X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

2023 Fantasy Football Burning Questions: Wide Receivers

Tyler Lockett - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Who will make or break your 2023 fantasy football season at wide receiver? Scott Engel has the top plays, biggest risks and sleepers that are generating the most preseason buzz.

For many fantasy football players, the season never ends. All throughout the offseason and preseason, they spend so much time considering the outlooks of possible difference-making players for the upcoming year.

So it’s never too early to tackle the biggest questions at each position in advance of the 2023 campaign. I am providing answers and analysis in a series that covers quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends.

The first installment was at quarterback. In this edition, we take a look at some hot wide receiver topics that can shape your draft strategies and player evaluations for the 2023 season.

Editor's Note: Discover RotoBaller’s top Fantasy Football Sleepers to gain an edge in your drafts. Our free who to draft tool and expert picks spotlight undervalued players, breakout candidates, and late-round gems for all league formats.

 

Burning Questions and Answers: Wide Receivers

Question: Who will be Seattle’s No. 2 wide receiver this season?

Answer: Those who anticipate that Jaxon Smith-Njigba will surpass Tyler Lockett on the actual Seattle depth chart are misfiring on their projected outlooks. Yes, Smith-Njigba was drafted in the first round by the Seahawks and Lockett will be 31 years old this season. But the rookie was drafted to fill an immediate need as a third WR for Seattle, and 31 is not the major decline age for the position.

Smith-Njigba is talented enough to potentially approach Lockett’s production as his ceiling, marking both players as possible fantasy WR3 types. But he will not quickly and surely overtake Lockett right away as the team’s clear second WR this year.

The returning veteran has not shown any signs of a possible significant falloff yet and even though he and DK Metcalf’s production will take a hit because of the rookie, Smith-Njigba is ticketed to be the Seahawks’ third WR in 2023. So the answer is, Lockett in real life, and possibly by a slight margin in fantasy football.

Question: Who Is the Baltimore WR to draft?

Answer: Odell Beckham Jr. will still command a lot of defensive respect, and he is worthy of a later dart throw as a fantasy WR5. Rashod Bateman is recovering from foot surgery, but he could turn out to be very reliable for Lamar Jackson when he is back in full form.

Zay Flowers is my favorite potential upside play of the three and he can quickly emerge as a top option for Jackson, so I will draft him as an intriguing fantasy WR4 over Bateman, whom I might prefer if there were no lingering concerns.

Question: What Carolina WRs will you be targeting?

Answer: DJ Chark and Adam Thielen are the top two projected starters right now, but I won’t be investing in either one fantasy-wise. Chark is a durability risk who is living off one good season in 2019, and Thielen should not be expected to produce much statistically at this point of his career. I will take late fliers on Terrace Marshall and rookie Jonathan Mingo.

It’s now or never for Marshall to start showing more in his third season. Mingo and Bryce Young may be a comfortable connection for a long time beginning this year, so I will lean to him over Marshall. Both Marshall and Mingo are fine later picks, but I see the former Ole Miss guy becoming a more reliable target for Young, as soon as this season.

Question: How are you valuing the Cleveland WRs?

Answer: I am expecting Deshaun Watson to recapture a good chunk of his better form, now in his second season with the Browns and having no interruption heading into the regular season after a full preseason. Amari Cooper had 1,160 yards and nine TDs last season, and he was not healthy for the full 2022 campaign, so he is a definite higher-end fantasy WR2 target for me.

A change of scenery can reinvigorate the outlook of Elijah Moore, who will at least be an upside streamer as a fantasy WR4.

Question: What veteran WR may be most undervalued among the projected non-fantasy-starter types?

Answer: Working with Dak Prescott, Brandin Cooks will be in his best situation in six years. He capably fills the hole at the No. 2 WR spot that Dallas was dealing with. I will be drafting Cooks as a WR4 but with certain WR3 expectations.

Question: What are your expectations for Calvin Ridley in his return to the NFL this season?

Answer: After a missed season, a slow start from Ridley in 2023 can be expected. He has likely kept himself in the best shape possible, but getting back into a rhythm at regular game speed with a new team might lead to some disappointing weeks early on.

Trevor Lawrence has trusted returning targets and Ridley doesn’t have to play at a frequent star level right away for the team to win games. The ex-Falcon can potentially surge later in the season, but I don’t see him regaining fantasy WR1 status this year.

Question: Will we see a true breakthrough season from Kadarius Toney?

Answer: We all know it’s not a question of talent with Toney, it’s about availability. Kansas City did not make any other moves of major significance in the offseason to present Toney with a challenge for the No. 1 WR role.

The ex-Giant is a very tempting risk/reward pick, as he could at least emerge as a regular fantasy WR2 this season if he doesn’t miss extensive time. It will also be interesting to see if Skyy Moore or rookie Rashee Rice can make their presence felt in the Chiefs’ passing game. Both are viable late-round fliers.

Question: Who is your favorite sleeper rookie WR?

Answer: Preseason reports have already indicated that the Giants’ Jalin Hyatt is facing an uphill battle to climb the depth chart. But pre-NFL Draft scouting reports compared him to DeSean Jackson, and there is not much notable competition in New York for a receiver of Wyatt’s talents.

Maybe he starts to become a true playmaking threat after a few weeks, but the Giants don’t have any other upside types in the WR room that can offer the promise of Hyatt, and that includes Parris Campbell. The third-round rookie is a needed missing piece in the New York passing game, as offensive coordinator Mike Kafka tries to incorporate more big plays.

Question: Which Jets WR other than Garrett Wilson will be the most productive?

Answer: The Jets lack a true No. 2 WR on their roster. Allen Lazard is a good blocker and a decent NFL No. 3 WR. Corey Davis doesn’t offer enough on the field in terms of consistent contributions. The wild card here can be Mecole Hardman.

The ex-Chief could see more opportunities to open up his game after he felt restricted as a gadget type in Kansas City. But Hardman did not take advantage of playing with Patrick Mahomes, so he should be readily available as a later-round pick. The speediest WR of the trio is my preferred draft target of the Jets’ wideouts outside of Wilson.

Question: Will Treylon Burks bust out in his second season?

Answer: The Titans identified Burks as their immediate replacement for A.J. Brown last year. That was a miscalculation in year one, but Burks is still ready to be the Titans’ clear No. 1 WR heading into 2023. He’s not going to have much competition for prime targets and Burks has a lot of promise for volume no matter who plays QB for the Titans.

The 23-year-old has a strong fantasy WR3 floor for this season, with the potential for higher-end fantasy WR2 production.

Scott Engel's fantasy and betting analysis is also featured at The Game Day.

 



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brice Matthews

Joining Astros
MLB

White Sox-Guardians Postponed on Thursday
Brandon Aiyuk

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1
Jameson Williams

Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Micah Parsons

Plans to be Present for Start of Training Camp
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Ikem Ekwonu

Next Up for Extension in Carolina?
Jalen Thompson

Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Najee Harris

Suffers Eye Injury in Fireworks Mishap
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF