With Week 9 of the NFL season in the books, we’re continuing to focus on the best rookie playmakers leaguewide. The 2023 rookie wide receiver group is putting up impressive numbers early on. Week 10 is right around the corner, so here are our best rookie receivers in fantasy football for the upcoming slate.
Who Are the Best Rookie WRs for Fantasy This Week?
Our NFL Week 10 dynasty wide receiver rankings are courtesy of the PFN Consensus Fantasy Rankings.
1) Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
Even after two brutal finishes, Zay Flowers remains our top choice for fantasy managers who are deciding between rookie options. Admittedly, it’s close, as Tank Dell’s huge Week 9 put him into position for the top spot. But Flowers consistently saw more targets since Week 1 until last week’s stinker.
MORE: 2023 WR Fantasy Football Rankings
With only six catches for 20 yards over the last two weeks, Flowers will have to be reintroduced to the offense against the Cleveland Browns’ elite defense. Flowers caught three passes for 56 yards the last time these teams played. Look for the Baltimore Ravens to get Flowers more involved in a close, important divisional game.
2) Tank Dell, Houston Texans
This past week’s No. 1 overall receiver still can’t crack the top spot in our weekly rankings, even with Puka Nacua on a bye week. But it’s hard to blame our analysts, as Dell’s production has bounced between top-five and WR71 any given week. For as well as C.J. Stroud has played, he’s shown no firm loyalty to boosting either Dell’s or Nico Collins’ numbers, as he’ll throw to whoever is open without discrimination.
That’s a beautiful thing for the Houston Texans franchise but not for dynasty managers. Dell is a worthy lineup gamble as a WR2 or Flex option in Week 10. He’s just a true roll of the dice.
3) Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison’s scorching hot streak has continued in PPR leagues. With five straight top-32 finishes and seven overall, he’s a consistently good option for managers. However, Week 10 means that Justin Jefferson is eligible to return from the injured reserve.
Maybe that’s not enough to discourage managers from playing Addison against an impressive New Orleans Saints secondary. After all, Joshua Dobbs is in town, and he can apparently win regardless of whether he knows the names of the players to whom he’s throwing or not. But it is something to consider if you’re on the fence about fading Addison this week.
4) Demario Douglas, New England Patriots
Bye weeks have helped boost Demario Douglas a bit in our rankings, but it’s also a reflection of his own growth. The shifty route runner has finished in the top 29 of receivers twice in the last three weeks, making him a viable option for managers. With three straight games of four or more catches, Douglas is proving his long-term value for the team.
There’s also a bit of a “he’s due” factor with Douglas. He’s yet to score his first touchdown despite the role increase. If it weren’t for the fact his quarterback is Mac Jones, Douglas likely would have already reached paydirt this season.
5) Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
Outside of his two-touchdown performance in Week 2, Jayden Reed has settled into the ‘average’ zone for fantasy receivers quite often. He has had three finishes between WR32 and WR36 since then. Reed hasn’t been able to create explosive plays while stuck in Green Bay’s struggling offense, and managers must be careful if they want to start him.
6) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
Even with Geno Smith struggling in Seattle, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is finding his stride and is emerging as a great option for managers. He’s finished as a top-34 receiver in each of his last three games and has increased his yards-per-catch average significantly since the bye week. Impact plays and more targets continue to flow his way.
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