Like most dynasty fantasy football players, I have been tuned into the 2023 NFL Draft all weekend. I have been watching the draft, livestreams of fantasy analysts, and messaging in group chats about the draft, nonstop. All that to be said, I have my own opinions about this draft. These are more about the actual NFL side of things and less so of the fantasy aspect. With that, here are my biggest winners and losers so far.
Winners
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks left the first round of the NFL draft with the top cornerback and wide receiver in this draft. Add to that a solid defensive edge, and another good running back to complement Ken Walker, and Seattle fans should be happy!
While they did not draft one of the top-5 quarterbacks in this class, they built around Geno Smith and their future QB. Their secondary on defense is starting to look like a new version of the Legion of Boom; with the addition of rookie Devon Witherspoon, last year’s stand outs Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant, and safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. With five picks on Day 3, Seahawk fans should be excited about the future of the team.
The Whole Eagles team
The Eagles have been on a roll with their draft picks over the past few years. They turned their four picks in the first two days into three starters on defense. The team also added another offensive lineman for depth.
In the first round of the NFL draft, the Eagles traded up one spot – from 10 to 9 – to select one of the top defenders to play next to Jordan Davis at defensive tackle. Did I mention that the pick was Jalen Carter? That’s right. The Eagles added another stud from the Georgia defense that won the College Football Championship in 2022.Then at pick 30, they selected another defender from that Championship defense; taking Nolan Smith to pair alongside Nakobe Dean.
After Day 2, they did not draft a running back; so it locks in Rashaad Penny as the starter. They still have four more picks in Day 3 to add depth across their roster. The Eagles have their eyes set on a dominating defense and a prolific offense for years to come!
Rookie QBs
Of all options for the biggest winners, I have to have the rookie QBs! Having three drafted in the top four picks in ideal landing spots for all of them is good. However, the crowning jewel is that all five teams that took rookie QBs have also added offensive linemen or weapons.
- The Panthers added WR Jonathon Mingo at pick 39 to pair with first overall pick, Bryce Young.
- The Texans added a lineman and WR Tank Dell for CJ Stroud.
- The Colts add another WR in Josh Downs to play the slot and still have 10 picks in Day 3.
- The Titans used their first round pick on guard Peter Skoronski to help protect second round pick QB Will Levis and third round RB Tyjae Spears.
- The Lions drafted RB Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall and Sam LaPorta at pick 34 for Jared Goff and third round Hendon Hooker.
All five teams added talent to help develop their rookies for future success. I am excited for all five of these rookie QBs and their NFL – and fantasy football – future.
Honorable Mention: Houston Texans
The Texans would be the biggest winners if not for one thing. They traded their own 2024 first round pick in order to move up for Will Anderson Jr. If they had been able to trade the first from the Browns, this trade would be amazing.
Biggest Losers
Ken Walker’s Fantasy Value
I said above that the Seahawks are massive winners in this draft. However, Kenneth Walker is not. The addition of another – second round – RB in Zach Charbonnet is going to lead the Seattle RB room to be close to a 50/50 split. While I still like Walker, I no long believe he deserves to be valued as a Top 5 RB in dynasty leagues.
Rookie WRs
This rookie WR class was always shallow, but they had a chance to break out in major ways. Now that we know most of their landing spots, I am disappointed. All of these WRs ended up in crowed receiving rooms.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the WR3 in Seattle while Tyler Lockett is there.
- Same issue with Quentin Johnston and the Los Angeles Chargers.
- Zay Flowers is in Baltimore competing with Mark Andrews and Odell Beckham Jr. for targets from Lamar Jackson.
- The best landing spots were Jordan Addison in Minnesota paired with Justin Jefferson and Jonathon Mingo in Carolina with Bryce Young.
Overall, I think these WRs will still be good in the long term, but this season won’t be great.
Dynasty Rookie Drafts
Outside of the first couple picks, most rookie drafts will vary wildly. In Superflex or Start 2QBs leagues, the top picks should still be some order of Bijan Robinson (Falcons RB), Bryce Young (Panthers QB), CJ Stroud (Texans QB), and Anthony Richardson (Colts QB).
In 1QB leagues, the top of the draft will be Bijan Robinson. Outside of those picks, each draft could and will be different!
To those of you with a rookie pick 1.07 in Superflex leagues, good luck trying to guess if you should Jahmyr Gibbs or Jordan Addison – because both could be gone by then! 1QB leagues could go four straight WRs after Bijan. Who knows?!
Good luck with al the craziness! This draft class is not what it was hyped up to be; with more than 12 players deserving first round picks. This class is more like the 2022 NFL draft of a consensus at the top, and a grab-bag over the rest of the round.
This NFL draft weekend has been crazy with trades, players falling, players going where we did not think they should go, and everyone getting great NFL landing spots, but bad fantasy ones! There’s only one way to make it through the rest of this draft and your rookie drafts: Faith, Luck, and Pixie Dust. Good luck!
Hunter Greene
Hunter started writing for The League Winners in the summer of 2021. Hunter has been playing fantasy football for about a decade, starting in middle school. Now he’s a professional landscaper and avid Colts and Purdue fan. He primarily writes D/ST Streamer articles in season and Dynasty/Draft content in the offseason.