The 2023 fantasy football draft season is starting to heat up now that we’ve gone through the height of free agency and all of the chosen rookies have been assigned to their professional home cities.
The landscape has changed a great deal for many franchises after a whirlwind offseason, and our divisional preview series will help you stay on top of all of the changes to date.
AFC divisional previews
East | North | South | West
NFC divisional previews
East | North | South | West
Dallas Cowboys
2022 record: 12-5
Notable coaching and system changes
Head coach Mike McCarthy has led Dallas to back-to-back 12-win seasons and a playoff victory in 2022. Despite that, McCarthy fired offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, a holdover from Jason Garrett’s staff, and replaced him with Brian Schottenheimer, who has 11 seasons of experience in the role. McCarthy will call plays as he did in Green Bay, though, so expect more vertical routes. Dan Quinn interviewed for head-coaching vacancies but ultimately returns for a third year as defensive coordinator.
Key free-agent additions
- RB Ronald Jones
- WR Brandin Cooks (trade)
Key free-agent departures
- RB Ezekiel Elliott (unsigned)
- WR T.Y. Hilton (unsigned)
- WR Noah Brown
- TE Dalton Schultz
Key draft additions
- TE Luke Schoonmaker
- RB Deuce Vaughn
Quarterback preview
For the second time in the past three seasons, Dak Prescott missed significant time due to injury. This time a fractured thumb cost him five games. Even when he played, Prescott wasn’t great, throwing an NFL-high 15 INTs. The running element he displayed early in his career has also dried up as he finished with less than 200 yards on the ground for a third straight year. This is an important season for Prescott, who has a talented group of receivers at his disposal and a veteran play-caller in McCarthy. He’s on the fringes of top-10 territory.
Running back preview
With Ezekiel Elliott released, Tony Pollard is set to be the primary back in 2023. He earned it. Pollard racked up 1,378 combined yards and a dozen touchdowns last year, and his speed and elusiveness made him a threat to break one every time he touched the ball. Pollard suffered a fractured tibia in the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers and underwent surgery, but he’s expected to be fully healed in time for camp. Currently on the franchise tag, Pollard could have added contractual incentive if the two sides can’t agree on an extension. He’s a potential midrange RB1.
Behind Pollard, the triumvirate of Malik Davis, Ronald Jones, and Deuce Vaughn will vie for snaps. Davis flashed in limited opportunities in 2022, turning 44 touches into 224 yards, and is the lone holdover. RoJo did nothing in KC but is only two seasons removed from a 192-978-7 line with the Bucs. Vaughn is from the Darren Sproles mold and could be used as a gadget guy. No one in this group is currently worth drafting as more than a late flier.
Wide receiver preview
Before last season, Dallas jettisoned Amari Cooper in part because they felt CeeDee Lamb was ready to be the No. 1 receiver. The former Sooner proved them right, hauling in 107 passes for 1,359 yards and nine TDs even while Cooper Rush orchestrated the offense for most of the first six weeks. Although he doesn’t appear physically imposing, Lamb is tough and durable, having missed just one game in three seasons. Even with the addition of Brandin Cooks, Lamb remains a low-end WR1.
Saddled with subpar quarterback play, Brandin Cooks finished below the 1,000-yard mark for just the second time in his last eight seasons. He also missed four games, which is unusual for the resilient wideout, but how badly hurt he was is debatable given that he didn’t fit with what Houston’s tanking agenda. Entering his age-30 campaign, Cooks looks like a strong complement to Lamb and a solid WR3.
Michael Gallup worked his way back from a torn ACL to appear in 14 games last season but showed little of his pre-injury explosiveness. He underwent a couple of clean-up surgeries in January, and the team is hopeful another full offseason to recover will get him back to his 2019-20 form when he combined for 1,950 yards and 11 TDs. He’s someone to consider in the later rounds.
Tight end preview
Dalton Schultz‘s departure leaves a void at tight end, and the team will look to some combination of Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot, and second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker to fill it. Both Ferguson (19-174-2) and Hendershot (11-103-2) flashed as rookies, and with the steep learning curve associated with transitioning from college for tight ends that duo could see the bulk of the snaps, at least early on. Schoonmaker looks like the future, though, with strong blocking and the ability to work in traffic. For now, none of them are draftable.
Sleeper/breakout candidates
It was simple. All Michael Gallup had to do last year was return from a torn ACL, step into the spot created when Dallas traded Amari Cooper, and produce a 1,000-yard season. That scenario led to a lot of high hopes. Since they didn’t pan out, expect people to be down on Gallup, which could make him a late-round steal.
