2023 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Mid-August Standard Draft

With fantasy football draft season in full gear, the Sharp Football Analysis crew got together with some of the best minds in the industry to host a fantasy football mock draft.

The mock took place on August 15. 

The league featured standard scoring, and starting lineups consisted of a QB, two RBs, three WRs, a TE, and a FLEX (RB/WR/TE).

Draft Order:

1. Kyle Dvorchak – Rotoworld
2. Lawrence Jackson – Rotoworld
3. Nate Hamilton – Gambling.com Group
4. Ryan Heath – Fantasy Points
5. Sam Wagman – FootballGuys
6. Kevin Scott – @KevinScottFF
7. Raymond Summerlin – Sharp Football Analysis
8. Jorge Martin – Yahoo
9. Zachary Krueger – Rotoworld
10. Rich Hribar – Sharp Football Analysis
11. Mark Garcia – One Week Season
12. Michael Hauff – Sharp Football Analysis

Check out the draft board here.

Round 1:

1. Christian McCaffrey – RB1
2. Justin Jefferson – WR1
3. Austin Ekeler – RB2
4. Ja'Marr Chase – WR2
5. Cooper Kupp – WR3
6. Travis Kelce – TE1
7. Tyreek Hill – WR4
8. Bijan Robinson – RB3
9. Nick Chubb – RB4
10. Saquon Barkley – RB5
11. Derrick Henry – RB6
12. Josh Jacobs – RB7

For those who have been drafting best ball teams all summer, it is likely odd to see so many running backs in the first round.

At Underdog, which is half-PPR, there are four backs with a first-round ADP, and the RB5 (Saquon Barkley) is routinely available in the middle of the second round.

This draft went a little bit differently.

Christian McCaffrey and Austin Ekeler went first and third respectively, and backs occupied picks eight through 14.

RBs are not pushed up quite that high in industry ADP, but there are still six backs in the top 15.

Of the group, Mike's selection of Josh Jacobs is the most interesting given the uncertainty surrounding his Week 1 availability.

That said, Jacobs should be a three-down workhorse if he is back with the team, and Mike was not going to find that at the third-round turn.

By taking Jacobs and then Tony Pollard with the first pick in the second round, Mike created a high variance but high upside running back room.

He also gave himself the opportunity for major roster leverage on the rest of the league given the gap between elite backs and the rest of the field.

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Round 2:

1. Tony Pollard – RB8
2. Jonathan Taylor – RB9
3. Stefon Diggs – WR5
4. A.J. Brown – WR6
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown – WR7
6. CeeDee Lamb – WR8
7. Patrick Mahomes – QB1
8. Garrett Wilson – WR9
9. Davante Adams – WR10
10. Mark Andrews – TE2
11. Najee Harris – RB10
12. Travis Etienne – RB11

Kevin opened his draft by stacking Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. That plan can work out, but there are questions about how much positional leverage Kelce actually offers this year.

Last season, there was a perfect storm of Kelce having a great season and the rest of the tight end group having a down season that led to teams that rostered Kelce having a massive advantage.

If the players that round out the top five at TE just return to normal this season, that advantage will become much smaller even if Kelce does not take a step back.

Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews are cheaper to stack and still offer the upside of that leverage at the onesie positions even if they come with more risk.

Given that running backs dominated the back of Round 1, it is not a surprise Round 2 was dominated by back-end WR1s.

I did not expect such a big running back run when I drafted Tyreek Hill in the first round, but it did allow me to start with two of the top 10 receivers.

There is a clear dropoff after that group, so having two could offer a roster advantage to me as well as Sam and Ryan, who also opened with two of those 10.

I am fine with Mark Andrews at the end of the second round IF the top-10 receivers and top-nine running backs are already off the board. Those are the firewalls.

Round 3:

1. Rhamondre Stevenson – RB12
2. Aaron Jones – RB13
3. Chris Olave – WR11
4. Jahmyr Gibbs – RB14
5. Jalen Hurts – QB2
6. Jaylen Waddle – WR12
7. Joe Mixon – RB15
8. Josh Allen – QB3
9. Kenneth Walker – RB16
10. DK Metcalf – WR13
11. Lamar Jackson – QB4
12. DeVonta Smith – WR14

The top-nine backs are part of that group because they have clear three-down upside. The back of that group does come with some questions, especially Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor, but for the most part, they fit the mold of a season-long RB1.

