In the NFL Football Pool 2023-2024 draft, AC's Broncos proved that they are a force to be reckoned with. Despite picking 9th in the draft order, they managed to assemble a powerhouse team across 22 rounds. Their impressive draft grade of A+ is a testament to their strategic picks and savvy decision-making. With a projected record of 18-0-0, it seems like AC's Broncos are destined for greatness. Their projected finish in 1st place is well-deserved, as they are set to dominate the competition and leave their opponents in the dust.
AC's Broncos made some stellar choices in the draft, including their best pick of Tyler Boyd at 172, surpassing his ADP of 129. This steal of a pick shows that AC's Broncos have a keen eye for talent and aren't afraid to take risks. However, not every pick was a home run. Their worst pick of Isiah Pacheco at 45, compared to his ADP of 75, may raise a few eyebrows. But hey, nobody's perfect, and AC's Broncos are confident that they can make it work. With their schedule ranked as the 18th toughest out of 18 teams, it seems like the stars are aligning for AC's Broncos to conquer the league and cement their name in fantasy football history.
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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 9 - Bye 13
2023 Rank: 43 - 2022 Rank: 27
Jackson's 2022 was cut short by a Week 13 knee injury, limiting him to just 12 games. If his 11 complete games were prorated to a full season, he would have recorded almost 3,500 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Despite his completion percentage (62.3) and yards per attempt (6.9) dropping compared to the previous few years, he still managed QB1-level fantasy production thanks to his exceptional running ability. Jackson's performance was hindered by arguably the worst wideout corps in the league, but the Ravens took steps to address this issue by signing Odell Beckham and then drafting Zay Flowers in the first round. A healthy season from Rashod Bateman, their 2021 first-round pick who missed six games with a Lisfranc injury, would also be significant. Tight end Mark Andrews is still the main target in the offense, with fellow TE Isaiah Likely providing an additional receiving threat. The most crucial change could be the switch in offensive scheme from Greg Roman's run-heavy playbook to a more pass-oriented one led by new OC Todd Monken. Jackson ended the uncertainty around his future by signing a five-year deal worth $135 million guaranteed in May. He is undoubtedly the best QB in the league when it comes to running, and a full season could see him reach 1,000 rushing yards even if he gets fewer designed carries under Monken.
- Round 2, Pick 28 - Bye 9
2023 Rank: 19 - 2022 Rank: 44
After missing his entire rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury, Etienne looked healthy and explosive in his return to action in 2022. Trevor Lawrence's Clemson teammate and fellow 2021 first-round pick averaged 5.1 yards per carry and posted 1,441 scrimmage yards while finding the end zone five times last season. Etienne still has room for improvement when it comes to focus and consistency. He had five fumbles and three drops last year while struggling to churn out reliable small gains to keep the Jaguars ahead of the chains in between his big runs. Etienne heads into 2023 as the clear lead option in Jacksonville's backfield, but if Etienne doesn't fix his weaknesses, that could open the door for 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigsby to cut into his workload. Bigsby might get the nod in goal-line situations, when fumbles are most costly. If Jacksonville can take another step forward after winning the weak AFC South with a 9-8 record, the Jags could find themselves playing with a lead more in 2023, providing Etienne with more rushing opportunities.
- Round 3, Pick 45 - Bye 10
2023 Rank: 73 - 2022 Rank: 88
Pacheco's rookie season was a smashing success, and one the former Rutgers standout could potentially build on in his second NFL season. Pacheco's hard-charging, high-speed approach as a runner between the tackles makes him difficult for defenses to handle as they more so concern themselves with Patrick Mahomes, so there's not much reason to fear regression from Pacheco's average of 4.9 yards per carry from 2022. Pacheco has the speed to score from long range, yet in 2022 he had only three carries over 20 yards and none over 40 - both of those numbers would be good bets to rise in 2023. There's also room for growth in Pacheco's pass-catching production. The Chiefs increased his route-running workload as the season progressed, and Pacheco was occasionally effective as a receiver in his Rutgers days. Jerick McKinnon is still around to poach passing-down snaps if Pacheco slips up, and former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire can't be written off entirely either, but Pacheco has the clear lead in this backfield and plenty of momentum behind him.
