Fantasy Football 2023: Sleeper WRs to Target in Updated Flex Rankings

The flex spot is secretly among the most valuable in fantasy football.

Barring injuries or some otherwise disastrous drafting, every roster in your league will have an impact player or two at the running back spots and a solid-or-better quarterback. So, if you can create a situation in which you manage to also have a difference-maker in your flex spot, that can be your path to the championship podium.

With opening kick of the 2023 NFL season fast approaching, we're focusing on the flex with a top-50 ranking and two wide receivers with sleeper potential.

Top 50 Flex Rankings

Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 26: Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson (18) warms up before a pre-season NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals on August 26, 2023, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

2. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

3. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

4. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

5. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

6. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

7. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

8. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

9. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

10. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

11. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

12. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

13. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions

14. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

15. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

16. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

17. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

18. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

19. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

20. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

21. DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

22. Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys

23. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

24. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

25. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots

26. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

27. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

28. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

29. Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns

30. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

31. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

32. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

33. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

34. Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

35. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

36. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks

37. Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

38. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

39. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings

40. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

41. Alexander Mattison, WR, Minnesota Vikings

42. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans

43. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos

44. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

45. Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers

46. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

47. Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans

48. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

49. Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

50. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders

Sleeper: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 25: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs after making a catch during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi's Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. The Chargers defeated the 49ers 23-12. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

San Francisco's offense took on a ton of variations last season. The 49ers started three different quarterbacks, saw injuries shuffle a lot of their playmakers in and out of the lineup and essentially added a focal point midseason with the acquisition of Christian McCaffrey.

And amid all of that turmoil, Brandon Aiyuk still found a way to author a breakout season.

He maybe wasn't jump-off-the-page great, but he hit a boatload of career-highs, including 78 receptions, 1,105 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. Some might wonder whether that production will be his peak, but he's a former first-round pick who is entering his age-25 season. This might just be the beginning.

A healthy Brock Purdy gives the 49ers more stability under center, and this offense has enough firepower to allow Aiyuk to produce while keeping all the other playmakers fed, too.

Sleeper: Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 21: Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens catches a pass for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half of the preseason game at FedExField on August 21, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The Ravens paid a fortune to re-sign star quarterback Lamar Jackson this offseason, but that was far from the only investment they made in this passing game.

They hired new offensive quarterback Todd Monken away from the national champion Georgia Bulldogs. They added three-time Pro Bowl honoree Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency. And on draft night, they spent the No. 22 pick on Zay Flowers.

While all of those moves could be plenty relevant to this fantasy season, the Flowers' selection stands out as particularly significant. If Baltimore does, in fact, crank up the volume in this aerial attack, the rookie wideout could be a prime beneficiary, since he as good of a chance as anyone to lead this team in targets.

Flowers is, simply put, a playmaker. In four seasons at Boston College, he not only tallied 200 catches for 3,056 yards and 29 scores, he also handled 57 carries for another 345 yards and two touchdowns. He can make things happen both down the field and after the catch, and the Ravens would be wise to try fully tapping into his explosive potential.