The 2023 Season is in the books. While there’s still some playoff football to help us see how players do in the clutch, for dynasty players, it’s a time to sit back, take stock, and see how players fared. Over the next couple months, I’ll be looking back at the 2023, 2022 and 2021 classes by position. I’ll be evaluating if their stock rose, remained the same, or dropped during the course of the season. Now could be the time to sell high, buy low, or hold on to a winning hand. Today, I’m looking at the wide receivers taken in last year’s draft.
Stock Up: Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
About: Flowers wasn’t the first receiver taken, but he certainly had one of the best rookie seasons. He saw 108 targets, catching 77 passes for 858 yards and five touchdowns. He finished as WR30 and looks like a solid part of the Ravens’ passing game. Do the Ravens still need more in the passing unit? Probably. Is there some risk for Flowers due to the off-field allegations? Yes, though, for now, it seems OK. Still, I like Flowers as a solid WR3.
Stock Up: Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
About: Addison had a good season, sliding into the passing game alongside Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson. He had 70 receptions for 911 yards and ten touchdowns. That helped him finish as WR23. Some of that is a result of injuries that forced both Jefferson and Hockenson from the lineup at times. But it also came despite a rotation at quarterback for the Vikings. There are some questions this off-season, but Addison looks like a solid bet to be a factor for the Vikings’ passing game. I like him as a high-end WR3 with the upside to be a low-end WR2.
Stock Up: Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
About: The Packers have a young passing game, and as a rookie, Reed came right in and took the top spot. He caught 64 passes for 793 yards and eight touchdowns, adding two rushing touchdowns. He finished as WR25 and looks like a great contributor in a young and improving pass offense. I like Reed as a top-end WR3 with some upside as well.
Stock Up: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
About: It seems like you always want a receiver playing alongside Patrick Mahomes. That hasn’t worked with rookie receivers in recent years, but it did for Rice. He delivered a WR27 season, catching 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. He looked like the best and most dependable wide receiver for the Chiefs. The Kansas City offense has morphed some, and doubtless, the team will work to bring in more weapons this off-season. Still, Rice looks like a good fit and a solid WR3 candidate.
Stock Up: Tank Dell, Houston Texans
About: Dell finished as WR39, but I have no doubt that he would have finished inside the Top 20 had he not been injured and missed six games. Dell had a great connection with Stroud, and I like him a lot coming back in 2024. I think he’s a WR2 with some upside. It’s quite possible he’s the best WR value among the Texans’ receivers, and I prefer him to Nico Collins at this point.
Stock Up: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
About: No one had a better rookie year than Nacua, who was just a Fifth-Round draft pick. He finished as WR4. He caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. I like him as a high-end WR2. Cooper Kupp is still there, and it’s fair to wonder how long Matthew Stafford remains with the Rams and what happens after he leaves. I’ve seen some draft Nacua as a Top 5 option at receiver. That’s too high for me, but if I find someone who is a believer at that level, I might sell high.
Stock Up: Trey Palmer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: Palmer settled into a nice role as the Buccaneers’ WR3 in 2023. As a rookie, he saw 68 targets, catching 38 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns. The Buccaneers still have Chris Godwin, Cade Otton, and Rachaad White, and they just re-signed Mike Evans. So, I’m not going crazy here. But I like Palmer as a deep league stash and potential flex option.
Stock Up: Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
About: The Packers’ other rookie receiver had a fine season, too. He caught 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns. I like Reed as the top option and Romeo Doubs as a solid WR2. But it’s Wicks that I like as a sneaky value. I value him as a WR4/5, and I think he’s a better dynasty value—and Packers asset—than Christian Watson. He’s a sneaky pick-up for me.
