Having the seventh pick in 2023 fantasy football drafts can be advantageous, as you know you have two picks coming in the next eight selections. You are getting a guy who has top-five potential while not having to worry about a specific position yet. It allows you to sit back for a few minutes and see how other managers in your league are drafting.
However, if you mess this up, it can set you back a long way in your quest to win a 2023 fantasy football championship.
Behind in research? Get a trade offer in your dynasty or redraft league? Not sure who to start or sit this week? Leverage PFN’s FREE fantasy tools — our Fantasy Football Draft Kit, Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Calculator, and Start/Sit Optimizer! Put the finishing touch on your A+ draft with 1 of our 425+ fantasy football team names.
Which Star Player Should Go Off the Board Seventh in 2023 Fantasy Football Drafts?
Some years, you can get a better read at which players are going to fall to the No. 7 pick, but this isn’t one of those years. There isn’t even a true consensus for the No. 1 pick, as guys like Justin Jefferson, Christian McCaffery, Austin Ekeler, or even Ja’Marr Chase could all go No. 1.
That kind of uncertainty at the top can make it difficult to plan at No. 7. So, let’s examine some candidates who could be there at seventh overall and be the foundation of your 2023 fantasy football championship roster.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Since 2017, which was his second year in the NFL, Tyreek Hill has been as consistent as any wide receiver. Take out the 2019 season, in which he missed four full games, and Hill has had at least 75 catches and 1,183 receiving yards in each season of his career.
When he got traded to Miami last season, many wondered how his numbers would change with Tua Tagovailoa as his quarterback instead of Patrick Mahomes. All Hill did last season was average 20.1 PPR fantasy points, finishing as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Justin Jefferson.
That was the second time that Hill has finished a season as the No. 2 fantasy WR, as he also did so in 2020 with 21.9 PPR fantasy points, finishing just behind Davante Adams. In his last season in Kansas City, Hill finished with 159 targets, but he surpassed that number last season, as he had the ball thrown to him 170 times.
While his 1,710 receiving yards ranked 11th all-time for an individual season, he has even bigger goals heading into this season. He has stated on his podcast that he is aiming for 2,000 yards in 2023, which would break Calvin Johnson’s record of 1,964.
A big key to Hill’s fantasy numbers is whether Tua stays healthy. Miami’s starting QB missed four games due to concussion injuries in 2022. In four games without Tua, Hill had 25 catches for 302 yards and one rushing touchdown. Much of that production came in one game, as Hill totaled 12 catches for 177 yards against the Minnesota Vikings. In the other three games, he was held in check.
Hill showed last year that regardless of who the quarterback is, he is going to get plenty of yards. However, if Tua is there for the entire season, Hill’s touchdown total should increase, and he will once again be competing for overall WR1 status.
If you want to go receiver at seven, and Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase are off the board, then Hill is your guy.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Hill’s former teammate, Travis Kelce, is also a fantastic candidate to be had at the No. 7 pick in your fantasy draft. There isn’t a single player in the NFL who has a better relationship with their quarterback than Kelce.
Since 2016, Kelce has had at least 83 catches and 1,038 receiving yards in each season and has shown zero signs of slowing down. As a matter of fact, he has only gotten better, as the best two seasons of his career are 2020 (105 receptions, 1,416 yards, and 11 touchdowns) and 2022 (110 receptions, 1,338 yards, and 12 touchdowns).
Only one time since 2016 has Kelce not finished with the most PPR fantasy points for tight ends, and that was in 2021. Mark Andrews finished that year as the top tight end, but Kelce was right behind him at No. 2.
Over the past couple of seasons, the Chiefs have lost several pass catchers (Hill, Mecole Hardman) and have brought in some new players, such as Kadarius Toney and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Of the top six WRs on the depth chart, no player has been in Kansas City for more than two seasons. As Mahomes continues to develop those relationships with his younger wideouts, he’ll continue feeding the ball to Kelce.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
To have a guy who has yet to take a single regular season snap this high seems crazy, but the rookie from Texas has a chance to be a superstar in the NFL. Robinson wouldn’t be the first rookie running back to have a monster rookie season, either. Ezekiel Elliott broke out as a rookie in 2016 with 21.7 ppg, while Saquon Barkley did it in 2018 with 24.0 ppg.
First, to have a successful rushing attack, there has to be a great offensive line. Atlanta has one of the very best. This unit helped the Falcons have one of the best rushing attacks in football last season.
MORE: 500+ Funny Fantasy Football Team Names
In 2022, the Falcons finished third in the league with 2,718 rushing yards. Only the Baltimore Ravens (2,720) and Chicago Bears (3,014) had more yards on the ground.
In his junior year at Texas, Robinson rushed for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns, showing the combination of speed and power that had scouts and fantasy football managers drooling. He wasn’t asked to play a huge role in the receiving game at Texas, but Robinson is more than capable of being a viable weapon out of the backfield.
If you are in a keeper league, then Robinson is definitely someone to keep an eye on. If he has the season many expect this year, he could be the consensus No. 1 pick in 2024 fantasy football drafts.
Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
Very few players get the attention of defensive coordinators quite like Derrick Henry, but in the end, he is still going to go out and put up big numbers.
Last year, the quarterback position in Tennessee was shaky at best, with Ryan Tannehill being injured for five games. Malik Willis was a rookie who didn’t throw the ball much, and even Joshua Dobbs started the final game of the year.
Despite all those issues in the passing game, Henry was still able to put up 1,538 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. The Titans have worked on getting more playmakers around their star rusher, namely signing DeAndre Hopkins this offseason.
That signing alone should take one player out of the box, which is huge for Henry, as he was constantly seeing eight and nine defenders in the box last year.
Head coach Mike Vrabel wants to play football by running the ball and fielding a good defense. While there are some running backs ahead of Henry in fantasy because of their ability to catch the ball, you know what you are going to get with the 29-year-old Titan.
Who Should You Draft?
It’s tough to truly ever plan a pick with certainty, as you don’t know who managers in front of you are going to draft. If you are able to get one of these four guys at No. 7, then you should be very happy. However, if all four of them are available, then Tyreek Hill is the guy to take.
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 Fourth Pick?
- Who Should Be the Fifth Pick?
- Who Should Be the Sixth 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?