An Elite Range Of WRs To Target

There's a range in drafts this season that feels like it's too good to be true … and maybe it is? If you've been drafting on Underdog or any other platform, you've probably made it to the third and fourth round, looked around and thought you hit a goldmine. It's like a wide receiver treasure trove! 

But I have to admit something: this is the range that changes the most in my rankings right now.

I just can't pinpoint where I want a handful of these receivers to go, so we're going to do it together today. Three wide receivers move all over the rankings (and are very split between all Fantasy Life rankers). What's the upside case for all of them and (on the other side) how could they break our hearts this season? Let's dive in … 

Jaylen Waddle | Consensus WR20 

Jaylen Waddle has been all over the board for me. He's started as low as WR23 and been as high as WR17 for me so far this offseason, and right now he's directly in the middle.

I feel like drafters are very split on what Waddle can bring to fantasy this season, but I am very much of the mindset that he will be the WR1 in this offense. So what could people be worried about? Courtland Sutton's presence could be one thing. Fantasy Life projections have Waddle leading the team with 122 targets, but Sutton is right behind him with a projected 108 targets. Waddle has put up good fantasy numbers despite being in Miami for his first five seasons, and now in Denver this looks to be an upgrade on every level. This Broncos offense offers a significant quarterback upgrade going from Tua Tagovailoa to Bo Nix, and has a top-six projected dropback rate (61.8%).

Waddle now profiles as a true alpha WR in a pass-friendly offense, and we've seen his efficiency remain steady every season (9.1 yards per target in 2025 and 9.0 in 2024). Sean Payton has hated our fantasy teams before, but I can't imagine him wasting this significant investment in Waddle.

» Takeaway: I will be moving Waddle up the ranks. 

Zay Flowers | Consensus WR15

Talk about a player who’s all over the map among our rankers. Zay Flowers checks in as high as WR14 for Alex Cupps and as low as Matthew Freedman's WR21, and there's good reason behind both rankings!

Flowers just got paid (we love to see it), and last season with an injured Lamar Jackson, he still worked as the WR7 in total PPR points (WR13 per game). But one of the biggest problems with Flowers? The touchdowns. In 2025, he posted a huge Week 1 performance with seven receptions for 143 yards and one touchdown … and then he didn't score again until mid-December. 

He has never scored more than five touchdowns in a season, and that limited upside might be why people are more shy to draft him. The challenge for new OC Declan Doyle this season might be finding how much more Flowers can contribute in the red zone. Another big question I have: what if Lamar Jackson doesn't run as much in 2026? Dwain McFarland has projected fewer designed runs for Jackson this season, but improved efficiency with Jesse Minter and Doyle taking over.

» Takeaway: I'm keeping Flowers as my WR18, but could easily see him rising.

Ladd McConkey | Consensus WR21

You've heard it all before at this point, but let's continue to point out the dramatic effects hiring Mike McDaniel has on this Chargers team! Ladd McConkey is currently going off the board on Underdog as the WR18, and many think he could not only be this year's Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but that he should be Matthew Berry's Ride or Die pick this season (love the callout).

It was a down season last year for McConkey; he dealt with injuries, and his efficiency tanked. His catch rate dipped to 62%, and his yards per target went from 10.4 (2024) to 7.4. Some of that we can credit to Justin Herbert and/or the offensive line because his catchable target rate was also lower last season (71% vs. 79%). It looks like the team won't be bringing in another receiver, and with Keenan Allen out of the picture and McDaniel coming in to lead the way, there is massive upside for McConkey.

Shoutout to Matt LaMarca for this stat: Without Allen in 2024-25, McConkey racked up a 26% target share, including a 29% mark from Week 11 on.

» Takeaway: If you believe in the offense and believe in the projected 113 targets going McConkey's way, then you're getting him as a steal coming off the board at WR18.