Everyone puts considerable stock in using their early draft picks on players they’re convinced will carry a roster. However, five weeks into the 2023 season, we’ve learned that the only consistent position for fantasy scoring are the elite wide receivers.
At quarterback, the top 10 players in passing yards include a lot of players who weren’t drafted to be a QB1 – namely Kirk Cousins (2nd), C.J. Stroud (3rd), Matthew Stafford (4th), Sam Howell (6th), Brock Purdy (8th) and Jared Goff (9th). In terms of touchdown passes, the same is true with Cousins (1st), Russell Wilson (tied for 2nd), Purdy (tied for 7th), Goff (tied for 7th), Jordan Love (9th), and Stroud (10th).
A similar run of unheralded players is happening at running back. Among the top 10 rushing yardage leaders, more than half are players who weren’t drafted to be an RB1 – De’Von Achane (2nd), Zack Moss (3rd), D’Andre Swift (4th), Breece Hall (6th), David Montgomery (7th), and James Conner (8th).
The only position that has held up with the top stars dominating the top spots are wide receivers, but there are exceptions. Among the top 10 receivers in yardage, you have Puka Nacua (2nd), DJ Moore (5th), and Nico Collins (8th). In terms of receptions, there is Nacua (1st), Adam Thielen (4th), and Michael Pittman (10th).
While the star players are in lineups every week because of their ability, in the first month-plus of the season, the back-of-the-roster guys and waiver pickups are doing just as much if not more damage.