The Three Players I Target in Redraft Leagues

After countless hours of mock drafting for my home redraft leagues, the time has come to put that work to use. This year, I have three guys that I’m prioritizing to target in my leagues. These are players that I want all the shares of in 2023, and I’d highly encourage you to have these names highlighted on your draft boards. These are the players I am targeting in redraft leagues.

Now, no one needs to read about how you should be targeting Ja’Marr Chase in the first round. Who you should draft early depends on which position you are drafting from. Drafts are won and lost in the middle rounds, so those are the players that we need to unpack to have our best shots at winning a title this year.

A few things are leading me to “plant the flag” for these players, and that is their ADP, opportunity, and league-winning upside.

Without further ado, let’s talk about the three players I’m not leaving my redrafts without.

Breece Hall

In 2022, Breece Hall drafters thought they had themselves a league winner. Before his week seven injury in Denver, Breece Hall was showing off. Through weeks 1-6, Hall had accumulated 609 total yards and 4 TDs. His usage as a pass catcher within the Jets offense was a pleasant surprise, seeing 31 targets over that same six-game stretch. His involvement in the passing game resulted in three top-12 RB finishes over that stretch for fantasy. There was no doubt about it: Hall was a stud before his injury.

Now, they’re reasons to be weary of Hall this year. He suffered a torn ACL on October 23, 2022. He is less than a year removed from his injury, and unless you’re Adrian Peterson, running backs returning from ACL tears often take time to ramp up to “pre-injury” form (ask last year’s J.K. Dobbins owners).

Hall recently returned to the practice field but now finds himself with a new running mate in Dalvin Cook. I’m on the side of this being a good thing for Hall owners. The signing of Dalvin will ensure he is eased back into an every-down workload on an offense set to take significant steps forward this year. 

So why am I drafting him? I’m drafting Breece Hall because when healthy, he’s one of the best running backs in the league. His 5.79 yards per carry last year, his explosiveness in both the passing and run game, and the promise of a more explosive offense have me loving Hall in 2023. The best part about drafting Hall is that you can find him in round four of your redraft leagues. With the Jets signing Aaron Rodgers, their Super Bowl window is now. By the end of the year, the best players will be on the field, and Hall’s talent will overcome an aged and declining Dalvin Cook. Cook took steps back last year in both usage and efficiency on the ground. In 2022, Cook averaged 15.5 rush attempts per game, managing only 4.4 yards per carry. That lowered yards per carry was the lowest total of Cook’s career. A healthy Breece Hall is the better back, and fantasy managers should draft him as such.

Drafters should remember that it’s not unrealistic for Hall to be on a snap count early in the season. Everyone wants to start their fantasy season strong, but I’m more worried about how my team finishes. Breece Hall’s last few games this year will be against Houston, Miami, and Washington. Assuming your league has playoffs starting week 14, those are favorable matchups that might help you earn a trophy this year. Houston was last in rushing yards allowed in 2022, and Miami was 9th in points against. An exciting week 15 matchup against the Dolphins should lead to offensive fireworks in a showdown poised to have divisional and wildcard playoff implications.

Hall has an ADP of 39; if he’s available in the 4th, I’m not overthinking it. The 2023 season will be the last year where you’ll find Hall outside the top two rounds of your fantasy drafts.

Jahan Dotson

Move aside, Terry McLaurin, there is a new WR1 in Washington named Jahan Dotson.

With all the talk around Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave being top picks, the next two-year WRs often talked about are Drake London and Christian Watson.

Now, all are going to be valuable fantasy assets this season; however, the disrespect on Jahan Dotson, I can’t understand.

Weeks 1-4 last year, Dotson had 12 catches on 22 targets for 152 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. That’s one hell of a way to start your NFL career. Dotson’s rookie year was then interrupted by a hamstring injury that kept him out for the next five weeks. Upon returning in week ten against Philadelphia, Dotson found his groove again. During the most pivotal weeks (15/16), he finished as WR9 and WR12 in PPR formats.

Why am I drafting Dotson? Terry McLaurin is unlikely to play week 1 for the Commanders as he is dealing with turf toe. That is a tricky injury that could linger throughout the season and one to monitor closely. The former first-round pick will have 0 target competition within this offense without McLaurin on the field. If Sam Howell proves he is a competent NFL QB, Dotson will smash his ADP of 85 on Sleeper.  

Wilson, Olave, London, and Watson had clear paths to be the top wide receivers on their respective teams in 2022. Dotson’s rookie year was much different. He stood opposite McLaurin, who, coming into 2022, recorded two straight 1000-yard seasons. He was the clear alpha in the offense. With McLaurin’s week one status unclear, I’m looking for Dotson to be the top target in this offense immediately. Expect Dotson to make the most of this opportunity and command a 20% plus target share, even upon McLaurin’s return.

Give me Dotson in round 7 of my redrafts. The second-year wideout received round 1 draft capital in 2022 and looked the part last year. With an entire training camp logged with Howell, I’m looking for Dotson to outpace McLaurin this year in yards and touchdowns.

Zach Charbonnet

Kenneth Walker managers beware: Zach Charbonnet is here to take away your third down opportunities. 

With Seattle’s selection of Zach Charbonnet in round two of the 2023 draft, fantasy managers scratched their heads with the apparent Walker slated to be the RB1. Walker looked great last year, and most were excited about drafting him on their 2023 teams. This excitement quickly died when Seattle selected the 6’1″, 215-pound pass-catching back out of UCLA.

Charbonnet was a proven pass catcher at UCLA, catching the ball 37 times for 321 yards in 2022. He was no slouch on the ground either, posting 1359 rushing yards on 195 attempts (14 TDs). His rushing line was good for 7 yards per carry.

I’m drafting Charbonnet as he has all the tools to unseat Kenneth Walker THIS YEAR as the RB1 in Seattle. 

Kenneth Walker was targeted 35 times for 165 yards in the passing game last season. He had an ADOT of -2.1 (Average Depth of Target). Seattle recognized the need for a more effective receiving option out of the backfield, and they found it in Charbonnet. 

Most have Charbonnet penciled in for receiving work on third down, but I foresee a much higher workload for the rookie. Charbonnet was a workhorse for UCLA and my RB3 of this rookie class. The Seahawks drafted Charbonnet to use him, not sit on the bench. If Charbonnet can be as effective on the ground as he was at UCLA and prove to be the better option in pass-pro, he’s going to be hard to get off the field. Charbonnet will find immediate usage in this offense, and if Walker were to miss games, you’re looking at a league winner.

I’ll take Charbonnet over other running backs in his range, such as AJ Dillon and Antonio Gibson. Charbonnet is the better prospect coming out of school and finds himself on the better offense (Seattle was 9th in points scored in 2022). With added rookie weapons in Zach Charbonnet and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, I expect Seattle to take another step forward as an offense. Charbonnet has an ADP of 98, and at that price, I’ll happily add him to my team in the 9th round.

So what do you think? Who are some players you are targeting in your drafts?

For me, these three will be staples on all my teams, and if somehow I end up not drafting them, I’m sending out trade offers to acquire them. If you enjoy winning fantasy championships, I’d suggest targeting these players aggressively.

 

Nick Goodwin – ngoodwin_tv

Sources: Sleeper, cbssports.com, Pro-Football-Reference