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Zach's fantasy football outlooks for the three rookie wide receivers. Should KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Omar Cooper Jr. be drafted in fantasy football in 2026?
With the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, all the top prospects have landed with new teams, and fantasy football managers can start diving into how these rookies will impact their new squads. Rookie wide receivers have been especially effective at making an immediate impact, and several receiver-needy teams were aggressive in drafting talented options as plug-and-play solutions.
This year's draft featured plenty of depth at wide receiver, and in this post, we'll look at three options that landed in good spots where they can make a difference. The Browns doubled up at wide receiver, taking both KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, while the Jets looked to add to their receiving corps by drafting Omar Cooper Jr.
Now that we know where they landed, we can look at the prospects of all three players in the 2026 fantasy football season. All three of these dynamic options have opportunities in front of them, although they are volatile options due to the uncertainties of their offenses as a whole. Let's dive in and see who you should draft in 2026.
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KC Concepcion Fantasy Football Outlook
The first of these three receivers off the board was Concepcion, who was taken with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round. Concepcion starred last year for the Texas A&M Aggies, averaging 15.1 yards per reception and leading his team in yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns.
Many draft experts declared him to be the best separator and route runner in the entire WR class, and he excels in tight areas with explosive speed after the catch. He did have some drops last season that got plenty of attention and are an issue he'll need to address, but he has impressive upside and play-making ability once he catches the ball
He also contributed on special teams for the Aggies, with a pair of punt returns for touchdowns in 2025.
KC lands in The Land pic.twitter.com/UVgsQU9QyJ
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) April 24, 2026
Concepcion will step in right away as a top target for the Browns at wide receiver. Jerry Jeudy flashed potential but was inconsistent over the last few seasons, Cedric Tillman had trouble staying healthy, and Isaiah Bond had a quiet rookie season. While those pass catchers are sure to still be involved, Concepcion has a real chance to step in as the team's top receiver.
He did well on quick passes and screens for the Aggies, and those designed play-making opportunities should come his way regularly in new coach Todd Monken's offense. He could be the Browns' version of Zay Flowers if he is able to clean up some of those drop issues.
The main questions around Concepcion are his drops and his quarterback situation. He already has an established relationship with Shedeur Sanders, and if Sanders earns the starting job again this season, Concepcion could quickly become his go-to option. Sanders was very boom-or-bust as a passer last year, though, and there have been rumors that Deshaun Watson could be in the mix as well.
The Browns QB battle will be one of the most fascinating to watch this offseason and preseason, but ultimately, Cleveland will probably be looking for a longer-term solution in the 2027 NFL Draft regardless of how it plays out.
Getting Concepcion in place as the team's top receiver will be a priority for the team, regardless of who is at QB. He was ranked as the No. 54 WR in the RotoBaller rankings going into the draft, but I would bump him into the top 40 of my personal rankings since I'm a big fan of his upside and potential to be the go-to guy for the Browns.
Denzel Boston Fantasy Football Outlook
The Browns added another receiver at the start of the second round by drafting Denzel Boston at No. 39 overall, the seventh pick in the second round.
Boston was a two-year starter for the Washington Huskies and led the team in receiving yards in 2025. He's a different style receiver than the speedy and elusive Concepcion. Boston is a bigger receiver who should excel in contested-catch and red zone situations.
.@UW_Football WR Denzel Boston has hands on the field & in the kitchen 👨🍳
2026 NFL Draft – April 23-25 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/S3qUJ2O3bj— NFL (@NFL) April 17, 2026
He isn't a speedy, big-play threat, but does have the potential to develop into a go-to option for touchdowns and first downs. He does a good job adjusting to poorly thrown passes, which could also help him earn a role in the Browns' receiving corps. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is a great option as a big target near the goal line, and Boston could excel in that role as well.
The Browns have a lot of options mentioned above at receiver, but an early second-round pick makes Boston a key piece for them to develop. He profiles as more of a possession receiver than a big-play threat, and with the uncertainty at quarterback, I'd slide Boston down a little bit in my draft rankings. He's still worth a late-round flier in some leagues, but I'd definitely take Concepcion's dynamic ability ahead of Boston's potential production for this season.
Omar Cooper Jr. Fantasy Football Outlook
In between the Browns' two receiver selections, the Jets traded up into the end of the first round for another pick and snagged Omar Cooper Jr. with the No. 30 overall pick in the draft. Like Concepcion and Boston, Cooper goes to a team that has question marks at quarterback, but he still has the potential to make a real impact.
Unlike his Browns counterparts in this post, Cooper goes to a team with an established WR1 in Garrett Wilson. Behind Wilson, though, Cooper could immediately step in as the second option in the passing game after his productive seasons with Indiana.
He ended up with 937 yards and 13 touchdowns on 69 receptions for coach Curt Cignetti, as he became the go-to option while working out of the slot.
A physical receiver who makes clutch plays. #ProIU | @nyjets pic.twitter.com/1xqPYuQJ2s
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) April 24, 2026
The Jets worked out Cooper and met with him before the NFL Draft, and then aggressively moved up into the end of the first round to add him. He's clearly an option they targeted and have big plans for moving forward. Cooper's work out of the slot last year makes him a great complement to Wilson's downfield speed and playmaking. The two should be a very solid tandem, along with a very strong Jets' draft class overall.
The big issue with Cooper's fantasy upside in year one is his QB play in New York. Geno Smith will likely be the starter and has proven over the last few years to be a competent option, but the team doesn't really have any depth behind him, and Smith lost his job last year with the Raiders.
He led the league in interceptions in 2025, and his adjusted yards per attempt dropped from 7.5 to 6.8. Turning 36 in the middle of the season, Smith is getting near the end of his chances to be a full-time starter, and the team will definitely be looking to solve its long-term QB questions in another way.
The Jets added Cooper and a strong group of rookies to fill many of the holes on their roster, and they had one of the best drafts of the year, according to many experts. However, their struggles at QB could keep Cooper from being a true fantasy breakout star as a rookie.
Cooper has the tools to be a great part of the team's future and the upside to make an immediate impact. He's best taken as a depth option or a late-round flier in standard leagues, though, since the overall passing game limits his rookie ceiling.
Of the three rookie receivers in this post, I'd rank Concepcion as my top pick, Cooper second, and Boston third. Cooper should be owned in all standard-sized formats after draft day, but Boston will probably start the year on the waiver wire in many leagues.
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