2023 NFL Draft: Dynasty Fantasy Football Winners and Losers from the AFC East
The AFC East is a fascinating division, with every team taking some big swings this off-season in a push for the Lombardi trophy. Given some of the trades and forfeited picks, fewer draft picks were made than in other divisions. However, there were still some big winners and losers.
Buffalo Bills
Draft Picks
- Round 1, Pick 25, Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
- Round 2, Pick 59, O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
- Round 3, Pick 91, Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
- Round 5, Pick 150, Justin Shorter, WR, Florida
- Round 7, Pick 230, Nick Broeker, OG, Ole Miss
- Round 7, Pick 252, Alex Austin, CB, Oregon State
Winner – Josh Allen
The Bills have been hugely successful during the Josh Allen era despite putting little around him outside Stefon Diggs. Well, this off-season, they have addressed that by bringing in Deonte Harty and trading up in the first round to draft Dalton Kincaid. Kincaid will step in immediately as a big-bodied slot who will enable the Bills to be more multiple in their formations and utilize more 12 personnel.
Loser – Dawson Knox
Off the back of the trade-up for Kincaid, Knox is a clear loser. Kincaid will immediately eat into Knox’s snap share and take targets away from him. Knox has now moved from a replacement-level tight end for fantasy to nothing more than a roster clogger.
Miami Dolphins
Draft Picks
- Round 2, Pick 51, Cam Smith, CB South Carolina
- Round 3, Pick 84, Devon Achane, RB Texas A&M
- Round 6, Pick 197, Elijah Higgins, WR/TE Stanford
- Round 7, Pick 238, Ryan Hayes, OT Michigan
Winner – Tua Tagovailoa
One of the most efficient quarterbacks last year, mainly off the back of having one of the best 1-2 punches at wide receiver. Tagovailoa now adds another incredible athlete who can score touchdowns from anywhere on the field. Yes, Devon Achane is undersized and unlikely to be able to carry the ball 15-20 times per game. However, he is lightning-fast with elite-level agility and will be a threat in the receiving game. He could turn check-downs into big touchdowns consistently.
Loser – Raheem Mostert/Jeff Wilson Jr
With the drafting of Achane, it dashes any hopes of Either Mostert or Wilson being an every-down back. By adding another competent body to the backfield, it is now looking like this backfield will be a minefield for fantasy, and it is challenging to predict who will produce on any given week.
New England Patriots
Draft Picks
- Round 1, Pick 17, Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
- Round 2, Pick 46, Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
- Round 3, Pick 76, Marte Mapu, S, Sacramento State
- Round 4, Pick 107, Jake Andrews, G, Troy
- Round 4, Pick 112, Chad Ryland, K, Maryland
- Round 4, Pick 117, Sidy Sow, OL, Eastern Michigan
- Round 5, Pick 144, Antonio Mafi, OL, UCLA
- Round 6, Pick 187, Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
- Round 6, Pick 192, Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan St.
- Round 6, Pick 210, Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty
- Round 6, Pick 214, Ameer Speed, CB, Michigan State
- Round 7, Pick 245, Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State
Winner – Kayshon Boutte
It is strange for a player who was at one point considered a potential first-round pick to be a winner after falling to the sixth round. However, Despite plummeting down draft boards, Boutte finds himself in the ideal situation. He will compete for time in a receiver room with no clear number-one target and catch passes from a very accurate pocket passer, enabling him to work after the catch. If Boutte can remain on the straight and narrow and tap into his incredible natural talent, he could be fantasy-relevant sooner rather than later.
Loser – Mac Jones
The Patriots have got an extensive collection of WR2 and WR3 types. However, they still need a star who can command 150 targets a season and help elevate Jones. During the draft, they did not add an offensive weapon until the sixth round and not somebody who would step in and be a target hog from day one. It’s hard to feel better about Jones than you did in March.
New York Jets
Draft Picks
- Round 1, Pick 15, Will McDonald IV, EDGE Iowa State
- Round 2, Pick 43, Joe Tippmann, C Wisconsin
- Round 4, Pick 112, Carter Warren, OT Pitt
- Round 5, Pick 143, Israel Abanikanda, RB Pitt
- Round 6, Pick 184, Zaire Barnes, LB Western Kentucky
- Round 6, Pick 204, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, DB LSU
- Round 7, Pick 220, Zack Kuntz, TE Old Dominion
Winner – Garrett Wilson
This is less to do with the draft picks and more to do with what the Jets spent a lot of their draft picks on. Aaron Rodgers comes to town and should considerably boost Wilson. He had a fantastic rookie year catching passes from Joe Flacco, Mike White, and Zach Wilson. Now he will be catching passes from the four-time MVP and hopefully sees the fantasy production boost to go with it.
Loser – Michael Carter
The Jets didn’t do much in the draft to affect the fantasy-relevant positions. However, the one thing they did do was draft another running back in the first half of day three. This could be used as evidence that they are concerned about Breece Hall being healthy to start the season. However, the one thing it does do is prove that the Jets decision makers are not confident that Carter can carry the load in Hall’s absence. That is a damming verdict on a once hopeful fantasy asset which is now likely nothing more than a roster clogger.
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