Analysis
4/29/23
8 min read
2023 NFL Draft: Awkward Fantasy Football Fits for Day 2 Prospects
Josh Larky and Ryan Reynolds break down some of the most awkward fantasy fits from Round 2-3 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Awkward Fantasy Fits
Titans select QB Will Levis with No. 33 Pick
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- In retrospect, eating the banana with the peel still on looks like a smoke signal sent explicitly for Mike Vrabel.
- As things stand today, Will Levis begins the season as the backup to Ryan Tannehill.
- Unless the Titans struggle or Tannehill gets traded, Levis could sit for most, if not the entirety, of the 2023 season.
- When he plays, Levis brings some rushing upside to the table in fantasy.
Panthers select WR Jonathan Mingo with No. 39 Pick
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- The inclusion of Jonathan Mingo here does not do the target upside for him justice.
- There are no wide receivers that project for a 20-plus percent target share in Carolina.
- However, it’s unclear where Mingo slots in, as this could be a dreaded WR rotation.
- Bryce Young is a capable quarterback, but Mingo is, at best, a WR4 type down the stretch. He should not be drafted until the later rounds in fantasy, despite his early Round 2 draft capital.
Seahawks select RB Zach Charbonnet with No. 52 Pick
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- Kenneth Walker is a better pure runner, and Seattle invested an early Round 2 pick in him last season.
- Zach Charbonnet is the better pass-catcher, but this is now a headache for fantasy football.
- At this stage, projecting 250 carries, 30 targets and goal-line work for Walker, and 150 carries, 50 targets and minimal goal-line work for Charbonnet makes sense.
- Charbonnet has massive contingent upside should Walker go down with an injury, but it’s hard to imagine drafting Charbonnet earlier than Round 7 or 8 in fantasy drafts. He is most likely a bench stash or bye week fill-in should Walker remain healthy.
Cowboys select TE Luke Schoonmaker with No. 58 Pick
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- Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot were both involved at times last season.
- Luke Schoonmaker only received inclusion in our Rookie Draft Guide due to his 4.63 40-time.
- There’s a slight chance he pops as a rookie, but there are better rookie dart throws out there at the tight end position.
Packers select TEs Luke Musgrave (No. 42), Tucker Kraft (No. 78)
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- Luke Musgrave is the preferred Day 1 fantasy option, as there is potential for strong tight end volume in Green Bay.
- However, Musgrave has a terrifying injury history that resulted in him having just 633 career receiving yards across four years in college.
- Musgrave was a combine superstar, so he’ll be on the fantasy streaming radar when healthy.
- Tucker Kraft is slightly less athletic than Musgrave, and his lower draft capital hints that Musgrave was taken to be the starter.
- Kraft was a small school guy who probably takes longer to adjust to the NFL level.
- Kraft can be avoided mainly in redraft, and you could talk yourself into taking a couple of shares in the final round of best ball drafts in case Musgrave has another injury
Colts select WR Josh Downs with No. 79 Pick
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- Good fit from a pure football standpoint, as Josh Downs could play early.
- It would be a surprise if Anthony Richardson led a voluminous passing attack early in his career.
- Limited fantasy enthusiasm in year one for Downs in Indy
Jaguars select TE Brenton Strange with No. 61 Pick
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- Brenton Strange is a blocking tight end who does not project fantasy-relevant.
Texans select WR Nathaniel (Tank) Dell with No. 69 Pick
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- Tank Dell is a pint-sized slot receiver who does not project to be fantasy relevant.
Saints select RB Kendre Miller with No. 71 Pick
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- The Alvin Kamara suspension timeline is still unclear.
- Jamaal Williams is a competent early down and goal-line back.
- Kendre Miller has a more explosive version of Williams’ skill set, but it’s unclear how the snaps will play out.
- Miller offers little as a pass-catcher, so he’ll need to receive the goal line work.
- Draft Miller in the final rounds of best ball, but he should probably start the 2023 season on waivers in most redraft leagues.
Giants select WR Jalin Hyatt No. 73 Pick
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- A speedy deep threat, it’s unclear if Jalin Hyatt is better than Darius Slayton in 2023.
- We both lean towards Slayton starting over Hyatt.
- We trust Brian Daboll to commandeer an efficient offense, but Hyatt probably gets lost in the shuffle as a rookie.
- Take Hyatt towards the end of best ball drafts, but leave him on waivers in redraft to start the season.
Browns select WR Cedric Tillman with No. 74 Pick
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- A five-year player from Tennessee — and a teammate of Hyatt — Cedric Tillman is an outside clasher who will compete with Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Bell for reps.
- He can remain undrafted in redraft and should only be considered in the final round of best ball drafts.
Jaguars select RB Tank Bigsby with No. 88 Pick
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- Tank Bigsby’s upside is Aaron Jones with fewer targets. Bigsby is a shifty runner with moderate size.
- We’re unsure if Bigsby does anything better than Travis Etienne, and he’s a similar enough size that Etienne is still the favorite for goal-line work.
- He’s an upside handcuff in a great offense, but he projects to be a breather back whenever Etienne is healthy.
Steelers select TE Darnell Washington with No. 93 Pick
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- Darnell Washington is completely blocked by Pat Freiermuth.
- Washington could be an asset from a pure football perspective, but he’ll need an injury to have any shot at fantasy relevance this season.
Cardinals select WR Michael Wilson with No. 94 Pick
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- Michael Wilson is a capable slot option, who is less dynamic than Rondale Moore.
- This Cardinals offense should be bottom-five until Kyler Murray returns.
- Wilson is nothing more than a final-round best ball pick who should be avoided in redraft.
Raiders select WR Tre Tucker with No. 100 Pick
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- Tre Tucker is 182 pounds and was out-produced at Cincinnati by Tyler Scott (scouting report).
- He does not project to be fantasy relevant in the NFL.
49ers select TE Cameron Latu with No. 101 Pick
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- Cameron Latu is an undersized, moderately athletic tight end.
- He is, at best, a low-ceiling handcuff to George Kittle.
- Most likely, Latu will never be fantasy relevant
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