Somebody goes to begin at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers once they open the 2023 common season, and fantasy managers certainly will likely be watching. The stress will likely be on, too. Future Corridor of Famer Aaron Rodgers and potential substitute Jordan Love are the doubtless choices, however that is the NFL and issues are consistently altering, so who actually is aware of for certain? We will say that Rodgers and Love — for various causes and assuming every begins for an NFL crew at quarterback — can have a lot to show for fantasy soccer in the course of the 2023 season.
Rodgers received the league MVP award after the 2020 and 2021 seasons and has little left to show within the sport, however fantasy managers did not get pleasure from his 2022 season a lot. Rodgers, who completed exterior the final top 10 QBs in fantasy scoring for the primary time in a full season (he was thirteenth), performed all 17 Packers regular-season video games, however by no means did attain the somewhat modest bar of 20 fantasy factors in any recreation, after doing so 4 instances or extra in every of his prior 14 seasons. He got here shut, however he did not get to twenty. Geno Smith received there in 5 video games, the beleaguered Russell Wilson 4 instances and reserves Jacoby Brissett and Andy Dalton twice. Rodgers didn’t. His lone top-10 fantasy end got here in Week 10.
If Rodgers strikes on to a different crew or to a different profession alternative, then presumably Love will lastly get his likelihood. You bear in mind Love, do not you? The Packers drafted the heralded Utah State product with the twenty sixth decide within the 2020 NFL draft — roughly mirroring the doorway to Rodgers becoming a member of the group within the later Brett Favre years — and Love began one recreation in three seasons, throwing 83 passes. Maybe he’s a extremely good participant worthy of our consideration and maybe he’s not. Maybe we mercifully discover out in 2023.
Regardless, it appears secure to say that Rodgers and the Packers, who blew their chance to qualify for the playoffs by dropping at residence to the rival Detroit Lions within the closing regular-season recreation, can have fairly the fascinating offseason. It wasn’t the simplest season for the Packers, however they performed properly in December earlier than lacking the playoffs for less than the third time in 14 seasons. As for different Packers, operating backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon performed constant roles and will return, whereas rookie large receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs emerged and will solely enhance.
Alas, the main focus tends to come back all the way down to the quarterback and whoever it’s for the Packers this fall, be it a Corridor of Famer with seemingly little to show or a touted prospect who has confirmed little, they are going to be on the proverbial sizzling seat, for fantasy and maybe in any other case. All of us will likely be watching.
We lined the weekly ups-and-downs of gamers on the fantasy sizzling seat this previous season and figured we might proceed the theme now that the common season has ended, looking forward to 2023. So many issues will change within the coming months, after all, as gamers and coaches transfer on and the following crop of faculty performers joins the league, however right here is an early look, by place, at different veterans who can have a lot to show within the fantasy world subsequent season.
Quarterback
Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: He has a tv job awaiting him, however Brady appears more likely to need one other shot at a Tremendous Bowl. There will likely be no scarcity of franchises lining up for his companies, ought to the Buccaneers want to transfer on. Like Rodgers, Brady was among the many high 10 QBs in ESPN ADP, however completed at No. 12. Brady had two top-10 fantasy finishes this season, together with his 37.6 factors in Week 17, however who is aware of what number of fantasy managers have been of their playoffs to depend on Brady that week.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: Jackson was a legit MVP candidate in September, however then he delivered solely two top-10 finishes over an eight-game interval earlier than hurting his knee, and he missed the ultimate 5 video games. Fantasy managers love him and for good cause, however even earlier than the damage, his efficiency was not on the anticipated stage.
