The 2023 Pigskin Premier League draft weekend is officially in the books, and what a weekend it was! As expected, this year’s iteration of the draft proved to be absolute must watch entertainment, featuring similar levels of drama, intrigue, surprise, and cutthroat maneuvering as seasons 1-6 of Game of Thrones. Of course, based on the level of managerial talent and experience throughout the league, it should come as no surprise that all twelve clubs are expected to compete at the highest level for the PPL crown. 

However, that does not mean that each and every manager does not have question marks surrounding their roster, and potential snags on their way to claiming the mantle of champion. So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at these rosters and identify one pivotal question that could make or break each team’s season.

The Fantasy Football Team: Can Javonte Williams Regain His Pre-Injury Form?

Team Forey: Can Kirk Cousins Really Lead a Team to the Fantasy Football Playoffs?

Not to be outdone by his fellow rookie manager, Washington DC based gaffer Andrew Forey used his draft capital to assemble a solid lineup headlined by perennial fantasy stars Derrick Henry and Stefon Diggs, while integrating the youth and explosiveness of highly touted Lions rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. While it remains to be seen whether drafting two 49ers receiving targets (Deebo Samuel and George Kittle) will pay dividends, the bigger question Forey will need to answer surrounds his now Netflix-famous signal caller. 

After missing out on many of the top names at the position, Forey selected Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins in the 8th round of this season’s draft. Despite earning somewhat of a reputation for not showing up in big games, Cousins has been nothing but rock solid for fantasy owners of late, posting three consecutive top 11 finishes at the position. 

Cousins excelled last season in many respects, tossing the fourth most passing yards and fifth most touchdowns in the league while showing great chemistry with star receiver Justin Jefferson and midseason acquisition TJ Hockensen. With Dalvin Cook out of the picture and rookie receiver Jordan Addison in the fold, proponents of Cousins are projecting another high quality fantasy finish from the chain-wearing passer. 

Yet one could also take the position that Cousins only finished so highly last season because of injuries to other top play callers, including Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Dak Prescott. In addition, the departure of Cook may force Cousins into many more obvious passing situations this season, which could lead to more turnovers. 

With a number of young quarterbacks on the rise and a number of veterans poised to rebound, where exactly Cousins ranks among the league’s elite may be the single most important factor governing the ceiling of Forey’s squad. 

Sevin Dingleterry: Can the Giants Offense Support Three Quality Fantasy Players?

After drafting a league high three quarterbacks and basing most of his picks off of players with funny names last season, Sevin Dingleterry manager Mitch Cantway is hoping desperately to return his side to playoff contention and overall respectability this season. In selecting Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and Jags receiver Calvin Ridley, Cantway’s draft strategy shows he is more than willing to take his shot on high risk, high reward prospects that could turn into potential league winners. 

Yet while the success of many PPL managers this season may be tied to an individual player, Cantway’s fantasy fortunes are heavily tied to an entire team: The New York Giants. 

Few fans around the league batted an eye when Cantway selected Giants running back Saquon Barkley with the 9th overall pick. Equipped with a new contract and a healthy offseason, many are calling Barkley a great bet to repeat his dominant production from last season’s resurgent campaign where he finished as the RB5. 

However, in addition to Barkley, Cantway went on to select new Giants tight end Darren Waller in the 5th round, and made Daniel Jones the final QB1 off the board in round 11. For his part, Waller profiles as the centerpiece of the Giants passing attack this season, lacking legitimate competition for targets from Big Blue’s other receiving options. However, Waller is also coming off an injury riddled campaign that saw him play in just 9 contests and amass only 388 receiving yards. 

Meanwhile Jones utilized surprising ground production to finish 9th overall at the position in 2022, running for a Giants franchise record 708 yards last season. Yet with opposing defenses likely to game plan around Jones’ rushing prowess more this season, he will have to improve upon his paltry 15 touchdown passes to retain his status as a QB1. 

All in all, Barkley, Waller, and Jones all have top 10 upside at their respective positions, and could easily prove worthwhile fantasy investments this season. But at the same time, Cantway is also at risk of this triumvirate vulturing fantasy points away from each other on a team that only finished 18th in total offense last season. 

Flush Factory United: Will Jonathan Taylor Play for the Colts In 2023? 

On the heels of back to back third place finishes, Flush Factory United manager Kenny Turner is hungry to make it over the hump this season and secure his place among the Pigskin Premier League champions. Turner’s draft featured a receiver-heavy approach, as the Dallas blonde secured the services of Jamarr Chase, Chris Olave, Deandre Hopkins, and Diontae Johnson with premium draft capital. 

