X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Scott Engel's Fantasy Football Mock Draft - The King's 2023 One-Man Mock

Austin Ekeler - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Scott Engel delivers his annual one-man fantasy football mock draft, pinpointing the best picks in the first four rounds of a PPR fantasy football league draft.

Now that the preseason is officially over, it's time to deliver my annual feature that has been a longtime staple at this point on the calendar. The King's 2023 fantasy football one-man mock draft is ready for the stage.

I attempt to take over the roles of all participants in the first four rounds of a 12-team PPR league with four points per TD pass. Starting skill position requirements are for one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, and one FLEX spot.

The picks are tied heavily to my own rankings, which are available here. The selections were based on needs and value as I went along while also experimenting with a few different roster builds. Some picks may not jibe purely with the ranks, as I also incorporated a feel for when some players must be taken if you prefer them. Projected workloads and upside also figured into the roster fits for each team.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Round One - Fantasy Football Mock Draft

1. Justin Jefferson: If you draft in so many leagues like high-stakes players do, then it’s OK to diversify and consider Ja’Marr Chase over Jefferson. For most who only play in one or two leagues, just draft Jefferson and start thinking ahead to the next two rounds.

2. Ja'Marr Chase: With 29 touchdown receptions in 22 career games so far, Chase is the certain 1B to Jefferson’s 1A status in fantasy football.

3. Travis Kelce: You are getting top 5 fantasy wide receiver production at the thinnest position in the game. Kelce is a slam-dunk pick anywhere from this point on.

4. Christian McCaffrey: He will often be taken third overall, but I want Kelce over anyone but Jefferson and Chase. After playing a full season last year, CMC allows his drafters to take him with even more confidence in 2023.

5. Tyreek Hill: If Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy for most or all of the year, Hill could finish as the top wide receiver in fantasy football.

6. Austin Ekeler: He is a very safe top-shelf pick. You know what to expect from Ekeler, and he has played full schedules in three of the past four seasons.

7. Stefon Diggs: Cooper Kupp was a popular pick in this first-round range before the injury news this week. Now Diggs is the certain guy to target when the top 3 WRs are off the board.

8. CeeDee Lamb: When we get to the later parts of the first round, I lean toward getting top WRs. There will likely be a top 5-6 RB available at this spot in the second round if you want one of them.

9. A.J. Brown: If you want Bijan Robinson at this spot or the next one, he is not going to slip much further, but I stay committed to the best WRs available.

10. Amon-Ra St. Brown: Taking another one of the top 9 WRs as a first starter at the position is the preferred move here.

11. Bijan Robinson: Personally, I prefer another WR at this spot, as I have Saquon Barkley ranked ahead of Robinson. For those who are high on the Atlanta rookie, this is likely the latest region he will fall to in many drafts.

12. Garrett Wilson: The Jets lack a true No. 2 WR, and Wilson has already developed a good rapport with Aaron Rodgers. If you want to take Wilson earlier, ahead of the two picks slotted ahead of him in this draft, for the upside and massive targets, it’s not crazy.

Round Two - Fantasy Football Mock Draft

13. Saquon Barkley: He is my third-ranked RB, playing on a one-year deal and coming off the best rushing season of his career. As hard as it is to pass up the next player taken right after Barkley in this draft, I will go with a top 3 RB in this spot.

14. Davante Adams: Landing Robinson and still getting Adams as a WR1 is a satisfying way to walk out of the first two rounds.

15. Chris Olave: A fine zero-RB start to the draft, pairing Olave with St. Brown.

16. Nick Chubb: I cannot let him slip any further, as Chubb is projected for heavier all-around work in an offense that should improve as the season progresses.

17. Cooper Kupp: He is now a risk/high reward pick, but you will be glad that you made the pick several weeks into the season if Kupp moves past his latest issue and stays healthy for a good portion of the season.

18. Tony Pollard: The best RB1 options are not going to last much longer at this point.

19. DeVonta Smith: After taking Ekeler in the first round, the urge to start RB/RB has to be resisted, as the best remaining WRs will continue to get scooped up.

20. Derrick Henry: I prefer to land one of the top 8 RBs, as there is a drop-off at the position once Henry and the next RB come off the board. Plus, with Henry/Hill on my roster, I can make corny Goodfellas references or even name the team after the movie.

21. Jaylen Waddle: When taking McCaffrey in the first round, this is a spot to wait and see which highest-ranked WR is there for the taking.

22. Patrick Mahomes: Yes, this works out where Kelce can be paired with Mahomes, and another WR or RB spot can be addressed a few picks later. Landing the Kansas City duo propelled some teams to their league Super Bowls in 2022.

23. Josh Jacobs: Now that the Las Vegas standout has rejoined his team, Jacobs is another RB playing with contractual incentive.

24. Josh Allen: He has finished as a top 2 fantasy quarterback in each of the past three seasons, placing atop the position twice.

 

Round Three - Fantasy Football Mock Draft

25. Jahmyr Gibbs: I do have a few other RBs ranked ahead of Gibbs, but this is your only chance at this slot to get the rookie if you are gunning for the upside. So I pushed him up the board, as some might, to get their guy.

26. Mark Andrews: I can’t let the consensus No. 2 fantasy tight end stay available much longer, and this team already has a WR1 and an RB1.

27. Amari Cooper: Even though Kelce is this team’s unofficial WR1, Cooper can top the roster well enough at the position. He performed admirably through injuries last season, and Deshaun Watson should operate more effectively over a projected full season in 2023.

