The 2023 NFL season is rapidly approaching, so it’s time to prepare for your fantasy football draft. What better way to do that than to practice drafting with our free mock draft simulator! Beyond our tools, we’ll also have you covered throughout the draft prep season with our content.
To help you dominate your fantasy football draft, Andrew Erickson shares his 2023 fantasy football rankings, advice and cheat sheet.
- Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
- Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Fantasy Football Draft Strategy
- 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
Fantasy Football Rankings, Advice & Cheat Sheet
Here is my approach to 2023 fantasy football drafts.
Andrew Erickson’s Overall 2023 Fantasy Football Strategy
For a full breakdown of my perfect draft strategy, check out the critically acclaimed Andrew Erickson’s Perfect 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Strategy, Advice & Targets article that precisely explains what to do round by round for the 2023 fantasy football season. It will be updated throughout the preseason to make sure you are equipped with everything you need come draft day.
But for those looking for the quick SparkNotes version, here’s the rundown. Get one stud running back early (Rounds 1-3), save the early-to-middle rounds (4-6) for drafting breakout WR candidates and stay out of the middle to wait longer drafting a tight end. Be open to taking an S-tier WR — Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase or Cooper Kupp — at the top of Round 1 in full PPR formats knowing there’s a solid crop of RBs that will fall to you at your next pick.
Avoid the running backs in the “RB Dead Zone” and pricey target hog WRs that project to play in bad offenses. Stockpile your bench with upside running backs.
And as always, follow a late-round QB approach unless you can get Jalen Hurts (or whatever other elite QB falls in a pseudo-late-round elite quarterback approach) in Round 5 or 6. Cough cough, Justin Herbert.
Andrew Erickson’s 2023 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
QB Sleepers:
Geno Smith, Anthony Richardson, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford, Kenny Pickett, Jordan Love, Mac Jones, Desmond Ridder, Baker Mayfield (2QB/Superflex leagues)
QB Busts (in relation to where they’re being drafted):
Trevor Lawrence, Dak Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa, Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, Kyler Murray
RB Sleepers:
Antonio Gibson, Damien Harris, David Montgomery, Zach Charbonnet, Rashaad Penny, Kendre Miller, Jaylen Warren, Chuba Hubbard, Roschon Johnson, Devin Singletary, DeWayne McBride, Joshua Kelley, Eric Gray, Kenneth Gainwell, Zamir White, De’Von Achane, Gus Edwards, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Latavius Murray and Jordan Mason.
RB Busts (in relation to where they’re being drafted):
Josh Jacobs, Kenneth Walker III, Dameon Pierce, Brian Robinson Jr., D’Andre Swift, Javonte Williams, Raheem Mostert, Alexander Mattison, Isiah Pacheco
WR Sleepers:
Gabe Davis, Treylon Burks, Jahan Dotson, Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, Quentin Johnston, Elijah Moore, Skyy Moore, Jameson Williams, DJ Chark Jr., Nico Collins, Isaiah Hodgins, Alec Pierce, Jonathan Mingo, Hunter Renfrow, Marvin Mims, Darius Slayton, Jayden Reed, Zay Jones, Deonte Harty, Terrace Marshall Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jakobi Meyers, Darnell Mooney, Richie James Jr., Jalin Hyatt, Justyn Ross
WR Busts (in relation to where they’re being drafted):
CeeDee Lamb, DeVonta Smith, Tee Higgins, Terry McLaurin, Michael Pittman Jr., Kadarius Toney, Mike Williams, Mike Evans, Michael Thomas, Odell Beckham Jr., Allen Lazard, Adam Thielen, Romeo Doubs, George Pickens.
TE Sleepers:
Dalton Schultz, Dalton Kincaid, Mike Gesicki, Greg Dulcich, Sam LaPorta, Gerald Everett, Irv Smith, Tyler Conklin, Juwan Johnson, Trey McBride
TE Busts (in relation to where they’re being drafted):,
George Kittle, Evan Engram, Chigoziem Okonkwo
Early-Round Value Picks (Rounds 1-5):
Bijan Robinson, A.J. Brown, Nick Chubb, Travis Etienne Jr., Breece Hall, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Rhamondre Stevenson, Tony Pollard, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle, Mark Andrews, Amari Cooper, Jahmyr Gibbs, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, Christian Watson, J.K. Dobbins, Justin Fields, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Chris Godwin.
Mid-Round Value Picks (Rounds 6-10):
Brandon Aiyuk, Cam Akers, Diontae Johnson, Darren Waller, Jordan Addison, James Conner, Antonio Gibson, Zach Charbonnet, Damien Harris, Rachaad White, Jahan Dotson, Deshaun Watson, Samaje Perine, Mike Evans, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Gabe Davis, James Cook, A.J. Dillon, Quentin Johnston
Late-Round Value Picks (Round 11 or later):
Geno Smith, Anthony Richardson, Elijah Moore, Gerald Everett, Skyy Moore, David Njoku, Kendre Miller, Roschon Johnson, DJ Chark Jr., Alec Pierce, Nico Collins, Jaylen Warren, Mike Gesicki, Jonathan Mingo, Hunter Renfrow, Chuba Hubbard, Marvin Mims, Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, Jayden Reed, Jameson Williams, Jeff Wilson Jr., Devin Singletary, Rondale Moore, Trey McBride, Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Gus Edwards
Deep-League Value Picks:
Jelani Woods, Tim Patrick, Corey Davis, Chris Evans, Deonte Harty, Hayden Hurst, Tyler Conklin, Jeff Wilson Jr., Pierre Strong Jr., Richie James Jr., Malik Davis, Ty Chandler, Chris Rodriguez, Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Elijah Higgins, Justyn Ross, Terrace Marshall Jr., Braxton Berrios, Alec Pierce. Jordan Mason, Latavius Murray
Backup RBs to Target:
Antonio Gibson, Damien Harris, Samaje Perine, Chuba Hubbard, Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, David Montgomery, Tyler Allgeier, Devin Singletary, Joshua Kelley, DeWayne McBride
Backup RBs to Avoid:
Keaontay Ingram, Jerome Ford, Ronald Jones II, Tank Bigsby, Raheem Mostert, D’Onta Foreman, Chase Edmonds
Rookies to Target:
- QBs: Anthony Richardson
- RBs: Bijan Robinson, Zach Charbonnet, Kendre Miller, Roschon Johnson, DeWayne McBride, Eric Gray
- WRs: Jordan Addison, Quentin Johnston, Zay Flowers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Mims, Jayden Reed, Johnathan Mingo
- TEs: Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta
Rookies to Avoid:
- QBs: Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud
- RBs: Tank Bigsby, Chase Brown, Sean Tucker
- WRs: Josh Downs, Tank Dell
- TEs: Michael Mayer, Luke Musgrave, Luke Schoonmaker
D/STs to Target:
49ers, Cowboys, Saints, Eagles, Bills, Jaguars, Broncos, Ravens
D/STs to Avoid:
Patriots, Giants, Jets, Commanders, Buccaneers
Five-Word Draft Tip: Every player has a price.
Andrew Erickson’s 2023 Fantasy Football Rankings
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