5 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers You Must Draft in Dynasty Leagues

May 20, 2026

Wyatt's wide receivers to target in dynasty fantasy football drafts. His top wide receivers and draft values for 2026 dynasty fantasy football leagues.

We're currently living in the golden era of the wide receiver position. It has become a premium position and wiggled its way into one of the top-3 highest-paid positions in the NFL. As a result, receivers have become the cornerstone for our rosters in dynasty.

With so many receivers flying off the board early in drafts, it has gotten harder to find gems at the position. However, it is still possible to find those diamonds in the rough; it just might be a little bit harder to spot one. But when you do, it can take your team to another level.

Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your dynasty fantasy football needs. Here are five wide receivers you must draft in 2026 dynasty fantasy football leagues.

DeVonta Smith - Philadelphia Eagles

DeVonta Smith’s fantasy value has been locked into a slingshot ever since the offseason began. It has been stretching back all spring until it finally reached full draw when the Eagles traded up for Makai Lemon in the 2026 NFL Draft. Thus, unofficially announcing that A.J. Brown will be traded.

It has been the worst-kept secret in the NFL that Brown will not play for the Eagles in 2026. When a trade finally takes place, it will launch Smith’s average draft position (ADP) through the roof.

However, Smith’s current ADP (35.5 according to ESPN) has yet to skyrocket due to human nature. Most drafters want to see an action happen before investing in players. But if you’re reading this article in May, you’re not most drafters. You’re an invested fantasy manager!

Smith has produced at a high level in the looming shadows of Brown throughout their careers together. Since 2022, Smith has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and has earned over 100 targets every season but 2023, when he played only 13 games.

Air it out 🎯 pic.twitter.com/9WrT6h8brA

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 19, 2025

We often tend to forget that Smith is a former Heisman Trophy winner. He was the fourth receiver in history to win the Heisman Award at that time, and he was the second receiver to win the triple crown (leading all receivers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns) in college football history.

Not to mention, he did this while sharing targets with college mate Jaylen Waddle, who was selected sixth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Now, Smith will become the focal point of the Eagles' passing attack. There is a strong belief within the Eagles organization that he is ready to become an alpha receiver and can be one of the best in the NFL.

According to Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice, members of the Eagles personnel pointed to the season Jaxon Smith-Njigba had after the Seahawks traded away DK Metcalf. They trust that Smith can have a similar leap in production.

Statistically, Smith had outperformed Smith-Njigba in their respective first two seasons in the league. Smith produced 2,112 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns, while Smith-Njigba logged 1,758 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns.

With Super Bowl expectations, GM Howie Roseman has pushed the Eagles offense to its next evolution with Smith at the centerpiece of the passing game. With this, Smith has the most rapport with Jalen Hurts and is set to command a high target share.

Rome Odunze - Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears took a big jump in their first year with Ben Johnson as their head coach. One beneficiary was Rome Odunze early on in the season. During the first four weeks of the season, Odunze was the WR3 overall and scored 19.9 points per game in PPR leagues.

CALEB TO ROME.

CHIvsDET on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/2Vq7PQO78y

— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025

During that stretch, Odunze established himself as a red-zone weapon and target earner. The former Washington standout had five touchdowns and averaged 8.75 catches per game, which would pace out to just shy of 150 targets for the season.

Shortly after, Odunze suffered a heel injury that was first reported going into Week 8. Eventually, he was diagnosed with a stress fracture that forced him to miss multiple games and derailed his season.

Heading into Year 3, the former ninth overall pick will be the leader in the receiver room after the departure of DJ Moore. Odunze has already established a strong connection with Caleb Williams, and he now has the chance to show it on the field.

Even with the hype around teammate Luther Burden III, it should not overshadow the potential of Odunze. During the first eight weeks of the season, Odunze routinely outperformed Burden. Then, when Odunze returned for the playoffs at less than 100 percent health, he still outperformed Burden.

Odunze is poised to be the next Year 3 breakout receiver. The 23-year-old has flashed his elite talent in an ascending offseason with a quarterback on the rise. If he can put it all together, we could see Odunze put up those numbers early this year for an entire season.

Ricky Pearsall - San Francisco 49ers

Ricky Pearsall has had a unique start to his NFL journey that has been plagued with injuries and flashes of stardom.

In Weeks 1-4, before spraining his PCL, Pearsall was first in yards per reception (16.4), second in average depth of target (15.9), third in deep-target rate (32.1%), and fourth in receiving yards (327), according to PFF data.

First NFL TD for Ricky Pearsall ‼️

📺 #SFvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/J8kjN1jYLB

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 10, 2024

He flashed his ability to be a top-5 deep threat in the league early on while he was healthy. Yes, this is a relatively small sample, but it shows how dynamic a player Pearsall can be since he dominated on short-to-intermediate routes as a rookie.

So far this offseason, the 49ers have invested heavily in the receiving room. It started when they signed Mike Evans to a three-year contract and then drafted De'Zhaun Stribling with the first pick in the second round.

These acquisitions on paper actually help Pearsall out, deployment-wise. Due to injuries, Pearsall was forced to play on the line as the "X" receiver for the 49ers, which pulled him away from his traditional "Z" receiver position.

With Evans and Stribling in the fold, Pearsall can go back to playing his position of comfort as the “Z” receiver, where he can be used on breaking routes over the middle of the field, where his separation ability can be put on full display.

Additionally, Evans' Hall of Fame pedigree demands extra attention from opposing defenses. This will allow Pearsall to face softer coverages and operate against less talented defensive backs.

This is similar to Emeka Egbuka in Tampa Bay early on in 2025. Egbuka put up some of his best numbers last season when Evans was healthy and on the field for the first three weeks of the year.

With an improved situation and flashes of talent when healthy, Pearsall is a lottery ticket worth taking in dynasty leagues. If he can stay healthy, Pearsall will clear his current ADP and will be seen in a different light next offseason.

Jayden Higgins - Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are heading into a crucial year on the offensive side of the ball. They brought back offensive coordinator Nick Caley and will have to decide in the near future whether or not to sign C.J. Stroud to a long-term extension.

Jayden Higgins finds himself right in the middle of the mix with an opportunity to be a big contributor. After being selected 34th overall, Higgins posted a respectable 41 catches for 525 yards with six touchdowns in his rookie season.

TEXANS STRIKE FIRST WITH A 75-YARD TOUCHDOWN 🔥

HOUvsLAC on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/zyvsNMYuMi

— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2025

The 23-year-old finds himself in a better offensive ecosystem in Year 2 after the Texans have brought in David Montgomery to improve the run game and made key additions to the offensive line.

During free agency, they signed tackle Braden Smith and guard Wyatt Teller, and then traded up two spots to draft guard Keylan Rutledge in the first round.

With an improved offense, the Texans will be able to extend drives and be in the red zone more often. Higgins' athleticism shines brightest in the red zone when he can put his 6’4" frame and 39-inch vertical to use.

Furthermore, with Nico Collins still as the No. 1 receiver on the roster, it allows Higgins to face less talented defensive backs as he continues to develop his game. Collins will always draw the best defensive back and garner all of the attention from defenses.

On the flip side, Collins has missed 25 percent of his games in his four-year NFL career, which is around four games a season. This provides Higgins with the potential of producing spike weeks within fantasy football.

The Texans didn’t make any key additions to the receiver room this offseason. If Collins were to miss any time, Higgins would immediately become the WR1 for a competitive team. Higgins has proved he can produce as a reliable fantasy receiver when he gets a ton of targets.

Germie Bernard - Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have made key improvements to their offensive line, rushing attack, and receiving room in hopes of luring Aaron Rodgers into another season.

The most impactful addition to the offense could be Germie Bernard. The Steelers selected the Alabama standout 47th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

GERMIE BERNARD PUTS THE TIDE ON TOP WITH A 25-YARD TOUCHDOWN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hcAgIp1rZW

— ESPN (@espn) October 25, 2025

Bernard was one of my favorite rookie prospects entering the draft. He is a versatile receiver who can play all three receiver spots and can be deployed out of the backfield as a pass-catcher and running back.

NFL Draft analyst Steve Muench of The Ringer called Bernard’s game “boring” due to his not-flashy but highly dependable production. The 22-year-old is not the fastest or most athletic receiver, but he does everything fundamentally right.

This makes Bernard the perfect receiver to pair up with a veteran quarterback like Rodgers at this stage of his career. Rodgers wants a consistent target and wants to get the ball out of his hands fast.

Bernard’s best routes at Alabama were short and quick outs. In his Reception Perception profile by Matt Harmon, he posted over an 89% success rate on the out and flat route, along with a 100% success rate on comebacks and screens.

The most impressive part of Bernard’s profile was his ability to find a contributing role in star-studded college receiver rooms. Bernard was able to contribute to the Washington Huskies' national championship run, which had Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan, who were all top-100 picks.

Then, when Bernard transferred to Alabama, he became the most productive offensive weapon despite having future first-round pick Ryan Coleman-Williams on the roster. Now, Bernard is heading into a receiving room of more big names like Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf.

With those big-bodied receivers, Bernard will likely play mostly out of the slot for head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy has historically run a lot of 11 personnel formations with three receivers on the field.

Bernard can earn targets immediately with his blue-collar approach to receiver, his versatile play style, and deployment. With his unique skill set, McCarthy will find ways to keep Bernard on the field more often than not. There is also a non-zero chance that Bernard leads the Steelers in targets this season.

More Dynasty Fantasy Football Analysis