10 League-Winning WR & TE Draft Targets for Fantasy Football 2026 with Jacob Gibbs

Jacob Gibbs ranks A.J. Brown 13th overall, ahead of Justin Jefferson, Drake London, and Nico Collins, and considers him worthy of selection over elite running backs like Ashton Jeanty, Jamarion Hampton, and Jonathan Taylor. Brown's ADP has surged significantly: locked in the top 18 overall in FFPC, went 8th overall in a recent NFFC $350 contest, and is steaming up in the middle of the second round on Underdog. Gibbs emphasizes that if Brown is close to his pre-injury form, the pairing with Drake May could produce one of the top-scoring players at any position. Brown ranks third all-time in yards per route run (behind only Puka Nacua and Tyreek Hill) and first among wide receivers in yards per route run from under center (4.4 YPRR). He posted a single-season yards per route run rate above 3.0 with the Eagles just one year ago, placing him among only nine wide receivers ever to achieve that mark. Gibbs projects Brown will benefit significantly from the Patriots' under-center and play-action heavy scheme under Josh McDaniels, which historically boosts efficiency for elite playmakers. Brown's transition to New England pairs elite per-route efficiency with a full-time role (versus Stefon Diggs' 68% route rate), positioning him for top-10 fantasy points per route run production plus red-zone upside (career 34% end-zone target share versus Diggs' 8% last year). Moving to the Patriots with no meaningful target competition (Romeo Doubs is the only other option with a well-defined, limited role), Brown maintains alpha wide receiver one status despite having played alongside DeVonta Smith (arguably the best WR2 in the NFL) and Dallas Goedert (elite pass-catching tight end) in Philadelphia. Gibbs emphasizes that Brown's role versatility—he can win all over the field, not just in the slot like Diggs—means he will consolidate multiple role-player looks into one player, maximizing target volume and red-zone opportunity concentration. Gibbs rejects the narrative that Brown's 2024 season represented a meaningful decline; while Brown didn't look quite like himself on film, he still averaged over 2 yards per route run (elite efficiency), created significant yards after contact, and maintained massive first-down per route run rates and first-read target rates. In context, the entire Eagles offense fell off (DeVonta Smith also had a down year), yet Brown remained more efficient than Smith while playing through injury. Gibbs characterizes Brown as a clear-cut alpha WR1 entering 2025, not a declining asset, and projects he could lead the receiver position in scoring.

Despite playing through injury in Philadelphia, AJ Brown demonstrated superior efficiency to DeVonta Smith, maintaining massive first-down-per-route-run rate and first-read target rates that mark him as a clear-cut alpha wide receiver one. Moving to New England with Drake May—the best quarterback he's ever had—in a situation with no target competition and likely the best target share of his career, Jacob Gibbs projects he could lead the receiver position in scoring.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is ranked directly ahead of A.J. Brown in Jacob Gibbs's wide receiver rankings, serving as a comparative benchmark for Brown's 13th overall ranking.

Jacob Gibbs frames A.J. Brown as a potential draft consideration over elite running backs like Ashton Jeanty, suggesting Brown's upside may warrant selection ahead of premium RB options.

Jacob Gibbs highlights Bo Nix's deep-ball accuracy concerns as a limiting factor for his receivers' upside. Nix ranked 34th out of 39 QBs in catchable ball rate on throws of 10+ air yards, with only Shedeur Sanders and a few others ranking worse. Gibbs notes the consistency issues persisted across Nix's two seasons, with some good throws mixed with many bad ones downfield. This QB limitation is cited as the primary reason Gibbs had initially ranked Waddle lower (WR23) despite his elite talent, though Gibbs is reconsidering given Denver's offensive scheme improvements.

Brian Thomas Jr. is stuck on the outside in Jacksonville's offense, which limits his fantasy appeal compared to Parker Washington. His outside alignment reduces catch-and-run opportunities and manufactured carry upside that the team is utilizing for Washington. The Jaguars' offensive scheme under Liam Cohen appears to favor catch-and-run type receivers and design runs, which limits BTJ's role relative to Washington's versatility. ADP has converged between BTJ and Parker Washington, but Washington's slot role and usage pattern make him the more fantasy-friendly option.