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers: The No. 3 decide within the 2021 draft, proper after the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence (who’s a top-10 QB now) and the Jets’ Zach Wilson (who actually just isn’t), Lance broke his ankle in Week 2 this season, and very similar to Love, left his personal crew — and fantasy managers — with an incomplete image of what he could statistically supply. The 49ers survived the lack of Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo as a result of Brock Purdy, the ultimate decide of the 2022 draft, thrived down the stretch. We have been led to imagine Lance presents top-10 QB upside. That is going to be an fascinating offseason for the 49ers, too.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: Stafford led the Rams to a Tremendous Bowl title in his first season, however he and his crew fell aside this previous marketing campaign, and everybody will likely be on discover subsequent season. Stafford tossed eight interceptions within the first six video games. He ought to get better from a spinal wire contusion by the summer season, however whether or not fantasy managers belief him once more is one other matter.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins: Tagovailoa’s third season began properly with a 6-touchdown explosion in Week 2, however a number of concussions in the end derailed his breakout marketing campaign. Put merely, what Tagovailoa must show is that he can play a full season.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos: After being a top-12 fantasy quarterback in every of his first 9 NFL seasons, let’s simply say Wilson didn’t carry out to that stage the previous two seasons, one for the 2021 Seahawks after which for Denver, a franchise that paid dearly for his companies. Fantasy managers assumed a return to statistical greatness was pending. It was not. Wilson is not going to be a top-10 QB on draft day 2023, however he shouldn’t be dismissed, both.
Others: Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders; Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals; Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns; Zach Wilson, New York Jets
Operating again
Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams: Getting back from a torn Achilles tendon is not fairly like doing so from a knee damage, and Akers, who missed practically the entire 2021 season, struggled for a lot of this season. Then he ran properly for the ultimate six weeks, topping 100 dashing yards in every of the ultimate three contests, as soon as the Rams have been accomplished taking part in video games that mattered. Fantasy managers could make the case for Akers as an RB2 or somebody they can’t belief, and every part in between.
J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens: Dobbins had a greater 2020 rookie season than Akers did, then wrecked his knee at roughly the identical time as Akers’ damage in 2021. Fantasy managers have been suggested that Dobbins could begin the 2022 season slowly and, after 4 video games with irritating manufacturing, he wanted one other knee process. Dobbins returned in Week 14 and ran higher. Accidents, man.
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions: The No. 12 RB in ESPN ADP, Swift missed all however one recreation in October with an ankle damage, then damage a shoulder and the Lions have been so cautious with him that he earned greater than 10 touches in solely 5 video games all season. If sturdiness is a priority shifting ahead, it should have an effect on his fantasy potential.
Others: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs; Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Damien Harris, New England Patriots; Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers; Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints; James Robinson, New York Jets; Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts; Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
Large receiver
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals: All could appear properly, however Hopkins missed the primary six video games on account of a suspension for violating league coverage for performance-enhancing substances, and he missed the ultimate two video games with a knee damage. He additionally missed six video games in 2021 for hamstring and knee woes. Hopkins performed like a WR1 in his eight full video games, however sturdiness and concern about beginning QB Kyler Murray coming back from his personal knee damage by September clouds his statistical potential a bit.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers: Johnson wasn’t essentially dangerous this previous season, although each different large receiver among the many high 50 in PPR scoring really scored a landing. Johnson didn’t. He additionally didn’t catch 100 yards value of passes in a recreation. Pittsburgh’s QB play wasn’t superior, and fantasy managers taking a look at a Steelers choice could want to spend money on youthful Steelers WR George Pickens as an alternative.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints: Most fantasy managers did not select him early in drafts, however they did take him on the premise he was lastly wholesome. For 2-plus video games, possibly he was. Thomas scored three touchdowns in three video games and … that was it for his season. Thomas, who was the very best participant in fantasy, setting information in 2019, has performed in 10 NFL video games since then, for numerous bodily causes. Oh, and the Saints want a QB in 2023. Aside from that, all is properly.
Others: Rashod Bateman/Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens; Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals; Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans; Chase Claypool/Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears; Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts; Allen Robinson II, Los Angeles Rams; Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers; Kadarius Toney, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Tight finish
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: The third TE chosen in ESPN ADP got here off a 1,000-yard rookie season, albeit with just one landing catch, and fantasy managers dreamt of monster numbers. They did not get them. Pitts did double his landing output, however he averaged solely 2.8 receptions and 35 receiving yards in his 10 video games earlier than needing knee surgical procedure, mystifying utilization for such a proficient participant. If wholesome, we now have to rank him as top-10 TE for 2023, however the Falcons must make the most of him correctly.
Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders: Waller dominated in the course of the 2020 season, catching 107 passes for 1,196 yards and 9 TDs. In 20 video games since then, he has 83 catches, 1,053 yards and 5 TDs. Now 30 years outdated and hardly sturdy, he, like so many NFL gamers, has a lot to show to fantasy managers in 2023.