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Five fantasy football wide receiver values and sleepers to target in the middle rounds of 2023 drafts. Can these wide receivers surpass their ADP expectations?
The middle of the fantasy draft is essential, and managers want to draft high-upside players that can provide a great return on value. Fantasy managers can afford to take some risks on a variety of different players, including forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even skilled players with potential playing time concerns.
In this article, we take a look at some mid-round wide receivers for you to consider drafting this season. Our editors have hand-picked these specific NFL players for your draft prep enjoyment. Normally only available to Premium subscribers, the outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2023 Draft Kit.
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Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers, Fantasy Football Outlook
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk avoided injuries throughout the 2022 regular season and finished 12th among all wide receivers in offensive snaps (950). Aiyuk capitalized by establishing career highs in targets (114/6.7 per game), receptions (78/4.6 per game), and touchdowns (8). He also exceeded 1,000 yards for the first time in his career (1,015/59.7 per game) and finished 15th overall with an average of 11.1 points per game.
The 49ers exercised the fifth-year option on Aiyuk's contract, and he possesses sufficient talent to sustain his ongoing role within the team's passing attack. His ability to deliver sizable production on a consistent basis will remain encumbered by the presence of Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey. Samuel could not replicate his 2021 statistical eruption last season, as his numbers declined in multiple categories – including a drop of eight points per game in scoring (18.8/10.8).
However, Samuel's unique versatility will compel Kyle Shanahan to deploy him as a multi-purpose resource. McCaffrey led all running backs in target share (22.3%) and receiving yards (440/44 per game) from Weeks 8-18, while Kittle finished second among all tight ends in receiving yards (583/53 per game) and led his position in touchdowns (11) after McCaffrey was infused into San Francisco's attack.
Aiyuk can deliver highly-productive outings during the season but should finish the year as a WR3. That still makes him a viable option at his ADPs in best ball drafts (78/WR33) and dynasty startups (53/WR25).
Marquise Brown, Cardinals, Fantasy Football Outlook
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown will enter his second season with the team after catching 67 passes for 709 yards and three touchdowns in his first year in Arizona. He averaged 13 fantasy points per game in PPR formats in 2022, but the situation in Arizona isn't ideal for Brown this upcoming season. For starters, Kyler Murray (knee) is "a long way away" in his ACL recovery, which means Colt McCoy or Clayton Tune would be the likely starter to begin the season.
Brown averaged just 6.6 PPR fantasy points in two games with McCoy last season and 7.2 PPR fantasy points in the previous five weeks of the season without Murray. The good news is that the Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins this offseason, meaning Brown is the undisputed WR1 in Arizona.
In that role last season, Brown averaged over 18 PPR fantasy points per game. With a backup quarterback for some of the season, it could be a bumpy beginning of the fantasy year for Brown. But he could be a nice fantasy stash down the line, with Murray expected to return later in the season. RotoBaller ranks him 75th overall and as WR33, but expect that rank to rise with Hopkins now a Tennessee Titan.
Courtland Sutton, Broncos, Fantasy Football Outlook
Since tearing his ACL in the season opener in 2020, Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton just hasn't been the same. Sutton was a Pro Bowler in 2019 when he finished with 72 catches on 124 targets for a career-high 1,112 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. In the last two years combined, he has recorded 122 catches for 1,605 yards and only four TDs in 32 games.
The 27-year-old former second-rounder appears to have lost some speed and separation the last two years, while he and teammate Jerry Jeudy are going in opposite directions heading into 2023. Sutton did lead the Broncos with 109 targets (nine more than Jeudy) last year, but he didn't seem to have much chemistry with quarterback Russell Wilson.
Denver added rookie Marvin Mims as a deep threat but lost Tim Patrick (Achilles) for the season. Sutton's fantasy stock is certainly down heading into his sixth NFL season. However, Sutton has looked quicker this offseason and is coming off a solid first preseason game. He saw a team-high five targets and had gains of 13 and 19 yards on two of his three catches, averaging 11.7 yards per catch. If he's targeted this frequently when the real games start in September, the 27-year-old could bounce back in Sean Payton's offense after he wasn't even playable in fantasy lineups to close out last year. Sutton is locked in as Denver's WR2 and should be targeted as a WR3/4 in fantasy drafts.
George Pickens, Steelers, Fantasy Football Outlook
It's no secret that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens wowed us with some incredible one-handed catches last season. Still, he finished third in targets on the team in 2022 behind Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth with 84. The 22-year-old had a good enough rookie season with 52 receptions for 801 yards and four touchdowns, and we have seen enormous leaps from WRs going from Year 1 to Year 2 in years past, but how much volume/consistency can we reasonably predict for Pickens in 2023?
He is currently going around the WR39 range so that little meat may be left on the bone. Pickens is a prototypical X-WR who lines up on the outside and can make big plays downfield. Diontae Johnson at WR34 feels a much better fantasy value in redraft leagues.
While Johnson might seem like a better value, Pickens has looked impressive in training camp and even hauled in a 33-yard touchdown during his first game of preseason action. If Kenny Pickett can make the second-year leap, Pickens has tremendous upside and could provide great fantasy value at his current NFFC ADP of 77.
Jahan Dotson, Commanders, Fantasy Football Outlook
A protracted hamstring issue sidelined Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson from Weeks 5-9 in 2022. However, he also assembled encouraging results during several sequences of his rookie season and appears primed to reward Washington for selecting him with the 16th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Dotson secured a 93.4% snap share, averaged 5.0 targets/3.5 receptions/49.5 yards per game, and soared to second overall with three touchdowns in Weeks 1-2 before encountering his injury. He later reemerged to lead Washington in targets (35/7.0 per game) and targets per route run (29.9%) from Weeks 13-18, then paced the Commanders in targets (26/6.5 per game), receptions (16/4.0 per game), air yards (382), and yards per route run (2.48), from Weeks 15-18, while vaulting to 12th in receiving yards (290/72.5 per game), and third in receptions of 20+.
Terry McLaurin should lead the Commanders in target share this season, although Dotson will operate as the team's WR2. Second-year signal-caller Sam Howell should spearhead Washington's aerial attack, while the transition from Scott Turner to Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator should be beneficial for Dotson. The convergence of his unquestioned talent and his pathway to targets have positioned him to deliver a breakout season, and he should also outperform his ADPs in best ball leagues (100/WR39) and dynasty startup leagues (70/WR30).
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