NEWSLETTER
In dynasty leagues, wide receivers are critical to winning. When you consider the short career span running backs tend to have, it’s important to load up on receivers to target when building your team. It’s a tried and true long-term strategy, especially in PPR leagues. Having solid receivers to lean on during the fantasy football regular season leaves most teams sitting in contention all season long. Let’s run down the top ten according to our dynasty rankings.
2023 Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings: The Top 10 Wide Receivers to Watch
1.) Justin Jefferson, MIN
Few players have ever had the start to a career Jefferson has had. Last year was a highlight for fantasy football managers as he posted 128 catches for 1,809 yards and eight scores. While his final game sunk many fantasy managers, Jefferson has proven to be an elite fantasy asset and the likely top pick in dynasty fantasy football drafts this off-season. Simply put, he’s the best player at a critical position.
2.) Ja’Marr Chase, CIN
The only real threat to Jefferson at the top is the uber talented Ja’Marr Chase, who comes in at the second spot in our rankings. The consistency you expect from these two make them the consensus top players in dynasty leagues and the two receivers capable of winning you a championship in your fantasy league. With Joe Burrow leading one of the best offenses in the NFL, Chase is destined for a solid career as he has the skill set to lead the league in just about any statistical category each and every season.
3.) AJ Brown, PHI
Brown was a bit of a wild card coming into the year as many wondered if he could retain his WR1 status with Jalen Hurts at quarterback. Well, that was answered quickly as Brown posted a massive 88/1,496/11 season, solidifying his spot in our dynasty fantasy football rankings. While Chase and Jefferson lead the wide receiver position, Brown is young enough to be towards the top of our rankings in dynasty leagues for years to come, especially with Hurts developing into a dominant performer.
4.) CeeDee Lamb, DAL
When you’ve combed through fantasy football dynasty rankings over the past few years, Lamb has been towards the top ever since his rookie season. However, he hadn’t really posted an elite campaign until this year when he recorded 107 catches for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns. With those kinds of numbers under his belt, Lamb is destined for a monster contract extension moving forward and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make a run at the top three in our positional rankings should he continue his production and stay away from injury.
5.) Jaylen Waddle, MIA
When the Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill last offseason, it was fair to wonder just how many targets Waddle was going to receive last season. Well, the route running dynamo answered all questions about his value with a dominant season that featured 75 catches for 1,356 yards and eight touchdowns. Even better, his yards per catch increased from 9.8 to 18.1. Heading into 2024, Waddle looks more like a boom than a bust and could get even better as long as Tua Tagovailoa can recover and he doesn’t have to deal with a new quarterback.
6.) Tee Higgins, CIN
Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase will celebrate their 3-year anniversary together with the Bengals next year and combine to create one of the league’s most dominant wideout pairings. While Chase may have the flash and get more of the headlines, Higgins has had a solid career of his own. The consistency Higgins has shown over his three years has been remarkable as he’s posted right around 70 catches, 1,000 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns in each of his three years. The Bengals may have a hard time keeping both Higgins and Chase long-term, but Higgins would be a dream for another coach and has clearly shown the ability to be a WR1 in the right system.
7.) Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET
We saw St. Brown start to trend up a little bit towards the end of 2021, but last year put him towards the top of dynasty and keeper rankings moving forward. The Lions look like a team on the rise and while we expect Jameson Williams to take a bite out of his production as early as next season, Amon-Ra seems very likely to stay towards the top of the wide receiver tiers for years to come as his 106/1,161/6 line was huge for dynasty teams last season. At this point, it’s crazy to think some dynasty managers were looking at players like Josh Palmer or Jakobi Meyers ahead of him last season.
8.) Tyreek Hill, MIA
You could honestly write an entire article or have an hour long podcast about Tyreek Hill and break down every spectacular catch he makes each week. Simply put, the Cheetah has a skill set nearly unmatched in the NFL. The only problem at this point is the fact he’ll turn 29 in March. While many receivers still post dominant seasons well past 30 and 31 years of age, it does push him down just a touch in our WR rankings. Still, he’s an amazing target for any dynasty manager and one who could win you a match-up in any given week.
