2023 Wide Receiver Class Preview

Photo: Imagn Images

The 2022 college football season is ending, with the college football playoff set and teams finishing out bowl season. It’s time for fantasy managers to start shifting their attention to the 2023 draft class. Throughout the college football season, I have been writing a top-36 big board to give you appropriate value all college football season. But now it’s time to dive deeper into the class itself. This deep dive will give you a first look at many of the draft-eligible prospects, and in this breakdown, we’re going to look at the 2023 wide receivers. If you missed the rest of the positions, find them below! The class has taken a bit of a hit the past month, but there is still value. We still don’t know who will officially declare for the draft. However, this is a great time to start familiarizing yourself with this class of wide receivers. We will examine each player's strengths, weaknesses, projected draft capital, and rookie draft value. Let's dive in!

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Tight Ends

WR Jordan Addison (Jr – USC): 6-foot-0, 175 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

1st Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

1.05-1.08

Strengths

Addison won the Biletnikoff award for the best receiver in the country in 2021 before transferring to play with USC quarterback Caleb Williams in 2022. He has caught 219 balls for 3,134 yards and twenty-nine touchdowns in his career. As a receiver, Addison displays a unique ability to create separation. Even though he lacks strength, he can manipulate defenders at all levels, and his twitchiness in the open field allows him to create the necessary separation needed to earn targets. On top of his separation ability, he has a great release package and can get off the line quickly. He has also shown the ability to make tough catches and, for his size, has a great catch radius.

Weaknesses

The biggest concern for Addison is his lack of top-end speed. Scouts have noted that his play speed is a concern in his profile, and his testing numbers will be significant for him in the pre-draft process. There are minor concerns about drops, but he steadily improved each season. In his freshman season, his drop percentage was 14.3%, his sophomore season was 9.9%, and this last season it was only 3.3%. He will also be a red flag in the analytical community based on his BMI. Any BMI under 25 will be marked as a red flag, and he currently sits at 23.7.

Highlight

Jordan Addison with his first touchdown at USC 🚀

pic.twitter.com/IkNJmM4Snd

— Kevin (@Daboys_22) September 3, 2022

Addison’s Career Stats

WR Quentin Johnston (Jr – TCU): 6-foot-4, 194 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

1st Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

1.05-1.08

Strengths

Johnston is one of the best athletes in this wide receiver class. He made it onto Bruce Feldman’s Freak List before the 2022 season. He then went out and had one of the best statistical seasons of his young career, catching 53 balls for 903 yards and five touchdowns. He has the size and frame that the NFL covets. He is your prototype X receiver and has been one of the best deep threats in college football over the last three seasons. His YAC ability and yards per route run are both elite in all analytical measurements. He has unique size and speed for the position.

Weaknesses

If there’s one area to highlight with Johnston, it’s his drops. He just has too many. His drop percentage jumped to over 13% this season, partly because he’s a body catcher. At times it looks like he doesn’t trust his hands to secure the football, and since he does body catch, it leads to drops. This style also allows defenders time to contest the football and is one of the reasons you see him in so many contested catch situations, an area where he has struggled this season. He’ll also need to work on his footwork off the line to get into his routes quicker.

Highlight

Quentin Johnston needed a day like today.

Outstanding display of his talent against Kansas. pic.twitter.com/iPLXiQdR4j

— Christian Williams (@CWilliamsNFL) October 8, 2022

Johnston’s Career Stats

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Jr – Ohio State): 6-foot-0, 198 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

1st Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

1.05-1.08

Strengths

Smith-Njigba came into the 2022 season as the presumptive WR1 in the 2022 draft class. Unfortunately, his season has gotten off to a rocky start after a hamstring injury against Notre Dame in the first game of the season. Smith-Njigba has caught only five passes for 43 yards in limited snaps over three games this year. Due to that, we have slowly seen his stock drop heading into the off-season. However, people need to remember this is the same receiver who outproduced both Garett Wilson and Chris Olave, who are now top-20 receivers in fantasy. He projects to be a weapon in the slot who can create separation and is one of the best receivers in this class after the catch. He has done it since high school at an elite level in Texas. He has elite footwork, and there is not a route he can’t run. He also demonstrates a willingness to catch in traffic and has a competitive side that will serve him well at the next level.

Weaknesses

The two biggest areas of concern that scouts have for him are his long speed and lack of reps against man press. When you watch his tape, most defenses will play off Ohio State wide receivers due to their playmaking ability. This has led to a lack of reps for him against press coverage. It’s something to note and an area he’ll need time to adjust to at the next level. However, his footwork will minimize this being an issue in the NFL. The long-speed concern stems from people not believing he can play on the outside at the next level. Those concerns are a bit overblown, but he does work better when he gets a free release off the line. The right coaching will help him learn how to get into his routes quicker and utilize that quickness in the second level of defenses.

