Last year before training camp got underway fully, we were on running backs Dameon Pierce, Isiah Pacheco and Jaylen Warren to target. All three ended up being key players at some point in the season for fantasy managers.
For the 2023 version of camp, here are five players whose stock I anticipate will go up throughout August, which means you should target them in your drafts now.
QB Anthony Richardson
This one kind of goes without saying.
Richardson is arguably the best athlete we've ever seen at quarterback. He has massive fantasy upside as a rookie because of his rushing ability and strong arm.
The No. 4 overall pick could flash in preseason and make some big plays because of those tools, which would be a double whammy because he'd start getting drafted earlier while also increasing his chances of starting Week 1 over Gardner Minshew.
If/When Richardson is announced as the Colts' Week 1 starter, his average draft position (ADP) could shoot up into the low-end QB1 range. If you're drafting earlier in the month, target him now.
RB Devon Achane
Achane's stock should be going up now since it looks less likely that the Dolphins aren't going to sign Dalvin Cook.
Achane is the type of player who could flash in preseason. He has blazing speed and could break a long touchdown run against a second-string offense, which would put him on more people's fantasy radar.
The 2023 third-round pick is someone who I think will have his stock rise in the coming weeks.
RB Evan Hull
With the Jonathan Taylor saga unfolding and Zack Moss breaking his arm, there's a chance Hull will see a bigger role early in the regular season than anticipated.
The Colts' new coaching staff inherited a backfield with Taylor, Moss and Deon Jackson, but there's a reason Hull was selected in the fifth round. He was likely drafted for his pass-catching skills, but he is capable of being a true three-down back, having recorded more than 20 carries seven times last season at Northwestern.
WR Jonathan Mingo
Mingo is a talented second-round rookie out of Ole Miss. He's very good after the catch and a perfect fit to play with a quarterback like Bryce Young.
We could see Mingo shine in the preseason. Given the wide-open WR and TE depth chart in Carolina, he could position himself as one of Young's top targets in a new-look Panthers offense. If that's the case, his ADP will rise quite a bit in the coming weeks.
WR Rashee Rice
Rice is in a similar position as Mingo in terms of his standing in the offense that drafted him. The difference is that Patrick Mahomes is his quarterback.
Rice is able to line up inside or outside, make contested catches down the field and also generate yards after the catch on underneath or intermediate targets. He gives me Chris Godwin vibes and could become one of Mahomes' favorite targets as soon as this upcoming season.
Rice is a player whose ADP could rise considerably in the coming weeks, especially with Kadarius Toney already dealing with a fairly significant injury.
