Chase leads Top-75 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for 2026
by Alex Butler · UPIMIAMI, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Ja'Marr Chase, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua lead my Top 75 wide receiver rankings for the 2026 NFL season.
Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown are my other Top-5 options. CeeDee Lamb, Nico Collins, A.J. Brown, Rashee Rice and Malik Nabers are inside my Top 10 at the position. My full Top 75 rankings are listed below.
Wide receiver is my most valued position in fantasy football. I prefer selecting elite pass catchers early on in drafts due to their consistency and typical availability throughout an NFL campaign. Most of my rosters are led by one or two of these players before I splurge on a deluge of running backs. This strategy opposes the eggs-in-one-basket elite RB1 strategy, which can easily prove to be catastrophic if that ball carrier gets injured.
When targeting pass catchers, look for a history of consistent production, a clear role in their respective offense and a manageable schedule, among other factors.
Continue to monitor injuries, holdouts and depth charts going into the regular season, which will kick off Sept. 9. My fantasy football quarterback and running back rankings are available here.
Top 75 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings
1. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals, Bye Week 6
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks, Bye Week 11
3. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams, Bye Week 11
4. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings, Bye Week 6
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions, Bye Week 6
6. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys, Bye Week 14
7. Nico Collins, Houston Texans, Bye Week 8
8. A.J. Brown, New England Patriots, Bye Week 11
9. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs, Bye Week 5
10. Malik Nabers, New York Giants, Bye Week 8
11. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles, Bye Week 10
12. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys, Bye Week 14
13. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons, Bye Week 11
14. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals, Bye Week 6
15. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints, Bye Week 8
16. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens, Bye Week 13
17. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers, Bye Week 7
18. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers, Bye Week 5
19. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bye Week 10
20. D.J. Moore, Buffalo Bills, Bye Week 7
21. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets, Bye Week 13
22. Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears, Bye Week 10
23. Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos, Bye Week 10
24. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders, Bye Week 7
25. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams, Bye Week 11
26. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers, Bye Week 11
27. Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals, Bye Week 14
28. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions, Bye Week 6
29. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears, Bye Week 10
30. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars, Bye Week 7
31. Mike Evans, San Francisco 49ers, Bye Week 8
32. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bye Week 10
33. Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars, Bye Week 7
34. DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers, Bye Week 9
35. Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans, Bye Week 9
36. Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals, Bye Week 14
37. Michael Pittman Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers, Bye Week 9
38. Stefon Diggs, Washington Commanders, Bye Week 7
39. Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers, Bye Week 7
40. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos, Bye Week 10
41. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings, Bye Week 6
42. Wan'Dale Robinson, Tennessee Titans, Bye Week 9
43. Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts, Bye Week 13
44. Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers, Bye Week 5
45. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts, Bye Week 13
46. Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles, Bye Week 10
47. Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers, Bye Week 11
48. KC Conception, Cleveland Browns, Bye Week 11
49. Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Bye Week 7
50. Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers, Bye Week 11
51. De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers, Bye Week 8
52. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers, Bye Week 8
53. Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs, Bye Week 5
54. Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns, Bye Week 11
55. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills, Bye Week 7
56. Romeo Doubs, New England Patriots, Bye Week 11
57. Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders, Bye Week 13
58. Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks, Bye Week 11
59. Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins, Bye Week 6
60. Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets, Bye Week 13
61. Tank Dell, Houston Texans, Bye Week 8
62. Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns, Bye Week 11
63. Keenan Allen, Indianapolis Colts, Bye Week 13
64. Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints, Bye Week 8
65. Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins, Bye Week 6
66. Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bye Week 10
67. Jalen Nailor, Las Vegas Raiders, Bye Week 13
68. Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans, Bye Week 9
69. Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans, Bye Week 8
70. Travis Hunter Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars, Bye Week 7
71. Ja'Kobi Lane, Baltimore Ravens, Bye Week 13
72. Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens, Bye Week 13
73. Devaughn Vele, New Orleans Saints, Bye Week 8
74. Kayshon Boutte, Houston Texans, Bye Week 8
75. Chris Bell, Miami Dolphins, Bye Week 6
NFL: Pre-season football 2026
A young Jaguars fan celebrates the game as the Panthers compete against the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday. The Panthers defeated the Jaguars 34-17. This is the second pre-season game of the 2026 season. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI. | License Photo