Jacob Gibbs identifies Brock Bowers alongside wide receivers as league-winning draft targets in round two, describing them as 'really really fun clicks right now' in the current draft environment.

Calvin Ridley is part of a double-tap strategy with Parker Washington; Jacob Gibbs argues that pairing both Jaguars receivers could yield two players that beat their ADP by 10 spots, potentially returning a WR2 and flex play without paying an exceedingly high draft cost. The Jaguars are priced to succeed across multiple receivers.

Jacob Gibbs ranks CeeDee Lamb at 7th overall, slightly lower than historical ADP, and expresses more confidence in Lamb than George Pickens (14th overall) despite seeing them similarly in talent. Gibbs notes some smart analysts rank Lamb very highly in traditional spots but prefers his 7th-overall ranking.

Chris Godwin's health and remaining production are a key variable in Emeka Abuka's target-share ceiling in Tampa Bay. Jacob Gibbs frames Godwin as a potential ADP beater if he maintains higher-than-anticipated usage, which would constrain Abuka's opportunities; conversely, if Godwin shows regression given his injury history and age, it would support a potential 150-target season for Abuka in the McVay system.

Cole Kmet posted a 130 passer rating when targeted as the first read for the Bears last year, tied with Colston Loveland and second only to Luther Burden's 135. This elite efficiency reflects his role as a primary target in Ben Johnson's system, though target volume may be constrained by the emergence of younger receivers.

Jacob Gibbs highlights Colston Loveland as a second-year tight end with insane contingent upside in Ben Johnson's offense. Loveland was a rookie in year one of Johnson's tenure alongside offensive line development (Kalen Wimbs in year two), and now enters year two with a full offseason and system familiarity. The backloaded rookie production suggests significant year-two growth potential. Loveland posted a 130 passer rating when targeted as the first read for the Bears last year, tied with Cole Kmet and second only to Luther Burden's 135. This elite efficiency metric, combined with his second-year development in Ben Johnson's system, suggests strong projection upside as target volume increases. Gibbs suggests that while all three Bears pass catchers (Loveland, Burden, and Roma Odunze) could potentially produce, at least two of the three will likely eat in fantasy, with Loveland and Burden being the most likely candidates to capture unexpectedly high target share and ceiling outcomes.

Jacob Gibbs dismisses the take that Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle will produce similarly as "laughable," citing Waddle's youth, talent level, and the Broncos' Super Bowl aspirations. Gibbs notes that Bo Nix has struggled throwing downfield, ranked 34th out of 39 QBs in catchable ball rate on throws of 10+ air yards, which is problematic for Sutton's deep-ball upside. Waddle is expected to receive the manufactured touches and catch-and-run opportunities in Sean Payton's scheme, positioning him as the primary beneficiary of Denver's offensive efficiency improvements.

DJ Moore has departed the Bears. With Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus gone and no significant target-earning additions, the Bears' receiver room now centers on Luther Burden, Colston Loveland, and other secondary options, creating a clear path to elevated usage for second-year receivers.

With Kevin Stefanski taking over the Falcons offense and improved coaching staff from Cleveland, Drake London faces minimal wide receiver target competition (Zachariah Branch as second option, Kyle Pitts as pass-catcher). London averaged 16.5 points per game in 2024 and 16.8 PPG in 2023 (including down weeks post-injury), with three consecutive weeks as WR1 overall and one WR5 week. Jacob Gibbs projects London toward a career year with 30%+ target share and expects London to capture easy-button PPR looks given Tua's capabilities, citing London's alpha WR presence and age (under 25) as indicators his best fantasy football is ahead. However, Gibbs' co-host expresses nervousness about London despite his talent, citing Atlanta's limited offensive ceiling and floor risk. Concerns include uncertain passing volume in a run-heavy offense, potential for limited passing TDs/yards, and historical precedent (Justin Jefferson's floor collapse in limited offenses). While London had 39% first-read target rate when healthy and highest single-season target-per-route-run rate of any receiver drafted since 2017, the co-host lacks confidence in the Falcons offense and won't draft him with prior conviction.

