Which Players in 2023 Fantasy Football League Do You Think Be The Biggest Shocks?
Which Players in 2023 Fantasy Football League Do You Think Be The Biggest Shocks?
Our various media fantasy football ran multiple series in the month of June on this lovely topic. This basically looked at the most unexpected individuals and teams from 2018 and tried to extrapolate who would fit that mould in 2023.
After much deliberation, several hosts and co-hosts would propose a large pool of potential candidates and vote on a final slate of three. This activity took a lot of effots and was both entertaining and taxing, and it forced many to rethink some of many’s long-held beliefs.
Here, we have noted and summarize for U a few final words and explain our reasoning behind each heated discussion.
Geno Smith of This Year
In an episode, Andy Behrens, who vehemently advocated for Baker Mayfield. Although Mayfield seems like an odd hill for Andy to die on, and we saw how it fits the bill.
He’s a seasoned player who can hold his own, but he’s been in and out of favour with several coaches. Like Smith did the year before, he has a 1A-1B tandem in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to help out his passing game.
Russell Gauge isn’t a terrible back-up choice. Mayfield has shown chemistry with slot options like Jarvis Landry in the past, so high hopes are held for their chemistry with Godwin, who is essentially a primed version of Landry.
Nonetheless, Mayfield’s inability to complete difficult throws on timing routes to perimeter receivers is one of my biggest concerns with his game, right behind his amazing overestimation of his playmaking skills on the move.
Odell Beckham Jr. and DJ Moore, two proven excellent players, have had the worst stretches of their careers under Baker Mayfield at quarterback. This makes me wary of assuming any kind of romantic chemistry between him and Evans, who is a star but isn’t fresh off his best year.
This is why, in the end, many will never be able to fully connect with Mayfield. It’s not the first time we’ve seen him blow a golden opportunity.
Although it was a bit of a cheating combo answer, many pushed for our nomination of the Washington Commanders QB1. Sam Howell or, more likely, Jacoby Brissett, putting up passing stats comparable to Geno’s in 2022 would require a lot of luck.
Many would keep going back to the Washington team because of the surrounding receiver corps.
Terry McLaurin gets no respect. He is a top-12 receiver in the NFL and a complete player in terms of his ability to run routes and win contested receptions.
After an impressive debut season, Jahan Dotson has the potential to surpass the second-year wide receivers in the upper tier of the hype cycle.
Curtis Samuel is an outstanding and adaptable slot receiver. As the season winds down, Washington’s wide receiver trio will be a legitimate contender for league MVP honours. Despite the new owner’s potential scrutiny of the coaching staff, I’m thrilled by the addition of Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator.
Many had an odd kind of confidence that the Commanders’ starting quarterback will have a solid surprise season, whether it’s Brissett holding the fort and being a high-quality distributor or Howell actually hitting on the upside some are holding out hope he brings to the table. The conditions are favourable for good play, at the very least.
The Jaguars of This Year
In an other =episode, Dalton Del Don, who was convinced that many made the right choice by going with the Jets. He made an excellent case, and the only reasons many voted no were because it was a little too chalky and the Jets had a little of an advantage in the previous season.
Many argued (again) for the Commanders to win because of their offensive prowess and solid defensive play. The top of the NFC East looks a bit too loaded for Washington to jump from worst to first, even if some of their players have a good fantasy season.
As a result, the Falcons emerged victorious. If you’ve been listening to commentaries on recent topics, you already know how optimistic many may be about this offence, what with all the skill players they have, the solid play of their offensive line, and the brilliant play calling of their head coach. Arthur Smith is, in fact, an offensive plus player.
The fantasy football community erroneously blames Smith for Kyle Pitts’ bad 2022 statistics and views the team’s emphasis on running the ball as a cardinal sin. Hatred is not founded on the truth depicted on film, thus it’s time to let this idea go.
When Desmond Ridder took over as quarterback, the Falcons increased their pass attempts in the final four games.
No one mentions that in 2021 with Matt Ryan as quarterback for the Falcons, Smith’s team averaged 33 pass attempts per game.
Even if Ridder is only partially effective, this club has enough talent on offence to win the division thanks to Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London.
The Josh Jacobs of This Year
Another Dalton Del Don episode on a podcast, many found this one particularly taxing after watching Jacobs’ great 2022 campaign.
While Dalton made a strong argument for David Montgomery, many argued for Brian Robinson because there is no way many won’t regret being this enthused about the Commanders’ offensive environment.
Many settled on Miles Sanders, who is going frighteningly late (63rd overall) in early best-ball drafts.
Sanders’s decision to leave the Eagles’ nest is unfortunate. Any rushing back would have an easy time in that situation with that offensive line, that much aerial weaponry, and a timeshare with Jalen Hurts in the backfield.
Still, Sanders is a solid NFL running back, and many see some upside in the Panthers’ decision to acquire his services.
The Panthers’ coaching staff went after Sanders hard in free agency and gave him a substantial portion of his guaranteed salary up front.
They were seeking him. Sanders’ early career with the Eagles, when he saw his most action as a receiver, was coached by Duce Staley, now an assistant head coach for the Panthers. With no more rushing quarterback to pair with him, that should improve in Carolina.
The Panthers plan to use Sanders as their primary three-down back moving forward.
Sanders is this year’s equivalent of last year’s J.J. Jacobs: a proven quality back who quietly has a backfield all to himself and is just going too late in drafts. His positional ranking cannot be lower than the top 20.
This Year’s Broncos
In this case, many assume no blame. You can thank Frank Schwab and whoever is responsible for the podcast that gave the incredibly talented 49ers team this “award.”
Maybe Frank is just a lot braver than many of us. The 49ers have some uncertainty at quarterback, and Steve Wilks’s arrival as defensive coordinator is a wild card. Many believe in Kyle Shanahan as a QB-proof play-caller, and many think they have too much offensive potential to fail.
Many cast ballot for Detroit. While the Lions’ defence is where they shine this season, many do have some concerns about their potent offence. Amon-Ra St. Brown is a massive threat in the slot, and the team can build their offence around him.
Rookies Jahmyr Gibbs at running back and Sam LaPorta at tight end are expected to be their second and third best pass catchers in Week 1. Who is dominating from beyond the 15-yard line this year, if anyone?
Even more so now that Jameson Williams (also a relative unknown) has been put on indefinite suspension. Did you say, “Marvin Jones?” What’s up, Josh Reynolds? The depth chart at receiver, outside of St. Brown, is one of the worst in the league.
Even if this is a great ecosystem under Ben Johnson, this problem is significant enough that it might derail the Lions’ enthusiasm.
The Amon-Ra St. Brown of This Year
With all due respect to St. Brown, many had always counted on Drake London to be the pick here.
Although the Falcons’ offence may favour the run, they will certainly increase their passing game in 2022 if Arthur Smith remains as offensive coordinator. While Ridder remains a mystery, the offence in which London participates is far from a negative. The negative arguments against London are as convincing as St. Brown’s stellar stretch to close his rookie year.
London was the 2022 Falcons’ greatest pass catcher even while he was on the pitch alongside the far more gifted Kyle Pitts. In 2023, that can still be the case.
One of the key reasons many remained bullish about London is his obvious potential as a player.
He wins in tight coverage on high-leverage targets and gets open at a high level for a large wideout. Everything about his rookie season’s performance when he’s on his own says “buy,” if not “buy now.”
Due to his current situation, London will not be drafted in the top 20 wide receivers. St. Brown was consistently ranked as high as the 25th best wide receiver during summer of 2022. His performance from there on out is common knowledge. A second season like that in London is possible.
