Finding true sleepers can go a long way in determining the success of your fantasy football season. Nail one or two big-time sleepers and you’ve either got a huge leg up on the rest of your league. More than that and you might have built up enough depth to make a trade that could be the difference in between the playoffs and winning your league. Below are eight wide receiver sleepers you want to target in your upcoming fantasy football drafts. All of these receivers are potential steals and should perform above their ADP.
2023 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Sleepers
DeAndre Hopkins, Free Agent
Hopkins should not be on this list. Talent alone should have him drafted as one of the top wide receivers, not a wide receiver sleeper. His employment status has him lagging behind where he should be. As of the time this article is written, DeAndre Hopkins remains unsigned. That will not be the case in Week 1 of the season and as I have previously laid out, no matter where DeAndre Hopkins signs, he will be a fantasy stud.
From Weeks 7 through 14 last season, Hopkins caught 63 passes on 86 targets for 713 yards and 3 scores. Over a 17-game season that would look like 183 targets, 134 catches, 1515 yards, and 6 scores. That would’ve placed Hopkins at WR7 overall last year in standard and WR4 in PPR formats. The only thing separating Hopkins from being a top-10 receiver is how many games he will be active for. With his choice of destination and no suspension on the horizon, Hopkins would be a steal as the 22nd WR off the board.
Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s been a while since we’ve gotten the chance to see Calvin Ridley. He missed all of last season due to a suspension for gambling on football and only played in 5 games in 2021 due to personal reasons relating to his mental health.
The deeper numbers in 2021 were solid, as he averaged over 10 targets per game. The production that came from that was less than stellar. Ridley had only 31 catches for 281 yards and 2 touchdowns. That would’ve had him coming up shy of 1,000 yards even in a 17-game season.
Still, Ridley will be surrounded by better talent in 2023, on a Jaguars team that also features Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Evan Engram, and Travis Etienne among others. Trevor Lawrence also took a huge leap last season and should be an upgrade from 2021 Matt Ryan. Expect Ridley to perform more like the 2020 version and less like the 2021 Ridley we saw last.
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
If any receiver is playing to earn a huge contract this year it’s Bradon Aiyuk. Aiyuk has always looked the part of a big-time receiver. He runs great routes, has good speed, and has showcased his abilities as a playmaker. Last year was the closest we’ve seen it to coming together, as he somewhat quietly put together a 78-1050-8 season. If Aiyuk can find a way to grasp a larger slice of the target share on a more consistent basis, he could find himself in line for a big contract and a top 10-15 fantasy season which makes for a great wide receiver sleeper.
Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens
How great is Odell Beckham Jr., truly? He was a 1,000-yard receiver in five of his first six years in the league but has struggled to stay healthy or consistent since.
How much of that is to blame on Baker Mayfield? Beckham’s numbers weren’t too impressive with the Rams by any means but he was a midseason acquisition and on a Rams offense that couldn’t feed the ball to Cooper Kupp enough. This late in the draft, it’s all about the upside. The consensus rankings have Odell at WR 50. If Odell can reach his old form from his Giants days, he could be a monster sleeper pick in drafts. If not, you won’t lose your league over him.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
Picking two WRs from the same team is going to feel like cheating, but I have a hard time not mentioning both. Zay Flowers was one of my favorite players coming out of the draft this year and I love his fit in Baltimore. Flowers explosive route running should get him open often and all over the field for Jackson. His 5’9″ frame might scare some but watch this play and tell me he doesn’t remind you of former Raven’s WR Steve Smith. Flowers has the ability to be a great receiver in this league. Even with Odell and Andrews, it could happen as early as this year.
Hail Mary Picks
When I’m thinking of wide receiver sleepers for deeper leagues, I’m not just thinking high-upside players but also the ones you take at the very end of the draft. Even if he doesn’t play every week, if your season ends with one of your final picks still on your roster, that’s a huge win. I consider these Hail Mary picks because that’s all it is. A sleeper pick at a spot with a low rate of success but you’re taking them hoping to strike gold.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
I say this at risk of being burned, again, by another Michael Thomas season cut short due to injury. That is also the reason he is even on this list of wide receiver sleepers.
Thomas is capable of being one of the best in the league when healthy. Having played in only 10 games since his 2019 season, he has left a bad taste in a lot of fantasy managers’ mouths. So much so he might fall farther than his 53rd overall consensus ranking. Even if healthy, Thomas might not be the top dog anymore with Chris Olave showing out in his rookie season last year. Still, if Thomas slips a little further and into the WR7 range, he might be worth taking a flyer on and seeing what you get.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kansas City Chiefs
MVS could be a huge benefactor of the situation he finds himself in. He has the reigning MVP throwing him the ball in a high-powered offense. Outside of Travis Kelce, the Chiefs look awfully thin on pass catchers.
Gone is Juju Smith-Schuster who led all Chiefs receivers in most major WR categories except for TDs. That category was led by Mecole Hardman who also has a new home. Somebody has to step up in KC. Kadarius Toney has the most talent by far but has had difficulties remaining off the injury report throughout his young career. Skyy Moore was drafted to be the future but he hasn’t shown much on the field yet. You have other options like rookie Rashee Rice, Richie James, and Justyn Ross, but it’s hard to imagine anyone having a bigger opportunity at their feet than Valdes-Scantling.
Paris Campbell, New York Giants
Time will tell if it holds into the regular season, but early reports indicate that newly acquired WR Paris Campbell has been getting a lot of work early and often in camp. This is a position that lacks an alpha for the Giants. Sure Darren Waller will be the top target but somebody else has to follow him up. I like Campbell as a late-round Hail Mary sleeper. If you’re looking for a WR late who might turn into a low-end starter, Paris Campbell is the pick.
Got a few wide receiver sleepers of your own? Drop some knowledge in the comments below. For more great rankings and analysis, make sure to check out our 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit!
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— Lisa Ann (@thereallisaann) May 6, 2023