Award-Winning Fantasy Football Advice

The 49ers selected Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo in Round 4 of the NFL Draft. Guerendo battled hamstring and foot injuries at Wisconsin. When healthy, he sat behind Jonathan Taylor and fellow rookie Braelon Allen. So, after five years in Madison (and only 99 carries), Guerendo transferred to Lousiville in 2023. He shared the backfield with Jawhar Jordan, who actually led the team with 181 carries (vs. 132 for Guerendo). The duo posted nearly identical receiving lines: 22-234-0 for Guerendo and 21-246-1 for Jordan. Guerendo wins with an impressive combo of size, speed, and athleticism. The 221-pounder brings return value, too, with 714 career kick return yards. He was the talk of the NFL Combine after posting a ridiculous all-around workout. Consider this: Guerendo’s 4.33 forty time, 129" broad jump, and 41.5" vertical jump all ranked in the 95th percentile or better among Combine RBs since 1999. Now, he doesn’t always play up to those testing numbers. But that potential remains as he gains more reps. In San Francisco, Guerendo will be battling for scraps behind Christian McCaffrey. It’s an awful spot for the rookie’s short-term fantasy value. Landing with HC Kyle Shanahan helps the long-term outlook. McCaffrey turns 28 in June and is signed through 2025.

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The Bills selected Kentucky RB Ray Davis in Round 4 of the NFL Draft. A three-star recruit out of San Francisco, Davis opted to play at Temple over Navy and Kent State. He made a true-freshman impact for the Owls with 193-936-8. Then, after a pandemic-shortened 2020, Davis transferred to Vanderbilt. A toe injury that required surgery sapped nine games in 2021, but we’d finally see that freshman-year form come 2022. Davis delivered 1,042 yards on a carry share of nearly 68%. Instead of declaring for the draft last winter, Davis transferred once more to Kentucky. His decision clearly paid off. The 5’8, 208-pounder ran for 1,129 yards and 14 TDs on 5.7 yards per carry. He added 33 catches, 323 yards, and seven more scores. Among 33 RBs with 190+ carries, Davis ranked sixth in yards after contact per attempt and tied for seventh in PFF rushing grade. A bowling ball of a back, Davis’ power and contact balance should translate to the pro game. He also brings a notable pass-catching resume with 94 career catches. The drawback here is Davis’ age; he’ll turn 25 in November. His size should play well in Buffalo, which leaned on James Cook as its 2023 lead back. Bet on Cook maintaining the clear receiving lead while ceding some rushing work to the rookie. QB Josh Allen, of course, cuts into the available short-yardage TDs. This is ultimately a solid landing for Davis vs. pre-draft expectations. He was the eighth RB off the board and finds opportunity with an offense that ran more after switching OCs in 2023. See where Davis settles in our dynasty rookie rankings.

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The Buccaneers drafted Oregon RB Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Irving earned 133 carries as a freshman at Minnesota, but left after that season. He transferred to Oregon in 2022 and immediately earned a 1A backfield role. That year, the 192-pounder showed surprising power with 4.36 yards after contact per attempt. Nearly 22% of his carries went for 10+ yards en route to a career-best 6.8 yards per carry. Irving struggled with drops, but that issue proved less worrisome in 2023. Irving even led the nation in receptions by a RB (55). He showed scheme versatility by lining up out wide on 13.2% of his passing snaps. He played the slot nearly 10% of the time. On the ground, Irving remained productive while running both gap and zone concepts. The junior posted career highs in carries (186), yards (1,192), and TDs (11). By mid-winter, it looked like Irving had a chance to be among the first couple of RBs selected. Then came a horrid NFL Combine that included a 2.25 Relative Athletic Score. Irving posted a 26th-percentile broad jump (9'7) and 4th-percentile vertical (29.5 inches). He came off the board sixth among RBs, though, and lands in a Tampa Bay backfield that presents opportunity. Rachaad White enjoyed a breakout 2023 but did so primarily thanks to touch volume. He ranked sixth-lowest among qualifiers in rush yards over expected per attempt, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Among 63 RBs with at least 60 carries, White ranked just 48th in yards after contact per attempt (according to Pro Football Focus). He even checked in just 27th in PFF receiving grade among 61 RBs with at least 20 targets. Expect Irving to siphon some work from White right away, with a chance to keep earning more. This is a good landing spot for Irving's dynasty outlook. We'll see where he lands in rookie ADP.

