Updated Fantasy Football WR PPR Rankings 2023: Best wide receivers, top sleepers & breakouts in fantasy drafts

Nick Musial

Updated Fantasy Football WR PPR Rankings 2023: Best wide receivers, top sleepers & breakouts in fantasy drafts image

The top of our 2023 fantasy WR PPR rankings features the game’s most dynamic pass catchers best poised for uber-productive seasons. This year’s top-tier wide receivers remain safe early-round selections in both standard and PPR formats, but given how deep the WR position is on an annual basis, there’s value to be found all across our list and in the later rounds of fantasy football drafts. As always, there’s a litany of sleepers and breakouts with the potential to outperform their ADPs, so don’t assume a player won’t have a successful season just because they’re sitting in the 50s or higher.

We have plenty of time to discuss this year’s crop of sleepers, but let’s start at the top. Following a historic 2022 that saw him become the youngest player in NFL history to lead the league in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809), it’s only fitting that Justin Jefferson owns the top spot in our initial rankings. While there isn’t a huge deviation between the season-long projections of Jefferson and our No. 2 wideout, Ja’Marr Chase, we give a slight edge to Jefferson.

That’s not to discourage how polished of a route runner and playmaker Chase is, as the third-year Bengal is in line to post his first 1,500-yard campaign after ending his first two seasons in the top five of WRs in fantasy points per game. What makes Jefferson, Chase, and the rest of our top five so attractive in PPR formats is their reliable target share. Each of our top five WRs ended 2022 within the top seven of all wideouts in target share. These stud WRs garnered at least a 29.25-percent target share. Perhaps just as notable is that Davante Adams (32.6 percent) and Tyreek Hill (31.59 percent) ranked first and second, respectively, in target share last season despite changing teams and dealing with some QB issues throughout the season.

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2023 Fantasy Cheat Sheet

A general rule of thumb that’s more a bit effective for those in PPR leagues is drafting wide receivers that command a respectable target share in more pass-friendly offenses. Last season the top 50 wideouts ranked by target share all possessed at least a 16.84-percent target share or greater, so focusing on those wideouts during your drafts is a smart move.

2023 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP

Of course, it’s also crucial to understand which receivers could see significant fluctuations in their target shares this season, as it’s important to factor in whether the player sees a QB upgrade/downgrade, the players’ pecking order in his offense, and his teams’ projected success in 2023.

2023 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP

Wideouts who could be in line for solid PPR seasons due to an improved QB situation include D.J. Moore, Brandin Cooks, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman, Rashid Shaheed and Michael Thomas, and Elijah Moore. Although Justin Fields is always a threat to escape the pocket and potentially take away red-zone work from his cast of wideouts, Moore has a real shot to post the most complete fantasy season of his career. Cooks isn’t his team’s No. 1 WR anymore, but being a vertical threat in the Cowboys' offense while running routes alongside CeeDee Lamb could make him a valuable pick at his current ADP. In what’s likely a more pass-heavy offensive scheme under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken in Baltimore, Beckham Jr. and Bateman return to fantasy relevancy on an AFC North contender.

2023 AUCTION VALUES (Standard & PPR):
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Overall

Rashid Shaheed might be a bit more intriguing in standard formats, but either way, the second-year wideout is higher on the Saints' pecking order and has a better deep-ball QB in Derek Carr relative to Andy Dalton in ‘22. That should also help Thomas, though injuries are a bigger factor for him. While some may have concerns about Browns’ QB Deshaun Watson after last year’s disappointing return, he’s still a step up from last year’s Jets’ disaster, which could lead to a breakout from Moore.

2023 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Each Team

Wide receivers who figure to be higher in their team’s pecking order this season include George Pickens, Kadarius Toney, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and DJ Chark/Adam Thielen. Pickens started gaining steam toward the back half of ‘22 once Kenny Pickett got more comfortable and will likely end ‘23 with a higher pass snap share than his 76.5-percent snap share last season.

2023 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST

Now that Toney has a full offseason to continue building a rapport with Patrick Mahomes, the former first-round pick is currently slotted in as the team’s WR1 and No. 2 passing option in Kansas City’s high-powered offense. Smith-Schuster and Chark/Thielen are donning new threads, but a change in scenery could result in more effective ‘23 campaigns, though the latter duo will be competing for targets in Carolina.

