Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet 2023: Draft rankings, projections, sleepers, auction values, strategy, team names

The fantasy football cheat sheet has evolved quite a bit over the years. From handwritten notes to a "draft guide" magazine to a downloadable "draft kit," fantasy owners have gone to great lengths to prepare for their drafts. In 2023, there are plenty of contenders for the best fantasy cheat sheet, and we're here to offer one more. Whether you're looking for rankings (PPR, standard, IDP, superflex), potential breakouts, sleepers, and busts, tiers, projected auction values, draft strategy tips (snake, auction, best ball), stat projections, mock drafts, consistency ratings, injury risks, team names, or last-place punishment ideas, they have you covered.

Regardless of your preferred platform (ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, NFL.com, Sleeper, FanDuel, DraftKings), format (PPR, standard, superflex), or type of league (redraft, keeper, dynasty), there's something below that can help you win big. They even have love for the best ball addicts, IDP psychos, and dynasty league truthers who never shut up about unnecessarily complicated trades that involve fourth-string RBs and future draft picks. Your passion motivates us...and scares us.

Week 1 starts on Thursday, Sept. 7 with the Chiefs and Lions, and we'll continue cranking out new content and updating the links below until kickoff, so bookmark and check back frequently for the latest articles. We'll be there every step of the way as you prepare to dominate your drafts.

MORE EXPERT FANTASY RESOURCES: RotoBaller | Draft Sharks

Contents:

Top 200: Yeah, we're still high on Derrick Henry in standard leagues. Why is that so crazy?

Quarterbacks: They have MVPs at Nos. 1, 9, and 14, Super Bowl champs at Nos. 1, 14, 17, and 18, and No. 1 overall picks at Nos. 4, 7, 15, 17, 24, 26, and 28. Not bad. (Click here for QB tiers)

Running backs: We might be too low on some of the top rookies, but then again, maybe you're just too high. (Click here for RB tiers)

Wide receivers: This position only seems to get more loaded every season. (Click here for WR tiers)

Tight ends: This position only seems to get less loaded every season. (Click here for TE tiers)

Defense/special teams: Last year's No. 1 D/ST is No. 6, and last year's No. 5 D/ST is No. 1. If you know who those teams are off the top of your head, then you need to take a break and go for a walk or something. (Click here for D/ST tiers)

Kickers: If you click on a preseason fantasy kicker article, then you're a totally normal and healthy person.

Superflex Top 200: My goodness, is that a Colt McCoy sighting?

IDP: If you can't draft Matt Milano in your fantasy football league, then what are you even doing?

Rookies: This year's class is dominated by RBs, but there are also some talented WRs worth your attention. They break down the best options for redraft and dynasty leagues.

Offensive lines: Find something you love as much as SN NFL writer Jacob Camenker loves offensive lines. You'll be better for it, just like you'll be better at fantasy football after studying this piece.

Comparing Yahoo and ESPN rankings: What did JK Dobbins do to piss off the good people at ESPN so much?

Top 200: Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, and Justin Jefferson all have legitimate claims to the PPR top spot.

Running backs: Rachaad White, Jerick McKinnon, D'Andre Swift, and Jahmyr Gibbs -- this is your time to shine.

Wide receivers: Can Jakobi Meyers remain a PPR stud on a team with two other PPR weapons? America awaits the answer with bated breath. 

Tight ends: Taysom Hill plummets in their TE PPR rankings compared to their standard set. That's pretty remarkable for a guy who isn't even a tight end. 

Superflex Top 200: QBs drop a little bit compared to standard superflex rankings, but they're still plenty valuable.

One from each team: We're not sure if Tennessee's or Washington's pick is more shocking, but either way, you'll have to scroll through the entire slide list to find out. That's what you call a win-win. (Spoiler alert: Neither are shocking, but they need the page views.)

Quarterbacks: We run the gamut from a former top-three fantasy QB to an injury-prone veteran to a bunch of first- and second-year signal-callers.

Running backs: We know you don't click on these RB sleeper lists to see veterans like Rashaad Penny, but he really is a potential value, they swear! Don't worry, though, they also have long-shot rookies like Evan Hull and Kendre Miller, too. See -- balance.

Wide receivers: We have some obvious picks and some deep rookie pulls to satisfy those in eight-team and 14-team leagues.

Tight ends: This year's TE sleeper list is a great advertisement for getting a top-10 TE this season.

Defense/special teams: The early-season streamer options are pretty rough this year, but there are a few legit D/STs that are set up for success for at least a couple of weeks.

Draft-day steals: Don't think that a player with a second-round ADP can't be a steal. They break down how to find value at all points in your draft.

All-Sleeper Team: Congratulations to Kadarius Toney for being a top breakout candidate three years in a row. He's officially in Bryan Edwards and Tre'Quan Smith territory.

Deep-Sleeper Team: Ready to go deep? Like, really deep? You better be 'cause there's at least one player on this list that you've never heard of.

Overall: If you thought the prices at the pump were bad, just wait until you see how much top RBs & WRs are going for!

Quarterbacks: You don't need to spend more than $10 at QB to get a good one, but you'll still probably want to.

Running backs: Should Nick Chubb really be $12 cheaper in PPR compared to standard? That just seems like a lot.

Wide receivers: For the price of one Justin Jefferson, you can get three DeAndre Hopkins. Which is the better deal? 

Tight ends: The difference between Travis Kelce and the rest of the TEs is...something.

Defense/special teams: Can they just call D/STs the "Dollar Generals" in auction drafts?

