Veteran Wide Receiver Draft Picks & Trade Targets (2023 Fantasy Football)

Player value is so closely tied to age, and that is certainly the case in dynasty fantasy football formats. Regardless of format, people love to have the shiny new toy, the exciting rookie with endless potential. However, sometimes old reliable is the best fit. Let’s take a look at a few aging veteran wide receivers I’m still investing in for 2023.

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Fantasy Football Veteran Wide Receivers to Target

Here are players I’m targeting for 2023.

Cooper Kupp (LAR)

Despite the entire Rams’ offense cratering around him last season, Cooper Kupp was on his way to another fantastic season before being shut down with a high ankle sprain. With the Rams out of the playoff picture and the team in shambles, Los Angeles put Kupp on the shelf. Kupp ranked third in target share (31.0%), fourth in target per route run rate (31.5%), and 12th in air yard share (34.5%). All of this culminated in another WR1 finish in fantasy points per game. With Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford returning for 2023, Kupp should be a top-three fantasy wideout again.

Keenan Allen (LAC)

When Keenan Allen was healthy, he looked like the player we have loved for many seasons in fantasy. He was limited to ten games played. In Weeks 11-18, Allen was the WR4 in fantasy points per game, commanding a 26.5% target share (15th) and a 34.9% air yard share (19th) with 2.24 yards per route run (18th, minimum 25 targets). Overall Allen posted his highest yards per route run since 2018 (2.32), so there are reasons to be optimistic despite his advancing age (30) that he still has 1-2 more top 24 seasons left in him. Allen should be a volume hog again in 2023.

Tyler Lockett (SEA)

Tyler Lockett kept trucking along in his age-30 season last year, finishing with another stellar stat line. He was the WR16 in fantasy points per game, drawing a 22.8% target share (26th) and 30.5% air yard share (24th). Lockett showed little signs of slowing down, ranking 25th in PFF receiving grade and 24th in yards per route run (minimum 50 targets per PFF). He was also second in open rate behind only Diontae Johnson (per ESPN analytics). Lockett should have at least one more WR2 season left in the tank for 2023.

DeAndre Hopkins (ARI)

DeAndre Hopkins missed the first six games of the season due to suspension and the final two weeks with a knee sprain, but when he was on the field, he proved he hadn’t hit the age cliff yet. Hopkins is entering his age-31 season and could be playing for a new team in 2023, but there’s reason to think he still has at least one top-flight season left. Hopkins was the WR9 in fantasy points per game last season, drawing a 29.4% target share (fourth-best) and 43.5% air-yard share (second-best). Hopkins can still draw volume with the best of them, but his efficiency did tick down a bit as he was 17th in yards per route run and 35th in open rate (tied with Christian Kirk, per ESPN analytics). Hopkins’ 2023 prospects are muddied until we know his home for the upcoming season, but expecting WR2 production out of him isn’t insane.