Joe Mixon is consistently drafted after that group despite having the exact same three-down role and very little competition.

He also plays for one of the best offenses in the league and will almost certainly score more touchdowns this year if he just maintains the same role he had last year — he was well under his expected touchdown total last season.

He is my favorite target for teams that start WR-WR.

The quarterback push-up continued in this draft with three more coming off the board in this round.

There is undoubtedly an advantage to having one of the top quarterbacks, but there is still a significant opportunity cost in the third round.

It is also worth noting both Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert fell to the sixth round in this draft.

Round 4:

1. Keenan Allen – WR15
2. Jerry Jeudy – WR16
3. Tee Higgins – WR17
4. Calvin Ridley – WR18
5. Terry McLaurin – WR19
6. Amari Cooper – WR20
7. Breece Hall – RB17
8. Dameon Pierce – RB18
9. Justin Fields – QB5
10. J.K. Dobbins – RB19
11. Cam Akers – RB20
12. Deebo Samuel – WR21

Breece Hall is the interesting name here.

I have written extensively about his situation with Dalvin Cook now in town, but the tl;dr version is Hall was good last season in two very important fantasy areas where Cook has struggled: receiving and goal-line.

If Hall is able to monopolize the passing-down stats and the short-yardage usage, he can remain a very good fantasy football play even if Cook is taking 10-12 touches per game.

Hall comes with much more risk now that Cook has signed, but there are still pathways for him to crush this draft slot even if Cook stays healthy.

Both Tee Higgins and Amari Cooper fell a little bit lower than their overall ADP, but the reality is there are a lot of receivers in the 11-24 range that could be shuffled up or down a few spots without much argument.

As for Higgins, he has obvious contingency value if something happened to Ja'Marr Chase, but there are big concerns about his role with Chase active given how the two receivers were used last season.

Tee Higgins’ splits with Ja’Marr Chase:

Round 5:

1. Christian Watson – WR22
2. DeAndre Hopkins – WR23
3. Alexander Mattison – RB21
4. Miles Sanders – RB22
5. James Conner – RB23
6. D.J. Moore – WR24
7. T.J. Hockenson – TE3
8. Mike Williams – WR25
9. Chris Godwin – WR26
10. James Cook – RB24
11. Darren Waller – TE4
12. Brandon Aiyuk – WR27

I am not even a big fan of T.J. Hockenson, but he was below ADP here and in something of a dead zone for receiver and running back.

In hindsight, I should have reached a bit on an upside running back like Javonte Williams and Alvin Kamara, who ended up being drafted before me in the next round.

Speaking of the dead zone, the back half of Round 4 and the beginning of this round featured several backs that fit the mold.

That said, I would have drafted Miles Sanders if he fell to me.

Assuming his injury does not linger into the regular season, he has a higher floor than the other backs in this range as the clear RB1 on a team that has a better offensive line and running game than they are given credit for, and there is always the upside he is more involved in the passing game on his new team.

The buying window on Darren Waller might be over, but he is still a good pick as likely the No. 1 receiver for the Giants.

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Round 6:

1. Dalvin Cook – RB25
2. Javonte Williams – RB26
3. Rachaad White – RB27
4. Alvin Kamara – RB28
5. Drake London – WR28
6. Justin Herbert – QB6
7. D'Andre Swift – RB29
8. Tyler Lockett – WR29
9. Marquise Brown – WR30
10. Christian Kirk – WR31
11. Mike Evans – WR32
12. Joe Burrow – QB7

This is not much higher than Dalvin Cook‘s ADP, but it is a big reach in my opinion for the same reasons Hall can remain a fantasy starter even with Cook in the fold.

Cook has been bad in the passing game and bad in the red zone over the last couple of years. If he is not good enough to earn a slice of those roles from Hall, it is going to be difficult for him to return consistent fantasy value.

It makes more sense to take the upside shot on the three backs that went after Cook in this area of the draft.

Tyler Lockett‘s ADP is below Jaxon Smith-Njigba's (Round 7), but he went ahead of the rookie in this draft.

Perhaps preferring Lockett over JSN is simply putting too much into past production, but Lockett has consistently been a fantasy value over the last several years and did not show any signs of slowing down last season — 1.95 yards per route run, targeted on 22% of his routes.

Mike Evans being drafted outside the top 30 receivers is wild given his history, but it makes sense given the quarterback situation in Tampa Bay. That said, perhaps this situation ends up being like the Seahawks last season and the Bucs dramatically overachieve.

That would make both Evans and Chris Godwin values.

Round 7:

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba – WR33
2. Kyle Pitts – TE5
3. Jordan Addison – WR34
4. Diontae Johnson – WR35
5. Dallas Goedert – TE6
6. Isiah Pacheco – RB30
7. David Montgomery – RB31
8. George Pickens – WR36
9. George Kittle – TE7
10. Khalil Herbert – RB32
11. Jahan Dotson – WR37
12. Evan Engram – TE8

The entire Steelers passing game might be undervalued given the positive regression touchdown markers for Pittsburgh's offense.

Diontae Johnson scored ZERO touchdowns last season despite an expected TD total over six. Even if he sees less usage near the goal line as George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth continue to develop, he is going to score more this season.

Pickens is the real upside play, though. Kenny Pickett said the pair have been working on in-breaking routes, something that should help Pickens improve on his 14.5% target rate per route last season.

Pickens is the Steelers' big-play threat and would have big fantasy upside if his usage in the other parts of the field improves. He is a great pick at this point in the draft.

There should be real concerns about Evan Engram this season given the addition of Calvin Ridley and his up-and-down fantasy performances last season.

The gap between him and George Kittle should probably be larger than it was here.

Round 8:

1. Trevor Lawrence – QB8
2. Brandin Cooks – WR38
3. Antonio Gibson – RB33
4. Brian Robinson – RB34
5. Michael Pittman – WR39
6. Gabe Davis – WR40
7. Treylon Burks – WR41
8. Jamaal Williams – RB35
9. Rashaad Penny – RB36
10. Kirk Cousins – QB9
11. Zay Flowers – WR42
12. Quentin Johnston – WR43

This mock took place the day before the Treylon Burks injury, so he will likely fall in drafts despite good early reports about the severity of the injury.

Antonio Gibson is clearly the better option in leagues that reward receptions, but standard scoring makes the conversation between him and Brian Robinson more interesting.

That said, Robinson averaged 9.23 standard points (28th) despite touching the ball nearly 19 times a game from Week 6 to Week 17.

We have already seen him with massive usage, and it was not particularly exciting.

Rashaad Penny was one of my favorite picks early in the summer, but his usage through the first two preseason games has raised some concerns.

Unlike D'Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott, Penny has played in both preseason games and worked behind the other three backs in those games.

Even as his ADP gets pushed up, Gainwell looks like a better fantasy bet right now.

Kirk Cousins as the QB9 was a surprise. He was the QB10 in per-game scoring last season, and that was with major volume inflation given their extreme weekly game scripts.

Round 9:

1. Zach Charbonnet – RB37
2. Anthony Richardson – QB10
3. Kadarius Toney – WR44
4. Elijah Moore – WR45
5. Courtland Sutton – WR46
6. Skyy Moore – WR47
7. Michael Thomas – WR48
8. Pat Freiermuth – TE9
9. Jaxon Smith-Schuster – WR49
10. Rashod Bateman – WR50
11. AJ Dillon – RB38
12. Samaje Perine – RB39

Players who are uncomfortable with the price of the top quarterbacks should be looking toward Anthony Richardson.

Now that it is confirmed he will be the Week 1 starter, he comes with a high fantasy floor given his rushing ability, and he has the upside for more if he comes along as a passer faster than expected.

There were a lot of upside receivers in this round, but they are all this low because they come with massive questions.

Of the group, Skyy Moore and Courtland Sutton are my favorites.

Moore has looked like a locked-in starter through training camp and the preseason. He is coming off a disappointing rookie season, but that is not a big surprise given the jump up from Western Michigan.

If the Chiefs were right about his second-round talent, he should thrive as an every-down player in a Patrick Mahomes offense.

Sutton has not lived up to his potential given his draft capital, but training camp reports and his preseason performance suggest he has turned the corner.

He has also dramatically underperformed his expected touchdown total each of the last two seasons. If he does turn it around, he will come with some touchdown upside.

Round 10:

1. Ezekiel Elliott – RB40
2. Jameson Williams – WR51
3. David Njoku – TE10
4. Daniel Jones – QB11
5. Devon Achane – RB41
6. Kenneth Gainwell – RB42
7. Dalton Kincaid – TE11
8. Nico Collins – WR52
9. Chig Okonkwo – TE12
10. Adam Thielen – WR53
11. Damien Harris – RB43
12. Tyler Boyd – WR54

This was as reach on Kenneth Gainwell, but the tea leaves suggest we are still not taking his chances at having a big role in one of the best rushing attacks seriously enough.

