Picks for each round (2023)

The best ball uniforms are happening thick and fast as we move closer to training camp, and regardless of the format, there are players we should always try to add exposure to. These are the best values in each of the first 15 rounds.

Best Ball ADP by Round (Fantasy Football 2023)

Round 1 – Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)

2022 wasn’t fun for either the Rams or those of us who chose to watch their games, unless you only watched to keep an eye on Cooper Kupp, who despite the mess around him continued to shine. Before Kupp’s season was curtailed by injury, he put up 22.4 points per game. reception (PPR) points per game, behind only Justin Jefferson’s 22.6, and Kupp was one of only three wide receivers to have a target percentage of 30% or more. While the Rams sputtered and disappointed week after week, the same was not the case for Kupp, who averaged 90.2 yards per carry. match (third most) at 10.9 goals per fight (third most).

Round 2 – Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND)

When drafts initially opened, Jonathan Taylor was a fixture in the back end of Round 1 before slowly tailing out as it became clear that his fortunes might be somewhat tempered by a rookie quarterback in Anthony Richardson who might be prone to not to check the ball down as much as Taylor’s previous quarterbacks have. Now, as we move closer to training camp, Taylor’s mid-late second round average draft position (ADP) is starting to look like value. Taylor has true RB1 overall upside. If Richardson helps this Colts offense become more efficient, then Taylor could be poised for a huge season as defenses struggle to account for both Taylor and Richardson on any given play.

Round 3 – Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE)

The Patriots typically don’t favor a single running back. That’s partly due to the fact that for much of the last decade they had James White, an excellent pass-catching back, so why wouldn’t they use him on plays where he could shine? The Patriots have very little behind Stevenson and no one who looks like they can steal a big workload from him. Even if Stevenson has to give up a few touches to another back, there’s a good chance this offense will allow him to score more than the six touchdowns he had in 2022.

Round 4 – Deebo Samuel (WR – SF)

The Niners’ offense is a bevy of talented players whose value will be determined by the health of not only themselves, but also their quarterback, not for the first time. When healthy, Deebo Samuel appeared to be Brock Purdy’s go-to target on many occasions. Samuel hardly saw a drop in opportunities after Christian McCaffrey was acquired, putting up 8.0 touches per game. game before and 7.8 after, even while dealing with injuries. We’ve seen Samuel be a league winner before, and maybe he can be again, this time at a two-round discount on last year’s price.

Round 5 – Joe Mixon (RB – CIN)

Maybe Joe Mixon gets cut before the season starts and it’s starting to look a little silly, but there’s another realistic outcome where Mixon rolls into the season as the RB1 for a high-powered offense with little to zero competition now that Samaje Perine is now in Denver. The Bengals seem content to enter the season with Mixon as their main hope at running back, and when it comes to this offense, we’ll be linking to the players who will be a big part of the Bengals’ plans.

Round 6 – Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT)

Diontae Johnson famously scored zero touchdowns in 2022 despite having the seventh most targets in the league (147). Johnson ranked 67th in catches among wide receivers with 20 or more targets, so it’s fair to say that not all of the ineffectiveness was on him with this Steelers offense not flush with passing touchdowns, totaling 12 passing touchdowns all season . Through Johnson’s four-year career, he has managed five, seven and eight touchdowns before 2022’s zero. Like the rest of the Steelers offense, we should bet on positive regression in 2023.

Round 7 – Gabe Davis (WR – BUF)

It was a disappointing year for Gabe Davis and also those who chose to acquire him with his 2022 best ball ADP that hit the fourth round of drafts before Davis ultimately was unable to deliver on the hype and battled through an ankle injury in large parts of the 2022 campaign. Davis posted four weekly finishes inside the top 13 half-PPR wide receivers, but the disappointment has continued for fantasy managers, with Davis now falling to the seventh round. Given Davis’ ceiling numbers and the lack of competition outside of Stefon Diggs, he’s still an interesting player to take snaps with.

Round 8 – James Conner (RB – ARI)

James Conner missed three games with an injury midway through the 2022 season, but from Week 9 onward was a top-five running back on four occasions and finished outside the top 15 on just one occasion. Conner is set to compete with Corey Clement and Keaontay Ingram, neither of whom are solid threats for his all-around role. The Cardinals’ best bet is to roll the dice on Conner as the focal point of the offense while they try to manage without Kyler Murray, however long his recovery takes.

Round 9 – Antonio Gibson (RB – WAS)

The Commanders’ backfield wasn’t great for fantasy football in 2022, with neither Antonio Gibson nor Brian Robinson providing much in the way of fantasy returns, but where Gibson stands out is his work in the receiving game, averaging 3.9 goal per match in comparison. to Robinson’s 1.0. Gibson is the more explosive and exciting prospect, and aside from the Commanders adding a veteran, Gibson is a real upside pick for 2023. He could pay off handsomely if new offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy chooses to try and get the most out of a player who was appointed much higher two years ago.

Round 10 – Damien Harris (RB – BUF)

James Cook doesn’t project as an all-down running back, and the Bills seem to be aware of that from their addition of Damien Harris, who is an excellent shortstop. Ever since the 2022 season ended, the Bills’ coaching staff has talked about Josh Allen taking fewer hits in the run game, which could open up plenty of opportunities for Harris, and it could pay off handsomely in fantasy if he’s used in the run game . red zone, an area he excels at succeeding within.

Round 11 – Jamaal Williams (RB – NO)

Fresh off rushing for over 1,000 yards and scoring 17 rushing touchdowns, Jamaal Williams finds himself in a new home with the Saints, who often seemed to use players other than Alvin Kamara around the goal line. This offense as a whole could take a step forward in 2022, and with Alvin Kamara confirmed to miss time due to a suspension due to legal issues, Williams’ ADP could jump another round over this.

Round 12 – Michael Gallup (WR – DAL)

A year removed from an ACL injury, Michael Gallup finds himself drafted four rounds later than he was in 2022. Understandably, Gallup’s recovery from his torn ACL meant he was slow to get going last year and didn’t live up to the hype, but now a year removed, the fade seems to have gone too far. People are starting to take note that Gallup’s ADP has risen 13 spots in the last month, but the 12th round still feels too low.

Round 13 – Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL)

If it weren’t for a certain Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier would be drafted perhaps as high as the third round based on his impressive rookie season. Alas, it wasn’t to be, but perhaps Arthur Smith continues to be a fantasy football threat, splitting the workload more evenly than some would hope between Robinson and Allgeier, who is, after all, fresh off a rookie campaign where he finished with 1,035 rushing yards. Should Robinson struggle or, God forbid, get injured, Allgeier is one of the league’s best handcuffs.

Round 14 – John Johnson (TE – NO)

In 2022, only Travis Kelce scored more tight end touchdowns than Juwan Johnson’s seven, but with the threat of Taysom Hill lurking in the New Orleans shadows, Johnson is stuck in the 14th round. As part of a best-ball roster, we can live with the occasional Taysom Hill peak week, especially given that we saw in 2022 that Johnson could be a clear fantasy option even with Hill on the field.

Round 15 – Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR)

The Rams seem unconcerned about Matthew Stafford’s health heading into 2023, which would be a welcome relief after battling elbow and concussion issues in 2022. Stafford struggled behind an offensive line that was a mess, which led to him was sacked at a career-high 27% rate on plays generating pressure from the defense. When Stafford was held safe by his line, his pure pocket completion rate was 72.4%, identical to 2021, and even when pressured, Stafford’s completion rate jumped to a career-high 54.7%. If the Rams’ defense is as bad as expected, Stafford can often be put in fantasy-friendly, pass-heavy scripts.