NFL Week 1 Sleeper Player Prediction Picks (2023)
Welcome to Sleeper Picks! Sleeper’s newest offering promised plenty of entertainment and action, and they delivered. We will break down our top three picks for this week’s NFL action. Similar to fantasy sports, the goal in Sleeper Picks is to draft a team of players based on who you think will perform better than the field. But with Sleeper Picks, you pick teams of 2-8 players from multiple teams based on your preferences and predict whether those players will score more or less than a predetermined amount. There are a number of ways to play and a variety of strategies to employ, and we’ll guide you through the process each week.
NFL Week 1 Sleeper Picks
Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ): OVER 67.5 receiving yards
Wilson has been set welcomingly low for Week 1. He will have a tough matchup when he lines up against Tre’Davious White, but he posted 72 receiving yards on the Bills when White was healthy last season. Wilson has already built a solid rapport with his new quarterback and should be peppered with high-quality targets, especially when he takes snaps out of the slot (when he’ll be out of White’s coverage). Wilson averaged 64.9 receiving yards last season, but with more consistent quarterback play, he will average 78 receiving yards or more as long as Aaron Rodgers. We will not see Wilson receiving yard totals this low for much longer, so take advantage while you can.
Calvin Ridley (WR – JAC): OVER 62.5 receiving yards
Calvin Ridley is set to feast on the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are seemingly angling for a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and have done very little to improve their teams outside of the quarterback position. The Colts have a strong corner in the talented but inconsistent Kenny Moore, but Moore is expected to spend most of his time on Christian Kirk this weekend. This leaves Calvin Ridley, who by all accounts has had a terrific offseason, to deal with the likes of JuJu Brents, Darrell Baker, and Jaylon Jones. Expect this line to be about 17 yards higher when these two teams meet again later this year.
Amari Cooper (WR – CLE): OVER 58.5 receiving yards
This is a tougher one than the two above, but the number is just too appealing to pass up. DeShaun Watson will target Cooper deep enough down the field that it should only take three to four receptions to hit the required 59 receiving yards. The assignment of Chidobe Awuzie presents some concern, but with a long of over 20 yards and Cooper’s ability after the catch, this is an entirely manageable number despite the cornerback matchup. Add that this game will have the positive game script needed to keep the passing game at the forefront, and we have the recipe for success. Tap the More at Sleeper Picks.
Bonus
Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF): OVER 0.5 rushing yards
Sleeper is giving users a ‘relatively’ free pick by setting Christian McCaffrey’s rushing yard total at just 0.5 yards. Be sure to key this one in on all of your Sleeper Picks cards to increase your multiplier. You can also choose to pair this with just one other play to build your Sleeper Picks bankroll.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Raju, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyContext.