RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesAside from the quarterback, there's no offensive position in the NFL more valuable than wide receiver.
A league that values passing more than ever has created a marketplace where stars make $40 million annually and franchises scour the draft in hopes of finding inexpensive help to boost their aerial attack. The right wideouts can boost a flawed quarterback and push a team to the postseason. The wrong ones can make an MVP candidate flounder in a lost year.
Who's in the best position to boost their passing attack? It's a team that badly needs to make its shaky quarterbacks better. But before we get to No. 1, we'll run though each team's receiver corps in an effort to separate the guys we expect to thrive from the ones who'll have to surprise us.
These rankings are based on each team's presumptive top four wideouts, based on too-early depth chart estimates. That depth matters; teams left an injury away from a great passing offense becoming a mediocre one were dropped down the ranks. But having a WR1 who can consistently win is also important, clearing way for clutch yards and playoff runs.
Who tops this year's list? Let's start at the bottom. All advanced stats are courtesy of NFL Pro and Sumer Sports.
32. Miami Dolphins
Presumptive top 4 WRs : Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, Chris Bell or Caleb Douglas
We may have no idea whether or not Malik Willis can be a franchise quarterback this season, because these are his wideouts. Washington rose to the occasion in spurts last year, Tolbert may benefit from a change of scenery and the Bell/Douglas combination is an interesting pairing of low floor, high-ceiling rookies. But, hooooo buddy, this is a rough preseason look.
31. Las Vegas Raiders
Presumptive top 4 WRs : Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton Jr.
Nailor will get the chance to shine in Las Vegas, one season after he posted a 1.5 percent catch rate over expected and 40 yards after catch over expected (YACOE) whilst stranded on Minnesota's Island of Misfit QBs last season. That should be a boon for Fernando Mendoza (and KIrk Cousins), while Tucker is a viable downfield threat. Otherwise, the Raiders badly need some young, high variance prospects to pan out to make this group work.
30. Cleveland Browns
Presumptive top 4 WRs : Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Cedric Tillman
Jeudy wasn't helped by the Browns' putrid quarterback play, but he was a disaster last season. His -9.1 percent catch rate over expected (CROE) was sixth-worst among qualified wideouts. His -46 expected points added (EPA) were worst in the NFL by a mile, nearly 20 points worse than second place Javonte Williams (who is, notably, not a wide receiver). The infusion of young talent could help, as Concepcion is a shifty run after catch machine and Boston has the frame and ball skills to be a consistent downfield threat. The question is whether any of that will matter amidst another season of the league's least compelling quarterback battle.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
Presumptive top 4 WRs : Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Royals
Rice is a short range target marred by off-field issues. Worthy has deep ball speed but caught only three of 17 deep targets last season (a -19.1 CROE). Thornton revived his career and I'm still optimistic Royals can be a useful depth option, but the cupboard has not yet been restocked for Patrick Mahomes.
28. Washington Commanders
Presumptive top 4 WRs : Terry McLaurin, Treylon Burks, Antonio Williams, Dyami Brown or Luke McCaffrey
The Commanders remain in danger of wasting McLaurin's prime. Adding an eventually released Brandon Aiyuk would bring some name value, but he was declining before his 2024 injury and the subsequent nonsense that followed. Burks has solid catch skills but is inconsistent. Brown has only shined in limited stretches and Williams/McCaffrey are lottery ticket Day 2 picks who could rise to the occasion but have low floors as well.
27. San Francisco 49ers
Presumptive top 4 WRs : Ricky Pearsall, Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, De'Zhaun Stribling
Kyle Shanahan heavily values players with run-after-catch ability to pump up good-not-great quarterbacks. That's going to be tough to find in 2026; his top three veteran wideouts all had negative yards after catch over expected (YACOE) last season. Stribling felt like a reach at the top of the second round, but his burner speed may be the grease that keeps the Niners' offensive gears turning. Evans' impact waned last season; was that a result of injuries to both himself and Baker Mayfield, or is time finally catching up to him?
26. New York Jets
Presumptive top 4 WRs : Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., Tim Patrick
Wilson has a bit of support this season after struggling through 2025. Mitchell could still turn into something, but at the moment he's more a collection of elite traits than anything approaching an efficient and reliable wideout. Cooper is a first round pick who could immediately be Wilson's Sundance Kid. Patrick remains a big bodied veteran, though his production has waned and he'll turn 33 this season.
25. Atlanta Falcons
Presumptive top 4 WRs : Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus, Jahan Dotson, Zacharian Branch
London is propping up a unit that would otherwise be the worst in the NFL. His ball tracking skills and immense catch radius will be put the test as he sees a litany of brackets from opposing secondaries with little else to fear at wideout. Zaccheaus had, in terms of advanced stats, his worst season as a pro as a Chicago Bear last fall. Dotson averaged a woeful 0.64 yards per route run the last two seasons in Philadelphia.
24. New York Giants
Presumptive top 4 WRs : Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Malachi Fields, Calvin Austin III
A healthy Nabers makes this group dangerous. If he can't go, a who's who of faded stars are ready to...
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