It's valuable to analyze all of the information (and misinformation) from preseason action. We apply the context and tape that moves the needle on our YouTube channel every week, but I'll also update my 2023 fantasy football rankings after each preseason week. We can use these rankings in $15M Best Ball Mania or in the $1M Puppy (only $5 to enter). This promo link will match your first deposit up to one hundred dollars. Good luck!

2023 Fantasy Football Rankings

These are half PPR best ball rankings based on Underdog Fantasy scoring, and "2022 Finish" is based on fantasy points over replacement per game.

Preseason Week 1 Notes

Lots of QB9 Deshaun Watson runs and fun offensive usage overall. ... QB10 Anthony Richardson still has accuracy issues, but he passed the bar on tape. Promising. ... QB19 Brock Purdy is well ahead of Trey Lance, who didn't look ready compared to Sam Darnold. Yikes. ... QB20 Kenny Pickett played very well and can play on the move. There was some annoying, boring play designs still. ... QB22 Russell Wilson was getting his ass kicked behind that OL. Drops also hurt him. But his own athleticism didn't rebound on tape to me. ... QB24 Jordan Love didn't do anything special or anything harmful, aside from that miss to his galloping tight end. ... QB25 Bryce Young had a forgettable outing. No real notes. ... QB28 C.J. Stroud was concerning. His footwork and indecisiveness made him late on throws. The route design, route running, and second-string OL hurt him a lot, too. ... QB30 Sam Howell was pretty good and is an explosive player, but Jacoby Brissett played like a starter in relief.

RB10 Rhamondre Stevenson will be holding off RB43 Ezekiel Elliott, who is on a $4M contract. Zeke should steal some short-yardage situations, but I think the signing is more of a hedge against the Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris backups. Stevenson still has high-upside paths and a nice pass-catching floor. ... RB17 Breece Hall takes a big hit, to the 5th round for me. The Dolphins would've been better for RB25 Dalvin Cook, but the $6M plus incentives he received from New York is definitely more than I thought. It suggests he'll be in the mix, and I have a feeling pay-cut Aaron Rodgers really wanted Cook specifically. The most likely outcome is Cook > Hall throughout September before Cook gets back in the boom-bust RB1/2 mix late in the year. There is upside in both cases (including for Cook) in this Rodgers offense. ... The Dolphins RBs are dodging bullets and all deserve a rankings boost from me, after I thought Cook was very live to sign there. RB43 Jeff Wilson is the goal line favorite. RB44 Raheem Mostert is the passing down and home run threat favorite. RB58 Devon Achane was the Dolphins' RB5 and a special teams punt gunner in Preseason Week 1. Not great for an undersized player. Yes, I know you want him for late-season upside, which we just saw with Jeff Wilson last year.

RB13 Kenneth Walker (groin) is back at practice. ... RB15 Travis Etienne was subbed out on passing downs by Jamycal Hasty and RB47 Tank Bigsby handled one short-yardage carry. Etienne was on the field at the 2-yard line, however. He can be a fantasy RB on 15 touches. He's just not a bellcow. ... RB17 Jahmyr Gibbs passed the test while RB19 David Montgomery rested with other starters. ... RB20 Najee Harris was being subbed out more than expected for RB36 Jaylen Warren, who had a dope run. ... RB26 Alvin Kamara looked good on tape and played most of the starting reps, while RB59 Kendre Miller re-injured his knee (out 1-2 weeks) after subbing in after RB42 Jamaal Williams. The gap between them should increase now that the suspension is behind him. ... RB27 Brian Robinson, RB29 James Cook, and RB30 Khalil Herbert were clear starters. ... RB33 Zach Charbonnet has quite the truck stick and feel as a pass catcher. ... We didn't learn as much as you think from the Eagles backfield. ... RB46 Ty Chandler was a big winner after playing well on a 3-down role. I moved him way up and am taking my DeWayne McBride "L". ... RB49 Clyde Edwards-Helaire saw a ton of usage on early downs, while Isaiah Pacheco remains sidelined. ... RB58 Devon Achane was the RB5 and a special teams punt gunner. Not great for an undersized player, especially with Dalvin Cook lingering. Give me RB50 Jeff Wilson straight up. ... RB56 Gus Edwards was behind Justice Hill for some reason. Maybe it's because he's a better pass catcher. J.K. Dobbins returned to practice. We'll learn more later.

WR32 Christian Kirk didn't play in 2-WR sets, playing behind WR11 Calvin Ridley and WR46 Zay Jones. I closed the gap on Kirk and Jones. There was a 2-man snap where Trevor Lawrence immediately went to Ridley, who is by far the best versus man. Easy pitch-and-catch. ... WR32 Jordan Addison had two sick grabs and was tested as blocker in 2-WR sets. All good as long as they use him off the line of scrimmage. ... WR34 George Pickens and WR37 Jahan Dotson remain dawgs. ... WR35 Jaxon Smith-Njigba only played in 3-WR sets, as expected. ... WR45 Elijah Moore didn't play in 2-WR sets but was given some schemed touches in the backfield. This slot/gadget role is fun. It also gets steamed too much typically. ... WR47 Michael Thomas had a nice sliding catch. He also didn't look great on two red zone routes. I can see this going either way. At least he's out there a month before the season starts ... WR53 Quentin Johnston had two "drops" after an iffy training camp. There are other people to throw the ball to in this offense. ... WR61 Rondale Moore only played in 3-WR sets, with WR84 Michael Wilson entering the starting lineup. Moore played in 2-WR sets last year. ... WR64 Jameson Williams played into halftime with the backups. The coaching staff said he needs more reps. It's easy to point to the suspension as to why that's the case, but they've been harsh on his hands throughout camp. He dropped a pass here. I'm nervous. ... WR67 Jonathan Mingo started next to WR68 Adam Thielen and WR69 D.J. Chark. ... WR75 Jayden Reed started in 3-WR sets. That's a win, but WR58 Romeo Doubs scored and played in 2-WR sets ahead of him. ... WR86 Tank Dell lit it up. WR85 John Metchie didn't. Neither likely matter in a potentially really bad passing offense. ... It's too early to tell on the Chiefs WRs.

TE12 Pat Freiermuth didn't play in 2-TE sets because his backups are big run blockers. That's new and concerning. ... TE13 Dalton Kincaid got his ass kicked as a run blocker, but he's in 2-TE sets from the jump. ... TE15 Luke Musgrave has a full-time role, looked athletic, and was schemed up multiple looks in the first-team offense. Get on the hype train. ... TE17 Jake Ferguson is a big winner, after seeing three targets and a full-time role. He could do Dalton Schultz things in Dallas. ... TE18 Juwan Johnson looked really good on tape and played most snaps. TE30 Taysom Hill is playing actual TE (no gadget stuff). The issue is he was playing behind Jimmy Graham. The upside case has very low odds of hitting. ... TE21 Sam LaPorta is a full-time player. ... TE26 Greg Dulcich was a rotational player behind Sean Payton groupie Adam Trautman. That's even with Chris Manhertz inactive. This could be ugly.