Best bench players for Fantasy Football 2023 encompass late-round picks like Brandon Aiyuk, Ty Chandler, Drake London, D’Andre Swift, and more.
While drafting a fantasy team, one must invest their early picks in getting the best available players who will be their starters throughout the season.
You must take advantage of your draft position and pick Running Backs and Wide Receivers in the early stages because they are the players that accumulate the most in your team.
If you look directly, you may notice that Quarterbacks make the most points throughout the season, but only one or two QBs, depending on the league type, play from your team. RB and WR take the most slots and are primary point-gatherers.
Likewise, after filling up the primary lineup, one must think about the bench players who can come in bye weeks or when an injury occurs and give you decent points.
So, the question remains: What positions to have on bench fantasy football?
Sticking to what was earlier mentioned, since RB and WR take most slots, it is wise to have them warming the bench.
Fantasy Football Bench Players Rankings 2023
| Tua Tagovailoa – QB | Miami Dolphins |
| D’Andre Swift – RB | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Drake London – WR | Atlanta Falcons |
| Jamaal William – RB | New Orleans Saints |
| Dalvin Cook – RB | New York Jets |
| Oddell Beckham Jr. – WR | Baltimore Ravens |
| Dalton Kincaid – TE | Buffalo Bills |
| Derek Carr – QB | New Orleans Saints |
| Brandon Aiyuk – WR | San Francisco 49ers |
| Irv Smith Jr. – TE | Cincinnati Bengals |
RB D’Andre Swift – 187.72
D’Andre Swift is projected to accumulate 187.72 fantasy points in 2023. Last year, the Eagles running back made 191.10 points.
There is no significant difference in points accumulated and projected score for the player. He can perform past the predicted outcome and become an elite RB in the upcoming campaign.
In the first week’s encounter against the New England Patriots, the 24-year-old is estimated to bank 12.66 points. It is fair, considering the strength of Patriots defense this year.
He could not display his full potential due to an injury-driven 2022 season with the Detroit Lions. On 29th April 2023, Swift was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where the defensive lineup is solid, and his linkup with Jalen Hurts can bring the most from the player.
The RB will most probably start all games as the RB1. He will have Rashaad Penny as his backup on the roster.
Per the Draft Sharks injury predictor, there is a 64% chance of an injury to the athlete. It also points out that he will miss 2.40 games in 2023.
To ensure that the player remains healthy, the role of Penny to cover for him and grant D’Andre enough resting period is crucial.
A healthy Swift will be your fantasy team’s best bench player. He can transition into a starter for many with the progression towards week 2 and beyond.
Other RBs You Can Stash On Bench
| James Cook – Buffalo Bills | 199.41 |
| Jamaal William – New Orleans Saints | 216.92 |
| Brian Robinson – Washington Commanders | 178.58 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit Lions | 174.82 |
| Dalvin Cook – New York Jets | 169.87 |
| Miles Sanders – Carolina Panthers | 163.39 |
| AJ Dillon – Green Bay Packers | 160.30 |
| Jaylen Warren – Pittsburgh Steelers | 107.98 |
The athletes mentioned in the table can deliver gems. They can enter the game and change the tide in a matter of seconds.
With top RBs like Christian McCaffrey, Joe Mixon, Aaron Jones, and Rhamondre Stevenson having an injury probability over 80%, having one of these on the bench can turn around your fortune.
Similarly, if one underperforms, you can swoop them into the lineup and gain some valuable points. For example, Dalvin Cook will likely start for the Jets, as Breece Hall’s post-injury form is unwarranted.
The team might give him some time to be fully ready. Cook can take McCaffrey’s place in week 9 and grant you decent points.
WR Drake London – 205.54
Drake London was the 2022 eighth-overall pick for the Atlanta Falcons. His reputation as the 2021 Pac-12 Offensive POTY helped him get picked in the 1st round.
The former USC Trojans WR played seventeen games and started in fifteen. He made 72 receptions covering 866 yards and scored four touchdowns.
As a result, he was in the 31st spot for his position in fantasy points with 178.60. It was an impressive rookie year for the youngster.
In 2023, the 22-year-old is likely to amass 205.54 points. Many expect him to make a solid bench player in fantasy who can be swapped in easy fixtures for a generous amount of points.
Regarding the fixture, the Falcons have the easiest Strength of Schedule of .417 and can blast past the NFC South.
Bijan Robinson and the offensive depth with Scott Miller, Kyle Pitts, and Desmond Ridder can break the five-year curse and help them clinch a playoff spot.
The young raw talent is fit to start every game and can deliver consistent points even with tougher opponents.
Likewise, some other WRs who can deliver decent points and can fit as a bench player are:
| Brandon Aiyuk – San Francisco 49ers | 198.75 |
| Jahan Dotson – Washington Commanders | 191.80 |
| DJ Moore – Chicago Bears | 186.28 |
| Oddell Beckham Jr. – Baltimore Ravens | 178.23 |
| Zay Jones – Jacksonville Jaguars | 175.08 |
| Sky Moore – Kansas City Chiefs | 161.62 |
| Jonathan Mingo – Carolina Panthers | 160.29 |
| Zay Flowers – Baltimore Ravens | 151.91 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Seattle Seahawks | 149.65 |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones – Cleveland Browns | 135.75 |
This year, many unproven talents will be seen in the league. Zay Flowers, Jonathan Mingo, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are some first-year WRs who have the potential to live up to the expectations and go beyond.
