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

FAQs

What positions to draft first in fantasy football in 2023? ›

But elite RBs and WRs typically get drafted first because you need more starters at those positions and their scoring drops off more sharply. That's why the best way to draft is generally to prioritize RBs and WRs while waiting on QBs and TEs.

What is statistically the best draft position in fantasy football? ›

In 12-Team Half-PPR, the best draft position is pick No. 2. Drafting optimally from the No. 2 spot in 12-team half-PPR drafts lands you a whopping 306.7 3D Value points. That's a 7.0% increase over the 286.7 points by picking straight from ADP at the No. 2 spot.

Who is the best value pick in fantasy football 2023? ›

Value pick of the year: Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins

With an average ADP of RB37, Mostert led the NFL with 21 total touchdowns (18 rushing) and finished as fantasy's RB5 with 267.7 points. At age 31, Mostert still displays his explosive traits as a runner.

What's the best draft strategy for fantasy football? ›

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: 12 Tips For Success in 2024
  • Fantasy Football Draft Order Approach: Fill Up The Queue. ...
  • NFL Fantasy Roster Building: Be Ready For The Ride. ...
  • Running Back Rankings Begin With The 'Big Three' ...
  • Wide Receiver Wave Splashes Over The Early Rounds. ...
  • Quarterback Map. ...
  • Lions Tight End Roars To The Top.
Jul 11, 2024

What order should you draft positions in fantasy? ›

Ultimately, the best position to draft first in fantasy football 2023 depends on your league settings and the players available. However, if you are looking for the best possible chance of winning your league, you should consider drafting a running back or a wide receiver with your first pick.

Who to pick first overall in fantasy football? ›

Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers: CMC is the consensus top overall pick, so I made him the top choice in this 10-team league. No non-quarterback has scored more points than McCaffrey over the last two seasons, making him the obvious choice.

When should I draft a QB in fantasy football? ›

Drafting multiple upside QBs later in your draft can work well. There are some massive benefits to implementing a late-round QB strategy. Savvy fantasy players can leverage strong matchups to get QB1 production from a QB2 in a given week. We generally see a late-round QB or two break out from late draft positions (C.J.

What is the best spot to pick in the 10 team draft? ›

In 10-Team PPR, the best draft position is pick No. 1 or 2. Drafting optimally from the No. 1 or 2 spot in 10-team PPR drafts lands you on the same start through six rounds.

What positions should you draft first in fantasy football reddit? ›

1st Pick Draft Strategy
  • RB & WR (Top options for both)
  • RB & TE (Andrews/Kelce)
  • WR & TE (Andrews/Kelce)
  • RB & RB (Top 16 Backs)
  • QB (J Allen) & TE (Andrews/Kelce)
  • WR & WR (Top 15 Receivers)
  • QB (J Allen) & RB/WR (Top options)
Aug 25, 2022

Who should I pick for QB fantasy? ›

Most fantasy football quarterback rankings will start with Josh Allen at No. 1, then Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson round out a "Big Four" at the position. The Bills' standout has finished as a top QB2 in each of the past four seasons and rushed for a career-best 15 TDs in 2023.

Who will be the MVP in fantasy football 2023? ›

No player at any other position held even more than a one PPR point per game advantage over the next closest scorer at their position while McCaffrey did so by over three points per game. Whether it was full-PPR, half-PPR, or non-PPR, McCaffrey was the clear 2023 fantasy MVP.

Who has the best defense in NFL 2023 fantasy football? ›

San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers tied with the Jets for the highest-graded defense in 2023 (90.8).

What defense should I draft in fantasy? ›

Fantasy Football Defense Rankings (2024)
RankNameTeam
1.Baltimore DefenseBAL
2.San Francisco DefenseSF
3.Dallas DefenseDAL
4.Arizona DefenseARI
28 more rows

Who should I pick first in fantasy football 2024? ›

Perfect 2024 fantasy football draft strategy, round by round for 12-team leagues: 3.0. Wide receiver is the right first-round pick outside of 1.01: Christian McCaffrey is the right pick at 1.01, but a wide receiver is the way to go at any other pick in the first round.

What should I prioritize in fantasy draft? ›

Many fantasy football experts recommend prioritizing running backs in the draft's early rounds. Running backs tend to earn many fantasy points and have a higher risk of injury, making them valuable commodities. Some of the top running backs for 2024 include Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, and Bijan Robinson.

Who should be the first pick in fantasy football 2023 reddit? ›

The Best Realistic Draft in 2023
Allen40.7
Keenan36.5
LaPorta24.5
BAL DST17
Aubrey22
7 more rows
Dec 27, 2023

How early to draft a QB in fantasy? ›

The optimal strategy is to hold off until at least the fifth and sixth rounds to ensure you'll get a competent, mid-tier QB who delivers (hopefully with some rushing upside). Still, worse case, you end up with a pocket passer tied to an explosive offense.

References

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