The 2023 NFL Draft has concluded, and the top prospects are now on NFL teams with their respective teammates. The best-of-the-best prospects are expected to have immediate NFL and fantasy football expect. This will impact teams and teammates in different ways. One might say there are “winners” and “losers.” If you’re a quarterback that got a top wide receiver, you’re a winner.
If you’re a running back, wide receiver, or tight end on a team who didn’t spend high draft capital on the same position, you’re also a winner. If you’re a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, or tight end on a team who did spend high draft capital on the same position, you’re not a winner. Below is a list of the biggest winners and losers from the NFL Draft as it pertains to fantasy football.
Fantasy Football winners from 2023 NFL Draft
Quarterbacks
Geno Smith, Seahawks
Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, some analysts were speculating that the Seahawks could take a quarterback at #5 overall to be Geno Smith’s eventual successor. The reasoning being they shouldn’t be this high in the draft order anytime soon if they continue to have regular season success, and hopefully soon, playoff success. They had a high pick via the Russell Wilson trade and there were 4 quarterbacks prospects projected to go in the 1st round. Instead, the Seahawks drafted the top cornerback prospect, Devin Witherspoon, at no. 5 overall, and the top wide receiver prospect, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, at no. 20 overall.
So, instead of them drafting his successor in the 1st or 2nd round of the draft, they drafted him weapons instead. The Seahawks would go on to draft running back Zach Charbonnet in the 2nd round, as well. Smith now has D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker, and Zach Charbonnet at his disposal. Being in the same division as the high-powered 49ers, this is an evident all-in approach by the Seahawks. Geno Smith, who finished as QB5 overall, and QB8 in PPG in fantasy football in 2022, should have no problem finishing as a QB1 (top-12) again in 2023.
Honorable Mention: Jordan Love, Packers (WR Jayden Reed drafted in 2nd round, TE Luke Musgrave drafted in 2nd round, and TE Tucker Kraft drafted in 3rd round)
Running Backs
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
The Patriots have been notorious for utilizing multiple running backs in the past. However, due to injuries to fellow running backs and struggles from others, former 4th-round pick Rhamondre Stevenson found himself in a workhorse bell-cow role in the Patriots backfield in 2022. Another thing the Patriots have been notorious for in the past is drafting running backs. In the 2023 Draft, though, they didn’t draft one. Although they drafted two running backs in 4th round pick Pierre Strong and 6th round pick Kevin Harris in the 2022 Draft, Stevenson had no problem fending them off last season. For the first time in a long time, the Patriots could have a featured back running back in Stevenson.
With his large frame of 6′ and 230 pounds, he is built to handle 250 carries and sub-100 catches in a single season. In 2022, he handled 210 carries and 69 catches for 1,461 total scrimmage yards. That was with former 3rd round pick Damien Harris still on the team. He signed with the Bills this off-season. The Patriots signed former UDFA James Robinson this off-season, but he struggled to stay on the Jaguars and Jets rosters in 2022. 30-year-old Ty Montgomery will also be back in 2023, although he will be returning from a knee injury. Rhamondre Stevenson, who finished as RB14 in STD and RB7 in PPR fantasy football leagues in 2022, should have no problem finishing as an RB1 (top-12) again in 2023.
Honorable mention: Dameon Pierce, Texans (no RBs drafted in 2023 Draft)
Wide Receivers
Treylon Burks, Titans
The Titans made a questionable move during the 2022 Draft in trading away wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Eagles. Their solution was drafting another wide receiver with Alpha size in the Draft. At no. 18 overall, they drafted Treylon Burks. Burks mostly struggled with the Titans while Brown without a doubt thrived with the Eagles in 2022. Burks had large expectations and shoes to fill for a rookie, which was no fault of his own. Burks struggled due in large part to missing off-season training, being injured mid-season, and playing games with backup quarterbacks Malik Willis and Josh Dobbs when Ryan Tannehill was injured. However, he did show flashes, including one game with 7 receptions and 111 yards.
The Titans’ war room believed in Burks’ talent during the Draft in 2022. Even after some front office and coaching changes, it appears the war room believed in it again in 2023. The Titans didn’t draft a wide receiver in this year’s draft until the 7th round. With Robert Woods also being cut, Burks should have no problem taking over as the team’s top wide receiver. He can expect to catch passes from Ryan Tannehill, and maybe no. 33 pick Will Levis, this season. With a new offensive coordinator, there are still unknowns about this offense, but there’s a lot of potential upside. Treylon Burks, who finished as a WR2 (top-24) in 3 weeks out of 10 full games, could finish as a WR2 in 2023.
Honorable mention: Cooper Kupp, Rams (The Rams didn’t draft a WR in the 2023 Draft until the 5th round, drafted QB Stetson Bennett in 4th round)
Tight Ends
Darren Waller, Giants
Oh yeah, that’s right. Darren Waller is on the Giants now. The Giants outperformed expectations in 2022, and have hopes of improving and building off of their success. One of their pitfalls last season was their pass-catching group. One of the ways they addressed this was trading for former Raiders tight end Darren Waller. Coincidentally, they traded away the pick they received from the Chiefs when trading him to the Chiefs. The end of a short-lived era. As far as Waller’s last era, he had two seasons with over 1,100 receiving yards. In one of those two seasons, he had 107 receptions and 9 touchdowns.
We are watching the evolution of the tight end position happen right before our eyes. Travis Kelce (see below), Mark Andrews (see next page), Kyle Pitts, and Darren Waller are examples of tight ends that can be the top pass catcher on their team. The Giants added Paris Campbell via free agency and Jalin Hyatt via 3rd round of the 2023 Draft. While the Daniel Jones contract and play style complicates things, the team did not add a top free agent wide receiver or draft a top wide receiver prospect, which leads me to believe Waller is a bigger part of their plan this upcoming season. Darren Waller, who finished as a top-5 TE in his last two healthy seasons mentioned, should have no problem finishing as a TE1 (top-12) again in 2023 if he stays healthy.
Honorable mention: Dallas Goedert, Eagles (no WRs or TEs drafted in 2023 Draft)
Fantasy Football losers from 2023 NFL Draft
Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill, Titans
As I mentioned on the last page, the Titans traded up in the 2nd round to draft Will Levis no. 33 overall. Ryan Tannehill is still the team’s starting quarterback, for now, but many things could happen for that to change i.e. injury and/or underperforming. Levis is their future (for now), so once they turn to him, it’s unlikely they would turn back to Tannehill (unless it’s due to injury). They will want to evaluate Levis and let him develop. Ryan Tannehill finished as a QB1 (top-12) in his last full season, so he is worth a flier as a QB3 in two-QB leagues in 2023, but is a drop candidate if and when he is benched.
Honorable mention: Gardner Minshew, Colts (QB Anthony Richardson drafted no. 4 overall)
Running Backs
Kenneth Walker, Seahawks
As I mentioned on the last page, the Seahawks used a 2nd round pick to draft Zach Charbonnet at no. 52 overall in the 2023 Draft. This is only one season after they used a 2nd round pick on Kenneth Walker at no. 41 in the 2022 Draft. The 2022 OROY has major competition for touches. In terms of NFL, the Seahawks rushing attack will be great, but in terms of fantasy football, it won’t be great at all. Walker was most effective when commanding 20-25 touches a game. If and when Charbonnet eats into those touches, Walker will have to rely on big, home run plays to be equally effective this season. Kenneth Walker, who finished as RB18 in 2022, had RB1 (top-12) upside without Charbonnet, but will likely be a RB2 (top-24) again in 2023.
Honorable mention: Travis Etienne, Jaguars (RB Tank Bigsby drafted in 3rd round)
Honorable honorable mention: Alvin Kamara, Saints (RB Kendre Miller drafted in 3rd round) (if Alvin Kamara is not suspended)
Wide Receivers
Chargers wide receivers
In 2022, the Chargers’ top wide receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Joshua Palmer all played. Unfortunately, they didn’t play many games together. In the 2023 Draft, the team responded by drafting a wide receiver in the 1st round. Quentin Johnston is an Alpha-size wide receiver, like Williams. This draft selection could be interpreted as injury insurance for Allen and Williams, or a replacement for Palmer, either way, this offense will be different with Johnston in 2023. While this will help the Chargers in the challenging AFC conference in their attempt to make a playoff run, it will not help fantasy football managers with weekly upside at the wide receiver position. Chargers wide receivers, who had none finish higher than WR3 (top-36) in 2022 due to injuries, had WR1 (top-12) and WR2 (top-24) upside, respectively, but will likely be WR2s and WRs in 2023.
Honorable mention: Broncos wide receivers (Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick) (Marvin Mims drafted in 2nd round)
Tight Ends
Dawson Knox
Another team in the challenging AFC conference, the Bills haven’t lived up to their Super Bowl aspirations yet. One of their pitfalls is not having a consistent wide receiver outside of Stefon Diggs. Gabe Davis, Isaiah McKenzie, and Khalil Shakir have stepped up at times, but no one has stepped up the way Cole Beasley did circa 2020. Insert Dalton Kincaid, 1st round pick who is expected to inherit that role. While this plan has future tight end Kincaid operating out of the slot and current tight end operating inline, it’s still a target route and target competition. Dawson Knox, who finished as a top-10 TE in STD fantasy football leagues in 2022, will likely finish outside the top 10 in 2023,
Honorable mention: Mark Andrews (WR Zay Flowers drafted in 1st round) (see other offensive changes and why offense may not run through Mark Andrews below)