Bust potential/overvalued players
You can’t question the talent of Tony Pollard. His emergence from complementary piece to dynamic playmaker allowed Dallas to move on from Elliott. The question is whether, after watching Elliott go from special to pedestrian under heavy usage, the Cowboys will really push Pollard as a bell cow. Perhaps last year’s numbers are closer to the ceiling for Pollard than we think.
New York Giants
2022 record: 9-7-1
Notable coaching and system changes
At first blush, a 9-7-1 mark in your first year isn’t earth shattering. When you consider the Giants had gone a combined 22-59 in the five previous campaigns, however, you can see why Brian Daboll won Coach of the Year honors. Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka squeezed winning football out of Daniel Jones and even manufactured the first playoff win for the G-Men since 2011. Both return alongside defensive coordinator Don Martindale.
Key free-agent additions
- WR Parris Campbell
- WR Jamison Crowder
- TE Darren Waller (trade)
Key free-agent departures
- WR Richie James
- WR Kenny Golladay
Key draft additions
- WR Jalin Hyatt
- RB Eric Gray
Quarterback preview
Through three seasons, the Giants were so unimpressed by Daniel Jones that, in a quarterback-driven league, they elected not to pick up his fifth-year option. While it’d be disingenuous to say that Jones “balled out,” he showed enough growth as a dual threat (3,205 yards passing with 15 TDs and five INTs; 708 yards and seven TDs rushing) that New York handed him a four-year, $160 million deal. Doubtless, they’ll expect continued development for that kind of bank, but until we see it Jones is no more than a middling QB2 for fantasy purposes, and that’s because of his legs.
Running back preview
In 2021, Saquon Barkley looked absolutely cooked. He played in 13 games, gained all of 856 yards and scored four times. Despite that, New York stuck with him. Barkley rewarded them with the most effective season since his rookie year: 1,312 yards rushing, 338 yards receiving, and 10 touchdowns. With Jones signed long-term, the G-Men used the franchise tag on Barkley, though the two sides continue to work on an extension. Despite a significant investment at the receiver position, Barkley remains the centerpiece of the offense and is a solid RB1, though it’s fair to worry about his hefty 352-touch workload coming back to bite the Giants.
Matt Breida (54-220-0) was RB2 a year ago, followed by Gary Brightwell (31-141-1). That tandem, along with fifth-round pick Eric Gray, will compete for time behind Barkley, assuming the current contract issues are ironed out (to date, Barkley has not signed his tender). Whoever wins the backup job, likely Breida at this point, would have handcuff value in the final rounds.
Wide receiver preview
Injuries were a problem for New York’s wideouts in 2022. Wan’Dale Robinson, the team’s second-round pick last year, appeared in six games and finished the year on IR with a torn ACL. Sterling Shepard, who played in only seven games in 2021, managed just three before tearing an ACL. Former high-price free-agent signing Kenny Golladay battled a knee injury and played his way off the roster. Kadarius Toney was hurt, and then traded. By season’s end it was Darius Slayton and Richie James holding down the fort.
While James and Golladay are gone, Slayton (46-724-2), Shepard, and Robinson all return, though the latter two are not sure things for Week 1. To augment their receiver room, the Giants signed Parris Campbell, who posted a 63-623-3 line with the Colts after doing next to nothing his first three years, and drafted Jalin Hyatt. The 6-foot, 176-pound wideout has explosive speed and should add a much-needed deep threat on a team full of intermediate and underneath route runners. This is a very difficult group to get a read on right now. Slayton might be safest as a WR5 with Robinson offering the most upside. Hopefully training camp will clear things up a bit.
Tight end preview
Considering that Daniel Bellinger led the team’s tight ends with 30 catches for 268 yards, getting improved production at the position is a low bar. One that the acquisition of Darren Waller should comfortably clear. When healthy, Waller has been one of the NFL’s most dangerous TEs with a pair of 1,000-plus-yard seasons on his resume. Of course, the operative phrase there is “when healthy.” Waller has only played 20 of 34 games the past two years, and his per-game production during that time doesn’t jump off the page. Waller, who turns 31 in September, is a risk/reward TE1.
Sleeper/breakout candidates
It’s a free-for-all at receiver with up to seven names competing for the top three spots — five listed above alongside Jamison Crowder and Isaiah Hodgins. Of that group, Wan’Dale Robinson carries the most intrigue. He’s a slot target with the quickness and speed to make things happen in space. If his recovery goes well, which didn’t happen until mid-December, Robinson could emerge as their most dangerous receiver, but he’s far from a safe bet.
