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

Nick Musial

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

Although PPR formats are increasing in popularity every year, there’s still a large contingent of fantasy football leagues with standard scoring formats. For those fantasy owners in non-PPR leagues, our 2023 fantasy WR rankings are here to highlight those wide receivers best positioned for success in standard formats. Our preseason list features this year’s crop of potential sleepers and breakouts alongside the sure-fire, top-tier WR1s and 2s.

Unlike running back, there isn’t as significant of a deviation between standard and PPR scoring at wide receiver, but understanding which wideouts have a higher ceiling in both formats can be crucial in your chances of claiming a fantasy championship. In standard scoring formats, we want to focus our attention on wideouts with big-play ability (we love WRs with high yards per route run and air yards share numbers) and wideouts who see consistent red-zone targets.

For those unfamiliar with advanced stats jargon, yards per route run is simply the total number of receiving yards divided by the number of routes a player runs. A quick glance at the wideouts who ended 2022 atop the league in yards per route run looks pretty similar to our standard WR rankings, as eight of the top 10 WRs in yards per route run also sit in the top 10 of our initial rankings.

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2023 Fantasy Cheat Sheet

Despite moving on from Patrick Mahomes and catching passes from three different QBs in ‘22, Tyreek Hill led all qualifying WRs (minimum 30 snaps per game) in yards per route run (3.38). A.J. Brown posted the second-highest mark (3.01).

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

As we mentioned, eight of the top 10 WRs in yards per route run sit within the top 10 in our standard rankings, but fantasy owners might be surprised to see that 2022 rookies Chris Olave, Drake London, and Christian Watson finished 10th, 11th, and 12th, respectively, in yards per route run.

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

With Olave and London potentially seeing an upgrade at QB with Derek Carr in New Orleans and Desmond Ridder hopefully showing improvement as a passer in year two, those two WRs make for solid draft picks in standard formats. While the jury’s still out on Jordan Love, Watson did lead all WRs in fantasy points per target last season, and if Green Bay’s No. 1 wideout continues to draw high usage in the red zone, he could finish as a borderline WR1.

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

When it comes to air yards share, D.J. Moore ended 2022 accumulating almost 48 percent of his team’s air yards (1,564). If that carries over from Carolina to Chicago, that could be big for Moore’s debut season with Justin Fields. Fields ended last year completing a respectable 60.4 percent of his passes that traveled 20 yards or further, and he’s one of the better deep-ball throwers in the league. A bit lower down the air yards share rankings sits Terry McLaurin, who looks to be in line for a more consistent 2023 now that he doesn’t have to catch passes from Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke.

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

Some other mid-tier WRs who ended last season in the top 25 in air yards share include Brandon Aiyuk (32.5 percent), Marquise Brown (32.3), Diontae Johnson (32.3), Mike Williams (31.1) and Tyler Lockett (30.5). Aiyuk’s flexed within an offensive full of explosive playmakers, but ‘23 could be his most consistent season yet if projected starting QB Brock Purdy produces at a similar level to last season.

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

Brown is now the Cardinals’ No. 1 wideout with DeAndre Hopkins out of town, and although Kyler Murray (knee) won’t be ready to start the season, Brown profiles as an intriguing value pick at his ADP. Johnson remains a strong draft pick in both standard and PPR formats despite failing to score a touchdown last season, as Kenny Pickett is likely to take a step forward in his first full season as QB1 in Pittsburgh.

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

With highly touted rookies Quentin Johnston and Jaxon Smith-Njigba joining their respective WR rooms, we’ll see if Williams and Lockett can maintain similar air yards share numbers. For now, we expect both pass-catchers to see slight regressions.

Before we get to our full list, we want to highlight some lower-tiered WRs who ended ‘22 with solid red-zone numbers, making them appealing picks in standard formats due to their TD capabilities. Zay Jones (16), Courtland Sutton (14), Michael Gallup (13), and Donovan Peoples-Jones (13) all ranked within the top 30 of WRs in red-zone targets last season.

The Jaguars look to build off of last season’s AFC South title with another successful season, but Calvin Ridley’s presence could limit Jones’ red-zone targets this season. On the flip side, Sutton profiles as a prime bounce-back candidate if Sean Payton can get the Broncos’ offense running to the level it's capable of.

Gallup played in just 14 regular season games last season returning from injury but was still top-30 in red-zone targets. Even though he’ll be competing with targets alongside CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, Dallas’ offense is strong enough to support three wides. Peoples-Jones also has a shot to post similar red-zone numbers with more consistency from Deshaun Watson as a passer, but he’ll now have to compete with Elijah Moore on top of Amari Cooper.

Clearly, there’s no shortage of solid WR options at every tier level, so as long as you continue to stack assets and focus on stats like target share, air yards, and red-zone looks, you should be able to field a solid starting WR corps all season long.

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

Fantasy Football WR Rankings 2023: Best wide receivers, top sleepers in standard leagues

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