WRs Ready To Breakout in 2026 Fantasy Football (Matt Harmon)

St. Brown became a full-field WR1 by improving his ability to get open quickly against man coverage and becoming weaponized around the goal line.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is mentioned as part of an upcoming batch of big-name veteran player profiles being released at the end of the month on Reception Perception.

Could rise his career ceiling together with Jaylen Waddle, similar to how Josh Allen elevated with Stefon Diggs in Buffalo.

In QB2 range with significant improvements made offensively over multiple seasons; the Jaylen Waddle trade represents a major push-the-chips-in move for a team close to a Super Bowl.

Brian Thomas was a huge ADP loser in 2025, exemplifying the year-two disappointment trend that burned fantasy managers last season.

Bryce Young showed extremely good efficiency out of empty formations in 2024 with more attempts than the previous year, suggesting the Panthers' spread-field approach could work well for him.

While Stroud had a bottom-10 playoff success rate since 2007 last year, he was still a top-10 quarterback in EPA per play, ranking between Patrick Mahomes and Sam Darnold.

Braswell as a vertical stretch receiver in two-wide receiver sets could help McMillan by clearing space and improving the Panthers' offensive efficiency.

Chris Godwin is positioned as a power slot receiver who will alternate between flanker and slot roles with Emeka Egbuka, allowing Egbuka to operate in the Z receiver role.

Christian Watson is among a group of big name veterans who will have player profiles dropped at the end of the month on Reception Perception.

Christian Watson is mentioned as part of an upcoming batch of big-name veteran player profiles being released at the end of the month on Reception Perception.

Year-two tight end being gravitatied toward over Rome Odunze due to foot concerns with the latter.

Loveland would move up significantly in the offense if one of the top three receivers misses time, making him part of an offense worth taking shots on.

The ADP range he goes in is problematic; he has a higher floor than guys 10 positional spots after him but no higher ceiling, making him a pass in drafts.

As a non-elite X receiver, it's hard for him to dominate targets consistently, especially with Bo Nix's operating areas and Sean Payton's preference for using speed Z slot receivers like Waddle.

Several tiers below Jaylen Waddle in explosiveness and career trajectory; trending downward while Waddle's career is trending upward.

Courtland Sutton is expected to hold down the primary X receiver role in Denver's offense, with Jaylen Waddle moving to an off-ball position.

Drake London's route tree and role as a Z receiver/big slot receiver is used as a comparable for Emeka Egbuka's expected role in the Buccaneers' offense, where both run high-percentage breaking routes like digs and posts.

Egbuka is ranked as wide receiver 14 and there is significant bullish sentiment on him looking more like the player seen at the beginning of the year rather than his second-half performance.

Egbuka is positioned for a year-two breakout after playing through a hamstring injury last season while miscast as an X receiver. New offensive coordinator Zach Robinson views him as a Z receiver, which aligns better with his skill set as a big slot receiver prospect, allowing him to run high-percentage breaking routes similar to Drake London's role.

Egbuka is ranked as wide receiver 14 and is viewed as a great bet to explode in year two from a production angle, with the analyst very willing to draft him at his current ADP.

Egbuka played through a hamstring injury last season, which was a massive variable in his mid-season decline, separate from Baker Mayfield's injuries and the Buccaneers' offensive line issues.

Garrett Wilson is mentioned as part of an upcoming batch of big-name veteran player profiles being released at the end of the month on Reception Perception.

Matt Harmon notes JSN had the highest individual team target share of any wide receiver since 2015 at over 35%, comparable to elite seasons by DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Thomas, demonstrating unprecedented volume dominance.

Harmon believes JSN has the talent to maintain a 30+ percent target share in back-to-back years, similar to DeAndre Hopkins' track record, and is not concerned about Brian Flores' coaching change disrupting his elite role.

The bigger concern for JSN is not the coaching change but whether surrounding young players like Tory Horton, Rashid Shaheed, and Elijah Arroyo take steps forward and potentially disrupt target distribution.

Host takes a bullish approach on JSN, noting his 119 catches, nearly 1,800 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns demonstrate elite talent, and recommends targeting him in the second half of the first round.

Seattle's running back situation changing from Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker to J'Mar Jefferson Price with George Holani and Emmanuel Wilson creates a more wide receiver-centric offense, which could benefit JSN if the running game is slower early.

Coker is a talented receiver who was extended by the Panthers and is part of their wide receiver-heavy offensive investment.

Jaylen McMillan was injured for the vast majority of last season, limiting his opportunity to develop and contributing to uncertainty about his year-two outlook.

