We might be in the middle of NFL free agency, but there is never a bad time to think about fantasy football. Now is a perfect time to dive into the film and the numbers to find next year’s breakout stars and superstars. Today, let’s look at six 2023 Fantasy Sleepers.
All position rankings are from FantasyPros’ 2023 Draft Rankings (3/15/23).
WR36: Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
- Key Stat: 2.38 Yards per Route Run
- Ravens to win the Super Bowl +2500
2022 was another difficult season for Bateman and the Ravens. He only played in six games, and he was limited to 28 targets and just 15 catches in those games. He scored 13.9, 20.8, 7.9, and 8.2 PPR points in the four games he did not leave with an injury. The notable aspect of his points was the limited passing offense. In those four games, the Ravens had more than 220 passing yards just once – Week 2 against Miami.
The question for Bateman in 2023 will be the volume. He should be the No. 2 pass catcher behind tight end Mark Andrews, and this should come with a few extra targets per game as the Ravens shift offensive coordinators and have a more balanced offense. While he’s being drafted as a WR3, WR4, or FLEX, Bateman has WR2 upside for now.
WR40: Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs
- Key Stat: 7 Forced Missed Tackles on 23 Catches
- Chiefs to win the Super Bowl +550
Toney is in a similar boat to Bateman. He could be the top wide receiver in an offense with an overwhelming tight end. He also has massive injury risk and has yet to put up a full season of production. In 10 games with the Chiefs (including playoffs), Toney only had 21 catches for 221 yards. Notably, this includes four one-catch games and a goose egg against the Chargers.
The value in Toney is the offseason coming up. He will get the chance to fully acclimate to the Chiefs, and he is slated to be their No. 1 wide receiver. Toney will get to learn the playbook and build rapport with Patrick Mahomes. Instead of being a gadget player and punt returner, Toney will have ample time to be a breakout player and be one of those sneaky 2023 Fantasy Sleepers
WR58: Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants
- Key Stat: Led Giants WRs in Yards per Route Run
- Giants to win the Super Bowl +4000
Robinson only played six games in 2022, but his last game was an impressive nine-catch, 100-yard outing against Detroit. With little production to go off, Robinson is lumped in a box with draft prospects in terms of fantasy upside.
He was productive after the catch in college, and it translated to the NFL with 5.5 yards after the catch per reception and three forced missed tackles on 23 catches. For now, Robinson is the Giants’ top receiver.
They could go after an alpha receiver, but Robinson has WR2 or WR3 upside regardless. He is a useful threat after the catch, and he even had some success winning contested balls. The former second-round pick should have a solid uptick in production in 2023 even if is the second fiddle.
WR62: Adam Thielen, Free Agent
- Key Stat: 16 Receiving Touchdowns since 2021
- Vikings to win the Super Bowl +4000
There are plenty of red flags with Thielen, but the one constant is his ability to find the end zone. He has scored at least six touchdowns in each of the last five seasons, a feat only matched by Stefon Diggs, Mike Evans, Tyreek Hill, and Tyler Lockett. Fantasy owners would love consistent production, yes, but scoring touchdowns can salvage otherwise rough days.
Thielen will be 33 when the season begins, and he is currently a free agent (although the Panthers are interested). In most cases, age would be a limiting factor, but his veteran savvy should find him a roster spot in 2023 as a No. 2 wide receiver. The days of 1,300 yards or 14 touchdowns might be long gone, but Thielen should be a top-40 receiver for the seventh time in eight years.
WR94: KJ Hamler, Denver Broncos
- Key Stat: 23.6 Yards per Reception
- Broncos to win the Super Bowl +3500
This is one of our favorite players of the 2023 Fantasy Sleepers. Hamler has ended three consecutive seasons on injured reserve, but the exciting piece of the puzzle is that he could become the No. 2 wide receiver on the Broncos if they were to trade Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy. Both players have been mainstays in trade rumors for the last year, and Hamler’s standing as a WR94 – undrafted in most leagues – makes him an enticing late-round flier.
As the third banana in Denver, Hamler is mainly irrelevant for fantasy purposes, and he only has one top-100 finish as a wide receiver in his career. However, he would be due for a large increase in workload if Sutton or Jeudy were moved. If they were not moved, Hamler could be safely dropped, but late-round picks are often dropped regardless. At least Hamler has potential upward mobility in his current situation. It’s not a bad idea to snag him as a potential 2023 Fantasy Sleeper.
WR132: Kyle Philips, Tennessee Titans
- Key Stat: 61.1% of Slot Snaps
- Titans to win Super Bowl +8000
Philips played four games and just 71 snaps in 2022. He had some struggles returning punts, and he dealt with injuries for much of the season. He was in a logjam of similar receivers, and he did not stand out enough to earn a significant run. However, targets are opening up for three key reasons.
First, Tennessee’s leading receiver Robert Woods is gone. Woods had 82 targets in 17 games last year. He also occupied some slot snaps that Philips could nab in 2022. Second, the Titans are rumored to have made Derrick Henry available. He might not be traded like the Denver receivers, but the reality could be one Adam Schefter tweet away. Any abandoning of the run game would help Philips and the rest of the receiver corps.
Third, the Titans are projected to be much worse in 2023. They ended 2022 on a massive losing streak, and they are already out to +300 to win the division according to BetMGM. This would help put the Titans in more passing situations.
2023 Fantasy Sleepers Final Verdict
A lot can change in the next few months as free agency unfolds, trades happen, and dozens of receivers come o the board in the NFL Draft, but it is never too early to discuss potential sleeper candidates. Championships can be won with that little bit of extra research, film grind, or number crunching.