It’s draft day, and you got stuck with the No. 4 pick. The fourth spot isn’t the most inspiring spot, as you will likely see Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Christian McCaffrey all off the board at this point. If one of them happens to fall there, take them and don’t look back!
Hitting on that first pick is essential to fantasy football team building, as this player should be the anchor for your squad.
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Who Should Be the No. 4 Pick in 2023 Fantasy Football Drafts?
Let’s observe the best players available to you at the fourth spot and find the best option for your team build!
Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Building your team around Austin Ekeler is a smart move, as he has established himself as one of the top pass-catching running backs in the NFL. When you are drafting a running back, it is always better to lean the back with pass-catching skills.
This strategy can give your team a boost, specifically for PPR and even half-PPR leagues. Ekeler had 107 (!) receptions in 2022, tying him with Christian McCaffrey for second-most receptions by a running back in a season.
Using only his points accrued as a receiver in a full-PPR league, he would have finished as the WR22, just over Jerry Jeudy and Chris Olave. Oh, and then he added on 13 rushing touchdowns and just under 1,000 yards rushing.
He is a cheat code for the running back position. New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will bring a new approach to the offense, and there’s a small chance that Ekeler will run fewer checkdown routes, but he’s still a valuable option at the No. 4 spot.
Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Cooper Kupp was well on his way to another historic season. Unfortunately, he suffered a high ankle sprain that had him sidelined for the remainder of the season. It’s easy to wonder what could have been. In PPR leagues, Kupp finished No. 1 in fantasy points per game at 22.4.
He was No. 3 in target share and on pace to finish with nearly 140 receptions! Going into the offseason, there was plenty of concern about the future of this Rams organization, and while they look to be headed toward a losing season, there are no pass-catching weapons that pose a threat to Kupp’s target share.
Now, there is a bit of concern here, as Kupp recently injured his hamstring. But all reports from the team reflect that he will be returning to practice, which brings a sigh of relief.
But it also makes you wonder about his potential for re-injury. He’s officially 30 and is no stranger to lower body injuries. There’s also concern about his quarterback, Matthew Stafford.
Stafford is returning from a neck injury, and he is obviously in the final stages of his playing career. There are small red flags that come up when observing Kupp’s potential for fantasy. But his highest potential is the No. 1 receiver in fantasy, and he showed last year that he still had the ability to do it.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
He’s the fastest guy on the field, and every Sunday, we are reminded that in terms of speed, not many defensive backs can keep up with Tyreek Hill. Hill was traded to the Dolphins before the 2022 season, and there was concern that Tua Tagovailoa would limit his upside after playing with Patrick Mahomes.
But head coach Mike McDaniel was able to bring out the talent and make the Tua-Tyreek connection thrive in 2022. Hill finished second in receiving yards, second in receptions, and averaged 20 fantasy PPR points per game.
Hill brings an explosive element on the football field that few other receivers have: The ability to get behind the defense routinely. The Dolphins know this, and he even finished with over 2,000 air yards!
Hill also finished first in yards per route run, which is a metric that takes how many routes a player runs and divides their total receiving yards by that number. He is special.
Hill’s upside is a week-winning advantage. It’s always a boost when your Flex player can gather in a 25-yard touchdown. But when Hill is getting these massive 50, sometimes 60-yard touchdown passes, it can give your fantasy team an insurmountable advantage, and your opponent will be unable to overcome those big plays.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
It was only a matter of time! Travis Kelce has single-handedly changed the game of fantasy football. His talent, paired with the coaching savvy of Andy Reid and the seemingly limitless talent of Patrick Mahomes, have propelled Kelce to the upper echelon of the NFL and fantasy.
Kelce finished the season as the TE1 overall, obviously, but did you know that if he were a wide receiver, he would have finished as the WR5, sandwiched between Stefon Diggs and CeeDee Lamb?
But the boost of Kelce lies in the positional advantage. He scored 100 more points than the TE2, T.J. Hockenson, last season. That gives you such a big edge over your competition.
You can find wide receivers and running backs that can provide decent production. But Kelce’s value won people a lot of championships in 2022, and he could do the same thing in 2023.
Who Should Go No. 4 Overall?
Firstly, I would suggest you do a mock draft, where you can try different things and see if you like drafting a certain position earlier than others. There are live mock drafts available at the PFN Discord. Now, who would I take?
I like all four of the players listed above. They are fantasy studs, by definition. The path is clearly laid out for each of them to be a fantasy producer in 2023. Before I give the suggestion, a clear word of advice: Look at who will be available to you for your next pick, in this case, pick No. 20, which would potentially be Tony Pollard, Derrick Henry, Jaylen Waddle, or Josh Allen.
MORE: What’s the Best Slot To Draft From?
Starting a fantasy draft with Hill and Jaylen Waddle sounds like so much fun; it should be illegal! I would personally lean toward Ekeler or Hill as the primary selections to take with the No. 4 overall selection.
Kupp can still be that dude, but the injury and team situation are something worth monitoring. Kelce has never missed a game since his rookie season, so surely he can last another season, right? But if the draft falls your way, you could get Mark Andrews in the third round.
Who Should You Draft In Other Slots?
Have another league where you’re drafting in a different slot? Want to see what options might be available before or after your pick? We have you covered.
- Who Should Be the First Pick?
- Who Should Be the Second Pick?
- Who Should Be the Third Pick?
- Who Should Be the Fifth Pick?
- Who Should Be the Sixth Pick?
- Who Should Be the Seventh Pick?
- Who Should Be the Eighth Pick?
- Who Should be the Ninth Pick?
- Who Should be the 10th Pick?
- Who Should Be the 11th Pick?
- Who Should Be the 12th Pick?