2023 Fantasy Football Draft Prep: Post-preseason ADP review with players to target and avoid at draft cost

Within the spirit of reviewing drafts as we check out the newest model of the CBS Sports activities Common Draft Place information, I assumed I might offer you a peek on the gamers I am rostering essentially the most to this point. I am solely utilizing the leagues which can be being performed out and never the 100-plus mocks we have accomplished.

It seems to be like I will be in 25 leagues this season, however I’ve solely accomplished 14 of these drafts as of Aug. 27. These are leagues on CBS Sports activities, Yahoo, MyFantasyLeague, Sleeper and RealTime Fantasy Sports activities, they usually embody a number of codecs (PPR, 0.5 PPR, Superflex, Dynasty, IDP, tight-end premium and guillotine).

Whereas I prefer to have publicity to as many gamers as potential, I undoubtedly have a tendency to focus on “my guys,” that are those I like to recommend you draft as nicely. So listed below are the gamers by place on my groups.

Quarterback: Justin Herbert (3 groups), Justin Fields (3), Anthony Richardson (3), Joe Burrow (2), Sam Howell (2), Matthew Stafford (2), Ryan Tannehill (2), Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, Dak Prescott, Geno Smith, Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray, Jordan Love, C.J. Stroud, Bryce Younger, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mac Jones 

Operating again: J.Ok. Dobbins (6 groups), Samaje Perine (6), Roschon Johnson (5), Jaylen Warren (4), Kyren Williams (4), Bijan Robinson (3), Tank Bigsby (3), Zach Charbonnet (3), Elijah Mitchell (3), Jeff Wilson (3), Jerome Ford (3), Jamaal Williams (3), Austin Ekeler (2), Alexander Mattison (2), Dameon Pierce (2), James Prepare dinner (2), Ty Chandler (2), Pierre Sturdy Jr. (2), D’Onta Foreman (2), Christian McCaffrey, Tony Pollard, Nick Chubb, Jahmyr Gibbs, Travis Etienne, James Conner, Miles Sanders, Najee Harris, Rachaad White, David Montgomery, D’Andre Swift, Isiah Pacheco, Khalil Herbert, Kenneth Gainwell, Antonio Gibson, Tyjae Spears, Israel Abanikanda, Chase Brown, Latavius Murray, Boston Scott, Deuce Vaughn, Tyler Allgeier, Kareem Hunt, Devin Singletary, Joshua Kelley

Broad receiver: Calvin Ridley (5 groups), Tyreek Hill (4), D.J. Moore (4), Romeo Doubs (4), Jameson Williams (4), Justyn Ross (4), CeeDee Lamb (3), DeVonta Smith (3), Jaylen Waddle (3), Diontae Johnson (3), Gabe Davis (3), Nico Collins (3), Treylon Burks (3), Quentin Johnston (3), Richie James (3), Ja’Marr Chase (2), Christian Watson (2), Drake London (2), Chris Godwin (2), Skyy Moore (2), Marvin Mims (2), Nathaniel Dell (2), Rashee Rice (2), Jakobi Meyers (2), Puka Nacua (2), Justin Jefferson, Cooper Kupp, Garrett Wilson, Tee Higgins, Deebo Samuel, DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, Tyler Lockett, Mike Evans, Jerry Jeudy, Marquise Brown, Michael Thomas, Elijah Moore, Odell Beckham Jr., D.J. Chark, Rondale Moore, Zay Jones, Michael Gallup, Darius Slayton, Tyquan Thornton, Calvin Austin III  

Tight finish: Sam LaPorta (3 groups), Dalton Schultz (3), Darren Waller (2), Jake Ferguson (2), Dalton Kincaid (2), Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, Dallas Goedert, Kyle Pitts, David Njoku, Juwan Johnson, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Gerald Everett, Mike Gesicki, Trey McBride, Tyler Conklin, Isaiah Doubtless, Jeremy Ruckert

I am trying ahead to including extra names to this record with my upcoming drafts. However listed below are the gamers I am clearly gravitating towards this season. Now, let’s break down the newest model of the CBS Sports activities ADP.

