2023 NFL Draft wide receiver prospects to watch for fantasy football
In what is seemingly a yearly tradition, there are multiple high-level wide receivers to keep an eye on in 2021.
Kayshon Boutte, LSU
For the 2022 dynasty rookie class, I am planting my flag on Treylon Burks, even though I do like David Bell and obviously George Pickens (assuming full health). For the 2023 class, my flag is also planted for Kayshon Boutte from LSU.
Go figure, another elite LSU receiver. Boutte already flashed as a freshman. In 10 games, he caught 45 passes for a team-high 735 yards and 5 TDs. He set an SEC record with 308 receiving yards and 3 TDs on 14 catches in LSU’s final game against Ole Miss on December 19. Fast forward to the LSU Spring Game, Boutte put up 7 receptions for 131 yards and 1 TD…in the first half.
At 5’10”, Boutee is an animal on the field and will blow right past you off the line with his track background. He will only get better — which is scary — and will end up a first-round NFL Draft pick. With new offensive coordinator Jake Peetz, Boutee will see his role increase even more as he leads the Tigers in 2021 and maybe even the nation (assuming the QB situation is figured out).
Rakim Jarrett, Maryland
A five-star recruit out of St. Johns (Washington D.C.), the No. 4 WR of the 2020 class, Rakim Jarrett, chose to stay close to home by going to Maryland after flipping from LSU and turning down offers from Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, USC, and nearly every other relevant program.
Jarrett played in just four games but hauled in 17 receptions for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman. He put his name on the map after a 5-reception, 144-yard, and 2-touchdown performance against Penn State in their third game.
At 6′, 200 pounds, Jarrett has the size to play all across the field in the NFL. He has soft but strong hands and is an extremely fluid route runner who creates separation out of his break as good as anyone. While Maryland football can be a little rough at times, Jarrett is one of the players that fantasy football managers need to watch in the years to come.
Troy Omeire, Texas
Troy Omeire entered 2020 as a player to watch, but fans never got the chance after a torn ACL he suffered in fall camp last year. However, all signs point to him being good to go with his performance in the Texas Spring Game, and head coach Steve Sarkisian has him on top of the WR rotation with Jordan Whittington and Joshua Moore.
Omeire is a massive presence on the field. The redshirt freshman stands 6’3″, 227 pounds, and has a ridiculous wingspan. Speed will likely never be a part of his game — he reportedly ran a 4.69 while in high school. Nevertheless, we know from Justin Jefferson that 40 times can drastically fall. Omeire will be an integral part of the Longhorns’ passing game and will likely lead the team in end-zone targets. He is another in a quickly growing list of players to watch for in 2023 fantasy football drafts.
Jermaine Burton, Georgia
With Pickens likely to miss most if not all of 2021, Jermaine Burton could end up receiving the bulk of J.T. Daniels’ targets. Burton, a former four-star recruit out of California, had 27 catches for 404 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. He did give the team a scare during spring ball when he suffered a hyperextended knee, but MRIs showed he avoided any issues.
Burton loves to get physical at the line and uses his strength well to create separation. His skills were on full display last season in Week 7 against Mississippi State, where he caught 8 passes for 197 yards and 2 TDs.
He tracks the ball extremely well given his age and shows confidence with the ball in his hands. Even when going up for a contested catch, Burton attacks the ball. All the measurables are there. At 6′, 185 pounds, he ran a “verified” 4.43 in high school with a 3.95 shuttle and a 39-inch vertical jump.
It’s a crowded depth chart with Justin Robinson, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, and Kearis Jackson. Still, Burton has the skills to elevate his game in 2021 on what could easily be a national championship-caliber team.
Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
If Spencer Rattler is going to have the season we think he is capable of in 2021, Marvin Mims will be at the center of it. A four-star recruit, Mims is the all-time single-season receiving yardage leader in Texas high school history with 2,483 yards and unofficially broke the national record for receiving yards in a season.
In his freshman year with the Sooners, Mims played in 11 games, recording 610 yards and 9 touchdowns on 37 receptions. He was fourth in the Big 12 in receiving yards, tied for ninth in receptions, and set a new conference record for TDs as a freshman. In addition, Mims was the first wide receiver in Oklahoma history to earn Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-American status.
Demond Demas, Texas A&M
Although he played in four games, Demond Demas did not receive a target in 2020. However, that’s going to change in a hurry for the former five-star recruit (No. 3 WR of the 2020 class).
Demas has size for days at 6’3″ but could still grow into his frame (listed at 180 pounds). In all likelihood, the acclimation period of college ball hampered his development, as Demas has not played a meaningful snap of football since his junior year of high school. However, he reportedly has a vertical over 41 inches and a sub-4.5 40-yard dash.
Demas is a player fantasy football managers need to watch in 2021 as we have no real baseline on where his game is at.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
The greatest collection of talent in the nation is the wide receiver room at Ohio State.
