In the highly competitive League of Dynasties, the Tampa Spartans took their shot at fantasy glory from the 5th spot in the draft order. With 29 rounds to work their magic, they managed to secure a B- grade, which is, well, not exactly the stuff of legends. Projected to finish 7th with a lackluster 6-9-0 record, it seems the Spartans are destined for a season of average performances and dashed dreams.
While the Spartans did have a few bright spots in their draft, such as nabbing Calvin Ridley at pick 65 (a steal considering his ADP of 40), they also made some questionable choices. Case in point: selecting Justin Herbert at pick 41, a player with an ADP of 54. Perhaps the Spartans were trying to think outside the box, but it seems they ended up thinking outside the realm of logic. Adding insult to injury, they drafted not one, not two, but three players from the same team: Bijan Robinson, A.J. Terrell, and Calais Campbell. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket! With this draft, the Tampa Spartans have set themselves up for a season that's as unpredictable as their decision-making. Good luck, Spartans - you're going to need it!
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ADP Analysis
Bars above zero indicate a pick was selected later than a player's ADP. Bars below zero show players that were taken earlier than their ADP.
Inside the Draft
Player Outlooks
- Round 1, Pick 5 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 5 - 2022 Rank: 1560
One of the better RB prospects of the past decade, Robinson landed in Atlanta with the eighth overall pick after a dominant college career at Texas. At 215 pounds with 4.46 speed, the 21-year-old essentially is the prototype for his position. He even appears promising as a receiving threat, as his modest total of 60 receptions at Texas went for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. The spectacular efficiency hints at potential to add target volume in the NFL, though it might be more of a process than a Day 1 thing, especially given the likelihood of Atlanta again ranking near the bottom of the league in passing attempts. It's not often that a running back prospect projects for volume, efficiency and versatility to the extent that Robinson does. He does have decent competition for carries in Atlanta, but within the confines of a run-heavy offense and with the possibility of Cordarrelle Patterson being a cap casualty this summer. While 2022 fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier figures to retain some sort of role after running for 1,000 yards as a rookie, Robinson is on a different level of talent and shouldn't need long to establish himself as the lead back. At worst, the rookie figures to open the year seeing double-digit carries per week in a timeshare, with potential to make Allgeier obsolete (or close to it) as the year progresses.
- Round 2, Pick 17 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 6 - 2022 Rank: 85
Diggs' couldn't have asked for a better career development than being traded to Buffalo back in 2020, as each of his three seasons with the Bills resulted in more receiving yards and more catches than any of his five years in Minnesota. Heading into his age-30 season, Diggs is coming off three straight Pro Bowls and a 2022 campaign that saw him set a new career-high TD mark with 11 scores, including three in Week 2 alone. As the clear No. 1 target for Josh Allen, Diggs has averaged 112.7 catches for 1,396.3 yards and 9.7 touchdowns per season in his time with the Bills, solidifying himself as one of the few true alpha wideouts in the league. First-round rookie TE Dalton Kincaid a crowded cast of complementary options, but none of Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir or Dawson Knox are a true threat to Diggs' target share. As he approaches his age-30 season, remember that Diggs will some day begin to slow down. But he hasn't shown any signs of that yet. For now, the veteran is attached to an elite quarterback and established as the unquestioned No. 1 option amid his offense.
- Round 3, Pick 29 - Bye 10
2023 Rank: 21 - 2022 Rank: 175
The 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Smith followed up his strong rookie campaign with an even better Year 2. Rather than being overshadowed by A.J. Brown after he was acquired from the Titans, the different skill sets of the two wideouts proved to complement each other perfectly, and their presence downfield allowed Jalen Hurts to break out and join the ranks of elite NFL quarterbacks. The two receivers saw similar volumes, and while Brown's size and athleticism made him a better deep threat, Smith's sharp route-running allowed him to pick apart defenses in the intermediate parts of the field. The Eagles had little turnover on the offensive side of the ball after their NFC Championship, so Smith's role figures to remain stable in 2023. He should continue to feature prominently in debates about who the best No. 2 receiver in the league is, alongside Tee Higgins and Jaylen Waddle.
- Round 4, Pick 41 - Bye 5
2023 Rank: 61 - 2022 Rank: 10
By now it's safe to call Herbert one of the league's elite quarterbacks, even after a somewhat disappointing 2022 season saw his touchdown rate and per-pass yardage decline from his 2021 and 2020 seasons. It didn't make much sense for Herbert to only throw for 25 touchdowns in 2022 after throwing for 69 touchdowns over the two prior seasons, so the Chargers decided to make a switch at offensive coordinator, deleting Joe Lombardi's dink-and-dunk offense for a Kellen Moore scheme that will hopefully do more to unleash Herbert's standout downfield passing ability. Between Moore's addition and the selection of first-round wide receiver Quentin Johnston, it's shaping up to be a bounce-back season for Herbert and the Chargers offense. Although it seems Herbert won't ever be inclined to run much, he still has the athleticism to do so. He could provide fantasy production similar to Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen if he can just get his per-pass yardage up over 8.0 yards per attempt. If Herbert's pass attempt volume stabilizes while his per-pass returns spike upward, something like a 5,000-yard, 40-touchdown season could be on the table. He was already close in 2021, when he threw for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns.
- Round 5, Pick 53 - Bye 9
2023 Rank: 31 - 2022 Rank: 1561
The Lions clearly think Gibbs is a franchise RB after using the 12th pick in the draft on him. He doesn't have an ideal lead RB size, but he's not a small back either. However, he doesn't profile as a strong interior runner. His game is vision and speed, and he has elite skills in those areas. Getting him in space as a runner and receiver would make the ideal situation for him. Since the team has David Montgomery, Gibbs could be held below 250 touches and lose red-zone opportunities, though that isn't a guarantee. His range of outcomes is vast. Those who believe he'll be a game-breaker from Day One should aggressively target him in drafts. The concerns are that his touches will be limited and will lessen his potential upside. Though drafting him outside the top-12 running backs would still make him very valuable if he sees fewer touches than the top-backs in the league.
- Round 6, Pick 65 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 40 - 2022 Rank: 1530
Prior to sitting out most of the 2021 season to address mental health issues and subsequently being suspended for the 2022 campaign due to gambling, Ridley had established himself as an elite wide receiver. In his last full season, Ridley posted 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns with the Falcons. He'll likely take some time to get back up to game speed after the extended layoff, but Ridley has the skills to become the favorite target for rising star quarterback Trevor Lawrence in a Jacksonville passing game that also features WRs Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, as well as TE Evan Engram. The 28-year-old Ridley should still be in his physical prime, but returning to elite form after an extended layoff isn't easy. For instance, former standout RB Le'Veon Bell was never the same after sitting out the 2018 season due to a contract dispute.
- Round 7, Pick 80 - Bye 6
2023 Rank: 109 - 2022 Rank: 490
During his second NFL season last year, Freiermuth's involvement as a pass catcher increased significantly compared to his rookie campaign. However, he dipped from seven touchdowns in 2021 to only two in 2022, suffering from poor QB play and Pittsburgh's overall struggles in the red zone. It was otherwise a strong year, as the 2021 second-round pick set new highs with 63 catches, 732 yards, and 98 targets. Freiermuth tied for fourth among tight ends in overall targets but finished with only 13 red-zone targets, falling well short of the 20 he had in 2021. He has not yet caught a touchdown from Kenny Pickett. The Steelers added more focus on their offensive line during the offseason, settling for WR Allen Robinson and third-round rookie TE Darnell Washington as additions at the skill positions. While Freiermuth sprained the ACL and MCL in his left knee during Pittsburgh's season finale, he did not require surgery to recover and is expected to participate in training camp as usual. He figures to be one of the team's top three pass catchers, alongside WRs Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.