Editor’s word: The CBS Sports activities Common Draft Place information takes under consideration all drafts and all codecs, together with mock drafts.

High 12 general

Here’s what the highest 12 general picks appear to be as of Aug. 28:

1. Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN
2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, SF
3. Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC
4. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, CIN
5. Travis Kelce, TE, KC
6. Bijan Robinson, RB, ATL
7. Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA
8. Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC
9. Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG
10. Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR
11. Nick Chubb, RB, CLE
12. Stefon Diggs, WR, BUF

Bravo. For the previous three weeks, taking a look at this record made me ailing. Now, we now have a reasonably stable high 12 in the case of what the ADP ought to appear to be.

Final week, for instance, three quarterbacks had been being chosen within the first spherical (Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen), and guys like Hill, Kupp and Diggs had been entering into Spherical 2. All three of these receivers needs to be first-round picks, and all three quarterbacks needs to be chosen in Spherical 2 of a one-quarterback league. 

Derrick Henry was additionally a first-round choose final week, and I’d solely contemplate him there in non-PPR codecs. Henry is now at No. 13 general. Tony Pollard is at No. 14 general, and I’d draft him in Spherical 1 in all leagues.

We’ll see if Josh Jacobs creeps into Spherical 1 now that he is again with the Raiders after getting an upgraded one-year contract price as much as $12 million. However I’d nonetheless draft him in Spherical 2, and he is presently the No. 20 general participant. 

Quarterbacks

Here’s what the highest 12 quarterbacks appear to be as of Aug. 28:

1. Patrick Mahomes, KC (No. 8 general)
2. Jalen Hurts, PHI (No. 15 general)
3. Josh Allen, BUF (No. 17 general)
4. Lamar Jackson, BAL (No. 27 general)
5. Joe Burrow, CIN (No. 32 general)
6. Justin Herbert, LAC (No. 38 general)
7. Justin Fields, CHI (No. 43 general)
8. Trevor Lawrence, JAC (No. 55 general)
9. Deshaun Watson, CLE (No. 73 general)
10. Kirk Cousins, MIN (No. 82 general)
11. Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (No. 86 general)
12. Dak Prescott, DAL (No. 92 general)

I am not drafting Mahomes in Spherical 1 in a one-quarterback league, and I am glad to see Hurts and Allen fall to Spherical 2, which is the place all three of the highest quarterbacks belong. I additionally suppose it is nonetheless too early for Jackson and Burrow in Spherical 3, Herbert and Fields in Spherical 4 and Lawrence in Spherical 5.

I am additionally not enthusiastic about drafting Cousins and Rodgers at this worth, and I might fairly watch for guys I contemplate to have extra upside in Tua Tagovailoa (QB13 at No. 93 general) and Anthony Richardson (QB15 at No. 115 general). These are two of my favourite breakout candidates this season.

Another nice quarterback values for me embody Daniel Jones (QB16 at No. 118 general), Geno Smith (QB17 at No. 118 general), Kenny Pickett (QB21 at No. 157 general), Jordan Love (QB24 at No. 173 general) and Sam Howell, who doesn’t have an ADP on CBS as of now. I’d be superb if Jones or Smith had been my No. 1 quarterback this season, even in a 12-team league.

