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Fantasy football winners and losers from Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft

Columbus, Ohio, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Sam LaPorta (84) makes the catch during the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

• A second-round run at tight end: Five tight ends were picked in the second round, joining Dalton Kincaid in the first. This was the first time six tight ends were picked in the first two rounds since 1974.

Seattle Seahawks give Kenneth Walker III some competition: Walker was expected to be a first-round fantasy pick, but that is a lot less likely now that Zach Charbonnet is in the fold.

• More teams double up: Not only did the Seahawks draft a running back in the second round after selecting one in the same round last year, but the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs added wide receivers in the second round after picking second-round wide receivers last year.

Estimated reading time: 6 mins

With Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft in the books, we saw the fantasy football stock of several players improve or decline. Some rookies landed in better spots for production, some veterans face a lot more competition and some others are grateful their team picked a player at a different position.

Here are the biggest winners and losers based on what happened in the second and third rounds. Check out the winners and losers from Day 1, as well.


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Winner: TE Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

Tight end was a clear need for Detroit after the team traded T.J. Hockenson last season.

  • LaPorta avoided 20 tackles last season, which ranked second among tight ends.
  • He accomplished this at Iowa; the same college that produced Hockenson.
  • The Lions threw to tight ends at an above-average rate in 2021 during Dan Campbell’s first season.
  • This continued in 2022 while Hockenson was still on the roster, but the tight end targets plummeted once Hockenson was traded.
  • LaPorta should be the clear-cut starter, unlike Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer, who will face competition from at least one veteran during their rookie seasons.
  • His competition is a combination of Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell.
  • The Lions' wide receiver room isn’t as strong in 2023 as it was in 2022. D.J. Chark Jr. left for Carolina and was replaced by a 33-year-old Marvin Jones Jr.
  • There aren’t going to be many late-round tight ends with high upside. Several teams have a similar depth chart to last season, while most teams that made changes added a veteran who isn’t a top-12 tight end option.
  • LaPorta might not be a fantasy starter as a rookie, but he should be a favorite late-round option with the upside to reach the top 12.

Winner: TE Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers

Musgrave should be the Packers’ clear receiving tight end, with a chance to be Jordan Love’s second-favorite target.

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