2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (2024)

  • Fantasy Staff

Sep 2, 2023, 08:00 AM ET

This page will be updated throughout the summer, so please continue to check back for the latest content.

Summer is in full swing and that means fantasy football draft season is upon us.

Whether you play in a casual redraft league, a serious, deep dynasty format or somewhere in between, we at ESPN Fantasy are here for you.

This draft guide will serve as a one-stop shop for all of our best material to ensure you make the best fantasy football picks you can in every draft you're in: rankings and cheat sheets for PPR and non-PPR, player projections, mock drafts for various league types, sleepers and busts for this season, and plenty of helpful information and tips from our expert team of fantasy football analysts.

It doesn't matter whether you have been doing this for years or are a fantasy first-timer. We have everything needed to help you draft a great team and start the season with a shot at a championship.

New to fantasy football, or know someone who is?

Start here with two offerings to help you learn how to play, quickly get up to speed on the basics and how to navigate a full season.

  • Fantasy football beginners guide

  • Field Yates' guide to fantasy football

  • How to stay competitive in 15 minutes per week

Fantasy football cheat sheets, mock drafts, projections

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (1) ESPN+ Cheat Sheet
Get all of our best fantasy intel, compiled on a printable cheat sheet to bring with you to your fantasy football drafts.

Cheat Sheet Central
A collection of downloadable, printable cheat sheets for the 2023 fantasy football season, including PPR, non-PPR, superflex and dynasty/keeper leagues. Perfect for your drafts.

Mock drafts
12-team, PPR (8/30) | 10-team, PPR superflex (8/24)
Fantasy Marathon: 10-team, PPR (8/15)
12-team, 1/2 PPR (8/10) | 10-team, PPR (8/3) | 8-team, PPR (7/27)
10-team, non-PPR (7/7) | 12-team, 1/2 PPR (6/13)

Mock draft trials
Travis Kelce in first round | WR with a top-five pick
Top-tier QB early | Hero-RB approach
Daniel Dopp employs different strategies in multiple mocks and provides top observations on how his rosters turned out.

2023 projections
Mike Clay's projected output for players at every fantasy position, sortable by specific category.

Depth charts: Offense | Defense

Positional rankings

These rankings represent the consensus among our fantasy football analysts for the 2023 season. Each analyst maintains a personal ranking for the top 25 quarterbacks, 50 running backs, 60 wide receivers, 25 tight ends, 20 kickers and 20 defense/special teams units. The players are then ranked by the average of those rankings. Each position can also be sorted by any individual analyst's rankings.

Overall rankings

Tristan H. co*ckcroft: PPR Top 200

Field Yates: PPR Top 150

Eric Karabell: Superflex Top 200

Tiered rankings

Karabell: Running backs | Wide receivers

Eric Moody: Quarterbacks | Tight ends

Mike Clay: "The 192" -- Players who should be drafted in 12-team leagues

Dynasty and keeper rankings

Clay: Dynasty Top 240 and Top 80 rookies

Moody: Keeper Top 200

IDP rankings

Clay, co*ckcroft and Moody: Top 50 DLs, LBs and DBs

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (2) Custom Dollar Value Generator

Input your league's scoring system and roster requirements to generate values for your fantasy football salary cap draft. Custom Dollar Value Generator

Lists and insight

NFL Nation: How will crowded backfields shake out?

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (3) Bowen: 16 favorite draft-day targets

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (4) Adam Schefter's Cheat Sheet: Value picks and sleepers to target

Roundtable: Rookies to watch, sleepers, strategy

Facts vs. Feelings: Liz Loza's biggest fantasy draft takeaways

co*ckcroft: Best picks from each draft slot in 10- and 12-team leagues

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (5) Yates: Field's Favorites for 2023

Fantasy staff: Sleepers, busts and breakouts for 2023

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (6) Karabell: Do Not Draft list

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (7) Karabell: 'Do Draft' list

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (8) Field Pass: Top storylines, rookies, sleepers for 2023

Bell: Injury watch -- Players to keep an eye on

Bowen/co*ckcroft: All-2026 Team: Bijan, Marvin Harrison Jr., more

co*ckcroft: Deep fantasy sleepers to watch

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (9)Bowen: "Have skills, need opportunity" team

Moody: Players who will outperform their ADP

Loza: Finding values in RB dead zone

Loza & Moody: Contract-year players to target

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (10) Bowen: Eight players with surprisingly high ceilings

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (11) Clay: Players who will score more TDs in 2023

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (12) Clay: Players who will score fewer TDs in 2023

Karabell: Players to not give up on yet

Moody: 10 WRs who should see more volume

Clay: Top 10 insurance RBs

Karabell: Players who won't bounce back in 2023

Clay: 2023 versions of last year's breakout players

Bowen: Eight players who benefit most from fantasy-friendly schemes

Clay & Yates: Players to avoid in 2023 drafts

Dopp: Six players being overvalued or undervalued

Bowen: Eight players who could be difference-makers

Karabell: Bounce-back candidates for 2023

Moody: RBs that get a boost from improved O-lines

Moody: 10 veterans to trade away in dynasty before they fall off

Karabell: Six toughest offenses to rank for fantasy

Strategy

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (13) Clay's Ultimate Draft Board: The best picks to aim for in each round

Clay's Playbook: Strategy tips to help you win your league

Dopp: How to get the most out of mock drafts

Karabell: Why it pays to wait to draft your starting QB

Bowen & co*ckcroft: Prioritize mobile QBs in your drafts

Karabell: How superflex differs from traditional standard leagues

co*ckcroft: The best way to draft and stream D/STs in fantasy football

Dopp: Why you should consider making the switch to a salary cap draft

Fantasy staff: Take a TE early or play the waiting game?

Individual player analysis

co*ckcroft: History says Bijan Robinson is worth a first-round fantasy pick

Clay: Which statistics mean the most in fantasy football?

co*ckcroft: At what age do players peak/decline in fantasy?

co*ckcroft: How to value 49ers' pass-catchers

Miscellaneous

co*ckcroft: Numbers you need to know before you draft

co*ckcroft: Will Josh Allen avoid the Madden Curse?

Clay: 13 Taylor Swift songs for 13 NFL players

Liz Loza's Pressing Questions

One fantasy question for all 32 teams, delivered in division-by-division fashion. Featured players listed below.

AFC East: James Cook, Tua Tagovailoa, Rhamondre Stevenson, Breece Hall
AFC North: J.K. Dobbins, Joe Mixon, Deshaun Watson, Diontae Johnson
AFC South: Dameon Pierce, Anthony Richardson, Christian Kirk, Calvin Ridley, Chig Okonkwo
AFC West: Javonte Williams, Kadarius Toney, Davante Adams, Justin Herbert
NFC East: Tony Pollard, Daniel Jones, D'Andre Swift, Rashaad Penny, Jahan Dotson
NFC North: DJ Moore, Jahmyr Gibbs, Christian Watson, Jordan Addison
NFC South: Bijan Robinson, Miles Sanders, Kendre Miller, Rachaad White
NFC West: Deebo Samuel, Marquise Brown, Cam Akers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Create, manage or join a league

Mock draft lobby
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Sign up for ESPN Fantasy Football
It's free to play! Create or join a league with friends, customize your settings and battle all season for the top spot.

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, cheat sheets and analysis (2024)

FAQs

What is the best spot to draft in fantasy football in 2023? ›

What position should I draft first in fantasy football? Most managers should draft a wide receiver with their first pick this season in fantasy football. Six of Draft Sharks' top 12 players in our fantasy football rankings are wide receivers, 5 are running backs, and a single TE slipped into the top 12.

Who are the top rookies to draft in fantasy football 2023? ›

Florio and Marcas Grant talk about three key rookies for the 2023 fantasy football season: Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison.

What is statistically the best spot to draft in fantasy football? ›

What position should I draft first in fantasy football? Most managers should draft a WR with their first pick this season in fantasy football. Six of the top 12 players in our fantasy football rankings are WRs, 5 are RBs, and a single TE slipped into the top 12.

