Rookie Superflex Dynasty Ranks - 2023
This is for all the dynasty nerds out there. After years of requests, last year we began including dynasty-centric content on our site. Below, you will find our SuperFlex Dynasty Rankings for 2023. We’ve included our Top-50 overall, plus our rankings at each position. You’ll also find a brief synopsis of our thoughts on each player.
Top 50 Overall
Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons. Robinson is the consensus 1.01 in dynasty regardless of format. He’s the best RB prospect since Saquon Barkley. He projects as a three-down workhorse. That said, don’t be surprised if he’s not a three-down workhorse right off the bat. The Falcons boast the run-heaviest team in the league, and they return last year’s 1,000-yard rusher, Tyler Allgeier. Allgeier isn’t just going to go away. He’s still going to see a meaningful chunk of the work in this offense. And don’t forget Cordarrelle Patterson is still around, too, to take some of the receiving work. If you have the 1.01, you should take Robinson without thinking about it, but just don’t be surprised if he’s not the top RB in fantasy right off the bat.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts. I hate Anthony Richardson as a prospect. Hate. He was absolutely dreadful in college. His completion percentage was pathetic. He’s exactly what you’d want if you were building an ideal physical prototype for a quarterback, but the rest of the package just isn’t there. It takes a lot more than raw athleticism just to play quarterback. That said, if he hits… he’s going to hit big. Like, top-QB-in-fantasy sort of big. There’s probably only a 10% chance that outcome occurs, and a 90% chance he busts. But it’s worth the second overall pick. If he hits he’s going to carry your fantasy team for a decade-plus. If he doesn’t, well, at least you’ll still probably get some mildly useful performances due to his rushing ability.
Bryce Young, QB, Panthers. If Young was 6’2 and 225, he’d be the slam-dunk first quarterback off the board. The only knock you hear on this guy is his size. But in terms of mental processing and playmaking ability, he’s got what it takes to succeed in the NFL. I’m somewhat concerned about his supporting cast - it isn’t very good, and the Panthers lack the premium draft capital to surround him with more talent in the coming years - but I believe in his talent and I believe in Frank Reich’s ability to maximize it.
CJ Stroud, QB, Texans. Say what you will about Stroud’s S2 results. But I’m willing to bet that none of us had heard of the S2 cognition test before we heard that Stroud bombed it. Say what you will about Stroud’s supporting cast in college (including first round picks at wideout in Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Garrett Wilson, likely future first round picks Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, and first round pick Paris Johnson at left tackle).
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions. Gibbs is too undersized to be a feature back. And recent NFL history has not been kind to sub-200 backs who were Top-50 picks. So, the odds are against Gibbs. But if you watch the dude, he’s just so electric. If the Lions deploy him properly - say, limiting him to 10-15 touches per game - he might be able to hold up and make an impact for fantasy squads. Be cautious before buying into the Alvin Kamara comparisons, though, as Kamara was 15 pounds heavier as a rookie.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks. If you ask Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, JSN was the most talented receiver on their 2021 Ohio State squad. His combine testing showed elite quickness and change-of-direction ability. I’m not concerned that he’ll be playing the slot alongside two star receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett: that’s exactly the role he thrived in at Ohio State while playing alongside Olave and Wilson.
Will Levis, QB, Titans. If you believe the reports, the Titans were desperately trying to trade up into the last few picks of Round 1 to take Levis, but were consistently rebuffed. My take is that if Levis had been a first round pick - which was the Titans’ intention - the narrative surrounding him would be different. In a Superflex league, you can’t pass him up at this part of the draft. He should be starting by 2024 at latest.
Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers. Johnston certainly has limitations to his game, and there are some scouts who believe he projects better as a WR2. But you have to love anyone with first round draft capital who links up with Justin Herbert’s cannon arm. For 2023, he’s probably buried on the depth chart behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but he seems like an excellent prospect for 2024 and beyond. He might even find relevance this season, given how often Keenan Allen and Mike Williams find themselves on the trainers’ table.
