Every Team’s Most Overrated Fantasy Football Player in 2023

Who are the most overrated fantasy football players for 2023? Each year, we run through each NFL team’s most overrated and underrated players from a fantasy football perspective — and it’s time to release the 2023 edition.

You’re going to see some big names on these lists, and that’s because we’re in the business of naming players that are actually highly relevant for fantasy. 

You can find every team’s most underrated fantasy football player in 2023 here.

Without further ado, here is every team’s most overrated fantasy player this year.

Buffalo Bills: Khalil Shakir, WR

Khalil Shakir has not had a strong camp or preseason, and it has been reflected in his ADP:

He caught just 10 passes for 161 yards and 1 TD as a rookie, but Year 2 was supposed to be the year Shakir broke out. Sports Illustrated even wrote a piece hyping him up as the team’s No. 3.

But so far this preseason, he’s been running with the No. 2 offense and looks like the team’s WR5. He’s playing behind both Trent Sherfield and Deonte Harty. Dalton Kincaid also looks like he’ll play plenty in the slot. It’s not looking good for Shakir.

Miami Dolphins: De’Von Achane, RB

This isn’t because of his preseason injury (which obviously doesn’t help). It’s because he’s going 2-4 rounds ahead of Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson.

De’Von Achane is easily the most exciting of the bunch, but he’s small (5-foot-9, 187 pounds) and not likely to carry a sizable load with two other solid RBs on the team. This is a full-on committee, and there’s no reason for one of the committee to be drafted that much higher than the rest.

New England Patriots: Tyquan Thornton, WR

Like Shakir, Tyquan Thornton was a popular Year 2 breakout pick. Then preseason games started, Thornton missed some time with an injury, and his value went to near zero:

There are even rumblings that Thornton might not even make the team — but those seem like a bit of a reach at this point. It does, however, speak to his current standing on the team. Once the Patriots re-signed DeVante Parker (after adding JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency), it was clear Thornton would be no more than the team’s WR3 at best. Plus Kendrick Bourne is still there, and Kayshon Boutte has looked solid.

New York Jets: Allen Lazard, WR

Allen Lazard’s outlook became much better Wednesday when Corey Davis announced his surprise retirement:

I had Lazard penned here prior to this news and mostly focused on the fact Davis was going to steal more reps from Lazard than people wanted. That’s not the case now, obviously, but Lazard is still overrated with the Jets. He was Green Bay’s WR1 last year (with Aaron Rodgers) and produced a 60-788-6 line. In the No. 2 role in New York, even expecting that much might be a reach.

Denver Broncos: Samaje Perine, RB

Samaje Perine had a lot more steam earlier in the offseason when it appeared Javonte Williams might not be ready to go for the start of the 2023 season. But Williams has looked all systems go, and Perine’s value has been steadily declining all summer.

Denver doesn’t have many overrated players. That’s because they were awful last year, and all of their players are extremely cheap as a result. But Perine still stands out as the most overrated of the group. Would you rather take the team’s backup RB or Courtland Sutton (starting WR) just two rounds earlier? It seems like a no-brainer.

Kansas City Chiefs: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR

MVS finds himself in the second tier of KC wideouts we’re drafting this year:

• Tier 1: Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney
• Tier 2: Rashee Rice and Marquez Valdes-Scantling
• Tier 3: Justyn Ross and Richie James

Despite his reputation, we know MVS is not an explosive fantasy weapon. He’s fine to draft, but he should be in that Tier 3 group, not the Tier 2.

Las Vegas Raiders: Zamir White, RB

I may regret this one. Zamir White’s ADP has been a runaway train since Josh Jacobs’ holdout began.

White would be the clear lead back for the Raiders if Jacobs is out. The problem is that Jacobs has no leverage for a true holdout, the Raiders have expressed no interest to trade him, and the most likely outcome is that Jacobs is back before Week 1.

