NFC North Division Preview

NFC North Team Previews

It’s NFC Week! More specifically, it’s NFC North Day. We’re going team-by-team through the NFC North, previewing the 2023 season for the Lions, Vikings, Packers, and Bears. We’ve got everything from personnel and coaching changes, depth charts, draft picks, schedules, fantasy football advice, and more.

Detroit Lions Team Preview

Team Info

Division:                                   NFC North
2022 Finish (Record):           2nd (9-8-0)

Head Coach:                          Dan Campbell
Offensive Coordinator:         Ben Johnson 
Play Caller:                            Dan Campbell

 

2022 Top PPR Scorers and Tendencies

(Team Tendencies Source Data from NFELO)

Key Changes & Need to Know

• Playoff Push – The Lions are continuing to improve and are looking for a playoff spot in 2023. Drafting a running back at pick 12 was a sign they think they’re close
• Jameson Williams Suspension – Williams will miss the first 6 games of the season for gambling in the Lions facility
• New Backfield – Complete change at running back as they’ve upgraded Jamaal Williams to David Montgomery and D’Andre Swift to Jahmyr Gibbs

2023 Draft Picks

• 1.12 – Jahmyr Gibbs RB
• 1.18 – Jack Campbell LB
• 2.03 – Sam LaPorta TE
• 2.14 – Brian Branch CB
• 3.05 – Hendon Hooker QB
• 3.33 – Brodric Martin DT
• 5.17 – Colby Sorsdal OT
• 7.02 – Antoine Green WR
• 7.35 – Alex Austin CB

Free Agency

Notable New Players

• Marvin Jones – Wide Receiver
• David Montgomery – Running Back

Notable Players who have left

• D’Andre Swift – Running Back
• DJ Chark – Wide Receiver
• Jamaal Williams – Running Back

Top Ranked Players – 2023

• Amon-Ra St. Brown WR6
• Jahmyr Gibbs RB17
• David Montgomery RB23
• Jameson Williams WR51
• Jared Goff QB17
• Sam LaPorta TE28

See The Complete Rankings Here

Positional Depth Charts

Quarterback

• Jared Goff
• Teddy Bridgewater
• Hendon Hooker
• Nate Sudfeld

Position Rank: 17th

Running Back

• David Montgomery
• Jahmyr Gibbs
• Craig Reynolds
• Mohamed Ibrahim
• Jermar Jefferson

Position Rank: 1st

Wide Receiver

• Amon-Ra St. Brown
• Jameson Williams
• Marvin Jones Jr.
• Josh Reynolds
• Kalif Raymond
• Denzel Mims
• Antoine Green
• Quintez Cephus

Position Rank: 8th

Tight End

• Sam LaPorta
• Brock Wright
• James Mitchell
• Shane Zylstra

Position Rank: 26th

Offensive Line

• LT – Taylor Decker
• LG – Jonah Jackson
• C – Frank Ragnow
• RG – Halapoulivaati Vaitai
• RT – Penei Sewell

Position Rank (PFF): 5th

2023 Projections

Projections Created Using The 2023 Projections Template

Fantasy Football Studs

• Amon-ra St. Brown

Fantasy Football Values

• Amon-ra St. Brown
• David Montgomery

Fantasy Football Avoids

• Jameson Williams

Our Targets

• David Montgomery
• Amon-ra St. Brown
• Sam LaPorta

 

2023 Schedule

 

Week 1	@	Kansas City Chiefs
Week 2	v	Seattle Seahawks
Week 3	v	Atlanta Falcons
Week 4	@	Green Bay Packers
Week 5	v	Carolina Panthers
Week 6	@	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 7	@	Baltimore Ravens
Week 8	v	Las Vegas Raiders
Week 9	BYE
Week 10	@	Los Angeles Chargers
Week 11	v	Chicago Bears
Week 12	v	Green Bay Packers
Week 13	@	New Orleans Saints
Week 14	@	Chicago Bears
Week 15	v	Denver Broncos
Week 16	@	Minnesota Vikings
Week 17	@	Dallas Cowboys
Week 18	v	Minnesota Vikings

Summary

The Lions have arrived. The days of being everyone’s favorite underdog are over. They are the favorites to win the NFC North and have one of the most talented offenses in all of football. Wide receiver Amon-ra St. Brown is poised to rise to the upper echelon of NFL wide receivers. He will continue to be a target hog and he should see his touchdown total increase. The backfield got a facelift with two upgrades—rookie Jahmyr Gibbs in the passing game role and David Montgomery set to take the between-the-tackles work plus the goal line and short yardage opportunities that Jamaal Williams was getting last season.