Jordan Addison, WR, Vikings. I loved the former Biletnikoff Award winner heading into the combine . . . and then he bombed it. He’s undersized, he’s not terribly fast, and he’s not terribly athletic. Fortunately, though, WR is one of those positions where athleticism isn’t the be-all-and-end-all. There are so many different ways to win in the NFL, I’m not convinced that Addison’s lack of athleticism will be fatal to his NFL prospects. He single-handedly got Kenny Pickett drafted, and Pickett is genuinely terrible. He played primarily on the outside at Pitt and was successful, and primarily in the slot at USC and was successful. He should be able to line up anywhere in the NFL, which gives him the opportunity to stay on the field regardless of the formation. Plus, playing second fiddle to Justin Jefferson, he should never see double-coverage. There’s a lot to like with Addison.
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seahawks. Most sites have him lower, but Charbonnet is the final RB in this class whom I feel confident will make a meaningful fantasy impact. Don’t be scared off by the landing spot or the competition with Kenny Walker. If the ‘Hawks believed in Walker, they wouldn’t have drafted Charbonnet. Plus, Charbs succeeds where Walker fails: he’s good in short yardage and he’s good on third down. Those goal line touches and receptions are the lifeblood of fantasy success at running back.
Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens. Flowers is small (5’9), he’s not an early declare wideout, and he goes to a team that has historically employed a run-first philosophy. I’ve got him this high because he’s got first round draft capital and had a decent target share, but I’m somewhere between skeptical and cautiously optimistic.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Lions. I’m probably wayyy to high on Sam LaPorta, but I just gush over this guy. He was all the Iowa offense had. Just get this guy the ball as your F tight end and let him do damage. He’s going to form a terrific pass-catching duo with Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Rashee Rice, WR, Chiefs. Another guy I’m probably too high on, but Rice was one of the guys that made my YA BOY list heading into this draft. The All-American is just a touchdown-maker. And he’s now paired with the best touchdown-creator in the NFL. And lands on a wide open depth chart. Do you think JAGs like Skyyyyyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Dropling are going to keep him on the bench? The Chiefs offense is most dynamic if Rice is out there playing alongside Kadarius Toney and Travis Kelce. There’s a decent chance he could bust - he is old (23) for a rookie and didn’t play against elite competition in college - but I don’t want to be the guy who misses on Patrick Mahomes’ number 1 wideout at a second round cost.
Marvin Mims, WR, Broncos. Mims had an early breakout age at Oklahoma and is skilled as a deep threat. His status as a darling fantasy prospect was cemented when the Broncos traded up to select him in Round 2, making him the first draft pick of the Sean Payton era. Payton knows a thing or two about putting points on the board, so the landing spot has Mims’ arrow pointing up.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills. I’m lower on Kincaid than most. He’s old for a rookie, coming off injury, and only had one year of elite production. Also, say what you will about him, but that production came in the Pac-12, which isn’t exactly an elite defensive conference. Rumor has it that he was hovering just above 200 pounds at his pro day, so you have to take his testing with a grain of salt. All told, I’m just not the biggest Kincaid fan, even with the stellar landing spot. But he’s an athletic guy who projects to be the number 2 pass catcher in a good offense, so I understand the optimism.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jaguars. The fantasy community doesn’t seem to be quite high enough on Bigsby. He’s 6’0, 210, so he’s plenty big enough to carry the load. He’s got a speed score of almost 100, and had a 15% target share in college. This is a guy with a three-down skill set. The only reason people are down on him, it seems, is the landing spot. Travis Etienne is entrenched as the starter. But have the Jaguars ever done anything to show us that they’re committed to Etienne as their starter? In his rookie year, he was hurt. Last year, he started off the season splitting carries with James Robinson, who was rehabbing an Achilles tear. And now, they draft Bigsby. Doug Pederson is known as a coach who favors committees. So again… why do we believe in Etienne? Bigsby has just as good of a shot to lead that team in carries.
