Now that the 2023 draft is behind us, we can begin to look forward to the 2023 season – both on the field and in fantasy. While dynasty draft players will be scouring scouting reports as they draft almost every skill position rookie entering the league, this year’s draft class will offer redraft fantasy players some intriguing options, often at a bargain.
We’ll take a quick look at the incoming crop and try to guide you towards some valuable picks that will make you look like a draft guru in the coming fantasy season.
Quarterbacks
No disrespect to Will Levis, but there realistically should only be 3 rookie quarterbacks considered in redraft leagues, and they all come with red flags.
1st overall pick Bryce Young has the athleticism that fantasy owners crave from their quarterbacks, as the added rushing stats exponentially increases the value at that position, but expectations should be tempered in Carolina with Young.
To acquire the #1 pick the Panthers traded away their top receiver in D.J. Moore and will enter the season with a questionable depth chart. Adding Adam Thielen in free agency was a smart move as he will be a reliable security blanket for Young, but at 32 years old he’s yet to prove that he can truly excel in a #1 role. A mix of D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault and Terrace Marshall behind Thielen probably won’t strike fear into the hearts of opposing defenses.
Carolina at least has a strong run game which they relied on last season, even after moving on from Christian McCaffrey, which will help insulate Young a little more, and new head coach Frank Reich does a good job of scheming protections and quick throws to protect his quarterbacks. But taking Young as your QB1 will probably leave you behind the 8 ball in most of your weekly matchups.
C.J. Stroud has all the talent in the world, but joins one of the weakest rosters in the league. He should be available on waivers for the majority of the season, so you’ll only be looking to add him to your roster if your plan A and B both blow up in your face. That being said, he has high end composure on the field, experience running a high volume offense and his accuracy is on the verge of being elite. His receiver room is extremely weak, with Robert Woods coming over as the de facto #1, and there isn’t much proven talent beyond that. Dynasty players will be looking to steal Stroud in the 1st round as his ceiling is high, but redraft players should take a more patient wait and see approach to his career.
Anthony Richardson may end up as the top rookie fantasy quarterback of his class this season. His size and elite athleticism are almost unmatched at the position. However with a new coaching staff in Indy, and head coach Shane Steichen bringing over a familiar face in Gardner Minshew, there’s a possibility the Colts will slowly bring Richardson up to speed in the NFL before handing him the reins to the offense.
If your quarterback plan involves drafting Richardson, then you’ll likely be using an additional draft pick on a Jared Goff type quarterback to get your season started, which might turn fantasy players off from considering Richardson. If the Colts announce that he’s the day 1 starter, Richardson can potentially be the steal of the draft, as his rushing ability will create consistent touchdown opportunities in the red-zone, as Steichen will likely utilize him the same way he used Jalen Hurts during his breakout season. Keep an eye out for the Colts offense to adapt the QB butt push in 2023, increasing his value even more in goal to go situations.
Running Backs
At running back, there’s one elite talent that has likely already locked up the offensive rookie of the year award. That might be hyperbole, but Bijan Robinson landed in a perfect offense to step into the NFL and take a run at the league lead for yards from scrimmage. Yes, the Falcons still have Cordarrelle Patterson (who is 32) and Tyler Allgeier on the roster, but Robinson is an elite, do it all talent who will easily become a 3 down back with his pass catching prowess accompanying his rushing ability. The Falcons also used their 2nd round pick on bruising run blocking guard Matthew Bergeron, solidifying their commitment to the run. He’s a no doubt #1 pick in dynasty leagues, and should be heavily considered as high as a top 8 pick in redraft leagues, particularly in PPR.
Jahmyr Gibbs is worth a mid round flier pick for fantasy drafters. The Lions opted to let touchdown machine Jamaal Williams leave via free agency, signed former Bears workhorse David Montgomery to a 3 year deal, and traded away D’Andre Swift, so the running back room has seen a tumultuous offseason. Gibbs himself is a slashing back who can stretch out defenses from sideline to sideline, and brings an ability to run a full route tree while operating as a pass catcher, increasing his value in PPR leagues. He doesn’t have the traditional build to become a true workhorse, but he has the home run ability to become a valuable RB2/3 or Flex option.
If you’re in a deeper redraft league, taking a look at Devon Achane (Miami) or Zach Charbonnet (Seattle) might intrigue you. Achane has elite speed and will provide the insanely fast Miami offense with yet another home run threat, and Charbonnet will be a high level handcuff to Kenneth Walker should his previous back injuries flare up. Pete Carroll will always operate a run heavy offense, so Charbonnet is almost a must have roster stash if you plan on taking Walker in your draft.
Bijan Robinson in the ATL7 looks clean pic.twitter.com/CXaSnTBTE1
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 21, 2023
Wide Receiver
This year’s draft didn’t have the elite level receivers we’ve been gifted in the past few drafts with the 1st wideout going off the board with the 20th pick, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t value to be found with this group.
Jaxson Smith-Njigba landed with the Seattle Seahawks and will fit in perfectly alongside Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalfe. His overall value might be diminished by the number of mouths to feed on the offense, but Smith-Njigba’s complementary skill set will keep him on the field in the slot while Lockett and Metcalfe work the outside. JSN should be able to find open room in the middle of the field, and has the ability to turn short passes into long gains. His touchdown totals might not impress in his first season as Metcalfe, Lockett, and Walker continue to dominate in the red zone, but he should be able to put up enough yards to contribute as a flex in deeper leagues.
Zay Flowers joins a rebuilt wide receiver group in Baltimore that appears set to open up the offense under new coordinator Todd Monken. The Ravens added Odell Beckham JR in free agency, but he hasn’t played in over 2 years, so despite his elite talent there are questions as to how much he can contribute to the offense, especially early on in the season. Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay have yet to live up to expectations (mostly due to injury issues) so Flowers has a path to carve out a significant role in the Ravens offense. Flowers’ high motor will endear him to the offensive coaches in Baltimore so he has a chance to play significant snaps in his rookie season. However, much like JSN, he’ll be hampered by the number of mouths to feed if everyone on the offense stays relatively healthy during the season.
Jordan Addison might be the most productive rookie wide receiver of the class, as he is slated to play opposite of Justin Jefferson in Minnesota. Addison has elite athleticism, a thorough route tree, and could flourish while defenses are focused on trying to shut down Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson. If he is still around near the end of your draft, he’s worth a late round pick and can become a valuable WR2/flex as the season progresses.
Tight End
Dalton Kincaid was the first of many talented tight ends taken in the 2023 draft, and he might give the elite Buffalo offense an extra threat to finally take them to that elusive Super Bowl. He’s a pure pass catcher that will be comfortable lined up all over the field. So while tight ends tend to struggle in their first season in the NFL, Kincaid will likely be used more as a slot option which will help negate that steep learning curve as a blocker. If you aren’t willing to spend a high pick to grab one of the elite tight ends in the redraft, stashing a player like Kincaid later on in the draft might yield top 8 TE results by the end of the season.
Michael Mayer is in the same boat as Kincaid. He has elite receiving talent, and after the Raiders moved on from Waller, he has a clear path to seeing a significant amount of offensive snaps with the team. While the Raiders offense seems to be in flux at the moment, if Mayer can carve out a role as a safety valve while defenses focus on Devante Adams, he can certainly provide some bye week value at the very least.
-Devon Gallant
Twitter: @DevGallant
Photo: Tennessee Titans. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.