Of course, if Jacobs does end up sitting out the season, White becomes a smash play. But it was much more palatable in the 190-210 range.

Los Angeles Chargers: Keenan Allen, WR

I consider Keenan Allen to be the worst draft pick you can make in Round 3. He’s 31 and coming off an injury-plagued season. The Chargers also just spent a first-round pick on a WR. You’re better off with Mike Williams’ and his spike weeks a round later.

Baltimore Ravens: Mark Andrews, TE

Mark Andrews was the No. 4 TE and 43rd most valuable player in fantasy football last year, but he’s being drafted inside the top 30 as the TE2. There is also a lot more competition for targets in Baltimore than ever before. Don’t get me wrong, I love Andrews, but he’s by far the most expensive Raven of the bunch and he’s still being treated like the only show in town (he’s not).

Cincinnati Bengals: Irv Smith, TE

The Bengals are tough. Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon are all appropriately priced. Which leaves us with Irv Smith or Tyler Boyd as the most overrated. Boyd is boring, but he has the built-in upside potential in case something were to happen to Chase or Higgins.

Smith, meanwhile, appears to just fill the void left by Hayden Hurst (52-414-2 line last year). It’s “meh” — but it lacks upside, as the TD-makers in this offense are already well established and not going anywhere.

Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb, RB

I called Nick Chubb the worst first-round pick fantasy football players could make in 2023. Here’s why:

“He only catches about 20-30 passes per year — and that’s a big deal for fantasy. Despite Chubb’s monstrous season on the ground last year, he was still just the 23rd-most valuable player in all of fantasy football, according to Fantasy Wins Added. If you play in a non-PPR league, sure, take Chubb in the first. But in a league that gives points per reception, I wouldn’t use a first on a player that doesn’t catch passes.”

Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB

Najee Harris is not going to handle as much of the backfield work in 2023 as he did in 2021 or 2022. Jaylen Warren is going to force his way into a more prominent role:

Houston Texans: Dameon Pierce, RB

I believe Devin Singletary is Houston’s most underrated fantasy player for 2023, so it stands to reason the opposite is my opinion for Dameon Pierce. Here’s what that piece said:

“Devin Singletary is not a bad RB. In fact, he finished last year with a better rushing DVOA than Dameon Pierce. Looking ahead to 2023, he’s projected to have a better rushing DVOA than Pierce once again.”

Pierce handled 80% of Houston’s rushing attempts last season — tops among all RBs. He’s just not going to see that level of control over the backfield again this year.

Indianapolis Colts: Michael Pittman, WR

It’s tough to pick an overrated Colts player for 2023. Jonathan Taylor’s ADP is so low that he’s clearly just an upside play at his current price. Ditto for Anthony Richardson. That really leaves us with Michael Pittman, who had a career high in receptions (99) but didn’t top 1,000 yards and scored only four touchdowns (six the previous season). 

His ADP has been falling (going later in drafts) since training camp opened. He’s now going a half-round later than he was just a few weeks ago.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Calvin Ridley, WR

Calvin Ridley has worked his way up to WR14 in ADP. Epic workout videos work wonders, I suppose! He’s now a late Round 2 pick — up from being a late Round 3 pick. It’s not an outlandish price, but there doesn’t seem to be a concrete reason for his rise other than “nice workout vids.” 

He’s going in the range of DeVonta Smith and Tee Higgins, as well as the QB trio of Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen. That’s a lot of opportunity cost for a player that hasn’t played meaningful time since 2020. 

Tennessee Titans: Treylon Burks, WR

This isn’t because of his injury (though that doesn’t help), but more the fact that Treylon Burks remains on a run-first team with a mediocre QB — and he’s not even the No. 1 option anymore!

Burks’ ADP has tanked from top 70 to borderline top 100. It makes sense for the ADP to stop bleeding in this area, but prior to his injury in training camp, he was going around No. 85 overall, meaning he only dropped one round after the DeAndre Hopkins signing.

