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 or Ja’Marr Chase or — 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, Kenny Pickett, Jordan Love, Mac Jones, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell, 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, Bryce Young
RB Sleepers:
Antonio Gibson, Damien Harris, David Montgomery, Zach Charbonnet, Rashaad Penny, Kendre Miller, Jaylen Warren, Chuba Hubbard, Roschon Johnson, Devin Singletary, Joshua Kelley, Kenneth Gainwell, De’Von Achane, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jordan Mason, Justice Hill
RB Busts (in relation to where they’re being drafted):
Najee Harris, Breece Hall, Miles Sanders, Josh Jacobs, Kenneth Walker III, Dameon Pierce, Brian Robinson Jr., D’Andre Swift, Javonte Williams, Raheem Mostert, Alexander Mattison, Isiah Pacheco, Alvin Kamara
WR Sleepers:
Brandin Cooks, Gabe Davis, Jahan Dotson, Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, Quentin Johnston, Elijah Moore, Skyy Moore, DJ Chark Jr., Nico Collins, Jonathan Mingo, Hunter Renfrow, Marvin Mims, Darius Slayton, Jayden Reed, Zay Jones, Deonte Harty, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jakobi Meyers, Darnell Mooney, Richie James Jr., Jalin Hyatt, Justyn Ross
WR Busts (in relation to where they’re being drafted):
Chris Olave, DeVonta Smith, Terry McLaurin, Michael Pittman Jr., Kadarius Toney, Mike Williams, Mike Evans, Michael Thomas, Odell Beckham Jr., Allen Lazard, Adam Thielen, Romeo Doubs.
TE Sleepers:
Dalton Schultz, Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, Tyler Gerald Everett, Juwan Johnson, Hayden Hurst, Hunter Henry, Luke Musgrave
TE Busts (in relation to where they’re being drafted):,
George Kittle, Evan Engram, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Cole Kmet, Greg Dulcich
Early-Round Value Picks (Rounds 1-5):
Ja’Marr Chase, Bijan Robinson, A.J. Brown, Nick Chubb, Travis Etienne Jr. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Rhamondre Stevenson, Tony Pollard, Garrett Wilson, Jaylen Waddle, Mark Andrews, Amari Cooper, DK Metcalf, Jahmyr Gibbs, Calvin Ridley, Christian Watson, J.K. Dobbins, Justin Fields, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Drake London
Mid-Round Value Picks (Rounds 6-10):
Chris Godwin, Brandon Aiyuk, Cam Akers, Diontae Johnson, Darren Waller, Jordan Addison, James Conner, Antonio Gibson, Zach Charbonnet, Damien Harris, Rachaad White, Jahan Dotson, Deshaun Watson, Khalil Herbert, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, Gabe Davis, James Cook, A.J. Dillon, Skyy Moore, Jonathan Taylor, Jerry Jeudy
Late-Round Value Picks (Round 11 or later):
De’Von Achane, Samaje Perine, Geno Smith, Anthony Richardson, Elijah Moore, Gerald Everett, David Njoku, Kendre Miller, Roschon Johnson, DJ Chark Jr., Nico Collins, Jaylen Warren, Jonathan Mingo, Hunter Renfrow, Chuba Hubbard, Marvin Mims, Darius Slayton, Jayden Reed, Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Damien Harris
Deep-League Value Picks:
Chris Evans, Deonte Harty, Hayden Hurst, Tyler Conklin, Richie James Jr., Ty Chandler, Chris Rodriguez, Michael Wilson, Justyn Ross, Braxton Berrios, Alec Pierce. Jordan Mason, Latavius Murray, Cade Otton, Cole Turner, Kayshon Boutte, Rashid Shaheed, Joshua Kelley, Darius Slayton
Backup RBs to Target:
Antonio Gibson, Zach Charbonnet, Damien Harris, Samaje Perine, Chuba Hubbard, Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, David Montgomery, Tyler Allgeier, Devin Singletary, Joshua Kelley, Ty Chandler, Myles Gaskin, Keaontay Ingram, Deuce Vaughn
Backup RBs to Avoid:
Raheem Mostert, Jerome Ford, Ronald Jones II, Tank Bigsby, Raheem Mostert, D’Onta Foreman, Chase Edmonds, Malik Davis, Elijah Mitchell
Rookies to Target:
- QBs: Anthony Richardson
- RBs: Bijan Robinson, Zach Charbonnet, Kendre Miller, De’Von Achane, Roschon Johnson, Evan Hull
- WRs: Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Mims, Jayden Reed, Johnathan Mingo
- TEs: Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, Luke Musgrave
Rookies to Avoid:
- QBs: Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud
- RBs: Tank Bigsby, Chase Brown, Sean Tucker, DeWayne McBride
- WRs: Josh Downs, Tank Dell, Quentin Johnston, Rashee Rice
- TEs: Michael Mayer, Luke Schoonmaker
D/STs to Target:
49ers, Cowboys, Saints, Eagles, Bills, Jaguars, Broncos, Ravens
D/STs to Avoid:
Patriots, Giants, Buccaneers
Five-Word Draft Tip: Every player has a price.
Andrew Erickson’s 2023 Fantasy Football Rankings
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