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2026 Fantasy Football WR Draft Analysis: Late-Round Picks, Fliers, and Best-Ball Targets

By Cory Bonini Athlon Sports

Updated May 27, 2026 4:22 PM

This 2026 fantasy football wide receiver analysis focuses on late-round picks, fliers, best-ball targets, depth receivers, rookies, and role-dependent options who belong on draft boards after the starting-caliber options are gone.

Most of these receivers need injuries, a greater target share, quarterback improvement, or less touchdown volatility to become useful in managed leagues. Best-ball formats widen the pool, since downfield threats and boom-or-bust receivers can deliver value even without steady weekly volume.

Fantasy Football WR Draft Analysis

Late-Round Depth, Sleepers, and Upside Targets

55) WR Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks | Bye: 11 | Projected Fan Pts: 138.3

Shaheed re-signed with the Seahawks following a November trade to Seattle last year. The former Saint has a real chance to take his game to another level. Cooper Kupp is in his age-33 season and was largely a nonfactor in 2025, catching only 47 passes in 16 games, and he's always an injury risk. Shaheed has a full offseason to better his chemistry with Sam Darnold and learn the new offense's nuances. Although he's most dangerous in the return game, there's a whiff of upside picking up Jaxon Smith-Njigba's scraps if you know when to deploy Shaheed.

56) WR Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers | Bye: 5 | Projected Fan Pts: 132.1

Tease much? Coker has the tools to take his game to another level, but durability has been a hindrance. He played only 11 games in each of his first two seasons, missing six games last year with a quad strain and time in 2024 with one, too. To Coker's credit, he catches everything that comes his way and has outproduced expectations coming from the football powerhouse that is Holy Cross. Tetairoa McMillan is Carolina's passing game thus far, but there's room for a sidekick, and Coker is a sneaky deep sleeper. Watch his development in the late offseason.

57) WR Tre' Harris, Los Angeles Chargers | Bye: 7 | Projected Fan Pts: 131.8

A second-round selection in last year's draft, Harris operated mostly as a decoy during his debut campaign, being targeted just 43 times despite logging 555 snaps - for comparison, Keenan Allen, who played only 75 more snaps, was targeted 122 times. With Allen unsigned, the plan appears to be for Harris to step into a larger role in 2026. Even though Harris still sits third on the depth chart, Justin Herbert's willingness to spread the ball around gives the Ole Miss product hope for a second-year leap.

58) WR Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles | Bye: 10 | Projected Fan Pts: 130.1

We'll approach this evaluation as though Philly followed through with the reported A.J. Brown trade plans, which are expected to be finalized after June 1. Lemon, a first-round rookie, could step into a Day 1 role alongside DeVonta Smith, and Philly will have enough available targets to make him useful for fantasy. Lemon is a 5-foot-11, 192-pounder from USC who can win from the slot with nuanced route skills, short-area explosion, and excellent hands. He was highly productive as a Trojan, accounting for 14 offensive scores in 2025 (2 rushing, 1 passing). Lemon's primary target competition will be veteran Hollywood Brown and TE Dallas Goedert.

59) WR Jack Bech, Las Vegas Raiders | Bye: 13 | Projected Fan Pts: 120.2

Taken with the 58th pick last year, Bech did little as a rookie, barely outproducing Tyler Lockett, a veteran on his last legs who joined midseason. For a player who many expected would start opposite Jakobi Meyers from day one, it was disappointing. Coming out of TCU, Bech was lauded for his hands and ability to catch balls in traffic. Presenting a big target on short and intermediate routes should be appealing no matter who takes the snaps at QB for the Raiders in 2026, but Bech still has a lot to prove.

60) WR Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders | Bye: 7 | Projected Fan Pts: 119.8

Drafted in the third round from Clemson, Williams brings Jayden Daniels a 5-foot-11, 187-pound slot target. A four-year contributor for the Tigers, Williams' stats weren't eye-popping, though he managed to tie for seventh in the FBS with 11 TD grabs in 2024. He has a good feel for getting open and ran a 4.41-second 40 at the Scouting Combine, though he plays quicker than fast. Durability was an issue in 2023 and '25, but Washington has a glaring need for another playmaker, and Williams could be thrown into the fire on Day 1.