Those backs have the honor of running behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. That will also help quarterback Jared Goff stay clean in the pocket and distribute the ball to his playmakers. That will include rookie tight end Sam LaPorta who appears ready to make an immediate impact. He could he Goff’s No. 2 or No. 3 target as soon as Week 1 with second-year wide receiver Jameson Williams suspended for the first six games.

Overall Team Rank: 7th

Projected NFC North Finish: 1st

Minnesota Vikings Team Preview

Team Info

Division:                                   NFC North
2022 Finish (Record):           1st (13-4-0)

Head Coach:                          Kevin O’Connell
Offensive Coordinator:         Wes Phillips
Play Caller:                            Kevin O’Connell

 

2022 Top PPR Scorers and Team Tendencies

(Team Tendencies Source Data from NFELO)

Key Changes & Need to Know

• Kirk’s Last Season? – This could be Kirk Cousins last season at the Vikings with no long term contract on the horizon. They’re in a strange kind of limbo where they’re unlikely to be in the mix for a top draft pick in 2023
• Dalvin Cook Released – After months of rumours, Dalvin Cook was eventually released. The backfield behind him is a little suspect

2023 Draft Picks

• 1.23 – Jordan Addison WR
• 3.39 – Mekhi Blackmon CB
• 4.32 – Jay Ward CB
• 5.06 – Jaquelin Roy DT
• 5.29 – Jaren Hall QB
• 7.05 – DeWayne McBride RB

Free Agency

Notable New Players

• Brandon Powell – Wide Receiver
• Josh Oliver – Tight End

Notable Players who have left

• Adam Thielen – Wide Receiver
• Irv Smith – Tight End
• Dalvin Cook – Running Back

Top Ranked Players – 2023

• Justin Jefferson WR1
• T.J. Hockenson TE3
• Alexander Mattison RB26
• Jordan Addison WR34
• Kirk Cousins QB12

See The Complete Rankings Here

Positional Depth Charts

Quarterback

• Kirk Cousins
• Nick Mullens
• Jaren Hall

Position Rank: 12th

Running Back

• Alexander Mattison
• Ty Chandler
• DeWayne McBride
• Kene Nwangwu
• C.J. Ham (FB)

Position Rank: 26th

Wide Receiver

• Justin Jefferson
• Jordan Addison
• K.J. Osborn
• Jalen Nailor
• Brandon Powell
• N’Keal Harry
• Jalen Reagor
• Blake Proehl

Position Rank: 4th

Tight End

• T.J. Hockenson
• Josh Oliver
• Johnny Mundt

Position Rank: 3rd

Offensive Line

• LT – Christian Darrisaw
• LG – Ezra Cleveland
• C – Garrett Bradbury
• RG – Ed Ingram
• RT – Brian O’Neill

Position Rank (PFF): 15th

2023 Projections

Projections Created Using The 2023 Projections Template

Fantasy Football Studs

• Justin Jefferson
• TJ Hockenson

Fantasy Football Values

• Ty Chandler

Fantasy Football Avoids

• Alexander Mattison

Our Targets

• Justin Jefferson
• Jordan Addison
• TJ Hockenson
• Ty Chandler

 

2023 Schedule

 

Week 1	v	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2	@	Philadelphia Eagles
Week 3	v	Los Angeles Chargers
Week 4	@	Carolina Panthers
Week 5	v	Kansas City Chiefs
Week 6	@	Chicago Bears
Week 7	v	San Francisco 49ers
Week 8	@	Green Bay Packers
Week 9	@	Atlanta Falcons
Week 10	v	New Orleans Saints
Week 11	@	Denver Broncos
Week 12	v	Chicago Bears
Week 13	BYE
Week 14	@	Las Vegas Raiders
Week 15	@	Cincinnati Bengals
Week 16	v	Detroit Lions
Week 17	v	Green Bay Packers
Week 18	@	Detroit Lions

Summary

The Vikings may have been the luckiest team in the NFL in 2022. They set an NFL record with 11 (of 13) wins coming in one-score games. Eight of those required a fourth-quarter comeback. Because they won the NFC North, they now get first place schedule for 2023. That’s going to make it very difficult to repeat as division champions especially against the ascending Lions and much-improved Bears in the mix.

For fantasy football, the Vikings are heaven on earth.  Their defense is bad which means they’ll be in shootouts and/or comeback mode often. Which means a lot of passing. They’ve built this team around the passing game anyway. The release of Dalvin Cook puts a career backup atop the running back depth chart with not much behind him. They used a first round pick on a wide receiver. Oh, and they already have the NFL’s most productive pass catcher in Justin Jefferson. On top of Kirk Cousins likely attempting a career high in passes, they’re one of the most consolidated passing games in the NFL which we love for fantasy football purposes. We know the targets are going to Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, and Jordan Addison. That makes it easy for us to trust our Vikings pass-catchers.

