Trenton Corn’s 2023 fantasy football WR rankings 21-40

Trenton Corn breaks down part two of his fantasy football WR rankings

21. Jerry Jeudy

WR21 is where Jeudy finished last season, but I’m projecting this to be his floor, as we should see Russell Wilson and this Broncos offense take a step forward in his second year with the organization and Sean Peyton now in control of things. In weeks 13-18 last season, Jeudy gained 523 yards in that span and was the WR6 for fantasy.

22. Chris Olave

This is more of a projection, but Olave, who posted a 72 reception, 1042 yard and four touchdown performance in his rookie season with Andy Dalton as his QB (WR25) should see an uptick in production with Derek Carr seen to be an upgrade at the position.

23. Terry McLaurin

McLaurin was WR22 in fantasy points per game last season, finishing as WR14 on the season. He’s an immense talent, but similar to DJ Moore, has struggled with bad QB play in his career and potentially could have a worse starting QB this season in Sam Howell, not to mention an emerging Jahan Dotson stepping into the fold as well.

24. Tyler Lockett

This may seem like a shock to many, but if Lockett finished the season where I have him ranked, it would be his lowest finish in a fantasy season since 2017, as he had finishes of WR15 (‘18), WR14 (‘19), WR9 (‘20), WR19 (‘21), and WR13 (‘22) the last five years. The arrival of Jaxson Smith-Njigba is built into this ranking, but if you think Tyler Lockett is going to be a wideout outside of the top 24, you’ve lost your mind. People will pass on him in drafts due to him being an older “WR2” on a roster with two flashy names alongside him at the position, but he could be a steal where you can select him in your fantasy drafts.

25. Mike Williams

Williams tied Terry McLaurin last year, scoring 11.2 fantasy points per game, ahead of names like Brandon Aiyuk, DK Metcalf and DJ Moore. He offers a high ceiling in the Chargers pass happy offense if he can stay healthy for a full season and receive double digit touchdowns.

26. DK Metcalf

Metcalf’s 10.7 fantasy points per game was worse than teammate Tyler Lockett’s last season and was lumped together with the Michael Pittman and Jakobi Meyers of the world last year. Needless to say, he hasn’t reached the level of play he had in 2020 (1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns) and is over drafted based on his physical tools and that 2020 performance. Similar to Lockett‘s projection earlier, I’m predicting a drop off from Metcalf’s WR18 finish last year with the arrival of Smith-Njigba.

27. Michael Pittman

I was expecting a breakout performance from Pittman last year after a top 15 finish in 2021, but an awful season from the Colts halted his development, as he took a step back in the yards and touchdowns department. If there’s one plus to a “lost” season, it’s the fact that he saw 12 more targets in one fewer game. He will likely see low quality targets from Anthony Richardson for a good portion of the season, but he was already receiving those last season when he finished as WR23, as this ranking very well could be too low.

28. Drake London

In weeks that Desmond Ridder was the teams starter to end the year (weeks 15-18), Drake London was the WR22 in fantasy, with stat lines of 7-70, 7-96, 5-47 and 6-120. The 6’4” wideout needs to score more than four times in 2023, but should offer a solid PPR baseline if they don’t come his way.

29. DJ Moore

Moore was WR22 last year but uncharacteristically had less than 1,000 yards receiving and seven touchdowns (when he normally has around four) on the season. He got traded to Chicago this offseason and finally has a true franchise QB throwing him the ball, but Fields is more of a rushing threat at the position and Moore will be competing with Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool for targets this upcoming season as well. However, if he can get back into 1,000 yard land and still somehow come down with seven scores in 2023, this ranking could look very dumb.

30. Marquise Brown

Brown had a hot start to his season last year after being traded from Baltimore to Arizona in the offseason, operating as the teams WR1 with Deandre Hopkins serving a suspension, as he was the WR6 through weeks 1-6, before missing time with a foot injury. After his return however, he struggled with Hopkins in the fold and Colt McCoy under center after the Kyler Murray injury, as he was WR59 in that span (Weeks 12-18). With the risk of Kyler Murray missing the first few weeks of the season, I can see why fantasy managers could be cautious, but I think he’s a great value in drafts where he’s being drafted.

31. Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk benefitted from Deebo Samuel not being completely healthy last season and turned that opportunity into becoming a top 15 wideout last season. However, when Brock Purdy was the teams starter from weeks 13-18, he was only WR24 in points per game in that span and will probably be worse overall than that next season with Deebo Samuel fully healthy.

32. George Pickens

From weeks 4-18 (games Kenny Pickett played), Pickens was the WR25 in that span and looked to operate as the teams WR1 from a production standpoint, although Dionte Johnson was 6th in the league in total targets on the season. If Pickett takes a step forward and Pickens can truly separate himself as the teams WR1, he could push to be a top 24 wideout in “WR2” territory in year two.

33. Jahan Dotson

Dotson scored four touchdowns in his first four career games after being selected 16th overall  last year, before missing his next five contests with a hamstring injury. Outside of doing nothing his first three weeks after returning, Dotson was the WR15 from weeks 13-18 in a points per game basis. There’s a lot of question marks about this Washington Commanders offense, but the beginning and end of Dotson’s rookie year has me thinking that there’s room for a breakout in year two.

34. Christian Kirk

Kirk had a career year in 2022, as he produced 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and 8 touchdowns operating as Trevor Lawrence’s number one target, good enough for a WR11 overall finish. The arrival of Calvin Ridley will likely put a major dent in those statistical categories, but I can see Kirk potentially leading the team in receptions still in 2023.

35. Juju Smith-Schuster

Juju is replacing the Jakobi Meyers slot role for the Patriots this upcoming season that saw a WR28 finish on the campaign. He saw 78 receptions for 933 yards and three scores as a distant number two option for the Chiefs offense last year, as he trades the Mahomes efficiency for more volume from Mac Jones this upcoming season. It wouldn’t surprise me if he caught 90 plus balls next season.

36. Kadarius Toney

Last season, Patrick Mahomes #2 passing option and go-to wideout finished as the WR29 on the season (JuJu). There’s questions as far as who’s going to emerge and replace Smith-Schuster this season, but I’m projecting the former first round pick of Toney to be that guy. He’s a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands that could be the steal of your fantasy drafts if he stayed healthy for a full season.

37. Gabe Davis

Davis could be a “post hype sleeper” this upcoming season. There was a lot of hype going into last season after his breakout performance in the playoffs the year prior. However, last years WR27 performance wasn’t exactly what many expected when they drafted him. Currently, his ADP is at a point to where it’s considered a value in my opinion, especially with Isiah McKenzie and Cole Beasley no longer being on the team, vacating more targets for Davis to receive.

38. Dionte Johnson

Yes, I’m ranking Pickens ahead of Johnson, but I can’t ignore his 6th most targets in the league last season. I think he’s more of a volume based PPR flex option in fantasy leagues, but he will still finish in the top 40.

39. Brandin Cooks

From 2015 to 2021, Brandin Cooks rattled off SIX top 20 finishes in PPR leagues, proving to be one of the most reliable wideouts in all of football. This season, he gets to escape the Houston Texans and stays in state to join the high powered Dallas Cowboys offense. Cooks will operate as the team’s WR2 behind Ceedee Lamb and will have to compete with Michael Gallup and Tony Pollard for targets (not to mention Mike McCarthy wanting to run the ball more), but has the chance to still be a top 40 wideout with a few big games sprinkled in as well.

40. Rashod Bateman

The former 27th overall pick in the 2021 draft started off hot last year with two deep touchdowns within the first three weeks of the season before a Lisfranc injury eventually sidelined him for the remainder of the teams 11 regular season games. Baltimore brought in Veteran Odell Beckham Jr and drafted Zay Flowers in the first round of this years draft, but both of those players are question marks heading into the season. I understand there’s a lot of target competition, but Baltimore brought in Todd Monken this offseason to open up this offense a lot more and Bateman has a good chance to lead the WR room in touchdowns this season.