Rookies to Target in Your Last-Minute Fantasy Football Drafts
The 2023 NFL regular season is set to kick off Thursday night, and while most fantasy football leagues have already drafted, there are sure to be a handful of last-minute drafts taking place right up until kickoff.
Placing the right value on top rookies can be the difference between winning your league and dreading whatever creative last-place punishment your friends have come up with.
This year's NFL draft was loaded with talented skill-position players on offense, but many of them landed in curious situations, with depth charts that could limit their opportunities.
As you make your last-minute preparations and get your final drafts in under the tag, here are the top rookies to keep on your radar for this year's fantasy football season:
RB Bijan Robinson, ATL
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If the NFL is devaluing running backs right now, somebody forgot to tell the Falcons, who spent the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 draft on Robinson. A three-down playmaker who can make an immediate impact on the ground and through the air, Robinson should get a massive amount of touches in the Falcons' run-heavy offense.
His pass-catching ability gives Robinson PPR value, and the Falcons didn't spend a top-10 pick on him to make him part of a frustrating committee.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, DET
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Much like the Falcons with Robinson, the Lions also bucked the recent trend of not spending high draft picks on running backs, as they selected Gibbs with the No. 12 overall selection this year. An explosive weapon who can line up all over the field, Gibbs has big-play potential on every touch, and the Lions are sure to get creative with how they get him the ball.
Even with David Montgomery taking some of the early-down workload, Gibbs should still have tons of scoring potential, particularly in PPR formats.
WR Zay Flowers, BAL
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Flowers was the third of four straight receivers to come off the board in the back half of this year's NFL draft, but he might be in position to make the biggest and most immediate impact this season. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken should finally open up the Ravens' passing attack, and Lamar Jackson should take full advantage of Flowers' elite route-running ability, short-ara quickness, and explosiveness.
Don't be surprised if he's fed early and often, even with the addition of Odell Beckham Jr. and the return of a healthy Rashod Bateman.
WR Jordan Addison, MIN
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Addison was the fourth straight receiver taken in the first round, one pick after Flowers, and also ended up in a solid situation. While opposing defenses are focused on slowing down Justin Jefferson, Addison should have plenty of room to work as he replaces departed veteran Adam Thielen as the Vikings' No. 2 receiver.
What he lacks in ideal size, Addison makes up for with smooth routes, reliable hands, and the after-the-catch ability to turn any catch into a big play. If Kirk Cousins can be consistent this season, Addison should get plenty of chances to make defenses pay for spending all their attention on Jefferson.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA
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A wrist injury in the preseason required surgery, so it's still unclear when JSN will be back on the field at full strength. That said, once he does find his way into the lineup, Smith-Njigba has all the traits of a No. 1 NFL receiver, but opposing defenses will be too busy trying to cover DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to pay the rookie enough attention.
The injury (and potential missed action early in the season) could allow you to land JSN at a discount during your draft, and your patience could pay off in a big way once he's fully healthy.
WR Quentin Johnston, LAC
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Similar to the Seahawks, the Chargers already have a pair of entrenched veterans at wide receiver in Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, but they also have a fairly pass-happy offense with a quarterback who can sling it with the best of them (Justin Herbert). Johnston should benefit from opponents having to focus on Williams and Allen, giving him tons of 1-on-1 opportunities.
Johnston has a size/length/athleticism combination that no other receiver has in this draft class, so his upside is limitless, as long as he gets enough opportunities.
QB Anthony Richardson, IND
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The lone quarterback on this list, Richardson has rare upside thanks to a skill set we might never have seen at the position before. His combination of size, athleticism, arm talent and intelligence gives him superstar potential, and even though he's sure to take his lumps as a rookie starter from Day 1, he should prove to be a quick study who still finds a way to win with his physical tools while he refines the rest of his game against NFL defenses.
It might be rough early, but Richardson could end up being a special player who wins your league for you down the stretch.
TE Dalton Kincaid, BUF
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The Bills already had a solid tight end in Dawson Knox, but they traded up to spend their first pick in this year's draft on another one in Kincaid. Teams don't do that unless they plan on making that player a big part of their game plan, and considering how often the Bills throw the football, Kincaid could be in line for a sizable chunk of the target share coming from Josh Allen.
Widely regarded as the best pure pass-catching prospect in this year's deep tight end class, Kincaid will create matchup problems for opposing defenses, whether he's lined up in the trenches, in the slot, or split out wide. He should get tons of red-zone looks, as well, which means plenty of touchdown opportunities.
