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2023 fantasy football WR tiers, from the best (Justin Jefferson) to sleepers (Jameson Williams)

Just when you think there’s no way Justin Jefferson can do better than he did the previous year, he increases his output.

Each of the past two seasons since his rookie year, he’s caught more passes for more yards than the previous year. So, I’m not about to say he can’t do it again after coming just 155 yards short of the single-season record in 2022.

Instead, let’s focus on the next crop of receivers and try to figure out which one has the potential to catch him (Cooper Kupp, who was just 17 yards short of the record in 2021, is a good candidate).

Here’s a look at my wide receiver rankings, from elite players to sleepers and more.

MORE 2023 FANTASY RANKINGS:

Justin Jefferson Tier

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1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Outside of quarterbacks, only Austin Ekeler scored more points than Jefferson in PPR formats last year, which is why Jefferson is a top-three pick in my mock draft this year. There’s a case to take him No. 1 with how important he is to Minnesota’s offense.

Elite Tier

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

2. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

3. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills

4. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

5. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Kupp could easily find himself in the top-two of wideouts this season if he returns to his pre-injury form and Matthew Stafford gets enough time from his offensive line to be effective.

WR1 Tier

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

6. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

8. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

9. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

10. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

11. Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

12. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

13. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

14. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

Adams is better than the seventh-best receiver in the NFL, but that might not be reflected in his fantasy output with a quarterback like Jimmy Garoppolo who isn’t known for pushing the ball down the field.

WR2 Tier

AP Photo/George Walker IV

15. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

16. DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

17. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

18. Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars

19. D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears

20. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

21. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

22. Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens

23. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

24. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

25. Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers

I’m higher on Hopkins’ potential in Tennessee than a lot of other people, who understandably see his upside being limited by Ryan Tannehill and a run-first approach. But the way I see it, those things didn’t stop A.J. Brown from being a 1,000-yard receiver with the Titans.

Flex Tier

26. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

27. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

28. George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers

29. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos

30. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

31. Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys

32. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

33. Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars

34. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

35. Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills

36. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

37. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

38. JuJu Smith-Schuster, New England Patriots

Predicting the breakout people were expecting from Pickens his rookie season, I have him a few spots higher than his teammate, Diontae Johnson. But those two could easily flip spots if Kenny Pickett continues to find the latter more reliable.

Sleepers Tier

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

39. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

40. Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs

41. Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals

42. Isaiah Hodgins, New York Giants

43. Allen Lazard, New York Jets

44. Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens

45. Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders

46. Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns

47. Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers

48. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

49. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

50. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

51. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

The only reason Williams isn’t higher is because of the six-game suspension he’ll be serving for betting on sports from a team facility. But he has the talent to be a huge factor in Detroit’s offense once he returns, and Amon-Ra St. Brown should attract enough attention to give Williams some favorable matchups.

Cross Your Fingers Tier

Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

52. Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals

53. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns

54. Darius Slayton, New York Giants

55. DJ Chark, Carolina Panthers

56. Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs

57. Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers

58. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

59. Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans

60. Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears

61. John Metchie III, Houston Texans

62. Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders

63. Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders

64. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kansas City Chiefs

65. Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders

66. K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings

67. Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers

68. Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars

69. Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams

70. Mack Hollins, Atlanta Falcons

71. Marvin Jones Jr., Detroit Lions

72. Parris Campbell, New York Giants

73. Allen Robinson II, Pittsburgh Steelers

74. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

75. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

76. DeVante Parker, New England Patriots

77. Chase Claypool, Chicago Bears

78. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts

79. Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys

80. Tyquan Thornton, New England Patriots

Peoples-Jones put up a respectable top-40 fantasy season a year ago, but with Elijah Moore joining the Browns, it’s hard to see him cracking 800 yards again without injuries.

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