The NFL Draft is approaching, and the best ball landscape will change after prospects find their professional homes. This period is ideal for drafting best ball teams for gamers doing their legwork on free agents and draft prospects.

It’s my favorite time of the best ball drafting season. Additionally, drafts are 20 rounds at Underdog Fantasy during this period before dropping to 18 rounds after the NFL Draft. So, that’s a strategy consideration, too. I’ve drafted 19 standard (i.e., not superflex) Underdog Fantasy best ball teams. The following tables and analysis look at my most-rostered players.

• NFL Draft Needs for Every Team
• DBro’s Rookie Advice : Target | Avoid
• Introduction to Best Ball Leagues
• Erickson’s Best Ball Positional Primers

Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles

Most-Rostered Best Ball Players in April 2023 (Pre-NFL Draft)

Quarterbacks

I've selected eight quarterbacks on at least three of my best ball teams. Generally, I have two preferred strategies when drafting quarterbacks during this draft period. First, selecting a high-end quarterback and only one backup is one option. Second, tripling up on cheaper quarterbacks is the other preferred strategy.

So, I've routinely pulled the trigger on Josh Allen. Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts aren't on the table, but I've also picked them a combined four times. Trevor Lawrence is a cut below that group, but I'm equally comfortable drafting only two quarterbacks on teams that I pull the trigger on him. The concept behind choosing only two quarterbacks when spending a premium pick on an elite quarterback is taking an extra shot on a rookie running back or wideout instead of a third quarterback in the last few rounds, hoping the rookie ends up with great draft capital, a good landing spot or both.

Alternatively, targeting three quarterbacks after the 100th pick allows gamers to smash the draft button on an extra elite running back, wide receiver or tight end when others are drafting the early-round quarterbacks. Having three irons in the fire weekly can close the gap on the elite quarterbacks. Further, it increases the number of stacks on best ball teams. Daniel Jones and Sam Howell were appealing options because of their rushing ability and average draft position (ADP). Alternatively, Jared Goff and Geno Smith have talented teammates to enhance their passing numbers, and Jordan Love is a mystery-box choice.

Running Backs

Rookies are all over the table above. There are mixed opinions about the running back prospects. However, it's generally considered a good and deep class. So, casting a wide net should assure me of a few prospects ending up in ideal situations with the optimal early-round draft capital. Also, I tip my cap to D-Bro for hyping up Evan Hull and putting him on my radar as a viable target. Hull can catch passes and has superb measurables.

Evan Hull RAS so far.https://t.co/kYw4DbeWv6 #RAS pic.twitter.com/1lO2OE0J9g

- Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 5, 2023

In late February, James Cook and Josh Jacobs were my two most-rostered running backs when I first reviewed the players I was drafting the most. I still love both backs and view the one-year deal for two-down banger Damien Harris as a win for Cook's outlook as long as the Bills don't also spend a pick before round four in the NFL Draft on another running back. However, Harris is still an exciting option as a touchdown-chasing pick in Buffalo's high-octane offense. Allen will undoubtedly steal some goal-line opportunities, but it's much easier to stomach a touchdown-dependent running back like Harris in best ball than in traditional managed leagues.

I pounded the table for Rashaad Penny as a must-have running back in early February because of his elite rushing ability. Fortunately, he couldn't have landed in a better home behind Philadelphia's butt-kicking offensive line, and his ADP has skyrocketed. I'm still drafting Penny at his earlier ADP. Still, I don't feel compelled to reach ahead of his ADP too often since I already have a ton of him on my best ball rosters.

Wide Receivers

The Bills signed Deonte Harty in free agency. As a result, I've mixed him in with Cook, Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir and a forthcoming tight end as stacking partners with Allen. Shakir could be rendered a non-factor if the Bills spend an early pick on a wideout. However, if it's a day-three pick, Shakir could still have an ascending role in Buffalo's offense. He could also push Davis for reps on the perimeter after playing in the slot and wide as a rookie last year.

The Chiefs didn't retain JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency. So, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore have an opportunity for more targets and production in Kansas City's juggernaut offense. They also didn't cut one-trick pony Marquez Valdes-Scantling. So, MVS is a cheap dart in the Mahomes-led offense.

As I did for the rookie running backs, I cast a wide net among the rookie wideouts. Still, I've gone from having zero shares of Charlie Jones after 10 drafts to having him on six rosters. Jones was highly productive for Purdue last season. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Jones was third in targets (154), first in receptions (110), second in receiving yards (1,361) and tied for fifth in touchdown receptions (12) among FBS wide receivers. Obviously, his stats didn't change since I began drafting best ball teams this year. Instead, he had eye-brow raising speed and agility testing numbers.

Charles Jones is a WR prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 7.70 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 644 out of 2801 WR from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/agQZlq5KF2 #RAS pic.twitter.com/EpaeM7eWKe

- Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 10, 2023

Jones's combination of elite production and stellar testing made him a priority late-round target in my final nine best ball drafts before the NFL Draft.

Tight Ends

I love drafting three tight ends during the 20-round period of best ball drafts. Sure, I chose Travis Kelce three times. However, I've mostly bypassed Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, George Kittle and Kyle Pitts because of their ADPs. I'll choose them more frequently when best ball drafts drop to 18 rounds, and I prioritize using only two roster spots on tight ends.

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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.