- Round 8, Pick 89 - Bye 14
2023 Rank: 1207 - 2022 Rank: 29
Luvu entered the 2022 season known almost exclusively for his work on special teams. He had never totaled more than 43 tackles in any of his first four pro campaigns, but he enjoyed a breakout season with increased opportunity. Despite missing two games, he registered 111 stops to go with seven sacks - both marks were second on the Panthers - and four passes defended. Those numbers are impressive on their own, but he also displayed big-play ability by forcing a fumble and returning his only interception for a score. Looking forward, Luvu faces a transition to new coordinator Ejiro Evero's 3-4 scheme, but he is slated to start alongside Shaq Thompson at inside linebacker. Whether he can reproduce last year's success remains to be seen, but Luvu's stock nonetheless has never been higher.
- Round 9, Pick 104 - Bye 10
2023 Rank: 1185 - 2022 Rank: 963
Leonard was on the way to establishing himself as one of the most well-rounded middle linebackers in the league. Across his first four relatively healthy seasons in the league, he posted 15 sacks, 30 passes defended, and 11 interceptions. That doesn't account for the fact that he also had over 120 tackles in each of those campaigns. Unfortunately, both his long and short-term future in the league may be in jeopardy. Leonard had two surgeries on his neck and back in the span of roughly five months in 2022. That limited him to only three games last year and has also kept him off the field during off-season team activities in 2023. Both Leonard and the team have publicly stated they hope he is available to begin the regular season, but his potential IDP value will depend entirely on his health outlook come training camp.
- Round 10, Pick 113 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 1203 - 2022 Rank: 45
Jewell was limited to only two games in 2021 due to a torn pectoral, and he appeared to be in for another injury-marred season in 2022. He managed to suit up for only three of Denver's first seven games due to calf and knee injuries. However, he showed exactly what he's capable of when healthy across the second half of the campaign by racking up double-digit tackles across seven of his final nine matchups. All told, he managed a career-high 128 stops and surpassed the century mark for the second time in his career. Jewell is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, and he'll be locked into a starting inside linebacker along fellow prolific tackler Alex Singleton. Assuming health is on his side, Jewell is a decent bet to top 150 tackles to go along with some sacks, pass breakups, and forced fumbles.
- Round 11, Pick 128 - Bye 9
2023 Rank: 1265 - 2022 Rank: 49
Greenlaw has been held back by injuries for a significant portion of his career, the prime example being 2021 when he played only three games while limited by multiple groin issues. His abilities shouldn't be in question, however. In a healthy 2022 campaign, Greenlaw posted a new career-high mark in tackles (127) over 15 active games. He also showcased some big-play ability, forcing two fumbles while recording a pick-six -- the second of his four-year career. Fred Warner is the big name on San Francisco's linebacking crew, but Greenlaw proved that he can play at a near Pro-Bowl level alongside the team's defensive leader, so long as the 26-year-old stays on the field. Unfortunately, he's already on the injury report, having missed OTAs while recovering from off-season surgery on his finger.
- Round 12, Pick 137 - Bye 6
2023 Rank: 1128 - 2022 Rank: 39
Queen has struggled for much of his time with Baltimore, failing to make a significant positive impact. This offseason, the team both declined his fifth-year option and inked Roquan Smith to a massive extension. The Ravens then proceeded to select Trenton Simpson in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, either with the plan to replace Queen next offseason or perhaps in middle of the 2023 campaign. For now, we should expect Queen should still have the inside track at one of the starting inside linebacker spots and there should be meaningful production in his profile if he gets enough playing time. There's some reason to believe that his form can improve, as he logged a career-best 117 tackles and five sacks while boosting his coverage ability by holding opposing QBs to a 69.1 rating when targeting him in 2022. While he may be on his way out of Baltimore, Queen should've plenty motivated to ensure he receives a second contract.
- Round 13, Pick 152 - Bye 14
2023 Rank: 509 - 2022 Rank: 94
Baker rivals and perhaps exceeds Minkah Fitzpatrick as one of the most exciting defensive playmakers in the league. He's picked off seven passes across his last three seasons combined and has forced at least one fumble in all but one of his campaigns in the NFL. That's all true without discussing his more routine plays, as Baker has also racked up triple-digit tackles four times in the last five years. While his performance on the field is covered, the 27-year-old's future in Arizona is a bit unclear. As could be expected based on the production laid out above, Baker expects to be compensated. Presumably, after extension talks didn't go as hoped, he requested a trade this offseason. Meanwhile, new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon appears to be preparing for the safety's departure by shifting Isaiah Simmons to the secondary. That could become a problem for Baker's role if he isn't moved, but it would be foolish for any team not to take full advantage of his talent.
