Need a quick cheat sheet for your upcoming fantasy football draft? We've got your back! In this handy guide, we'll list the top 5 offensive players at each position.
Want some help on the NFL Hall of Fame Game? Check out our best bet article as well as our FanDuel Lineup Strategy. Good luck!
QUARTERBACKS
1. Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs)
The QB category is once again a runaway at 1st overall. Patrick Mahomes is a two-time Super Bowl winner, 25 PPG fantasy football scorer, and possibly the most complete Quarterback we’ve seen this century.
Although Eric Bieniemy has left Kansas City, Andy Reid still runs the show with Patrick supplied with an outstanding offensive line, solid RB room, and the best Tight End in football in Travis Kelce.
No one is close to touching Mahomes, especially after coming off a career high in completion percentage without a true #1 WR.
2. Josh Allen (Bills)
After an extremely disappointing end to 2022, Josh Allen and the Bills weren’t ecstatic to see Aaron Rodgers decide to join their divisional foe Jets, and be in a good enough mood to take a pay-cut.
Buffalo didn’t enter the Cook, Hopkins, nor Moore sweepstakes, and now are left with a similar receiving core to the past few seasons alongside highly anticipated rookie TE Dalton Kincaid.
With Allen’s huge arm and red zone rushing ability, expect another productive season out of Buffalo.
3. Justin Herbert (Chargers)
The Chargers' acquisition of Kellen Moore as their new offensive coordinator brings optimism, given his track record of producing top 5 offensive seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and lesser quarterback Dak Prescott.
There’s reason to expect Herbert to put up a career year with five viable targets between his elite receiving core and running back Austin Ekeler.
After finishing in the bottom quarter of the league in air yards per attempt last season, expect that script to be re-written with the addition of training camp standout Quentin Johnston and downfield savant Mike Williams.
4. Jalen Hurts (Eagles)
Jalen Hurts has every intangible that you would want in a franchise QB. Perhaps just one or two plays away from a Super Bowl title in his 3rd season in the NFL, his 13 rushing TDs and 22 passing TDs on efficient numbers shocked many due to his lackluster passing numbers in his first two seasons.
However, with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and D’Andre Swift leading the receiving core, there’s no reason Hurts finishes outside the top 5 this year in QB play, impact, and production.
5. Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
While Joe Burrow would hold this spot if healthy, I will once again give into the Lamar Jackson case. When healthy, there hasn’t been a QB in NFL history that has resembled what Jackson can do outside of the pocket.
With his best offensive unit since coming into the league, John Harbaugh and company will find a way to win the AFC North this season behind Lamar Jackson running the offense at his own pace.
RUNNING BACKS
1. Nick Chubb (Browns)
Although running back is one of the toughest positions to scout, predict, and understand especially with the current stigma surrounding contractual situations, Nick Chubb consistently remains a top dog in his position.
With Kareem Hunt no longer a Brown, Chubb has the opportunity to take on receiving work behind an outstanding offensive line which could get him over the 2,000 yard hump for the first time in his career.
2. Christian McCaffrey (49ers)
CMC remains the most talented Running Back in the league, and alongside the great offensive mind in Shanahan, can weave his way into another top five season at the position.
With either Purdy or Lance taking QB snaps, expect CMC’s role in the receiving game to be as prominent as ever.
One of the few RBs that has been team-friendly and out of negative spotlight, McCaffrey deserves to be no lower than #2 on this list.
3. Bijan Robinson (Falcons)
Bijan Robinson reportedly getting additional work as a receiver alongside the clips of him destroying defensive backs in training camp have only increased the immense expectations, I have for the former Longhorn this season.
With Desmond Ridder heading into his first full season and the expectation I’ve set on this Atlanta team to win their division, expect to see multiple 100 yard, 5 catch, 2 TD games from the next elite NFL running back.
4. Austin Ekeler (Chargers)
Ekeler’s 38 total TDs over the past two seasons are just the tip of the iceberg for what he has meant for this Charger team.
While contract disputes are still invisible dust surrounding his relationship with Spanos and the front office, Austin Ekeler is a baller on the field.
Finishing 1st in TDs, receptions, and fourth in yards created per touch last season, bank on the Los Angeles running back to have another extremely productive season alongside Herbert.
5. Derrick Henry (Titans)
Like many, I’ve left Derrick Henry outside of my top five for a few seasons now. However, that would simply be selfish and arrogant to allow that for 2023-24.
Henry’s YPC numbers should move back up to the 5.0 range after the signing of DeAndre Hopkins and reports that Treylon Burks is developing nicely as a #2 option on the outside.
This additional support for whoever takes the reins at QB should allow for Henry to operate with more space, which is exactly why he deserves to be slotted inside the top 5 of any RB conversation occurring this offseason.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Justin Jefferson (Vikings)
Two-fold, Justin Jefferson is going to be a Hall of Famer. Moreover, he will continue to hold the top spot at wideout unless Ja’Marr Chase shows me something spectacular this coming season.
Minus Adam Thielen and plus Jordan Addison, Jefferson’s production shouldn’t diminish this season, especially due to the absence of Dalvin Cook in the backfield.
Expected to line up everywhere on the field, I predict Jefferson to catch a career high 13 TDs in 2023-24.
2. Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals)
Whether Joe Burrow is healthy for the first quarter of the season or not shouldn’t affect Chase’s production. An elite slot receiver who can also do damage outside the numbers, Ja’Marr would have produced a WR1 or 2 season if not for the hip injury sustained for five games last season.
Finishing third in red zone targets, there is a world in which the Burrow/Chase connection goes for an NFL high of 15 TDs this season.
Look forward to a thrilling race to the most touchdowns between these two former LSU receivers (Jefferson & Chase), who have seamlessly transformed into NFL stars.
3. Davante Adams (Raiders)
If you follow PFF and listen to other NFL players talk about the impact Davante Adams brings to the table, it’s difficult to leave him out of your top five, although his situation in Vegas is less-than-ideal.
Playing for his beloved childhood team, Adams finds himself without his BFF Derek Carr and potentially missing the services of a top 10 running back Josh Jacobs. To add to the sadness, he now has Jimmy Garoppolo as his quarterback, who is coming off an injury.
Although Jimmy Garoppolo isn't the worst quarterback option in the league, there remains a possibility that Adams might find himself in a different team's uniform by the end of this season.
Nevertheless, Adams' talent is undoubtedly strong enough to secure his fourth consecutive season of over 1,300 receiving yards, showcasing elite route running tree and mastery of demanding targets inside the red zone.
4. Stefon Diggs (Bills)
These next two might come as a shock to some. While Stefon Diggs has displayed his unhappiness with the Bills this offseason, his connection with Josh Allen should be as strong as ever.
Well, it actually needs to be as strong as ever if the Bills want a chance to find themselves in contention once again.
Without a consistent #2 option in the receiving game, Diggs will have to carry this team all season long once again. It will become his 6th straight season of posting over 1,000 yards.
5. Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins)
While Tyreek Hill just misses this top five list, Jaylen Waddle’s breakout year will propel him into the elite tier of NFL wideouts.
The 5’9 speedstar will still remain a step-or-two behind Jefferson & Chase, but with Tua’s accurate downfield passing including a solid “mid-range” game, expect Waddle to feast as he finishes in the top 10 in route win rate (49% in 2022).
With reports stating that Hill has had a shaky start to training camp, buy Waddle in all formats today before he gets pricey.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
Similar to Mahomes and Jefferson, Kelce is the runaway choice at first overall. Finishing with over 1,000 yards for seven straight seasons at the TE position might be the most impressive stat in this article.
Former standout positional players that include Tony Gonzalez and Rob Gronkowski have dominated the game, but no one has been as reliable and trustworthy as Travis Kelce in their TE career. Expect the link-up game with Mahomes to be as effective as ever.
2. George Kittle (49ers)
A top three receiving Tight End. The best blocking Tight End. Possibly the best leader as a Tight End. George Kittle has it all and although there are injury concerns every season, the man produces when on the field.
One of his most impressive stats due to the lack of blockbuster names he’s had at QB since his career began… Kittle has finished top 5 in QB rating when targeted the past two seasons, making him the most reliable option in Shanhan’s explosive offense.
3. Mark Andrews (Ravens)
With added trust in Lamar Jackson heading into this ‘23-24 season, I mind as well spread some love elsewhere on the Ravens offense.
Mark Andrews has consistently been the Ravens top target and is an incredible playmaker when Jackson scrambles out of the pocket, seemingly freeing himself from both zone or man coverage against any team in the league.
Although his TD production might have dropped off since Lamar’s MVP year, expect Mark’s target share to remain around the 28-30% mark with Jackson running the show for Baltimore.
4. Kyle Pitts (Falcons)
The unicorn prospect that was Kyle Pitts has remained dormant, behind the shed for the first two years of his career.
However, that unicorn is about to turn into a top 5 Tight End in the NFL. With an added emphasis in the red zone, expect Pitts to finish outside the top 5 in yards and catches, but catch the deepest targets and TDs among his fellow TEs in the NFC.
5. Chigozeim Okonkwo (Titans)
Chiggy has remained my unexpected sleeper throughout this offseason. While the addition of DeAndre Hopkins tempered expectations for some, it only raised mine.
With Henry drawing the attention of defenders in the box and Hopkins commanding the focus of multiple defensive backs, Okonokwo will have a significant advantage going one-on-one against linebackers, who he will destroy vertically with athleticism.
Chigozeim ranked 2nd in targets per route run last season. Just wait until he gets a 75% snap percentage with Vrabel’s squad in 2023-24.
