It’s August, and that means the 2023 NFL preseason is here. Why does that matter? Because this is the time of year when most fantasy football leagues have their draft. The closer we get to opening night, the more fantasy football drafts will occur.
However, there is new information every day, sometimes by the hour. Not only does that information impact the NFL teams, but it also affects the fantasy football average draft position (ADP).
Let’s look at which players’ ADP is rising and which are falling.
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Fantasy Football Draft Risers & Fallers
Rankings referenced using FantasyPros consensus half-PPR ADP
ADP Risers
David Montgomery (RB – DET): Overall No. 70 | RB30
Everyone is excited about Jahmyr Gibbs. The rookie running back has a late third-round ADP, nearly 3.5 rounds earlier than Montgomery. However, the veteran’s ADP is rising. Head coach Dan Campbell recently said that the Lions will feature a two-headed monster at running back with Montgomery and Gibbs. The team also views the former Chicago Bear as a co-starter with the rookie. More importantly, the veteran is taking over for Jamaal Williams in Detroit. Last year Williams had over 1,000 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns despite D’Andre Swift having a top-24 finish. While Gibbs is the better draft pick, especially in PPR leagues, Montgomery is underrated.
James Cook (RB – BUF): Overall No. 79 | RB31
The Bills have been non-stop talking about the second-year running back. Josh Allen recently said Cook would have a large portion of the rushing attempts and play a critical role in the passing game. Despite being a popular breakout candidate, the former Georgia running back still has an ADP outside the first six rounds. Furthermore, he is getting drafted behind Isiah Pacheco and Rachaad White. Meanwhile, Cook showed big play ability last season, leading all running backs in breakaway run rate (12.1%). If the second-year running back’s ADP does creep into the top 65 by the end of the month, I’ll be surprised.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA): Overall No. 88 | WR36
Many were unhappy when the Seahawks drafted Smith-Njigba. The team already had two talented wide receivers on the roster – DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. However, the rookie’s ADP is quietly rising the closer we get to the start of the regular season. The former Ohio State star has reportedly been the best wide receiver at training camp. Meanwhile, Geno Smith said he texted Pete Carroll before the NFL Draft, saying the Seahawks had to pick Smith-Njigba. While no one other than Metcalf and Lockett has earned more than 63 targets any year since Seattle drafted Metcalf in 2019, that trend will end this season.
ADP Fallers
Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND): Overall No. 12 | RB6
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have heard about Taylor’s situation. The superstar is entering the final year of his rookie contract. However, Jim Irsay refuses to negotiate a long-term deal, leading to Taylor asking for a trade. Meanwhile, the superstar is on the Physically Unable to Perform list following offseason ankle surgery. Some believe the injury is still bothering him, while others think it’s being used so Taylor can skip practice without getting fined. Unfortunately, the situation has put a dark cloud over the superstar’s fantasy outlook for this season. After being a top-10 pick in June and July, Taylor’s ADP is sliding into the second round.
Joe Burrow (QB – CIN): Overall No. 33 | QB4
The fantasy football community had a heart attack when Burrow went down in practice with a non-contact injury. Thankfully, he suffered a calf strain and not a torn Achilles. While the team suggests the superstar will be ready for Week 1, fantasy players aren’t convinced. More importantly, Burrow is at risk of potentially getting hurt again if he returns too soon. Furthermore, Ja’Marr Chase recently said he doesn’t want the quarterback to return until Week 5. Therefore, it’s no surprise to see his ADP slipping. He only moved one spot in my quarterback rankings. Burrow’s situation is arguably the most important to watch leading up to your fantasy draft.
Kadarius Toney (WR – KC): Overall No. 103 | RB43
I’ve never been a fan of Toney’s. The former Gator has only two receiving touchdowns in 19 career games. More importantly, he has missed 44.1% of the games in his career because of injuries. Unfortunately, Toney suffered a knee injury in training camp. While the team hopes he will return in time for the season opener, that seems like a long shot given the wide receiver’s injury history. Meanwhile, Skyy Moore has been the star of training camp. Furthermore, Justyn Ross, Richie James, and Rashee Rice have all had positive reports over the past few weeks. I’ll be surprised if Toney’s ADP is still within the top 130 picks come September 1.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
