The 2019 NFL draft ended on Saturday and most re-draft leagues won’t draft for four more months, but there are some notable post-draft fantasy winners and losers less than 24 hours after the draft concluded. All the analysis will be based on the ESPN standard PPR scoring.
Post 2019 NFL Draft Fantasy Winners and Losers
The Winners
David Johnson
The only similarities that the Arizona Cardinals offense is going to have to last year are the names David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. With new head coach Kliff Kingsbury coming in and using the draft to essentially build the offense how he wants it, this is going to be completely different from last year. Kingsbury noteably runs an “Air Raid Offense“, which focuses on quick passes. Fortunately for David Johnson, he is one of the best pass catching running backs in the NFL. In his breakout season in 2016, the Cardinals were a pass-first offense under Bruce Arians, similar to how it will be under under Kingsbury.
While Johnson’s carries may be down a tick from previous seasons, he has the potential to rack up 1,600 yard from scrimmage and score 10 touchdowns. In this year’s draft the Cardinals selected a new quarterback, three wide receivers, a tight-end, and two offensive lineman. The offense around Johnson will only help his production. That’s why David Johnson is a top five fantasy running back for 2019.
Lamar Jackson
Getting weapons for Lamar Jackson was the Baltimore Ravens number one goal for the draft, and they did just that. The Ravens selected two wide receivers, a running back, and Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley, who head coach John Harbaugh has said they are looking to use similar to how the New Orleans Saints utilizes Taysom Hill. But Jackson is the guy, there’s not really any question in that.
Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin are both solid receivers who will help out Jackson in the air. Before the draft, there was no one beyond Willie Snead for Jackson to throw the ball to. These moves should now open up the passing game, especially now that the offense is more tailored to Jackson’s style of play. Jackson won’t necessarily run less, but he should be able to make better runs while utilizing the passing game. Lamar Jackson is a top 15 quarterback for 2019 and should be a good value pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.
The Losers
Isaiah Crowell
Isaiah Crowell signed with the Oakland Raiders to try to prove himself. The 26-year-old running back has shown glimpses of potential of being a true RB1 in both fantasy and for his team, but his consistency has always been a struggle. Unless Jon Gruden and the Raiders pull what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did last year when they drafted a running back in the first two rounds only to use the guy who was already on the roster, Crowell has fallen out of consideration of being the lead back. Barring any significant developments, injuries, or if Josh Jacobs does not transition well, Crowell is no more than a flex consideration, if even that.
All Philadelphia Eagles Running Backs
As if the Philadelphia Eagles backfield wasn’t already crowded enough, the team drafted Miles Sanders out of Penn State in the second round in this year’s draft. This comes after the team traded for Jordan Howard less than a month ago. The backfield now contains Howard, Sanders, Josh Adams (the most effective back for Philly in 2018), Corey Clement (who is coming off a knee injury), Wendell Smallwood, Boston Scott, Donnel Pumphrey and Jay Ajayi, whom they traded for during the 2017 season. Scott and Pumphrey are likely non-factors, but the other six have all played significant roles for the Eagles, proven themselves as effective backs elsewhere, or been worthy of a second-round draft pick. Howard appears to be the lead back still, but spending a second round pick on Sanders proves this is undoubtedly going to be a committee situation.
Other Situations
Washington Redskins Running Backs
The Washington Redskins selected Bryce Love out Stanford in the fourth round. Love, who looked like he was guaranteed to be a first-round pick after his 2017 season, tore his ACL in December. Washington selected Derrius Guice in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft, who tore his ACL in August. The team’s top two running backs are coming off of ACL tears, with Guice’s recovery apparently coming along slower than expected. It should be interesting to see how these two progress in their recoveries and compete for the top running back spot.
Josh Rosen
Josh Rosen is now with the Miami Dolphins, after a draft day trade in which the Arizona Cardinals received pick 62 and a 2020 fifth-round pick.
Final Dolphins-Cardinals’ trade terms:
?Miami gets QB Josh Rosen.
?Arizona gets second-round pick (62) and a 2020 fifth-round pick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2019
It will be interesting to see how Rosen fairs in Miami and if they decide to start Ryan Fitzpatrick. Unless Fitzmagic returns in 2019, Rosen is going to get a shot to start, as they need to evaluate him before next year’s draft.
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