Best WRs by Round
Seven rounds, seven bell-cow blurbs, then a rapid-fire list of the best value plays for every round after that.
Round 1: Ja'Marr Chase (CIN)
Obvious pick here. Chase is the safest anchor in this format because he already proved he can be a top-five fantasy receiver without a functioning quarterback.
Led the NFL in targets (175, 1st) and posted a 32.7% target share (3rd)… CIN's clear focal point regardless of who's throwing.
Topped 1,400 receiving yards despite Joe Burrow's Week 2 turf toe injury forcing him to catch passes from Jake Browning and Joe Flacco for much of the year.
From Week 6 on, he returned to elite WR1 production thanks to massive target volume and Flacco's tendency to feed him the ball relentlessly.
If 2025 was largely his floor, a full season with a healthy Burrow could push Chase into the WR1-overall conversation, so he’s as safe a Round 1 pick as this list offers.
Round 2: A.J. Brown (NE)
The Brown-to-New England trade was the single biggest storyline earlier this offseason, and it fully reshapes his outlook.
Traded from Philadelphia to New England for a 2028 first-round pick, so he's now Drake Maye's unquestioned WR1.
Racked up 121 targets (14th) and a 29.5% target share (9th) even in Philly's run-first scheme that actively suppressed his usage.
Pairs with Maye, who finished as the 2025 NFL MVP runner-up (72% completion rate, 8.9 Y/A, 1st in the NFL).
Some analysts flag his declining success rates (69.2% vs. man, 73.0% vs. zone, per Reception Perception) as a red flag, but a pass-friendly scheme and an ascending arm make this a classic buy-the-situation profile at Round 2.
Round 3: DeVonta Smith (PHI)
And with Brown gone, Smith inherits the "alpha" role in a fully retooled Eagles passing game.
Logged his third career 1,000-yard season in 2025 (WR20 overall) despite playing in an offense that ranked 24th in pass attempts.
New OC Sean Mannion has "total authority" over a Shanahan/McVay-inspired scheme built for better receiver distribution.
Maintained 100% route participation and 113 targets (19th) even in a suppressed role — internal sentiment says he has "another level" to reach in 2026.
Just 4 TDs (40th) on 21 deep targets (19th) in 2025 sets him up as a prime positive touchdown-regression candidate now that he's Philly's clear No. 1.
Round 4: Emeka Egbuka (TB)
With Mike Evans off to San Francisco, Egbuka steps directly into the WR1 role in Tampa Bay.
Ranked 9th in targets (127) as a rookie and 2nd in unrealized air yards (959). There’s a massive efficiency ceiling if things click.
Piled up 40 catches, 677 yards and 6 TDs through his first nine games before a Week 6 hamstring strain slowed him down.
New OC Zac Robinson and passing game coordinator T.J. Yates take over an offense that ranked just 21st in total yards, with real incentive to feature him.
A full season of health plus a Year 2 role bump projects him for a 1,000-yard, high-end WR2 season in 2026.
Round 5: Luther Burden (CHI)
DJ Moore's trade to Buffalo clears the runway for Burden to step up and become Chicago's lead receiver, although he’ll have to contend with Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland as well.
Ranked 3rd in the NFL in yards per route run (2.62) as a rookie, trailing only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Closed the year with 21 catches, 324 yards and a TD on 26 targets over his final four games.
Stays paired with Caleb Williams under Ben Johnson, with new OC Press Taylor expected to expand his usage after just 234 routes run as a rookie.
Early 2026 projections have him at 77 catches, 1,100 yards and 8 TDs. It would be a legitimate Year 2 breakout price at Round 5.
Round 6: Christian Watson (GB)
A four-year, $110.5M extension signals the Packers are all-in on Watson as their long-term WR1.
Ranked 15th in fantasy points per game (13.2) despite playing just 10 games, and finished 4th in the NFL in yards per route run (2.65).
Set up as Green Bay's clear vertical threat, ranking 3rd in average depth of target (17.8).
Poised for a bigger target share after the departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks.
Injury history remains the swing factor, but back-to-back explosive December games (113 yards/1 TD, then 89 yards/2 TD) hint at real top-10 upside if he stays on the field.
Round 7: Parker Washington (JAX)
Washington closed 2025 as Jacksonville's "No. 1 receiver" heading into the postseason.
Topped 100 yards in three of his final four games and more than doubled the next-closest Jaguar's target total in the Wild Card loss (7 catches, 107 yards, TD).
Ranked 16th in yards per route run (2.20) and 8th in deep targets (23) in his first extended run of playing time.
Strong chemistry with Trevor Lawrence makes him a likely top-three target despite a crowded room with Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers and Travis Hunter.
At a rock-bottom $3.7M cap number, he's a high-end WR3 with WR2 upside as a Round 7 dart throw.
The Best of the Rest:
Round 8: Michael Wilson
Round 9: Stefon Diggs
Round 10: Josh Downs
Round 11: KC Concepcion
Round 12: Rashid Shaheed
Round 13: Jalen Coker
Round 14: Denzel Boston
Round 15: Ja’Kobi Lane
Round 16: Tre Tucker
That’s the list. My favorite WRs in EVERY Round of fantasy drafts.
-Joe