Overall, this team will likely take a step back in the win column and cede the division to Detroit. But it will surely be a fun team for fantasy.

Overall Team Rank: 6th

Projected NFC North Finish: 2nd

 

Chicago Bears Team Preview

Team Info

Division:                                  NFC North
2022 Finish (Record):           4th (3-14-0)

Head Coach:                          Matt Eberflus
Offensive Coordinator:         Luke Getsy
Play Caller:                            Luke Getsy

 

2022 Top PPR Scorers and Tendencies

(Team Tendencies Source Data from NFELO)

Key Changes & Need to Know

• Support for Fields – New pieces around Fields including a marquee wide receiver target and an improved o-line
• Continuing to build – Still building through the draft, lot of strenghtening on Defence but a long way to go

2023 Draft Picks

• 1.10 – Darnell Wright OT
• 2.22 – Gervon Dexter Sr. DT
• 2.25 – Tyrique Stevenson CB
• 3.01 – Zaach Pickens DT
• 4.13 – Roschon Johnson RB
• 4.31 – Tyler Scott WR
• 5.13 – Noah Sewell LB
• 5.30 – Terell Smith CB
• 7.01 – Travis Bell DT
• 7.41 – Kendall Williamson DB

Free Agency

Notable New Players

• D.J. Moore – Wide Receiver
• D’Onta Foreman – Running Back
• Robert Tonyan – Tight End
• Travis Homer – Running Back

Notable Players who have left

• Trevon Wesco – Tight End
• Riley Reiff – Offensive Tackle
• David Montgomery – Running Back
• Nate Davis – Guard

Top Ranked Players – 2023

• Justin Fields QB6
• D.J. Moore WR27
• Khalil Herbert RB38
• Darnell Mooney WR49
• Cole Kmet TE15

See The Complete Rankings Here

Positional Depth Charts

Quarterback

• Justin Fields
• P.J. Walker
• Tyson Bagent

Position Rank: 6th

Running Back

• Khalil Herbert
• D’Onta Foreman
• Roschon Johnson
• Travis Homer
• Trestan Ebner
• Khari Blasingame

Position Rank: 22nd

Wide Receiver

• DJ Moore
• Darnell Mooney
• Chase Claypool
• Tyler Scott
• Velus Jones Jr.
• Equanimeous St. Brown
• Dante Pettis

Position Rank: 21st

Tight End

• Cole Kmet
• Robert Tonyan
• Marcedes Lewis

Position Rank: 17th

Offensive Line

• LT – Braxton Jones
• LG – Teven Jenkins
• C – Cody Whitehair
• RG – Nate Davis
• RT – Darnell Wright

Position Rank (PFF): 21st

2023 Projections

Projections Created Using The 2023 Projections Template

Fantasy Football Studs

• Justin Fields

Fantasy Football Values

• Roschon Johnson

Fantasy Football Avoids

• None

Our Targets

• Justin Fields
• DJ Moore
• Roschon Johnson

 

2023 Schedule

 

Week 1	v	Green Bay Packers
Week 2	@	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 3	@	Kansas City Chiefs
Week 4	v	Denver Broncos
Week 5	@	Washington Commanders
Week 6	v	Minnesota Vikings
Week 7	v	Las Vegas Raiders
Week 8	@	Los Angeles Chargers
Week 9	@	New Orleans Saints
Week 10	v	Carolina Panthers
Week 11	@	Detroit Lions
Week 12	@	Minnesota Vikings
Week 13	BYE
Week 14	v	Detroit Lions
Week 15	@	Cleveland Browns
Week 16	v	Arizona Cardinals
Week 17	v	Atlanta Falcons
Week 18	@	Green Bay Packers

Summary

The Justin Fields offense was starting to get going in the second half of last season. Now the team has added an actual No. 1 wide receiver with the offseason trade for DJ Moore who will certainly help Fields take his game as a passer to the next level. The Bears drafted a tackle in the top-10 which will also help this offense function at a higher level in 2023. The running back room looks a bit different with David Montgomery no longer in the mix. Third-year runner Khalil Herbert is the favorite to lead the backfield early on, but the team also added veteran D’Onta Foreman in free agency and drafted Roschon Johnson. Johnson is superior to both Herbert and Foreman as both a receiver and pass blocker so we could see him in a third-down role from the start, with a chance to expand over the course of the season.

