There are several ways to dominate your fantasy football draft. One of those ways is finding wide receivers outside the top 24 that end the year as a WR1.
Last year, Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR31), Amari Cooper (WR34), DeVonta Smith (WR35), and Christian Kirk (WR40) all had an ADP outside the top-24 wide receivers. Yet, all four ended the 2022 season inside the top-12 wide receivers.
Which wide receivers drafted in the 25-36 range have a chance to finish top-12 this year? Let’s look at four potential candidates.
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2023 WR3s with WR1 Potential
Drake London (ATL): ADP 61 | WR 28
Last year many thought London would be the top-scoring rookie wide receiver. The Falcons lacked proven pass catchers outside of Kyle Pitts, which created a high target share for the former USC star. Unfortunately, the rookie ended the year as the WR35, averaging 8.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
London did finish 22nd among wide receivers in targets (117) last season. More importantly, the second-year receiver had plenty of upside in 2023, as Atlanta didn’t do much to improve their receiving core this offseason.
The Falcons did add Bijan Robinson to the backfield. Not only does the rookie have receiving upside, but it allows the team to use Cordarrelle Patterson more often as a wide receiver. That will stop London from having a sophomore-year breakout.
Last year the former USC star was held back by Marcus Mariota, as the rookie finished 27th in target quality rating and 31st in catchable target rate. Meanwhile, he averaged 9.6 targets per gave over the final five weeks last season, seeing at least eight in every contest. We will mention London in the same conversation as Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave a year from now.
Diontae Johnson (PIT): ADP 72 | WR 32
Johnson has one thing on his resume that the rest of the wide receivers in this article have done – a top-12 season. The star receiver was the WR9 in 2021, averaging 13.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he finished second in the NFL with 169 targets that year and had eight receiving touchdowns – a career-high. Unfortunately, he had historically bad luck last year finding the end zone.
After averaging 6.7 receiving touchdowns per season over the first three years of his career, Johnson had zero last season. Yet, he had a 27% target share, the 13th-highest among wide receivers. Furthermore, he finished seventh in the NFL with 147 targets (8.7 per game), down only 1.3 targets per game compared to 2021. By comparison, Dyami Brown had only 14 targets last season but scored two touchdowns.
While the Steelers’ passing attack was awful last season, fantasy players should expect it to improve in Kenny Pickett‘s first year as the unquestioned starter. While his ADP has been rising, Johnson is still vastly undervalued.
Brandon Aiyuk (SF): ADP 74 | WR 33
Some believe Deebo Samuel is the No. 1 wide receiver in San Francisco. However, that isn’t the case. Aiyuk has surpassed Samuel as the team’s top wide receiver. Last year the former Arizona State star was the WR15, averaging 11.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
Aiyuk outscored Samuel on a points-per-game basis last season. The star receiver also averaged more fantasy points per game than several big-name wide receivers, including DK Metcalf and DJ Moore. More importantly, Aiyuk was productive last year regardless of who played quarterback.
Aiyuk averaged 7.3 targets and 11.5 fantasy points per game with Jimmy Garoppolo under center. He averaged 6.2 targets and 11.3 fantasy points per game in Brock Purdy‘s five starts last season. Overall, Aiyuk had 78 receptions on 114 targets for 1,015 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs. The former Arizona State star finished 11th in the NFL in receiving touchdowns despite George Kittle finishing third (11). More importantly, he was 14th in route participation and third in target separation among wide receivers. San Francisco’s offense will be elite again this season, and Aiyuk will be a leading force.
Marquise Brown (ARI): ADP 82 | WR35
While the Cardinals are favored to have the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, fantasy players should target Brown in their fantasy drafts. The veteran had a disappointing first season with the team, ending the year as the WR46, averaging 10.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, the former Oklahoma star missed five games with a foot injury.
Brown was productive despite Arizona starting four different quarterbacks last season. The veteran wide receiver had a career-high 64.7% contested catch rate in 2022. Meanwhile, he was a superstar without DeAndre Hopkins on the field.
Brown was the WR6, averaging 14.7 fantasy points per game over the first six weeks last year with Hopkins suspended. Furthermore, he averaged 9.6 targets and 12.3 fantasy points per game in the eight games without the star wide receiver last season, averaging 1.64 yards per route run during those contests. The veteran averaged seven targets per game in the five contests without Kyler Murray.
Arizona released Hopkins earlier this offseason after adding only one wide receiver during the NFL Draft. The Cardinals will be in negative game script most of the season, creating plenty of targets and garage-time fantasy points for Brown.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