Stock Neutral: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
About: JSN was the top receiver prospect in the draft, but he didn’t land in the greatest spot. The Seahawks have Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf and weren’t a pass-heavy offense in 2023. Despite that, JSN had a decent season. He caught 63 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns. The team returns Geno Smith in 2024, but the new Offensive Coordinator ran a more pass-heavy offense at the University of Washington in 2023. So, that gives me some renewed hope. I still have JSN as a WR3 with some upside that I hope to see in 2024.
Stock Neutral: Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos
About: I wanted to see more from Mims as a rookie and from the Broncos’ passing game in general. We saw some flashes. He caught 22 passes for 377 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos are working on the offense this off-season, and I think Mims will have more opportunities in 2024. So, I’m holding on to him. If someone has given up, he’s a guy I’d consider scooping up cheap in the next few weeks.
Stock Neutral: Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
About: There’s plenty to take away from the Colts’ 2023 season. Michael Pittman is the No. 1, and if he’s back, he should retain that role. But what after him? I liked what I saw from Downs, as he caught 68 passes for 771 yards and two touchdowns. Still, there’s plenty to watch this off-season. There’s also the great unknown since Anthony Richardson missed most of the season. Downs has potential to be the WR2 for the Colts, and as such is a WR4 for me. I like him better than Alec Pierce at this point.
Stock Neutral: Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
About: Wilson had a solid rookie season. He caught 38 passes for 568 yards and three touchdowns. I like him as a contributor for the Cardinals, possibly as the team’s WR2. But I think the Cardinals will take a new top receiver in the draft—or sign one as a free agent—and tight end Trey McBride will likely be the team’s No. 2 option. So, for now, I like Wilson as more of a WR5.
Stock Neutral: Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders
About: The Raiders have plenty of offensive weapons and still have some questions at quarterback. Tucker came in as a depth receiver with some big play potential from time to time. I don’t think he sees a more consistent role in year two. He’s still worth an end-of-bench roster spot in deep leagues, but I’m not counting on him for week-to-week value just yet.
Stock Neutral: Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
About: It was a good sign for Tillman when the Browns moved on from Donovan Peoples-Jones mid-season. That left Tillman as the team’s third receiver. That’s good. But he’s still behind Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, as well as tight end David Njoku for targets. He has some deep league stash value, but I’m loathe to see him as a week-to-week lineup option. It’s also possible the Browns bring in more receiving options. So, he’s a tenuous hold at this point at best.
Stock Down: Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
About: When Johnston went to the Chargers, it boosted his stock in rookie drafts. And yet, we didn’t get much of a return in 2023. Despite injuries that knocked out Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and Josh Palmer at times, Johnston didn’t do much. He finished with 38 receptions for 438 yards and two touchdowns despite starting ten games. It was underwhelming at best. But there’s hope! He’s getting new coaches and still has Justin Herbert. Johnston could be a buy-low for me, depending on the cost. Still, I want to see a step forward before I’m willing to start him on a weekly basis.
Stock Down: Jonathan Mingo, Carolina Panthers
About: The Panthers desperately need weapons, which made Mingo appealing going into his rookie season. But much like the rest of the offense, it was more fizzle than sizzle. He had just 43 receptions for 418 yards and no touchdowns. The Panthers have a new coaching staff again in 2024, and hopefully, that will portend good things for Mingo and second-year quarterback Bryce Young. But I need to see it first. Right now, Mingo isn’t a player I’m investing in this off-season.
Stock Down: Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants
About: The Giants’ 2023 season was a disaster. Hyatt saw just 23 receptions for 373 yards and no touchdowns. There’s space for Hyatt to take a step up as the Giants are in need of receivers, but it’s not clear how this pass offense will grow. Hyatt is another prospect I’m avoiding this off-season, especially as it seems likely the Giants will go for a receiver again in this year’s draft.
Stock Down: Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
About: Boutte saw his stock plummet during the draft. He finally landed with the Patriots, a receiver-needy team. He had a forgettable rookie season, followed by an arrest for illegal gambling. It’s safe to say he should be dropped in all formats. I don’t see him bouncing back from this.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