Highlight

JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA FOR THE LEAD!!

THIS MAN CAN'T BE STOPPED pic.twitter.com/AgDWhFSas6

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 2, 2022

Smith-Njigba’s Career Stats

WR Kayshon Boutte (Jr – LSU): 6-foot-0, 185 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

2nd Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

1.09-1.12

Strengths

Boutte shocked the college football world by initially stating he would be returning to LSU for his senior season, only to declare for the NFL draft three weeks later. In 2020, Boutte was a Freshman All-American and set the SEC record for receiving yards in a game in the season-finale against Ole Miss with 308 yards. Boutte again was LSU’s leading receiver in 2021, with 38 catches for 508 yards and nine touchdowns in six games. Unfortunately for Boutte, his season ended in mid-October after he suffered a lower leg injury. That injury knocked him out of all pre-season workouts under new head coach Brian Kelly. The 2022 season was a series of ups and downs for the LSU star, but he showed flashes of WR1 potential. He’s explosive with the football and threatens to score every time he touches the ball. He’s also a physical receiver who wins in contested catch situations and has unique body control for a player his size. The NFL will fall in love with his profile during the pre-draft process.

Weaknesses

While his flashes of potential in his career have been impressive, his inconsistent production is a cause for concern. His 2022 numbers have not been great, and we still don’t know what kind of lower leg injury he suffered to end his 2021 season. He has also shown some immaturity on and off the field. Usually, you can chalk that up to age and learning how to be an adult, but he continues to make head-scratching moves. The most recent is his flip-flopping declaration for the 2023 draft. He also needs to fine-tune his releases and footwork. He’s a player that is used to winning due to athleticism, and that's something that will be hard to duplicate at the next level. He might have the highest ceiling of any prospect in this class, but he will also be the riskiest asset to draft.

Highlight

The about face with Kayshon Boutte to enter the draft is a welcomed boost to the 2023 wide receiver class

It was a bizarre calendar year due to a multitude of things for Boutte but I’m in the camp that this is still very much a talented NFL prospect
pic.twitter.com/optJN44oe1

— Joe O’Leary (@TheHQNerd) December 29, 2022

Boutte’s Career Stats

WR Joshua Downs (Jr – North Carolina): 5-foot-10, 180 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

2nd Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

1.10-2.01

Strengths

If you were going to build a perfect slot receiver for the NFL, Downs would be the prototype. He has produced at an elite level the past two seasons with back-to-back seasons with over 1,00 yards and ninety catches. He is an explosive athlete and one of the best route runners from this class that plays in the slot. He has twitchiness, and his speed makes him a deep threat. He wins at every level of the field and he puts pressure on defensive backs by using their leverage against them. Downs is a nuanced runner and a high-IQ football player that can excel in any offensive scheme.

Weaknesses

While Downs projects as a high-level slot receiver, that's pretty much all he will play at the next level. That would seem to cap his upside. While NFL offenses have shown to be able to produce relevant fantasy assets from the slot, it still limits the upside for a potential first-round rookie pick. His size is also a question mark, and that leads to his issues against press coverage. He doesn't have a ton of reps against press, and his size definitely hinders him against bigger corners.

Highlight

Josh Downs’ ability to change directions is crazy! He can stop and alter his momentum with ease.

He breaks ankles! pic.twitter.com/T1NPxGU4Hx

— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) December 22, 2022

Down’s Career Stats

WR Zay Flowers (Sr - Boston College): 5-foot-10, 172 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

Second Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round

Strengths

Flowers has improved every season he played in college, culminating with his most productive year in 2022. He caught 78 balls for 1,077 yards and twelve touchdowns, all career highs. Unlike Downs, Flowers isn´t strictly a slot receiver. He has shown the ability to line up outside and will give teams a weapon that can line up anywhere on the field. Even with his size, he was statistically one of the best contested-catch receivers in college football, and his aggressiveness allowed him to win a majority of 50/50 balls. His best trait is his YAC ability. He´s an explosive athlete, and if teams can find ways to get the ball in his hands, he will be a dangerous weapon at the next level.

Weaknesses

There aren't any significant weaknesses in Flowers's profile. His size is the most concerning part of his profile, but he still hits the threshold for an acceptable BMI. He has struggled with drops throughout his career, but his senior season was statistically his best in that category. If he can secure early day two capital, Flowers could be the biggest sleeper in the 2023 class.