Operating backs

Here’s what the highest 24 working backs appear to be as of Aug. 28:

1. Christian McCaffrey, SF (No. 2 general)
2. Austin Ekeler, LAC (No. 3 general)
3. Bijan Robinson, ATL (No. 6 general)
4. Saquon Barkley, NYG (No. 9 general)
5. Nick Chubb, CLE (No. 11 general)
6. Derrick Henry, TEN (No. 13 general)
7. Tony Pollard, DAL (No. 14 general)
8. Josh Jacobs, LV (No. 20 general)
9. Joe Mixon, CIN (No. 23 general)
10. Jonathan Taylor, IND (No. 24 general)
11. Aaron Jones, GB (No. 26 general)
12. Travis Etienne, JAC (No. 29 general)
13. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (No. 31 general)
14. Najee Harris, PIT (No. 33 general)
> 15. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (No. 35 general)
16. Dameon Pierce, HOU (No. 40 general)
17. James Conner, ARI (No. 45 general)
18. Alexander Mattison, MIN (No. 46 general)
19. Kenneth Walker III, SEA (No. 47 general)
20. Breece Corridor, NYJ (No. 53 general)
21. J.Ok. Dobbins, BAL (No. 54 general)
22. Miles Sanders, CAR (No. 56 general)
23. Alvin Kamara, NO (No. 60 general)
24. Rachaad White, TB (No. 61 general)

The largest storyline to comply with this week is Taylor, and by the point you learn this we’d have extra information on his standing — and placement — for 2023. If he alters groups to a good vacation spot, we might see him creep again into the center of Spherical 2 forward of men like Mixon and Jacobs. Even when he stays with the Colts then late Spherical 2 is a superb spot to gamble on him.

Harris’ ADP has began to say no, and I’ve seen him fall to Spherical 5 in a number of leagues as Jaylen Warren continues to make this appear to be an eventual timeshare in Pittsburgh. Warren (RB42 at No. 124 general) is certainly one of my favourite working backs to focus on, and I’d draft him a minimum of two rounds forward of his present ADP proper now.

There are nonetheless questions relating to the well being of Walker, who handled a groin harm in coaching camp, and Corridor, who’s getting back from final 12 months’s torn ACL. Whereas I am involved about each working backs, together with the competitors they may face in their very own backfields this season, that is the proper spot to gamble on these guys. Javonte Williams (RB28 at No. 70 general) can be priced proper given the issues for his return from final 12 months’s torn ACL as nicely.

Dobbins, as you’ll be able to see from the record above of gamers I’ve been drafting essentially the most, continues to be certainly one of my favourite values. I goal him in early Spherical 4, and I am thrilled each time he falls to me in Spherical 5 or later.

A few of my different favourite working again values embody Khalil Herbert (RB32 at No. 83 general), Antonio Gibson (RB37 at No. 99 general), Samaje Perine (RB38 at No. 102 general), Tank Bigsby (RB47 at No. 136 general), Roschon Johnson (RB50 at No. 142 general), Kenneth Gainwell (RB53 at No. 156 general), Tyjae Spears (RB57 at No. 180 general), Kendre Miller (RB59 at No. 186 general) and Ty Chandler (RB64 at No. 208 general).

Broad receivers

Here’s what the highest 24 huge receivers appear to be as of Aug. 28:

1. Justin Jefferson, MIN (No. 1 general)
2. Ja’Marr Chase, CIN (No. 4 general)
3. Tyreek Hill, MIA (No. 7 general)
4. Cooper Kupp, LAR (No. 10 general)
5. Stefon Diggs, BUF (No. 12 general)
6. A.J. Brown, PHI (No. 16 general)
7. Davante Adams, LV (No. 18 general)
8. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (No. 19 general)
9. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (No. 21 general)
10. Garrett Wilson, NYJ (No. 22 general)
11. Jaylen Waddle, MIA (No. 25 general)
12. DeVonta Smith, PHI (No. 28 general)
13. Chris Olave, NO (No. 30 general)
14. Calvin Ridley, JAC (No. 36 general)
15. Tee Higgins, CIN (No. 37 general)
16. Deebo Samuel, SF (No. 39 general)
17. Keenan Allen, LAC (No. 41 general)
18. DK Metcalf, SEA (No. 42 general)
19. D.J. Moore, CHI (No. 44 general)
20. Christian Watson, GB (No. 48 general)
21. Amari Cooper, CLE (No. 49 general)
22. DeAndre Hopkins, TEN (No. 52 general)
23. Drake London, ATL (No. 59 general)
24. Jerry Jeudy, DEN (No. 63 general)

Lots has modified with the receiver ADP, and I really like most of it. For starters, the values for many of the high 15 guys is the place it needs to be — Higgins continues to be too low — however that hasn’t been the case for many of the previous three weeks.

