Can we believe that it is 2024 already? Happy New Year to one and all! For the most part, the 2023 fantasy football season is in the books. Some leagues are playing into the final week, but those are in the minority. Congratulations to all the fantasy football champions out there! Certainly, it was a fantasy season to remember, with several surprising and disappointing adventures along the way. Before the season falls completely into the rearview mirror, this fantasy football 2023 review will take a look back.

I will give out awards for the fantasy MVP, most disappointing player, best waiver addition and most improved player. Certainly, there will be tons of competition in each category, but only one player will be declared the winner. As throughout this entire season, discussion and debate are highly encouraged. Do you agree or disagree with the selections? Let’s talk about it!

Most Valuable Fantasy Player

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Without question, a lot of fantasy managers have been reluctant to draft Christian McCaffrey the past two years. There was good reason for that after CMC played in just ten games in 2020 and 2021. However, that notion needs to be buried in cement and completely forgotten because he’s played in 32 games the past two seasons. Quite assuredly, that is the case after what he’s accomplished this year.

All CMC has done in 2023 is, first and foremost, he played in 16 games. He won’t play in the final game against the Rams. However, now that the fantasy season is complete, that’s completely irrelevant. What he accomplished in those 16 games is, quite frankly, amazing. CMC put together seven games with 100+ yards rushing. He had ten games with 4.7 YPR or better. Best of all, he had 14 rushing touchdowns.

As good as that sounds, it’s not the end of the story, not by a long shot. CMC also had eight games with at least five receptions. He found the endzone via the pass seven times. All together, that is 21 TDs. That total ties Raheem Mostert for the league lead. That’s great for Mostert, but CMC outscored him in PPR points per game 24.5 to 17.8. That points total was the highest in the league, topping QBs and every other player. With that in mind, CMC gets the nod for this season’s fantasy MVP.

Most Disappointing Fantasy Player

Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Boy, oh boy, there were a lot of players to consider here. Before I get into my selection, let me point out that by disappointing, I don’t mean from a player that was injured. Injuries are part of the game and a player can’t help if he gets hurt. No, for this award (such that it is), a player must have appeared in at least 12 games. Of course, that still leaves a lot of ground to cover. There were a certain tight end and quarterback in Kansas City to be considered, among others.

Even so, to be perfectly, blunt, I didn’t have to search for the answer for long. Austin Ekeler was a top five selection in almost every draft, regardless of format, this past summer. At a minimum, he was in the top ten. Those managers unlucky enough to draft him received the following: 169 carries for 617 yards and five TDs. For those scoring at home, Ekeler finished with a sorry 3.7 YPC.

Even worse, Ekeler disappeared from the passing game as well. For the season, he caught just 44 passes for 398 yards and a single TD. In 2023’s first game, Ekeler rushed for 117 yards with a TD. He then missed three games with an injury. When he returned, he was never the same.

How’s this for a measuring stick? Ekeler finished the 2023 season ranked as the 25th best fantasy running back. Not player, running back. For that reason alone, Ekeler is the clear winner of the most disappointing player on this fantasy football 2024 review edition.

Best Waiver Pickup and Top Fantasy Rookie

Essentially, this comes down to the quarterback or the wide receiver. On the field, of course, the QB takes precedence. In fantasy, I am taking the wide receiver. More managers were set at QB in fantasy for the most part until an injury occurred. In the case of Puka Nacua, he burst on the scene like a supernova right out of the gate and his star rarely faded. In the Rams’ first game, Nacua caught ten passes for 119 yards against Seattle. In the next game against San Francisco (no slouch on defense), he caught 15 balls for 147 yards. Not a bad entrance into the NFL, no?

He slowed down a bit midseason, but that was due more to ragged quarterback play. Down the stretch, however, he regained his footing. Nacua caught at least five passes in each of his last four games. In 2023, Nacua finished the fantasy season with 101 catches for 1445 yards and five TDs.

Obviously, after his game one performance, many in the fantasy community jumped quickly to claim Nacua. Those that did so were rewarded with a player ranked as the 12th best in all of fantasy, one place ahead of Patrick Mahomes. As for C.J. Stroud? He finished 26th. For no other reason, that seals the deal. For certain, Nacua is the waiver pickup of the year and the top fantasy rookie in 2023.

Most Improved Fantasy Player From Game One to Season’s End

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

With the exception of the second game against the Jets, CeeDee Lamb didn’t exactly start the season on fire. Through five games, four was the number for Lamb. He had exactly four catches in four of the games. Lamb also didn’t find the endzone often, with only one TD in the first six contests.

After the Cowboys’ bye week, however, no player busted out like Lamb. In week eight, he caught 12 of 14 targets for 158 yards and two TDs against the Rams. He had double digits in catches in three straight games. In Dallas last ten games, Lamb hit paydirt eight times.

Certainly, his output against Detroit this past Saturday was something fans will tell their grandchildren about. In that game, Lamb was targeted an unbelievable 17 times, resulting in 13 catches. His receiving yardage was also mind boggling: 227 yards. Of course, he also hit paydirt with a touchdown. For the season, he had ten or more targets nine times, including the last five.

In the end, Lamb caught 122 passes for 1,651 yards and ten TDs. That wasn’t all, though. He also had two touchdowns rushing. Still not convinced? Let me finish this portion of the fantasy football 2024 review with the following: Lamb finished as the third best player in fantasy. Trust me, he wasn’t anywhere near that after the first game. Clearly, he earned the honor.

The last Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy football 2023 review edition! As stated at the beginning, everyone have a wonderful New Year. Thanks for a great ride through this wondrous, just completed fantasy season. I’m already looking forward to next year. If there are any comments or complaints, please let me hear them!

Follow me on Twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news!