- Round 4, Pick 64 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 2160 - 2022 Rank: 138
Back injuries are always concerning, and maybe even more so for Williams given the neck injury he suffered in his Clemson days, but the minor back fracture suffered by Williams in Week 18 appears to be a non-issue. More specifically, Williams said in June that the back had been fully recovered since the spring. So long as he's healthy, then Williams should plug back in to a high-volume role in one of the league's most enviable passing games. Williams' target rate rose significantly over the last two years, a span in which he averaged about 120 targets per 850 snaps after averaging only about 85 targets per 850 snaps in his first four seasons. If he can maintain that elevated target rate for a third year and stay healthy all season then 2023 could shape up to be a career year for Williams. There's a possible concern with the introduction of first-round pick Quentin Johnston, but Johnston is more of a downfield specialist than someone who can run the same intermediate routes as Williams. Rather than Williams' usage, Johnston should instead raid the comparatively inefficient targets that went to Joshua Palmer (107) and Gerald Everett (87).
- Round 5, Pick 81 - Bye 13
2023 Rank: 1210 - 2022 Rank: 58
Smith was dealt by the Bears just before the trade deadline last season after it became clear the sides wouldn't agree to terms on a long-term extension. He didn't take much time to acclimate to his new surroundings in Baltimore, as he managed 94 tackles, two sacks, three passes defended, and an interception across 10 games. Smith was rewarded with a five-year, $100 million contract extension in January, and will now be the long-term centerpiece of the Ravens' defense. After an offseason to learn the defense, Smith will officially become the leader of the unit and wear the green dot. While others around the league will have more gaudy sack totals, Smith has topped 160 tackles in consecutive seasons. We should expect more of the same in 2023, which makes him among the safest IDP selections available.
- Round 6, Pick 100 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 130 - 2022 Rank: 289
Shaheed signed with the Saints in October last year and performed extremely well. Despite being targeted 34 times in 12 games, he posted 488 yards. His excellent speed helped him make four plays of at least 40 yards (and another two plays of at least 20 yards). At first, he was primarily a deep threat, running 40 percent of his snaps from the slot. But after the Week 14 bye, he went from averaging less than two targets per game to almost five targets in the last four games. He also was being used as a more versatile receiver down the stretch. His yards per target in each of the last three games was 10.3-13.2 Projecting Shaheed for 2023 isn't easy. He had the advantage of catching the league off guard. And then when his role changed a bit, he had another advantage. Also, with Derek Carr at QB and expected to play behind a poor pass-protecting OL, Shaheed may not be a huge downfield factor.
- Round 7, Pick 117 - Bye 14
2023 Rank: 1207 - 2022 Rank: 87
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.
DEF - Round 8, Pick 136 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 164 - 2022 Rank: 84
Head coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich guided the Jets defense to a massive step forward in Year 2 of their regime. The unit finished fourth in points and yardage, an accomplishment facilitated in no small part by rookie fourth overall pick Sauce Gardner. 2019 third overall pick Quinnen Williams emerged with 28 QB hits and 12 sacks, and the addition of Chuck Clark to the secondary leaves room for improvement in 2023. Last season, of course, New York's defense couldn't make up for abysmal play on the offensive side of the ball, but the addition of QB Aaron Rodgers promises to stabilize things on that front. Barring regression at multiple positions, the Jets' defense looks primed to position the team for a playoff run, as long as the offense can take its promised step forward.
- Round 9, Pick 153 - Bye 10
2023 Rank: 147 - 2022 Rank: 1605
The Chiefs surprised most when they selected Rice in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft (55th overall), as the former SMU star was more so expected to be a Day 3 selection. The Chiefs might have been onto something, though, because Rice was a very productive player at SMU and his athletic testing at the combine was better than expected (4.51-second 40, 41-inch vertical at 6-foot-1, 204). Not just that, but Patrick Mahomes requested that the Chiefs select Rice at some point in the draft. In addition to his springy athleticism, Rice plays with a physicality that makes him a threat both at the catch point and as a ballcarrier after the catch. Fantasy drafters might be leery of Rice's rookie season after Skyy Moore disappointed as a second-round pick in 2022, but it's worth noting that Rice has a more versatile skill set than Moore. Whereas Moore can only realistically earn snaps in the slot, Rice can credibly compete for reps at any wide receiver position in the Chiefs offense.
