Consensus Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wide Receivers (2023 Fantasy Football) (2024)

Winning your fantasy draft comes down to selecting the guys who end up returning a positive ROI relative to their draft cost. What’s great is that once you get to the middle and late rounds, you don’t need to hit on every player (or even half of them) to wind up with a league-winning squad. You just need to be right enough so that the value your picks provide is greater than that of your competition.

Part of the difficulty built into this game we love is that no two sleepers are created equally. You can’t just nab a bunch of upside players in the late rounds and expect to dominate your draft. You need to know which sleepers are the most undervalued and offer the most upside compared to their price. To help you figure out which mid-to-late rounders stand out from the pack, we have polled 80+ experts on who the best sleepers are at every position in half-PPR heading into the new season. Check out which WRs they chose below.

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Of the names above, who is the player you expect to be this year’s biggest fantasy sleeper and why?

JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – NE)

“A shoulder injury sidelined JuJu Smith-Schuster for the majority of the 2021 season, which derailed an otherwise positive trajectory for the 5th-year WR after putting up almost 100 receptions on 128 targets in 2020. Last year, Smith-Schuster finished as WR29 on a one-year deal with the Chiefs, and he has since found his way into a 3-year, $33 million deal with the Patriots, where he is the apparent WR1. Even so, the current ECR has JuJu at just WR46. Jakobi Meyers was the previous WR1 in New England, and his last two seasons resulted in finishes at WR33 and WR34. It may not be pretty, but it’s definitely in the cards for the more talented Smith-Schuster to have a comeback year and finish as a top-20 WR this season as the primary target for Mac Jones in a lackluster offense.”
– David Biggs (Drink Five)

Odell Beckham Jr. (WR – BAL)

“Odell Beckham Jr. – Many fantasy analysts have written off Odell, but I think that’s a mistake. When healthy, Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the most talented WRs in the league, period. And I think he’s healthy now. He’s also paired up with a Ravens’ offense which should score a ton of points with Lamar Jackson back at the helm. With a current Expert Consensus Ranking of WR 54, Odell Beckham is dirt cheap and a potential league winner.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

George Pickens (WR – PIT)

“George Pickens – Something that doesn’t get discussed enough in football circles is the development of specific positions by team. The Pittsburgh Steelers thrive in cultivating top wide receiver talent — Diontae Johnson, Antonio Brown, and Hines Ward have a combined twelve Pro Bowl and nine All-Pro selections — and George Pickens is in line for that same type of surge. Pickens actually tallied more receiving yards in his first season than any of the three aforementioned players did in theirs, but the key is the trajectory of a franchise that has historically led to excellent growth for wide receivers. Pickens only needs a modest increase of 25 percent from last year’s numbers to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards — on 105 targets for 65 receptions. His ceiling is much higher.”
– Mario Mergola (Sporfolio)

“George Pickens was one of the most physically gifted wide receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft, but what he lacked entering the league was an extensive route tree. Pickens was a fly pattern receiver on a team that did not do well throwing the ball deep. Pickens is a more polished route runner entering his second year, and Kenny Pickett is throwing the ball with more confidence after an up-and-down rookie season. Both of these players have the potential to break out in 2023, and a more wide-open passing game could make Pickens this year’s biggest fantasy sleeper. ”
– Derek Lofland (FantasyPros)

“George Pickens is on the precipice of absolutely exploding, both as an NFL receiver and one of the flashiest players in fantasy football. For starters, Pickens is heading into his second pro season, which means he is already primed to break out. Furthermore, he has the physicality, athleticism, and run-blocking skills to get on the field. It also helps that the AFC North won’t challenge him with a particularly tough slate of cornerbacks. Everything is falling into place for Pickens to break out and show the NFL that he can be an alpha receiver. He should lead all Steelers wide receivers in snaps, targets, receptions, and yardage, and finishing as a top-10 fantasy receiver is not out of the question.”
– Andersen Pickard (Prime Time Sports Talk)

“What attracted scouts to George Pickens ahead of last year’s NFL Draft had to be his body control and ability to manipulate himself to get into position to catch the football. Acrobatic catches and high-pointing the football are part and parcel of Pickens’s talent. Looking ahead to 2023, Kenny Pickett is bound to have positive regression in his touchdown totals. Furthermore, by the end of the year, it will be clear that Pickens is the leader of this receiving corps over Diontae Johnson.”
– Matt De Lima (The Game Day)

Marquise Brown (WR – ARI)

“Marquise Brown’s ADP and ECR have shocked me. With Hopkins gone, Hollywood is left as the top dog in a Cardinal offense that figures to be in a lot of negative game scripts and will return a healthy Kyler Murray at some point. He’s flashed his potential, posting target shares of 26.7% in 2021 and 23.7% in 2022 (as the secondary option in ARI) and efficiency, evidenced by a 5.7% career TD%.”
– Jacob White (Gridiron Experts)

Zay Flowers (WR – BAL)

“The biggest fantasy sleeper of the year will be Zay Flowers. The Ravens have sent a clear message this offseason. They want to have Lamar pass the ball more. Flowers has shown in training camp and the preseason he is electric with the ball and can get open on any given play, and his path to be the top WR on his team is clear. With his playmaking ability and a clear opportunity ahead of him, Flowers should continue the trend of rookie WRs being great for fantasy managers willing to take the shot on them in drafts.”
– Dylan Licciardo (FF Gamers)

“Zay Flowers is my sleeper of the year in 2023. The former Boston College Eagle showed out at the Shrine Bowl and, as a result, was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Aside from tight end Marc Andrews, the Ravens have a bunch of question marks at the wideout position. Flowers is exceptionally slippery, has quick/effective routes, and has a knack for tracking down the deep ball. ”
– Mason “Mase” Riney (Fantasy Six Pack)

“Zay Flowers typically comes off the board around WR40-WR45, but he may well be the Ravens’ best wide receiver in 2023, and I think he’s capable of a fantasy finish in the WR2 range. Flowers’ performance in training camp has drawn rave reviews. Lamar Jackson has given him the nickname “joystick.” Flowers runs crisp routes, has good speed, is explosive after the catch, and fares remarkably well on contested catches for a smaller receiver. Rookie WRs with first-round NFL Draft capital are good fantasy bets. We saw it last year with Chris Olave (ADP: WR44) and Garrett Wilson (WR49). We saw it in 2021 with Ja’Marr Chase (WR26) and Jaylen Waddle (WR46) and in 2020 with CeeDee Lamb (WR38) and Justin Jefferson (WR49). Flowers is a worthy target in fantasy drafts.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

“Zay Flowers will have a big rookie year in Baltimore and be in consideration for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Flowers will excel in Todd Monken’s offense and will form an instant connection with Lamar Jackson. Expect to see him lined up all over the field and even the backfield for the Ravens. Flowers is a threat to take it the distance anytime he touches the ball. ”
– Justin Fuhr (Pro Football Mania)

“Zay Flowers comes in as WR42 in a new-look offense that is going to put more focus on the aerial attack. Flowers may have the typical slow start that most rookies face but should acclimate quickly. His football IQ is above average and he plays bigger than his stature. Once he has a firm grasp on the offense and some budding chemistry with Lamar Jackson, Flowers has high-end WR2 appeal as an integral part of the best receiving core Jackson has worked with thus far. ”
– John Hesterman (Dynasty League Football)

Drake London (WR – ATL)

“Drake London, still WR1 of his class and Top 10 overall selection pedigree, had a remarkably successful rookie campaign when looking at its totality. Sure, we would have loved more, and yes, it can be argued where else the ball was supposed to go, but having the opportunity and delivering on it don’t always go hand in hand. Atlanta will have a very different look on offense this year, headed by a commitment to Desmond Ridder at QB. With him under center, Drake London accounted for 31.3% of targets, 34.2% of completions, and 47.0% of yards in the Falcons aerial attack. It equates to 9 targets/6 receptions/83 yards per game, or 153 targets/106 receptions/1,415 yards prorated over a full 17-game season. Whatever he does in the TD department would just be a bonus, as that stat line alone already surpasses his current ADP value. Atlanta regains Kyle Pitts and adds Bijan Robinson, but they did zero to upgrade at WR. It’s London’s world, and as the Drake of one name would say, “You know you gotta stick by me.”
– Andy Singleton (Expand The Boxscore)

Mike Evans (WR – TB)