Kickers: This is the least-read preseason piece they write every year. If you have a heart, provide it a click. Think of it like those HS basketball games where they let the team manager start and get an uncontested layup.

Quarterbacks: This might be the most loaded third tier of QBs we've ever had. (Click here for a bonus breakdown of Patrick Mahomes vs. Jalen Hurts vs. Josh Allen)

Running backs: No matter your RB draft strategy, they help you find the best targets at all points in your draft. Just know, things get dicey relatively quickly. (Click here for a bonus breakdown of Christian McCaffrey vs. Austin Ekeler vs. Derrick Henry)

Wide receivers: There's a ton of potential value in tiers 3, 4, and 5, but you definitely want your WR1 from tiers 1 and 2. (Click here for a bonus breakdown of Justin Jefferson vs. Ja'Marr Chase vs. Tyreek Hill)

Tight ends: If you don't get a TE from the top-three tiers, then you better learn to embrace the stream. (Click here for a bonus breakdown of Mark Andrews vs. T.J. Hockenson vs. George Kittle)

Defense/special teams: In-season matchups matter more than season-long projections at D/ST, which is why they suggest mostly ignoring the "tiers" and instead focusing on finding the best value in your drafts.

IDP guide: IDP vets probably know most of these tips, but newcomers definitely need a crash course for fantasy's most challenging format.

Snake draft strategy: Knowing how to draft is just as important as knowing who to draft.

Best draft strategy for every first-round draft spot: You might be surprised by their pick for the best draft position in 2023.

Stat Projections: Coming soon

Mock Draft Simulator: Practice and perfect your draft strategy in minutes with FantasyPros' customizable mock draft simulator.

12-Team Standard League: Starting Tony Pollard-Tyreek Hill from pick 11 is as good as it gets, but navigating the rest of the draft wasn't easy.

12-Team PPR League: What do you do at No. 2 when Ja'Marr Chase goes No. 1?

One bust from every team: We're taking some big swings with this list. It would be pretty lame if they didn't, right?

Do Not Draft List: A player can go from a potential bust to a value pick in short order, but be careful with these generally overrated players.

Boom-or-Bust Team: You can live with a couple of these players on your team, but you are flying close to the sun if you wind up with all of them.

Quarterbacks: Coming soon

Running backs: Coming soon

Wide receivers: Coming soon

Tight ends: Coming soon

Auction draft tips: You can't just show up and yell numbers. (Well, you can, but...) They lay out a plan for nominating, budgeting, and bidding.

Best Ball draft strategy: "So, you just draft a team and...do nothing? Why did it take so long for this format to become popular?!"

Dynasty strategy tips: In dynasty, "even if you're losing, you're still winning." What's not to like?

Dynasty Rankings: Coming soon

MORE: Try out Draft Sharks' Dynasty War Room FREE for a week!

Best team names: Whether you like a silly summer movie like "Teenage Mutant Njigba Turtles" or prefer something more serious like "Goffenheimer," they have you covered. Also if you draft Brock Purdy. They have lots of Brock Purdy suggestions.

Best (or worst) Punishments: Buying drinks for everyone at next year's draft? That's easy. Doing open-mic comedy or taking the SATs? Yeah, you don't want to finish last.

RB handcuff chart: You don't want to click on this article, but it's inevitable that you will. Embrace it early.

Available targets and touches: They look at the key additions, key departures, and key opportunities for all 32 teams.

New coaches and play-callers: This remains one of the most important and underrated pieces they publish every preseason.

Bye-week strategies: Some ignore bye weeks; others target players with the same off-week. Either way, you gotta know which byes are best and worst for each position.

Biggest injury risks: You know that Tua Tagovailoa, Deebo Samuel, and Darren Waller are injury worries, but Justin Fields? Isiah Pacheco? Tee Higgins? You owe it to yourself to check this out.

Draft Sharks Draft War Room: Coming soon

MORE: Check out the Draft Sharks' Draft War Room free for a week!

Injury Predictor Tool: From injury probability to projected games missed, Draft Sharks breaks down injury risks like nobody else.

Who to Draft? Tool: It's like having a fantasy football expert sitting next to you during your draft...only less annoying.

MORE: Use code "SPORTING" to dominate your league with RotoBaller!

Top 200: Western Kentucky has more players in the top 10 than any team in college football. Deal with it.

Quarterback: No. 1 will likely be No. 1 in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the projected No. 2 next year is No. 4 on this list. Confused? Don't be.

Running back: The top two backs are from the SEC, and the next two backs are from the Big 10. After that, things get wild.

Wide receiver: As always, some of the best names in college football can be found on this list, including De'Corian, Devontez, Adonai, Jerjuan, Zakhari, LaJohntay, Tetairoa, and Sam. They shouldn't have ended with that one.

Tight end: Brock Bowers is truly the Travis Kelce of college football and college fantasy football.

D/ST: The Big 10 and SEC are well-represented in the top 10, but they also have two ACC teams, a Pac-12 squad, and even a club from the Mountain West.

Kicker: College fantasy football kicker rankings are apparently a thing that exist.

Sleepers: We have the son of an NFL Hall-of-Famer, a converted QB playing RB, and a guy named Squirrel. What more do you want?

Pick 'em pool strategy tips: Coming soon

Survivor pool strategy tips: Coming soon

FFT: BUST Candidates to Avoid! Best Cheat Sheet, Elite Draft Guide (8/16)

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The FFT Crew breaks down their biggest busts for the 2023 season.

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