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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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