Fantasy Football WR PPR Rankings Week 1: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver

Nick Musial

Fantasy Football WR PPR Rankings Week 1: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver image

We've finally made it to Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, and our WR PPR rankings are here to help answer any lingering start 'em sit 'em questions ahead of this uncertainty-filled week. When it comes to fantasy football's deepest position, figuring out which fringe WRs are worthy of rounding out your starting lineup is challenging, but that's where we come in handy. 

Looking to roll with a potential boom or bust wide in a plus matchup? Hesitant to start an unproven rookie in their NFL debut? We'll do our best to help guide you in the right direction with one goal: taking down your Week 1 opponent en route to a 1-0 start. Yes, Week 1 is a glorified crapshoot without any regular season data points, but every fantasy owner has to deal with the same circumstances, leveling the playing field. 

As long as you develop and refine your weekly process (which includes studying up on SN Fantasy's weekly rankings) throughout the season, you'll have a fighting chance to secure more "W's" than "L's". Of course, you play to win the game, but we can only control so much as fantasy managers. Understanding that your process supersedes your results should give you peace of mind when it's all said and done, hopefully culminating in a successful fantasy season. 

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Who are the best fantasy WRs Week 1?

Regardless of your scoring format, Justin Jefferson (vs. Buccaneers) is the undisputed WR1 entering the 2023 season. Tampa Bay's pass defense is respectable, but Jefferson's still the best bet to lead all WRs in scoring in Week 1. 

Ja'Marr Chase (@ Browns), Tyreek Hill (@ Chargers), and Davante Adams (@ Broncos) aren't far behind as these bona fide WR1s will undoubtedly see a high target share with 100-plus yard potential in their Week 1 road tilts. 

WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

We also can't omit PPR beast Amon-Ra St. Brown (@ Chiefs) from this discussion, as Detroit's WR1 could see 10-plus targets in a potential negative game script on opening night. 

WEEK 1 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Who are the best fantasy WR waiver pickups Week 1?

It's hard not to overreact to the first set of data points, and while we're taking an educated guess on which low-rostered wideouts could pop off in Week 1, don't be surprised to see your leaguemates eager to add Marvin Mims (30% rostered via Yahoo), Jonathan Mingo (14% rostered), Van Jefferson (8% rostered) Joshua Palmer (3% rostered), and Josh Downs (2% rostered) to their squad's ahead of Week 2.

Opportunity is everything in fantasy football, and each of these low-owned receivers has an early path to a consistent workload, potentially resulting in a rankings boost in the coming weeks.

Who are the best fantasy WR sleepers Week 1?

Regarding Week 1 WR PPR sleepers, we think a change in scenery will result in a strong fantasy showing for Elijah Moore (vs. Bengals) in his first game as a Brown. He's not a flashy play by any means, but Adam Thielen (@ Falcons) is in line for a respectable target share catching passes from first-overall pick Bryce Young.

Ravens rookie Zay Flowers (vs. Texans) draws PPR appeal as a potential underneath option for the new-look Ravens offense. Fellow rookie Jayden Reed (@ Bears) could also turn some heads in his NFL debut, profiling as a deep sleeper candidate.

What are the biggest WR injuries Week 1?

There's a chance we don't see Jerry Jeudy (hamstring, vs. Raiders), Terry McLaurin (toe, vs. Cardinals), Kadarius Toney (hamstring, vs. Lions), Christian Watson (hamstring), and Romeo Doubs (hamstring, @ Bears) on the field in Week 1.

We've taken Jeudy out of our rankings along with Cooper Kupp, but we're leaving in the rest for now. Update: With Watson declared out, we've moved rookie Jayden Reed up in our rankings.

We'll be updating these WR PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.

