RotoRadar’s Fantasy Football rankings are here for the upcoming 2023-24 season! We are proud to also partner with Sleeper for the upcoming football season and have displayed their platform’s ADP for a side-by-side comparison in all of our rankings.
*Note: These rankings are based on point-per-reception (PPR) format
Round By Round Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Targets
*As of August 28, 2023 (no Jonathan Taylor news has been reported that will skew rankings)
Round 1
The ideal position to be in for 2023 drafts is to hopefully pick within the top 6 selections. Since this is a wide receiver target article, we will remove Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, Bijan Robinson, and Travis Kelce from this round. With that being said, this leaves us with majority consensus 1.01 Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Tyreek Hill, and Cooper Kupp as options that normally get taken at the position in the first round. Players should be chosen in the respective order posted above. If you aren’t lucky enough to grab a Jefferson or Chase, Hill/Kupp first round selections are still a great start in drafts.
Backup Targets: Stefon Diggs (BUF), Davante Adams (LV), Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
Round 2
If you’re able to secure a top wide receiver in the first round – Congratulations! Our favorite way to start drafts in 2023 is selecting a top-tier receiver in the first round and selecting your first running back in the second round. In the event that doesn’t happen OR you want to double down at receiver in the first two rounds, here are our favorite selections:
Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET): Currently our WR7, we can see worlds where some drafts have ARSB being taken in the first round, however, his ADP via Sleeper still sits in the 15-17 range, which pushes him into the second. For as many reasons as we love Jared Goff at his ADP in this Lions powerhouse offense, the same applies to St. Brown. Another year with his quarterback with an expectation of positive regression in touchdown scoring, it should be a monster season for ARSB.
Garrett Wilson (NYJ): I will not be writing up two receivers per round for most of this draft but feel like we need to mention Wilson here. In an offseason that has done nothing but hype up the New York Jets’ new offense under Aaron Rodgers, it appears that the AR12 to Wilson hype is real. After Corey Davis retired and Mecole Hardman got injured in Week 3 of the preseason, the Jets now have Packers vets Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard along with second-year super star in the making Garrett Wilson as the primary pass catchers in this offense. It appears that a new era of Rodgers/Davante Adams is brewing, if in the event that happens, I can’t see worlds where Wilson is not in the Top 10 at the position.
Backup Targets: A.J. Brown (PHI), CeeDee Lamb (DAL), Jaylen Waddle (MIA)
Round 3
In a round that starts to see the top-tier QBs being taken off the board and a ton of running backs selected, there is one man that stands alone at the top of the WR position.
Chris Olave (NO): a second-year rocket ship in a competing NFC South Saints offense. Add-in Derek Carr to Davante Adams type usage from last season and no Alvin Kamara for a few games…New Orleans has found their guy.
Backup Targets: DeVonta Smith (PHI), Calvin Ridley (JAX), Tee Higgins (CIN)
Round 4
Keenan Allen (LAC): Justin Herbert has finished second in back-to-back seasons in the pass attempt department. With a new play-caller that promotes passing even more, expect a monster year for this Chargers passing offense. If Keenan Allen stays healthy, there’s a real scenario he could receive in between 140-150 targets this season. At his current price in the market, this is a slam dunk WR2 if you’re still waiting to draft a second receiver from the first few rounds.
Backup Targets: DK Metcalf (SEA), Amari Cooper (CLE)
Round 5
Christian Watson (GB): After coming alive in the mid to latter part of the regular season, Christian never saw more than 8 targets in any game – Why is this important? If Green Bay’s new WR1 sees the usage increase that we should expect post-AR12, Davante Adams, Robert Tonyan, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb, he could see upwards of 140+ targets this season (which would equal 8.2+ targets per game after seeing only 65 total targets last year) that would absolutely destroy his ADP of 57.2 on Sleeper (we currently have him as a fifth-round target). Watson finished as a Top-10 WR four times last season.
Backup Targets: Terry McLaurin (WAS), Chris Godwin (TB)
Round 6
Mike Evans (TB): The fantasy community is straight up disrespecting Mike Evans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass catchers this season. Sure, the downgrade from the greatest QB of all-time to Baker Mayfield is a thing, but this is also an ELITE receiver that has grabbed at least 67 passes and finished with 1,000 yards through the air in every single year of his career with a variety of quarterbacks. Grab Evans in a competitive division at a super cheap price.
Backup Targets: Drake London (ATL)
Round 7
Tyler Lockett (SEA): Another hated draft pick this offseason because of the Seahawks first round pick Jaxon-Smith Njigba, Tyler Lockett is on literally everyone’s fade list. On a contending NFC West offense, Lockett will demand targets alongside Metcalf and JSN, but let’s not forget how consistent this dude has been.
LOCKETT HAS OUTPERFORMED ADP IN FIVE-STAIGHT SEASONS (finished as a top 20 WR in five-straight as well)
Breaking: Jaxon-Smith Njigba has a wrist injury that will sideline him for a few weeks to start the season. This could raise Lockett’s ADP slightly, but he is still an immense value in the 6th-7th rounds.
Backup Targets: Gabe Davis (BUF), Brandin Cooks (DAL). Jaxon-Smith Njigba (SEA)
Round 8
Jordan Addison (MIN): Addison’s current ADP is 83.9 on Sleeper, putting him in the late seventh round/early eight round of drafts. RotoRadar currently has Addison’s ranking at 70, a full round+ earlier and a WR33 on the year. An excellent camp in a pass-heavy offense that will compete in every single game for a chance atop the NFC. If you believe in Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson, you need to believe in Jordan Addison.
Backup Targets: Brandon Aiyuk (SF)
Round 9
Jahan Dotson (WAS): Another second-year potential star on the rise, Commanders WR Jahan Dotson looks to be a very solid value late in drafts. With Sam Howell being anointed the QB1 in Washington in an offense lead by former Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, there’s great optimism for this group to take the next step. Obviously Terry McLaurin will take WR1 duties, but lets not forget that Dotson hauled in 7 TDs off 61 targets in his rookie campaign. Any improvement here is a steal at these draft prices.
Backup Targets: Brandon Aiyuk (SF)
Round 10
Zay Flowers: If Flowers is still available at the end of drafts with all the preseason hype in Baltimore, wooh baby this is a strong value round 10 selection. In a Baltimore offense that runs a ton of 22 personnel (2 Tight Ends, 2 running backs, 1 wide receiver) as well as a year removed from Hollywood Brown as the WR1, there should be plenty of opportunities for Flowers to show he is the best wideout on his team. This is a bet on talent and opportunity in a passing offense lead by Mark Andrews.
Backup Targets: Quentin Johnston (LAC), Courtland Sutton (DEN)
Notable Additions
Nico Collins (HOU): WR1 on a Houston team that will be forced to pass majority of the season
Marvin Mims II (DEN): Injuries to several Broncos pass catchers elevates Mims to running routes seemingly every passing down
Romeo Doubs (GB): Second-year player as a WR2 in a young offense that should be forced to throw a majority of its second halves – rapport with Jordan Love.
Elijah Moore (CLE): Change of scenery from clouded New York Jets receiver room to Cleveland alongside Amari Cooper. If Deshaun Watson is any better than he was in 2022, the whole offense takes a leap
Jameson Williams (DET): He may be recovering from a leg injury and will be suspended for the first part of the season, but if Williams is your last pick of your draft, he could bring as much ceiling to your teams as anyone in Rounds 4-10.
