Thankfully the 2023 fantasy football season is just around the corner. Each year fantasy players want to construct their team with a proper mix of good-value players and upside sleepers while avoiding players with high bust potential.
- AFC ADP Sleepers, Busts & Values: East | North | South | West
- Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
- Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Fantasy Football Draft Values
Tony Pollard (RB – DAL): ADP 18.3 | RB8
Unfortunately, Pollard had a limited role his first three years in the NFL, sitting behind Ezekiel Elliott on the depth chart. However, the former Memphis star was a popular breakout candidate last year. Despite having an ADP outside the top-24 running backs, Pollard was the RB7 in 2022 after having his first 1,000-yard rushing season, averaging 14.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, the former Memphis star had 12 scrimmage touchdowns last season after totaling 10 career touchdowns entering the year. More importantly, he was a home run threat.
Pollard finished third in the NFL in breakaway runs (17) and fourth in breakaway run rate (8.8%). Furthermore, he was fourth in yards per route run (1.82) and eighth in yards created per touch (3.3) among running backs last season. Meanwhile, the star running back will have a larger workload in 2023 after the Cowboys released Elliott. Last year the veteran had 231 rushing attempts for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns. While all those rushing attempts won’t fall into Pollard’s lap, the star running should easily see over 220 rushing attempts after totaling 193 last season. Pollard has no business getting drafted outside the top-five running backs.
Darren Waller (TE – NYG): ADP 65.3 | TE7
I have gone back and forth on Waller this offseason. The veteran tight end used to be a fantasy superstar. He was the TE2 in 2020, averaging 9.1 targets and 14.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, the former superstar has struggled with injuries over the past two years, missing 41.2% of the contests, including eight last season. Furthermore, his targets per game dropped to 6.8 per contest over the past two years. However, Waller could become a fantasy superstar again in 2023.
Despite dealing with injuries last season, the veteran tight end was productive. He led all tight ends in deep targets (13) despite missing nearly half the year. Furthermore, Waller finished second in yards per reception (13.9), fifth in yards per target (nine), and 11th in yards per route run (1.69) among tight ends. More importantly, the Giants lack a go-to No. 1 wide receiver. Meanwhile, Waller has been the star of New York’s training camp. While the veteran tight end comes with some risk, it’s baked into his ADP. Waller can push Travis Kelce for the TE1 finish if he stays healthy.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
