Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase are locks to put up top fantasy points. However, everyone is looking for the 2023 version of Josh Jacobs – who finished as RB1 in standard and RB3 in PPR and was typically drafted in round 5 in 2022. True league winners are the players that far exceed their value and provide an unexpected boost to your fantasy team. Let’s take a look at some potential league winners being drafted outside the top 12 at their position.
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Potential League Winners
Cam Akers (RB – LAR)
There’s no better comeback story than Cam Akers’ return to RB1 after what seemed like an irreparable relationship with the Rams. Akers regained a stronghold on the lead-back role in Week 13, and from that point forward, he averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game in PPR and was RB5 over that time period. Akers had strong yards per carry, excellent snap counts, and six touchdowns during that span. We should keep expectations in check because that stretch of schedule was very running-back friendly, but it was an excellent showcase of Akers’ true upside.
There’s some concern about the Rams’ offensive stability as a whole. The loss of Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp destroyed the Rams’ 2022 season, but the Rams’ offensive line was a major problem throughout the entire season. Second-round pick Steve Avila should start, and they have a key starter returning from injury. While I doubt this turns around to a top offensive line, we should see some moderate improvement needed for Akers to thrive.
The Rams have verbalized their commitment to Akers and his role within the offense, and with a current ADP of RB22, Akers is a strong option at RB1 for drafters who go wide-receiver heavy in the early rounds.
Zay Flowers (WR – BAL)
Considering the underwhelming production of Ravens’ receivers over the past several years, Zay Flowers’ inclusion on this list might be surprising. But 2023 could be the year we see the Ravens increase pass volume and put Lamar Jackson in a position to thrive with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Rashod Bateman served as the Ravens’ WR1 last season, but the third-year receiver has struggled with injuries and failed to make a strong impact. The Ravens also added Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham will likely serve as a “big play” receiver rather than a volume receiver. Flowers could immediately assert himself as a primary target for Jackson.
Flowers had 78 receptions for nearly 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior year – an impressive feat considering the offensive struggles of Boston College. Flowers is a versatile receiver, and at his current ADP, he could provide league-winning upside.
Rachaad White (RB – TB)
Unless the Buccaneers sign one of the available free-agent backs, Rachaad White will be a three-down back. White has league-winning upside at his current ADP of RB22 – an ADP that will likely remain depressed due to the combination of White’s inefficient production in 2022 and the reality that the Bucs will have one of the league’s worst offenses. White struggled on the ground in 2022, averaging just 3.7 yards per attempt. But he wasn’t alone in those struggles. Leonard Fournette averaged 3.5 yards per carry, with Tampa Bay’s team average at 3.4 yards per carry.
The Bucs are making adjustments and additions on the offensive line, but even if White’s efficiency continues to struggle, his receiving work gives White a legitimate top-12 upside. It’s tough to parse through White’s 2022 receiving stats because of a lack of snap count consistency. But, White saw as many as 9 targets in a game with typically 4-5 targets in games where he saw a snap count above 40%. That pace of work would be a baseline of top-10 receptions at running back and an upside of top-5.
Christian Watson (WR – GB)
Christian Watson has the most realistic league-winning upside of all players on this list because we saw real-time execution of that upside in 2022. Watson was WR9 Weeks 10 through Week 18, averaging 17.2 fantasy points per game. But, during a spectacular 4-game stretch, Weeks 10 through 13, Watson was WR3, averaging 24.8 points per game. That level of output as a rookie would typically earn you consensus breakout status. However, Watson has a modest ADP of WR23, with many fantasy managers skeptical of his potential.
Much of that skepticism is related to his new quarterback. It was easy to buy into the upside with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, but Jordan Love is an unknown. A first-year starting quarterback is not ideal, but Love has trained within the Packers system for multiple years and should have strong chemistry with Watson.
Watson is being drafted at his floor, and with true top-10 upside, he’s a strong candidate for a league winner.
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