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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