- Round 10, Pick 172 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 172 - 2022 Rank: 161
Boyd has finished with 750-to-850 receiving yards in each season since the Bengals drafted QB Joe Burrow and WR Tee Higgins (2020). Earlier in his career, Boyd had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018-19, operating as Cincinnati's No. 1 receiver for a time. Now the team's No. 3 wide receiver, Boyd has partially made up for a huge decrease in target volume by upping his catch rates and yards per target throughout Burrow's tenure. This reduction in volume seems unlikely to reverse in a meaningful way unless Higgins and/or Ja'Marr Chase miss(es) a large chunk of the season. Even then, it's worth noting that Boyd averaged only five targets and 35.5 yard in the four games Chase missed last season. Higgins, on the other hand, averaged nine targets and 92.8 yards during that period. Boyd is still a viable option in deeper fantasy setups where his relatively high floor has value, but managers in shallower leagues are probably better off using a late pick on a young receiver with more risk/reward.
- Round 11, Pick 189 - Bye 9
2023 Rank: 246 - 2022 Rank: 168
In 2021, Patterson played seven games for the Lions, missing just one kick. He maintained this impressive performance in 2022 by converting 30 out of 35 field goals and 36 out of 37 attempts on PATs while playing for the Jaguars. Although only attempting four FGs from 50-plus yards, he boasts career conversion rates of 87.8 percent and 97.3 percent on FGs and PATs, respectively. Despite his successes, the Jags decided to trade him to the Lions, as they preferred the experience of Brandon McManus. Patterson now has the opportunity to compete for a kicker position with John Parker Romo in Detroit. The victor may end up having fantasy value, kicking for a dome team that scored a lot of points last season.
- Round 12, Pick 208 - Bye 13
2023 Rank: 352 - 2022 Rank: 1597
Mayer probably shouldn't have fallen to the Raiders at the 35th pick. As much as it was fair for NFL teams to find some concern in his athletic testing (4.7-second 40 at 249 pounds), it was never a good basis for letting Mayer fall out of the first round. If Mayer had run any faster, he would have been worth a top-15 pick - his barely disappointing combine was a basis to have Mayer fall out of the top-15, not out of the first round. Dalton Kincaid wasn't nearly as good of a collegiate tight end as Mayer, and Sam LaPorta probably was worse too, yet both players went ahead of Mayer. Mayer will likely be a steal for the Raiders as a result - think a better version of Zach Ertz - so the question of when Mayer breaks out as a fantasy asset might be pending how soon he can overtake the veteran Austin Hooper. Mayer is a good bet to skip the rookie-year struggles that most tight ends face (Mayer caught 42 passes as a true freshman at Notre Dame), but Hooper could be just enough of an obstacle to delay Mayer's full arrival as a fantasy option by a year.
- Round 13, Pick 225 - Bye 5
2023 Rank: 232 - 2022 Rank: 125
Foreman is one of the true success stories of a player making it back from an Achilles injury. Once Christian McCaffrey was traded away by the Panthers last year, Foreman stepped into a large role. His 203 carries was the first big workload he had in his career. And he responded very well by posting a career-high 4.5 yards per carry. Despite having just a 25th-percentile broken-tackle rate, he was 76th percentile in yards after contact. But as good as some of his numbers looked, he was inconsistent. He had five games with at least 113 rushing yards. Conversely, he was held to fewer than 25 yards four times. And his performances weren't based on the level of competition. He had some excellent games against strong defenses while having some poor performances against weaker defenses. Now with Chicago, Foreman should bring the thunder to Khalil Herbert's lighting to form a one-two punch in the backfield. Foreman should profile as the primary goal-line back, though Justin Fields is sure to be a factor at the goal. Even though the Bears drafted Roschon Johnson in the fourth round, Foreman is likely a better RB at this stage, and Johnson may not be a major threat to Foreman's role. In his current situation, Foreman has RB2 or flex value in drafts.
