The dynasty debate series has made a triumphant return! The series works like this: We take two Dynasty Nerds writers and have them argue over two players at each position they prefer in a Dynasty league format. In this article, Corey Easterday (@CoreyEasterday) and Mychal Warno (@DynastyDadMike) debate which WR you want on your dynasty roster moving forward, Garrett Wilson or Amon-Ra St. Brown?
Be sure to read our previous debates for 2023, covering Justin Fields / Trevor Lawrence and Javonte Williams / Travis Etienne!
Garrett Wilson, WR NYJ
What an offseason it’s been for Wilson! It’s not every year you make an upgrade at quarterback from a Zach Wilson/Mike White/Chris Streveler trio to one of the best ever in Aaron Rodgers. The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year is poised for a big come-up in year two. It might be another case of my Ohio State bias, but I think Wilson will finish as a top-ten wide receiver this year in fantasy. It’s worth putting Wilson’s potential in context by debating him against Amon-Ra St. Brown. He’s another young receiver who recently ascended to the top tier.
Wilson won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award for good reason. In 2022 he snagged 83 receptions on 147 targets for 1,103 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He also boasted a 24.9% target share and finished as WR21 overall, averaging 12.7 FPTS/G. The volume was there for Wilson in a struggling offense, as he still averaged 8.65 TGTS/G. I had him on several rosters last season, and he was the reason for a lot of success week to week.
Wilson’s 2022 numbers are even more impressive, considering what he had to endure at the quarterback position all season. That’s why heading into 2023, with Rodgers at the helm, Wilson is quickly rising in drafts. Our official Nerd ADP for June Superflex Mock Drafts has Wilson as the WR5 and Amon-Ra as the WR7. Our Consensus WR Ranks also have Wilson ranked WR6 and Amon-Ra WR7.
It is really close for these two receivers as they are similar in age and NFL experience, but Wilson gets the edge for me. We know Rodgers likes to spread the ball around. Wilson will have more competition, but I think he will top last year’s production. Even with Rodgers likely favoring Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb more than he probably should, he’s been quick to praise Wilson this offseason. It would be hard to see a scenario where Wilson isn’t the focal point of this passing offense, even with all the new additions.
The Rodgers / Wilson combo is exciting and will be a nightmare for opponents next season. Wilson has the pedigree and all the talent in the world to succeed. If the Jets make any bid for the Super Bowl, it will be because this combo is setting the league on fire. Again, the margin between Wilson and Amon-Ra may seem small, but these small decisions are the ones that can make or break teams in fantasy drafts. When targeting a top wide receiver early, you won’t regret prioritizing Wilson this season and beyond.
*All Stats from Fantasy Data, unless otherwise noted
Thank you, Mychal, for another great debate! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @CoreyEasterday and become a member of the #NerdHerd. Exclusive Content, Rankings, Dynasty GM, and more! USE PROMO CODE ‘EASTERDAY’ for 15% off ANY SUBSCRIPTION – CLICK HERE to sign up today. Dynasty Nerds has all the tools you need to dominate your league!
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR DET
Let me start this debate with this disclaimer. You are sitting pretty if you have either of these receivers on your dynasty roster. Both of these young studs are solid WR1 options for your dynasty teams. Much like Wilson’s offseason, St. Brown’s off-season is shaping up nicely for him to outproduce his 2022 numbers.
Speaking of 2022, let’s look at St. Brown’s 2022 statistics. He finished his sophomore season with 106 receptions, 1,161 receiving yards, and six touchdowns, putting him at WR7 for the year per Sleeper ranks and scoring. Since joining the Detroit Lions, quarterback Jared Goff has made St. Brown his go-to option. He has a target percentage of 25% of the team’s total targets since 2021. He finished ninth in targets with 146, which is a number I anticipate to rise with the departure of D’Andre Swift and TJ Hockenson opening up another 199 vacated targets.
The Lions’ offense has changed under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. They finished the season sixth in passing attempts with 587. The Detroit offense ranked fourth in total offensive yards per game in 2022. I have no reason to believe that will change in 2023. Let us also not forget that the Sun God’s counterpart, Jameson Williams, will be suspended for the first six games of the 2023 campaign for violating the league’s gambling policy. That leaves 33-year-old Marvin Jones, Josh Reynolds, and Kalif Raymond as the only other viable Lions wide receivers. Call me crazy, but I don’t see them usurping St. Brown’s targets.
The Lions are a trendy team to take that leap in 2022 and possibly win the NFC North Division title, which they have not done since 1993. If that is going to happen, the Sun God is going to play a pivotal role in their 2023 success.
Thank you, Corey, for another great debate. I hope readers enjoy this series as much as I enjoy debating it. Please follow me on Twitter @dynastydadmike, where I love to chat about all things football. Make sure you are signed up for the DynastyGM, which is becoming the #1 fantasy tool for all dynasty players! USE PROMO CODE “DYNASTYDAD15” to save 15% off your membership.