Bust potential/overvalued players
On paper, Darren Waller is a strong addition. Outside of players like Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews, there aren’t many tight ends who can match Waller’s pass-catching ability. Again, though, you circle back to availability being the most critical ability. Do you want to bet an earlyish pick on Waller staying healthy at age 31? It’s a risk.
Philadelphia Eagles
2022 record: 14-3
Notable coaching and system changes
It’s been a meteoric rise for head coach Nick Sirianni, who went 14-3 with a Super Bowl appearance in his second year on the job. The rest of the NFL noticed, and Sirianni lost both coordinators to head-coaching gigs this offseason. On offense, Shane Steichen landed the Indianapolis Colts‘ job and was replaced by QBs coach Brian Johnson. Defensively, Jonathan Gannon took over in Arizona. In his stead will be former Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai.
Key free-agent additions
- QB Marcus Mariota
- RB D’Andre Swift (trade)
- RB Rashaad Penny
- WR Olamide Zaccheaus
Key free-agent departures
- QB Gardner Minshew
- RB Miles Sanders
- WR Zach Pascal
Key draft additions
- None
Quarterback preview
Sirianni’s rise has been mirrored by Jalen Hurts, who built off a solid 2021 to finish second to Patrick Mahomes for NFL MVP honors. That despite missing two games with a shoulder injury. As a passer, his numbers were solid: 3,701 yards, 22 TDs, and six INTs. He made his mark as a runner, though, rushing for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns. Between the shoulder injury and offseason ankle surgery, though, it’s fair to wonder if the Eagles will dial back Hurts’ running a bit in 2023 to keep him healthy. Even if that happens, Hurts should still rate as a quality QB1.
Running back preview
Philly’s committee-based approach to its running backs in 2021 gave way to the Miles Sanders Show in 2022 with his 259 carries more than doubling the combination of Kenneth Gainwell (53-240-0) and Boston Scott (54-217-0). Now that Sanders is in Carolina, we may see a return to the committee backfield. While Scott and Gainwell are back, it’s the additions that warrant attention. Rashaad Penny was a beast late in 2021 for Seattle but was again derailed by injury last year. D’Andre Swift has the most upside of anyone here, but he, too, has had durability issues.
The initial read is that Swift will be the top back followed by Penny with something closer to the 2021 distribution of carries. Obviously, that plan requires a pair of oft-injured backs to stay healthy, but divvying up usage should help in that regard. Both players have proven capable of stretches at the highest level, so the upside is there. Pencil in Swift as a middling RB3, and Penny as a risky RB4/RB5 with upside. Gainwell might have final-round appeal if you want to bet on either/both of the veteran backs getting hurt. Scott is watch-list material. Unfortunately, all of the backs are hindered by Hurts’ rushing prowess.
Wide receiver preview
Last year’s predraft addition of A.J. Brown was a home run for GM Howie Roseman. Brown performed like a true No. 1 receiver, and his physicality was a nice complement to DeVonta Smith, who checks in at 170 pounds. They were one of five sets of teammates to top 1,000 yards receiving with Brown leading the way at 88-1,496-11 and Smith not too far off the pace with 95-1,196-7. Both will be 26 or younger this season, meaning they’re in their prime, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see growth, particularly from Smith, who is entering his third season. Brown slots in as a low-end WR1, while Smith is a steady WR2 that could push up the rankings a bit.
It’s pretty much a two-man show on the outside for Philly with Quez Watkins finishing third among the wideouts in catches (33) and yards (354). He’ll try to fend off newcomer Olamide Zaccheaus (40-533-3 w/ ATL) for the No. 3 spot but barring injury neither player would be of interest.
Tight end preview
Had Dallas Goedert not missed five games with a shoulder injury, it’s entirely possible the Eagles could’ve finished 2022 with three 1,000-yard pass catchers. Based on his numbers, Goedert’s 17-game extrapolation was for 78 receptions, 995 yards, and four TDs. Durability has been an issue for the sixth-year tight end, though, costing him a dozen games over the last three seasons combined. While he boasts top-five upside, Goedert is better viewed as a midrange TE1 based on his medical history.
Sleeper/breakout candidates
Right now, the assumption is we’ll see D’Andre Swift as the head of a backfield committee. That’s not etched in stone, though, and there are reasons to think the Eagles could lean on Swift. Chief among them is Swift’s contract, which expires after the season. That gives him extra motivation to produce, and Philly has no reason to “save” him for 2024 and beyond.
