9 Must-Have Fantasy Football Wide Receivers to Target and Draft (2026)

May 22, 2026

Joey's nine must-have fantasy football wide receivers to target and draft for 2026. His early round, mid-round, and late-round wide receiver draft targets for redraft leagues.

We might be a few months away from fantasy football drafts, but it's never too early to start researching. Looking at where certain players are going in current drafts and which players might be value picks could give you a leg up over your league mates once your drafts actually take place sometime this summer.

In this article, we'll look at nine must-have wide receivers to target and draft in 2026. We will break up this article into three sections (early round targets, middle-round targets, and late-round sleepers) and explain why each of these wide receivers is worth drafting this year. All the ADPs featured below are from current NFFC leagues.

So, let's take an early look at the nine must-have fantasy wide receivers for 2026 fantasy football drafts.

Early Round Targets

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions – ADP 11.2 | WR5

There has been no wide receiver more consistent in fantasy over the past three years than Detroit Lions playmaker Amon-Ra St. Brown. He is the only wideout to finish top three at the position in three straight years and is coming off his third straight WR3 fantasy season in 2025. St. Brown caught 117 passes for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns last year while averaging 19.1 PPR fantasy points per game.

Amon-Ra powering into the end zone for 6️⃣#NYGvsDET 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/FwMCRPUafu

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 23, 2025

Given St. Brown's consistency over the years, he is a smash pick again at the back end of the first round. He will remain a focal point of this Detroit offense and should once again be fed in the passing game. The Lions wide receiver ranked second in targets last year (172), only behind Ja'Marr Chase. St. Brown is such a safe selection at his 11.2 ADP.

Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints – ADP 29.5 | WR12

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was one of the most consistent fantasy players last year. He finished as the overall WR6, averaged 16.8 PPR fantasy points per game, and scored in double figures in PPR formats in 14 of his 16 games. Olave was also an even better fantasy option once Tyler Shough took over for Spencer Rattler in Week 9.

Olave averaged 18.75 PPR fantasy points per game with Shough under center from Week 9 through Week 17, compared to 14.9 PPR fantasy points per game with Rattler from Week 1 through Week 8. It was clear that Olave and Shough were getting more comfortable as the season went on, and that helped Olave blossom into a WR1 in fantasy. That makes the 25-year-old a must-pick in the early rounds.

Even though the Saints drafted Jordyn Tyson in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Olave is still going to be Shough's go-to target in the passing game. The former Ohio State Buckeye averaged 9.1 targets per game with Shough last season.

Middle Round Values

Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – ADP 50.1 | WR21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had a very interesting rookie campaign. He came out of the gate red-hot by averaging 20.5 PPR fantasy points through the first five weeks, but he only averaged 7.8 PPR fantasy points in his final 12 games. That rough stretch to end the season could make some fantasy managers skeptical of drafting Egbuka in the middle rounds.

However, the second-year wideout has the potential to really take off this year. Mike Evans is officially gone after signing with the 49ers in free agency, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson sees Egbuka taking "huge strides" this year. After ranking top 10 in explosive rating, targets, and deep targets among all wideouts as a rookie, there's no denying he could be a fantasy star in Year 2.

DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles – ADP 51.2 | WR22

Wide receiver DeVonta Smith has been overshadowed in the Philadelphia Eagles offense ever since the team traded for A.J. Brown. He has finished outside the top 18 at the position in three straight seasons and only averaged 11.9 PPR fantasy points across 17 games last year. The good news for Smith's fantasy value, though, is that all signs point to Brown being traded before the start of the season.

If that does happen, Smith would become a high-floor selection at this point in drafts. He would be the WR1 in this Philadelphia offense, and we have seen him put up solid fantasy numbers whenever Brown has missed games in the past.

Smith caught six passes for 84 yards in a game without Brown last year and scored 20.6 PPR fantasy points and 14.6 PPR fantasy points in two games without Brown in 2024. That's enough reason to spend a mid-round pick on the Eagles wide receiver, assuming Brown is traded before Week 1.

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears – ADP 62.6 | WR27

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze was looking like a draft-day steal last year after he averaged 15.7 PPR fantasy points across the first eight weeks. Then, he suffered a foot injury in late October that really affected his overall numbers the rest of the season. Odunze played through that foot issue for a few weeks before missing the final five games of the regular season.

Now that the 23-year-old is fully healthy again, he should have a better all-around season in 2026. Odunze was Caleb Williams' favorite target when he was on the field, and more opportunities should open up for him in the passing game with DJ Moore's departure.

This Bears offense should also gradually improve in Ben Johnson's second year, which could help Odunze take that next step.

Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze!

The second-year QB and WR get the Bears on the board first 🐻

DALvsCHI on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/seSZG3CItQ

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025

It's hard not to overreact to his poor numbers last year. But fantasy managers shouldn't read too much into it, considering Odunze was battling through a stress fracture in his foot for the entire second half. He'll be a much more consistent fantasy player on an elite Bears offense this season.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals – ADP 75.7 | WR33

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has not met expectations since being drafted fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He caught just 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns across 17 games in 2024 and then totaled 41 catches for 608 yards and four touchdowns in an injury-riddled 2025 campaign. In both of those seasons, Harrison finished outside the top 28 at the WR position in fantasy.

However, it's not time to give up on the former first-round pick just yet. The Cardinals just signed one of the top offensive-minded coaches, Mike LaFleur, to be their next head coach.

Jacoby Brissett is the favorite to start the season as Arizona's quarterback, and that is massive for Harrison's fantasy value. Brissett helped Michael Wilson become a fantasy star in this offense in the second half last year.

The upgraded play-calling from Drew Petzing to LaFleur could make a big difference for the Cardinals playmaker. LaFleur comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, and the talent is definitely there for Harrison to explode in his third NFL season. This Arizona offense should be extremely pass-friendly throughout the 2026 season.

Late Round Sleepers

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers – ADP 128.8 | WR50

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed didn't appear in many games last season after breaking his clavicle in a Week 2 contest against the Washington Commanders. Even when he played, though, he didn't see many opportunities. Reed only caught 19 passes for 207 yards and one touchdown across seven games.

But his situation vastly improves for 2026. The Packers traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles, and Romeo Doubs signed a massive deal with the New England Patriots in free agency. Those two departures will open up more chances for Reed in the passing game. That's exactly why the 26-year-old is such a sleeper at his 128.8 ADP in NFCC leagues.

Just two years ago, Reed ranked first in fantasy points per target (2.63), 12th in fantasy points per route run (0.54), and third in yards per target (11.4) among all wide receivers. With less competition for targets in this Green Bay offense, the Michigan State product could be on his way to a career fantasy year.

Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers – ADP 133.7 | WR51

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker had some solid fantasy performances last season. He totaled 11.2 PPR fantasy points in Week 11, had a 17.4 PPR fantasy point game in Week 13, totaled 14 PPR fantasy points in Week 15, and exploded in the Wild Card round by totaling 28.4 PPR fantasy points behind a nine-catch, 134-yard, one-touchdown game.

Jalen Coker with a 52-yard catch and run!

LARvsCAR on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/OLgLIMiAd8

— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2026

Considering the Panthers didn't add any notable wide receivers in free agency or the draft, Coker is in a prime position to be a reliable fantasy option in 2026. He is set to be Carolina's WR2 and ranked 12th among all wide receivers in fantasy points per target (2.10) in 2025. The 24-year-old is a late-round target who could emerge as a solid weekly flex play.

Jalen Nailor, Las Vegas Raiders – ADP 201.3 | WR71

Wide receiver Jalen Nailor is practically free in fantasy drafts. He is going outside the top 200 in current NFCC drafts and has a WR71 ADP. Nailor might not seem like an enticing pick because he hasn't done anything notable in fantasy throughout his career. The 27-year-old has just 69 career catches for 1,066 yards in his first four NFL seasons.

Nonetheless, Nailor could be fantasy-relevant this year after the Las Vegas Raiders signed him to a three-year, $35 million deal in free agency. He is finally set to have an expanded role in an offense and landed in one of the best spots this offseason. The former Vikings playmaker could be the top wide receiver in this Las Vegas offense throughout the 2026 campaign.

Nailor will be battling with Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, and Dont'e Thornton Jr. for that top wide receiver spot in training camp. Given how much the Raiders gave Nailor in free agency, he's likely to have a major role in this offense.

Therefore, he's worth a flyer in the later rounds. The former sixth-round pick could have a few boom games this season with Fernando Mendoza/Kirk Cousins under center.

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