“Mike Evans, after nine consecutive seasons of over 1,00 yards, people are now writing him off due to Tom Brady’s retirement. In my opinion, the Bucs will be awful. This screams lots of playing catch-up, lots of passing, and lots of garbage time fantasy points. Regardless of the QB under center, Evans is a lock to be a Top-20 WR in 2023.”
– Elvin Ryan (FantasyPros)

“Mike Evans is being seriously underappreciated. I don’t really care who’s throwing him the ball. He could EASILY finish as a WR2 and is being drafted outside the top 30. I know expectations are low in Tampa with Mayfield and Trask, but the disrespect toward Evans has gone too far… Get a 1,000-yard WR until he proves he is not one.”
– Francisco (Chato) Romero (Estadio Fantasy)

Skyy Moore (WR – KC)

“Chiefs WR Skyy Moore. The second-year WR has locked up the team’s starting slot role on the Chiefs’ high-powered offense. Moore saw 6 targets in every game where he ran at least 10 slot routes last season. He also had at least two receptions in five games where he ran at least 7 slot routes. Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster averaged 13.5 slot routes per game last season. Therefore, don’t count Moore out quite yet after an underwhelming rookie season, with him coming out as an early declaration from a smaller football program at Western Michigan. Recall that Moore ranked second in college football in his final year in yards per route run from the slot. ”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Michael Pittman (WR – IND)

“Michael Pittman may have the best value in 2023, after being overhyped in the months leading to the 2022 season. He did not offer the return on investment of the fringe WR1 that everyone had hoped for, but instead ended up as a low-end WR2. He is currently the last WR1 off of the board at WR33, and the opportunity to be able to draft a wide receiver who amassed an average of 135 targets the past two years in the 7th round of drafts is a true steal. There is a reasonable fear with the addition of a mobile rookie quarterback, but Pittman is no stranger to sub-par QB play as he has seen a myriad of quarterbacks over his 3-year career. This year the Colts draw the 3rd easiest strength of schedule, and Pittman should feast on some of the league’s worst secondaries.”
– Josh Hall (IDP Army)

Jalin Hyatt (WR – NYG)

“Jalin Hyatt has drawn comparisons to former Eagles star DeSean Jackson. He gives the Giants’ offense missing qualities that no one else on the roster can replicate. The rookie is an explosive downfield target with a true TD upside. Hyatt will quickly emerge as a Giants fan and fantasy favorite for those who are nabbing him in the double-figure rounds of drafts. ”
– Scott Engel (RotoBaller)

Brandin Cooks (WR – DAL)

“Don’t forget about Tyler Lockett‘s equally disrespected twin, Brandin Cooks. Maybe he doesn’t finish inside the top 20 like he has every year he’s played at least 15 games, but I don’t think he’s done being fantasy-relevant yet. I trust that Cooks’s surrounding cast was more to blame than his own decline in 2022. Willing to find out either way at his current ADP.”
– Seth Miller (Crossroads Fantasy Football)

Jahan Dotson (WR – WAS)

“Targeting Jahan Dotson was already a top draft priority before the news of Terry McLaurin‘s turf toe injury in Week Two of the preseason. The chemistry between Sam Howell and Dotson is special, and I expect a huge leap in production for the second-year wideout, expecting him to average 7-8 targets per game with breakout potential. The Commanders will be playing from behind in most games which will elevate the downfield opportunities for Jahan, who ranked 9th overall with a 14.9 yard per reception in 2022 for receivers with 35+ catches. Out of all the 2022 rookie receivers, Dotson was tied for most touchdowns with Christian Watson with seven in just twelve games. Make sure to leave your draft with him on your roster.”
– Todd D Clark (The Fantasy Fix)

“Jahan Dotson is primed for a breakout season. He gets a new offensive coordinator who was a part of some of the best offenses of all time and likely an upgrade at quarterback with Sam Howell starting from day one. Remember, Dotson missed five games because of injury and was still 51st overall in fantasy receiver scoring. He showed his huge potential down the stretch, having double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five games. Dotson seems a great fit for the new offense and should flourish in year two. ”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)

“It seems that Jahan Dotson has caught Sam Howell’s eye, and even though we get fooled by the preseason numbers of 5 receptions on 7 targets for 76 yards. Dotson ended the 2022 year strong, and his final 5 games had a split of 21 catches, 344 yards, and 3 touchdowns. With Terry McLaurian perhaps missing some time and new Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy, he will be the one for the year 2 breakout. ”
– Dan Yanotchko (EDSFootball)