Bust potential/overvalued players
After Jalen Hurts was banged up last year, and then signed a new mega deal, could the Eagles reevaluate how much they ask of him as a runner? While not slight of build, Hurts may not be able to withstand an annual pounding, either. If his running tapers off, Hurts could be more of a low-end QB1.
Washington Commanders
2022 record: 8-8-1
Notable coaching and system changes
Mediocrity has been the name of the game during head coach Ron Rivera’s three-year tenure with Washington posting a 22-27-1 mark, which includes a sub-.500 divisional crown in 2020. The offense has struggled annually, and Rivera made the move to bring in Eric Bieniemy from the Chiefs to be the new coordinator. It’s a lateral move for Bieniemy in terms of title, but he’ll call the plays now. Jack Del Rio remains defensive coordinator.
Key free-agent additions
Key free-agent departures
- QB Taylor Heinicke
- QB Carson Wentz
- RB J.D. McKissic (unsigned)
Key draft additions
Quarterback preview
Washington passed on drafting a quarterback, and barring another move they’ll head to training camp with Sam Howell and journeyman Jacoby Brissett set to vie for the starting job. It’s Howell’s gig to lose, according to Rivera. Brissett owns a massive experience edge, having started 48 games, including 11 with Cleveland last season. If they’re struggling early under Howell, or he cannot even get out of camp as the QB1, Brissett is probably the answer. You know what you’re getting. If this is the start of a rebuild, why not see if Howell can play? Either way, fantasy owners should abstain.
Running back preview
No matter who starts, expect to see a lot of Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson. Robinson was shot last August, which delayed his NFL debut until Oct. 9. He would appear in 12 games, averaging 17 carries per game as the No. 1 back. Gibson, who was a receiver in college, played a complementary role, and he did most of the work on passing downs — his 46 receptions were third on the team. Expect that to be the general setup once again, though we could certainly see more from Gibson with J.D. McKissic gone, given that it was McKissic who saw the yeoman’s share of the third-down work before getting injured.
The team added Chris Rodriguez in the draft. He has good size and could be used in short-yardage situations, but odds are he’ll only get scraps. With no meaningful involvement in the passing game, Robinson holds strong RB3 value. Gibson sits somewhere in the RB3/RB4 range, though if he inherits all McKissic’s snaps he might move up.
Wide receiver preview
With Terry McLaurin, Johan Dotson, and Curtis Samuel populating the top of the depth chart, the Commanders boast one of the league’s more talented receiver groups. The problem, of course, is uncertainty at quarterback. In 2022, with Taylor Heinicke and Carson Wentz taking most of the snaps, only McLaurin was able to rise above. The Ohio State product corralled 77 passes for 1,191 yards and five touchdowns. That gives McLaurin three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns and makes him a reasonably safe WR2 despite limited talent at QB.
Samuel rebounded from an injury-filled first season in Washington to play all 17 games. He started fast but saw his production dip and fluctuate quite a bit as the months went by. He finished with 843 total yards and five scores. We’ll see if Bieniemy can find more creative ways to get the versatile Samuel involved offensively, both as a runner and a receiver. Consider him a WR5.
Dotson, a first-round selection in 2022, started strong and finished strong. The problem was he caught five passes in the months of October and November combined while dealing with a hamstring injury that cost him five games. He logged 70-plus yards in three of Washington’s final four games, though, and finished with a team-best seven touchdown grabs. He’ll be an interesting WR4/No. 5 target.
Tight end preview
Logan Thomas put himself on the map with a 72-670-6 effort in 2020, but in two years since he’s appeared in 20 of 34 games while totaling 57 receptions, 519 yards, and four touchdowns combined. With three talented wideouts and a capable pass catcher out of the backfield in Gibson, it’s hard to see a path to value for Thomas.
Sleeper/breakout candidates
While there’s only one “safe” fantasy option on the Commanders (McLaurin), Curtis Samuel feels like someone they could lean on more in 2023 given his ability to fill multiple roles. He’s capable of taking short passes and making people miss in the open field, and he could be utilized on jet motion and other gadget plays. There’s some juice here.
Bust potential/overvalued players
Brian Robinson showed almost nothing as a receiver in 2022, and there’s a good chance he’ll see a lot of heavy boxes on early downs unless the Commanders do enough to loosen them. On one hand, Robinson should be in line for plenty of touches. On the other, they might be mostly short runs.
