2023 Fantasy Football Drafting Guide: Creating The Ultimate Team

By Sam Batz

The NFL regular season is just around the corner, which means millions of football fans are gearing up for a game that has become synonymous with the NFL, the game within the game, Fantasy Football. Fantasy sports have exploded over the past decade, increasing from 15.2 million players in 2003, to an estimated 62.5 million players in 2022. Fantasy sports vary wildly, with players competing in everything from eSports to basketball, but one fantasy sport rises above all others, and that’s Fantasy Football. 

Fantasy Football is the most played fantasy sport by far, with nearly 40 million people participating in at least one league last season. Most will agree that one of the best parts of Fantasy Football is the draft, and that’s where I come in. There are talented players at every position in Fantasy Football, but knowing who to draft and when to draft them is the ultimate crux of the game. But don’t worry, I’m here to help. This article will highlight key players and drafting strategies that will help you navigate the field to ensure you have a successful Fantasy Football season. 

Early Round Essentials

The first rounds of a Fantasy Football draft can make or break your season. A good first round pick is crucial, as it offers players you can build your team around. A great strategy is to draft the “safe” pick, because the first round is all about risk management. Injuries play a huge factor in Fantasy Football, and while injuries are impossible to predict, there are players that seem more injury averse than others, making them more appealing as first round picks. My main rule: don’t take a risk with your first pick. Here are my top-5 first round players to target: 

1. Justin Jefferson, WR Min
   • JJ is the top-rated Fantasy Football player of the 2023 season. He’s increased his production every year since joining the NFL in 2020 and is never injured, having played 16-17 games every season. If you have the first overall pick, take Justin Jefferson.
2. Austin Ekeler, RB LAC
   • Ekeler, especially in PPR formats, is a production machine. He is rarely injured, plays a majority of snaps, and racks up both rushing and receiving yards. Take Ekeler if you have a top-3 draft pick.  
3. Tyreek Hill, WR Mia
   • The “Cheetah” is a Fantasy Football force. He dominates his team’s target share every year and has big play potential every time he touches the ball. Hill stays healthy and is one of the most consistent point producers on the field. If you have a top-5 pick, Tyreek Hill will be available, and you should snag him.  
4. Travis Kelce, TE KC
   • It’s rare to see a TE with such a high ADP, but Travis Kelce is worth it. He’s the main option in a high-scoring pass-heavy Chiefs offense, and he played every game last year. Kelce should be available if you have a top-8 pick, and should not pass on this guy.  
5. Nick Chubb, RB Cle
   • When Kareem Hunt left the Browns, Nick Chubb became a highly attractive Fantasy option. Chubb not only stays healthy, but is now a bell-cow RB behind Cleveland’s highly-ranked offensive line. Many will sleep on Chubb and he could fall to anyone with a top-10 pick. I highly recommend drafting him.    

Mid Round Must-Haves

The mid-round picks may be the most important portion of the draft. Here is where you will find the diamonds in the rough. Highly skilled but relatively unknown players often fall to these rounds because they lack name recognition, are coming off injuries, or did not live up to expectations the previous year. But these are talented players that are worth drafting. Here are my top-5 mid round must-haves:

1. Gabe Davis, WR Buf
   • Davis is the WR2 on a pass-heavy Buffalo offense. He is second fiddle to Stefon Diggs, but when Diggs inevitably draws most of the attention, the field will open up for Davis. He averaged 6.67 TDs per year through 3 seasons, and if he’s still available in rounds 9-10, draft him. 
2. AJ Dillion, RB GB
   • Dillion is the backup RB in Green Bay, but he sees a lot of the ball, especially around the goal line. Dillion is a wrecking ball, and the Packers will use him to punch it into the endzone as often as they can. He is rarely injured, and had a career-high 7 TDs last season. He is a great pick in rounds 8-9. 
3. Justin Herbert, QB LAC
   • Rounds 6-7 is a good time to draft a QB, and Herbert is a great option. LAC has surrounded Herbert with offensive weapons, and while he had a down year in 2022, he will rebound with his best Fantasy season yet. He has a cannon for an arm and with the Chargers back to full health, look out, because Herbie is fully loaded.  
4. Christian Kirk, WR Jax
   • Kirk’s ADP dropped after the introduction of Calvin Ridley to the Jaguars offense. But Ridley hasn’t played in two years and the defensive attention Ridley will draw should benefit Kirk. Ridley is a risk, while Kirk is a solid pick in rounds 6-7. 
5. Jaamal Williams, RB NO
   • He had 17 rushing touchdowns last season, the most of his career by far. He now joins the Saints, who’s top RB Alvin Kamara is suspended for the first few games, meaning Williams will lead the Saints backfield. He will fall to later rounds, and you should snag him with your 7th or 8th round pick. 

Late Round Steals

Most people stop paying attention to the draft after they fill out their starting lineup, but the later rounds (10-15) play an important role in building a solid team. Here you can fill your bench with studs that will work as replacements when injuries rattle the rest of your team. These players are relatively low risk, but always have the potential to explode. Here are my top-5 late round steals: 

1. Tyler Allgeier, RB Atl
   • The Falcons are becoming one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL. They have a solid offensive line, and while rookie Bijan Robinson will get a majority of the ball, Allgeier already knows Atlanta’s system and will see his fair share of carries. He’s a great 11-12 round draft pick. 
2. Kadarius Toney, WR KC
   • I’ll admit that Toney is an injury risk, but he is a highly talented receiver when he’s healthy. Mahomes loves throwing to him, and with Kelce likely taking most of the attention down field, the speedy Toney could have a big season if he stays fit. But rounds 12-13, he’s worth the risk. 
3. Zamir White, RB LV
   • If Josh Jacobs continues to holdout, Zamir White is the next up in the Raiders backfield. White is a risk because he had zero Fantasy value last year, but if Jacobs remains sidelined because of contract disputes, White is a great pick in rounds 14-15.   
4. Brandin Cooks, WR Dal
   • Brandin Cooks is finally on a good offense, as Dak Prescott is easily the best QB he’s ever played with. Teammate CeeDee Lamb will match up with the best cornerbacks, leaving the still speedy Cooks with a lot of room to work. He’s a solid pick in rounds 10-11.
5. Jaylen Warren, RB Pit
   • Backing up Najee Harris in Pittsburgh, Warren is destined to see more snaps this season. The Steelers want to reduce Harris’ insane workload, which means Warren will inevitably be on the field more often. He’s a solid steal in round 15.

Top-10 Players: QB, WR, RB, & TE

Below is the list of the top-10 fantasy players at the quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and tight end position. These are the players you need to target in order to have a successful fantasy season. Obviously you can’t draft all of them, and who’s available will change drastically depending on your draft-position, but regardless of whether you have the No. 1 or No. 10 draft pick, many of the league’s top players will be up for grabs in the first two rounds, and all of them have huge potential to help you win your league. In other words, you really can’t go wrong with any of the players below. 

Top-5 Fantasy Football Drafting Tips

1. Never take a QB with your first or second pick. It may seem like a good idea to draft one of the top-3 QB’s (Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, or Josh Allen) but don’t do it. Round 5 should be the earliest you take a QB.
2. Wait to draft a defense and kicker. I always wait until Round 14 and 15 to draft a defense and kicker. If waiting that long makes you anxious, Round 12 should be the earliest they go. 
3. Draft backup running backs in later rounds. Injuries play a huge role in Fantasy Football, and the most injury prone position is running back. Drafting a second string RB is a risk that offers a massive payoff. Take that risk.
4. Don’t fall victim to ADP. Take the players you want and have faith in, especially in the later rounds. Don’t take a guy at the top of the list over someone you truly believe in.  
5. Never draft two quarterbacks. One QB is all you need. If your main guy goes down, there are always suitable replacements on the waiver.