28. Calvin Ridley: There are a healthy amount of playmakers in Jacksonville now, but Ridley does stand out above the rest in terms of pure talent. If you elect to take him over Cooper, I won’t argue.

29. Jalen Hurts: He will be taken ahead of Allen in many drafts, but even if I swapped Hurts with Allen’s spot at 24 for the sake of that scenario, this team will still get the last of the “Big Three” QBs here.

30. Tee Higgins: Yes, he is coming off a disappointing season, but it is certainly worth betting on a better 2023 campaign from Higgins as a fantasy WR2 at this point.

31. Keenan Allen: We know what Allen is capable of when healthy, and Justin Herbert could be headed for a big season. This is a fine fantasy WR2 pick to pair with Diggs.

32. DK Metcalf: This team comes away with a potentially excellent WR trio to start the draft, nabbing A.J. Lamb, Kupp, and Metcalf.

33. Rhamondre Stevenson: There is now a drop to another tier at WR here. It is a solid move to take Stevenson as an RB2.

34. Justin Fields: No other QB came close to his 2022 rushing yardage total of 1,143. Fields will continue to run often while gaining a No. 1 WR in D.J. Moore.

35. Drake London: I am aiming for a breakout year with this pick. I have London ranked as a top 20 fantasy WR.

36. Lamar Jackson: He might run a bit less this year, but Jackson is working with the best projected pass-catching crew of his career.

 

Round Four

37. DeAndre Hopkins
38. Najee Harris
39. D.J. Moore
40. Deebo Samuel
41. Joe Mixon
42. Justin Herbert
43. Joe Burrow
44. Brandon Aiyuk
45. T.J. Hockenson
46. Travis Etienne
47. Trevor Lawrence
48. Christian Watson

 

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



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Christian Kirk

Ruled Out for Week 1
Shohei Ohtani

Returning to the Mound on Friday
Kyle Finnegan

Lands on Injured List With Adductor Strain
Aaron Judge

Returns to Right Field on Friday
De'Von Achane

Without Injury Designation Heading Into Week 1
Christian McCaffrey

Seen Working on Side Field During Friday's Practice
Malik Nabers

Cleared to Play on Sunday
Willson Contreras

' Suspension Reduced, to Start Serving it on Friday
Kodai Senga

Mets Send Kodai Senga to Triple-A to Get Right
Chris Godwin

Officially Ruled Out for Week 1
Malik Nabers

' Reps Limited Friday Due to "Tight" Back
Caio Borralho

Set For A Title Eliminator Bout
Nassourdine Imavov

Looks To Earn A Title Shot
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set For UFC Paris Co-Main Event
Modestas Bukauskas

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Paul Craig

In Dire Need Of Victory
Mason Jones

Set for Main-Card Bout
Bolaji Oki

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Rhys McKee

Set To Open Up UFC Paris Main Card
Axel Sola

Set To Make His UFC Debut
Saquon Barkley

Scores Touchdown in Low-Yardage Outing
Jalen Hurts

Rushes for Two Touchdowns on Thursday
Javonte Williams

Salvages Inefficient Outing With Two Touchdowns
CeeDee Lamb

110-Yard Game Marred by Four Drops
Will Shipley

Questionable to Return on Thursday Night
Pablo López

Pablo Lopez Expected to Return on Friday
Micah Parsons

Expected to Play in Week 1
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Exits With Knee Contusions
Christian McCaffrey

Listed as Limited With Calf Injury
Justin Jefferson

Not on Week 1 Injury Report
Omarion Hampton

to Start Against Chiefs on Friday
Will Smith

Unlikely to Play This Weekend
Shohei Ohtani

to Pitch on Monday
Najee Harris

Off the Final Injury Report, Will Play in Week 1
Jon Rahm

Looks to Prove His Importance on European Ryder Cup Team
Tommy Fleetwood

Among Leaders of European Ryder Cup Team
Christian Kirk

Expected to be Sidelined in Week 1, Could Miss More Time
Amari Cooper

Informs Raiders of Retirement
Jayden Reed

Returns to Practice
Brandon Sproat

to Start for Mets on Sunday
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Close to Triple-Double Versus Serbia
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Fills Box Score Against Turkey
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Shakes Off Minor Injury
E.J. Liddell

Inks Two-Way Deal With Nets
NBA

Ben Simmons Reportedly Considering Retirement
P.J. Washington

Agrees to Four-Year, $90 Million Extension
Mike Trout

Plans to Return on Thursday
Will Smith

X-Rays Negative on Will Smith's Hand
Jauan Jennings

Gets Incentives Added to Contract
Jakobi Meyers

Unsure About Potential Extension
Will Smith

Exits With Hand Contusion
Jackson Chourio

in Lineup Wednesday Despite Hamstring Cramps
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
Christian Yelich

Dealing With Soreness in Lower Back
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Kyle Finnegan

Dealing With Groin Issue
Shohei Ohtani

Will Pitch "Sometime This Weekend"
Jackson Chourio

Absent on Wednesday With Hamstring Cramp
Roman Anthony

Officially Goes on Injured List
Roman Anthony

"High Probability" Roman Anthony Lands on Injured List
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage
Jason Adam

to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Santi Aldama

Bags Double-Double in Losing Effort
Guerschon Yabusele

Erupts for 36 Points Against Poland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia Into Next Round at EuroBasket
San Antonio Spurs

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
Reece Beekman

Joins Magic for Training Camp
Justin Minaya

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP