Eric Karabell ranks players based on their value for the rest of the 2023 season by position every week. Use the information to optimize the players on your bench for their future potential. Eric's top 100 can be found below the positions in this column.
Quarterback
Rankings changes: 49ers star Brock Purdy gashed the Eagles for a season-best 29.46 PPR points, the third time in four games Purdy was among the top 6 QB fantasy scorers. It may seem silly for Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft, to slide past Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes in these rankings, but numbers matter, and Purdy has outscored Mahomes, Miami's Tua Tagovailoa and the Ravens' Lamar Jackson this season (this trio comprises Tier 3 now). Mahomes has reached 17 PPR points in one of the past five games. Perhaps an investor would never bench him for someone like the Packers' Jordan Love, who is one PPR point behind for the season, but perhaps they should consider it.
As we approach the fantasy playoffs, every quarterback matters for those in deeper/SuperFlex formats. The Steelers must go with Mitch Trubisky after the Kenny Pickett injury. Cleveland may continue to go with veteran Joe Flacco even if rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson returns to health. We also await word on whether Saints starter Derek Carr is able to start this week. Jameis Winston awaits. The Jets may go back to Zach Wilson, if anyone cares. Speaking of caring, fun fact: Patriots QBs have combined to tally 13.26 PPR points over the past three games and 12 quarters. Purdy achieved this in both the third and fourth quarters in Philadelphia on Sunday!
Schedule matters: Trade season is over in ESPN standard leagues, but contending fantasy managers may want to see if the Packers' Love, Seahawks' Geno Smith and Rams' Matthew Stafford remain available. Love boasts three consecutive top-10 finishes and faces the Giants, Buccaneers and Panthers the next three weeks. Smith carved up the Cowboys, and he gets the underwhelming Eagles pass defense at home in Week 15. Stafford gets the Commanders, Saints and Giants starting in Week 15.
Finally, note the Cardinals and Commanders serve the final NFL byes in Week 14, removing two potential QB1 options. It's only one game, but it may be your final one before the fantasy playoffs, thus your final one of the regular season. As of Tuesday morning, we lacked clarity on whether Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence would miss time after spraining an ankle Monday night. He leaves the top 10, going right after Kyler Murray and Sam Howell, who will definitely miss Week 14. Lawrence seems likely to do so as well.
Running back
Rankings changes: Chargers star Austin Ekeler is not the running back version of Mahomes, really. Mahomes didn't score only 4.7 PPR points in Week 13. Ekeler did. Ekeler has three single-digit PPR performances in a row, coming off three games with more than 20 PPR points. Perhaps Rams WR Cooper Kupp is a better comparison as now-underachieving first-round fantasy picks. Regardless, you're probably not benching Ekeler, but he must slide backward in these rankings. The other LA RB2, Kyren Williams, has 58.6 PPR points the past two weeks. Would you take Ekeler or Kyren the rest of the way? Our rankings have our answer.
Schedule matters: The Broncos still permit the most PPR points to running backs -- even though they have been far better lately -- so perhaps that inspires Ekeler in Week 14. Then it's the Lions and Patriots. Moss didn't deliver his best game on Sunday, but he certainly had the volume. He faces the Bengals and Steelers next, teams in the middle of the pack in permitting PPR points to running backs. Green Bay's Jones is becoming more available in ESPN leagues, but perhaps that is a mistake, as the team's schedule is kind to running backs.
Wide receiver
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Karabell puzzled by Rashee Rice's fantasy availability
Eric Karabell advises fantasy managers to pick up Rashee Rice if he's available in their leagues.
Schedule matters: The Commanders cannot help anyone this week, but fantasy managers should beware their players after that, too. Sam Howell is the No. 5 fantasy QB this season, but he is not likely to finish there with the Rams, Jets, 49ers and Cowboys remaining. WR Terry McLaurin caught nary a pass in Week 13. However, the Jets' Garrett Wilson has the Texans, Dolphins and Commanders coming up. That is positive. Denver's Courtland Sutton has the Chargers and Lions up next. Raiders Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers get the Vikings and Chargers.
Tight end
Rankings changes: Cardinals sophomore Trey McBride scored more than 20 PPR points for the third game in six weeks, easily enough to ensure his top-10 status, even though he is on bye this week. The Saints' Taysom Hill returns to the top 10, thanks to 59 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Titans' Chigoziem Okonkwo has become interesting again, finally. Keep an eye on Eagles star Dallas Goedert as he returns to the lineup and former Eagle/Cardinal Zach Ertz as he chooses a new contending team. If he chooses the Eagles, it affects Goedert.