FANTASY DRAFT STRATEGY:
Snake | Auction | Best ball | Dynasty | IDP

Lastly, some lower-tiered WRs on teams projected to compete for their respective divisional title with respectable regular-season over/under win totals include Jameson Williams (after serving his six-game suspension), Tyler Boyd, Skyy Moore, Khalil Shakir/Trent Sherfield, and Mecole Hardman. These wideouts certainly aren’t their team’s No. 1 receiving options but are on offenses that will likely finish within the top half of the league in points per game, making them intriguing flex options in the later rounds.

Wide receiver remains fantasy’s most complete position top-to-bottom, so it’s still possible to build a championship-caliber roster if you aren’t able to draft one of the top-tier wideouts. As long as you continue to collect high-upside options and look for values throughout your draft, you should be able to field a solid receiving corps all season long.

We'll be adjusting these WR PPR rankings and providing further analysis from now until Week 1, so check back for updates.

Fantasy Football WR PPR Rankings 2023: Best wide receivers, top sleepers

Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring

Rank    Player
1    Justin Jefferson, Vikings
2    Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals
3    Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
4    Davante Adams, Raiders
5    Cooper Kupp, Rams
6    CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys
7    Stefon Diggs, Bills
8    Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
9    A.J. Brown, Eagles
10    Garrett Wilson, Jets
11    Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins
12    Chris Olave, Saints
13    DeAndre Hopkins, Titans
14    DeVonta Smith, Eagles
15    Keenan Allen, Chargers
16    Amari Cooper, Browns
17    Tee Higgins, Bengals
18    Terry McLaurin, Commanders
19    Calvin Ridley, Jaguars
20    DK Metcalf, Seahawks
21    Deebo Samuel, 49ers
22    Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
23    Mike Evans, Buccaneers
24    Drake London, Falcons
25    Mike Williams, Chargers
26    D.J. Moore, Bears
27    Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers
28    Christian Kirk, Jaguars
29    Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
30    Michael Pittman Jr., Colts
31    Diontae Johnson, Steelers
32    Christian Watson, Packers
33    George Pickens, Steelers
34    Marquise Brown, Cardinals
35    Gabe Davis, Bills
36    Jerry Jeudy, Broncos
37    Brandin Cooks, Cowboys
38    JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots
39    Courtland Sutton, Broncos
40    Jordan Addison, Vikings
41    Jahan Dotson, Commanders
42    Kadarius Toney, Chiefs
43    Jakobi Meyers, Raiders
44    Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
45    Rashod Bateman, Ravens
46    Michael Thomas, Saints
47    Nico Collins, Texans
48    Zay Jones, Jaguars
49    Elijah Moore, Browns
50    Treylon Burks, Titans
51    Allan Lazard, Jets
52    Rondale Moore, Cardinals
53    Quentin Johnston, Chargers
54    Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs
55    Jameson Williams, Lions
56    Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens
57    Zay Flowers, Ravens
58    DJ Chark, Panthers
59    Tyler Boyd, Bengals
60    Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns
61    Marvin Mims Jr., Broncos
62    Skyy Moore, Chiefs
63    Curtis Samuel, Commanders
64    Michael Gallup, Cowboys
65    Hunter Renfrow, Raiders
66    Isaiah Hodgins, Giants
67    Khalil Shakir, Bills
68    Marvin Jones Jr., Lions
69    Adam Thielen, Panthers
70    Joshua Palmer, Chargers
71    Van Jefferson, Rams
72    Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants
73    Rashid Shaheed, Saints
74    Alec Pierce, Colts
75    Romeo Doubs, Packers
76    K.J. Osborn, Vikings
77    Allen Robinson II, Steelers
78    Tank Dell, Texans
79    Rashee Rice, Chiefs
80    John Metchie III, Texans
81    Darnell Mooney, Bears
82    Robert Woods, Texans
83    Mack Hollins, Falcons
84    DeVante Parker, Patriots
85    Darius Slayton, Giants
86    Greg Dortch, Cardinals
87    Isaiah McKenzie, Colts
88    Josh Downs, Colts
89    Russell Gage, Buccaneers
90    Trent Sherfield, Bills
91    Chase Claypool, Bears
92    Mecole Hardman, Jets
93    Jonathan Mingo, Panthers
94    Tyquan Thornton, Patriots
95    Cedric Tillman, Browns
96    Charlie Jones, Bengals
97    Puka Nacua, Rams
98    Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers
99    Jalin Hyatt, Giants
100    Parris Campbell, Giants

Nick Musial

Nick Musial Photo

Nick Musial is a Content Producer at The Sporting News. He recently joined the team after studying sport management and journalism at the University of Kansas. Nick’s an avid sports bettor who’s always looking for value.