2023 NFL Draft: Worst Landing Spots (Fantasy Football)

It’s a tradition unlike any other. At least several times throughout the NFL Draft, I either yelp in excitement or groan in disappointment when I see a quarterback or skill position player land in an ideal, or a lousy landing spot. The 2023 NFL Draft was no different.

In this piece, we’re going to talk about the groans. The players who landed on teams that I didn’t want them to land on. These draft picks will surely throw a wrench into our fantasy draft plans come summer.

Let’s dig into my least favorite NFL Draft landing spots from a fantasy perspective:

Thor Nystrom’s Best Remaining Day 3 Prospects
NFL Draft Day 2 Winners & Losers
Fitz’s Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (Day 2)
Dynasty Rookies: Best Remaining Day 3 Picks & Predictions
Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE

Worst Fantasy Landing Spots

Here are the worst landing spots for fantasy purposes.

Round 1

Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – DET)

How can we not lead things off with Gibbs? The Alabama prospect was garnering buzz as an ascending prospect likely to go in Round 1. He drew the (unfair) comparisons to Alvin Kamara because of his size and pass catching abilities. But did anyone see Gibbs going 12th overall to Detroit, just four picks after Bijan Robinson was taken by Atlanta?

Forget the fact that Detroit could’ve taken Robinson at their original pick, sixth overall. The Lions already have an almost identical player in D’Andre Swift! And they also signed David Montgomery in the offseason to replace Jamaal Williams.

It always felt like the Lions never fully trusted Swift last season. But good grief, why not just put a for sale sign on his locker? Lions GM Brad Holmes didn’t do much to quell the rumors that Swift was on the trade block after night one of the draft.

Tell me you’re putting a guy on the trade block without using the exact words. ?? https://t.co/qisDW3lT4T

— Bato (@RealMattBarbato) April 28, 2023

I mean, what? Thanks for letting us know Swift is still on the roster, I guess. The sad part is this fantasy situation would be much better if Swift does get traded. And who knows, by the time you’re reading this Swift could be on his way to a new team.

But if this is what the Lions backfield looks like entering the 2023 season, then I don’t know how you can reliably count on any of these guys as fantasy assets. In fact, the only one I’d probably want is Montgomery simply because I can bank on him being the early-down and goal line back. And I could see a scenario where Swift and Gibbs end up going in the same round of drafts.

The Lions are just another example of a good fantasy offense with a totally muddled running back situation. If they run with this three-man attack in 2023, I don’t see it working out great for anyone unless injuries occur.

Dalton Kincaid (TE – BUF)

What a bummer. Cue The Price Is Right losing horn on repeat. Kincaid was one of several tight ends that drew a lot of intrigue and anticipation from a fantasy football perspective. He wound up being the only tight end taken in Round 1 and heads to Buffalo, where he’ll be competing for playing time and targets with Dawson Knox, who Buffalo signed to a four-year extension last September.

On the bright side, Kincaid will join one of the league’s most prolific offenses, where ancillary players can deliver fantasy value. However, he’ll be at least the fourth option in the pecking order behind Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis and Knox.

I was already assuming Kincaid wouldn’t be a viable fantasy weapon as a rookie simply because rookie tight ends normally start their careers quietly. But now Kincaid’s fantasy value beyond 2023 is in question. And at a position as shallow as tight end, that stinks.

Rounds 2 and 3

Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)

Uh, excuse me? I know Pete Carroll likes to run the ball, but the Seahawks supposedly have a lead running back in Kenneth Walker, who had a strong rookie season. This pick was certainly a surprise. The hope is that the UCLA product will be nothing more than a replacement for Rashaad Penny, who left for Philadelphia in free agency. But Charbonnet has a pretty balanced skillset and can catch passes, which means we may see a decent amount of him. The last thing we need is another muddled backfield, so hopefully Charbonnet only serves as a backup in 2023.

Kendre Miller (RB – NO)

Your hope for rookie running backs is to find an opportunity where there isn’t much resistance to playing time. Think of Tyler Allegeier landing in Atlanta a season ago. Miller going to New Orleans is the opposite of that. The TCU product will begin his career third on New Orleans’ depth chart behind Alvin Kamara and free agent signee Jamaal Williams. Miller’s elusiveness could help him see the field a decent amount as a rookie. But it’s hard to expect much from him in year one barring injury.