61) WR Jalen Nailor, Las Vegas Raiders | Bye: 13 | Projected Fan Pts: 118.7

Stuck behind the duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota, Nailor was one of those players where any result was on the table in any given week. In Week 10 last year, he caught five passes for 124 yards and a score. Over the following three weeks, he totaled one reception for 16 yards. He should be a more consistent presence in Las Vegas, and he'll at least temporarily reunite with Kirk Cousins, which should be to his advantage. If you're looking to roll the dice late in drafts, Nailor might be worth considering.

Mark Konezny-Imagn Images Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

62) WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos | Bye: 10 | Projected Fan Pts: 118.0

Franklin showed significant development during his second season, jumping from a 28-263-2 line as a rookie to 65 receptions, 709 yards, and six TDs last year. The former Duck may have seen his wings clipped with the offseason addition of Jaylen Waddle, however, as the newcomer slides into the No. 1 spot with Courtland Sutton now entrenched as WR2. That leaves Franklin to battle Pat Bryant, a third-round pick in 2025, and Marvin Mims for targets as a tertiary threat. In that role, Franklin offers marginal appeal.

63) WR KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns | Bye: 11 | Projected Fan Pts: 117.8

The fourth receiver selected in this year's draft, Concepcion is a playmaker. While he lacks ideal size, the rookie understands how to get open, and he excels at doing work near the line of scrimmage. The ability to make things happen with the ball in his hands is critical as Cleveland again tries to navigate uncertainty at the quarterback position. In those cases, it helps to have someone who can turn screens and quick hitters into positive gains. It's hard to get too excited about anything involving Cleveland's offense right now, but Concepcion is someone to keep an eye on.

64) WR Germie Bernard, Pittsburgh Steelers | Bye: 9 | Projected Fan Pts: 116.9

Mike McCarthy loves slot receivers who are dynamic in short-area work, quicker than fast, and tough to bring down in the open field. The rookie receiver reminds a little of Randall Cobb, an Aaron Rodgers favorite in Green Bay. The Steelers received word from Rodgers that he'll indeed return, reuniting him with his former coach. That greatly lifts Bernard's fantasy presence, though he'll need to prove himself to No. 8 in the offseason, as Rodgers has notoriously required of young receivers in the past. The Alabama rookie's versatility also presents an opportunity for rushing work around the stripe. Track Bernard's progress during the late summer.

65) WR Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens | Bye: 13 | Projected Fan Pts: 116.5

Signed to a three-year, $36.75 million extension before last season, Bateman looked poised for a larger role more representative of his new tax bracket. Instead, he was invisible. The former first-round pick topped 50 yards in a game just twice all year, and he finished with a career-low 224 yards while missing time with an ankle injury. Despite that, Bateman is in line to start alongside Zay Flowers. While there's always some potential value in a starting wideout, Bateman's had just one semi-impactful statistical campaign in five NFL seasons.

66) WR Jauan Jennings, Minnesota Vikings | Bye: 6 | Projected Fan Pts: 111.3

The Vikings already had a deep cast of talent for new quarterback Kyler Murray, who is expected to take over the starting job after the brief J.J. McCarthy blunder. Jennings signed a one-year pact worth up to $13 million and is likely to serve as a chain-moving safety outlet. He has stepped up when called upon in San Fran, but his touchdown dependency was the primary driver for fantasy value. Expect much less of that in Minnesota, and this signing should have much more real-world impact than it will in fantasy.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Best-Ball Fliers

67) WR Cooper Kupp, Seattle Seahawks | Bye: 11 | Projected Fan Pts: 110.0

In 16 appearances, Kupp finished PPR WR52 during his first year in the Emerald City, reeling in 47 catches on 70 targets as the passing offense funneled through WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 163 looks. Kupp scored only twice last year and averaged by far the fewest per-game fantasy points (7.4 PPR) of his career. At the ripe age of 33, there's little left in the tank due to injuries and Father Time. The Seahawks re-signed Rashid Shaheed and have young receivers Tory Horton and Emmanuel Henderson Jr. nipping at Kupp's heels.

68) WR Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals | Bye: 6 | Projected Fan Pts: 109.7

Heading into his fourth NFL season, Iosivas has had his moments, most notably the dozen touchdowns he's accounted for. He's a distant third in the pecking order when both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are healthy, however, and possibly fourth depending on how you view TE Mike Gesicki. As such, the Princeton product is a hard player to carry on your roster, functioning as the receiver equivalent of an RB handcuff. Bypass him in most formats and just keep him on your watch list in case he's pressed into action.

69) WR Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers | Bye: 5 | Projected Fan Pts: 108.8

Just how many chances can Legette get before it's time to punt? The 32nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft flashed a few times as a rookie, but shaky quarterback play didn't help his cause. The Panthers hit a home run with last year's Tetairoa McMillan pick, which helps and hurts Legette. There's not enough volume for two strong fantasy options in this pedestrian offense, and Legette's versatility hasn't shown up. Slot WR Jalen Coker has outplayed him, and now rookie Chris Brazzell II is breathing down his neck.

70) WR Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys | Bye: 14 | Projected Fan Pts: 104.6

Can Flournoy manage to matter in consecutive seasons? It's definitely worthy of debate, but he was efficient and effective when granted an opportunity, especially as CeeDee Lamb was hobbled by an ankle sprain. With 39% of Flournoy's fantasy points coming in just two games last year, this type of profile means he's more likely to pop off on your bench. Unless Lamb misses time for a third straight year, or an injury befalls George Pickens, Flournoy's season-ending stats will look better than his actual utility.

71) WR Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Bye: 10 | Projected Fan Pts: 100.1

A serious neck injury cost McMillan all but the final four games in 2025. It wasn't all bad, though, as he reminded gamers of his trademark big-play nature with a seven-catch, 114-yard Week 17 on a career-high nine targets. As a 2024 rookie, McMillan was a dangerous TD threat, scoring eight times on just 37 grabs in 13 games. Tampa is on its fifth new playcaller in as many seasons and enters the post-Mike Evans era. McMillan has some upside to slide into the No. 2 fantasy spot behind Emeka Egbuka, warranting sleeper consideration.

72) WR Omar Cooper Jr., New York Jets | Bye: 13 | Projected Fan Pts: 99.5

The Jets revamped their entire passing game and defense in the offseason. Cooper, a first-round selection, was brought in to give a little juice from the slot, and he'll challenge for the second-most targets behind Garrett Wilson from new-old quarterback Geno Smith. While the defense improved, that much change takes time to show, so expect plenty of necessary passing volume. Cooper comes out of Indiana tied for third in the FBS with 13 receiving scores last year, and he'll operate at his best in the intermediate route tree.

73) WR Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots | Bye: 11 | Projected Fan Pts: 98.3

Including the postseason run, Boutte was good for at least 13.5 PPR points six times last season, including a three-game stretch near the midpoint when he scored four of his six TDs. He led qualifying WRs with 56.5% of his catches going for 10-plus yards. Of his 18 total appearances, Boutte was held to fewer than 8.0 PPR points 10 times, illustrating his volatility. New England will have a tougher schedule and more competition for aerial touches, so it's unlikely we'll see a massive leap forward, if any at all. As of May, Boutte is rumored to be on the trading block and could be shipped in the coming weeks.

74) WR Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins | Bye: 6 | Projected Fan Pts: 98.0

In 2026, there's exactly one player on this offense fantasy owners should want to draft, and his name isn't Caleb Douglas. The rookie isn't devoid of talent, and there's a role here in an empty cupboard of a receiving corps, but the transition will take time. Malik Willis earned himself a fat check off a few relief appearances, and he remains raw as a pure passer. Rookie receivers tend to have a steeper learning curve, but the size-speed combo is appealing for a flier pick (6-foot-4, 4.39-second 40) in this wide-open battle for the revamped Dolphins.

75) WR Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions | Bye: 6 | Projected Fan Pts: 97.2

Given the team's other needs, the high cost to move up in the 2025 draft, and how the season ultimately unfolded, the decision to select TeSlaa last year remains dubious. As a rookie, TeSlaa made some eye-popping plays, particularly in the red zone - six of his 16 grabs went for touchdowns. The question isn't talent. The question is where his opportunities come from in an offense that has Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta? Barring injury, it seems unlikely TeSlaa will be a reliable contributor in 2026.

This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 4:15 PM.