- Round 14, Pick 161 - Bye 6
2023 Rank: 592 - 2022 Rank: 115
In a move that was hotly debated, the Steelers traded a first-round pick for Fitzpatrick in 2019. He's certainly held up his end of the deal, averaging 100 tackles and four interceptions in his three full seasons with Pittsburgh. Those stats don't accurately describe the impact that Fitzpatrick has on the defense, as he's proven to be a big-play threat in coverage. He's tallied at least nine pass breakups in all but one of his seasons. In addition, his ball-hawking has translated into five career touchdowns, including a 31-yard interception return in a Week 1 win against the Bengals in 2022. That big-play potential is the secret weapon in Fitzpatrick's fantasy arsenal, something that sets him apart from most other IDP options.
- Round 15, Pick 176 - Bye 5
2023 Rank: 585 - 2022 Rank: 128
- Round 16, Pick 185 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 117 - 2022 Rank: 26
Carr threw 24 or fewer TD passes in five of the last six years. He also has been held to fewer than 29 TD passes in nine of 10 seasons with a career high of 32 in 2015. It speaks volumes that the Raiders basically sent him home for the last three games of last season, eventually letting him walk with no real backup plan or compensation in return. Joey Bosa called it out a couple of years ago when he said that Carr folds under pressure. Last year, Carr had good blocking from his tackles, though the interior was a mess. Now with the Saints, he'll have solid RT play from Ryan Ramczyk. But unless the other linemen make jumps in previous effectiveness, this line will be a problem for Carr. Expect the Saints to hope their defense can keep them competitive. Also, look for a slow pace on offense with an emphasis on the running game when possible. The downfield passing could be a problem due to the OL, so Carr will need to have success in the short and intermediate areas. He'll likely be a borderline top-24 QB.
- Round 17, Pick 200 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 53 - 2022 Rank: 97
Sanders signed a four-year, $25 million contract with the Panthers in March, cashing in after a career year in 2022 which included 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground in 17 games for Philadelphia. He won't be playing in a top offense anymore, but with the Panthers, he'll make far more money and have a secure rushing workload. The Eagles had a variety of options at their disposal and would sometimes go away from Sanders in the game plan, which made his production inconsistent even in 2022. He'll likely average fewer yards per carry with the Panthers, but he may also get more overall touches after averaging between 13.5 and 16.4 per game in four seasons with the Eagles. Chuba Hubbard looms as a capable alternative, though he might get the bulk of his work on passing downs where Sanders is less useful. While that might come with the risk of getting phased out of the offense when the Panthers abandon the run, it's also possible Sanders gets more involved in the passing game (only 20 catches last year) on early downs.
- Round 18, Pick 209 - Bye 5
2023 Rank: 41 - 2022 Rank: 313
Coming off a late-season ACL injury in 2021, Godwin had a productive season. With Tom Brady getting the ball out quicker than ever, it benefitted Godwin, who played out of the slot 67 percent of the time. He set career highs with 104 catches and 142 targets. Meanwhile, his 9.8 yards per reception was well below his career average of over 13 yards. But he was still excellent with the ball in his hands. He posted a 72nd-percentile yards after the catch rate that allowed him to produce despite a 7.2 average yards per target. However, Godwin is an elite player, who is great at getting open and creating yardage. Baker Mayfield may not be a very good QB, but since Godwin can get open quickly and if he's always where he's expected to be when plays are called. Before Mayfield's injury-plagued 2021 season, Jarvis Landry averaged 79/997/4 (152) in three seasons with him, so Godwin, who is significantly better than Landry was, could easily explode in this offense. He may not have top-8 upside as he did in 2019, but he could finish in the top 18 at his position.
