8 Players Who Can Go 1st Overall In Your Fantasy Football Draft

In 2022, Jonathan Taylor was the clear-cut 1.01 pick. This year, there are a few more options you can go with. I will be reviewing eight players who are worthy of the first overall pick.

1. WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings (ADP 1.0)

Justin Jefferson was the WR1 in all of fantasy football last year. As of June 6th, he is the 1.01 pick in the majority of drafts. In 2022, Jefferson had 128 receptions (1st), 1,809 receiving yards (1st) and 8 touchdowns (T-11th). The Vikings lost Adam Thielen this offseason, but they added WR Jordan Addison in the 2023 NFL Draft. Not much has changed with how we view the star Vikings wide receiver. If you are trying to go with the safest option, then Justin Jefferson should be your 1.01 pick.

2. RB Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (ADP 2.3)

Christian McCaffrey got traded from the Panthers to the 49ers in Week 7 of the 2022 season. From Week 7 to Week 18, McCaffrey finished as the RB1 in PPG with a ridiculous 19.3 PPG. McCaffrey, paired with Kyle Shannahan, is one of the scariest duos in the NFL. In 2022, most people were weary of CMC being the 1.01 pick due to injury concerns. CMC played a total of 10 games combined in 2021 and 2022. CMC proved the doubters wrong last year, playing in all 17 games. CMC should be the first RB taken in fantasy football drafts and should rival Justin Jefferson for the 1st overall pick.

3. RB Austin Ekeler, Chargers (ADP 5.3)

Austin Ekeler was the RB2 in 2021 and the RB1 in 2022. The 28-year-old running back requested a trade out of LA this offseason. But it sounds like the Chargers will choose to keep Ekeler this year. That's probably a good thing for us fantasy players because Ekeler has been an absolute rockstar the past few years in fantasy. During the 2022 draft season, many people were using the excuse "Touchdown Regression" as a reason not to take Ekeler 1.01. He saw a "regression" and still finished as the RB1. Ekeler is another safe pick to finish in the top 5 in PPG.

4. TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs (ADP 5.7)

Taking a tight end at 1.01? That might sound disgusting, but Travis Kelce is just that good. Kelce has finished as the TE1 in five of the last seven years. He finished as the TE2 in those other two years. The Chiefs TE has the best quarterback in the game throwing him the ball and consistently tops tight ends in targets. Not much has changed with the Chiefs offense in the last year, so we should see Kelce finish as a top-2 TE once again. In a league where there are so few good tight ends in fantasy football, having Travis Kelce is such an advantage and should warrant some consideration for the 1.01 pick in fantasy football drafts this year.

5. WR Cooper Kupp, Rams (ADP 5.7)

An ankle injury ruined Kupp's season in Week 10 of the 2022 NFL season. The star wide receiver was the WR1 in PPG from weeks 1 through 9 last year. He was pretty much the unanimous WR1 in drafts last year and was living up to that before the injury. There's not much risk in drafting Cooper Kupp first overall. I personally think Kupp should be the WR1 this year, but I can see where some might be scared due to how quarterback Matthew Stafford looked last year and the arm concerns. I would say Jefferson is the safer pick, but Kupp could easily finish as the best fantasy player in 2023.

6. RB Jonathan Taylor, Colts (ADP 12.0)

Well, this is the riskiest of them all. Taylor was considered the unanimous 1.01 by some in 2022, but coming off a disappointing year where he battled injuries and just did not look the same as he once did, many will be scared off. I still have lots of faith in the RB1 in 2021. The Colts running back finished 2022 with a meager 11 PPG. The Colts offense is expected to undergo major changes this year with a new quarterback and head coach. If Taylor returns to that 2021 form, then this is a slam-dunk pick, but that's a huge if.

7. RB Saquon Barkley, Giants (ADP 9.3)

We saw Saquon fall to the 2nd–3rd round in drafts last year due to injury concerns and a disappointing 2021. But Saquon Barkley bounced back in a MASSIVE way in 2022. He finished in the top 5 in PPG for running backs and finished with 1,600 or more total yards. I have Saquon as my RB4 for this upcoming year, but if you believe the 26-year-old can take another jump, then I wouldn't be mad if you selected him with the first pick.

8. RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons (ADP 9.0)

A rookie?? 1st overall? Bijan Robinson is not an ordinary rookie running back. Robinson was selected in the top 10 in the 2023 NFL Draft after an amazing college career. This might be the best rookie running back since Saquon came out of Penn State. Bijan joins a Falcons offense that was third in rushing in 2022 with Cordarrelle Patterson and rookie Tyler Allgeier. This is a huge risk, but if Bijan is the bellcow for this heavy Falcons rushing offense, then he can absolutely be the best player in fantasy football this year.

MY PICK: If I get the 1st overall pick this year, I would personally draft Christian McCaffrey. You can't let injuries from two years ago scare you away from the best fantasy player.