Highlight

Zay Flowers X 2pic.twitter.com/G5UgRXd6s3

— Kevin (@Daboys_22) December 23, 2022

Flowers’s Career Stats

WR Marvin Mims (Jr - Oklahoma): 5-foot-11, 184 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

3rd Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

2nd Round

Strengths

Mims came to Oklahoma as a highly touted recruit and one of the best high school players to ever play in the state of Texas. He has produced every season at Oklahoma and has been their big play threat throughout his career, averaging just over nineteen yards per catch. His big play ability stems from his speed and ability to adjust to the ball when it’s in the air. His ball tracking is second to no one in this class, and his tape is littered with difficult downfield catches. He can make multiple defenders miss in space and is aggressive in the open field. He also demonstrates a competitive toughness that will serve him well at the next level.

Weaknesses

Similar to Flowers, Mims is a tweener regarding his size profile. He’s not small, but he doesn't have the catch radius others do in this class. While he can play on the outside, the NFL may relegate him to the slot, which caps his ceiling. Mims also produces more when he isn't pressed and can get off the line quickly. Oklahoma’s offense also failed to expand his route tree in the three seasons he was there, and those lack of reps will hurt him early in the NFL.

Highlight

Marvin Mims with an INSANE grab👀

pic.twitter.com/uA4twNhS0d

— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 27, 2022

Mims’s Career Stats

WR Jalin Hyatt (Jr - Tennessee): 6-foot-0, 180 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round

Strengths

Hyatt is one of the biggest draft risers in this class. The former four-star recruit had struggled with his production in his first two seasons before exploding in 2022 with 67 catches for 1,267 yards and fifteen touchdowns. He won the Biletnikoff Award given to the country's top receiver. The first trait that will pop off the tape for him is his speed. It will surprise me if any player runs faster than him in the pre-draft process. His value lies in his ability to put pressure on defenses vertically. He demonstrated good tracking ability in Tennessee’s vertical passing scheme and was their best playmaker this season. He averaged just under nineteen yards per catch. He’s also demonstrated to have reliable hands.

Weaknesses

Ironically Hyatt will be a challenging prospect to project due to Tennessee’s scheme. The scheme helped his draft stock, but there are questions about whether the scheme translates to NFL success. The scheme is a high-tempo spread offense designed to get its receivers open. The system works, but there are questions about Hyatt’s ability to create separation himself. Many scouts wonder if he’s just a product of an efficient system. He only has one season of production, and he’ll need to prove to teams that he can run more routes than just a go-route.

Highlight

If Jalin Hyatt blows the door off the combine with his 40 time he may not even make it to the back half of Rd1… but if he does he should 1000% be on the #Bills radar.

Same system that produced Gabriel Davis.

NFL Comp: Healthy Will Fuller. pic.twitter.com/BdA9QczeiF

— Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) December 19, 2022

Hyatt’s Career Stats

WR Rashee Rice (Sr - SMU): 6-foot-2, 203 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

Late 2nd Round/Early 3rd Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

2nd Round

Strengths

Rice has been one of the most consistent receivers in college football throughout his career at SMU. Each season he has progressed as a receiver and developed into a well-rounded product. He has the prototypical size you would want for the position, and coaches rave about his work ethic. His mentality will earn him early playing time on an NFL roster. Along with his size, he also possesses unique athleticism. He may not look like it, but he is a twitchy athlete who can make defenders miss in open space. He also has elite ball-tracking ability and can make any adjustment needed to bring the ball down at different levels of the field. His tape is littered with impressive grabs all over the field that only an elite receiver could make.

Weaknesses

Rice is a four-year prospect, so if you’re a manager that looks for early declares, that will be a knock on his profile. He also plays in a similar offense to Hyatt, which has led to him not developing a diverse route tree. You’ll notice throughout his tape that the offense ran through him with go routes or desperation tosses. There were not a lot of nuanced routes utilized to get him open. Essentially they relied on Rice winning 50/50 balls against defenses and being the best athlete on the field. He’ll need to learn how to create more separation in press coverage and against man coverage which will take time.

Highlight

This is how you start a game. A big play by Rashee Rice for 68-yards! pic.twitter.com/xtHK3PQuTu

— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) October 14, 2022

Rice’s Career Stats

WR Cedric Tillman (RS Sr - Tennessee): 6-foot-3, 215 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

Late 2nd Round/Early 3rd Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

Late 2nd Round/Early 3rd Round

Strengths

Tillman will come into the draft process underrated. He’s got the size and length to make an impact right away. He has fairly good athleticism and, when healthy, shows flashes of explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. His length allows him to hit big strides in the open field, and he is a yards-after-catch threat. He also has good enough twitch out of his routes to create separation and has good enough ball skills to adjust for passes in mid-air. His hands are strong, and very rarely does he have drops. He also comes from an NFL family, as his dad played receiver in the early 1990s.

