Running backs and wide receivers are arguably the most important positions to focus on when building a winning fantasy football roster. With that in mind, we asked some of our featured experts to look at some of the must-have RBs and WRs for the 2023 fantasy football season. Here are the players our experts are targeting in their drafts.

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Must-Have Running Backs & Wide Receivers

1. Which one RB outside the top 30 in the expert consensus are you hoping to end up with in all your leagues and why?

Samaje Perine (RB – DEN)
“I don’t care what Sean Payton said; I find it very hard to believe that Javonte Williams will be ready for 2023. Javonte suffered a devastating knee injury last year. He tore several ligaments, not just his ACL. And if Javonte misses significant time, Samaje Perine could be a workhorse RB. At a minimum, Samaje will be in an RBBC. Perine’s current ADP at RB41 is extremely cheap, especially when you consider his head coach is one of the best offensive minds in the game. Sleeper.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)
“They say lottery tickets are what help you win your leagues, right? Here is one who can pay off big-time. Johnson was drafted in the fourth round by the Bears in the 2023 draft and has a clear pathway to becoming the starter for Chicago. Khalil Herbert missed time last year and was drafted by previous head coach Matt Nagy. Will second-year coach Matt Eberflus show the same loyalty? D’Onta Foreman was great for Carolina after the Panthers traded Christian McCaffrey, but it is hard to believe the journeyman will do that again. Johnson as the RB69 in half PPR is a steal, and I will be all in at that price. ”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Rashaad Penny (RB – PHI)
“Rashaad Penny has been one of the most efficient RBs in the NFL, but we all know the reason why he hasn’t been able to be productive: injuries. In 2021 he averaged 6.3 yards per carry. In 2022 he averaged 6.1 … on a total of 176 carries. If he can stay healthy, he’ll run behind one of the best offensive lines and for one of the most explosive offenses. Even with the arrival of D’Andre Swift, Penny is shaping up to be the primary RB. I can see him sneaking into the top 24.”
– Mauricio Gutierrez (Estadio Fantasy)

James Cook (RB – BUF)
“The talk surrounding James Cook during the offseason has been like a roller coaster. Prior to the signing of Damien Harris, Cook was being touted as one of this year’s sleepers at the position. That has since cooled off with the perception of Harris taking over the short-yardage and goal-line work for the Bills. Even with Harris factoring into the rotation at running back, all indications from the team remain that they would like to feature Cook and his skillset as the lead back in 2023. It’s hard to disagree with this premise, as his strong finish to the 2022 campaign (two RB1 games over the last five played) gives him momentum heading into the new year. Cook has all the tools to become an upside RB2 in PPR formats in 2023 that you can currently draft outside the top 30 (RB34) in early ADP. ”
– Brandon Murchison (RotoBaller)

Alexander Mattison (RB – MIN)
“The RB outside the top 30 in the expert consensus are I’m hoping to end up with in all my leagues is Alexander Mattison of the Minnesota Vikings. He has RB1 potential in the event that Dalvin Cook is injured or traded. Although Dalvin Cook stayed relatively healthy last season, Mattison still managed to score 6 TDs. He’s a must-have RB handcuff if you draft Dalvin Cook this season. I’m willing to take a flyer on Mattison somewhere after round 8 in 12-team fantasy football drafts.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

“Alexander Mattison looks like a bargain as the RB38 since it seems inevitable the Vikings will release Dalvin Cook. The release of Cook would probably catapult Mattison’s ADP and ECR into the top 30, but he’d still be a value at that price as long as the Vikings didn’t sign a free agent such as Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette or Kareem Hunt. The Vikings re-signed Mattison to a two-year, $7 million deal in March and seem content to move forward with him as their lead running back. At 5-11 and 215 pounds, Mattison is big enough to handle a heavier workload. In his four NFL seasons, Mattison has been productive when he’s been forced to take on a bigger role due to Cook injuries. He may not end up being a true workhorse, but Mattison seems destined for a substantial, fantasy-relevant role.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Devon Achane (RB – MIA)
“Devon Achane will be a late-round running back I will take shots on in fantasy. Achane is one of the fastest running backs in the league and will explode on the field when given an opportunity. Achane has been working on getting his weight up, so I’m not concerned he will have the same light frame he had in college. Rasheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are injury-prone running backs, and it’s only a matter of time before Achane gets a chance to start. ”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

Antonio Gibson (RB – WSH)
“Antonio Gibson’s proven track record of production, ideal size and pass-catching chops make him an enticing buy-low running back target. Despite operating as an RB3 for much of the second half of 2022, Gibson remained much more involved in the passing game than two-down rookie grinder Brian Robinson Jr., with an impressive 14% target share and an 80.5 PFF receiving grade. The release of J.D. McKissic further solidifies Gibson’s role as the primary receiving back for Washington. Gibson is a free agent at the end of 2023, so the team could ride him till the wheels fall off. Additionally, new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s arrival may lead to more opportunities for Gibson in a Jerick McKinnon-esque role, with the new play caller holding zero prior commitments to the hierarchy of the backfield from the 2022 season. The Commanders’ tough schedule also foreshadows negative scripts that favor Gibson’s pass-catching abilities. Grab him as early as in Round 9 or as late as Round 11.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Khalil Herbert (RB – CHI)
“Although reports suggest that Chicago will have a committee-style backfield, one must give the nod to Herbert for the best production. D’Onta Foreman has shown good form at each of his previous stops with Tennessee and Carolina, but it seems that he will still have a relief back role. There is also rookie Roschon Johnson to consider as another potential hindrance to Herbert’s fantasy prospects. However, it is more likely that Foreman and Johnson will form the real committee. The snap count percentage will definitely favor Herbert.”
– Richard Savill (Fantasy Six Pack)

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What one WR outside the top 30 in the expert consensus are you hoping to end up with in all your leagues and why?

Jameson Williams (WR – DET)
“Even though Williams is suspended for the first six games, he has star potential. He’s big (6-1, 189) and fast (4.39 in the 40). Williams torched SEC defenses, including the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs who had one of the best defenses in college football history. Most fantasy analysts have Amon-Ra St. Brown as the Lions’ de facto No. 1 WR and go-to guy, but I think they’re wrong. It’s Williams who is the most talented WR in Detroit. Williams reminds me a little of Randy Moss and is a potential league-winner.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

Jahan Dotson (WR – WSH)
“While the quarterback situation in Washington is best described as murky, Dotson taking a massive step forward in year two is a gamble I am more than willing to take the risk on. Dotson started off his rookie year in impressive fashion with 4 TDs in 4 games, and then missed time due to injury. At the end of the year, Dotson went on a run of 3 TDs in his last 5 games. I am all over the second-year WR in drafts this year, especially in rounds 7-10, and Dotson at his current WR36 price in half PPR is simply too good to pass up. It wouldn’t be shocking to me if we talk about Dotson becoming the No. 1 pass catcher in the Washington offense sooner rather than later over teammate Terry McLaurin. Pending health and QB play, count me in on a huge sophomore season for Dotson.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

“Jahan Dotson is a player I absolutely loved coming out of Penn State in 2022. Although his rookie campaign was interrupted by injuries (12 games played), what he flashed while on the field is enough to get excited over coming into 2023. His seven touchdowns over 12 games are an insane rate to expect for him to maintain as his snap count increases. But the number I came away most impressed with is his 2.14 fantasy points per target (WR6). This can only help to increase Dotson’s target share from a season ago (15.9%). If he can manage to gain a target share close to 20% in 2023, adding in his nose for the end zone, you will find yourself with a bona fide weekly starter as a WR2 at the cost of a WR3 with his current ADP of WR32.”
– Brandon Murchison (RotoBaller)

“Jahan Dotson is one of the year two receivers I’m very high on for the 2023 season. Dotson showed he has a nose for the end zone with seven touchdowns as a rookie. He gets an upgrade at quarterback with Sam Howell; yes, it’s an upgrade. Adding OC Eric Bieniemy will help create plays for Dotson to use his speed to make big plays. Dotson’s speed will help him haul in downfield throws and make yardage after the catch on underneath receptions.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)
“The song you’re hearing in your head is “da da da da da da da da … Bateman!” Rashod’s season last year was far from the blow-up year we’d hoped for, but there’s still hope. He is still linked to a great QB, and the offensive coordinator change should benefit both Bateman and Lamar Jackson. Last year, in games where he had at least four targets (Weeks 1-4 and Week 7), Bateman was the WR14 in yards after the catch, WR2 in YAC per reception and WR5 in yards per route run among WRs with at least 20 targets. Quoting mi amigo Derek Brown: “Rashod Bateman SZN is coming. Be prepared!”
– Mauricio Gutierrez (Estadio Fantasy)

Brandin Cooks (WR – DAL)
“The one WR outside the top 30 in the expert consensus I am hoping to end up with in all my leagues is Brandin Cooks of the Dallas Cowboys. Cooks was stifled in the Houston Texans’ offense last season under Pep Hamilton. Cooks will have a much greater opportunity in Dallas, as TE Dalton Schultz is no longer with the Cowboys. With CeeDee Lamb the clear primary target in Dallas, I still see Cooks providing WR3/Flex value in fantasy football lineups this season.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

Kadarius Toney (WR – KC)
“Yes, Kadarius Toney is a major injury risk. In his two years in the league, Toney has dealt with hamstring, ankle, quad, shoulder and oblique injuries, and he went on the COVID-19 reserve list not once but TWICE as a rookie. But Toney has freakish athleticism and movement skills, and he’s a target magnet. Toney has played 445 regular-season snaps over his two NFL seasons and has drawn 77 targets. That means he’s been targeted on 17.3% of his regular-season snaps — including running plays. George Pickens (who has a higher ECR than Toney) had a 15.3% target share last year. That’s only on passing plays. Toney has been targeted on 17.3% of all his NFL snaps. Now, Toney heads into his first full season with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback and Andy Reid as his head coach. If — and granted, it’s a huge “if” — Toney can stay healthy for a full season, he could be a top-10 wide receiver. At his modest price, Toney can’t even be called a risky investment because the risk is so minimal.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT)
“I am firmly planting my flag on Steelers WR Diontae Johnson to have a massive bounce-back campaign. He didn’t score last season — likely a fluke — and second-year WR George Pickens is a vastly overrated darling of the fantasy community. But even though DJ is still the more proven asset, Pickens is consistently drafted earlier. Johnson’s ability to command targets based on his 28% target share and seventh-ranked 137 targets in 2022 suggests he is a prime candidate for positive regression in many facets. His combined downfield targets and red-zone targets were the most of any player not to score in 2022. Those trends don’t tend to carry over from year-to-year. Buy low on the WR15 in expected fantasy points per game from last season.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Marquise Brown (WR – ARI)
“With DeAndre Hopkins gone, Hollywood will not remain outside the top 30 wide receivers for long in the ADP shuffle. As things stand in early June, you can now consider him one of the hot targets entering the summer. There is potential for WR1 numbers, and even the most casual fantasy observers will recognize this.”
– Richard Savill (Fantasy Six Pack)

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