The 2023 fantasy football season is almost here. Regardless of your draft strategy, fantasy players want to leave the draft with the guys on their must-have list.
Here are two early-round, mid-round, and late-round wide receivers that fantasy players shouldn’t leave the draft without having on their roster.
- Identifying Rookie WR1s & WR2s | 6 Wide Receivers Most Likely to Become WR1s
- Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
- Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
Must-Have Wide Receivers (2023 Fantasy Football)
Average draft position (ADP) via FantasyPros
Early-Round Targets
Cooper Kupp (LAR): ADP 6.7 | WR3
While the Rams had problems on offense, Kupp was the WR1 on a points-per-game basis last year, averaging 18.2 half-point point per reception (PPR) fantasy points per contest. Unfortunately, he missed eight games last season because of a high ankle sprain. Yet, the superstar still ended the 2022 season as the WR24 despite missing half the year.
More importantly, Kupp has been arguably the most consistent wide receiver over the past two seasons. The veteran totaled 12.7 or more fantasy points in all but one contest over the past two years, removing the matchup he got hurt. Fantasy players who miss out on Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase should jump at the chance to draft Kupp.
Chris Olave (NO): ADP 30.3 | WR12
Olave is my favorite second-year wide receiver to draft this season. The rookie was the WR25, averaging 10.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he joined Garrett Wilson as the only two rookie wide receivers with over 1,000 receiving yards. However, the former Ohio State star was catching passes from Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston.
While Derek Carr isn’t a superstar, the veteran is a momentous upgrade at the quarterback position. Meanwhile, the Saints did little to improve their receiving core this offseason. While Michael Thomas will be on the team in 2023, the veteran has missed 80% of the contests over the past three years. Olave could lead the NFL in target share this season.
Mid-Round Targets
DJ Moore (CHI): ADP 56.3 | WR22
The former Maryland star is due for a breakout season. Moore spent the first five years of his career playing with sub-par quarterbacks in Carolina. Now he gets to play with Justin Fields. While the former Ohio State quarterback has struggled to throw the ball in his NFL career, the Bears have lacked proven pass catchers. Thankfully, Moore changes that.
The veteran wide receiver has been a consistent WR2 for fantasy players since his rookie year despite poor quarterback play. Furthermore, he had at least 1,150 receiving yards or seven touchdowns in four consecutive seasons. No one should be surprised if Fields and Moore have a Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown-like year in 2023.
Diontae Johnson (PIT): ADP 84.3 | WR34
Last year was one to forget for those fantasy players that drafted Johnson. The veteran wide receiver had the seventh-most targets in the league (147) but scored zero touchdowns. By comparison, Dyami Brown scored two touchdowns on only 14 targets last season. Thankfully, Johnson won’t score zero touchdowns again in 2023. The former Toledo star was the WR9 in 2021, averaging 13.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
More importantly, the veteran had eight receiving touchdowns that year, a career-high. Had he totaled six touchdowns last year (his career average was 6.7 per season before last season), Johnson would have been the WR20 last year. The veteran is a steal at his ADP.
Late-Round Targets
Elijah Moore (CLE): ADP 126.7 | WR47
Everyone in the fantasy football community called Moore a second-year breakout last season. He ended his rookie year on fire, averaging 17.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the final five games. Unfortunately, nothing went according to plan last season. Moore couldn’t earn consistent snaps or targets on offense and asked for a trade.
While the Jets refused at first, they traded the young receiver to the Browns this offseason. The third-year receiver has been the talk of offseason workouts in Cleveland. Furthermore, Moore has built a strong connection with Deshaun Watson. The former Ole Miss star is my favorite post-hype sleeper this year.
Skyy Moore (KC): ADP 162.3 | WR57
After the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins, everyone tried to guess who would replace him in Kansas City. While many picked Moore, the former Western Michigan star struggled as a rookie, finishing fourth among the team’s wide receivers in targets and fifth in route run. However, he has been the focal point of the Chiefs offseason workouts.
Head coach Andy Reid says the team has high expectations for the second-year receiver. Meanwhile, Kadarius Toney recently underwent knee surgery and likely won’t be ready for the start of the season. With JuJu Smith-Schuster and his 101 targets off the team, Moore takes over as the starting slot receiver.
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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.
