TJ's Targets: 22 Players I Want in Every Fantasy Football Draft (Plus 12 Deep-League Targets)

Aug 25, 2023

TJ's Targets: 22 Players I Want in Every Draft (Plus 12 Deep-League Targets)

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The vast majority of fantasy football drafts happen in the one or two weeks leading up to the season, but I’ve been drafting since spring. The following is a list of the players I’ve drafted the most and am still drafting, or have started targeting heavily in recent drafts.

Player values are based on Multi-Site ADP in 12-team leagues. Be sure to check out your league-specific ADP and 4for4 rankings to be sure you get the following players at their proper value.

More Draft Strategy Tips & Player Targets: Bouncebacks | SOS Targets | Sleepers | 99 Stats

Quarterbacks

Justin Herbert, Chargers

Quarterbacks are flying off the board this year with seven gone before Round 5 in a typical 12-team league, including three in the first two rounds. When landing an elite signal-caller, the hope is to get them when they fall past ADP, but I’m hesitant to draft any quarterback in the first two rounds.

Justin Herbert is being drafted as the QB7 as the 45th player gone across all sites and represents a tier break of players that have overall QB1 upside. Few players performed further below expectation than Herbert last year but his struggles can be attributed to injuries—to himself and his teammates—and poor playcalling.

Heading into 2023, the Chargers are at full health, added a first-round wide receiver talent to their squad, and have Kellen Moore as their new play-caller. Everything is lined up for Herbert’s stats to not only revert to the mean but potentially lead the league in passing touchdowns. As a bonus, Herbert also stands out as a player with some hiding rushing upside.