The 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the rearview mirror, and now we can sink our teeth into which teams selected our favorite draft prospects. Undoubtedly there are some players who lucked into an easier path to playing time than their peers, but this year seems especially murky at multiple positions.
It’s always best to reserve full judgment on whether or not a draft pick reaches their full potential until they’ve played a few professional seasons, but that’s not the game we play in dynasty fantasy football leagues. The majority of rookie drafts take place shortly after the conclusion of the NFL Draft, so it’s essential to process the information quickly and effectively when determining who this year’s rookie winners and losers from the NFL Draft are.
- NFL Draft Grades for Every Team
- Thor’s Draft Grades (AFC | NFC)
- NFL Draft Day 1 Winners & Losers (Day 2 | Day 3)
- Fitz’s Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (Day 2 | Day 3)
- Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
NFL Draft Winners & Losers: Dynasty Rookies (2023 Fantasy Football)
Winner: Jordan Addison (WR – MIN)
Jordan Addison is one of the most pro-ready wide receiver prospects to be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he lands in a situation that should see him called on in a big way early on in his professional career. While defenses try to lock in on star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Addison should experience plenty of games where he gets to enjoy single coverage.
It’s not challenging to envision Addison racking up 120 targets in his rookie season, which would have put him behind only Garrett Wilson from the 2022 class and ahead of Chris Olave and Drake London. Addison’s fantasy value is on the rise, and he is almost sure to be a top-seven selection in Superflex rookie drafts.
Loser: Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)
The player who was viewed by many as the rookie RB3 of the 2023 class, Zach Charbonnet, lands in a situation where he’s set to share a backfield with Kenneth Walker. Walker ran for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season just one year ago, and it was undoubtedly a shock to see the Seahawks make another premium investment in the running back position.
However, while this move gives the Seahawks one of the best young running back duos in all of football, it creates multiple headaches for fantasy football purposes. Not only does Charbonnet face a much murkier path to a significant workload in his rookie season, but it also puts a damper on Kenneth Walker’s stock, who was viewed by many as a top-five dynasty running back. Despite the uncertainty, it might be worth floating trade offers for either player if the price is right.
Winner: Dalton Kincaid (TE – BUF)
The depth of this year’s tight end class was well known before the Draft got underway, but in what was a bit of a twist, Dalton Kincaid was the only player at the position selected in the first round. Counting on rookie tight ends to make a significant fantasy impact is tricky, but Kincaid could be a rare exception. The Bills are desperate for more consistency from a secondary pass-catching option, and Kincaid can come in and fill that void.
Playing with an elite, established quarterback in Josh Allen, Kincaid has the receiving tools to push Dawson Knox out of his spot at the top of the tight end depth chart. There’s a shot Kincaid can see 60 to 70 targets in his rookie season with the Bills. In Superflex tight end premium rookie drafts, you’ll need to be comfortable selecting Kincaid as early as the eighth overall selection if you want a shot at landing him.
Loser: Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE)
I’m a fan of Cedric Tillman, the player, and in terms of fitting with his NFL team, I thought this was a great selection by the Cleveland Browns. The concern lies in the fact that it’s become a more crowded wide receiver room in Cleveland, considering they traded for Elijah Moore before the NFL Draft. Tillman still provides a stronger, more physical play style than either Moore or Donovan Peoples-Jones, but in the short term, it becomes slightly more difficult for Tillman to emerge as early as we might like him to.
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