As the 2023 Fantasy Football season heats up, crafting a solid draft strategy is one of the keys to winning your leagues. One essential tactic is figuring out which players you’re going to target in the middle rounds of your draft, which can be the difference between a decent roster and a championship-winning lineup. With that in mind, we asked our featured experts for their favorite mid-round wide receiver targets ahead of the 2023 season.

• Snake Draft Pick Strategy: Early | Middle | Late
• Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
• Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
• 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit

Fantasy Football Draft Advice: Mid-Round WR Targets

Which WR with a half-PPR ADP between WR25-55 are you targeting the most in your drafts and why?

Drake London (WR – ATL)

“There are plenty of skeptics of whether Desmond Ridder will be able to support the top-tier receiving talent that Atlanta has, and I’m included in that faction. But I’m also betting on Drake London as a talent breaking out as one of the top receivers in the league. Last year, London’s 85.3 PFF grade ranked 10th among all receivers with at least 50 targets while averaging an outstanding 2.07 yards per route run. Unfortunately, London was only able to turn that into a WR36 performance on the season, but I expect him to improve in that respect greatly. ”
– Sam Hoppen (FantasyPros)

“Drake London has an ADP of WR27, but I have him inside the top 20 of my WR rankings. London commanded a 29.3% target share as a rookie. In the four games QB Desmond Ridder started at the end of the season, London averaged 9.0 targets, 6.3 receptions, and 83.3 yards per game, as well as 9.3 yards per target and 3.0 yards per route run. Not bad for a 21-year-old rookie. Yes, TE Kyle Pitts missed time with an injury in the latter part of the season, funneling more target volume London’s way. But the Falcons have precious little pass-catching talent other than London and Pitts, so London should continue to have ample target volume. This might be the cheapest buy-in on London that we’ll see in years. Take advantage.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Marquise Brown (WR – ARI)

“Although Kyler Murray’s availability is doubtful entering 2023, we can still count on an increased target share following the departure of DeAndre Hopkins. Don’t succumb to the notion that Colt McCoy might hinder his production. There is certainly risk involved, as we are also facing uncertainties with a new general manager, head coach, and offensive/defensive coordinators on the Cardinals. Yet, Hollywood is a worthwhile risk due to the enticing upside.”
– Richard Savill (Fantasy Six Pack)

Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF)

“Brandon Aiyuk — Aiyuk checks almost every box for me when I am evaluating what mid-round players to go after. He is young, he has significant upside, and he is in a fantastic situation in San Francisco playing for Kyle Shanahan. In 2022, Aiyuk had over 1,000 yards with 8 scores whilst serving, really, as the WR1, with Deebo Samuel being a fantasy liability last season. While there are questions, and fair questions, about the 49ers quarterback situation in 2023 with Brock Purdy on the mend and unproven, I am all in on Aiyuk. Aiyuk comes in as a high-end WR3 for me, with the potential to finish as a steady WR2 for fantasy managers in 2023.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Tyler Lockett (WR – SEA)

“Tyler Lockett. Lockett commanded about 21% of Seattle’s targets last season and finished as the WR13. Lockett has consistently finished as a top-25 wide receiver in PPR points per game for the past five seasons, including three straight top-20 finishes. The addition of Jaxon Smith-Njigba doesn’t scare me, and all three Seattle receivers can be productive in an above league-average passing offense.”
– Kyle Krajewski (First Seed Sports)

Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC)

“Quentin Johnston is a receiver I love in the middle rounds of my fantasy drafts. His upside in 2023 is fantastic as the Chargers switch to a more pass-heavy offensive scheme under Kellen Moore. Johnston will likely be the third receiver behind two aging starters who combined missed nine games in 2022. It’s not a matter of if but when one of them misses time, allowing Johnston to get into the starting lineup. Johnston showed in college the upside of a deep-threat receiver that Justin Herbert will help unleash during his rookie season. He offers the most upside where Johnston sits in ADP due to his speed and large frame.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT)

“Diontae Johnson is the best value across the fantasy football universe. Last 3 years. 5th in total targets (460). 7th in receptions (281). 9th in target share (25%), ADP is outside the top 30 WRs. More for me. ”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)

“Throw out everything you think you know about the Ravens offense. Todd Monken is a much more creative play designer and caller than Greg Roman was, and the historically run-heavy Baltimore offense is now a thing of the past. This is great news for their suddenly-talented cast of pass-catchers, including my favorite of the bunch: Rashod Bateman. Health is a question mark, but this is football; who isn’t health a question mark for? Bateman was a terrific prospect in the 2021 draft and is ready to break out in a major way now that he has an offensive coordinator who actually knows how to draw up modern passing concepts. I’m contractually obligated to mention in every post how much I love the potential of this Ravens offense in 2023. Any of their top three WRs could end up being smart investments at cost, but Bateman offers the most upside this season and is going in drafts as WR46. If he stays healthy, that’s going to end up about 25 slots too low.”
– Ryan Wormeli (FantasyPros)