9.) Garrett Wilson, NYJ
Wide receivers on the Jets are viewed a little different than those on other teams simply because of their unsettled quarterback situation. With Zach Wilson likely done in New York, the Jets are yet again looking for yet another answer at the position. With Aaron Rodgers of the Packers, Jimmy Garoppolo of the 49ers, and Derek Carr (formerly of the Raiders) all being rumored to have interest from the Jets, the fantasy value of any wide receiver on the team is in line to increase. Wilson was awesome as a rookie with an 83/1,103/4 line with the likes of Joe Flacco, Wilson, and Mike White throwing the ball. Give him a solid quarterback and he’s going to rise up the charts quickly.
10.) Davante Adams, LV
No Rodgers? No problem. Adams was awesome in his first year with the Raiders as he posted 100 catches for 1,516 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Now 30, age and a now unsettled quarterback situation are the only things keeping him from the upper tier. Still, there are very few receivers who strike fear in opponents more than Adams and he’s still a pillar to build a dynasty team around. If Rodgers finds his way to Las Vegas, this could be fun.
Just Missed in our Dynasty Rankings
A number of players sit just outside the top ten and those include Chris Olave, DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, Drake London, Stefon Diggs, and Cooper Kupp. The next tier also includes players like Keenan Allen, Jerry Jeudy, Deebo Samuel, Treylon Burks, George Pickens, Christian Watson, Courtland Sutton, Tyler Lockett, and a whole host of others. Once the NFL Draft is complete, top rookie players like Jaxon Smith-Ngiba, Quentin Johnston, and Jordan Addison will undoubtedly enter the top tiers as well once we update our rankings post-draft.
Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings Methodology Explained
It’s important to understand the relative shelf life of different positions when it comes to evaluating players. In rookie drafts, it’s not nearly as important as you should be able to get at least six or seven seasons from virtually any player you draft, regardless of position. Still, running backs are always going to be the riskiest picks as they tend to have shorter careers. In a start-up draft, you don’t want to spend first or second-round draft capital on an aging running back, despite how productive they may be. In short, you need to balance youth and talent and build a team in a strategic fashion, knowing wide receivers are likely going to have longer careers, but carry more volatility from week-to-week.
Dynasty Rankings Resources
For a complete list of all the Dynasty Rankings by position, check out our sister site Dynasty League Football’s extensive resources;
Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings FAQ
What is the difference between Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings and Superflex Wide Receiver Rankings?
Dynasty wide receiver rankings consist of a list of the top players who are expected to make an impact in the NFL for the upcoming season and for future seasons. These rankings are crucial for fantasy football players in dynasty leagues as they help determine the best players to add to their roster for long-term success.
The main difference between the two is that Superflex wide receiver rankings include an additional aspect for the players’ fantasy football value, as the Superflex format allows for the starting of a second quarterback in the lineup. In Superflex Rankings, the players’ value as potential quarterback starters is taken into account, whereas in Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings, the rankings are primarily based on the players’ overall long-term value and contribution to a dynasty fantasy football team.
In short, quarterbacks are going to be valued more in superflex leagues as there are fewer in the league and score points on a more consistent basis, making them the premier players to have in leagues.
Why are quarterbacks and wide receivers often at the top of Dynasty Player Rankings?
Quarterbacks and wide receivers are often at the top of dynasty rankings because they are key positions in fantasy football. Quarterbacks are the most valuable players on the field as they control the offense and have the ability to rack up points through passing touchdowns. Wide receivers are also valuable as they can make big plays and score touchdowns. Both positions also have a longer career arc than running backs.
How important are wide receivers in building a successful fantasy football team?
Wide receivers are very important in building a successful fantasy football team. By focusing on the top wide receivers, you’ll be able to build a strong foundation of talent that will bring you long-term success as they promise to have longer careers than running backs. This is especially important in dynasty leagues, where you’re looking to build a team for the future, not just the current season.
