It’s time to forget what happened to our fantasy football teams in 2022, and focus on fantasy football 2023. We’ll revisit players that helped win our leagues as well as some that underperformed.
After a long season of playing fantasy football it’s nice to sit back, grab your favorite beverage and celebrate the victory or daydream about what might have been.
Investigating the how’s and why’s of a season is what makes us great fantasy football players.
Fantasy Moxie
In order to be great at fantasy football you need to have the courage to draft players ahead of their ADP (average draft position).
The moxie to take a player earlier than expected is what wins and losses leagues.
For example: If you took a chance and discredited Saquon Barkleys’ recent injury history and drafted him in the first round in 2022, you were rewarded with the sixth best running back in fantasy football.
Barkley was a huge part of the Giants offensive attack. He finished with 1,312 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, adding 338 yards receiving on 57 receptions.
Having the guts to take Barkley based on past performance and forward trajectory paid handsome dividends for you.
Another player that fits this definition and surprised us in 2022 is Amari Cooper— Yes, that Amari Cooper!
The Browns were starting journeyman Jacoby Brissett at quarterback due to the Deshawn Watson “situation,” and nobody was sure what Cooper would produce.
For those that gambled on Coopers’ talent and drafted him before the fifth round– congratulations– you hit a home run! He finished the eighth best receiver in fantasy football while tallying 1,160 yards receiving and added nine touchdowns.
Having the foresight on players that breakout or regress wins championships every season. Now there is only one thing left to do.. Win!
Fantasy Regret
My biggest regret from last season was drafting Najee Harris with the sixth spot in my 12-man league. I thought he was a steal, but he burned me. Week after agonizing week I’d wake up Sunday morning with childish hope that he would perform. Only to have my hopes dashed with another stat line that read 17 carries for 65 yards and no touchdowns.
However underwhelming Harris was, I managed to work the waiver wire and take third in my league.
Since Najee didn’t meet my expectations in fantasy football last season, does that mean I avoid him in 2023?
In short, no!
Harris is still a great running back with plenty of potential. Unfortunately his upside is capped by whatever offense Matt Canada (offensive coordinator) decides to run in Pittsburgh. His ability to make the offense boring and predictable is astounding.
I still believe in the talent Najee Harris possess, but I’ll be cautious when ranking him amongst other running backs due to his 2022 performance.
But it wasn’t just Harris that gave fantasy owners regret in 2022. There were five other big draft day disappointments of mention:
Moreover, these top tier players were drafted to guarantee a level of performance and ensure us a fantasy football championship. Despite letting us down we must move forward and focus on fantasy football 2023!
Fantasy Focus 2023
The start of every new season has a freshness to it, and fantasy football is no different. New faces emerge while old reliable players fade before our very eyes.
Our job as fantasy football players is to predict which players are ready for an upgrade, and when to fade the ones we love.
Now that fantasy football offseason has arrived we must first focus on player movement– which players sign with new teams, and which are newly available.
At the time of this writing, these top performers are still without a team:
Although these great players have performed well throughout their NFL careers; they’ll need the right circumstance to produce for fantasy owners in 2023.
On the other hand are players that have moved on from their respective teams via trade or signing to improve their situation.
- Miles Sanders– Eagles to Panthers
- D’Andre Swift– Lions to Eagles
- Jamaal Williams– Lions to Saints
- David Montgomery– Bears to Lions
- Devin Singletary– Bills to Texans
Every one of these running backs will need to navigate a new playbook and blocking scheme to provide their new team with offense.
Regardless of who you decide to draft this year or which players have moved on, fantasy football season is back! And fantasy farm sports will keep you up to date with offseason moves and training camp rumors.
For the greatest sports media join Fantasy Farm Sports!
