In the dynamic and ever-evolving realm of fantasy football, where armchair coaches strategize, trade, and compete for virtual gridiron glory, one demographic has been historically overlooked – women. Despite the growing popularity of fantasy football, a noticeable gender gap persists, with women often finding themselves on the sidelines of a predominantly male-dominated arena. The assumption that fantasy football is a man’s game has perpetuated a culture that disregards the significant and valuable contributions of female enthusiasts. Their Voices & Their Players is my attempt to say thank you to these women.
As the world around us continues to challenge traditional norms and break down barriers, it’s high time for the fantasy football community to acknowledge and embrace the diverse tapestry of its participants. Women bring a unique perspective, strategic prowess, and an unwavering passion to the fantasy football landscape. Over the last week, it has become apparent that not everyone believes that and there are still hurdles put in front of these hard-working women, often from the top levels of fantasy companies, you know who I mean.
After the events surrounding women in fantasy football on Twitter last week, I’m going to choose not to further the platform of that individual and instead I would like to ensure all the women in the industry are given a voice no matter how big or small they are.
So let’s follow the example set out by The Women of Fantasy Football, a member of the ClubFantasyFFL family and give these strong, intelligent women the chance to be heard.
In this article, those women are going to be discussing the player they most enjoyed having on their 2023 Fantasy Football rosters and will discuss what they loved most about them.
The floor is yours ladies, hit us with some knowledge.
Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Rachel of Women of Fantasy Football)
I was taken by surprise at how good Baker Mayfield was for fantasy this year. I’m heading to the Championship in a start-up dynasty league with him in one of my Superflex spots. During the draft, I grabbed him at the 13.7 and remember feeling gross and unenthused that he was the best available quarterback. I needed a spot-start quarterback with Kyler Murray being sidelined at the beginning of the season.
Once Murray came back, I decided between the two based on matchups but in recent weeks, I’ve been letting Mayfield Bake for my fantasy team. I think many of us underestimated Mayfield this year. He has averaged 239.9 passing yards per game and is ranked as QB 11 on the Sleeper app. He has been reliable for my squad, helping lead it to this Championship match. Like Mayfield, I, too, often feel underrated. But hard work is undeniable. Let’s go get it, Baker, and prove everyone wrong.
Running Backs
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams (Angie Hatfield)
Williams has been my go-to starter whenever he’s been available this season. He’s as dependable and steady as a high-fiber diet, and I have a soft spot for hard-working Notre Dame kids. From SFB13 to home leagues, I drafted him late or snagged him off waivers, banking on his ability to make waves with the Rams without sacrificing much draft capital. In 11 games played, Williams has been a fantasy gem—12 TDs, 1057 rushing yards at an impressive 5.1 yards per carry, and an average of 3 catches per game, adding extra value in PPR formats. His snap share, hitting a commendable 83%, is a rare sight in a season with few true workhorse RBs, setting him up as a potential league-winner. And that’s exactly what I’m counting on him to be this week against a porous Giants run defence.
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (Erika Brown of The League Winners)
Jahmyr Gibbs – mine Before the season began, I was lower on Gibbs. Not because he’s not a talented player but because 1, the Lions drafted him, and 2, they acquired David Montgomery in the offseason. And I will admit, I was nervous those first few games when Montgomery took the majority of snaps. And then the Lions finally started using Gibbs and his strengths, turning him into a top 10 back on the season. He has been my favourite rookie player I’ve drafted this year and such a fun, shifty player to watch in games. Even with splitting time with Montgomery most of the season, Gibbs has still been a relevant player. I’m happy to have drafted him in a dynasty startup and hopefully, he remains a top running back for a few years!
Wide Receivers (WR)
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (Cooterdoodle of Matthew Berry Fantasy Life)
Is CMC arguably the undeniable 2023 fantasy football MVP? Yes. But I’m here to talk about my fantasy MVP: Puka f*cking Nacua. First, I should preface that I traditionally like to blow my FAAB like it’s going out of style every year. But because I play this way, I have also wasted a lot of imaginary money in the Waiver Wire Bidding Wars of the past (Remember the D’Ernest Johnson bids from a few years ago? People don’t forget.) But spending $89 of my $200 FAAB on Puka in September was arguably the best move I made all year – and no, I didn’t shut up about it. A total of 96 receptions for 1,327 yards and 5 TDs through Week 16? With and without Cooper Kupp on the field? TAKE MY MONEY. I never doubted you one bit, Puka. See you next year. <3
Amon Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (Gina Noble of The Rank Draft Trade Podcast and The Sports Affiliation)
Ah where to start, I have loved the “Sun God” since he was riding on my Taxi squad in my dynasty leagues as a rookie. This 4th round draft pick by the Detroit Lions didn’t seem to be on many radars but I had faith. From him blowing up in the later part of his rookie year I had a feeling I had a gem.
Finishing the season with 5 TDs in 2021 he was destined for another big season in 2022. In 2022 there were still many naysayers but I again believed, I had a tendency to draft him higher than most but sometimes you have to bet big to win big. 2022 would prove to be a success for Amon Ra St. Brown. He went on to have 1161 receiving yards and 6 TDs and proved to be Jared Goff’s favourite go-to target on the field. 2023 was set up to be his “best is yet to come” year and once again, my belief has paid off.
So far in 16 completed weeks, the Sun God has a whopping 1281 receiving yards and 8 TDs and the season isn’t over yet! He tied for 3rd most receptions by a wide receiver, 5th most total yards and 8th most TDs. All of these reasons add up to exactly why I target Amon Ra St Brown on all my Fantasy Football teams. He is a must-have and a beacon of consistent Fantasy Football production!
AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (Alisha Hunt of Dr Roto.com)
I loved having A.J. Brown on my fantasy team this season! Brown only had 2 games this season with less than 8 targets. He’s ranked 6th with 141 total targets for 1,314 yards and 7 TDs. I will be looking to draft Brown again next season.
Tank Dell, Houston Texans (Stacy Perez of Fantasy in Frames)
The player I loved having on my team more than just about anyone else this season is Tank Dell, a rookie wide receiver for the Houston Texans. Not to toot my own horn, but I was into Dell before it was cool. Long before C.J. Stroud whispered in Houston’s ear to draft him. A little on the shorter and slighter side for his position, Dell was a player that a lot of people dismissed as being “too small” and on a team that was not really in a position for success, at least not this year.
To quote Michael Scott, “Well, well, well, how the turntables!” Of course, Dell’s season was cut tragically short due to a broken leg suffered in week 13. But before that happened, Dell was averaging 15 points per game in PPR formats. Even though he’s been on the Injured Reserve for the last few weeks, he’s still ranked in the top 20 at his position in this statistic. His overall stat line for the 2023 season will read 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
Dell and Rashee Rice are tied for second in touchdowns out of all the receivers drafted in their class. The contested catch rate is one of my favourite underrated stats, and Dell is tied for over ninth overall at his position with a 60% contested catch rate this season. Meaning, despite his size, he’s coming down with that ball more than half the time. His stats speak for themselves but it’s the eye test that made me a fan.
Dell is an incredibly fun player and a joy to watch each Sunday. His speed and fantastic hands instantly made him a must-watch player. I can’t recall ever being excited to watch a Texans game before (sorry Texan fans) but I was this year. He and Stroud have an amazing connection that will give Texans fans something to look forward to for years to come.
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (Tracy Norton of IDP Guys)
I love football, I could stand around and talk for hours about football. If you asked me three years ago about it I would have looked at you like you were crazy because I knew nothing. During COVID, my best friend taught me all the ins and outs of it and I fell in love with the game. I started researching players to get ready months before the NFL draft even took place. The first thing that attracted me to this player was his name…Puka Nacua. I mean how fun is that name to say!
When I started looking further into him the more I realized that he might be someone to keep an eye on so I started adding him to all my pre-draft bestball teams. Fast forward to week 16 and 35 points later he has become one of the best players in the league. He is only 147 yards under breaking the rookie receiving record in the NFL. Nacua is also so much fun to watch as he just clicks with Stafford as if they have been playing together for years and has had some great catches in which he always follows through.
He catches the ball and pushes it as far as he can always making sure to try to get that extra yard or two instead of dropping when the defensive line is closing in. I can’t wait to see how he develops further in the next few years considering what he has already achieved. I, for one, am so glad that I picked him up super early and will be holding onto him as long as I can. Feel free to send those trades, but just know that you will be declined for the foreseeable future.
This Puka isn’t someone to hang up and forget about like the necklace you got at the shore when you were 16. He should be someone who will get you top points in fantasy for seasons to come. If you have the opportunity to grab him don’t let him pass you by!
Tight Ends
The 2023 Rookie TE Class (Renee of Freak NFL)
The TE position in Fantasy Football is undoubtedly the one that gives you the most headaches throughout the season. Luckily in the class of 2023, we had several TEs that were relevant this year. Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid are some of those we had in our sights before the season started. But for me, one of the ones who surprised me the most and helped me in the final stretch of my Fantasy leagues was Trey McBride.
Last year in his rookie year he was not as involved as this year due to Zach Ertz’s injury. He has already become one of Murray’s best weapons and is taking a great role in that Arizona offence. In my Dynasty leagues I am going to look to trade and have him on my teams and in re-draft leagues I will surely go for him in the middle rounds and secure the TE position. This year he finished as TE 8, and in 4 weeks he was in the Top 3. So keep him in your sights next year, he will surely help you in your teams from week 1.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions (Britt Flinn of Fantasy Alarm)
In the offseason, I was so high on a particular rookie tight end, and no, it wasn’t the one you are thinking. It was Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions, and he said, “Rookie tight end narrative, be damned.” Everyone was expecting Jahmyr Gibbs to work out of the slot and have an immediate role in the passing game. That role went to LaPorta, and it was so fun watching the people who were just jumping on the bandwagon after the first few weeks see that he was already on my team.
It’s always fun to get a top-three tight end in the late rounds, but the fact that it was a rookie tight end was even better. Detroit doesn’t have a lot in the way of competition right now, and with what they’re building there, he should be very productive for years to come. Plus, the LaPorta Potty Romper Stompers is a pretty kick-ass team name haha.
Again, as we wrap up the fantasy season I would like to thank all the women who have chosen to become a part of the fantasy football industry. For those of you who will be attending the 2024 FF Expo, be sure to check out their panel with some of the smartest and brightest women in the industry.
Remember, this is a game based on a game. There is no reason we can’t make room for everyone!
All player graphics are from Statmuse.com