There have been nothing but bad developments for Jameson Williams this offseason, and that follows an essentially lost rookie season.

Still, he should bring the downfield threat the Lions desperately need once he returns from suspension, and he will have plenty of time to get fully healthy given that suspension.

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Round 11:

1. Jakobi Meyers – WR55
2. Odell Beckham – WR56
3. Allen Lazard – WR57
4. Elijah Mitchell – RB44
5. Jonathan Mingo – WR58
6. Tank Bigsby – RB45
7. Tyler Allgeier – RB46
8. Jerick McKinnon – RB47
9. Rashee Rice – WR59
10. Jeff Wilson – RB48
11. Raheem Mostert – RB49
12. D.J. Chark – WR60

It is still wild that Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert are going behind Devon Achane despite it becoming very clear the rookie is currently buried on the depth chart. Achane did nothing to help his case in the first preseason week.

All three Panthers receivers went within 15 picks of each other, highlighting the uncertainty about this group.

As Rich Hribar loves to mention, it is not great news when a fantasy receiver is attached to a rookie quarterback, but Bryce Young has the profile of someone who can hit the ground running, and the price of all three is low enough that it makes sense to take some shots.

Jonathan Mingo is the upside play given the recent performance from the veterans.

Round 12:

1. Romeo Doubs – WR61
2. Tyler Higbee – TE13
3. Deshaun Watson – QB12
4. Roschon Johnson – RB50
5. Jalin Hyatt – WR62
6. Jaylen Warren – RB51
7. Marvin Mims – WR63
8. Tyjae Spears – RB52
9. Greg Dulcich – TE14
10. Devin Singletary – RB53
11. Sam LaPorta – TE15
12. Dalton Schultz – TE16

Given my relative weakness at running back, I prioritized high-upside backs in the later rounds.

It is not the most likely outcome, but two of these could end up as starters without an injury in front of them (Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren), and we already know what Tyler Allgeier can do in the Falcons running game if something happens to Bijan Robinson.

It is tough to get excited about Dalton Schultz, but he went way too late in this draft. It is possible he leads the Texans in targets this season.

Round 13:

1. Cole Kmet – TE17
2. Deuce Vaughn – RB54
3. Michael Gallup – WR64
4. Jerome Ford – RB55
5. Gerald Everett – TE18
6. Zamir White – RB56
7. Darnell Mooney – WR65
8. D'Onta Foreman – RB57
9. Tank Dell – WR66
10. Gus Edwards – RB58
11. Alec Pierce – WR67
12. Chase Brown – RB59

I was a big fan of Chase Brown early in the offseason, but with Joe Mixon back and Chris Evans seemingly establishing himself as the backup, I do not see much value at this point.

I am surprised by how little helium has been in Tank Dell‘s balloon following his preseason Week 1 performance. There are so many options in the Texans receiver room it might be difficult for anyone to break through, but Dell certainly made his case.

Zamir White looked good in the first preseason game and would almost certainly be the lead back if Josh Jacobs misses time in the regular season. White is a great pick at this point in the draft.

Round 14:

1. Zay Jones – WR68
2. Rashid Shaheed – WR69
3. Ty Chandler – RB60
4. Evan Hull – RB61
5. Dawson Knox – TE19
6. Donovan Peoples-Jones – WR70
7. Rondale Moore – WR71
8. Jayden Reed – WR72
9. Leonard Fournette – RB62
10. Dak Prescott – QB13
11. Tua Tagovailoa – QB14
12. Michael Mayer – TE20

Ty Chandler and Evan Hull are perfect picks in the last round.

Alexander Mattison will almost certainly open the season as the starter in Minnesota, but he has struggled to produce over the last two seasons. It would not be a shock if he is benched at some point, and Chandler is the best bet for the RB2 job given the praise he received after the first preseason game.

As for Hull, he is the only man left standing in the Indy backfield and also comes with legit pass-catching chops. Even if Jonathan Taylor returns healthy before Week 1, Hull could have a role.

This is a FREE PREVIEW of the Sharp Fantasy Football Draft Kit, one of the best resources to get you prepared for the 2023 fantasy football season.

Click here to get the Draft Kit for just $1!