This Bears team may not be quite ready to make a playoff push, but they’re getting close. Either way, they will be a fun offense for fantasy football with Fields, Moore, Darnell Mooney, and the running backs all offering value in drafts.

Overall Team Rank: 17th

Projected NFC North Finish: 3rd

Green Bay Packers Team Preview

Team Info

Division:                                   NFC North
2022 Finish (Record):           3rd (8-9-0)

Head Coach:                          Matt LaFleur
Offensive Coordinator:         Adam Stenavich 
Play Caller:                            Matt LaFleur

 

2022 Top PPR Scorers and Tendencies

(Team Tendencies Source Data from NFELO)

Key Changes & Need to Know

• Aaron Rodgers gone – The king is dead, long live the king. Aaron Rodgers is now gone and so are some of his favorite trusty weapons
• Free Agency Exit only – With Rodgers and some of the pass catchers gone in free agency, the replenishment has happened exclusively through the draft

2023 Draft Picks

• 1.13 – Lukas Van Ness EDGE
• 2.11 – Luke Musgrave TE
• 2.19 – Jayden Reed WR
• 3.15 – Tucker Kraft TE
• 4.14 – Colby Wooden LB
• 5.14 – Sean Clifford QB
• 5.24 – Dontayvion Wicks WR
• 6.02 – Karl Brooks LB
• 6.30 – Anders Carlson K
• 7.15 – Carrington Valentine CB
• 7.18 – Lew Nichols III RB
• 7.25 – Anthony Johnson Jr. SAF
• 7.39 – Grant DuBose WR

Free Agency

Notable New Players

• None

Notable Players who have left

• Aaron Rodgers – Quarterback
• Allen Lazard – Wide Receiver
• Randall Cobb – Wide Receiver
• Robert Tonyan – Tight End

Top Ranked Players – 2023

• Christian Watson WR19
• Aaron Jones RB16
• AJ Dillon RB32
• Jayden Reed WR55
• Jordan Love QB21

See The Complete Rankings Here

Positional Depth Charts

Quarterback

• Jordan Love
• Sean Clifford

Position Rank: 21st

Running Back

• Aaron Jones
• AJ Dillon
• Patrick Taylor Jr.
• Lew Nichols III
• Tyler Goodson

Position Rank: 5th

Wide Receiver

• Christian Watson
• Romeo Doubs
• Jayden Reed
• Samori Toure
• Dontayvion Wicks
• Bo Melton

Position Rank: 19th

Tight End

• Luke Musgrave
• Tucker Kraft
• Josiah Deguara
• Tyler Davis

Position Rank: 28th

Offensive Line

• LT – David Bakhtiari
• LG – Elgton Jenkins
• C – Josh Myers
• RG – Jon Runyan
• RT – Zach Tom

Position Rank (PFF): 8th

2023 Projections

Projections Created Using The 2023 Projections Template

Fantasy Football Studs

• None

Fantasy Football Values

• Jayden Reed
• Luke Musgrave
• AJ Dillon

Fantasy Football Avoids

• Jordan Love
• Aaron Jones
• Romeo Doubs

Our Targets

• Jayden Reed

 

2023 Schedule

 

Week 1	@	Chicago Bears
Week 2	@	Atlanta Falcons
Week 3	v	New Orleans Saints
Week 4	v	Detroit Lions
Week 5	@	Las Vegas Raiders
Week 6	BYE
Week 7	@	Denver Broncos
Week 8	v	Minnesota Vikings
Week 9	v	Los Angeles Rams
Week 10	@	Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11	v	Los Angeles Chargers
Week 12	@	Detroit Lions
Week 13	v	Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14	@	New York Giants
Week 15	v	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 16	@	Carolina Panthers
Week 17	@	Minnesota Vikings
Week 18	v	Chicago Bears

Summary

The Aaron Rodgers era is over in Green Bay. That means it’s Jordan Love’s time to lead the Packers offense. He has a young group of pass catchers with second-year guys Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs and rookie Jayden Reed as his wide receivers. His top-2 tight ends are also in their first NFL season. Packers fans may not realize it, but the team is in the beginning stages of a rebuild. How long that rebuild takes will be largely determined by Love’s performance and development in his first season as an NFL starter. But, there’s little chance that this team is going to compete in the NFC North this season. If things don’t go well with the quarterback, they will be looking for a new one in 2024.

Overall Team Rank: 18th

Projected NFC North Finish: 4th

Who do you think will win the NFC North in 2023? Jump in our Discord and join the discussion!

RANKINGS  | DYNASTY | REDRAFT |

Draft With Us On Underdog! Use Promo-Code: YARDSPER to double your deposit!