However, the make or break question for Turner’s club focuses instead on the running back position, namely Colts star Jonathan Taylor, who Turner selected in the third round of the draft. 

Taylor’s talent is unquestioned, as the former Wisconsin Badger is only a year removed from recording an absurd 1,811 rushing yards to go along with 18 touchdowns, which he compiled in a relatively poor Colts offense. 

However, a lot can happen in one year’s time, as offensive line woes and an ankle injury saw Taylor sputter to an RB33 finish last season after being drafted as the consensus number one pick across most leagues. While Taylor seems to have fully recovered from his injury, he has yet to practice with the Colts this offseason in hopes of securing a new long term contract or trade from the franchise. Despite head coach Shane Steichen’s recent optimism that Taylor will return to camp sooner rather than later, Taylor himself has yet to confirm that he will be suiting up for Indianapolis anytime soon. 

If Taylor does play for the Colts this year and regains his otherworldly 2021 form, Turner may have the steal of the draft on his hands. Yet without a new deal, it remains to be seen whether Taylor will commit himself to play with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson this season or if he will continue to holdout in hopes that a better opportunity presents itself. 

Pop Lockett Drop It: Can Deshaun Watson Shake Off a Rusty 2022 Campaign?

As the dust of the 2023 PPL draft settles, it once again appears that Pop Lockett Drop It manager Tosa Nehikhuere is one step ahead of his league mates with ESPN projecting his team to repeat as champions this season. The reigning champion wasted little time in stacking his roster with talented pass catchers, including Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, and Mark Andrews, with Aaron Jones and Isaiah Pacheco manning the starting running back spots. 

With such a solid supporting cast in place, the biggest question surrounding Nehikhuere’s roster falls squarely on its most controversial player, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. 

Watson began the 2022 season by serving an 11 game suspension pursuant to the league’s investigation into allegations of sexual assault. Upon returning from suspension after the team’s week 12 bye, Watson looked every bit like a player who hadn’t taken the field since 2020, posting a dismal 79.1 passer rating while throwing 5 interceptions to just 7 touchdowns. 

There is room for optimism with Watson’s fantasy outlook however, as the former Texan rattled off three conservative top 5 finishes prior to missing the 2021 season. With a full offseason to participate in team activities and build chemistry with new receivers Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman, Watson could be set up for a big rebound this season. 

If Watson is able to shake off the rust he played through last season and return to his status as a top 5 fantasy quarterback, it is difficult to see anyone slowing down the freight train that is Pop Lockett Drop It. But the risk that Watson just can’t pull it together is certainly there, and if so Nehikhuere’s unit might be reduced to playing the weekly streaming game at the league’s most important position. 

King’s Landing United: Is Jahan Dotson a Legitimate WR2?

Now the man who claimed the first overall selection in the 2023 PPL draft, King’s Landing United manager Jake Sawyer. Sawyer’s first few picks surprised virtually no one, as he grabbed superstar talent Justin Jefferson with the first overall selection, and followed up by adding Bengals running back Joe Mixon (a perennial stalwart on Sawyer’s rosters) and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts at the 2-3 turn. 

While Sawyer’s draft began with a well rounded, balanced approach, his selections of James Connor, Rachaad White, and Kyle Pitts left his WR2 roster spot open until the 73rd overall pick in the draft, which the veteran gaffer used to select Washington Commanders second-year receiver Jahan Dotson. Granted, when Justin Jefferson is your WR1, you can get away with slightly less production out of your WR2 position most weeks. But, if Sawyer intends to establish himself among the top teams in the league this season, he’ll need a dependable solution opposite “JJ.” 

The name of the game for Dotson in 2022 was simply staying healthy. When fit and firing, Dotson reeled in an impressive 7 touchdown catches in just 12 full games, and scored in double figures in 6 matches. However, Dotson missed 5 games in his rookie season, which drove his value down significantly in rankings across a number of leagues this season. 

On top of health concerns, Dotson will likely be catching passes from fellow second-year pro Sam Howell, a totally unproven commodity in the NFL. Further, he remains entrenched as the No. 2 pass catching option behind Terry McLaurin, on an offense that wants to emphasize the run game more in 2023. 

Overall, Dotson possesses a rare blend of refined route running and raw talent to beat opposing defenses in a variety of ways down the field, and if he can get on the same page with Howell, he could certainly provide Sawyer with a reliable second target. However, health concerns, as well as issues with the quality and volume of his targets may hold him back from the type of production playoff rosters require.