Fantasy Football Draft Picks – Syndication Server

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One of the major stories of the offseason throughout the NFL was the running back free agency market, and Austin Ekeler was one the backs upset with his contract situation. With Ekeler looking for a new contract that it seems the Chargers aren’t willing to pay him, he will be playing to try to prove something this season while also putting out film to the other 31 teams in the NFL.

Below, we look at Austin Ekeler‘s 2023 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

Ekeler is a top back because of the amount of touches he gets in both the running and passing games, as he eclipsed 200 rushing attempts and 125 passing targets last year. Ekeler is one of the favorite targets for QB Justin Herbert in a very talented Chargers offense. He has been a top fantasy back for each of the last 2 years, and I expect nothing less from him entering the 2023 season.

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Austin Ekeler’s ADP: 11.29

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Ekeler’s ADP of 11.29 has him being drafted in the late 1st round of most leagues, which to me makes sense, given the amount of touchdowns Ekeler gets combined with his versatility in both the passing and running games.

The only backs with ADPs lower than Ekeler are San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey at 6.82 and Atlanta Falcons rookie RB Bijan Robinson at 7.84. Robinson’s ADP being higher than Ekeler’s is a little surprising to me as he is a rookie, and the Falcons’ backfield is very talented, but many people are projecting Robinson to get 300+ touches this year.

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Austin Ekeler’s 2022 stats

Games: 17

Carries | rushing yards: 202 | 915

Rushing touchdowns: 13

Receptions | receiving yards: 107 | 722

Receiving touchdowns: 5

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Where should you draft Ekeler?

Ekeler’s fantasy value should get a boost this year given his contract situation and the versatility of the Chargers’ offense. I would feel very confident having Ekeler as a RB1 because of his versatility and touchdown numbers.

If McCaffrey is already off the board when you come up in the 1st round, you should take Ekeler. He has finished 4th or better in RB fantasy points in 3 of the past 4 seasons, and his 18 total touchdowns last year ranked 1st in the league. He drops a couple spots in non-PPR formats because you can’t count on him for 18 TDs again this year.

Ekeler isn’t the type of back that will get 1,500+ rushing yards, but he will get a lot of targets in the passing game, which is great for PPR leagues.

The Chargers have a lot of threats in the passing game with WR Mike Williams and WR Keenan Allen, but what helps Ekeler’s draft stock is how many red-zone looks he gets. He is really the only viable threat in the running game for Los Angeles as well.

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A key to winning any fantasy football league is figuring how which rookies to pick and which ones to fade. Today, we are taking a look at three rookies that you must target in your fantasy drafts.

For the purpose of this article, we will be looking at rookies to target at their current price in fantasy football drafts. The average draft positions (ADP) listed below are from standard 12-team PPR leagues via MyFantasyLeague.com.

Fantasy Football Rookies to Target

Here are the three rookies you must leave your fantasy drafts with this season:

Kansas City Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ADP: 22.6)

Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons – USA TODAY Sports

With the news of starter Damien Williams opting out of the 2020 NFL season, first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire instantly becomes the most valuable rookie for redraft leagues this season.

Edwards-Helaire was the first running back drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft and he is a perfect fit for Andy Reid’s offense. While he certainly lacks elite size, his ability to win in the passing game makes him a perfect sidekick to Patrick Mahomes out of the shotgun.

While the Chiefs could certainly ease Edwards-Helaire into the offense, he’s easily the most talented runner in the backfield. He’s currently a steal at the bottom of the second round, but expect his ADP to rise significantly over the next month. But given his upside, he’s a steal anytime in the second-round of PPR drafts.

Las Vegas Raiders WR Henry Ruggs (ADP: 116)

Photo Credit: Matt Bush – USA TODAY Sports

Despite being the No. 1 receiver drafted in April, three other receivers (CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Jalen Reagor) are being picked higher than Henry Ruggs in rookie drafts. In fact, Lamb and Jeudy are often being selected two-to-three rounds earlier than Ruggs.

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That doesn’t quite add up as Ruggs is projected to be the Raiders’ starting “X” receiver in Week 1, while Lamb and Jeudy will be playing behind multiple receivers in their respective offenses.

While Ruggs will likely be streaky from week to week in fantasy, it’s not hard to envision him seeing 100 or more targets in the Raiders’ offense. The team desperately needs a No. 1 receiver to emerge and he is the only player on offense with game-breaking speed.

In the 10th or 11th round of your fantasy drafts, Ruggs provides both a solid floor given his involvement in the offense and a high-ceiling due to his speed. Consider taking Ruggs as your WR3 or WR4 in the middle of your draft.

Buffalo Bills RB Zack Moss (ADP: 125)

Photo Credit: Daniel Dunn – USA TODAY Sports

Every year, there are a few late-round rookies that emerge at running back into fantasy starters. This year, that player could be Zack Moss of the Buffalo Bills. Replacing Frank Gore, the Bills are hoping Moss can be the “thunder” to Devin Singletary‘s “lightening” in the run game.

While that could limit Moss’ upside some, Gore received 179 touches from the Bills last season despite averaging only 3.6 yards per carry. With Buffalo having a dominating defense and a solid offensive line, the plan is to run the ball early and often.

It’s likely that Singletary will still lead this team in touches, don’t be surprised if Moss sees close to 200 and is the team’s primary runner near the goal line. And if anything happens to Singletary, Moss could turn into a league-winner as the Bills’ workhorse back. With Moss currently being selected in the double-digit rounds, he is just too good of a value to pass up.

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