Opportunity and consistent usage are keys to producing weekly numbers in fantasy football. But for some players, those opportunities can be limited by a variety of factors. Maybe there's a proven vet at the top of the depth chart. Or a backfield rotation that limits offensive touches. And we still have training camp competitions that will determine roster spots.
In what has become an annual piece for me in early August, I'll break down eight players who possess game-ready traits but need that opening to generate viable fantasy production in your lineups. Let's check out the "have skills, need opportunity" team heading into the 2023 NFL season.
Running back
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Warren is one of my top insurance backs in fantasy. He is behind Najee Harris but has shown the ability to play a productive role when he sees offensive touches. On 77 rushes last season, Warren averaged 4.9 yards per carry, with 11 runs of 10 or more yards. There's some juice here with Warren on the tape, too. Downhill quick, with the burst to attack the perimeter. Now, I don't see Warren as a dynamic threat in the pass game, but he did log 28 receptions last season as an underneath outlet on swings and checkdowns. You can target Warren as a late-round pick in leagues of 10 or 12 teams as that insurance play in case of a Harris injury, or as a potential contributor in deeper formats if his overall volume starts to climb.
We don't have much pro tape on Ford (only eight offensive touches as a rookie), but the traits are there for the second-year pro to potentially lock down a defined role as the No. 2 in Cleveland behind Nick Chubb. As with Warren, you would be targeting Ford in the later rounds as an insurance back. I do believe, however, that Ford can emerge as a receiving option in this Browns offense, in addition to his open-field speed/big-play chops. He's a natural hands catcher out of the backfield, with the body control to adjust on throws outside of his frame. And with Kareem Hunt, who saw at least 44 targets in three of four seasons with the Browns, out of the mix in Cleveland, the door is open for Ford to bring some PPR value to your lineup in deeper leagues. Just keep an eye on the status of his hamstring injury, which occurred in practice on Monday, Aug. 7.
Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Let's keep an eye on Johnson throughout camp because he could emerge as a downhill hammer in a run-heavy Chicago offense. Last season at Texas -- playing behind Bijan Robinson -- Johnson averaged 6.0 yards per carry and 3.9 yards per carry after first contact. With his decisive, bruising running style, you can get Johnson rolling on a north-south track to showcase his second-level power. Plus, with his physical profile at 6 feet, 219 pounds, and his willingness to challenge blitzers in pass protection, Johnson could earn more reps as a potential receiving outlet for quarterback Justin Fields. Yes, the Bears' running back room also features Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman and Travis Homer, but that's why Johnson is a prime candidate for this piece. And he's been a draft target of mine in 12- and 14-team leagues.
Wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
Shaheed's recent groin injury in camp will need to be monitored during the next week, however the tape from 2022 tells us he could have some deeper-league upside as a slot target. The game speed jumps here. Shaheed can roll. Look at the receptions at the third level of the defense or the catch-and-run targets underneath. He's explosive at multiple levels of the field. Shaheed averaged 17.4 yards per reception last season on 28 grabs, with five games of double-digit PPR production. Now, the Saints' wide receiver depth chart is headlined by Chris Olave and Michael Thomas. Given Thomas' availability concerns, however, Shaheed should be on your fantasy radar this summer in an upgraded New Orleans pass game led by quarterback Derek Carr.
Shakir saw minimal usage in the Bills' pass game as a rookie, logging just 10 receptions on 20 targets. But there is a path here for Shakir to secure the No. 3 role during camp behind Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. And despite the low totals he posted in 2022, we have to focus on his traits and potential deployment for one of the league's highest-scoring offenses. With motion/movement ability to see the ball on manufactured touches (backfield, jet sweeps, screens), plus alignment versatility as a receiver, Shakir could post a spike in volume and overall usage, which makes him one of my favorite late-round draft targets in deeper PPR formats.
Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers
In the two games last season in which Jennings saw at least six targets, he posted double-digit PPR production. So, this is really about volume for the 49ers' No. 3 receiver behind Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. And we know Jennings can uncover in the 49ers' route tree. Last season, Jennings caught 35 passes, with 23 of those receptions accounting for first downs. He's a competitive, short-to-intermediate target who can win one-on-one or see the ball on schemed play-action throws in Kyle Shanahan's system. Given the 49ers' pass-game usage with tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey, however, Jennings might see only around 50 targets this season. But if Samuel or Aiyuk misses time with an injury, the door could open up for Jennings as a viable fantasy option in deeper leagues.
Isaiah Hodgins, New York Giants
Over Hodgins' final five games played in 2022, he posted at least 14 PPR points in four. We saw Hodgins targeted on quick-game throws, deeper in-breakers and outside fade balls, and he caught 25 of 32 targets during that five-game stretch. He's a true boundary option for quarterback Daniel Jones. But with New York adding tight end Darren Waller and rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, plus a host of slot receivers to compete for roster spots in camp, the fantasy outlook on Hodgins is pretty cloudy. The end-of-the-season production, however, should keep Hodgins on the radar. And the tape backs it up.
Tight end
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
We all know that Likely sits as the Ravens' No. 2 tight end behind Mark Andrews. Baltimore also elevated its wide receiver room with Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Zay Flowers. But with the Ravens running a new passing system under coordinator Todd Monken, one that will create more space vertically and horizontally, Likely could jump into the TE1 mix if Andrews misses game time with injury. Likely posted 373 yards and three touchdowns on 36 receptions during his rookie season. Plus, he can be deployed as a flex target in a new offense that will better use his receiving skill set and ability after the catch.