Here are a few of the players I’m targeting in 2023 fantasy football drafts. Upgrade to our premium subscription to view my full list of 2023 must-have draft targets.
- Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
- Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Fantasy Football Draft Strategy
- 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
Fantasy Football Draft Players to Target
Geno Smith is my favorite late-round quarterback because he’s being so vastly undervalued. The 32-year-old proved all his fantasy doubters wrong in his first year as Seattle’s fully-entrenched starter, finishing as the fantasy QB6 while averaging 19 fantasy points per game (QB8). The only QBs that scored more points per game than Smith last season were Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Fields, and Lamar Jackson. The only quarterbacks to post higher QB1 rates (top-12) were Mahomes, Hurts, Allen and Burrow. Smith finished as a fantasy QB1 in 56% of his contests played last season.
Additionally, all the Seahawks did during the draft was invest in No. 1 WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. QB15 is still too cheap for Chef Geno in early best ball ADP. He should be viewed as a low-end fantasy QB1. Oh well, more for me (and you).
J.K. Dobbins’ 2022 campaign got off to a sluggish start as he was recovering from major knee surgery and missed the first two weeks of the season.
However, when Dobbins finally returned later in the year, he showed why he’s such a highly regarded talent. In his last five games, including the playoffs, he averaged an impressive 6.6 yards per carry, 92 rushing yards, and 14 carries per game. This strong finish is a promising sign for his 2023 prospects in an offense that should light the league ablaze under the QB/OC combination of Lamar Jackson/Todd Monken.
And although he continued to split carries with Gus Edwards in 2022, Dobbins’ explosive running style and effectiveness in the Ravens’ offense make him the best fantasy asset. Despite the presence of Edwards and Justice Hill in the backfield, Dobbins is the clear lead back for the Ravens and should be viewed as a top-tier fantasy option in 2023. Baltimore could ride him into the ground as an impending free agent.
Diontae Johnson is slated for a massive bounce-back campaign. He didn’t score last season – likely a fluke – and that’s being held against him. Even though DJ ranks: 5th in total targets (460), 7th in receptions (281) and 9th in target share (25%) over the past 3 seasons. Johnson’s ability to command targets based on his 28% target share and seventh-ranked 137 targets in 2022 suggests he is a prime candidate for positive regression in many facets. His combined downfield targets and red-zone targets were the most of any player not to score in 2022. Those trends don’t tend to carry over from year-to-year. Buy-low on the WR15 in expected fantasy points per game from last season. His WR30 ADP is insulting.
Gerald Everett was the TE15 last season and ranked second on the Chargers in red-zone targets (5th among TEs) despite modest snap usage (58% route participation). He also balled out with a 6-109-1 stat line in LA’s lone playoff game.
Finished 7th in YAC/rec (6.5) while finishing 8th in catches (58) and 9th in total targets (82). Those were all career highs.
And Everett will benefit in a new offense led by offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who did wonders for Dalton Schultz’s fantasy upside over the past two seasons. Everett is the superior athlete, giving him more upside than Schultz could ever deliver. Long story short, Everett had a career year in his first year with the Chargers and is cheaper than last season. You know what do to. Mt. Everett 2023 eruption szn.
TE17 ADP. #Bolts. This is the sleeper tight end way.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio