Wide receiver is one of the deepest positions in fantasy football, but that doesn't mean every early-round pick is worth the investment. Injuries, quarterback uncertainty and changing target shares can dramatically impact production. Here are two wide receivers we're avoiding and two we're targeting heading into the 2026 fantasy football season.
Wide Receivers to Avoid
Drake London (Atlanta Falcons)
Drake London has the talent to produce like an elite fantasy receiver, but his current situation makes him difficult to justify at his ADP.
Atlanta enters the season with plenty of uncertainty at quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. is still recovering from knee surgery, while Tua Tagovailoa is learning a brand-new offense after arriving this offseason. Even if one of the two ultimately provides solid quarterback play, there's a real chance the Falcons experience offensive inconsistency early in the season.
London should continue to command a heavy target share, but volume alone doesn't always translate to elite fantasy production. With legitimate questions surrounding quarterback play, we'd rather target receivers in more stable offensive environments at a similar draft cost.
Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Emeka Egbuka appeared poised for a breakout season after Tampa Bay moved on from veteran Mike Evans, but a toe injury suffered just before the season has significantly clouded his outlook.
While officially listed as a toe sprain, the injury is widely expected to be turf toe, one of the more difficult injuries for wide receivers to overcome. Turf toe can limit explosiveness, hinder route running and linger throughout the season even after a player returns.
There's also the possibility of aggravating the injury, potentially leading to additional missed time if he returns before it's fully healed.
Egbuka remains an extremely talented player, but the combination of reduced early-season production and the risk of re-injury makes him a player we're avoiding at his current draft price.
Wide Receivers to Target
Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints)
Chris Olave's fantasy outlook received a significant boost following another injury in the Saints' receiving corps.
Rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is once again dealing with the hamstring issues that plagued him throughout his final college season and is expected to miss up to two months. That leaves Olave as the unquestioned focal point of New Orleans' passing attack to begin the year.
The Saints also appear ready to give Tyler Shough an opportunity at quarterback, and his willingness to push the ball downfield could benefit Olave's skill set.
Concussion history will always be something fantasy managers need to monitor, but with Tyson sidelined, Olave projects to receive true WR1 volume and represents an outstanding value at his current ADP.
Nico Collins (Houston Texans)
Nico Collins already projected to be one of fantasy football's top wide receivers, but his ceiling became even higher following the season-ending ACL injury suffered by Jayden Higgins.
Collins was already Houston's clear No. 1 option, and Higgins' absence should only increase his target share. The Texans also made significant offseason additions to improve the offense, creating optimism that the entire unit will take another step forward in 2026.
Collins carries an expensive draft price, but sometimes paying for elite talent is the right decision. With additional volume available and Houston's offense trending upward, Collins has every opportunity to finish among the very best fantasy wide receivers this season and challenge for the overall WR1 crown.
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