There’s also the rise of TE Chigoziem Okonkwo. In a passing offense in which volume will be sparse already, Burks has a lot going against him.

Dallas Cowboys: Michael Gallup, WR

I was a big driver of the “Michael Gallup is actually good” train a year ago, and while I still think that’s the case, I must admit fantasy defeat when I see it.

The team doesn’t see him as anything more than their WR3. The Brandin Cooks signing solidified this line of thinking. He played 14 games last year and finished with just 39 receptions for 424 yards. His 66-1,107-6 season back in 2019 feels like ages ago.

Gallup isn’t “overrated” in any dramatic sense — he’s going in the 130s, after all — but every other Cowboys player seems accurately valued. Gallup’s upside is easily the lowest of the bunch.

New York Giants: Darren Waller, TE

Listen, I have to choose someone from the Giants. Saquon Barkley (RB5, ADP of 15) and Daniel Jones (QB14, ADP of 112) are both fairly priced — and perhaps even a little underpriced.

Darren Waller is great. Or he has been at least (we haven’t seen it since 2020). But he’s going within the first five rounds of fantasy drafts as the TE4. And maybe that’s accurate, but it feels much closer to his ceiling than either of Barkley’s or Jones’ prices. And the rest of the Giants (all the WRs) are so cheap that it’s not right to call them overvalued.

Take it as you will.

Philadelphia Eagles: D’Andre Swift, RB

Is he the RB1 on this team? The RB2? The RB3? Or the RB4 if you count Jalen Hurts?? People have been confidently drafting him as the RB1 of the team. Current ADPs:

Why draft D’Andre Swift when you can draft Gainwell 60 picks later — and Gainwell is the one getting reps with the first-team offense? All will see volume in 2023. We’re just being the most presumptuous with Swift.

Washington Commanders: Brian Robinson, RB

Brian Robinson has a solid role lined up for 2023. J.D. McKissic leaves town, freeing up Antonio Gibson as the team’s primary pass-catching back. Robinson will be the early-down (and hopefully goal-line) bruiser.

But that’s not all that valuable from a fantasy perspective. Not unless you hit the 10-plus mark for TDs. And we only project Robinson for four rushing touchdowns.

Arizona Cardinals: Zach Ertz, TE

Nobody on the Cardinals is expensive, so it’s a real reach to call any of them overvalued, but I’ll single out Zach Ertz here. 

He was recently activated from the PUP list and is already being drafted ahead of Trey McBride, who is nine years younger than Ertz and was the team’s second-round pick in 2022. I’d much rather take the young up-and-comer than the aged vet rushed back from a major knee injury. 

Los Angeles Rams: Cam Akers, RB

I’ll preface by saying I actually do like rolling the dice on Cam Akers in fantasy this year. But it is a dice roll. The team doesn’t want him to be their primary RB. As soon as Jonathan Taylor was on the trade block, it was reported the Rams were already looking into him.

Basically, Akers is the man by default right now. That might pan out. He was excellent over the final month of last season. But he also spent the majority of the season in the coach’s doghouse, and we can’t pretend that risk isn’t sizable again in 2023.

There’s also plenty of chatter about Kyren Williams. Akers might not own this backfield outright. Williams has had a fantastic training camp.

San Francisco 49ers: Deebo Samuel, WR

Deebo Samuel is an incredible football player, but his per-touch efficiency came crashing back down last year after his unreal 2021 season. Last year, he averaged 11.3 YPC (18.2 in 2021). He scored just two receiving TDs versus 6 the previous year. His rushing TD production was sliced into a third of what it was, as well.

And we’re still spending a third-round draft pick on him — despite the healthy presence of Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk?!

Chasing the big weeks (and there will be big weeks) is much more palatable in best ball than in redraft.

Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR

His recent injury obviously hurts his stock, but it was a little surprising to see him being drafted ahead of Tyler Lockett even before the injury. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the first receiver taken in the 2023 draft class, so we know he’s a good prospect, but this is a crowded WR room. Do we really think Geno Smith is going to support three top-30 fantasy WRs? 

Chicago Bears: D’Onta Foreman, RB

Khalil Herbert seems to be running away with the Bears’ starting RB gig, which leaves us with rookie Roschon Johnson and vet D’Onta Foreman as the other two contenders. But according to The Athletic’s Adam Jahns, “Foreman could be a surprise cut,” and even if he’s not, it looks like Johnson may play more than him early in the season.

Detroit Lions: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR

I love Amon-Ra St. Brown. Really, I do. And if FTN’s Mike Randle has made it this far in the article, I just want you to know that I’m sorry for including ARSB’s name in this article.

But he’s not going to be the only show in town in 2023. Jahmyr Gibbs is an electric pass-catcher. Jameson Williams — drafted 12th overall last year — will return after six weeks. Sam LaPorta is the best TE this team has had in ages.

There’s just a lot more competition for touches. ARSB at the 1-2 turn is not terrible, but I’d rather get my exposure to this high-profile offense later in the draft.

Green Bay Packers: Aaron Jones, RB

There should not be 50 spots of ADP difference between Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Dillon has completely seized the TD-maker role for the Packers, and while Jones still has the more valuable passing-game work, it remains to be seen how effective it will be post-Aaron Rodgers.

Minnesota Vikings: T.J. Hockenson, TE

T.J. Hockenson has been mysteriously absent from training camp so far this year — and his ADP hasn’t budged for some reason. 

Jordan Addison is also a significant upgrade over Adam Thielen, so Hockenson may not see as many looks as he enjoyed in 2022.

Atlanta Falcons: Drake London, WR

The Falcons all seem decently priced:

• Bijan Robinson: Mid-first. Good spot for a top-10 pick rookie RB.
• Drake London: WR24. Borderline WR2/3. Feels reasonable for a 2021 first-round pick with breakout potential.
• Kyle Pitts: TE6. Is he overvalued? Undervalued? I’m in the camp that he’s undervalued, but honestly, his price is right.
• Tyler Allgeier: RB46. Super cheap. A solid handcuff and zero-RB target. Likely has some standalone value if recent comments from the organization are to be believed.
• The rest of the team: Going after pick 200.

So which of these four is the most overvalued? I’ll say London, but without much conviction. But the QB play is still up in the air and the team may really run through Robinson in 2023.

Carolina Panthers: Miles Sanders, RB

Here’s what I wrote about Miles Sanders in the worst picks by round in 2023 piece:

“Sanders enjoyed a career year with the Eagles last year with 1,269 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He only caught 20 passes, though, as other Eagles ‘backs were better suited for the passing-game work. There’s chatter of Sanders getting work as a receiver in Carolina, and he’ll need that to be the case if he’s to return solid fantasy value. Philly ran 350 plays while up by at least eight points last year — most in the NFL. With a rookie QB, the 2023 Panthers aren’t likely to have such favorable game-scripts for a rushing RB.

“He’s also already hurt — but claims he’ll be ready for Week 1.”

New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR

I listed Chris Olave as the worst pick in Round 2:

“There’s reason to believe he’ll make a leap in Year 2 — with the upgrade at quarterback being the biggest reason — but the team is returning Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara is only suspended for three games, and fellow second year wideout Rashid Shaheed is bound for a leap, too. Juwan Johnson is back to steal touchdowns (as is the person that invented touchdown stealing, Taysom Hill).”

In short, there’s a lot more competition for touches in 2023, which might offset the gains from better QB play. And all of the other Saints players are extremely, extremely cheap.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Godwin, WR

Chris Godwin is being drafted before Mike Evans, but I’m not sure that should be the case. Tom Brady is gone, which means so is Tampa’s efficiency and 700-plus pass attempts per season. Give me Evans over Godwin in an offense that will require more big plays for fantasy goodness in 2023: