Draft season is in full swing, and dynasty gamers everywhere are looking for an edge to improve their teams in what more casual players might call the “offseason.” One of the best ways to get an edge on your dynasty leaguemates is to prepare for your rookie draft thoroughly. This 2026 dynasty rookie class has been maligned for what seems like forever. High-end talent at the top of this crop of players is indeed relegated to a widespread consensus top five. This year, by the time we get to the end of the first round, it’s “go get your guy” time.
But, as every year shows us, there will be players drafted late, early, or not at all who end up producing fantasy points for us in the near future. I’ve checked out the profiles, dug into the tape, and came away with this list. With that said, let’s take a look at my dynasty rookie wide receiver rankings for the 2026 class. I’ve tiered them out, with an idea of where they may be expected to go in our upcoming dynasty rookie drafts. This position is undoubtedly the most plentiful this year (for our purposes in fantasy). With this in mind, I’ve gone a little deeper here, giving you my top 20 wideouts.
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2026 Dynasty Rookie Wide Receiver Rankings
Tier 1
These guys will be off the board early in rookie drafts!
1. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Without the injuries, Jordyn Tyson is the WR1 in this class. I’m not saying that his injuries aren’t real or don’t matter, but they’re not a dealbreaker. Yes, I’m betting on the talent and sky-high ceiling here. Tyson is dynamic with and without the ball in his hands and is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. He’s a silky smooth route runner, can run complex routes, and is an elite separator.
2. Carnell Tate, Ohio State
I saw a twitchiness that belied his length (6’3″) a bit when watching Carnell Tate. He’s a nuanced route-runner with excellent ball-tracking skills. Tate could step in as an NFL team’s second option right away as a rookie, with potential to become a true alpha. Yet another in a long line of talented wideouts from Ohio State.
3. Makai Lemon, USC
A tough receiver who did most of his work in college out of the slot, Makai Lemon is fearless over the middle of the field. He has great hands and is better in contested catch situations than his 5’11”, 195-lb frame might suggest. However, the former Trojan specializes in separation and knows how to manipulate leverage. He already has NFL-level route-running chops.
Tier 2
Likely late-first/early-second-round rookie draft selections
4. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Omar Cooper Jr. is a “do it all” receiver with exceptional hands and toughness for days. A nuanced route-runner with above-average burst and impressive contact balance, Cooper will be a steal for the NFL team that drafts him. This late-breakout is climbing the dynasty rookie wide receiver rankings quickly, thanks to his strong performance down the stretch for the Hoosiers. Granted, he’s generally ranked a bit lower than four, but here we are.
5. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
KC (Kevin) Concepcion is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. After doing most of his work around the LOS early in his college career, he became a downfield threat this year. A versatile target-earner with good hands, Concepcion has great vision and lateral agility, making him dangerous after the catch.
6. Germie Bernard, Alabama
Germie Bernard is a receiver who has been credited with only four drops over his collegiate career to go with 155 catches. Once he gets the ball in his hands, which is practically whenever he is targeted, he never goes down easy. Whether he was earning targets downfield, taking handoffs on end-arounds, or handling a direct snap, it’s easy to see the coaching staff knew their best chance to win came via featuring Bernard. That’s a good sign for his NFL prospects.
Tier 3
Second-round targets
7. Chris Bell, Louisville
Chris Bell‘s senior-year breakout was cut short in Week 11 when he sustained an ACL injury in the Cardinals’ game against SMU. At 6’2″ and 220 lbs. Bell has the size to be that prototypical X receiver, and he excels at using his size to get open. But he isn’t an “outside only” receiver; he will bring alignment versatility to whatever team drafts him.
8. Denzel Boston, Washington
No, I didn’t forget about Denzel Boston. In his last two seasons, he posted just 62 and 63 receptions, respectively, as the Huskies leaned heavily on their running game. But Boston moves well for a player of his size. Additionally, he has a few spectacular catches on tape, showing off good ball-tracking skills. However, his lack of versatility and route-running technique raises some concern. There is certainly potential here, but I’m lower than consensus on this prospect.
9. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
Malachi Fields has a knack for the spectacular … catch that is. The 6’4″, 205-lb wideout saw a dip in production in his lone season as a golden-domer. This was largely because he was in an offense with Jeremiyah Love (fellow receiver Jordan Faison is no slouch, either). However, he recently showed out at the Senior Bowl. Given an opportunity at the next level, Fields will quickly earn his quarterback’s trust. He’s one of the more pro-ready wideouts of this class.
10. Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Though slightly bigger and slightly slower than his Hoosier teammate, Cooper, Elijah Sarrat is nearly as versatile. Great hands, body control, strength at the catch point, and understanding of leverage are chief among his attributes.
Tier 4
Mid/Late-round flyers
11. Ja’Kobi Lane, USC
While his production profile and box scores don’t exactly jump off the page, Lane does stand out on tape. He moves well for a taller receiver. And with his 6’4″ frame, he has an enormous catch radius and the hands to make it matter. Furthermore, Lane also displays a knack for finding the soft spot against zone defense.
12. Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
Chris Brazzell II is a 6’5″ long-striding perimeter wideout who excels at tracking the deep ball. Decent route-running, deceptive speed, and an impressive catch radius will get his name called early on Day Two of the NFL draft.
13. Antonio Williams, Clemson
Despite a disappointing year for the Tigers, their No. 1 wideout still put in a strong showing on tape. Antonio Williams is a smooth route-runner with good hands. Though he doesn’t have that one “wow” trait, he is a well-rounded, versatile player who should have no problem contributing at the next level.
14. Zachariah Branch, Georgia
A fast-twitch, YAC/REC demon, Zachariah Branch broke out this year with the Bulldogs. He could be explosive in the NFL … or the 5’10”, 17- lb speedster could be another Rondale Moore.
Tier 5
On the fantasy radar
15. Skyler Bell, Connecticut
Skyler Bell was a producer for the Huskies last year. He posted 101 receptions for 1,278 yards with 13 touchdowns, leading the Independent Conference in each category. However, Bell is on the small side (6’0″, 185 lbs), limiting his catch radius as well as contributing to his lack of tackle-breaking ability.
16. Eric McAlister, TCU
A big-bodied X Receiver who can play some slot, Eric McAlister, is a strong player with strong hands. He lacks top-end speed and athleticism, but could easily make his way onto an NFL roster given his football IQ and tenacity.
17. Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri
If you like Zachariah Branch, but aren’t too keen on his price tag, then Kevin Coleman Jr. should be on your radar. The four-star recruit had his best season while at Mississippi State in 2024, when he posted 74 receptions for 932 yards and six touchdowns.
18. Ted Hurst, Georgia State
Long and lean, Ted Hurst seemingly has NFL-level speed and athleticism. Certainly, he was a mismatch for opponents in the Sun-Belt Conference. For instance, he went over 1,000 yards on 71 receptions with six touchdowns last year. His crisp route-running, solid hands, and a frame that could stand to carry some more bulk could make this player a late-round steal for the right team/coaching staff.
19. Harrison Wallace III, Ole Miss
Trinidad Chambliss is now going back to Ole Miss. But he will do so without his number one target. Harrison Wallace III is a solid route-runner who’s especially effective versus zone defense. He could very well be a riser as we go through the pre-draft process.
20. Deion Burks, Oklahoma
Deion Burks never quite got to break out at Oklahoma. In fact, last year he caught just 57 balls for 620 yards and six touchdowns. He did, however, put enough on tape to round out my top 20. Burks runs nice routes and has good hands, showing an ability to make plays on the ball. He is not the most physical receiver, but he displays above-average vision as a runner with the ball in his hands.
Honorable Mentions
Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll University; Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech; Josh Cameron, Baylor
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article provides some insight into this wide receiver class. There could be some future fantasy contributors from even “Tier 5” guys; it’s easy to forget sometimes that we need WR3s and flex options to go with our blue chip players. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the pre-draft process plays out for these players, and, of course, how they’re valued by the NFL come late-April.
We’ll have you covered here at PlayerProfiler throughout the entire process. Next up: The NFL Combine begins Monday, Feb. 23rd! Be on the lookout for more content from us covering all the risers, fallers, and buzz from Lucas Oil Stadium.
Feel free to reach out to me on X, Instagram, or Bluesky to let me know what you think, where you disagree, or if I’ve left anyone out.
Many Successes,
Kyle
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