RADIO
We're back with the next portion of my wide receiver rankings. This is the second article of five that outline my top 50 wide receivers for the 2023 season. It's finally draft season, and I appreciate all of you for checking out my work.
If you are a fan of receivers, it’s a great time to be part of fantasy football. There is a great mix of aging stars such as Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, and DeAndre Hopkins as well as younger talent such as Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson.
My name is Ellis Johnson, and I am proud to say that in 2021, my receiver draft rankings finished 15th in the FantasyPros accuracy competition. This article breaks down my WR rankings for the 2023 season and outlines how I view each player. You can also check out my video player profiles on TikTok @FiresideFantasy_FF.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for the 2025 playoffs:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Ellis' Wide Receiver Draft Rankings #40-31
40. Tyler Boyd (WR, CIN)
Tyler Boyd has not finished outside of the top 40 WRs since 2017. Whether he is an electric offense's third option or Andy Dalton's second option, Boyd always finds a way to produce.
Although he has a low ceiling, he is a consistent weekly player in deep WR leagues that are PPR. Lock him in for a handful of touchdowns and consistently have three catches for 30 yards each week.
I would not draft him at this ranking and would rather take a shot at someone with more upside, however, I am expecting him to find himself here at the end of the year through mediocre consistency.
39. Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, IND)
I love Anthony Richardson, but I am skeptical about the production he will bring to the WR position. Pittman is often referred to as a disappointment for fantasy, however, his advanced metrics have been fairly solid.
Targets are often considered an earned statistic and after cracking 125+ targets in each of his last two seasons, there is room to be excited for Pittman with a new QB under center. If you believe in Richardson this season, Pittman is a cheap, high-upside option in 2023.
38. Jordan Addison (WR, MIN)
One of the best fits for both the NFL and fantasy football was Addison joining the Vikings. We know that Justin Jefferson is a star and that Kirk Cousins likes T.J. Hockenson so much that he'll give him three yards over a playoff win.
However, Addison is the perfect talent to slide in as the number two WR option. He is a crisp route runner and has the athleticism to make plays after the catch. I am not sure how many touchdowns he will have, but he is set up to surpass 1000 yards in his first season.
Recently it has come out that he is dealing with an undisclosed injury and was also arrested going 140mph in a 55 zone. Although this may seem separate from fantasy football, there is a history of rookies who start their careers with these issues struggling to find consistent production.
37. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, SEA)
Hands-down the best WR in this class joins D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to create one of the best trios in the league.
The offseason hype will likely push him up draft boards, but we need to remember it'll be tough to compete for targets on a team that loves to run the ball.
As with all rookies, JSN possesses the upside of the unknown and he could become the best friend of the hyper-accurate and efficient Geno Smith.
36. Quentin Johnston (WR, LAC)
Honestly, I didn't love QJ as a prospect. However, he finds himself with one of the best arm talents in the game at QB and one of the best WR rooms to learn from.
Last season, three Chargers receivers each had 89+ targets. If Johnson can find this kind of volume then he will be a steal in drafts. However, it's hard to see him have predictable fantasy value this season.
Unless Mike Williams or Keenan Allen miss significant time (which they have been known to do) then I think QJ is a best ball pick more than he is in any redraft format.
35. Jahan Dotson (WR, WAS)
One of the most popular breakout picks this off-season has been Dotson. It's funny that a WR taken with the 16 overall pick in 2022 can be slept on, especially when he had seven touchdowns in 12 games.
We have seen Dotson have nearly 15 yards per catch in his rookie season, and have the talent to be a big play threat in this league. However, like many of his fellow sophomore WRs, his production will depend on uncertain QB play.
Unless the QB play can become average, he might not be able to surpass this ranking regardless of talent.
34. Rashod Bateman (WR, BAL)
I'm surprised that Bateman is projected to be the third WR on this team. Obviously, the team brought in first-round WR Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason, but that was it.
How quickly we forget that Bateman is a first-round talent himself and projected to be more of a typical WR-one option than the smaller Zay Flowers.
We also haven't seen OBJ play in two years, and I am buying into the passing production of this offense. As a result, give me all of Bateman for the 2023 season.
33. Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)
Perennially undervalued, Lockett is looking to finish as a top-15 WR for the sixth consecutive year. Outside of age, the only thing slowing Lockett down is the team drafting Jaxson Smith-Njigba in the first round.
Targets might come at a premium on this offense, meaning Lockett will need to maintain his ability to make big plays. I hate to fade Lockett for yet another year, however, the mix of age and abundance of options on this offense worries me.
I also see a world where Pete Carroll decides to run the ball with his 2022 breakout RB Kenneth Walker III and his shiny new toy Zach Charbonnet, further hindering Tyler Lockett's fantasy production.
32. Drake London (WR, ATL)
He's great, but the QB situation isn't. London and Kyle Pitts are fighting the same battle to overcome the Desmond Ridder situation. The Falcons have been adamant that Ridder is their guy and maybe he will surprise everyone.
However, if last year was any indication of what's to come then it doesn't look good. Thankfully London has all the talent that can perform regardless of the QB situation. If you want to draft London earlier you have to hope Ridder will pass for more than last year's 0.5 touchdowns per game.
31. DeAndre Hopkins (WR, TEN)
Finally, Hopkins has a new team. Unfortunately for those hoping he would find his way to an elite offense such as the Chiefs or Bills, he finds himself in Tennessee.
Historically, the Titans have not been the best place for veteran WRs to rejuvenate their career, just ask Julio Jones. However, last season we saw that Hopkins can still be an elite receiver in this league.
My concern is that this offense is coming off the 30th fewest passing yards per game and seems to be in rebuilding and contending at the same time.
I also was buying into the Treylon Burks breakout, as I believe he has the physical ability to succeed at the NFL level. As a result, the days of Hopkins being a top-20 WR might be gone, but he should find production as a great WR-three this season.
Thank you for reading. I'll be back with my wide receivers #31-21!
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
More Fantasy Football Analysis
Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
