Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers: Geno Smith & Zach Ertz (2023)

Thankfully, the 2023 fantasy football season is just around the corner. Each year, fantasy players want to construct their team with a proper mix of good-value players and upside sleepers while avoiding players with high bust potential.

AFC ADP Sleepers, Busts & Values: East | North | South | West
NFC ADP Sleepers, Busts & Values: East | North | South
Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE

Sleepers to Target

Geno Smith (QB – SEA): ADP 115.7 | QB16

There were several fantasy surprises last season, but none were as significant as Smith. After many projected the veteran to lose his starting job, the former West Virginia star had the best year of his career. Smith was the QB5, averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game. He finished fourth in the NFL in passing touchdowns, only behind Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow. Yet, the veteran is getting drafted over 6.5 rounds later than those three superstars. More importantly, the Seahawks did everything possible to help Smith this offseason. Instead of selecting his replacement, Seattle used a first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The veteran quarterback now has an excellent trio of wide receivers. More importantly, Smith was arguably the top deep ball passer in the NFL last season. He ranked fifth in deep ball completion percentage (45.5%), third in deep ball accuracy rating (6.6), first in passing touchdowns 20 or more yards downfield (14), and first in big-time throws 20 or more yards downfield by PFF (14). After the Seahawks finished 15th in pass attempts last season, many believe they will be more pass-happy this year. Fantasy players who want to wait on the quarterback position should make Smith their top target in the double-digit rounds.

Zach Ertz (TE – ARI): ADP 206.3 | TE29

Unfortunately, the veteran tight end suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 10 last year. However, Ertz was playing well before the injury. The former Philadelphia Eagle was the TE3 over the first nine weeks, averaging 10 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He was also a focal point of the passing attack, averaging 7.6 targets per game over the first nine weeks. Furthermore, Ertz ranked seventh in red zone targets (15) and 11th in deep targets (seven) among tight ends despite missing nearly half the 2022 season.

More importantly, the veteran tight end should be ready to play in Week 1 after the Cardinals recently activated the former Stanford star from the Physically Unable to Perform list. Most fantasy analysts believed Ertz would likely miss the first half this season recovering from the torn ACL. Instead, the veteran should be on the field for the Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders. While his ADP will rise between now and the start of the regular season, it won’t get high enough to take Ertz out of the sleeper discussion.