Three Wise Strategies To Deploy in 2023 Fantasy Football Drafts

It’s one of the most exciting times of the year for NFL players and fans. Hope springs eternal each summer as NFL teams are looking to prepare for the upcoming season, but they aren’t the only ones hoping for a successful campaign.

Fantasy football players are also doing their homework at this point in the calendar in order to assemble a roster that can deliver championship glory later in the year.

We’ll take a look at three recommended draft strategies to deploy that can help someone craft the ideal fantasy football roster.

Target Quarterbacks Earlier Than Usual

Real-life NFL betting odds tend to be heavily affected by quarterback play, and the 2023 fantasy football season is also shaping up to be one that will be significantly shaped by signal callers. In previous seasons, it was sensible, and even advisable to wait on selecting a quarterback until the later rounds. However, this season has flipped that narrative on its head.

There are really only five or six quarterbacks entering the fantasy football season who seem to be relatively reliable options. In no particular order, that group consists of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson. There is an argument to be made that Justin Herbert or possibly Justin Fields could also be included in that category.

After that, there are a plethora of questions surrounding other players at that positions, which means that fantasy owners would be smart to snatch one of the above up as soon as they can.

It’s Alright To Double Down On Wide Receivers

Another line item in the fantasy rulebook has involved drafting running backs in the first round. Any deviation from that thinking would lead to puzzled looks and confusion. However, this might be the year when conventional wisdom on that front should change.

Outside of Christian McCaffery and Austin Ekeler, it’s hard to identify running backs that feel like a sure thing. On the contrary, wide receivers like Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tyreek Hill seem to be a more confident bet to safely return high production.

Many fantasy players are taking stock of wide receivers in best ball formats, but will also need to strongly consider taking them with the first couple of picks in traditional snake drafts.

Weigh Rookie Potential Accordingly

It can be really exciting to delve into the world of the unknown in fantasy football, especially as it relates to players who have never suited up in the NFL before. The sky-high hopes that the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons have for running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson respectively has led some to believe that they might take the league by storm.

It’s entirely possible that either or both players will have a stellar rookie season, but it’s important to think about the likelihood of that happening for the Falcons or Lions. Robinson has been projected to go in the first round of fantasy drafts, while Gibbs has been selected in the third or fourth round. Think about whether the prospect of fantasy bragging rights is worth passing over a proven commodity.