Jacob Gibbs identifies Drake May as a primary reason to target A.J. Brown, noting that May is the best quarterback and passer Brown has ever played with. Gibbs counters contrarian takes that May spreads the ball around and lacks a kingmaker reputation, arguing instead that May's system will feature more play-action and under-center looks that align with Brown's elite per-route production profile.

Jacob Gibbs has discussed Emeka Egbuka as a potential league winner on multiple RotoWire shows and is higher on him than Ryan Heath and in line with Scott Barrett on ceiling projection. The key concern is a 58% catchable target rate on throws over the middle of the field—by far the lowest in the league (next lowest is 72%)—compared to Baker Mayfield's 80% rate to other receivers. However, this outcome was driven by injury circumstances: his offensive line got hurt, he got hurt, and his quarterback got hurt. The upside is that Egbuka demonstrated the ability to win downfield, which is impressive and suggests his bread-and-butter over-the-middle slot role can rebound with health and improved quarterback play.

Jacob Gibbs ranks George Pickens at 14th overall, well ahead of ADP, and sees him similarly to CeeDee Lamb (7th overall) but with less confidence. Gibbs deliberately ranked Pickens lower to avoid misleading followers into drafting him in round one when he's easily available in round two, suggesting strong value at his current ADP.

Ihmir Smith-Marsette posted an 84 passer rating when targeted as the first read for the Bears last year, the lowest among the team's primary targets, reflecting his limited role in Ben Johnson's offensive hierarchy.

Jahan Dotson posted a 9% target-per-route-run rate last year, indicating minimal volume efficiency despite running routes. Jacob Gibbs cited this as a cautionary example of low efficiency in the Falcons offense, using it as context for understanding target competition dynamics in Atlanta.

Jakobi Meyers is the Jaguars receiver that scares Jacob Gibbs most; despite being a professional who has drawn targets at every level of his career, his role in the Jaguars' offense is uncertain and he represents a bust risk relative to the league-winning upside of Ridley and Washington.

Used as a player comparison for Luther Burden's potential profile; Gibbs describes Burden as potentially combining Amon-Ra St. Brown's schemed opportunities with Jameson Williams' explosiveness, suggesting Burden could offer a blend of easy looks and explosive upside under Ben Johnson.

Jacob Gibbs identifies Jaylen Waddle as a league-winning candidate in Denver's pass-heavy offense after the Broncos traded a first, third, and fourth-round pick to acquire him. Gibbs notes Waddle checks all statistical boxes that correlate to future fantasy scoring; he's coming around on Waddle as a strong pick despite initially ranking him WR23, citing the potential for expanded skill-set usage in a pass-heavy system. Waddle is positioned to receive manufactured touches and catch-and-run opportunities similar to Jameson Williams' role, with Sean Payton's coaching staff emphasizing efficiency-boosting schemes (pre-snap motion, play-action, under-center drops). Gibbs compares the situation to Josh Allen adding Stefon Diggs in year three, calling it "pretty high praise." The Broncos ranked fourth in pass rate over expectation last year and ninth in WR fantasy points. Waddle is WR13 in yards per route run and WR12 in first-down per route run over the past three seasons despite a WR25 target-per-route-run rate, indicating elite efficiency with low target volume. If his target rate increases from 23% to 25–26%, his elite efficiency could translate to significant volume upside.

Jacob Gibbs frames A.J. Brown as a potential draft consideration over elite running backs like Jonathan Taylor, suggesting Brown's upside may warrant selection ahead of premium RB options.

Jacob Gibbs recently pushed A.J. Brown ahead of Justin Jefferson in his rankings, citing significantly more upside in Brown's situation.

