The 2023 NFL season is still several weeks away. However, July is arguably the best time of the year for fantasy players. The Scott Fish Bowl is in full swing, and it’s the perfect time for a new dynasty league. Let’s dive into some dynasty fantasy football draft values. We’ll go round-by-round to identify the top values to consider at each pick.
- Dynasty Trade Value Chart
- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Sleepers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Dynasty Draft Simulator
Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers
While there are several strategies you can use during startup drafts, finding the best value in every round is critical regardless of which you deploy. So let’s look at the best late value in each rounds in a 12-team, 1QB, half-point PPR startup dynasty draft.
Round 11 – Skyy Moore (WR – KC)
Many were excited about the second-round pick last season. Unfortunately, Moore struggled as a rookie, finishing fourth among the team’s wide receivers in targets and fifth in routes run. Furthermore, the rookie was the WR123, scoring only 32.4 half-point PPR fantasy points in 2022. However, Moore has been the talk of the team this offseason. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Andy Reid have said they expect a big year from the second-year player. Meanwhile, Kadarius Toney has missed 44.1 percent of the games in his career because of injury. More importantly, he didn’t perform when healthy. I’m banking on Moore to have a second-year breakout.
Round 12 – Trey McBride (TE – ARI)
Unfortunately, McBride had a quiet rookie year. However, part of his quiet rookie season was because of Zach Ertz and the Cardinals’ dysfunctions on offense. Over his first nine games, McBride had only four receptions for 31 receiving yards, playing under 30% of the snaps in six contests. However, the former Colorado State star picked up his play after Ertz suffered a season-ending knee injury. McBride was the TE10, averaging 5.5 targets and 8.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over his last four contests. After having a quiet rookie season, the second-year player could become a low-end TE1 in 2023.
Round 13 – Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT)
While Najee Harris is the Steelers’ lead back, Warren will have more of a role this year. According to The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly, offensive coordinator Matt Canada won’t be able to keep Warren off the field as much as he did last season. Meanwhile, the second-year player averaged 4.9 yards per rushing attempt as a rookie, seeing 14.3 percent of his rushing attempt go for 10 or more yards. By comparison, Harris had only 7.4 percent of his rushing attempts go for more than 10 yards last season. If Harris gets hurt, Warren could be the late-round draft pick that wins fantasy players their league.
Round 14 – Juwan Johnson (TE – NO)
Johnson had a breakout year in 2022. The veteran finished third in the league among tight ends with seven receiving touchdowns. The only two tight ends with more touchdowns than Johnson last year were Travis Kelce and George Kittle. While New Orleans recently signed Foster Moreau, the veteran won’t have much fantasy impact. Meanwhile, Michael Thomas is arguably the most prone wide receiver in the NFL, missing 80 percent of the contests over the past three years. Johnson will be the No. 2 pass catcher this year behind Chris Olave if Thomas can’t stay healthy. The veteran has top-five upside this season after finishing last year as the TE11.
Round 15 – Romeo Doubs (WR – GB)
Last year Doubs was a popular sleeper candidate after his impressive performance in training camp and preseason. However, the rookie ended the season as only the WR76, averaging 6.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. When the Packers traded away Aaron Rodgers this offseason, the fantasy community got turned off by Green Bays’ receiving core outside of Christian Watson. Yet, Doubs’ fantasy value is on the rise. Reportedly he has been Jordan Love’s go-to guy during offseason workouts. More importantly, head coach Matt LaFleur recently praised the young receiver, saying he is taking the “next step.” While he won’t take over as the Packers’ No. 1 wide receiver, Doubs is a steal at his current ADP.
Round 16 – Jerome Ford (RB – CLE)
The Browns decided against re-signing Kareem Hunt this offseason. Furthermore, D’Ernest Johnson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, eliminating any competition for Ford as the No. 2 running back. Unfortunately, the second-year player had a limited role on offense as a rookie. However, the former Cincinnati Bearcat had 1,500 scrimmage yards and an 8.5 percent touchdown rate in his final college season. Meanwhile, Nick Chubb has missed 14 percent of the games over the past three years because of injury. If he gets a chance to start for Chubb, fantasy players will get massive performances from Ford.
Round 17 – Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR – CAR)
Unfortunately, Marshall has struggled over the first two seasons of his NFL career. The former second-round pick has only 45 receptions on 77 targets for 628 receiving yards and one touchdown in 27 career games. However, the former LSU receiver has impressed the new coaching staff this offseason. Marshall has made multiple plays during OTAs and minicamp. Furthermore, head coach Frank Reich recently said, “he shows the capacity to kind of be a big play guy.” The Panthers have an open competition at the wide receiver position after trading away DJ Moore in March. While I am a massive Jonathan Mingo fan, Marshall is the better value.
Round 18 – Michael Wilson (WR – ARI)
Despite playing only six games in his final year at Stanford, Wilson still had four touchdowns on 26 receptions. Furthermore, the rookie led Stanford in receiving touchdowns despite missing half the year. More importantly, the Cardinals have one of the worst wide receiver rooms in the NFL. Marquise Brown is the clear-cut No. 1 guy. However, the rest of the unit is subpar after the team released DeAndre Hopkins. Rondale Moore still has some fans, but the receiver is limited to the slot. Meanwhile, Wilson was the only meaningful wide receiver Arizona added this offseason. Now that Hopkins is in Tennessee don’t be surprised if the rookie has a starting role in Week 1.
Round 19 – Desmond Ridder (QB – ATL)
For some unexplained reason, head coach Arthur Smith stuck with Marcus Mariota last season despite how awful he was in the passing game. Unfortunately, that means Ridder only got to play four games as a rookie. However, he ended the season with an impressive performance. The former Cincinnati star had 224 passing yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, scoring 15.9 fantasy points in the win. Furthermore, the rookie ended the week as a top-10 quarterback. More importantly, the Falcons have three talented pass catchers on their roster – Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. While he won’t become a fantasy superstar, Ridder will surprise people this year.
Round 20 – Cordarrelle Patterson (RB – ATL)
Speaking of the Falcons, Patterson still has some fantasy value despite adding Bijan Robinson. The veteran was the RB9 in 2021, averaging 13 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Last season he was excellent over the first four weeks, averaging 14.2 fantasy points per game, scoring 21 or more twice. Unfortunately, things changed when Patterson returned from the knee injury. Tyler Allgeier earned the starting job, and the veteran got demoted to the No. 2 role. However, Patterson should see more work as a wide receiver this year. While he won’t be a top-10 running back ever again, the veteran has some bye-week appeal in PPR leagues, thanks to his versatility.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.