- Round 19, Pick 224 - Bye 10
2023 Rank: 181 - 2022 Rank: 411
The 2022 season was a frustrating one for Butker, a kicker not used to struggling. An ankle injury in Week 1 seemed to stick with Butker for most of the year, and he ended up converting just 18 of his 24 field goal attempts in 13 games. If Butker had stayed healthy he would have likely posted a much better conversion rate. In each of the five prior seasons Butker finished with a field goal percentage of 88.9 or better, even while kicking often and regularly from long range. Now healthy again, Butker should resume his pre-2022 functions as a high-volume, high-efficiency kicker in one of the league's best offenses. Before 2022 Butker averaged 29 field goals and 47 PATs made per season.
- Round 20, Pick 233 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 1446 - 2022 Rank: 432
- Round 21, Pick 248 - Bye 9
2023 Rank: 1464 - 2022 Rank: 284
- Round 22, Pick 257 - Bye 10
2023 Rank: 1853 - 2022 Rank: 134
- Round 23, Pick 272 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 1752 - 2022 Rank: 452
- Round 24, Pick 281 - Bye 13
2023 Rank: 1679 - 2022 Rank: 238
- Round 25, Pick 296 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 238 - 2022 Rank: 1551
The good news is that Young will have an impressive pair of tackles (Ikem Okwonu and Taylor Moton) protecting him during his rookie season, which should ensure he's not overwhelmed by pressure. The bad news is that the rest of the team surrounding this year's No. 1 overall pick appears considerably less talented. The Panthers traded away top receiver DJ Moore as part of the deal to acquire Young, revamping their receiving corps with veterans Adam Thielen, DJ Chark and Hayden Hurst -- none of whom came anywhere close to 1,000 yards last season. There is at least some upside for the receiving corps in the form of rookie second-round pick Jonathan Mingo and third-year WR Terrace Marshall, though neither is a sure thing or even assured of a starting job. Young, of course, comes with question marks of his own despite being a first overall pick who put up massive numbers at Alabama. He's only 5-10, and lacks the speed of fellow undersized No. 1 pick Kyler Murray. While his accuracy and anticipation may be enough to overcome that in the long run, Young isn't likely to put up huge numbers as a rookie given that he's not a prolific rusher and isn't in a great situation for efficient passing in the first year of head coach Frank Reich's tenure in Carolina. A realistic hope is for the rookie to have value in superflex and two-QB formats, perhaps entering the streaming conversation in single-QB leagues once byes kick in later in the season.
- Round 26, Pick 305 - Bye 5
2023 Rank: 441 - 2022 Rank: 327
- Round 27, Pick 320 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 250 - 2022 Rank: 248
"The Leg" has converted 82.1% of his FGAs in his 12-year career, but his accuracy from long ranges has been less than steady in recent seasons. The arrival of QB Aaron Rodgers could set Zeurlein up to once again operate in a high-powered offense, as he got used to with the Cowboys and Rams. Zuerlein will need things to go right on offense for his production to skyrocket, but there's plenty of reason for optimism in projecting the Jets. Of course, there's also risk things go sideways for the aged Rodgers and Zeurlein.
- Round 28, Pick 329 - Bye 6
2023 Rank: 127 - 2022 Rank: 1569
The Packers needed a lead TE, so they drafted Musgrave and Tucker Kraft in the second and third rounds of this year's NFL Draft. Of the two, Musgrave is more of a seam stretcher. He needs development in all areas, and he could have significant struggles as a rookie. It's probable he finishes outside the top-24 tight ends, and he'll likely go undrafted in many fantasy leagues. While he'll likely be limited to a dynasty league option in 2023, it's still worth keeping an eye on quarterback Jordan Love's progression and the offensive scheme as a whole to see if Musgrave could eventually work his way up to a fantasy streaming possibility.
- Round 29, Pick 344 - Bye 9
2023 Rank: 1288 - 2022 Rank: -
Team Forecast
Bye Week Points Lost
Each bar represents the total projected season points for each player that's on bye that week. This chart shows any potential bye week issues.
Schedule by Opponent Points
Week-by-week schedule with each opponent's projected season points. This chart shows any difficult or easy stretches in the schedule.