Jacob Gibbs identifies Luther Burden as a year-two breakout wide receiver candidate, describing it as "almost illegal not to include" him given his elite skill set and league-winning upside. Burden's profile combines elite after-catch ability (only he and Omar Cooper Jr. have avoided tackle rate above 30% at collegiate level past three draft classes; only Rashee Rice averaged more yards after catch per reception last year), confirmed downfield competence (led Bears in receiving yards on 20+ air yard targets with 6 catches for 233 yards on just 7 targets vs. Rondale Moore's 23 targets and DJ Moore's 22 targets with fewer receiving yards), and elite efficiency (yards per route run just below Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua). Gibbs projects potential for 3+ yards per route run if he gets broken plays or Ben Johnson's schemed opportunities. Burden's analytical and athletic profile, combined with Johnson's tendency to get playmakers the ball and create yards after catch, makes him a strong breakout candidate. With DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus departing and no significant target-earning additions, Burden is positioned to see increased offensive role and target share in year two. Burden posted a 135 passer rating when targeted as the first read last year (highest on the Bears), but only received 33 first-read targets. In three games where Burden had at least a 25% first-read target rate, he averaged 96 yards, suggesting substantial upside if target distribution increases.

Jacob Gibbs recently pushed A.J. Brown ahead of Nico Collins in his rankings, citing significantly more upside in Brown's situation.

Olamide Zaccheaus posted an 84 passer rating when targeted as the first read for the Bears last year, the lowest among primary targets. He received 33 first-read targets, the same as Luther Burden. His departure from the Bears opens target-share expansion opportunity for Burden and other receivers in the offense.

Parker Washington became the focal point of Jacksonville's passing game late in the season, posting 18+ PPR points in five of his last seven games including the playoffs. Jacob Gibbs highlights the correct price point and fantasy-friendly usage in the Liam Cohen slot role, with the team discussing moving him around and manufacturing carries. Washington has a much more fantasy-friendly game than Brian Thomas Jr. given his outside alignment; he's built like a running back (short, compact frame) with first-percentile arms and 91st-percentile hands, making him elite in contested catch situations and catch-and-run opportunities. His reception perception charting shows success rate on post routes higher than Jackson Smith-Njigba's and nearly as high on digs and curls, though JSN is superior on quickness/cutting routes. Washington wins with physicality and body control on jump balls and after the catch. If the Jaguars offense continues to perform well under Liam Cohen (who engineered the Buccaneers to second in fantasy points in 2024 and the Jaguars to ninth last year), Washington could be a huge part of the offense in year two, with his consistency catching the football positioning him as a potential league-winner if the offense maintains its trajectory.

Puka Nacua is cited as one of only two wide receivers ahead of A.J. Brown in all-time yards per route run, establishing Brown's elite historical per-route production ranking.

Jacob Gibbs is about in line with ADP for Roma Odunze but expresses concern about his foot injury recovery. Odunze has indicated that things feel different post-injury, and Gibbs worries about potential setbacks or re-aggravation, which could shift value dynamics if complications arise. His emergence is contingent on full recovery, whereas second-year receivers Colston Loveland and Luther Burden offer more reliable upside in the Bears offense.

Jacob Gibbs is about in line with ADP for Rome Odunze but expresses concern about his foot injury recovery. Odunze has indicated that things feel different post-injury, and Gibbs worries about potential setbacks or re-aggravation, which could shift value dynamics if complications arise. Rome Odunze posted a 110 passer rating when targeted as the first read for the Bears last year, a solid rate reflecting his role as a primary target. However, his foot injury recovery and the emergence of second-year receivers Colston Loveland and Luther Burden may limit his target growth in year two.

Jacob Gibbs cites Stefon Diggs's 2024 production as a comparable benchmark for A.J. Brown's potential with Drake May. Diggs ranked top 8-10 in per-route fantasy points production (yards and first downs per route), a metric that has historically been Brown's strength throughout his career.

Tyreek Hill is cited as one of only two wide receivers ahead of A.J. Brown in all-time yards per route run, establishing Brown's elite historical per-route production ranking.

Zachariah Branch identified as the second most targeted wide receiver on the Falcons, establishing target competition context for Drake London's 30%+ target share projection.