Top Rookie Wide Receivers to Watch for in Fantasy Football Draft
Posted on: August 21, 2023, 08:30h.
Last updated on: August 21, 2023, 09:00h.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba from the Seattle Seahawks, Jordan Addison from the Minnesota Vikings, and Zay Flowers from the Baltimore Ravens are among the top rookie wide receivers to keep close tabs on during your upcoming fantasy football draft.
If you play in a large fantasy football league with 12 or more teams, then you’ll have no choice but to add a rookie or two to fill out your roster.
The NFL has evolved into a pass-first league, which is why wide receivers have a higher premium than rookie running backs.
Other rookie wide receivers that could make an impact in fantasy football this upcoming season include Quentin Johnston from the Los Angeles Chargers, Rashee Rice from the Kansas City Chiefs, Jalin Hyatt from the New York Giants, Jayden Reed from the Green Bay Packers, Marvin Mims from the Denver Broncos, and Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers.
Mims could see some action early in the season because the Broncos are short two wide receivers. Tim Patrick sustained an unfortunate, season-ending Achilles injury, and KJ Hamler will miss an unspecified amount of time with a recently diagnosed heart condition.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks)
The Seattle Seahawks selected Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the #20 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was the first wide receiver picked in this year’s draft.
Smith-Njigba played his collegiate ball at Ohio State, but he was limited to only three games in 2022 due to a hamstring injury. In 13 games as a sophomore in 2021, Smith-Njigba caught 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. He also set Ohio State records for most receptions in a game and most receiving yards in a single season.
Smith-Njigba was a slot receiver at Ohio State, which is where he’ll see a lot of action with the Seahawks this season. He will be WR #3 on the Seahawks depth chart behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Metcalf and Lockett both averaged over 1,000 receiving yards during the previous four seasons, and they combined for 70 touchdowns since 2019.