Weaknesses

Tillman comes into the draft as one of the oldest receiver prospects in his class. The redshirt senior will be twenty-three years old in April and has one season of production. He’s been hamstrung by injuries the rest of his career, including in 2022. Like Hyatt, there is a possibility that Tennessee’s scheme is the reason for that production. Draft capital will tell the story of where he should go in rookie drafts, but if Velus Jones Jr can get drafted in the third round, Tillman has a chance to be a day-two receiver.

Highlight

Hendon Hooker to Cedric Tillman🔥

pic.twitter.com/TE4wxGdJ3V

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 10, 2022

Tillman’s Career Stats

WR Rakim Jarrett (Jr – Maryland): 6-foot-2, 200 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

4th Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

3rd Round

Strengths

Part of the reason Jarrett is on this list is because of his ceiling. He hasn't had a ton of production at the collegiate level, but teams will love just how versatile he is as a receiver. He can line up anywhere on the field and be a threat, and he should test very well at the combine. Along with that versatility, he has enough speed to score every time he touches the ball. He has tremendous lower body strength that makes it hard for defenders to take him down and enough twitchiness to make defenders miss.

Weaknesses

The issue with Jarrett is he just hasn’t been able to put together a full season of production. He’s had a few games that showed his potential, but he lacks consistency. Part of that issue has been his lackluster quarterback play, but there are real concerns about his ability to separate. It’s just not on tape. He’s also not strong enough to win 50/50 balls and has sometimes shown total concentration issues on drops. These drops can also be attributed to his ball-tracking ability and lack of a catch radius. At times it looks like he forgets where he’s at on the field. Overall he’s a solid athlete with potential, but there are a ton of red flags in his profile.

Highlight

Gotta love Rakim Jarrett.

The little “Come on, follow me across the formation in man coverage, I dare ya” wave.

One of the top 2023 eligible WRs. 5⭐️ pic.twitter.com/fijO3YKhxd

— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) December 29, 2021

Jarrett’s Career Stats

WR Puka Nacua (Jr - BYU): 6-foot-2, 205 lbs

Projected Draft Capital

6th Round

Projected Superflex Rookie Draft Value

Late 3rd Round/Early 4th Round

Strengths

If you’re looking for the Christian Watson of the 2023 class, it could be Nacua. He has good size and has some of the best ball skills in the class. His body control is second to no one, and he has highlight reel catches all over his tape. His ability to get his feet down on sideline catches is one of his best traits, and he is, without a doubt, one of the most competitive kids I have scouted. BYU used him all over the field and in their rushing attack. He’s a competitor, and he’ll bring that competitiveness to the next level. He’s also shown flashes as a special teams player and could use that to get on the field faster.

Weaknesses

He has to stay healthy. He has dealt with constant injuries throughout his time with Washington and BYU. He’ll also need to work on getting open against press coverage, which all college receivers need to do. He has the strength to do so but needs more refinement in his release, something he should get with NFL coaches. If you are looking for a deep sleeper in this class, Nacua’s name is one to remember.

Highlight

When Puka Nacua is healthy there aren’t many receivers better then him in college football.

pic.twitter.com/Sj3fArKexe

— Kevin (@Daboys_22) November 6, 2022

Nacua’s Career Stats

Watchlist

• WR Rome Odunze (RS So - Washington): 6-foot-3, 201 lbs
• WR Parker Washington (Jr - Penn State): 5-foot-10, 215 lbs
• WR Trey Palmer (Jr - Nebraska): 6-foot-1, 190 lbs
• WR Xavier Hutchinson (Sr - Iowa State): 6-foot-3, 205 lbs
• WR Jayden Reed (Sr - Michigan State): 6-foot-0, 185 lbs
• WR Nathaniel Dell (Sr - Houston): 5-foot-10, 165 lbs
• WR Dontayvion Wicks (Jr - Virginia): 6-foot-2, 208 lbs
• WR Ainias Smith (Sr - Texas A&M): 5-foot-10, 190 lbs
• WR Andrei Losivas (Sr - Princeton): 6-foot-3, 200 lbs

Thank you for reading! Follow me on Twitter @Daboys_22 and check out my archive with Footballguys!