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The Eagles selected Clemson RB Will Shipley in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. A five-star recruit and the No. 2 RB in the 2021 recruiting class, Shipley had a productive three-year career at Clemson. He totaled 2,748 rushing yards, 602 receiving yards, and 33 TDs. He’s coming off a disappointing 2023 junior campaign, though, running for just 827 yards on 5.0 yards per carry. And Shipley never fared well in advanced metrics, ranking outside the top-65 RBs in Pro Football Focus’ Elusive Rating each of the last three years. That includes a 51.5 Elusive Rating this past season – 118th among 159 qualifiers. Shipley is a bit undersized at 206 pounds with just average power and long speed. Durability is a concern, too. Shipley suffered left leg and foot injuries in 2021, a concussion in 2022, and a left knee injury in 2023. He’s at his best in the passing game, where he flashes reliable hands, good vision, and plenty of make-you-miss ability. Shipley is unlikely to be a high-volume ball carrier as a pro, but his pass-catching ability could certainly make him an asset in PPR fantasy leagues. He joins an Eagles backfield that will be dominated by Saquon Barkley for the foreseeable future. Barkley is signed through the 2026 season. Shipley will battle Kenneth Gainwell for snaps behind Barkley this year.

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The Texans selected Ohio State TE Cade Stover in Round 4 of the NFL Draft. A five-year college player, Stover began his stint in Columbus as a LB. He soon transitioned to TE and held a starting role from 2022-2023. Modest production followed, largely because of the Buckeyes’ strong WR corps. In ‘22, Stover ranked third on the team in catches (36), fourth in yards (406), and fourth in TDs (5). 2023 turned up similar production, although his yards per catch jumped from 11.3 to 14.0. His yards per route run also rose from 1.32 to 2.04. The 2023 figure ranked fourth among 32 TEs with 50+ targets, and it came alongside a sharp dip in QB play post-C.J. Stroud. On tape, Stover shows a nasty demeanor – hardly a surprise given his defensive background. Reliable hands and plus athleticism also supply hope that he can develop into an NFL starter. At the Combine, he compiled a rock solid 8.22 Relative Athletic Score, boosted by a 4.65 forty time and a 1.61 ten-yard split. In Houston, Stover joins a TE room led by Dalton Schultz, who’s signed through the 2026 season. But getting to play with QB C.J. Stroud certainly adds to Stover’s dynasty appeal.

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The Seahawks used a fourth-round pick on TE A.J. Barner from Michigan. Barner spent his first three college seasons at Indiana, finishing third on the 2022 squad with 28 catches and second with 3 TDs. He transferred to Michigan this past year and posted a career-best 249 yards on 22 grabs. Barner helped himself by earning an 8.70 Relative Athletic Score at the Combine. He’s a long 6’6, 251-pounder with an 88th-percentile wingspan, making him an inviting target. Barner is certainly a developmental prospect unlikely to make a 2024 fantasy impact, but there’s some longer-term pass-catching upside here. Check our rookie rankings at TE to see where Barner lands.

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The Dolphins added Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright in Round 4. Wright is one of the most explosive RBs in this year’s class. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry over his three college seasons, including a huge 7.4 yards per carry in 2023. 14.0% of Wright’s runs last year went for 15+ yards – the second-highest rate among this year’s top-25 RB prospects. So it wasn’t a big surprise when he blazed a 4.38-second 40 time at 5’11 and 210 pounds. Wright isn’t just a pure speed back, though. He runs with plenty of power, averaging 4.35 yards after contact per attempt last year – fifth among 157 qualifying RBs. Wright played in a spread offense at Tennessee that afforded him some huge running lanes. He’ll have a transition to make to his NFL scheme. But his combination of size, explosiveness, and long speed can’t be taught. Wright also proved capable in the passing game this past year, catching 22 balls for 141 yards. We see a lot of Lamar Miller in his game. Wright adds more speed to an explosive Dolphins offense, although he’ll be challenged to find playing time behind De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. Mostert recently inked an extension that keeps him in Miami through the 2025 season.

