Fantasy football is a game of risk. Winning your league requires taking chances and making high-upside picks. But you can’t draft a team entirely comprised of upside. Your team should also include safe, reliable players that you know will get the job done.
Let’s discuss the safest players to draft in 2023 and the value they bring to your fantasy team. We’ll break it down position by position and feature players being drafted outside the top five at their respected positions.
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The Safest Players to Draft (2023 Fantasy Football)
Aaron Jones (RB – GB)
Although Aaron Jones is a clear committee back, he’s still one of the safest picks at value for his ADP. Despite sharing a backfield with AJ Dillon for the past two years, Jones continues to finish as an RB1. The last time Jones finished outside of an RB1 was in 2018. That’s one of the more impressive, consistent runs of success at running back in the league.
Quarterback changes do occasionally mean changes in usage at running back, but targets to the running back have been a staple within Matt LaFleur’s offense. Jones’ role should remain unchanged this season.
DJ Moore (WR – CHI)
DJ Moore isn’t the flashiest option at receiver, having never finished as a WR1. However, you earn the title of one of the safest players to draft when you finish in the top 24 every season outside of your rookie year. This is despite having to deal with one of the league’s worst quarterback situations throughout your career.
Moore should continue his WR2 reign. It’s also possible that Fields makes a leap as a passer, and Moore finishes substantially higher than his ADP. There’s very little downside to Moore as Fields’ clear WR1 and good upside if the Bears increase pass volume.
Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT)
At an ADP of WR31, Diontae Johnson is truly one of the safest picks you can make in your fantasy draft. Johnson saw a dip in production in every metric, resulting in a WR30 finish in 2022. The Steelers were going through an adjustment period with rookie quarterback growing pains. The biggest issue in Johnson’s production was he failed to score a single touchdown, which he is unlikely to repeat. His current ADP is essentially at his worst-case scenario floor. Johnson is a low-risk investment that offers high upside.
T.J. Hockenson (TE – DET)
T.J. Hockenson thrived in Minnesota’s offense last year. Excluding the Vikings’ final game, where starters didn’t complete the game, Hockenson was TE2 in games with the Vikings, averaging nine targets per game – the same as Kelce. Unlike the Chiefs’ tight end, Hockenson is not the first look in the Vikings’ offense, but the Vikings are a high pass volume offense. Despite the addition of Jordan Addison, Hockenson’s targets should remain stable. Hockenson isn’t cheap, but he’s a high-upside, low-volatility option.
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