What is the best order to draft in fantasy football? ›

Now, let's start building your championship-caliber fantasy team.
  • Round 1: Best player available. ...
  • Round 2: Take a running back. ...
  • Round 3: Back to best player available. ...
  • Round 4: Take your pick at wide receiver. ...
  • Rounds 5-6: Round out your starting skill position players. ...
  • Rounds 7-8: Target high-upside players.
Jul 7, 2023

What is the strongest position group in the 2023 NFL draft? ›

Strongest positions in 2023 NFL Draft Class, according to Zierlein: Cornerback. Tight end. Edge defender.

Who is the number one fantasy pick in 2023? ›

While Christian McCaffrey and Austin Ekeler are fine selections, as is Ja'Marr Chase, Jefferson is the best Fantasy option in 2023.

Which NFL rookies will have the biggest impact in 2023? ›

2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league's best first-year players
  • Quarterback: C.J. ...
  • Running back: Jahmyr Gibbs. ...
  • Wide receiver: Puka Nacua, Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers. ...
  • Tight End: Sam LaPorta. ...
  • Offensive tackle: Darnell Wright, Paris Johnson. ...
  • Guard: O'Cyrus Torrence, Steve Avila.
Jan 4, 2024

Who will be the best WR in the 2023 draft? ›

Wide Receiver Draft Rankings for 2023
RankNameTeam
1Justin JeffersonMIN
2Ja'Marr ChaseCIN
3Tyreek HillMIA
4Cooper KuppLAR
36 more rows
Aug 19, 2023

Which running back should I draft in fantasy football? ›

2024 PPR running back rankings
Rank, PlayerBowenDopp
1. Christian McCaffrey, SF11
2. Breece Hall, NYJQ32
3. Bijan Robinson, Atl23
4. Jonathan Taylor, Ind54
37 more rows
Apr 29, 2024

What order to draft position ppr? ›

Best Strategies for 12-Team PPR/Flex Drafts From the 1st Position
Rd. 1Rd. 2Rd. 3
RBRBQB
RBRBWR
RBWRTE
RBWRQB
10 more rows

What round is best to draft a defense fantasy? ›

Here's the third noobiest mistake many fantasy rookies make and that's drafting defensive players early in the draft. Somewhere around the 10th round is probably a good spot, but again, building your team is the most important thing in fantasy football, and that usually means RB's and WR's.

Who to draft at the 5 spot? ›

Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, and Christian McCaffrey are all usually gone with the first three picks. That puts you in a situation where you can sit at No. 5 and have the option to click on Cooper Kupp, Travis Kelce, or Austin Ekeler. For me that really comes down to Kupp and Kelce.

Should I draft a RB or WR first in fantasy? ›

The most common strategy for fantasy players is to target the elite running backs at the top of the draft. This is mainly because of how deep the wide receiver position is, making it more reasonable to find superstars in the middle rounds.

How to pick the draft order? ›

The order of selection is determined by the reverse order of finish in the previous season. Barring any trades between clubs, each round starts with the team that finished with the worst record and ends with the Super Bowl champions.

How many of each position should I draft for fantasy football? ›

You need enough depth at each position to account for all of this. Every fantasy manager should draft their Best Ball roster with the same basic starting point. You will take at least two quarterbacks, four running backs, five wide receivers, and two tight ends. Those are the minimums you should have at each position.

Who has the best NFL draft picks 2023? ›

Houston won the 2023 draft for finding its QB of the future, but Green Bay came out best on a pick-to-pick basis.

Who has the number 1 draft pick in 2023? ›

The 2023 NFL Draft kicked off Thursday night in Kansas City, and quarterbacks went early and often, with Bryce Young starting the party as the No. 1 overall pick by the Panthers. C.J. Stroud followed suit as the No.

What is the best defense for the fantasy playoffs 2023? ›

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have been something of a feast-or-famine fantasy defense in 2023. There have been big stat lines like the Week 13 blowout win over the Commanders, and a couple of ugly outings like a lopsided loss to the Bills in Week 4.

Where is the best place to draft in fantasy football 14 team? ›

For a 14-team league, talent can get sparse near the end, so being in the middle is best as you don't have the large gaps between picks. With 2 perfect seasons and multiple league championships to his credit, Scott Sachs runs Perfect Season Fantasy Football, featuring LIVE Talk & Text Advice.

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