- Round 14, Pick 244 - Bye 5
2023 Rank: 52 - 2022 Rank: 795
Ford will enter training camp as Nick Chubb's backup after the Browns opted against re-signing both Kareem Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson. A fifth-round pick last year, Ford was limited mainly to kick returns as a rookie. However, in 2021 he had an impressive final collegiate season at Cincinnati with 20 touchdowns and more than 1,500 scrimmage yards. Prior to that, Ford played ahead of eventual third-round pick Brian Robinson at Alabama. Ford has average size for an NFL RB at 5-10, 210, and he was clocked at 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash last spring. The Browns seem to be believers, with 2021 sixth-round pick Demetric Felton representing Ford's most serious competition for playing time behind Chubb unless the team signs a noteworthy veteran over the summer.
- Round 15, Pick 261 - Bye 6
2023 Rank: 149 - 2022 Rank: 1056
Love is an unknown commodity for fantasy football this year. He's had 83 pass attempts during his short time in the league. Love will be taking over an offense that has questions at tight end and wide receiver. It's possible that Christian Watson will be a star, but it's also possible that he's just an outstanding deep threat. At 6-4, 219, Love has demonstrated decent mobility. That could give Love a stable rushing floor while the passing game rounds into form, though a larger sample size of rushing attempts would be nice. Last year, Aaron Rodgers had one of the worst seasons of his career. Whether that was due to decline or the talent that surrounded him is uncertain. Also, Green Bay has been a run-heavy team for the past couple years, and their quarterback pass attempts have been below league average. Drafting Love as a boom-or-bust option makes sense, due to the uncertainty that surrounds him. He also could be a player who gets better as the season moves forward and he gets more experience.
- Round 16, Pick 280 - Bye 6
2023 Rank: 1098 - 2022 Rank: 192
As could be expected for a first-round pick, Walker was immediately slotted into a starting role among the Packers' linebacker corps in 2022. He led the team in tackles - an impressive feat - despite tallying five or fewer stops in six contests. That was a sign of his immaturity as a player, as were the two games from which he was ejected for making contact with an opposing coach. While there are areas to smooth out, Walker also proved quickly why he was worthy of a first-round selection. In addition to his aforementioned run-stopping ability, Walker was also able to quickly translate his athleticism into effective coverage by breaking up seven passes. Assuming he can become more consistent in his decision-making and level of play, Walker has every opportunity to vault up these rankings and is a prime breakout candidate.
- Round 17, Pick 297 - Bye 9
2023 Rank: 536 - 2022 Rank: 187
- Round 18, Pick 316 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 554 - 2022 Rank: 190
Grant had a modest rookie season, playing nearly as much on special teams as he did on the Falcons' defensive unit. However, he took a major step forward after winning a starting job in 2022 and became a near-every-down player. That allowed him to total 123 tackles, seven pass defenses, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery across 17 games. Despite that production, the Falcons added Jessie Bates to their secondary this offseason, creating competition for Grant. Specifically, he will have to compete with Jaylinn Hawkins for the starting strong safety job. The end result could be a rotation at the position, so Grant comes with significant risk to take a step back from his 2022 production.
- Round 19, Pick 333 - Bye 7
2023 Rank: 1489 - 2022 Rank: 321
- Round 20, Pick 352 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 1646 - 2022 Rank: 430
- Round 21, Pick 369 - Bye 14
2023 Rank: 1851 - 2022 Rank: 248
DEF - Round 22, Pick 388 - Bye 10
2023 Rank: 1934 - 2022 Rank: 186
In 2022, the Rams defense was close to average. They allowed 384 points, which was the 12th-most in the league. They were below average with 38 sacks, but they had 16 interceptions, which placed them in the top 10. Yes, Aaron Donald is still Superman, but the rest of this defense is in transition. Other than Donald, they have very little in the way of run stoppers or pass rushers. And the pass coverage is likely going to be a major issue after the team traded away Jalen Ramsey. This could compete to be the worst defense in the league as the Rams enter a transition phase. It's unlikely they'll have many good fantasy performances.
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.