The Super Bowl winner Oddell Beckham Jr. and Skyy Moore are some reliable choices to rotate the players. But Oddell missed the entire 2022 season and has quite a history of injury.
Likewise, Brandon Aiyuk, Jahan Dotson, Donovan People-Jones, Zay Jones, and DJ Moore are seasoned athletes and have been delivering per their pay scale.
Either as an injury-replacement or bye-week choice, these names won’t disappoint any fantasy manager.
QB Tua Tagovailoa – 252.72
Tua Tagovailoa produced 230.92 fantasy points in 2022, playing only thirteen matches. He is expected to rack up 252.72 in the new campaign.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide player was in good form in 2022 despite missing actions in weeks 5, 6, 17, and 18. With only 13 games, he managed to land on the top list for QB with the most fantasy points per game (PPG) with 17.8.
Likewise, the potential of the 2017 CFP National Champion is further demonstrated by his fabulous performance, which made him one of the top four QBs with the most fantasy PPG in seven matches.
Last year, the 2022 Polynesian Football Player of the Year made 3,548 passing yards for 25 touchdowns. It is his personal best in the NFL.
A 64.8% passing completion for 259 complete passes out of 400 helps present the case for his inclusion as a bench player.
On top of everything, he received a 105.5 passer rating, the most by any QB in the league in 2022.
If the new campaign can turn into a concussion-free season for the Pro Bowler, he will surely wreak havoc and position himself in the top 5 for his playing position.
Mike White is his backup at Miami. The starting role is reserved for Tua and will have Tyreek Hill, a.k.a. Cheetah, Jaylen Waddle, and Raheem Mostert as his offensive weapons.
If everything clicks and the team remains healthy throughout the season, they can finish 11-6 or better in the stacked AFC East. It will be exciting to see whether they can dethrone the Buffalo Bills as the division winner.
| Kirk Cousins – Minnesota Vikings | 297.23 |
| Jared Goff – Detroit Lions | 283.74 |
| Derek Carr – New Orleans Saints | 267.66 |
| Russell Wilson – Denver Broncos | 279.53 |
| Jordan Love – Green Bay Packers | 250.98 |
| Mac Jones – New England Patriots | 247.37 |
| Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh Steelers | 231.59 |
| Brock Purdy – San Francisco 49ers | 283.34 |
Since the signal caller position is the main building block of the offense, if that player from your fantasy team starts having a downfall or comes up with an injury, you will be doomed.
Therefore, you must have one extra signal caller like Cousins, Pickett, Love, Wilson, or Carr. These are some excellent backups who are bound to deliver good numbers all throughout the regular season.
If you have someone like Mahomes, Hurts, Lawerence, Allen, or Smith as your main QB, you can use the bench space for a WR or RB. But, the same cannot be implied to Jackson, Herbert, Burrow, Prescott, and Fields, who are prone to injury.
Having an extra field general means you won’t have to rely on the waiver to get a new guy for the bye week. Plus, there is a high chance that someone else may snatch the athlete before you.
So, while you draft your team, get an extra field general after you have your fill of WR and RB later in the 12 or 13th round.
TE Irv Smith Jr. – 106.63
Irv Smith Jr. joined the Cincinnati Bengals on a $1.75 million deal worth a year in 2023. Before that, he played four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Bengals are loaded in offense with the likes of Burrow, Mixon, Chase, Higgins, and Boyd. The addition of Smith at the tight end position provides them more options and flexibility to run more plays and obliterate opponents.
The 2019 second-round pick was part of the 2017 national championship-winning Alabama Crimson Tide.
In the 2022 season, he featured in eight games with only one start. Because of an ankle injury, Irv could not perform to his full potential.
With 25 reception and 182 receiving yards for a couple of touchdowns, Smith recorded 55.20 points. The TE is anticipated to participate in all games this year and amass 106.63 points.
| Hayden Hurst – Carolina Panthers | 111.48 |
| Noah Fant – Seattle Seahawks | 111.45 |
| Jordan Akins – Cleveland Browns | 110.84 |
| Juwan Johnson – New Orleans Saints | 107.40 |
| Austin Hooper – Las Vegas Raiders | 95.98 |
| Dalton Kicaid – Buffalo Bills | 95.30 |
| Sam LaPorta – Detroit Lions | 90.95 |
Many TEs are currently in question to start their first couple of game weeks. A bunch of them are with more than 80% probability of getting an injury.
The list includes:
- George Kittle (49ers): 95%
- Zach Ertz (Cardinals): 88%
- O.J. Howard (Buccaneers): 86%
- Evan Engram (Jaguars): 93%
- Jonnu Smith (Patriots): 92%
Likewise, Travis Kelce is inactive due to hyperextension and a bone bruise in his knee. He missed out on the NFL Kickoff game against the Detroit Lions.
Mark Andrews, George Kittle, and T.J. Hockenson are all under a huge question mark for the starting job for a couple of weeks or more due to injury.
Therefore, a great replacement can come from Juwan Johnson, Dalton Kincaid, Jordan Akins, and Noah Fant.