Jayden Reed, WR, Packers. Jayden Reed was hobbled at Michigan State by poor quarterback play. But before he played at MSU, he was at Western Michigan, where he outproduced fellow second round picks Dee Eskridge and Skyy Moore. Now, granted, those guys haven’t exactly set the NFL on fire. But both were second round draft picks, and he was better than both.
Michael Mayer, TE, Raiders. Michael Mayer and I went to the same high school, so I want to love him. But every time I watched him, I just felt like the ability didn’t match the hype. He strikes me as a very good player, rather than a great player. I do think he’ll last a decade in the league. He’s not, as some have suggested, a “baby Gronk.” A poor man’s Jason Witten is probably more accurate.
Hendon Hooker, QB, Lions. Three things Hendon Hooker has working against him: (a) He’s a 25-year-old rookie; (b) he’s rehabbing an ACL tear; and (c) he played in a gimmicky spread offense at Tennessee. Nevertheless, I’m a believer. Gimmicky offense or not, Hooker executed it flawllessly. And he has the stones to chuck it downfield. The dude can put up points in a hurry. Also, he’s a good decision-maker. He completed nearly 70% of his passes last year. He threw only 2 INTs (and only 3 the year prior), all while tossing 27 touchdowns in 11 games.
Jonathan Mingo, WR, Panthers. Mingo seemed like a draft reach. He never scored more than 5 touchdowns in a season. It wasn’t like he played with bad QBs; up until this past season he had Matt Corral, who was a third round pick last year. He topped out at 861 receiving yards, which is ok but not great. He seems to be a guy who was drafted based primarily upon his measurables. I just don’t like to draft that way, so I’m not terribly enthused about Mingo. That said, he’ll have ample opportunity, as all that’s blocking him from a starting job is the aging Adam Thielen and the perennially-underachieving DJ Chark.
Luke Musgrave, TE, Packers. Size-speed freak whose dad is an NFL coach and who heads to a Packers team with a barren depth chart at tight end and a need for guys to catch the football. Despite being 4th on our tight end list, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he had the most productive 2023.
Kendre Miller, RB, Saints. Miller has the size and speed, but the rest of the production profile is lacking. He wasn’t really much of a pass catcher in college, which typically doesn’t bode well for a player’s NFL prospects. But with Alvin Kamara’s looming suspension, he could get some run this year.
De’Von Achane, RB, Dolphins. He’s just so small. I get it that he has world class track speed and is electric with the ball in his hands. But can he hold up? He’s just a gadget player. The NFL is littered with undersized guys who are fast.
Jalin Hyatt, WR, Giants. The first-team All-American only has to beat out Isaiah Hodgins or Darius Slayton for a starting job on the outside. The problem is that he played almost 90% of his snaps from the slot in college. He’s not even going to be in the competition for that job, which will go to Parris Campbell, Sterling Shepard, or Wan’Dale Robinson. Hyatt’s NFL success will hinge on whether he can successful transition from gimmicky slot WR in college to perimeter player in the NFL.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Bears. Loved this pick. Johnson probably would have been a much bigger name if he hadn’t been sharing a backfield with Bijan Robinson in college. But he’s got the size, speed, and pass catching ability to make it in the NFL. The fact that he’s playing on a crummy depth chart behind only Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman suggests he might get an opportunity sooner rather than later.
Cedric Tillman, WR, Browns. People tend to forget that it was Tillman, not Jalin Hyatt, who was Hendon Hooker’s primary target in 2021. He began 2022 in that same role, but the offense shifted more towards Hyatt as Tillman battled injury. He’s on a crowded depth chart in Cleveland, but might be able to earn meaningful snaps as early as 2024.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans. Spears was a one man highlight reel during the Rose Bowl, and was electric during Senior Bowl week. He has cutting ability that reminds me of LeSean McCoy. He’s smaller than Shady, and there are rumors that he has no cartilage in one of his knees. While I like the talent, I question how long he’ll last in the league due to his medical issue. He might be a better redraft pick than dynasty pick.
