Wide Receiver Rankings #16-30 for Fantasy Football Drafts

Who would you start, sit, and cut from this list: Diontae Johnson, Chris Godwin, and Terry McLaurin? You'll see my answers in this article as we're back with the next portion of my wide receiver rankings. This is the third 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.

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30. Christian Kirk (WR, JAX)

So far in the preseason, Kirk has been playing behind Zay Jones in two WR sets. That's not good.

After shocking the fantasy community by signing what was believed to be an overpriced contract, Kirk had a very nice season. Interestingly, what made him especially valuable for fantasy was his touchdown ability, catching a career-high eight touchdowns and 84 receptions. Although this team brought in Calvin Ridley, Kirk should see consistent volume to flirt with WR-two numbers. Especially if Trevor Lawrence takes another step forward, last year's WR-11 could be in for another successful season.

29. Gabriel Davis (WR, BUF)

Despite being wildly underwhelming last season, Davis managed to finish two spots ahead of his ADP as the WR27. Now he heads into the fourth season with the added competition of a second-year Khalil Shakir and pass-catching aficionado Dalton Kincaid. Either way, we know he is the second option for one of the league's best QBs. This team is looking very similar to what it was last season, therefore I project a similar season for Josh Allen's deep threat.

28. Terry McLaurin (WR, WAS)

One of the most talented WRs is stuck with another subpar QB under center. Who knows what Sam Howell can bring to this offense? Thankfully we do know what Jacoby Brissett can do since he supported Amari Cooper as a low-end WR1 last season. What we do know for sure is that Terry will demand the targets and produce for fantasy. Once again his ceiling is limited, but he is one of the safest players in fantasy.

27. Jerry Jeudy (WR, DEN)

Jeudy is one of the tougher WRs to rank. Although he has outproduced his counterpart, Courtland Sutton, Steve Smith Sr. has a great breakdown of how Jeudy doesn't fit Sean Peyton's scheme. There aren't many analysts that I'll listen to when they make these claims, but Smith Sr. is one of them. As a result, this ranking builds in the risk of Russell Wilson returning to form and the possibility that Jeudy might not be the top target. I am not convinced of either of these things, making him come in as a WR3 in my rankings.

26. Diontae Johnson (WR, PIT)

I think I forgot how good Diontae Johnson is. He doesn't possess the ability to be elite for fantasy, but his separation and route running demands a solid target share. This year, Kenny Pickett hopefully takes another step forward and finds more success in the red zone. Johnson's 147 targets and zero touchdowns are one of the biggest fantasy outliers in recent years. This should balance out this season and he will return to being a great WR-two for fantasy.

25. Mike Williams (WR, LAC)

Outside of putting up one of the best acrobatic catch highlight reels, Mike Williams has had a relatively disappointing career. Last season, Williams was getting hyped up to potentially finishing as a WR1. Although he has the ability and situation to do that, he needs to stay healthy. Not only that but the team also used a first-round pick on Quentin Johnston, further muddying the waters. He is tough to draft at his current ADP, but he has the ability to put up monster weeks.

24. Chris Godwin (WR, TB)

Godwin is another WR whose talent has been separated from his fantasy impact over the last two years. Probably one of the best talents in the game has been limited by injury and now QB play. It's not good projecting Baker Mayfield as the starter, but at least we know he can support some fantasy-relevant WRs. I think Godwin's skillset pairs well with Mayfield and will be a sneaky fantasy value in 2023.

23. Christian Watson (WR, GB)

Probably my biggest riser this offseason has been Christian Watson. There have been no notable facts that have led to this increase, instead basing it on the "it just makes sense" theory. Think about it, he was thought to be an explosive prospect and proved just that in his rookie season. He is now the clear top receiving option, competing with two rookie tight ends and fifth-rounder and fellow sophomore Romeo Doubs. Plus, he has already developed some chemistry with Jordan Love and possesses the upside that can win you a matchup on any given week. You are also betting on Jordan Love here, but Watson could easily surpass his current ADP value.

22. Marquise Brown (WR, ARI)

Last season without DeAndre Hopkins, Brown was the WR6. Although that six-week span was with Kyler, Hollywood is the clear top option on this team. Regardless of who is under center, his only competition is Zach Ertz, who is recovering from a severe knee injury, a second-year TE, and two undersized gadget receivers. If Brown can stay healthy he could produce as a high-end WR2 with a big play upside.

21. Amari Cooper (WR, CLE)

I honestly don't have as much faith as the community in the Cleveland Quarterback bouncing back. Even though Cooper showed he can succeed with various QBs, the team has added more target competition. This offseason they brought in Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman to add to Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Njoku. As I result, there are too many questions with the quarterback play as well as the talented playmakers for me to confidently select Cooper any higher.

20. D.J. Moore (WR, CHI)

Fantasy managers finally saw D.J. Moore escape Carolina's poor QB play, ironically as part of the move that led to them drafting Bryce Young. Now Moore finds himself in a familiar situation with an unproven passer on a team that wants to run the ball. Personally, I am not convinced of Fields' passing ability, leaving me skeptical that he can outproduce what he was doing in Carolina. However, he has the talent that could allow Fields to lean on him weekly and steal all the teams' targets.

19. Deebo Samuel (WR, SF)

It's easy to dismiss how incredible Samuel's 2021 season was considering he averaged a mere 10.8 fantasy points per game in 2022. In the last three years, only four receivers have had a 300+ fantasy point season: Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel, and Justin Jefferson. Unfortunately, his role has changed since the team brought in Christian McCaffrey. Although he may not have the WR-one upside anymore, he has the athletic ability to wildly outperform his current ADP. Kyle Shannahan will find a way to get him involved, making Deebo a value in 2023.

18. Brandon Aiyuk (WR, SF)

Would you believe me if I told you Aiyuk was the WR15 last season? Because he ended up finishing there. Since Deebo Samuel has become a WR-RB hybrid. Aiyuk is the top WR on this offense. After leading the team in targets with 114 in 2022, Aiyuk's biggest question is who will be the QB. With a pocket-passing QB like Brock Purdy, he could very well find himself in the top 20 again. If someone other than Brock Purdy is under center, he may be more volatile but could also have more upside. End of the day he may struggle with consistency but he has the talent and ability to finish as a WR-two again this season.

17. DeVonta Smith (WR, PHI)

I don't think you can say anything bad about this organization. Not only would their fans make it dangerous, but you would also be incorrect based on their off-season. The team should remain one of the best in the league and if anything, Jalen Hurts may rush for fewer touchdowns, increasing the potential passing production. The only concern is that this team once again dominates its competitors and plays with a lead. However, we saw that last season and he was still amazing. As a result, Smith is primed for another great season as the second option behind Brown.

16. Calvin Ridley (WR, JAX)

Ridley is currently the 20th receiver off the board in drafts. Not only did he release an amazing story about his journey in the NFL, courtesy of Sports Illustrated, but he has also been a walking highlight reel in camp. Although the entire community is hyping him up, you have to remember the 2018 26th overall pick has not played an NFL game since Week Seven of 2021. However, you also have to remember that he has a top-10 fantasy finish under his belt.

Now on a new team, he's the clear top target for Trevor Lawrence. There is a clear path to this offense being electric and Ridley returning to elite form. I'm starting to buy into that.

Thank you for reading. I'll be back with my wide receivers #15-1!

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