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- 7 Rookie Wide Receiver Values
I took a pessimistic look at the RB class yesterday, so let’s put on some rose-colored glasses instead today.
If there’s one place where this draft class truly shines, it’s the depth at the WR position.
Everyone knows about the Big 3, who are all expected to go in the Top 15 picks—Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson—but there are another eight WRs who are projected to go in the first two rounds.
These next two cohorts have been major targets for me in early best ball drafts:
Late-Round 1 WRs:
Omar Cooper Jr.: Draft Pick: 26, Super Model Score: 81, Underdog ADP: 135.7
Denzel Boston: Draft Pick: 28, Super Model Score: 77, Underdog ADP: 140.8
KC Concepcion: Draft Pick: 31, Super Model Score: 80, Underdog ADP: 113.6
The thing that immediately jumps out to me with this trio is their Underdog ADP. In the last three years, we haven’t seen a WR drafted in Round 1 to go later than pick 80.
Regardless of how you feel about them as prospects, all three of these players look like screaming values who should see their prices jump significantly after the NFL Draft (especially Cooper, who I’m now seeing routinely mocked in the Top 20).
But where the depth really shines is in Round 2 …
Round 2 WRs:
Chris Brazell: Draft Pick: 50, Super Model Score: 76, Underdog ADP: 199.6
Chris Bell: Draft Pick: 52, Super Model Score: 73, Underdog ADP: 227.4
Germie Bernard: Draft Pick: 55, Super Model Score: 74, Underdog ADP: 204.9
Zachariah Branch: Draft Pick: 61, Super Model Score: 72, Underdog ADP: 213.9
Malachi Fields: Draft Pick: 62, Super Model Score: 71, Underdog ADP: 239.2
All five of these guys project for Round 2 draft capital, have a Super Model score in the 70s, and an Underdog ADP after 200 (Round 17 and later). Players like Bell and Branch have been doing Top 30 visits.
As a reminder, we were drafting 2025 Round 2 WRs like Jayden Higgins and Luther Burden in the Top 100 picks. Hell, we were drafting Round 3 pick Kyle Williams in the Top 130 (never forget? no, let’s forget).
Not all of these guys will hit, of course, but it’s impossible to ignore the depth and value at the WR position in this 2026 class.
I’m blindly buying all of them at cost right now, knowing that huge CLV (closing line value) is all but guaranteed based on historical trends.
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NFL Draft
Two-Round NFL Mock Draft: WR Run in Round 2
Music references to the Beatles and Billy Joel. Rocking his new baby to sleep. New parenthood sure seems to be agreeing with Matthew Freedman. And since his family has had an addition, he’s added on a second round to his latest mock draft.
Yes, we will still see Fernando Mendoza at the top of the draft board, and check the movement on the players who follow in the next 31 picks. But the draft does not stop there, and Day 2 is often where some of the biggest hits come, especially for fantasy. Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Jonathan Taylor and so many other fantasy stars were selected in Round 2. See where the five WRs that Freedman had mocked in the opening round of Day 2 are going. Some of these players could impact fantasy rosters this season. ⤵️
Fantasy
Bold Predictions: Top-5 Season for DeVonta Smith
It’s April 8. The NFL Draft is 15 sleeps away.
Tomorrow will be five months from the kickoff of the 2026 NFL season. We still have tons of best ball drafts, countless hours of prep and mock drafting before we get there. So how about some BOLD predictions to keep the juices flowing?
Ian Hartitz got out the crystal ball and made five bold predictions for the coming season. One of them involved a certain Philly WR. Not that one, though:
Expect the Eagles to address wide receiver sooner rather than later in the draft if their mind is indeed already made up on trading A.J. Brown—and get excited about the possibilities of DeVonta Smith working as the undisputed engine of a passing attack for the first time since, you know, he had arguably the greatest season from a wide receiver in college football history.
Ian went into further detail on why Smith could bust out JSN style next season, and even got an assist from Matthew Berry. See the other four bold predictions. ⬇️
Fantasy
Around the Watercooler
Our merry band of football nerds is back and bringing you the latest news, content and memes from the NFL universe …
📝 Have the 1.02 in your rookie draft this year? Your guide to how to approach it.
🪃 Is Lamar Jackson ready to bounce back? He’ll have company.
🤯 An insider mock draft. Check out what the Seahawks do in this one!
👀 Here are some key stats. AFC East edition.
🤔 Will the 49ers trade, release or keep WR Brandon Aiyuk? Here’s the latest.
⚖️ Who Should Start For The Browns In 2026? A QB controversy is brewing.
😡 The No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft … doesn’t want to go to the NFL Draft.
🐬 It’s called voluntary … but people are still freaking out.
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