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The Bengals added Iowa TE Erick All in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. All’s college career was marred by injury. He needed spinal surgery in 2022 and then tore his right ACL this past October. He flashed at two different schools when he was healthy, though. All tallied 38 catches and 437 yards for Michigan in 2021 – both marks ranking second on the team. Then he led Iowa with 299 receiving yards this past year, despite missing the final seven games with that knee injury. In fact, All accounted for a whopping 36.6% of Iowa’s receiving yards in his seven outings. His 2.62 yards per route ranked third among 81 TEs with 30+ targets. Durability is a legitimate concern, but All is an intriguing sleeper in this rookie TE class. Landing with QB Joe Burrow only adds to that sleeper appeal. All joins Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, and Tanner Hudson in what should be a pretty wide-open TE room this summer. We’ll see who earns snaps.

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The Ravens selected North Carolina WR Devontez Walker in Round 4 of the NFL Draft. Walker’s path to the draft was a long one that included a 2019 ACL tear and multiple transfers. He entered scouts’ radar in 2022 at Kent State, where he tallied 58-921-11 in 12 games. Walker accounted for 29.6% of the team’s catches, 35.6% of the receiving yards, and 64.7% of the receiving TDs. Strong marks – the kind you want to see from a guy facing a lower level of competition. A transfer to North Carolina paired Walker with top-10 QB prospect Drake Maye. However, Walker didn’t play a full season, as an eligibility battle with the NCAA limited the Carolina native to eight games. When active, he filled an outside, vertical role. That led to a massive 18.2-yard aDOT and 17.0 yards per catch. The nearly 6’2, 193-pounder effectively used his 83rd percentile wingspan to snag 10 of 17 contested catch opportunities (58.5%). Walker also boats NFL-caliber speed on tape. According to tracking data from Zebra Sports, he hit a Senior Bowl-high 21.18 MPH. Walker’s negatives come from a lack of proven post-catch ability and a thin route portfolio. Overall, we’re intrigued by the size/athleticism package. In Baltimore, Walker finds intriguing opportunity behind No. 1 WR Zay Flowers. Walker will primarily compete for snaps with Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor. The rookie at least has a shot to provide some spike weeks for best-ball teams. Longer term, he has the potential to develop into a field-stretching No. 2 WR for QB Lamar Jackson.

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The Patriots selected UCF WR Javon Baker in Round 4 of the NFL Draft. Baker’s college journey began at Alabama, where he arrived as a four-star recruit. Meaningful production simply didn’t follow. From 2020-2021, the Georgia native tallied only 9 catches (19 games). He entered the transfer portal in January of 2022 and landed at UCF that June. Right away, he led the Knights in yards (796) while finishing second in catches (56) and TDs (5). Baker’s production hit new highs last fall (52-1,139-7) as he played more of a downfield role. His aDOT finished at 17.1, while he also averaged 7.2 yards after catch per reception. Baker’s 3.21 yards per route run should also open eyes. That ranked eighth among 78 WRs with 80+ targets. Baker doesn’t always show plus speed on tape, but at 6’1, 207, he does a nice job in contested situations. We’ll just have to keep an eye on his hands. For his career, Baker dropped 15 passes for an 11.4% drop rate. The rookie joins a rebuilding Patriots offense that’s also added QB Drake Maye and WR Ja’Lynn Polk so far in this draft. There’s certainly opportunity for Baker to earn a 2024 role, although he’s only worth a shot in deep best-ball drafts for now. Longer term, he could develop into a top-2 option for New England.

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