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Vacated Opportunities in Fantasy Football

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The 2023 NFL draft is here, and it’s time for new blood to enter the league. But that also means veterans are about to lose snaps, targets and rushing attempts to rookies.

 

As we do every year, we’re going to examine each team’s “vacated opportunity” leading into the draft (we first published this piece before free agency – now we’re updating it again). The charts below will show you how many opportunities and yards are “available” leading into the draft (using 2022 stats). 

Teams With the Most Vacated Targets and Receiving Yards Available

Here’s the full breakdown of available (or unavailable, if negative) targets and receiving yards for all 32 teams.

Team Available Targets Available Rec. Yds.
GB 259 2,014
TB 193 1,094
LA 108 632
ARZ 100 403
JAX 97 616
DAL 92 503
BLT 91 589
LAC 80 596
CIN 78 425
TEN 77 449
SEA 70 578
KC 59 644
WAS 58 262
NO 50 393
IND 48 303
NE 47 181
MIA 46 417
MIN 44 198
BUF 34 124
PIT 21 82
DET 13 244
HST -4 201
DEN -5 143
NYJ -21 -351
PHI -27 -349
SF -29 -139
ATL -49 -54
NYG -63 -484
CAR -81 -581
LV -110 -778
CLV -148 -1,306
CHI -184 -1,189

The Packers lost Aaron Rodgers but also apparently every player who caught passes for them in 2022. Their WR depth chart is Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs you and me. A rookie WR could make an immediate impact in Green Bay.

The Bucs also lost a HOF quarterback and some weapons. The Buccaneers have the second-most available targets and yards on the table leading into 2023, though their big two (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin) are still there. Big things might be coming for Rachaad White if the Bucs don’t take a running back in the first two days.

Of note – the Cardinals have the fourth-most available targets, and that’s assuming DeAndre Hopkins sticks around. If he leaves Arizona, there’s even more opportunity on the table.

 

Teams With the Most Vacated Rushing Attempts and Rushing Yards Available

Here’s the full breakdown of available (or unavailable, if negative) rushing attempts and yards for all 32 teams.

Team Available Rush Atts. Available Rush Yds.
DAL 212 799
PHI 123 481
BLT 117 500
TB 105 417
DET 103 474
LA 102 400
CIN 95 394
SEA 86 441
ARZ 85 387
BUF 80 457
JAX 77 323
CAR 57 232
ATL 55 298
LAC 38 91
GB 37 101
CLV 36 199
IND 31 58
WAS 24 39
KC 21 80
PIT 21 125
SF 18 31
LV 15 199
DEN 7 -21
NYJ 7 67
TEN 5 41
NYG -1 -29
NE -16 -9
MIN -16 -76
CHI -24 -265
MIA -61 -421
HST -120 -695
NO -239 -1,075

Ezekiel Elliott‘s departure from Dallas leaves the Cowboys with the most available rushing attempts and yards in the league. Here’s to hoping Tony Pollard escapes the draft unscathed.

The Eagles also have a significant amount of available rushing work heading into the draft. Will Bijan Robinson fall that far?

Way down at the bottom of the list is the Houston Texans with -120 available rushing attempts. That means the players currently on their roster collectively had 120 more rushing attempts than the 2022 Texans. Will we get Dameon Pierce unleashed, or will Devin Singletary steal some thunder?

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