- Garrett Wilson (five-star, No. 2 WR & No. 20 overall of 2019)
- Chris Olave (three-star senior with over 1,700 yards and 22 TDs)
- Julian Fleming (five-star, No. 1 WR & No. 3 overall of 2020)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (five-star, No. 5 WR & No. 20 overall of 2020)
- Gee Scott Jr. (four-star, No. 10 WR & No. 66 overall of 2020)
- Emeka Egbuka (five-star, No. 1 WR & No. 9 overall of 2021)
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (four-star, No. 14 WR & No. 96 overall of 2021)
- Jayden Ballard (four-star, No. 15 WR & No. 98 overall of 2020)
There is no stopping this. You can only hope to contain it for as long as possible.
With Wilson moving to the perimeter based on spring practice reports, Smith-Njigba (6′, 197 pounds) has a clear shot to targets, running with the first-team offense during practice. As a freshman, Smith-Njigba caught 10 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown across 163 snaps in the seven games backing up Wilson in the slot. In addition, Smith-Njigba had arguably the catch of the year last season on his toe-tap TD, which only further demonstrated his awareness and sense of body control.
Every Ohio State football game you watch this fall will be as efficient as it gets for fantasy football managers grinding game film — it is full of elite players. However, it is worth noting that Scott Jr. is apparently transitioning to TE, which should fit his frame better.
Notable 2023 players to watch at WR for fantasy football
Quentin Johnston, TCU; Jordan Addison, Pittsburgh; Josh Downs, North Carolina; E.J. Williams, Clemson; Parker Washington, Penn State; Arian Smith, Georgia; Gary Bryant Jr., USC; Xzavier Henderson, Florida; Jordan Johnson, Notre Dame; Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee; Jalen McMillan, Washington
2023 NFL Draft tight end prospects to watch for fantasy football
In a position that always craves an influx of talent, there are multiple high-level tight ends to keep an eye on in 2021.
Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Honestly, Michael Mayer needs to change his last name to Myers because he will be a nightmare for years and years to come. He wreaked havoc in his first season for Notre Dame, recording 450 yards and 2 touchdowns on 42 receptions. The former five-star recruit and No. 2 TE of the 2020 class has All-American written all over him.
His high school tape was honestly hilarious to watch. It’s like one of those viral videos of the one really big kid playing football against other six-year-olds and knocking them over like bowling pins with no remorse. He exudes athleticism with every rep and is an utter mismatch to LBs. His movement is fluid, but at 6’4″, 250 pounds, he can put the shoulder down when needed. Mayer will be a first-round NFL Draft pick and could end up inside the top-six dynasty tight ends by his second season.
Arik Gilbert, Georgia
I don’t know what Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs did to land Arik Gilbert, but they further tipped the scales of power in the SEC. As a freshman with LSU, Gilbert posted 368 yards and 2 TDs on 35 receptions.
Gilbert was the No. 1 TE and No. 5 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class.
Think about everything you love about Kyle Pitts. Gilbert has a lot of those same traits. Not long after transferring, Gilbert said he planned on playing wide receiver. Sound like anyone familiar? We will have to see the dust settle in the offense and his positional designation, but he is a tight end for now.
Nevertheless, I love this stat: Gilbert had more games with 4+ catches in a game as a true freshman than Pitts, Hunter Henry, and Evan Engram. Admittedly, he is not the polished player that Pitts is, but he is also just heading into his sophomore season, so we have to project a bit.
However, Gilbert already has an NFL body (6’5″, 250 pounds) and has a long, muscular frame that will easily accommodate more muscle. As a result, he will be one of the must-watch players in college football for all fantasy managers and NFL Draft connoisseurs alike. It is not hyperbole to say he was the most important transfer of the entire offseason.
Darnell Washington, Georgia
Yeah, so Gilbert isn’t the only five-star TE on the Bulldogs’ roster. At 6’7″, 265 pounds, Darnell Washington was the No. 2-ranked athlete and No. 23 player in the nation.
Running 12 personnel with these two is honestly unfair, especially in the red zone. Washington didn’t see much time as a freshman, playing in four games and recording 166 yards…on just 7 receptions. You can be guaranteed Todd Monken has a plan for Washington to be a vital component of the offense.
Theo Johnson, Penn State
Hailing from Windsor, Ontario, Theo Johnson was the No. 3 TE of the 2020 class. The 6’6″, 240-pound TE only caught 4 passes for 56 yards (three games) but was in the shadow of Pat Freiermuth.
Johnson mostly played receiver while in high school, so he is still learning the nuances of the position. However, the pass-catching skills are there. He will be a player to watch moving forward to see how his progress develops, as he could move up fantasy football draft boards for 2023.
Notable 2023 players to watch at TE for fantasy football
Gee Scott Jr., Ohio State; Jalin Conyers, Oklahoma; Kevin Bauman, Notre Dame; D’Andre Rodgers, TCU
Want more fantasy football analysis and news?
Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@PFN365) to stay current with all things around the NFL and the upcoming 2021 fantasy football season. Also, continue to visit Pro Football Network for NFL news and in-depth analysis while also visiting our fantasy football section for more coverage.
Tommy Garrett is a writer for Pro Football Network covering the NFL and fantasy football and a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers Association). You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.