Award-Winning Fantasy Football Advice

49ers GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan talked about WR Ricky Pearsall as a guy they believe can contribute right away. “(Pearsall) just plays the position real well, whether he was outside, inside, all three positions,” Shanahan said in his post-draft press conference. “He can separate down the field, he can separate underneath, extremely good hands. … There’s nothing he can’t do." It sure sounds like the Pearsall pick was made with the expectation that WR Brandon Aiyuk or WR Deebo Samuel will be traded. Insider Michael Silver tweeted late Thursday night that he's heard Samuel is more likely to be traded at this point. Shipping away either guy would be excellent news for Pearsall's dynasty value -- and turn him into an interesting 2024 redraft pick.

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The Panthers traded up one spot to grab South Carolina WR Xavier Legette with the final pick of Round 1. Legette is one of the toughest evaluations in this year’s WR class. He did next to nothing over his first four college seasons, totaling just 42 catches. That stretch included a 2020 hamstring injury and a 2021 motorcycle accident – all after Legette spent his senior year of high school playing QB. Then he came out of nowhere for a huge 2023 campaign. Legette’s 1,255 receiving yards ranked eighth in the country. He accounted for 37.6% of South Carolina’s receiving yards and 33.3% of the receiving TDs. And he ranked top-16 among 286 qualifying WRs in both yards per route and Pro Football Focus receiving grade. Then Legette smashed the Combine, recording a 4.39-second 40 time and 40-inch vertical at 6’1, 221 pounds to earn a 9.90 Relative Athletic Score. That elite combination of size and speed pops off the tape. Legette can dominate on deep balls and after the catch. He also has a big catch radius and reliable hands. Legette is relatively raw in the route-running department, though, and isn’t the most agile player. It’s fair to wonder how much more room he has to grow considering he turned 23 in January. Legette lands in an offense with decent opportunity, but we wouldn't bet on big target share in 2024. Carolina acquired WR Diontae Johnson to boost a receiving corps that Adam Thielen led in 2023. Check our rookie rankings to see where Xavier Legette settles.

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The 49ers selected Florida WR Ricky Pearsall in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Pearsall spent five years in college and will turn 24 before his second NFL game. But he’s a polished prospect, winning with precise route running, sticky hands, and after-catch elusiveness. Pearsall emerged as Arizona State’s No. 1 WR in his third year on campus in 2021. He then transferred to Florida, where he led the Gators with 661 receiving yards and five TDs in 2022. This past year brought new career highs with 65 catches and 965 yards – a big 31.4% of Florida’s total receiving yards. Pearsall also ran it 21 times for 253 yards (12.0 YPC) and five TDs across his five college seasons. He surprised at the Combine with a 4.41-second 40 time and 42-inch vertical at 6’1 and 189 pounds. Pearsall’s advanced age and middling production profile are legit concerns. But his polish and ability to contribute in multiple ways gives him a chance to make a fantasy impact early in his career. We'll see whether the 49ers retain Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Long term, the Florida product projects as a real-life WR2 and a potential fantasy WR3.

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The Cardinals spent the 27th pick on Missouri DL Darius Robinson. Through four years, Robinson totaled just 4.5 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss. He broke out with 8.5 sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss in his fifth season. Robinson should get a shot at early playing time, but beware of his late college breakout.

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The Chiefs selected Texas WR Xavier Worthy in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Worthy set the Combine record with a 4.21-second 40 time and plays to that speed on the field. He averaged 14.0 yards per reception for his college career, making big plays both downfield and after the catch (7.3 career YAC/reception). He’s also an impressive route runner. Worthy broke out as an 18-year-old true freshman, easily leading the Longhorns with 62 catches, 981 yards, and 12 TDs. A QB change and a fractured finger led to a dip in raw production in 2022, although Worthy still led Texas in all major receiving categories. He made it three straight seasons as Texas’ top receiver last year, despite the arrival of WR Adonai Mitchell. Not only did Worthy easily beat Mitchell in catches (75 to 55) and yards (1,014 to 845), but he also dusted him in advanced metrics like targets per route (0.25 to 0.17) and yards per route (2.14 to 1.72). The glaring concern with Worthy: He’s just 165 pounds. Only two WRs at 170 pounds or lighter – DeVonta Smith and Tank Dell – have reached 10 PPR points per game since 2000. Worthy, though, is just the third sub-170-pound WR since 2000 to be a top-50 pick in the draft (joining Smith and Dexter McCluster). His chances of success increase in Kansas City. The Chiefs are simply thin at WR, especially with Rashee Rice facing a multi-game suspension. Note that free-agent addition Marquise Brown signed a one-year deal. Worthy ultimately projects in WR5 range for early best ball drafters.

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The Lions traded up to the 24th spot in Round 1 of the NFL Draft to select CB Terrion Arnold. He spent just three years at Alabama, the past two as a starter. He snared 5 INTs as a junior. Arnold plays the wrong position to make a significant impact in most IDP dynasty leagues, though.

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The Jaguars drafted LSU WR Brian Thomas in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. After two relatively quiet seasons to open his college career, Thomas busted out as a junior this past year. He racked up 1,177 yards and an FBS-high 17 TDs on 68 receptions. The big-play machine averaged 17.3 yards per catch on a 13.9-yard average target depth. He hauled in 15 of 22 targets 20+ yards downfield for 670 yards and 12 TDs. The catches, yards, and TDs were all top-3 marks in the nation, and Thomas was one of 24 WRs to score a 99.9 PFF receiving grade on deep targets. With a 4.33-second 40 time, strong ball-tracking ability, and high-end ball skills, Thomas has all the tools to be a dominant deep-ball weapon in the NFL. He wasn’t nearly as productive on short and intermediate routes at LSU and needs to improve as a route runner to emerge as a No. 1 WR in the NFL. But his combination of size (6’3, 209 lbs.) and athleticism (9.84 RAS) gives him the potential to do so. Thomas should at least be a valuable best-ball asset as a rookie. But with Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Evan Engram, and free-agent addition Gabe Davis rostered, the weekly floor figures to be low here. We’ll also see if Trevor Lawrence can improve after plateauing in 2023.

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The Eagles selected CB Quinyon Mitchell in the first round of the NFL Draft. Mitchell posted limited tackle totals across four years at Toledo (three in the starting lineup). He defensed 37 passes over his final two seasons, though. And NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said Mitchell was “the best corner at the Senior Bowl, and it wasn’t close.” Corners carry little value in most fantasy formats, and you shouldn’t get too excited about Mitchell in your IDP rookie draft. Landing in Philly at least gives Mitchell a shot to make an impact soon. The Eagles return both starting outside corners from last year but played poorly in the secondary and are getting old at both spots.

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The Dolphins spent the 21st pick of the NFL Draft on Edge Chop Robinson. After a year at Maryland, Robinson closed out his college career with tow years at Penn State. He totaled 60 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 20.0 tackles for loss across his three seasons. Robinson delivered a 97th-percentile speed score at 254 pounds at the Scouting Combine. We're a little concerned that Robinson won't claim high enough snap shares to produce consistent fantasy stats.

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The Rams selected Edge Jared Verse with the 19th pick in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Verse enjoyed a productive two seasons at Florida State after transferring from Albany. He tallied 9 sacks each year, and 29.5 total tackles for loss across those two years. Verse then delivered strong straightline speed (97th percentile speed score) at the Scouting Combine. We're a little concerned about his slow 3-cone time (7.31 seconds, 32nd percentile). Verse will make for a solid pick in IDP rookie drafts, though.

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