Josh Downs, WR, Colts. It’s kind of a bummer when a slot player goes to a run-first offense. I am worried about how many opportunities he will get in an Anthony Richardson-led offense. He’s a tremendous talent, but it’s a subpar landing spot.
Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, WR, Texans. Small, undersized, unathletic. I’d be completely out on Dell but for the fact that he wound up on a team with one of the thinnest WR depth charts in the league.
Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford. Very talented, but can’t stay healthy. A starting wideout job could be up for grabs opposite Hollywood Brown. He’ll need to beat out the diminutive Rondale Moore and the equally diminutive Greg Dortch.
Chase Brown, RB, Bengals. People excited about Brown are seeming to overrate landing spot over talent. It’s really rare for running backs drafted in rounds 5-7 to become fantasy relevant. Some think he’s going to beat out Joe Mixon, but I just don’t see it. When this team is ready to move on from Mixon, they’ll use premium draft capital to do it. That’s been their M.O. at running back for more than 20 years.
Israel Abanikanda, RB, Jets. Izzy has a good size-speed combo, and he’s a breakaway threat in the mold of Raheem Mostert. The problem is that he generally goes down on first contact. It’s hard to peg what he’ll be in the NFL, or even when he’ll get an opportunity, since he landed on such a loaded depth chart in New York.
Sean Tucker, RB, Buccaneers. I love Sean Tucker. I had him rated as a top 3 back in this class. I am convinced that the sole reason he went undrafted is due to his medical issues. He’s landed in a good spot, as the only legitimate competition for touches in that backfield is Rachaad White.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, Patriots. My sole interest in Boutte is his early breakout age. Before this season started, he was rumored to be a potential first round pick. HIs college career is an interesting one, as his production really tailed off after his freshman year. I’d be comfortable using a late round flier on him in the hopes that this lotto ticket pays off big.
Zach Evans, RB, Rams. Evans was a five star recruit who couldn’t quite wrest the primary job to himself at TCU, so he transferred to Ole Miss. That proved to be a mistake, as TCU played for a national title after he transferred. At Ole Miss, he couldn’t get the bulk of the carries, either. When he weighed in for the combine, he was a bit smaller than expected. He was a decent late-round flier for a Rams team that is generally bereft of talent.
Tyler Scott, WR, Bears. Scott fell further than expected in the draft and lands on a seemingly crowded depth chart in Chicago. However, both Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney are free agents after this season, meaning Scott could be thrust into a starting role in 2024. The popular comp for him heading into the draft was Tyler Lockett.
Charlie Jones, WR, Bengals. Jones had an All-American season, but it came during his sixth year in college, at his third school. As we’ve seen from Rondale Moore and David Bell, we can’t necessarily trust the production from the top wideout in Brian Brohm’s Purdue offense. I’m guarded in my optimism for Jones. He’s 25 years old, and the fact that he couldn’t put up elite numbers at his previous stops concerns me. The saving grace is that he’s playing with Joe Burrow, who can probably make Bob the Janitor look like a decent player.
DeWayne McBride, RB, Vikings. McBride is a great two-down runner and pass blocker, but his college numbers suggest that he can’t catch a cold. If he can’t catch, it’s unlikely he sees much playing time.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jaguars. I had a Day 3 grade on Strange, so it was a mild shock to see him go in Round 2. He’s behind Evan Engram on the depth chart.
Evan Hull, RB, Colts. Hull was one of my favorite sleepers heading into the draft, but this landing spot all but kills his value. He’s not supplanting Jonathan Taylor, and there’s not much value as a third down back playing with a run-first QB.
Eric Gray, RB, Giants. Gray projects as a backup running back in the NFL. He might string together some decent games while making spot starts due to another player’s injury, but it’s unlikely he ever becomes a full-time starter in his own right.
Clayton Tune, QB, Cardinals. Aside from Bryce Young, Tune was the best QB in the NFL under pressure last year. That’s a good sign, because he’s playing for a crummy Cardinals team that might give up a lot of pressure right now. He could get an opportunity to start if Kyler Murray isn’t ready and he beats out Colt McCoy in camp.
Puka Nacua, WR, Rams. Nacua is an interesting rushing/receiving threat who has to beat out people like Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, and Ben Skowronek for a starting job. The opportunity is certainly there.
Stetson Bennett, QB, Rams. Bennett is old for a rookie (25) and he’s a knucklehead. Instead of going to the Senior Bowl, he stayed home to “train” - where he got arrested for an AI charge. If a guy isn’t making good decisions as a 25-year-old senior, do you really think he’ll make better decisions once he’s an NFL millionaire? Can he be trusted to make good decisions on the football field?
Chris Rodriguez, RB, Commanders. He’s a two-down banger who wasn’t drafted until the sixth round. His best chance at playing time probably comes if Brian Robinson doesn’t show more burst than he did last year.
Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Cowboys. Schoonmaker was an intriguing prospect but it felt like he was taken about a round too early. I’d expect Jake Ferguson to be the Cowboys primary tight end in the short term.
Deneric Prince, RB, Chiefs. As Isiah Pacheco showed us last year, all you need is opportunity when you’re on the Chiefs. There still aren’t any studs at running back on that roster, so Prince should be given a chance to compete.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Packers. I was a lot higher on Kraft before he wound up as the second tight end drafted by the Packers this year. That suggests he’s likely behind Luke Musgrave in the pecking order.
Tre Tucker, WR, Raiders. Candidly, I wasn’t high on Tucker, and had him rated as a 6th round talent. But the Raiders spent a Top 100 pick on him, so you can’t ignore that type of draft capital.
Darnell Washington, TE, Steelers. I never bought into the hype that Washington was a potential first rounder, but I was also surprised he fell as far as he did into the third. He’s a really good athlete, especially for his size, and his NFL production should far exceed his college output.
Quarterback
Anthony Richardson, Colts
Bryce Young, Panthers
CJ Stroud, Texans
Will Levis, Titans
Hendon Hooker, Lions
Clayton Tune, Cardinals
Stetson Bennett, Rams
Running Back
Bijan Robinson, Falcons
Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions
Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
Tank Bigsby, Jaguars
Kendre Miller, Saints
De’Von Achane, Dolphins
Roschon Johnson, Bears
Tyjae Spears, Titans
Chase Brown, Bengals
Israel Abanikanda, Jets
Sean Tucker, Buccaneers
Zach Evans, Rams
DeWayne McBride, Vikings
Evan Hull, Colts
Eric Gray, Giants
Chris Rodriguez, Commanders
Deneric Prince, Chiefs
Wide Receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
Quentin Johnston, Chargers
Jordan Addison, Vikings
Zay Flowers, Ravens
Rashee Rice, Chiefs
Marvin Mims, Broncos
Jayden Reed, Packers
Jonathan Mingo, Panthers
Jalin Hyatt, Giants
Cedric Tillman, Browns
Josh Downs, Colts
Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, Texans
Michael Wilson, Cardinals
Kayshon Boutte, Patriots
Tyler Scott, Bears
Charlie Jones, Bengals
Puka Nacua, Rams
Tre Tucker, Raiders
TIght End
Sam LaPorta, Lions
Dalton Kincaid, Bills
Michael Mayer, Raiders
Luke Musgrave, Packers
Brenton Strange, Jaguars
Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys
Tucker Kraft, Packers
Darnell Washington, Steelers