5 Deep Sleeper Wide Receivers to Target in 2023 Fantasy Drafts

Getting the early rounds of fantasy football drafts can make sure you don't lose your league on draft day, but hitting on a late-round sleeper can help set your fantasy football squads up for success throughout the trials of the NFL season. Anyone who spent a late-round pick on Justin Jefferson in his rookie year or Garrett Wilson last year can attest to the value that winning late-round lottery tickets provide to your fantasy squads.

Fantasy drafters have mostly wised up to the upside those NFL first-round picks can provide to their fantasy squads, but savvy drafters can still find some gems in the latest rounds of their drafts. Check out these five deep sleeper WRs to target in your fantasy drafts this summer.

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (ADP: 130)

Baltimore Ravens wideout Rashod Bateman hasn't had an easy go of things since entering the league. A first-round draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Bateman was reportedly crushing his first Ravens training camp before suffering a sports hernia injury that sidelined him through much of his debut campaign. He did eventually suit up as a rookie but didn't have much time to gel with starter Lamar Jackson.

Last year, Bateman appeared to be on the precipice of a breakout. He flashed elite playmaking speed on his 75-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins but suffered a season-ending foot injury not long after that. He only played in a handful of games, but his yards per route run (2.38) would have ranked among the NFL's elite playmakers if he had qualified.

The Ravens this year are set up to throw more than ever under new OC Todd Monken, meaning there should be volume enough to support multiple passing game options even with Mark Andrews getting his. With an average draft position (ADP) of 130, Bateman requires the least draft capital investment of any of the Ravens' potential wideouts and still has upside as a former NFL first-round pick.

Nico Collins, Houston Texans (ADP: 146)

No one could blame you if you weren't paying attention to the Houston Texans last year. They were truly terrible and were shoe-ins for the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft until the final three weeks of the regular season. Buried beneath their facade of poor football was the emergence of second-year wideout Nico Collins as a legit NFL starter.

Collins dealt with injuries for a significant part of the 2022 season, but that didn't stop him from finishing second on the team behind Brandin Cooks in receiving yards per game (48.1). Cooks is now a member of the Dallas Cowboys, meaning Collins should become the Texans' WR1 this season.

That means a lot more now than it did with Davis Mills at quarterback last year. New Texans starter C.J. Stroud was electric at Ohio State over the last two season and should be a massive upgrade over Mills. The Texans' offense is a major regression candidate with Stroud under center, which could put Collins in a fantastic position to rack up fantasy points.

Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants (ADP: 163)

Biletnikoff award-winners don't usually fall very far in the NFL draft, but new New York Giants wideout Jalin Hyatt fell all the way to third round in 2023 after leading the SEC in receiving yards (1,267) and touchdowns (15) last year. Hyatt benefitted from a receiver-friendly offensive system at Tennessee, but he showed undeniable, legit NFL wheels in an award-winning season there.

That speed should set him apart from a Giants receiver corps that has invested heavily into slot receivers over the last two years. The team's lack of established options at the X receiver position (a position most recently held by Isaiah Hodgins and Darius Slayton) could help Hyatt find the field sooner than people think.

Giants coach Brian Daboll has found success by emphasizing what his players do well, and Hyatt's skillset looks pretty unique relative to his teammates. If things break right, he could end up as the team's top fantasy wide receiver while no one's looking.

Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (ADP: 176)

Let's just agree to forget the 2022 season, okay? I'm sure Michael Gallup would like to. The Dallas Cowboys' top outside receiver was clearly not himself last year after rushing back onto the field ahead of his projected ACL recovery timeline, and the stats showed it.

Gallup's receiving production dropped across the board in 2022. His average depth of target dropped to a career-low 11.1 yards, his 2.7 yards after the catch per reception were his worst mark since making the starting squad, and his drop rate spiked up to 8.1%, almost double his 2021 rate. On top of that, he was the intended receiver on a team-high four of Dak Prescott's interceptions last year.

Gallup is now more than a full year removed from the ACL injury he suffered in December of the 2021 season and should be in line to be one of Prescott's top pass-catchers once again. The team added Brandin Cooks via trade but also allowed both Dalton Schultz and Ezekiel Elliott to walk in free agency, opening up plenty of targets in their overall offense. Gallup was once considered a WR2 or WR3 in fantasy football, and as long as he's healthy, he shouldn't face much difficulty in returning to that status in 2023.

Corey Davis, New York Jets (ADP: UDFA)

If you are absolutely desperate for wide receivers at the tail end of your fantasy drafts this year, you could do worse than New York Jets veteran Corey Davis. Hear us out.

Davis has never quite lived up to his lofty NFL draft capital but has been a productive player on multiple NFL teams over the years now. The Jets agreed to keep him on for this year even with his pricy contract, meaning he'll be on the field to catch passes from Aaron Rodgers when Week 1 rolls around. The Jets will be looking to lean heavily on second-year star Garrett Wilson, but Davis could very easily be the team's WR2 ahead of guys like Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb.

Davis had a strong season playing alongside A.J. Brown in his final year with the Tennessee Titans but has since been catching passes from some of the worst quarterbacks in the entire league. He's still only 28 years old and could still have his best football ahead of him. Rodgers will be the best quarterback Davis has ever played with by a fairly wide margin, and that pairing could yield Davis' best fantasy football season yet.

While you wait for Week 1's daily fantasy football slates to lock, you can get in on some best-ball fantasy football drafts on FanDuel. Just draft your team and watch the points pile up throughout the season.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.