Fantasy Football WR Tiers 2023: Justin Jefferson Leads an Elite Quartet
We are inching closer to the start of the 2023 NFL season, so it’s time for the mad dash of fantasy football drafts to begin. That makes it more important than ever to put your players into positional “tiers.” Unlike my player rankings, tiers group players of similar value. So, if you miss out on a particular player, you can see others on the same tier as an alternative. And if that tier has been cleared, it might be a good idea to wait a round or two on players who fall into the next tier at the position.
I’ll cover all four of the offensive positional tiers for our fantasy football purposes. I started off with the quarterbacks and running backs, so now let’s move on to the position that’s surging in terms of draft value, the wide receivers:
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--- Tier 1 ---
Justin Jefferson, Vikings
Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals
Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
Jefferson is not only the consensus No. 1 overall wideout, but he’s also the No. 1 overall pick in drafts. Chase is a superstar in Cincinnati and a top-five pick in all drafts. Hill, the WR2 a season ago, is a locked and loaded top-eight overall pick.
--- Tier 2 ---
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys
A.J. Brown, Eagles
Stefon Diggs, Bills
Davante Adams, Raiders
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
Garrett Wilson, Jets
Cooper Kupp, Rams
This tier includes a group of receivers who could easily push into the elite tier this upcoming season. Lamb, Brown, Diggs and Adams all averaged more than 17 points per game last season, and St. Brown was close at 16.7. Wilson, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, is maybe the most popular fantasy breakout receiver now that he’ll be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. None of these receivers will be on the board after the conclusion of Round 2. Kupp, who had a setback in his return from an injured hamstring, has fallen to the end of Tier 2.
--- Tier 3 ---
Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins
Chris Olave, Saints
DeVonta Smith, Eagles
Keenan Allen, Chargers
Tee Higgins, Bengals
Calvin Ridley, Jaguars
All of the wideouts included in this tier have WR1 potential. In fact, Waddle and Smith were in the top 12 last season. Olave, who ranked 25th in points as a rookie, is expected to make a big statistical jump in Year 2. Allen missed seven games, but he averaged 16.4 points when he was on the field. Higgins had seven touchdowns and ranked 19th in points in the Bengals elite offense. Ridley is coming off an extended suspension but is in a great spot to succeed in Jacksonville.
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--- Tier 4 ---
DK Metcalf, Seahawks
Amari Cooper, Browns
Deebo Samuel, 49ers
DeAndre Hopkins, Titans
Drake London, Falcons
Terry McLaurin, Commanders
This tier includes veterans who have either been top-12 fantasy wideouts or have the potential to reach that level. Metcalf saw his touchdowns decline a season ago, but he also had a career-best 90 catches. Samuel is coming off a disappointing year but remains in the WR2 mix. Hopkins has historically been a top-12 receiver on rank lists, but he’s more of a No. 2 in Tennessee. London is a breakout candidate in Atlanta. McLaurin, who was the WR14 last year, could once again push for high No. 2 value.
--- Tier 5 ---
Diontae Johnson, Steelers
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
Mike Williams, Chargers
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers
Christian Watson, Packers
Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
The receivers in this tier are all borderline No. 2 or 3 fantasy wideouts. Johnson is coming off a down year, but positive touchdown regression is guaranteed since he failed to score even once. Lockett could see a decline in targets with the addition of rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the same goes for Williams in L.A. with Quentin Johnston in the offense. Watson is a potential breakout candidate in Green Bay. Godwin should lead the Buccaneers in targets in 2023.
--- Tier 6 ---
DJ Moore, Bears
Marquise Brown, Cardinals
Christian Kirk, Jaguars
Mike Evans, Buccaneers
Michael Pittman Jr., Colts
Tier 6 includes a list of players who could turn into fantastic draft bargains. Brown will be the top option in Arizona. Moore will be the projected best wideout in the Chicago offense and Evans will look to exceed decreased expectations due to the loss of Tom Brady (retirement). In fact, neither of these fantasy stars are ranked higher than low WR2s and are mostly high to mid No. 3 wideout options on most rank lists for 2023. This tier ends with Pittman, who was a breakout candidate last season but now comes with questions due to rookie Anthony Richardson being under center.
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--- Tier 7 ---
Jahan Dotson, Commanders
George Pickens, Steelers
Jordan Addison, Vikings
Jerry Jeudy, Broncos
Michael Thomas, Saints
Zay Flowers, Ravens
Brandin Cooks, Cowboys
Courtland Sutton, Broncos
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots
Dotson is one of the better sleeper receivers, and Pickens and Addison both fit under that “umbrella” too. Thomas could be a draft bargain, or he could get hurt for the fourth straight season. He’s a borderline No. 3 or 4 wideout. Cooks, who had a down year in Houston, should rebound as the second receiving option in Dallas. Jeudy falls due to his hamstring injury.
--- Tier 8 ---
Gabe Davis, Bills
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
Skyy Moore, Chiefs
Romeo Doubs, Packers
Jakobi Meyers, Raiders
Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens
Elijah Moore, Browns
Treylon Burks, Titans
Kadarius Toney, Chiefs
Nico Collins, Texans
Smith-Njigba could miss the start of the season with an injured wrist but he’s still draftable in the late rounds. This tier includes some potential sleepers like Burks, Doubs and Moore. All four of them will be worth late-round looks as No. 4 receivers. OBJ could be a big-time bargain, but he’s been prone to knee problems in recent years and is no longer an elite fantasy receiver. Maybe he can change that narrative. Toney remains a viable WR4 or WR5 in drafts.
--- Tier 9 ---
Isaiah Hodgins, Giants
Allen Lazard, Jets
Zay Jones, Jaguars
Marvin Mims, Broncos
Rondale Moore, Cardinals
Rashod Bateman, Ravens
Tyler Boyd, Bengals
Jayden Reed, Packers
K.J. Osborn, Vikings
Quentin Johnston, Chargers
Adam Thielen, Panthers
Michael Gallup, Cowboys
There could be some draft value in this tier, as it includes some players who have a chance to make an impact for their respective teams. Moore could make a bigger impact in Arizona with Hopkins no longer on the roster, if he can avoid injuries. Hodgins and Reed could be labeled “deep sleepers,” while Thielen could lead all Carolina wide receivers in targets and fantasy points. Johnston and Reed are prominent rookies who find themselves in crowded receiver rooms. Mims has moved up as a result and is now worth a late-round pick in most drafts.
--- Tier 10 ---
Darius Slayton, Giants
Van Jefferson, Rams
Curtis Samuel, Commanders
Rashid Shaheed, Saints
D.J. Chark, Panthers
Michael Wilson, Cardinals
Tank Dell, Texans
DeVante Parker, Patriots
Darnell Mooney, Bears
Rashee Rice, Chiefs
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns
This tier is full of late-round fliers and players who could push for bigger roles than projected this season. Slayton, Jefferson, Parker and Bateman are or could be starters for their respective teams, and Samuel, Mooney and Shaheed should see enough work to warrant a late-round flier as a No. 5 fantasy wideout.
