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
Cooper Kupp, Rams
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 going ahead of Kupp and Hill based on the average draft position data at NFFC, due in large part to the fact that Kupp is dealing with an injured hamstring. He’s expected to be back for Week 1, barring setbacks. Hill, the WR2 a season ago, is also going ahead of Kupp in recent weeks. Regardless, this quartet should be considered the elite of the elite at wideout.
--- Tier 2 ---
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys
A.J. Brown, Eagles
Stefon Diggs, Bills
Davante Adams, Raiders
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
Garrett Wilson, Jets
This tier includes a group of wide 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 in the league 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.
--- Tier 3 ---
Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins
Chris Olave, Saints
DeVonta Smith, Eagles
Keenan Allen, Chargers
Amari Cooper, Browns
Tee Higgins, Bengals
All of the wideouts included in this tier have WR1 potential. In fact, Waddle, Smith and Cooper were all 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.
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--- Tier 4 ---
DK Metcalf, Seahawks
Deebo Samuel, 49ers
Calvin Ridley, Jaguars
DeAndre Hopkins, Titans
Terry McLaurin, Commanders
This tier includes five 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, while Ridley is coming off an extended suspension but is in a great spot to succeed in Jacksonville. Hopkins has historically been a top-12 receiver on rank lists, but he’s more of a No. 2 in Tennessee. McLaurin, who was the WR14 last year, could once again push for high No. 2 value.
--- Tier 5 ---
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers
Diontae Johnson, Steelers
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
Mike Williams, Chargers
Jerry Jeudy, Broncos
Christian Kirk, Jaguars
The receivers in this tier are all borderline No. 2 or 3 fantasy wideouts, led by Aiyuk. 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. Jeudy has room to break out in his fourth season, and Kirk was a top-12 wideout last season with the Jaguars.
--- Tier 6 ---
Marquise Brown, Cardinals
Drake London, Falcons
Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
Christian Watson, Packers
DJ Moore, Bears
Mike Evans, Buccaneers
Tier 6 includes a list of players who could turn into fantastic draft bargains. Brown will be the top option in Arizona, and the same goes for London in Atlanta. Watson and Moore will also be the projected best wideouts for their respective teams, and Godwin and Evans will look to exceed decreased expectations due to the retirement of Tom Brady. In fact, neither of these fantasy stars are ranked higher than low WR2s and are mostly WR3 options in most rank lists for 2023.
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--- Tier 7 ---
Michael Pittman Jr., Colts
Jahan Dotson, Commanders
Michael Thomas, Saints
Brandin Cooks, Cowboys
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots
George Pickens, Steelers
Jordan Addison, Vikings
This tier begins with Pittman, who was a breakout candidate last season but now comes with questions due to rookie Anthony Richardson being under center. 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.
--- Tier 8 ---
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
Gabe Davis, Bills
Treylon Burks, Titans
Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens
Kadarius Toney, Chiefs
Romeo Doubs, Packers
Allen Lazard, Jets
Elijah Moore, Browns
This tier includes some potential sleepers like Burks, Toney, 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. Smith-Njigba, Davis and Lazard all have limited ceilings due to crowded receiver rooms.
--- Tier 9 ---
Rondale Moore, Cardinals
K.J. Osborn, Vikings
Zay Jones, Jaguars
Isaiah Hodgins, Giants
Adam Thielen, Panthers
Nico Collins, Texans
Tyler Boyd, Bengals
D.J. Chark, Panthers
Skyy Moore, Chiefs
Quentin Johnston, Chargers
Zay Flowers, Ravens
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. Rondale Moore could make a bigger impact in Arizona with Hopkins no longer on the roster, if he can avoid injuries. Hodgins and Collins could be labeled “deep sleepers,” while one of Thielen or Chark could lead all Carolina wide receivers in targets and fantasy points. Skyy Moore has risen up rank lists, especially with Toney at less than 100%. Johnston and Flowers are prominent rookies who find themselves in crowded receiver rooms.
--- Tier 10 ---
Darius Slayton, Giants
Van Jefferson, Rams
Curtis Samuel, Commanders
Michael Gallup, Cowboys
DeVante Parker, Patriots
Rashee Rice, Chiefs
Darnell Mooney, Bears
Rashod Bateman, Ravens
Rashid Shaheed, Saints
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.