“My biggest sleeper this season is Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson. Dotson was impressive in his rookie season even though he had three different quarterbacks throwing to him. His rookie season started with a bang, with two touchdowns in his first NFL game, and he scored two more touchdowns across his next three games. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury halted his rookie season after four weeks, and he did not return until Week 10. Dotson flashed his potential during Weeks 15-18 when he led the Commanders in target share (23.8%) and produced WR12 numbers during that span. He finished sixth among all receivers with 2.14 fantasy points per target. I look for an even better second season with the Commanders working hard to improve their offense, adding former Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy to call the plays and naming Sam Howell their Week 1 starting quarterback. Dotson has looked like a fantasy star this preseason. And with Terry McLaurin nursing a toe injury, it opens the door for Dotson to be Washington’s WR1. Dotson is being picked as the 35th WR, but I would gladly pounce on him to be my WR2 as he continues to flash his breakout potential in an emerging Commanders offense. ”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)

Marvin Mims (WR – DEN)

“I’m on board with a big rebound for the Denver Broncos, so I’m higher on most pieces of Denver’s offense. In particular, second-round rookie WR Marvin Mims will open the season as the club’s No. 3 wideout. Mims is a speedy deep threat with superb ball skills and has already flashed chemistry with Russell Wilson in the preseason. Tim Patrick was able to post WR43 overall numbers (51/746/6) in that role back in 2020. With Sean Payton at the helm, I expect Mims to hit the ground running and far outplay his current ADP. ”
– Jody Smith (FullTime Fantasy)

K.J. Osborn (WR – MIN)

“K.J. Osborn has seen at least 80 targets and has caught five or more touchdowns the past two seasons. While rookie Jordan Addison will help fill the 107 target void left by veteran Adam Thielen, Osborn produced the aforementioned numbers with Thielen on the roster. This is an offense that should throw over 700 times in 2023, and if Osbron only gets 15% of that (just one percent higher than his rate last season), then he will see over 100 targets, the most of his career. He is a safe bet late in drafts.”
– Ryan Larrison (Fantasy Football For The People)

Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT)

“Diontae Johnson is the sleeper you want to be drafting. He led the open score on ESPN’s Wide Receiver analytics and grading with a score of 99 (50 is the league average). He also didn’t score a single touchdown last season, which won’t happen again. Now Pickett is acclimated to the league, and Johnson will get better-quality targets and return to the mean in terms of touchdowns. Don’t sleep on Diontae.”
– Adam Murfet (5 Yard Rush)

Jordan Addison (WR – MIN)

“I expect Jordan Addison to walk in as a rookie and be productive right off the bat. He has the benefit of playing across from the best wide receiver in the game, Justin Jefferson, and is playing with an established quarterback in Kirk Cousins. We’ve seen Cousins and the Vikings’ offense support multiple fantasy-relevant wide receivers, and I expect that to be the case in 2023. His ability as a route runner will be on full display when he’s oftentimes matched up against single coverage. Currently ranked as WR37 in the ECR, look for Addison to finish as a top-24 option in 2023. ”
– Anthony Corrente (The Dynasty Drive)

Trey Palmer (WR – TB)

“WR Trey Palmer. Already has chemistry with Mayfield. Likely to win the outside receiver starting role. Will consistently get the CB 2/3 and has shown the ability to win. Potential for 60/700/8.”
– Robert Mattox (FF Faceoff)

Elijah Moore (WR – CLE)

“Cleveland’s passing game is in for a big season, and Elijah Moore will be a big part of it. Yes, last year was ugly. But he flashed as a rookie, ranking third among WRs in PPR points during a six-week stretch in the middle of the season. And he looked like an excellent prospect coming into the league, averaging 102.2 receiving yards and 0.7 TDs per game over his final two college seasons. Now in a functional offense with a high-end QB, Moore is ready to break out.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)

Gabe Davis (WR – BUF)

“Davis was drafted early last season and fell short of expectations as he played through a high ankle sprain that clearly hindered his play. He’s healthy, and the Bills didn’t add much at wide receiver, indicating they believe Davis will be better. He plays in a good offense and is way cheaper than last season.”
– Adam Ronis (Fantasy Alarm)

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