Wide receiver has emerged into the most important position in fantasy football, right on the same level (or maybe higher at this point) as running backs. Part of that huge surge has been the ascension of several young, talented players who have come out of college and made a huge impact. That includes Justin Jefferson (this year’s consensus No. 1 pick), Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb to name just a few.
Last season, we saw Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Drake London all make noise, finishing with 178-plus points. Christian Watson made a huge impact in the second half, and others like George Pickens, Jahan Dotson, Treylon Burks and Alec Pierce flashed their skills at times. In 2023, we’re likely to see the same sort of scenarios.
Of course, where a player is ultimately selected is as important as the skills and abilities he brings to the table. While we’ll have to wait until later this month in the NFL draft to find out the new homes of all the top prospects, we don’t have to wait to project their best possible landing spots from a fantasy football standpoint.
With that said, here are my top five wide receiver prospects, their current NFL player comparison and which team would be their best fantasy fit. I realize some of these moves might be unlikely, but it gives you an idea of where a player will work best.
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1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Smith-Njigba missed most of last season due to an injured hamstring, but he was a stat sheet stuffer in 2021 with 95 catches, 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. A strong route runner with impressive ball skills, he could be a PPR dream as a slot receiver in the NFL. There are plenty of wideout-needy teams, and the Houston Texans are one of them. Smith-Njigba would come right in and be their best fantasy wideout as a rookie, and he’d become one of if not the top target in the passing game for their future franchise quarterback (either his former Ohio State teammate C.J. Stroud or Alabama signal-caller Bryce Young).
Player comparison: Christian Kirk Best fantasy fit: Houston Texans
2. Quentin Johnston, TCU
Johnston’s college numbers don’t pop off the page, but he’s a freak athlete at 6’4” and 215 pounds. He can use his size to shed defenders and his speed and strength to make plays in the vertical passing game. He’ll be an ideal X receiver, and the Carolina Panthers make perfect sense. Adam Thielen is entering his age-33 season, and DJ Chark is signed to a one-year deal. Johnston would certainly be the team’s No. 1 wideout of the future, and his impact could be felt as a rookie, too. Part of that, of course, will depend on his quarterback, which will likely be either Stroud or Young via the upcoming draft.
Player comparison: A.J. Green Best fantasy fit: Carolina Panthers
3. Jordan Addison, USC
Addison’s 2022 collegiate totals aren’t eye popping (875 yards, eight TDs), but his 2021 stats at Pittsburgh (100 catches, 1,593 yards, 17 TDs) tell a different tale. While he’s not a big wideout at 6’0” and 175 pounds, Addison is a playmaker with good route running skills who will be a first-rounder. I like him to go to the Big Apple, where the G-Men could use some help at wideout. The offense lacks a big-time player at the position (sorry, Sterling Shepard truthers), and Addison would become the most valued fantasy receiver on the roster.
Player comparison: DeVonta Smith Best fantasy fit: New York Giants
4. Zay Flowers, Boston College
Flowers isn’t a big receiver at 5’9” and 182 pounds, so he’ll project as a slot receiver at the next level. He had a career year in 2022, posting 78 catches for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Eagles. He would look great in Kansas City, catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in an offense that lost JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman to free agency. Flowers could also “blossom” into a real star with the Chargers should he land there.
Player comparison: Tyler Lockett Best fantasy fit: Kansas City Chiefs
5. Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Hyatt is coming off a career season that saw him put up 67 catches, 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Volunteers. In fact, he won the 2022 Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wideout. He’s an explosive, vertical threat with field-stretching skills who could be a starter in Year 1 for the right NFL team. One of those teams is the Tennessee Titans, who desperately need a complement to Treylon Burks. Hyatt could make a quick impact in that scenario.
Player comparison: Will Fuller Best fantasy fit: Tennessee Titans
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