• Take advantage of sliding running backs: Wide receivers are going earlier in drafts this year, so some great running backs will be available late in the first round and early in the second.
• Stock up on wide receivers early: The value typically isn’t there to take an early quarterback or tight end, which means it makes sense to add some great wide receivers.
• Fantasy draft approaching? Use PFF’s AI-powered Live Draft Assistant to win the draft and dominate your 2023 fantasy football league.
Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
The perfect 2023 fantasy football draft series combines current average draft positions from expert and casual drafts to see which players should be available at each pick, and then we make the best picks given that information.
To try out a draft strategy for specific picks in different league sizes, check out our new mock draft simulator. For help in other formats, rankings or for more details about the players, check out the rest of my summer content below.
Player Profiles | Depth Charts | 10 tips to win | Undervalued | Overvalued | 500 Stats
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Dynasty Rankings: PPR | Rookie | Superflex | Superflex Rookie
Position Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE
Sleepers: Top-10 | QB | RB | WR | TE
League Winners: Top-5 | QB | RB | WR | TE
Breakouts: Top-5 | QB | RB | WR | TE
Position Draft Strategy: QB | RB | WR | TE
16-Team Draft Strategy: Overall strategy
14-Team Draft Strategy: Overall strategy
12-Team Draft Strategy: Overall strategy | Picks 1-3 | Picks 4-6 | Picks 7-9 | Picks 10-12
10-Team Draft Strategy: Overall strategy | Picks 1-3 | Picks 4-7 | Picks 8-10
Preseason Recaps: Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1 | Hall of Fame Game
Last updated: 7:15 a.m. Saturday, September 2
Round 1, Picks 10-12: Draft a wide receiver
The best running back options are usually gone at this point. That is also true at wide receiver, but the next few wide receiver options have much less risk, and there are running backs who can be found at a decent value later.
It’s better to stock up on elite wide receivers with the first two picks and then figure out all of the other positions in the following few rounds.
Top Target: CeeDee Lamb
The former first-round pick has improved every season of his career.
- His targets, receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns and PFF receiving grade have increased from his rookie season to his sophomore year to last season.
- He scored 0.52 receiving PPR points per route last season, fifth at the position.
- Lamb is still only 24 years old, so it’s entirely possible that he continues to improve.
- The only reason he’s not higher is the loss of the NFL's second-best offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore, as well as more competition for targets coming from Brandin Cooks.
Possible Targets: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Davante Adams, A.J. Brown, Garrett Wilson, Jaylen Waddle
Round 2, Picks 13-15: Draft a wide receiver
As mentioned in the last round, there is top-end wide receiver talent available in the first two rounds that is too good to pass up. Travis Kelce isn’t available in the first two rounds, and no other tight end makes sense this early. It’s also too early to consider a quarterback.
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