Jeudy, who suffered a hamstring harm this previous week, shouldn’t be drafted as a high 24 receiver any extra. We do not know the way lengthy he’ll be out, however he is not anticipated to play in Week 1 and will miss a number of weeks. Courtland Sutton (WR45 at No. 114 general) ought to see his worth rise, and a fantastic late-round choose is now rookie Marvin Mims, who presently does not have an ADP on CBS. That may change over the subsequent few days.

Terry McLaurin (toe) additionally just lately suffered an harm, and his standing for Week 1 is doubtful. He is being drafted as WR27 at No. 67 general, and that is too quickly. I might fairly have his teammate, Jahan Dotson, who’s WR35 at No. 87 general.

Diontae Johnson (WR28 at No. 74 general) has moved previous teammate George Pickens (WR34 at No. 80 general), which wasn’t the case for the previous three weeks. Johnson needs to be drafted first, particularly in PPR, however I really like the worth for each of them because the Steelers passing assault seems to be a lot improved this 12 months.

A few of my different favourite receiver values embody Jordan Addison (WR36 at No. 88 general), Zay Flowers (WR39 at No. 96 general), Gabe Davis (WR41 at No. 100 general), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR42 at No. 106 general), Skyy Moore (WR44 at No. 113 general), Elijah Moore (WR48 at No. 126 general), Romeo Doubs (WR49 at No. 129 general), Treylon Burks (WR52 at No. 135 general) and Nico Collins (WR54 at No. 140 general).

Tight ends

Here’s what the highest 12 tight ends appear to be as of Aug. 28:

1. Travis Kelce, KC (No. 5 general)
2. Mark Andrews, BAL (No. 34 general)
3. George Kittle, SF (No. 50 general)
4. T.J. Hockenson, MIN (No. 51 general)
5. Darren Waller, NYG (No. 57 general)
6. Dallas Goedert, PHI (No. 58 general)
7. Kyle Pitts, ATL (No. 69 general)
8. Evan Engram, JAC (No. 84 general)
9. Pat Freiermuth, PIT (No. 90 general)
10. David Njoku, CLE (No. 97 general)
11. Dalton Kincaid, BUF (No. 105 general)
12. Dalton Schultz, HOU (No. 110 general)

I am glad Taysom Hill is not being drafted as a beginning Fantasy tight finish since he had been at No. 12 for the previous three weeks. Now, he is TE20 at No. 177 general, which is okay if you wish to take a flier on him.

I nonetheless don’t love Kittle as TE3, and I might fairly have Waller, Hockenson, Pitts and Goedert over Kittle this 12 months, in that order. That may very well be a mistake, however I am involved about Kittle’s manufacturing if everybody in San Francisco stays wholesome this season.

Kincaid is price drafting as a low-end starter this 12 months, and his worth is nice as TE11. As I’ve stated for weeks, you’ll be able to draft him with one other tight finish which may have a safer ground (Tyler Higbee for instance as TE13 at No. 144 general), however Kincaid may very well be a standout Fantasy choice, even in his rookie marketing campaign. I additionally love the identical technique with fellow rookie tight finish Sam LaPorta (TE15 at No. 149 general).

Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE17 at No. 159 general) and Juwan Johnson (TE18 at No. 165 general) are two of my favourite late-round tight ends to focus on. I contemplate Johnson a low-end starter in all leagues, and Okonkwo ought to profit with Burks (knee) and Kyle Philips (knee) banged up in Tennessee.