Fantasy WR PPR Rankings Week 1: Who to start, sit at wide receiver

Rankings based on PPR scoring formats

Rank    Player
1    Justin Jefferson, Vikings vs. Buccaneers
2    Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals @ Browns
3    Tyreek Hill, Dolphins @ Chargers
4    Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions @ Chiefs
5    Davante Adams, Raiders @ Broncos
6    CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys @ Giants
7    A.J. Brown, Eagles @ Patriots
8    Stefon Diggs, Bills @ Jets
9    Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Bills
10    Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins @ Chargers
11    Chris Olave, Saints vs. Titans
12    Amari Cooper, Browns vs. Bengals
13    DeVonta Smith, Eagles @ Patriots
14    Tee Higgins, Bengals @ Browns
15    Keenan Allen, Chargers vs. Dolphins
16    Deebo Samuel, 49ers @ Steelers
17    DK Metcalf, Seahawks vs. Rams
18    DeAndre Hopkins, Titans @ Saints
19    Calvin Ridley, Jaguars @ Colts
20    Chris Godwin, Buccaneers @ Vikings
21    DJ Moore, Bears vs. Packers
22    Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. Cardinals
23    Drake London, Falcons vs. Panthers
24    Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers @ Steelers
25    Mike Williams, Chargers vs. Dolphins
26    Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. Rams
27    Christian Kirk, Jaguars @ Colts
28    Diontae Johnson, Steelers vs. 49ers
29    Mike Evans, Buccaneers @ Vikings
30    Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Jaguars
31    Brandin Cooks, Cowboys @ Giants
32    Jahan Dotson, Commanders vs. Cardinals
33    Gabe Davis, Bills @ Jets
34    Courtland Sutton, Broncos vs. Raiders
35    George Pickens, Steelers vs. 49ers
36    JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots vs. Eagles
37    Marquise Brown, Cardinals @ Commanders
38    Michael Thomas, Saints vs. Titans
39    Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Bears
40    Jordan Addison, Vikings vs. Buccaneers
41    Kadarius Toney, Chiefs vs. Lions
42    Rashod Bateman, Ravens vs. Texans
43    Jakobi Meyers, Raiders @ Broncos
44    Elijah Moore, Browns vs. Bengals
45    Treylon Burks, Titans @ Saints
46    Zay Flowers, Ravens vs. Texans
47    Allen Lazard, Jets vs. Bills
48    Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens vs. Texans
49    Zay Jones, Jaguars @ Colts
50    Van Jefferson, Rams @ Seahawks
51    Quentin Johnston, Chargers vs. Dolphins
52    Rondale Moore, Cardinals @ Commanders
53    Adam Thielen, Panthers @ Falcons
54    Marvin Mims Jr., Broncos vs. Raiders
55    Michael Gallup, Cowboys @ Giants
56    Nico Collins, Texans @ Ravens
57    Darnell Mooney, Bears vs. Packers
58    Skyy Moore, Chiefs vs. Lions
59    Hunter Renfrow, Raiders @ Broncos
60    Puka Nacua, Rams @ Seahawks
61    Tyler Boyd, Bengals @ Browns
62    Curtis Samuel, Commanders vs. Cardinals
63    Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns vs. Bengals
64    Jonathan Mingo, Panthers @ Falcons
65    Jayden Reed, Packers @ Bears
66    Marvin Jones Jr., Lions @ Chiefs
67    Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs vs. Lions
68    Joshua Palmer, Chargers vs. Dolphins
69    Robert Woods, Texans @ Ravens
70    Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks vs. Rams
71    K.J. Osborn, Vikings vs. Buccaneers
72    Isaiah Hodgins, Giants vs. Cowboys
73    Rashid Shaheed, Saints vs. Titans
74    Alec Pierce, Colts vs. Jaguars
75    Rashee Rice, Chiefs vs. Lions
76    Darius Slayton, Giants vs. Cowboys
77    Josh Downs, Colts vs. Jaguars
78    Parris Campbell, Giants vs. Cowboys
79    Chase Claypool, Bears vs. Packers

Nick Musial

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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.