Higgins is a nice player but not a massive volume commander, suggesting limited impact on Collins' target share in the Texans offense.

Jayden Higgins is favored to play more snaps than Jaylen Noel based on archetype, and played well when used at Z receiver.

Jayden Higgins has size-speed comparability to Nico Collins but is not as flexible or good at getting out of breaks against man coverage.

Jayden Higgins has useful historical comparisons including Kenny Golladay, Tim Patrick, and Adam Thielen, with best work in the intermediate area as a Z receiver.

Moving off-ball for the first time in years with Courtland Sutton holding down the X role, which will lead to more layup targets and yards after catch opportunities.

Expected to have a career year from a production standpoint in the Broncos offense, reminiscent of Stefon Diggs' trajectory when traded to Buffalo.

Could rise his career ceiling together with Bo Nix, similar to how Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen elevated each other in Buffalo.

Career high of 150 targets is in the wheelhouse for him in Denver, making him one of the easiest players to talk about in this range.

Jaylen Waddle represents a major commitment from the Dolphins offense, described as a 'huge push the chips in move' for a team that was very close to a Super Bowl last year.

Matt Harmon considers Jaylen Waddle "the most mispriced wide receiver in fantasy football right now," noting he's ranked WR21-25 in early ADPs despite strong efficiency metrics and an upcoming volume boost in Denver.

Despite playing for the Dolphins last year, Waddle ranked 8th in first downs per route run (200+ routes), 12th in yards per route, and 11th in successful targets per route, demonstrating elite efficiency that will be amplified by Denver's higher play-calling volume.

Waddle is moving from playing as the primary outside receiver in Miami to an off-ball role in Denver with Courtland Sutton holding the X position, which should lead to more layup targets and yards-after-catch opportunities.

Harmon projects Waddle to have a career year in the Broncos offense, comparing his situation to Stefon Diggs' trade to the Bills, with expectations he will "absolutely cook" given the volume boost and role change.

Jaylen Noel is really talented and will likely be frustrating because he doesn't see the field in two receiver sets, but can make big plays on post routes and corner routes.

Jaylen Noel is available in the 18th round on Underdog and represents a really fun value pick, with the idea that he's a complete zero from that range feeling unlikely.

Raymond is listed among the other wide receivers on the Bears roster alongside Zay Flowers and Thomas.

Kenneth Walker brings explosive plays to the table and should significantly improve the Chiefs' run game, which had a 2.9% explosive rushing rate (dead last in the league) over the last two seasons.

If clicking the button on a Kansas City Chief, Kenneth Walker is the preferred choice this year over Rashee Rice, as he brings explosive plays and can improve the Chiefs' historically poor rushing attack.

Ladd McConkey was a huge ADP loser in 2025, part of the year-two disappointment trend that burned fantasy managers last season.

Luther Burden is widely favored and viewed as a year-two breakout candidate, with Ben Johnson hyping him consistently and his role viewed as potentially more fantasy-friendly than Rome Odunze's.

Ranked at wide receiver 22, everybody seems to be in on him as a year-two breakout candidate.

Ben Johnson consistently hypes Luther Burden every time he talks about him, making him an attractive draft target based on coaching enthusiasm.

Luther Burden did absolutely nothing in the playoffs and was kind of a mess in the playoffs as well, despite putting up big numbers at the end of the regular season.

Burden put up strong fantasy numbers in the second half of the season and has massive contingent upside if another receiver misses time; he will likely replace DJ Moore's role in Ben Johnson's downfield attacking explosive play offense.

Burden is miles better than Rome Odunze with the ball in his hands and has rare ability to break tackles, making him the preferred option when breaking ties between the two receivers.

Burden is compared to Zay Flowers in terms of role and body type, though they differ in how they operate within their respective offenses.

Mike Evans' absence last season forced the Buccaneers to cast Emeka Egbuka as an X receiver, a role that didn't fit his skill set as a big slot receiver prospect.

Nico Collins is going as wide receiver 9-10 (end of second round) in most formats, but Matt Harmon appears to be higher on him than consensus, suggesting league-winning potential at his current ADP.

Collins is ranked around WR9-10 (end of second round) but has league-winning potential; the bull case is simply staying healthy and playing all 17 games.

Since 2023, Collins is 2nd in the NFL in yards per route run, 10th in targets per route run, and 6th in first downs per route run—elite efficiency metrics that show he's been one of the best receivers in football.

Collins is an elite man press coverage beater and true X receiver putting up best-of-league efficiency numbers without being moved around like Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, or CeeDee Lamb.

Collins could be the next JSN-type breakout if the Texans scheme becomes more diverse and he gets moved around more in his second season under Nick Caley.

When two or more tight ends were on the field last year, Collins had a 36% targets per route run; with the Texans drafting a blocking tight end in round two, expect more two-plus tight end sets this year.

Everything except health checks the boxes for Collins to finish as WR1 overall if everything breaks right, or at minimum finish within the top three.

Nico Collins could finish as receiver one overall if everything breaks right, or at minimum finish within the top three.

Collins has spike-week ability and has posted back-to-back 17 PPG seasons, last year at 15 PPG with near 25% target share and 15 yards per reception, showing consistent elite production.

Collins has had back-to-back seasons at 17 points per game, last year at 15 PPG, with near 25% target share last year and 15 yards per reception.

Analytically, Nico Collins has been a really strong performer, with a 2023 season featuring elite yards per route run comparable to Tyreek Hill.

Nico Collins is mentioned as part of an upcoming batch of big-name veteran player profiles being released at the end of the month on Reception Perception.

Kenneth Walker's addition to the Chiefs offense should change the complexion of the passing game, potentially reducing Rashee Rice's over-inflated target total as the team can rely more on the run game.

Since 2023, Rashee Rice has the lowest air yards per target (4.69) among 112 receivers with 600+ routes, indicating he's used as a manufactured short-area target rather than a traditional receiver, which is unsustainable long-term.

Analyst is out on Rashee Rice this year and has him ranked lower, concerned that the addition of Kenneth Walker to the Chiefs offense will reduce Rice's inflated target total.

More polarizing than teammates, with some people not loving him due to foot concerns and gravitating toward year-two guys like Loveland and Burden instead.

Rome Odunze is undervalued relative to Luther Burden despite strong early-season performance; in the first eight weeks of last season he was WR11 in PPG, 19th in yards per route run, and 15th in yards per game, trailing only Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Pittman, DeVonta Adams, and George Pickens in touchdown catches.

Odunze's foot injury concerns are somewhat overblown; he is a full participant in offseason practices and his head coach says he looks great, though the injury did impact his timing and chemistry with his quarterback when he tried to play through it.

Odunze could very well end up leading the Bears in receiving yards and targets as a really good player who thrives in multiple roles, not just as an X-only receiver in Ben Johnson's offense.

Odunze put up huge fantasy numbers at the beginning of the season; the timing of his production (weeks 1-7) rather than later in the season may have artificially depressed his perceived value.

Rome Odunze's dramatic season splits were compared to Emeka Egbuka's, with Odunze's decline attributed to a multiple absence with a foot injury.

Harmon compares Jaylen Waddle's trade to Denver with Stefon Diggs' trade to Buffalo, suggesting a similar career-year trajectory, though noting Diggs was a better player in isolation at the time.

Tank Dell was a pure outside receiver when healthy for Houston and could rotate into the number two receiver spot if healthy, though this is a significant uncertainty.

At times was getting targets in Denver last year due to Bo Nix's operating areas and Sean Payton's preference for speed Z slot receivers.

Tyreek Hill's presence in Miami forced Jaylen Waddle to play as the primary outside receiver, limiting his efficiency despite strong per-route metrics.

The Panthers are not giving up on Xavier Legette despite their investment in other wide receivers.

Flowers is listed among the other wide receivers on the Bears roster alongside Kalif Raymond and Thomas.

Zay Flowers is currently at WR15 in ADP and could fall slightly, becoming a value pick given the depth at wide receiver this year.

Flowers has potential for positive touchdown regression with only five career touchdown catches and could see increased target volume if the Ravens become more pass-happy.

Flowers is a highly productive receiver who excels in man coverage situations and zone beating, checking all the boxes for advanced fantasy metrics on a per-route basis.

Flowers has improved his drop rate and is now better at winning quickly against press coverage, similar to how Amon-Ra St. Brown became a full-field WR1.

Zay Flowers has improved at winning quickly against press coverage and beating man coverage in the short area, similar to how Amon-Ra St. Brown developed into a full-field WR1.

Analyst wonders if Zay Flowers is underrated for a potential 7-8 touchdown season under Declan Doyle's offense (which comes from Ben Johnson and Sean Payton's tree), which could make him a top-six fantasy receiver.

Zay Flowers has risen in draft capital from end of fourth round in early drafts to late third round in FFPC drafts, though the analyst still likes him despite some competing options around that range.