5 Late-Round Wide Receiver Targets (2026 Fantasy Football)

While it’s important to get the beginning of a fantasy football draft right, nobody wins their league based on their first- or second-round pick. Where teams really differentiate throughout the season is by discovering hidden gems late in drafts or through the waiver wire.

Is it just as important to nail the later rounds? While you don’t have to nail every pick after round 10 in fantasy football drafts, your roster will be immediately set up for success if you can hit on a couple of late-round wide receivers who far outproduce their average draft position (ADP).

This piece will look at five wide receivers who are going late in drafts and should be able to help teams beginning right away in Week 1.

Late-Round Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

Per FantasyPros’ consensus ADP at the time of writing, all of the receivers below are currently being drafted outside of the top 100 players overall in half-PPR leagues.

Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC) | ADP: 112

Quentin Johnston finally began to look somewhat like the first-round talent the Chargers drafted all the way back in 2023.

In 2025, he caught 51 passes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns on 84 targets in just 10 starts, finishing as a top-45 fantasy receiver despite operating behind Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen in the passing hierarchy.

Johnston’s eight receiving touchdowns led the team, and his increased red-zone usage demonstrated Justin Herbert‘s trust in him near the goal line.

While McConkey and Omarion Hampton remain the Chargers’ top two options in the offense, Johnston is an outstanding value outside of the top 100 picks because his role provides weekly touchdown upside.

Los Angeles should continue to lean on Herbert’s arm in scoring situations, the offensive line is now healthy and Johnston’s combination of size and vertical speed makes him a big target in the end zone. Players capable of producing 700+ yards and eight touchdowns are rarely available this late in drafts.

Josh Downs (WR – IND) | ADP: 120

Josh Downs is one of the best late-round values because he consistently earns targets when he can get on the field, even though other players like Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren get more headlines.

In 2024, Downs caught 72 receptions for 803 yards and five touchdowns on 107 targets, leading Indianapolis in catches while averaging over seven targets per game when healthy. Even after his production dipped in 2025 to 58 catches for 566 yards, the Colts have indicated they plan to expand his role following Michael Pittman Jr.‘s departure.

The biggest reason to target Downs is increased opportunity. Indianapolis has discussed using him more frequently outside instead of limiting him to the slot, so he could be looking at a career-high snap share and target total.

Downs has already shown he can handle a bigger workload. If he returns closer to his 2024 production while benefiting from an expanded role, he’s more than capable of outperforming an ADP outside of the top 115.

Rashid Shaheed (WR – SEA) | ADP: 141

Rashid Shaheed remains one of the league’s most dangerous deep threats, and he showed that in a partial season with Seattle in 2025. Throughout his career, he has consistently ranked near the top of the position in yards per reception and average depth of target (aDOT), while also adding value after the catch. Shaheed’s elite speed forces defenses to track him on every snap, giving him big-play potential every week.

Even though he is thought of as a deep threat, Shaheed has shown improvement as a complete receiver capable of earning intermediate targets as well. If he continues seeing increased volume while maintaining his trademark efficiency, he could easily finish several tiers above his current draft position.

Shaheed might have some boom-bust weeks throughout 2026, but for a receiver you can get in the 14th round, you can’t ask for much more in terms of potential.

Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU) | ADP: 153

Even in an up-and-down offensive year for Houston, Jayden Higgins put together one of the better rookie seasons, catching 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns despite playing fewer than 60% of Houston’s offensive snaps.

Higgins’ six receiving touchdowns tied Nico Collins for the team lead. Among rookie receivers, Higgins ranked fourth in receiving yards and tied for second in touchdowns, making the most of his limited opportunities.

The path to a second-year breakout will be defined by opportunity and the play of C.J. Stroud. Higgins is expected to take on a larger role opposite Collins after his playing time steadily increased throughout his rookie season.

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Higgins gives the Texans a physical outside receiver who has already proven he can convert scoring opportunities. Higgins has an excellent chance to dramatically outperform an ADP outside of the top 100 if this offense takes a step forward with a competent run game.

Jalen Coker (WR – CAR) | ADP: 156

After going undrafted in 2024, Jalen Coker burst out as one of the NFL’s biggest undrafted success stories in 2025. He recorded 33 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns in just three starts (11 games), averaging 11.9 yards per catch while producing an impressive 9.2 yards per target.

Coker’s efficiency was important on a Panthers offense that struggled but did improve over the second half of the season. He consistently earned more playing time over Xavier Legette and Jimmy Horn as the year progressed.

The appeal with Coker is the opportunity for an increase in volume as a full-time starter. Bryce Young finished the season playing some of the best football of his career, and Carolina enters 2026 looking to expand its passing attack after the late-season offensive surge and scoring 31 points against the Rams in the playoffs.

Coker has already demonstrated he can earn targets and produce efficiently when given opportunities, making him one of the more intriguing late-round sleepers.