Is Elijah Moore Cleveland's Starting Slot Receiver? Fantasy Football Outlook

Is newly-acquired WR Elijah Moore the Cleveland Browns' starting slot receiver? What does Moore's fantasy football outlook look like in 2023? Read the analysis here.

Former New York Jets second-round pick Elijah Moore was traded to the Cleveland Browns this offseason, so his fantasy outlook is a topic of discussion as early 2023 fantasy drafts are in full swing.

Moore was two picks away from being a first-round selection after posting 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season at Ole Miss. He also showed promise as a rookie before his sophomore campaign went south.

Is Moore the starting slot receiver for Cleveland – and what is his fantasy outlook in 2023? Let's dive in.

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Elijah Moore 2022 Season Review

In 16 games (nine starts) for the Jets, Moore posted just 37 receptions on 65 targets for 446 yards and one touchdown. As a rookie, he posted 43 receptions on 77 targets for 538 yards and five touchdowns in only 11 games.

Needless to say, his regression was far from predictable Moore reportedly grew frustrated with former Jets' offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur – which led to his eventual trade request in the middle of the 2022 season. The Jets refused to trade him at the deadline, but on March 22, 2023 – he and a second-round pick were dealt to Cleveland for a third-round pick.

Now, he's set to join an offense with Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and David Njoku.

Is Elijah Moore Cleveland's Starting Slot Receiver?

Since Cleveland moved a second-round pick to acquire Moore, he'll be expected to start alongside Peoples-Jones and Cooper. While Cooper lined up in the slot 146 times last season, he plays all over the field, so Moore will likely have the primary slot role. This isn't good news for 2022 third-round pick David Bell, but it should be a solid value boost for Moore.

With Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White last season, Moore ranked 98th among wideouts in catchable target rate. If Watson can knock off the rust from missing a full season and a half, it's hard to do much worse than Wilson, Flacco, and White. While Moore likely won't command elite volume in Cleveland's offense, his efficiency could see a spike and the Cleveland offense should provide more touchdown upside.

While Moore's down season can't be ignored and we can't predict a top-24 season, he could have solid PPR flex appeal as a WR3 or WR4.

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