Factoid

December 22, 2025

Starting to catch on

Less-heralded wide receivers who could pop in 2026

It’s been a decent year for the wide receivers selected in the second and third rounds. None of them have really lit it up, but most are progressing satisfactorily – some of them are going to have some solid years coming up.

Of these 10 receivers, four have been seeing reliable playing time for the bulk of the season. None with great numbers, but they’ve been out there contributing – Jayden Higgins, Luther Burden, Tre Harris and Pat Bryant. Jack Bech has been a late addition to this group – looks like he’ll be a starter for the duration in Las Vegas.

And then there’s a couple of guys who haven’t played as much but have chipped in some impact catches. Isaac TeSlaa has caught 5 touchdowns, while Kyle Williams has chipped in 3. The arrow is pointed up for both of these guys.

I’m definitely in on Burden, Harris, Bryant and TeSlaa.

There are three other wide receivers who were selected in the third round who haven’t done as much – Jaylin Noel, Savion Williams and Tai Felton – but it’s too early to write any of them off.

SECOND- AND THIRD-ROUND RECEIVERS
Player	Pick	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
Jayden Higgins, Hou.	34	59	37	414	11.2	4
Luther Burden, Chi.	39	47	36	479	13.3	1
Tre Harris, LAC	55	36	27	288	10.7	1
Jack Bech, L.V.	58	27	20	224	11.2	0
Kyle Williams, N.E.	69	16	7	189	27.0	3
Isaac TeSlaa, Det.	70	22	12	172	14.3	5
Pat Bryant, Den.	74	44	27	347	12.9	1
Jaylin Noel, Hou.	79	30	22	225	10.2	1
Savion Williams, G.B.	87	10	10	78	7.8	1
Tai Felton, Min.	102	3	3	25	8.3	0

If history is an indication, at least a couple of these receivers will be putting up viable numbers in the near future.

In the last 10 years, 46 different receivers selected in the second or third round has had at least one season with top-40 numbers while on their first contract (years 1 thru 4). Of those 46, over a third (16) didn’t post top-70 numbers in their first season. That tells us not to give up when the big numbers aren’t coming immediately.

The rundown of the 46 appears below. Each player is listed only once (if a player had multiple seasons with top-40 numbers, I took only the best one). For guys who ranked outside the top 70 in their first season, they’re tagged with black dots. For guys with top-30 numbers in their first season (guys who demonstrated as rookies that they were going to be top guys), they’re in bold.

The final column in the chart shows where the player ranked as a rookie.

SECOND- AND THIRD-ROUND WR WITH TOP-40 NUMBERS
Year	Player	Yr	No	Yards	TD	PPR	Rk	Rookie	Rk
2019	Michael Thomas, N.O.	4	149	1725	9	374.6	1	92-1137-9	7
2021	Deebo Samuel	3	77	1405	6	343.2	3	57-802-3	31
2015	Allen Robinson	2	80	1400	14	304.0	6	48-548-2	65
2022	A.J. Brown, Phil.	4	88	1496	11	303.6	5	52-1051-8	22
2018	JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt.	2	111	1426	7	298.9	8	58-917-7	20
2014	• Randall Cobb, G.B.	4	91	1287	12	297.4	7	25-375-1	87
2021	Diontae Johnson	3	107	1161	8	278.4	8	59-680-5	39
2019	• Chris Godwin, T.B.	3	86	1333	9	276.1	2	34-525-1	72
2015	Jarvis Landry, Mia.	2	110	1157	4	275.5	9	84-758-5	30
2020	DK Metcalf, Sea.	2	83	1303	10	273.3	7	58-900-7	29
2019	Cooper Kupp, LAR	3	94	1161	10	270.5	5	62-869-5	25
2014	T.Y. Hilton, Ind.	3	82	1345	7	260.5	11	50-861-7	28
2023	• Nico Collins, Hou.	3	80	1297	8	260.4	12	33-446-1	87
2023	• Michael Pittman, Ind.	4	109	1152	4	252.2	13	40-503-1	80
2019	Kenny Golladay	3	65	1190	11	250.0	9	28-477-3	70
2016	• Davante Adams, G.B.	3	75	997	12	248.7	9	38-446-3	75
2024	Ladd McConkey, LAC	1	82	1149	7	240.9	14	82-1149-7	14
2015	Jordan Matthews, Phil.	2	85	997	8	232.7	16	67-872-8	25
2022	Terry McLaurin, Was.	4	77	1191	5	229.0	16	58-919-7	30
2019	Tyler Boyd	4	90	1046	5	226.9	17	54-603-1	63
2019	• DJ Chark, Jac.	2	73	1008	8	225.8	18	14-174-0	141
2019	Courtland Sutton	2	72	1112	6	222.8	19	42-704-4	50
2018	Tyler Lockett	4	57	965	10	222.4	16	51-664-6	41
2021	Tee Higgins, Cin.	2	74	1091	6	221.1	23	67-908-6	28
2023	Jayden Reed, G.B.	1	64	793	8	217.2	25	64-793-8	25
2020	Chase Claypool, Pitt.	1	62	873	9	216.9	23	62-873-9	23
2023	Rashee Rice, K.C.	1	79	938	7	214.5	27	79-938-7	27
2019	• Michael Gallup, Dall.	2	66	1107	6	212.7	24	33-507-2	78
2020	• Curtis Samuel, Car.	4	77	851	3	212.1	24	15-115-0	126
2015	John Brown	2	65	1003	7	209.5	25	48-696-5	53
2023	George Pickens	2	63	1140	5	208.8	30	52-801-4	40
2021	Christian Kirk	4	77	982	5	208.0	26	43-590-3	58
2017	Devin Funchess	3	63	840	8	195.0	22	31-473-5	65
2015	• Rueben Randle, NYG	4	57	797	8	184.7	33	19-298-3	90
2016	Sterling Shepard	1	65	683	8	184.4	36	65-683-8	36
2024	Josh Downs	2	72	803	5	183.5	35	68-771-2	44
2024	• Wan'Dale Robinson, NYG	3	93	699	3	182.7	36	23-227-1	116
2016	• Marqise Lee, Jac.	3	63	851	3	180.6	40	37-422-1	88
2015	• Donte Moncrief, Ind.	2	64	733	6	173.3	37	32-444-3	79
2022	• Joshua Palmer, LAC	2	72	769	3	169.3	37	33-353-4	76
2021	• Van Jefferson, LAR	2	50	802	6	168.2	36	19-220-1	122
2018	• Zay Jones, Buff.	2	56	652	7	165.2	35	27-316-2	87
2023	Tank Dell	1	47	709	7	165.0	39	47-709-7	39
2017	• Paul Richardson, Sea.	4	44	703	6	150.3	39	29-271-1	98

—Ian Allan

Older

Newer

My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T. Sparks, Nev.

You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B. St. Charles, Mo.

I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L. Mequon, Wisc.

The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S. Olympia, Wash.

Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L. Madison, Wis.

I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G. Bartlett, Ill.

Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D. Wellington, Fla.

Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C. Tulsa, Okla.

A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M. London, Ontario, Canada

I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C. Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M. Imperial, Neb.

I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M. Elma, N.Y.

I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W. Holt, Mich.

I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M. Lynnwood, Wash.

You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W. Aylett, Va.

And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S. Grand Junction, Colo.

This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R. Queen Creek, Ariz.

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Factoid

Starting to catch on

Today's Trivia

Mailbag

Member updates

Follow

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

All Products

Help & Support

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Customer Service