If ever there was a week when fantasy football felt inconsequential, we're living that week.
Our thoughts today are with Bills safety Damar Hamlin, his family, friends, loved ones, teammates, the entire Bills organization, the Bengals players and organization, and players across the NFL that were impacted by the events of Monday Night Football.
We will continue to pray for Hamlin as he fights for his life.
There is no easy way to just keep pushing forward and producing content surrounding fantasy football, but what I have found during difficult times in the past is that some find the opportunity to consume fantasy football content to take their mind away from the difficult realities presenting themselves at that time to be valuable.
Hopefully, this column can accomplish that, with a look ahead to our far-too-early 2023 first-round mock draft. Let me be clear: there are too many things to count that could change so much about this top 10, so be prepared for alterations all offseason. But as we stand here today in early January, this is how things shake out.
1. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers: My pick for the fantasy MVP this season deserves all the shine he'll receive this offseason, as Ekeler is simply inevitable in fantasy. He's already at 38 total touchdowns over the past two seasons and sees as much volume as any running back in the passing game in the league. He has 103 catches this season, by far a career high.
2. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings: Jefferson has an outside shot at breaking the league's single-season receiving record (with an extra game) and is tied with Ekeler for the most games with at least 20 fantasy points in 2022 (each has nine so far). He's etched his name all over the record book and will continue to do so.
3. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams: Kupp followed up his otherworldly performance in 2021 with an almost-as-ridiculous 2022 before an ankle injury landed him on injured reserve. I expect the Rams to be a vastly improved team in 2023 and look much like the team that dominated in 2021. Kupp's weekly floor is unmatched and his ceiling is exceptional, too.
4. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins: Hill is having the best and busiest season of his career in Year One in Miami, as he is third in the NFL in targets and second in catches. No player (other than perhaps his teammate Jaylen Waddle) is a better bet to turn a short play into a long touchdown, helping Hill bring as much weekly upside as any wideout in fantasy.
5. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers: I'm so thrilled that CMC has stayed healthy this season to prove the naysayers wrong. He reminded us all what his upside is when he stays in the game: more than 21 fantasy points per game and the chance for a league-winning week every Sunday. San Francisco's depth in the backfield pushes McCaffrey down the board just a hair.
6. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders: A breakout season for Jacobs has him in the mix for first-round consideration next season. He was brilliant as a runner this season, and while not on the level of pass-catching volume of McCaffrey or Ekeler, he wasn't far behind, either. He is scheduled to be a free agent, but no matter where he plays he'll be heavily featured.
7. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders: Adams was extraordinarily busy this season, as he has 171 targets through 17 weeks, second most in the NFL. However, he has only 95 catches on those 171 targets, which suggests there is room for even more next season with improved efficiency. What we don't know is who he'll be catching passes from, but I'm not sure it matters much for his fantasy value.
8. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs: Kelce is hilariously more productive than any other tight end in the NFL, as he enters Week 18 with 19.2 fantasy points per game, 6.9 more than the next-highest-scoring tight end in the league. He's a true marvel and the single-best positional edge in fantasy football. While he'll be 34 next season, this year suggests he isn't slowing down any time soon.
9. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans: There is no better bet to lead the NFL in rushing attempts, rushing yards or rushing touchdowns than Henry, who once again has dominated this season. His lack of receiving ("only" 32 catches so far this season) is so far offset by his elite volume and rushing prowess that another year of carrying teams to fantasy gold is likely in 2023.
10. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts: There's no doubt that Taylor will be an interesting player to analyze this upcoming offseason, as some will use recency bias as a measure to not want to invest in him. But 2022 was not about performance drop-off from Taylor, rather it was about poor injury luck and an offensive line that unexpectedly underwhelmed. I sense a major bounce-back season in 2023.
Also considered: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals; Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants; Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills.