2023 NFL Draft: Avoid These Rookies in Your Fantasy Football Drafts

Crowded backfields, buried on the depth chart, and a steep learning curve are just a few of the reasons fantasy football players should think twice about drafting these 2023 rookies.

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As we begin to digest all the selections in the 2023 NFL Draft, a bunch of the players landed in less-than-ideal spots for the fantasy redraft value. With that said, let’s look at which first-year players will struggle to make an instant fantasy football impact based on their new teams and current roster competitions. We’ll start off in Seattle, where Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be a tough sell in drafts.

• SEE ALSO: NFL Draft Winners

Note: Players listed in order of their draft position. Values based on redraft leagues.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Widely considered the best wideout in the class, Smith-Njigba landed in what could be a good long-term spot with the Seahawks. For now, he’ll be no more than the third option in the Seattle passing game behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. That puts a cap on his rookie ceiling and makes Smith-Njigba more of a late rounder in most 2023 fantasy redrafts.

Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Johnston is a big bodied wideout who could be the Chargers No. 1 wideout of the future. However, he’ll be battling veterans like Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Josh Palmer for targets in his first season. So, unless Allen or Williams is forced to miss time due to injuries, the TCU product could have a tough time making a real immediate impact for managers.

Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Like Johnston, I like Flowers more in the long term than as a rookie in fantasy leagues. The Ravens added Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor this offseason, and Baltimore also have incumbents like Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman also in the mix. Flowers will pop here and there and be a better dynasty option, but chances are he won’t make a huge rookie impact.

Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans

Levis fell completely out of the first round, but he didn’t stay on the board much longer. The Titans traded up to land him, so the Kentucky product figures to be their future franchise quarterback. Notice how I said “future.” With Ryan Tannehill still on the roster, Levis figures to be a backup at the start of his first NFL season. He won’t be selected in most fantasy redrafts.

Jonathan Mingo, WR, Carolina Panthers

Mingo is an athletic wideout who posted a 51-861-5 line in his final collegiate season. He still needs some work to make a big impact at the next level, and he’ll likely open his career behind Adam Thielen, D.J. Chark and Terrace Marshall Jr. That’s not great news for his redraft appeal, but I do like Mingo more in long-term dynasty formats as Bryce Young’s future top target.

Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

Reed should get a chance to serve as the No. 3 wideout in Green Bay behind Christian Watson and Romeo Dobbs. That’s the good news. The bad news is that we really don’t know what to expect from new No. 1 quarterback Jordan Love as a passer. It’s also doubtful that Reed would be a regular contributor from a fantasy perspective, making him more of a dynasty snag.

Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Charbonnet was widely considered to be a potential starter at the next level, but that won’t happen in Seattle. Instead, he’ll play behind incumbent starter Kenneth Walker in what all of the sudden could be a backfield committee. This pick is not only a loser for Charbonnet’s fantasy appeal, but we also now have to be a bit concerned about Walker’s featured role.

Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Somewhat of a confusing pick, Dallas took Schoonmaker in the second round of the draft. He didn’t post great stats in his college days and was used as more of a blocker during most of his time at Michigan. The Cowboys will use a committee approach with Schoonmaker, Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot, making all three all but undraftable in most leagues.

Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Strange is an athletic player who was used as an H-back in college. He had a career year in 2022, though his 32-362-5 line isn’t going to impressive in fantasy land. With Evan Engram returning and the Jags pass attack loaded with weapons, Strange won’t have any redraft value.

Marvin Mims, WR, Denver Broncos

The Broncos moved up five spots to draft Mims. A speedy receiver who averaged 13.5 yards per target in his final two years in college, he has some long-term upside. However, Mims could struggle to make an immediate impact with Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick and Marquez Callaway on the depth chart. He’ll be more of a dynasty league draft stash.

Hendon Hooker, QB, Detroit Lions

Hooker landed in what could be a good spot in the long term, but you must question whether he has the tools to be an NFL starter. He used play action on 53.6% of his dropbacks in college and ran a ton of RPOs (run-pass options) with the Volunteers. As a passer, he did complete 69.6% of his passes in 2023. Still, he won’t pass Jared Goff on the depth chart as an NFL rookie.

Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston Texans

Better known as “Tank,” Dell is small at 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds but was elusive and explosive at Houston. He’ll stay at home with the Texans, who don’t have any real standout receivers on their current roster. Still, Dell could wind up playing a bigger role on special teams in his rookie year.

Jalin Hyatt, WR, New York Giants

Hyatt is an explosive pass catcher who posted a strong 67-1,267-15 line in his final collegiate season. His route tree could be a bit limited though, and he played in a Tennessee offense that ran a ton of RPOs. Hyatt also had most of his success in the slot, where the Giants already have a ton of options. I like him as more of a dynasty option than a potential sleeper in redrafts.

Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns

Tillman had a fantastic season in 2021, posting over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. He played in just six games last year though, as he dealt with a high-ankle sprain. The Browns are somewhat crowded at wide receiver after adding Elijah Moore, so Tillman will have a tough time etching out a significant role as a rookie. In fact, he’ll be more of a dynasty league stash.

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

 Downs was a star in his final two seasons with the Tar Heels, posting a combined 195 catches for 2,364 yards and 19 scores. Exclusively a slot receiver, he’ll probably be playing a secondary role behind Isaiah McKenzie in what could be a run-heavy offense in 2023. While I like Downs as a dynasty stash, he’ll have a tough time making a real fantasy impact this year.

Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers

Tucker landed in a pretty good spot with the Packers, but he’ll struggle to make an immediate impact (as most rookie tight ends do). Green Bay drafted Luke Musgrave in the second round, making him more of the favorite to replace Robert Tonyan as the starter. Kraft will be a dynasty stash.

Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans

Spears is coming off a monster season with the Green Wave, rushing for nearly 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also put up 22 catches, so Spears can be used as a pass catcher too. The downside, of course, is that he has no chance to pass Derrick Henry on the Titans depth chart and will have to compete with Hassan Haskins to be their No. 2 back. He’s a dynasty stash.

Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Bigsby rushed for over 2,000 combined yards and 20 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Auburn. An elusive, powerful runner, Bigsby could be used as a goal-line runner for the Jaguars in his rookie year. Still, he won’t push Travis Etienne for the top spot on the depth chart and will have to deal with D’Ernest Johnson and JaMycal Hasty for touches in the backfield.

Darnell Washington, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington fell in the draft over concerns about an injured knee, and his landing spot won’t be conducive to making an impact. The Steelers boast a strong pass catching tight end in Pat Freiermuth, so Washington will play a secondary role and be used mostly in-line because of his size (6-foot-7, 264 pounds). He’ll be more of a dynasty option heading into this season.

Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Wilson posted unimpressive numbers as a five-year player at Stanford. His best season came as a sophomore when he had a 56-672-5 line for the Cardinal. He certainly could see an uptick in value if Arizona decides to trade DeAndre Hopkins, but for now Wilson isn’t on the redraft radar.

Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

Tucker was used mostly as a slot receiver at Cincinnati, posting career bests in catches (52) and yards (672) last season. He’s a smaller receiver at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, however, and he’ll be hard pressed to make any sort of impact in the pass attack with Hunter Renfrow on the roster.

Cameron Latu, TE, San Francisco 49ers

Latu’s college numbers don’t pop off the page, and playing behind George Kittle is going to make him all but undraftable in fantasy formats (including dynasty leagues). He’s an afterthought at this point.

Israel Abanikanda, RB, New York Jets

Abanikanda lands in a tough spot, as the Jets are loaded at running back with guys like Breece Hall, Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight all in the mix. Unless Hall’s recovery from knee surgery causes him to miss the start of the season, I’m not sure Abanikanda will have value in any sort of fantasy format.

Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots

LSU wideouts are always of some interest in fantasy, but Boutte is going to be buried on the Patriots depth chart as a rookie. He’ll be a dynasty league stash at best with no real redraft value in 2023.