The King's Latest Rankings: Fantasy Football Draft Analysis for Jahmyr Gibbs, Joe Mixon, Michael Pittman, Garrett Wilson, more

August 24, 2023

Scott Engel provides his latest fantasy football rankings for your 2023 drafts. He supplies analysis and outlooks on featured players along with fantasy football draft strategy.

By this point of the fantasy football preseason, it’s an ideal time to issue my latest significant player fantasy football rankings update. I have completed 17 drafts in all types of formats, real and mocks, and have been keeping up diligently on all player news and published reports while watching a lot of preseason action.

I have also listened to the analysis of those fantasy analysts who I respect because even though I have been at this for a while, no one knows everything.

When working with colleagues such as Michael Florio, Anthony Aniano, and Josh Hayes on RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio, there is always something to be learned, no matter how much experience one has in the fantasy industry.

Scott Engel's Updated Rankings and Insights

So here are my latest 2023 fantasy football rankings, with highlighted PPR league analysis on some of the key players I have been targeting, considering, or avoiding in my drafts.

For access to my full rankings and our staff rankings, sign up for the RotoBaller Fantasy Football Season Pass and enter promo code KING at checkout for an additional discount.

Ranks denoted in the analysis are based on when this article was published but are subject to change in the FantasyPros widget below, as they will be regularly updated.

Running Backs - Fantasy Football Rankings

Saquon Barkley (3): I moved him ahead of Bijan Robinson when the holdout ended. Saquon Barkley is coming off his best season as a runner, and he is playing on a one-year deal.

Joe Mixon (10): He is underrated, and I have seen him taken in the fourth round of some drafts this summer. Joe Mixon isn’t a sexy upside pick for many fantasy players, but he is still a solid back-end RB1.

Jahmyr Gibbs (13): The rookie represents the last of the top-13 at RB, and if I cannot land Jahmyr Gibbs as an RB2, I may sit out and wait to stock up on another position or two before I revisit the running backs. There is a drop-off at RB after Gibbs is off the board.

Miles Sanders (16): A preseason groin injury has dropped his draft stock and transformed Miles Sanders into a value RB2 pick. In some leagues, I am seeing  Sanders go off the board in the fifth round, where I am glad to land a guy with a projected heavy workload. I don’t let minor preseason injuries affect my rankings much.

Alexander Mattison (21): I wonder if this ranking is too low. Alexander Mattison is ticketed to be the clear lead RB in the NFL’s seventh-ranked offense from last season. He is headed for significant volume and frequent TD opportunities. While others knock Mattison because he is not as explosive as Dalvin Cook, I see a busy and productive season ahead.

Zach Charbonnet (36): The Seattle rookie looks like a potential RB4 value, as he should catch passes out of the backfield and see some goal-line chances. If Kenneth Walker III misses any time, Zach Charbonnet will at least function as a high-end fantasy RB2.

Zach Charbonnet runs exactly how the Seahawks like their running backs to run. This will work ‼️ pic.twitter.com/nwqyuGKMoH

— Sports ON Tap Seattle (@SeattleONTap) August 15, 2023

Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Rankings

Garrett Wilson (9): I was tempted to rank Garrett Wilson two or three spots higher, as the ranks from six to 10 at WR are oh-so-close. If you want to draft Wilson a bit earlier than I have him ranked, you won’t get an argument from me. The Jets lack a true No. 2 WR, and Wilson will be a high-volume guy with significant upside.

Calvin Ridley (15): Originally, I was skeptical about the long layoff affecting Ridley and how many targets he will share in a deep offense. I am no longer concerned about the former, but the latter factor does keep me from ranking Ridley a bit higher.

DeAndre Hopkins (22): He is not an exciting pick anymore, and DeAndre Hopkins won’t challenge defenses downfield quite like he used to. But Hopkins can still catch almost anything thrown near him, and he is a solid back-end fantasy WR2 target.

Brandon Aiyuk (25): The rising 49er is one of my favorite WR3 targets who can possibly outperform his preseason ranking. Brandon Aiyuk will challenge Deebo Samuel to be the most productive fantasy WR on the San Francisco roster this season.

Michael Pittman Jr. (28): Michael Pittman caught 99 balls last season while dealing with significant QB issues. The situation has obviously improved with the arrival of Anthony Richardson, who has tremendous talent and can exceed some expectations as a passer. So far in the preseason, Richardson has displayed the patience to take what defenses give him and can certainly challenge them downfield when he gets those chances.

Anthony Richardson ➡️ Michael Pittman Jr. 🔥 #Colts #ForTheShoe @WISH_TV pic.twitter.com/PiDNggkxwE

— Angela Moryan (@SidelineStormer) August 16, 2023

Brandin Cooks (30): I have him ranked higher than most and will gladly draft Brandin Cooks as a fantasy WR value target. The savvy veteran will be an ideal No. 2 WR for Dak Prescott, and we have seen him post quality totals with much worse QBs in previous seasons.

Mike Williams (35): He is overrated and unreliable. Mike Williams is a well-known injury risk, and he has failed to catch more than five TD passes in three of the past four seasons. Heck, Quentin Johnston was drafted because the Chargers know they always need a viable replacement when Williams inevitably misses time.

Also: The fact that I have Elijah Moore at 40, Zay Flowers at 42, and Jalin Hyatt at 46 shows that there is some good upside depth available when we get into the fantasy WR4 range. I also like taking shots on Skyy Moore at 49 and Nico Collins at 50.

Quarterbacks - Fantasy Football Rankings

Justin Fields (4): Last season, no one came close to Justin Fields’ rushing totals at QB, and the Bears don’t intend to rein him back in that regard in 2023. Meanwhile, the addition of D.J. Moore provides Fields with a real No. 1 WR and puts Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet into more comfortable secondary roles, strengthening the pass-catching group overall.

Daniel Jones (10): The evolving Giants QB can outperform this ranking, as he finished as a top-10 fantasy QB in total fantasy points and points per game last season. His receiving group has been upgraded, and Daniel Jones is a fine value selection if you wait until the 10th round or so to take a QB.

pic.twitter.com/UxuzARDoAn

The “Daniel Jones got overpaid” crowd is in for a long year with the upgrades Schoen was able to make to this offense

— Matt Hamilton (@MattHamilton25) August 19, 2023

Tua Tagovailoa (12): My gut is telling me that I am ranking Tua Tagovailoa too low. He bulked up as part of his efforts to stay healthy during the offseason. If he can play the majority of the schedule, the most ideal system QB in the league has top-5 fantasy promise.

Tight Ends - Fantasy Football Rankings

Rather than pluck out specific players to highlight, this is my opportunity to emphasize to you that in every draft this year, I am aiming to draft a top-7 tight end. No other players have a projected consistent floor once Dallas Goedert is off the board. I don’t want to throw darts at the position on draft day or on waivers.

Sure, someone like Juwan Johnson or Chigoziem Okonkwo can exceed expectations, but so many of the players you will target outside of the top-7 will be unreliable or mediocre.

Scott Engel's Updated Fantasy Football Rankings

Scott Engel's fantasy and betting analysis is also featured at The Game Day.

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