Broncos liked what they saw when J.K. Dobbins went down and RJ Harvey had to take on a bigger load. He just wasn't really explosive... It's probably going to be a three-back rotation now with Dobbins, Coleman, and Harvey.” (51:06)
- Bogman: “This isn't a great landing spot for either [Harvey or Coleman] long term. But this year, I think one of them is going to rise to the top and I just don't know which one it is. I'll bet on Harvey, but not confidently.” (52:55)
Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns (55:20–56:30)
- Bogman: “I just don't think Jerry Jeudy is a good wide receiver... he was 52nd in total points among wideouts and 70th in points per game. I got him at WR75. No interest in Jerry Jeudy. I'm getting rid of him.” (55:20)
- Fitz: “Not hard to imagine him being fourth in the target pecking order this year... I wouldn't be surprised if he did not see the final year of his deal in Cleveland.” (56:31)
- Stat Highlight: Jeudy had a dramatic year-over-year drop in production, and the arrival of WR/TE talent further kills his value.
Jags WRs (BTJ, Jacoby Myers, Parker Washington) – Bonus Insight (57:07–58:49)
- Fitz: The Jaguars used high draft capital on multiple tight ends, signaling more two- and three-TE sets. “If you have two tight ends on the field at one time, that means you only have two WRs... is it a little haircut in value for all of them if the Jags go to multiple tight end sets?” (57:41)
5. Major Rankings Movers & General Trends (59:00–end)
- Mark Andrews Up: Ryan notes little threat added to Baltimore’s TE group, making Andrews an underrated “boring” TE1 for both dynasty contenders and redraft. “I think Mark Andrews is going to be pretty undervalued in trades right now. If you are a contender, I bet you can get him for pretty cheap.” (60:27)
- Fitz: “If you don't have one of those [elite TE] guys and you're just kind of trying to ham and egg it at the tight end position, Mark Andrews [is an] easy guy to trade for in dynasty.” (60:55)
- Fallers: Fitz dropped QB Garrett Nussmeier and WR Elijah Surratt after poor draft outcomes, especially Surratt who fell out of Day 2.
- RB Value Weakness: Bogman laments the lack of strong rookie RB landing spots, noting even strong situations are vulnerable to veterans/free agents or late draft capital, resulting in “a grip of WRs in front of all these running backs” in his ranks. (63:26)
- General Rookie Disappointment: The draft class lived down to low pre-draft expectations, with Zach Evans’s meme: “our expectations were low, but holy [expletive]…” (64:52)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On BPA (Best Player Available) Dynasty Philosophy:
“I'm always going BPA there. It's a dynasty league. We can make trades later to balance it out. And I always think roster balance is kind of overrated in dynasty because we trade so much.” – Pat Fitzmaurice (05:00)
-
On the RB Landscape in 2026:
“There were not a lot of great landing spots for running backs this year, not a lot of vacancies, and [Jadarian Price] has one with Charbonnet presumably on the shelf.” – Pat Fitzmaurice (10:13)
-
The Risk of Chasing RB Need:
“That's what he aspires to be... Tyler Allgeier and to like earn those goal line touches. Right? That's the upside with Mike Washington at this point, his first season in the NFL.” – Scott Baughman (41:14)
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On the State of the Rookie Class:
“Pretty much anybody we didn't list in the winners segment probably went down in the rankings... our expectations were low but holy [expletive]…” – Scott Baughman (64:36)
Notable Timestamps
- Bogman’s rookie draft decision (04:10)
- Jadarian Price’s full analysis (07:35–13:56)
- Ty Simpson’s fantasy value debate (14:19–23:22)
- Chris Bell’s Miami opportunity (24:04–30:59)
- Antonio Williams as a prime Washington winner (32:45–38:27)
- Mike Washington’s grim outlook (38:45–42:45)
- Max Claire’s dynasty value crash (43:56–47:56)
- Veteran losers: Harvey & Jeudy (51:06–56:30)
- Jags’ WRs could be “haircut” by TE influx (57:07–58:49)
- Mark Andrews bounce-back value (60:27–61:36)
- General rankings movers and rookie class disappointment (62:13–65:19)
Summary Table: Top Rookie Winners & Losers
| Winner | Team | Segment | Rationale |
|-------------------|------------------|-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Jadarian Price | Seahawks | 07:35–13:56 | Elite opportunity due to injury/vacancy; touted metrics; strong draft capital |
| Ty Simpson | Rams | 14:19–23:22 | First-round QB, patient development, strong ecosystem, rare opportunity |
| Chris Bell | Dolphins | 24:04–30:59 | Weak depth chart, target opportunity, raw but ascending |
| Antonio Williams | Commanders | 32:45–38:27 | Clear path to WR2, good prospect, attached to Jaden Daniels |
| Loser | Team | Segment | Rationale |
|-------------------|------------------|-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Mike Washington | Raiders | 38:45–42:45 | Blocked by superstar RB (Gentry), minor role, low ceiling |
| Max Clare | Rams | 43:56–47:56 | Crowded TE room, poor path to snaps, disappointing draft signal |
| R.J. Harvey (vet) | Broncos | 51:06–54:49 | RBBC with rookie addition, uncertain pecking order, limited PPR upside |
| Jerry Jeudy (vet) | Browns | 55:20–56:30 | Already-injured value, new pass-catchers, likely off team soon |
Closing Thoughts
Nearly every meaningful rookie or veteran value shift in the wake of the 2026 NFL Draft is exhaustively debated. The hosts stress landing spot nuance—especially with crowded backfields and multi-tight-end schemes—and hammer home the importance of balancing “need” with “talent” in dynasty drafting. If you’re attacking rookie drafts or looking for cunning buy-low or sell-high veteran trades, this episode arms you with context and actionable advice to navigate a shifting fantasy football landscape.
Listen for:
- Value analysis of Price, Simpson, Bell, Antonio Williams as post-draft targets
- Harsh warnings against chasing "need" over "BPA" (best player available)
- Clear signals to fade veterans like R.J. Harvey, Jerry Jeudy, and others whose situations sharply worsened
- A refreshed look at Mark Andrews as a sneaky veteran rebounder
For the actionable takeaways and rankings referenced, visit FantasyPros.com/Rankings.