10 potential draft steals that could take your Fantasy Football to the top in 2023

The summer is an exciting time for NFL fans who are emotionally invested in fantasy football. The prospect of another campaign competing against their family, friends or coworkers is exciting, and individuals put a lot of time into crafting a strong roster. We’ll take a look at 10 players who might be overlooked by the fantasy football community, but could deliver in a big way in 2023.

The fantasy football landscape at quarterback is as uncertain as its been in a few years, but Pickett might be someone you can scoop up at the end of the draft with enormous dividends. The Pittsburgh Steelers are as well coached as any team in the league, and the front office has put a ton of weapons around the second year passer.

Receivers taken in the first round of the NFL Draft have burst onto the scene in recent years, but Johnson isn’t expected to be one of those players. That perception might be incorrect though, as he finds himself behind two injury prone pass catchers on the Los Angeles Chargers. If Keenan Allen or Mike Williams miss time, Johnson could be in for some notable production.

He’s bounced around the league a little bit in recent years, but Hurst is still a serviceable NFL tight end. He’s with the Carolina Panthers this season, who will look to bring in a new era under a rookie quarterback. Tight ends can serve as reliable safety valves for rookies, which means that Hurst could see a ton of volume with Bryce Young at the controls.

Watson didn’t look comfortable after coming back to the Cleveland Browns from suspension, but has the potential to find his form after a full offseason. It’s easy to forget, but Watson was among the very best quarterbacks in the NFL from a real-life and fantasy perspective, so taking a gamble on that high ceiling wouldn’t be the worst thing.

It’s generally not advisable to target running backs on teams that are expected to struggle, but Conner might be an exception. He figures to handle the lion’s share of the backfield work for the Arizona Cardinals. Conner is also a good receiver for his position, and the Cardinals may be forced to look in his direction early and often.

No one could have predicted Williams’ dynamite campaign in 2022, as he rumbled his way to 17 rushing touchdowns with the Detroit Lions. He signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency, who might need a jolt of production from the running back position if Alvin Kamara is suspended by the NFL. Williams stands to get goal line carries even when Kamara is active.

Williams will miss the first six games of the Detroit Lions season due to suspension, but his talent warrants fantasy owners taking a late-round flier on him. Even though he only played in six games last year, his ability was evident. He could be a difference-maker down the stretch of the season, which is why he should be considered for a bench spot on fantasy teams.

Darren Waller is no longer a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, which opens up a ton of opportunity for other receivers on the team. While some think Jakobi Meyers will be the largest beneficiary, Renfrow might be the player who gobbles up those targets. He caught 103 passes in 2021, and could serve as a solid slot option for Jimmy Garoppolo.

Christian McCaffery deserves a ton of credit for performing as well as he did with the San Francisco 49ers last season, but it should also be noted that the bellcow back has missed time due to injury. The 49ers are fond of keeping multiple running backs in the picture anyway, which means that Mitchell will have an avenue to playing time, and a golden opportunity if McCaffery got hurt.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving on without Tom Brady, and their quarterback situation is uncertain at best. This means that they might lean on their ground game, which is slated to be anchored by White. He gave the Buccaneers a boost last season, churning out yards that an ineffective Leonard Fournette could not.