DeAndre Hopkins has gotten plenty of fantasy buzz in 2023 as the Titans' latest addition at wide receiver, and Chigoziem Okonkwo is getting second-year love as a sleeper tight end. Does that mean fantasy football owners are sleeping on Treylon Burks, who goes into his second season after being drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft? Burks is currently ranked as WR41 and 93rd overall in fantasy, and his average draft position (ADP) is even lower at WR42 and 101st overall.
Beyond the presence of Hopkins and Okonkwo on a low-volume low-upside passing game, the lukewarm feelings toward Burks also are tied to him suffering a left knee injury on Aug. 16.
Should that keep you from drafting Burks? Here's breaking down his updated fantasy value.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2023 Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Treylon Burks injury update: How long will Titans' WR be out?
Burks returned to practice on Aug. 28, which gives him plenty of time to prepare for Week 1.
The receiver originally avoided a major setback that would have threatened his availability for an entire season. He suffered a sprained LCL, a minor ligament issue that kept him out for a few weeks. Given the timetable, he should be ready to play in the Week 1 opener vs. the Saints on Sept. 10, but it's possible he doesn't return until Week 2 or 3, depending on how cautious the Titans are with him.
2023 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP
Treylon Burks' 2023 fantasy ranking and ADP
Burks is the WR 41/42 and 93/101 in half-point PPR rankings, making him a targeted seventh-round pick overall in drafts. He has gone down boards since the Titans signed Hopkins on July 24.
Hopkins is going around WR24 and Okonkwo is being taken at TE12. In 12-team leagues, that makes Hopkins the last WR2 and Okonkwo the last TE1.
But Hopkins turned 31 in June and Okonkwo is still a raw young player. Last season as a rookie, Burks caught 33 balls on 54 targets for 444 yards and a TD in just 11 games and six starts. He was hampered by turf toe early in the season that affected his availability.
2023 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP
Treylon Burks' fantasy outlook 2023
Burks has loads of talent and was drafted to replace A.J. Brown with the pick acquired during the Brown trade. At 6-2, 225 pounds with good quickness for his size, Burks can make some big plays after the catch and also be a force in the red zone.
Believing Hopkins can still be the Hopkins he was in Houston and Arizona as a younger player is a leap of faith. Okonkwo and Burks represent the youth movement of the offense, which also includes running back Tyjae Spears and quarterback Will Levis.
Ryan Tannehill is starting out of the gate again, but it will be interesting to see what would make the Titans transition to Levis as a rookie. The Titans were a 51-percent passing team last season and have 199 vacated targets. Robert Woods and Austin Hooper, who led the team, combined for 151 of those.
Hopkins, Burks, and Okonkwo will be battling for those looks, with the latter building some on 46 targets from last season. The Titans' passing game doesn't have a ton of appeal for fantasy, which means you should go after the lowest-ranked player of the three with the most relative upside to his ADP.
2023 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Each Team
Target Burks, but Round 7 is way too early. He should be going in Round 10 or later.
