Everyone puts considerable stock in using their early draft picks on players they’re convinced will carry a roster. However, five weeks into the 2023 season, we’ve learned that the only consistent position for fantasy scoring are the elite wide receivers.
At quarterback, the top 10 players in passing yards include a lot of players who weren’t drafted to be a QB1 – namely Kirk Cousins (2nd), C.J. Stroud (3rd), Matthew Stafford (4th), Sam Howell (6th), Brock Purdy (8th) and Jared Goff (9th). In terms of touchdown passes, the same is true with Cousins (1st), Russell Wilson (tied for 2nd), Purdy (tied for 7th), Goff (tied for 7th), Jordan Love (9th), and Stroud (10th).
A similar run of unheralded players is happening at running back. Among the top 10 rushing yardage leaders, more than half are players who weren’t drafted to be an RB1 – De’Von Achane (2nd), Zack Moss (3rd), D’Andre Swift (4th), Breece Hall (6th), David Montgomery (7th), and James Conner (8th).
The only position that has held up with the top stars dominating the top spots are wide receivers, but there are exceptions. Among the top 10 receivers in yardage, you have Puka Nacua (2nd), DJ Moore (5th), and Nico Collins (8th). In terms of receptions, there is Nacua (1st), Adam Thielen (4th), and Michael Pittman (10th).
While the star players are in lineups every week because of their ability, in the first month-plus of the season, the back-of-the-roster guys and waiver pickups are doing just as much if not more damage.
Fantasy football risers
Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown – With quarterback Kyler Murray out and star receiver DeAndre Hopkins released, the fantasy stock for all Cardinals players was down on draft day. In his last four games, Brown has been targeted 10 times in three of them, has scored a touchdown in three games, and had seven catches for 96 yards in the game he didn’t score a TD. He is making it hard to keep out of starting fantasy lineups every week.
Los Angeles Chargers WR Joshua Palmer – He emerged last season, filling in for injured Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Palmer caught 72 passes for 769 yards last year – doing most of his damage when either Allen or Williams were sidelined. In his last two games, Palmer has caught seven passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. With Williams lost for the season, he has the opportunity to step back into the spotlight and do some damage in L.A.’s pass-happy offense.
Buffalo Bills WR Gabe Davis – As the No. 2 wide receiver with the Bills, Davis had value, but consistency kept him on the fantasy bench. In 16 games last year, he averaged 17.4 yards per reception and scored seven touchdowns but caught just 48 passes – an average of three per game. Three catches don’t keep you in a fantasy lineups for long. This year, he doesn’t have gaudy catch numbers (18 receptions in five games) but is averaging 17.8 yards and has scored a TD in each of his last four games. He’s a home run threat with at least one catch of more than 25 yards in each game and is getting his number called more on deep downfield passes.
Chicago Bears WR DJ Moore – Moore was a throw-in player in the trade the Panthers swung to move up to No. 1. He has been a dominant addition to the Bears. In his last four games, he’s topped 100 yards three times and scored a touchdown in the only game he didn’t. In his last two games, he’s caught 16 passes for 361 yards (a 22.6-yard average) and scored four TDs. Chicago is going to be throwing a lot out of necessity, and Moore is no longer a flex play or WR3. He’s a legitimate first-line starter.
Jacksonville Jaguars WR Christian Kirk – The arrival of Calvin Ridley pushed Kirk down on a lot of fantasy boards – making him a WR3 or WR4 in most leagues. After a brutal Week 1 showing, over the last four weeks, Kirk is the primary receiver in a solid Jaguars offense. He has been targeted 40 times, catching 29 passes for 326 yards and a touchdown. Ridley is still a dangerous threat and the Jaguars have multiple options, but Kirk remains front and center in every offensive game plan.
Fantasy football fallers
Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb – It’s no secret the Cowboys are at their best when Lamb is a focal point. In his last three games, he has been targeted just 18 times, catching 12 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown. Because he is who he is, nobody will bench him, but he’s becoming a fantasy liability instead of the player who almost single-handedly wins weeks in fantasy leagues.
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris – Harris was drafted as a low-RB1 or a high-RB2 and was projected to be a full-time lineup cornerstone. He’s at the point where other options look more attractive. In five games, he has rushed just 63 times (13 times a game) for just 247 yards, caught five passes for 37 yards and hasn’t scored a touchdown. It’s time to make the hard decision of when to jump ship off of Harris and move on to someone else. A growing number already have.
San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel – Samuel’s unique role in the 49ers offense as both a receiver and runner was shattered with the arrival of Christian McCaffrey. He was drafted to be an every-week starter this year, but there are just too many other backup singers to Run CMC. In five games, Samuel has caught 20 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown and rushed 16 times for 84 yards and a TD. A weekly average of 14.1 fantasy points makes nobody a guaranteed weekly starter in shallow formats. The inconsistency of Deebo’s fantasy returns since Brock Purdy took over last year makes him tough to rely on in all weekly lineups.
Carolina Panthers RB Miles Sanders – He was drafted to be a midlevel RB2 who is in lineups many more weeks than not. His best week came in Week 1 and it has been downhill ever since. Sanders (groin) is averaging 12 carries for 38 yards, three receptions for 18 yards, and has scored just one touchdown in five games. He dropped from starter to flex to bench with any fantasy team with viable alternatives.
New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson – Expectations for Wilson were off the charts when Aaron Rodgers came to the Jets. That was dashed with the snap of an Achilles. He is still the WR1 in the Jets offense, but he is averaging five catches for 56 yards and has scored just two touchdowns – with none in the last three. With Zach Wilson again his quarterback, it’s hard to continue to let his talent consistently be stunted.
