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Dave Ventresca highlights five second-year wide receivers to buy or sell in 2025 dynasty fantasy football leagues. Should you trade for Xavier Legette, Jalen McMillan, and more?
At this point of the preseason, fantasy football dynasty players start to get antsy and anxious, as many rookie drafts are already done. The itch for activity leads some dynasty leaguers to pursue trades aggressively, and all dynasty participants are always looking to improve their teams.
Of course, dynasty players are always shopping for younger options and will often attempt to deal for guys who are still in the early stages of their careers. When examining second-year wide receivers, though, the pool of availability looks somewhat shallow. The 2025 rookie WR class was considered weaker than in some other recent years.
Still, we offer second-year dynasty WRs to buy and sell for 2026, and some of these players can also be targeted as value plays in dynasty startup drafts. Because the appealing options are rather thin, we can feature two deeper trade targets. We were only able to back one “sell” candidate, but the WR we spotlight as a possible trade away is a bigger name that might surprise you.
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Second-Year Dynasty Fantasy Football Wide Receivers to Buy
Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay drafted Golden in the first round in 2025, but his first NFL regular-season showing was quite disappointing, as he caught just 29 passes for 361 yards and never visited the end zone. But he did provide a glimpse of his better form in the Packers’ only playoff game, catching four of five targets for 84 yards along with that elusive first TD reception.
Rob Reischel, who covers the Packers for Forbes and has written several books on the team, has described Golden as a “rare talent” and a “dynamic player with blazing speed”. The wideout also reportedly improved his outlook during the offseason, both physically and mentally, according to Sports Illustrated.
The Packers appear to have paved a path for Golden to play a more prominent role in the passing game in his second pro season. Green Bay moved on from Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs in the offseason. Golden now stands out as the team’s best pure deep threat alongside Christian Watson and Jayden Reed at WR.
Matthew Golden to Operate as X-Receiver in 2026 https://t.co/0jsrW6jKiM
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) August 3, 2026
Watson is the assumed No. 1 WR for Green Bay, but he has regularly dealt with injuries in his first four NFL seasons. Health issues have prevented him from reaching 70 receptions or 700 yards in a season so far in his career. Reed dealt with multiple injuries last year, and he played in just seven games.
It is apparent that the Packers need Golden not only to be a prime downfield playmaker, but they also need him to stay on the field, as his top WR complements have battled injury issues. Watson is especially worrisome regarding durability, and tight end Tucker Kraft is also on the road back from a torn ACL.
Despite his limited contributions, Golden ranked sixth in target separation against man coverage, per Player Profiler. Before the 2026 regular season begins is the most optimal time to try to acquire Golden. Some other dynasty players may be aware of his breakout potential and might not part with him easily, but Golden’s value might soar higher once the regular season starts.
Green Bay’s ideal field-stretcher should provide some good performances in 2026 where his upside becomes apparent. Yet it is also possible that Golden could see a healthy number of consistent targets if he proves to be the most reliable Packers WR in terms of availability.
Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
Sometimes, even when you are competing in a dynasty league, where more savvy fantasy leaguers tend to lurk, even some experienced players tend to feel uneasy about injury outlooks. Burden’s preseason groin injury could make a few players who roster him feel uneasy about his shorter-term outlook right now.
In dynasty fantasy football, common sense dictates that injuries that can be forgotten a few weeks into the season should not cause a dynasty player to be overly concerned. Burden is reportedly not expected to make any appearances in preseason games, but he might be ready for Chicago’s regular season opener at Carolina.
Now is the time to check in with the league mate who currently rosters Burden and see if they are more open to a deal. At least take the shot now, because once Burden gets healthier, his price tag in a trade can certainly increase significantly.
I don’t need to do a statistical analysis to sell anyone on Burden as a trade target, because he remains a true breakout target. You’re likely not going to be able to snare the promising playmaker in a one-sided deal. But if you have been thinking about Burden specifically or just want a WR upgrade, there is no better time than the present to see if his injury status can lead to more flexibility from his current fantasy manager.
Naturally, this approach should also apply to Emeka Egbuka, who is dealing with a toe injury that could keep him out of Tampa Bay’s first regular season game at Cincinnati. Attempting to buy on injured players now is recommended, because they could be easier to pry away from their current dynasty roster.
Tre' Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
There is much optimism surrounding the Los Angeles offense with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel at the controls. Justin Herbert could be primed for a strong season, but beyond Ladd McConkey, his WR corps isn’t too inspiring. I am still not sold on Quentin Johnston being a consistent performer.
McConkey was a disappointment last season, too, although I do expect him to bounce back. But Herbert needs reliable receivers, and Harris can fit that description well. As noted by Athlon Sports, nearly two-thirds of his receptions in 2025 produced first downs.
Harris’ rookie year was quiet, as he caught 30 passes for 324 yards and one TD. But his opportunities figure to increase in 2026, and his dynasty outlook might improve over the next two years. He is already ticketed to be featured in three-WR sets with McConkey and Johnston, and there should be enough reps for him to contribute often in a potentially improved passing game.
Strong blocking will also keep Harris on the field frequently. He offers a good combination of size (6-2, 205 pounds) and speed, and may eventually emerge as a more trusted target for Herbert. Now is the time to buy lower on Harris if you can.
Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks
A fifth-round draft pick for the Super Bowl champions last season, Horton flashed some promise when he was healthy. A cracked shin cut his season short after just eight games, and he also suffered a knee injury in his final season at Colorado State.
Tre’ Harris with maybe the catch of camp so far pic.twitter.com/cTqyvk3VVm
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) August 11, 2026
Health is a concern for Horton, but there is a potential eventual path for him to become a more productive WR for the Seahawks. He won’t cost too much in a trade, either, because he is the fourth WR at best on the Seattle depth chart when he is available. Acquiring Horton is a cheap, deeper move and might not pay off for another year or two.
I say dynasty players should try to land Horton and stash him, though, and we just don’t cover just the most well-known second-year WR targets here. Right now, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp are all firmly ahead of Horton on the Seahawks’ depth chart. Tight ends AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo will also compete for targets.
But it is conceivable that Horton could become more involved in the Seattle passing game over the next year or two. Kupp is heading into his 10th NFL season and could be out of the picture in the not-so-distant future. Shaheed is an electric playmaker, but he still must prove he can be a consistent receiving threat.
Last season, Horton caught five TD passes in eight games, including two against Washington. He later admitted that he had played through pain for several weeks before his final hurrah in his eighth game of the season against the Commanders.
Horton is now reportedly dealing with another undisclosed injury, and his return date is uncertain. But we are looking at a potential deep sleeper who could become increasingly important in the Seahawks’ passing game when he can play. Horton is a downfield target with true TD potential.
Don't sleep on the Seahawks WR group... A lot of people sleep on the fact that they also have Tory Horton Jr. coming back.
The WRs are going to be EVEN BETTER this year 👀 pic.twitter.com/1ud4DI0GKQ
— Seattle ON Tap (@SeattleONTap) July 17, 2026
If Kupp retires soon and Shaheed proves to be inconsistent as a pass-catcher, Horton could have a chance to climb up the depth chart if he can get back on the field and string a few active games together. It won’t take much to acquire him, possibly a late-round draft pick or one of your reserves with minor value to get him.
Second-Year Dynasty Fantasy Football Wide Receiver to Sell
Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
Carolina’s No. 1 WR is only 23 years old, which only adds to his appeal in dynasty leagues. You may not consider trading McMillan because of his age and role. But realistically, you have to give up something of value to get what you want in a dynasty deal, and McMillan could help to deliver a good return.
As a rookie, McMillan finished with 1,014 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. But he also caught only 70 balls, and with Bryce Young at quarterback, it’s hard to have much confidence in significant improvements across the board statistically this season.
Yes, McMillan is young, and he is a top target on his team, but Carolina ranked 26th in passing yards per game last season. McMillan could command much defensive attention, and the Panthers’ passing game doesn’t seem to have more upside than it did last year. If you are in a win-now mode with a dynasty roster, McMillan is an appealing trade chip to other teams when targeting another significant impact player in return.
Last season, McMillan ranked 12th in targets and ninth in first-read targets, but his catchable target rate was just 64.8%, which was not very good. For a player of his size (6-5, 212 pounds), a 27.8 contested catch percentage was not what we wanted to see, either. McMillan also struggled to get much separation in man coverage.
Don’t get too caught up in not wanting to part with McMillan because of the age and depth chart position on his team. Use those factors to sell him in a trade for a quality player.
Consider moving McMillan in a deal where you get a WR who might be three or four years older with more upside, or an RB who is slightly older but may be firmly set as a starter for his NFL team. Take the hit on the age to land a player or players who can help you win now.
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Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Draft tool for 2026 drafts for Tetairoa McMillan, Tory Horton, Matthew Golden, Tre' Harris, Luther Burden III:
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