The third year for a professional football player was viewed as a potential breakout season for quite some time. Still, over the last decade, we’ve seen offensive playmakers come into the league and make an impact from day one much more often, and there might not be a position where that rings truer than the wide receiver position.
As we approach the 2023 fantasy football season kickoff, the group of wide receivers from the 2021 NFL Draft class has a little bit of everything: a few established stars, some players we hope can finally break out, and some dart throws for depth.
Today, we’re ranking the top wide receivers entering their third season in the NFL.
- 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
Third-Year WR Rankings (2023 Fantasy Football)
Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)
Ja’Marr Chase has cemented himself as one of the best wide receivers in the entire league after just two seasons in the NFL. He’s attached to one of the best young quarterbacks in the sport, Joe Burrow, and has proven to be an elite, game-breaking talent at the wide receiver position.
He eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in just 12 games in 2022 and should easily finish as a top-five wide receiver as long as he’s healthy. He’s a near-consensus top-two option at wide receiver alongside Justin Jefferson, and there is every reason to treat him as such. He’s worth the early first-round draft capital it takes to acquire him.
Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)
After Chase is where this list likely starts to vary for people, but coming in at number two for me is Jaylen Waddle. Waddle’s top-end speed and acceleration are genuinely elite and make him a threat to score anytime.
We’ve seen him win in various ways in his career. As a rookie in 2021, it was on the back of a ton of targets (140 targets) with a lower average depth of target (7.1). In 2022, the target share decreased thanks to the addition of Tyreek Hill, but the field opened up tremendously in Mike McDaniel’s offense. The targets fell to 117, but the average target depth jumped up to 11.8 and led to a massive yards per reception of 18.1.
In redraft point-per-reception (PPR) formats, his average draft position (ADP) is 24, and he’s well worth a pick toward the back of Round 2. He’s a wide receiver well worth building a redraft or dynasty team around.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET)
Amon-Ra St. Brown locked in the fact that he is an absolute target hog in an efficient Lions’ passing attack in 2022. He had 146 targets a year ago, and D’Andre Swift was second on the team with 70.
In 2023, Jahmyr Gibbs figures to be involved in the passing attack along with fellow draftee Sam LaPorta and second-year wide receiver Jameson Williams when he returns from his six-game suspension. Still, this passing attack will once again be funneled through St. Brown.
His ADP in PPR redraft leagues is 19, so he’s going ahead of Jaylen Waddle on average. If you prefer counting on the volume of St. Brown compared to what Waddle will receive, you won’t get an argument from me. The two players are incredibly close value-wise, and you should be very confident locking in St. Brown as your WR1.
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