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The 2023 fantasy football season is almost here. While the preseason is entertaining after going seven months without NFL-caliber football, there is something more important happening over the next few weeks – fantasy football drafts.
There are several draft strategies fantasy players can use to win their fantasy football league. However, fantasy players always want to leave the draft with the guys on their must-have list. Every fantasy player wants to grab their guys, whether it’s a high-priced quarterback, a mid-round running back, or a sleeper tight end.
Below are eight wide receivers on my must-have list this season. Obviously, I won’t draft all eight in the same league, but I want as many shares of these wide receivers as possible this year. The ADP used in this article is via RotoBaller.
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Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
ADP 8.65 | WR4
Last year Los Angeles’ had significant issues on offense. However, that didn’t stop Kupp from being a fantasy superstar. The veteran was the WR1 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 18.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per matchup. Furthermore, he averaged 20.3 fantasy points per game over the first eight contests last season.
Unfortunately, Kupp missed the final eight games with a high ankle sprain. Yet, the superstar still ended the year as the WR24 despite missing half the season. More importantly, the superstar has been arguably the most consistent wide receiver over the past two years.
Kupp scored 12.7 or more fantasy points in all but one contest over the past two years, removing the matchup he got hurt. Don’t pass on the superstar if you have a top-five pick.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
ADP 15.92 | WR8
St. Brown has been one of the top wide receivers in the NFL since the Lions drafted him in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He ended his rookie season on fire. The former USC star was the WR2 over the final six weeks that year, averaging 20.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
More importantly, St. Brown kept his elite production going in 2022. He was the WR8 last year, averaging 13.4 fantasy points per contest.
St. Brown star had 76 more targets than any other Lion last season. Furthermore, he finished sixth in the NFL in receptions (106) and ninth in targets (146). Yet, St. Brown could be even better this year.
Despite a lack of receiving threats, Detroit didn’t add a significant wide receiver during the offseason. Furthermore, Jameson Williams will miss the first six games this season because of a suspension. St. Brown has a strong connection with Jared Goff. Expect it to be even more dangerous this year.
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
ADP 26.41 | WR12
Last year’s draft class had several talented wide receivers. While Garrett Wilson has gotten most of the attention, don’t forget about Olave. The former Ohio State star was the WR25 last season, averaging 10.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He joined Wilson as the only two rookie wide receivers with over 1,000 receiving yards in 2022. More importantly, the Saints upgraded his quarterback in the offseason.
After catching passes from Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton last year, Olave will now get to play with Derek Carr. Meanwhile, New Orleans did very little to improve the wide receiver core. Unfortunately, that isn’t ideal, given Michael Thomas’ injury history.
The veteran wide receiver has played only 20% of the matchups over the past three years. Olave is prime for a sophomore-year breakout regardless of Thomas’ health.
Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
ADP 39.05 | WR16
Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game. Last year Allen missed seven games with a nagging hamstring injury. However, the veteran was the WR11 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 13.1 fantasy points per matchup.
Furthermore, last season was the sixth consecutive year the star wide receiver averaged over 12.7 fantasy points per game. More importantly, the veteran was a fantasy superstar once he recovered from the hamstring injury.
Allen played in two games over the final 10 weeks of the 2022 season. Yet, he was outstanding once the hamstring injury was behind him. Starting in Week 11, the superstar was the WR4 for the rest of the season, averaging 15 fantasy points per game.
The veteran would have been the WR6 over a 17-game pace with that fantasy points per game average. Even at 31 years old, Allen still plays like an elite wide receiver.
DJ Moore, Chicago Bears
ADP 53.47 | WR22
The veteran wide receiver is a popular breakout candidate this season. Moore has spent his entire NFL career playing with sub-par quarterbacks. Thankfully that changes this year with Justin Fields.
The former Ohio State star had some struggles throwing the ball last season. However, he was eighth in air yards per attempt (8.9), seventh in red zone completion percentage (62.2%), fourth in red zone accuracy rating (7.4), and 16th in deep ball accuracy rating (5.9).
More importantly, Moore has been a consistent fantasy No. 2 wide receiver since his rookie year. The former Maryland star has totaled at least 1,150 receiving yards or seven touchdowns in four consecutive seasons. Last year the fantasy football world saw Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown have career performances in their first season together. Expect Fields and Moore to have similar success this season.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
ADP 69.13 | WR28
Fantasy players who drafted Johnson last year might be scared to pick the star wide receiver again in 2023. However, last season’s struggles were a fluke. The former Toledo star had the seventh-most targets in the NFL (147) but scored zero touchdowns.
By comparison, Dyami Brown scored two touchdowns on only 14 targets. More importantly, Johnson’s targets per game dropped by only 1.3 last year compared to the year before despite the arrival of George Pickens.
Thankfully, the veteran wide receiver won’t have zero touchdowns again this season. Had Johnson scored six touchdowns (his career average was 6.7 per season before last season), Johnson would have been the WR20 last year.
The former Toledo star might have struggled to find the end zone, but he was a go-to target inside the red zone. Johnson had 18 red zone targets last season, finishing 10th among wide receivers. Fantasy players should bet on a bounce-back year from the veteran.
Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns
ADP 102.92 | WR43
The entire fantasy football world had high expectations for Moore last season. The former Ole Miss star was the WR2, averaging 17.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over his final five games as a rookie. Unfortunately, last year was a disaster for the wide receivers and anyone who spent a significant draft pick on Moore. However, fantasy players should be all-in on the former Ole Miss star again this season.
Moore got traded to the Browns in the offseason and immediately started to click with Deshaun Watson. He took advantage of Amari Cooper’s absence during offseason workouts and has become a go-to target for the star quarterback. Furthermore, the team plans to use the 23-year-old in multiple ways this season, including out of the backfield. Moore is my favorite post-hype sleeper for 2023.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
ADP 131.2 | WR54
After three years with the franchise, the Texans traded Brandin Cooks to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, creating a wide-open competition to replace him as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver. While many are excited about Tank Dell, Collins should be the Houston wide receiver fantasy players target in their draft.
Last season the former Michigan star was the WR78, averaging 7.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game after missing seven contests because of injuries.
However, he was the WR48 on a points-per-game basis, averaging only 0.5 fewer fantasy points per game than Drake London. More importantly, Collins got a significant quarterback upgrade this offseason, going from Davis Mills to C.J. Stroud.
Last year Mills ranked 43rd in catchable pass rate. Yet, the former Michigan star finished second in contested catch rate among wide receivers. Collins is a popular third-year breakout candidate for a good reason.
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