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Every draft cycle can tank the value of NFL veterans and young fantasy darlings alike in dynasty fantasy football leagues, and the 2023 NFL Draft was no different. Whether a team drafted their QB of the future, added competition for touches at running back, or took a wide receiver who is likely to completely overtake another player in snaps and targets – there were plenty of losers from the 2023 NFL Draft from a dynasty perspective.
Some players on this list were rumored to be in danger beforehand, but others saw their teams take surprise players at their position, which is always the worst-case scenario for dynasty managers. A fantasy asset's trade value and future projections can take a massive hit with one draft selection, as we'll dive into below.
Without further ado, let's discuss the biggest dynasty fantasy football losers from the 2023 NFL Draft.
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Dynasty Fantasy Football QB Losers
Ryan Tannehill - QB, Tennessee Titans
Tannehill is a clear and obvious choice at the quarterback spot since the Tennessee Titans traded up to the No. 33 overall pick to select Kentucky's Will Levis. This is a much different situation than the team taking Malik Willis at No. 86 overall during last year's draft.
Early-round-two draft capital suggests Levis will get an early opportunity to play. He is already 24 years old and played in a scheme that resembles an NFL offense under former Rams assistant Liam Cohen in 2021, so there's no reason he needs to sit behind Tannehill for long. Head coach Mike Vrabel said Levis will start the offseason as the team's No. 3 quarterback, but ultimately, he should have the chance to start games in 2023 – if not right away in Week 1.
The Titans could cut Tannehill after June 1st to save $17.8 million, so that's not out of the question either. Tannehill could land as a temporary starter somewhere else, but his days as a franchise quarterback are numbered.
Dynasty Fantasy Football RB Losers
Kenneth Walker - RB, Seattle Seahawks
Walker was a consensus top-three dynasty running back before the NFL Draft, but Seattle shockingly selected UCLA's Zach Charbonnet in the second round — just a year after taking Walker in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Charbonnet's receiving profile is far superior to Walker's, meaning he could be the clear third-down back for the Seahawks, relegating Walker to the early-down role. Walker will still have value as a homerun hitter, but his goal line and receiving work could be compromised mightily.
Both players have RB1 upside if the other one misses time, but this sets up to be a frustrating backfield for fantasy managers in the years to come.
Tyler Allgeier - RB, Atlanta Falcons
There simply isn't much analysis needed here. Allgeier went from a promising young running back who posted 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie – to a pure handcuff RB only. It'd be one thing if Allgeier was still going to get plenty of touches, but the Falcons didn't take Bijan Robinson No. 8 overall to make him a committee back.
Allgeier will still be rosterable in deep leagues as a handcuff stash, but he'll likely be just a breather back for Robinson and will have no fantasy upside as long as Robinson stays healthy.
Dynasty Fantasy Football WR Losers
Rashod Bateman - WR, Baltimore Ravens
Bateman has struggled to stay healthy during his first two seasons in the NFL, playing in just 18 of 34 possible games for the Baltimore Ravens. After Marquise Brown was traded for a first-round pick last year, he looked to be ready to go as the team's No. 1 wide receiver.
However, the selection of Zay Flowers at pick 22 overall spells bad news for the 2021 first-round selection. Bateman's competition for targets is suddenly fierce in Lamar Jackson's offense with Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., and Mark Andrews, so his path to high-end fantasy success is tough to find.
It doesn't help that Ravens' general manager Eric DeCosta said the team hasn't found success drafting wideouts before this draft cycle. Ultimately, the team likely doesn't view Bateman as a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver anymore.
K.J. Osborn - WR, Minnesota Vikings
Osborn had a small window of hope in dynasty after the Vikings moved on from Adam Thielen, but the franchise selected former Pitt and USC wideout Jordan Addison to fill the No. 2 receiver role next to Justin Jefferson.
Addison has a much stronger profile than Osborn and carries the first-round draft capital with him into his rookie year, so expect him to overtake Osborn immediately in Kirk Cousins' target pecking order.
Osborn may still have value as a late-round pick in Best Ball formats, but without injury, he won't be viable in start 'em-sit 'em fantasy leagues.
Terrace Marshall Jr., WR - Carolina Panthers
Marshall has a disastrous rookie season after being taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft but showed some signs of life in his 2022 sophomore campaign. Still, the Panthers spent the 39th overall pick on Ole Miss wideout Jonathan Mingo, so his days could be numbers as a starter for Carolina.
We can expect Adam Thielen and Mingo to be the No. 1 and No. 2 targets for the first overall pick Bryce Young. In an offense that will likely struggle with a rookie QB, there's not much to be excited about beyond the top two options in the passing attack. Marshall could be a potential trade candidate, but how he's played so far in his young career doesn't bring much hope to his dynasty value after Carolina already looked to replace him.
Romeo Doubs, WR - Green Bay Packers
Doubs had a solid start to his career with Aaron Rodgers, but Christian Watson is the more talented receiver and the Packers using a second-round pick on Michigan State slot wide receiver Jayden Reed and two additional day-two picks on tight ends is bad news for the 2022 fourth-round pick.
It's already unclear whether the Packers' offense will be even league average under new quarterback Jordan Love, so the team adding Reed, Luke Musgrave, and Tucker Kraft all inside the first three rounds will have a negative impact on his dynasty value. Doubs could prove to be the best of the bunch, but for now, his stock is trending down.
Donovan Peoples-Jones - WR, Cleveland Browns
Peoples-Jones was expected to start alongside Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore for the foreseeable future in Cleveland, but the Browns selected Tennessee wideout Cedric Tillman in the third round of the draft.
Tillman is another big-bodied receiver (6'3", 213 lbs.) like DPJ (6'2", 212 lbs.) and will have the chance to take a starting spot as soon as his rookie year. The Tennessee product posted over 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021 and was the top receiver in the Vols' offense over Jalin Hyatt. He is already 23 and should be ready to play in the NFL. Even if the two receivers rotate out wide, it's a decrease in value for Peoples-Jones.
Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney, WRs - Kansas City Chiefs
While one of Moore or Toney will likely be somewhat productive in 2023, the addition of SMU wideout Rashee Rice will hurt their chances to command big volume in Patrick Mahomes' offense. Chiefs general managers Brett Veach said he envisions Rice taking on the JuJu Smith-Schuster role from last year, meaning he'd likely be the No. 2 target for Kansas City after Travis Kelce.
There was already not a lot of meat on the bone for Chiefs' pass-catchers after Kelce, so a second-round wide receiver joining the team isn't good for the values of Moore and Toney. All three young wideouts are intriguing for Best Ball leagues, but will likely be frustrating to manage in traditional fantasy formats.
Dynasty Fantasy Football TE Losers
Dawson Knox - TE, Buffalo Bills
While Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid is expected to be utilized more like a slot wide receiver than a tight end, Knox's dynasty value has to take a hit after Kincaid was taken by Buffalo in the first round. Knox has already struggled to command targets alongside Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, and other receivers in the Bills' offense, so Kincaid, who projects as a high-volume target -- will hurt his chances even more.
Knox will still have value in "real life" football as a red zone threat, but his potential to become a high-volume target earner seems to be dead in the water after the 2023 NFL Draft.
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