Maybe you can’t win your fantasy football league in the first round, but you sure as hell can lose it by making an ill-advised pick. Don’t botch your season before it begins. Consider our 2023 fantasy football rankings for the first round of your redrafts – whether that’s your home, office or family league.
(Rankings are for traditional, 1QB, Points Per Reception [PPR] redraft leagues)
2023 Fantasy Football Rankings (First Round PPR)
1. Justin Jefferson (WR, Minnesota Vikings)
Justin Jefferson has begun his career finishing as the PPR WR6, WR4 and WR1. So to have him first overall in our 2023 fantasy football rankings is no surprise. As predicted, Jefferson ascended to new heights last season, turning 184 targets into 128 receptions, 1,809 yards and nine total TDs.
Adam Thielen, who averaged 10 TDs per season over the past three years, is now a Panther. And, as of this writing, Dalvin Cook, who averaged 11 TDs himself the past three seasons, is a free agent. Instead, first-round rookie Jordan Addison will likely start opposite Jefferson. This should allow Jefferson to more easily reach his expected TDs (11 last year) and potentially even outscore his previous totals.
2. Christian McCaffrey (RB, San Francisco 49ers)
Christian McCaffrey has finished as the PPR RB1 in all four of his healthy seasons, including being the overall RB1 once and RB2 twice, including last season. Despite changing teams seven games into the season, McCaffrey had his second-best statistical season and even led the NFL Playoffs in rushing.
With the quarterback situation being a current question mark in San Francisco, McCaffrey should see plenty of volume. Having the most talented RB in the Kyle Shanahan zone run system is well worth the No. 2 overall spot in all 2023 fantasy football rankings and drafts.
3. Ja’Marr Chase (WR, Cincinnati Bengals)
Ja’Marr Chase has begun his NFL career with two straight PPR WR1s seasons. He finished as the WR5 as a rookie and as WR12 in 12 games last year. Part of his success has come from his 22 TDs in two seasons. And that isn’t an unsustainable number, as he was third among WRs last season in red zone targets (26), despite missing five games to injury. As long as Joe Burrow remains under center, Chase rightfully remains a top player in our 2023 fantasy football rankings.
4. Austin Ekeler (RB, Los Angeles Chargers)
Austin Ekeler worked out a new incentive-based deal to remain with the Los Angeles Chargers. This is a good thing for fantasy managers, as Ekeler has been a top-two option at the position the past two seasons, totaling 38 total TDs.
Keenan Allen has missed five games in the past two seasons, and Mike Williams has missed eight. With the likelihood of injuries to the Chargers’ WRs, it keeps Ekeler’s ceiling as the No. 1 overall position player in fantasy.
5. Travis Kelce (TE, Kansas City Chiefs)
Travis Kelce has finished as the PPR TE1 in six of the past seven seasons. Despite him now being 32 years old, he’s coming off career highs with 152 targets, 110 receptions, 1,338 receiving yards and 12 TDs. He was third among all pass-catchers in targets and receptions. With their not being a true No. 1 receiver in Kansas City, Kelce should continue to eat and be a difference maker for fantasy football rosters.
6. Bijan Robinson (RB, Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta ran the ball on 55.3% of plays last season, the second-most in the NFL. They now get a generational prospect at the RB position in Bijan Robinson. The former Texas Longhorn should not only see upwards of 300 carries as a rookie but a good amount of receiving work too. Robinson averaged 13.4 Yards Per Reception (YPR) in his collegiate career. That dual-threat playmaking ability makes him one of the final skill position players with No. 1 overall upside. That’s why the rookie is firmly supplanted at No. 6 in our 2023 fantasy football rankings.
7. Cooper Kupp (WR, Los Angeles Rams)
Cooper Kupp led all WRs in PPR points per game last season. Yet, his season was cut short after just nine games. Questions remain this season about QB Matthew Stafford‘s health and the Rams’ overall offense. This makes Kupp one of the more boom-or-bust players in our first-round 2023 fantasy football rankings.
Part of what still makes Kupp intriguing is that he had the third-highest target share (31%) among WRs. If he’s out there, he’ll score fantasy points. Still, Kupp is now 30 and has two seasons in the past five where he missed eight or more games. There are arguments to be made for or against the veteran. But make no mistake; Kupp is still an elite fantasy option, regardless.
8. Jonathan Taylor (RB, Indianapolis Colts)
Jonathan Taylor rushed for nearly 3,00 yards and totaled 33 combined TDs in his first two NFL seasons. That was good enough for him to finish as the RB6 as a rookie in 2020 and the RB1 in 2021. It all came to a screeching halt last season, as the former Wisconsin Badger finished as the PPR RB33 in 11 games.
What changes this year is Shane Steichen is now running the offense. He led Miles Sanders to 1,269 rushing yards and 11 TDs last year. Rookie mobile QB Anthony Richardson should also help draw defenses away from Taylor. Plus, this is an offensive line I still believe in the talent of. The Colts will bounce back in a big way this season, and Taylor will be a major part of it.
9. Tyreek Hill (WR, Miami Dolphins)
There’s no point in continuing to fade Tyreek Hill in our 2023 fantasy football rankings. He finished as the PPR WR2 last season and has been a WR1 in five of the past six seasons. Hill set some new career highs in his first season as a Dolphin, catching 119 of his 170 targets for 1,710 yards and eight total TDs. That was with Tua Tagovailoa missing four full games and parts of others. Now with Mike White as the backup, there should be more stability if Tagovailoa were to go down.
10. Saquon Barkley (RB, New York Giants)
Saquon Barkley continues contract negotiations after receiving the franchise tag. Barley had another blowup season in 2022, finishing as the PPR RB5 in 16 games played. Barkley now has three seasons as an RB1 to begin his five-year NFL career.
Barkley’s rookie season, where he caught 91 of 121 targets, feels like somewhat of an outlier. Yet, he averaged 54.5 receptions in his other two elite seasons and should be a top RB once again if he’s on the field.
11. A.J. Brown (WR, Philadelphia Eagles)
A.J. Brown finally saw alpha-like targets during his first season in Philadelphia. He successfully increased his career-high 106 targets to 145. He didn’t waste them either, catching 88 receptions for 1,496 yards and 11 TDs. With the Eagles’ defense getting younger now facing a tougher schedule, the offense will likely have to pass a bit more. That should keep Brown as a high-end WR1, justifying his placement in our first-round 2023 fantasy football rankings.
12. CeeDee Lamb (WR, Dallas Cowboys)
We finally got the consistency we’ve been looking for out of CeeDee Lamb. With Amari Cooper in Cleveland, Lamb totaled a career-high 156 targets, 107 receptions, 1,359 yards and nine TDs.
While things could change some now with Mike McCarthy calling plays, Ezekiel Elliott is no longer around. That’ll make it more difficult to hand the ball off 462 times. Pairing Lamb with an elite RB like Derrick Henry or Breece Hall at the turn wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Thanks for reading our favorite 2023 fantasy football rankings for the first round. Check out more of our fantasy football content and other written work here at In-Between Media, or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.
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