We’ve reached the end of the regular season in college football. Conference championship weekend is in the books and the College Football Playoff starts next week. Most of these prospects are done putting out tape in their college careers, so it’s time for me to officially unveil my updated position rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Fantasy football players, this one’s for you. Today I’m ranking my top 10 wide receivers in this class. It seems like every year we have another elite crop of receivers entering the league, and this year’s no different. I have five prospects with a first-round grade and many more with Day 2 grades. Once again, it’s a good year to need a receiver.

If you’d like to check out my other updated position rankings, you can do so below:

• Running Backs

1: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

A redshirt junior who began his college career at Colorado, Tyson is a former three-star prospect from Texas. He flashed as a true freshman before transferring to Arizona State and taking a redshirt year to recover from a knee injury. Tyson was sensational for the Sun Devils in 2024, catching 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns before breaking his collarbone near the end of the regular season. He still earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. As a redshirt junior, Tyson dealt with a hamstring injury and missed about a month of the season, but notched 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games, once again making first-team All-Big 12.

At 6-2, 200 pounds, Tyson has great size to play on the outside in the NFL. Unlike many receivers his size, however, he’s a master at creating separation. At all levels of the field, Tyson creates easy space to operate. He uses a combination of elite quick-twitch athleticism and an advanced understanding of how to manipulate leverage to gain separation. Tyson explodes out of his breaks and moves so smoothly that defenders have difficulty keeping up with him — plus he sells his fakes so well that he routinely fools defensive backs, coming wide open across the middle of the field.

With plus length and great ball-tracking ability, Tyson is a monster in contested catch situations. His basketball background shows up on the football field, as he boxes out at the catch point like he’s preparing to grab a rebound. After the catch, he runs with purpose and has solid contact balance, generating yards with the ball in his hands. He catches screens as well, adding to his versatility. Coaches will love his tenacity when blocking, as Tyson is a complete receiver who is a plus run blocker as well.

Tyson’s medical history does raise some red flags. He’s dealt with several soft tissue injuries in college and has yet to play a full, healthy season. That aside, Tyson is a bit inconsistent against press coverage, sometimes failing to match the necessary physicality and allowing himself to get bullied on the route. For a receiver of his size, you’d like to see him own those matchups more and impose his own physicality on the cornerback.

But really, aside from his injury history, there’s nothing to complain about with Tyson. He can play outside or in the slot, dominates over the middle of the field, creates easy separation, and makes things happen after the catch. He’s a quarterback’s best friend and a top-five player in this class, with room to rise even depending on how his athletic testing goes.

2: Carnell Tate, Ohio State

A consensus five-star recruit from Chicago, Tate played immediately as a true freshman for the Buckeyes in a backup role. As a sophomore in 2024, he became a weekly starter, posting 52 catches for 733 yards and four touchdowns. With Emeka Egbuka’s departure to the NFL, Tate’s role grew substantially as a junior in 2025, totaling 48 receptions for 838 yards and nine touchdowns in a crowded Ohio State passing attack. Tate was named first-team All-Big Ten after the regular season and is set to play a key role in the Buckeyes’ playoff run.

Checking in at 6-3, 195 pounds, Tate is all length on the outside. He might have the best hands and body control of any receiver I’ve ever scouted — he had no drops in 2025 and just five total in his college career, despite attempting and making some of the most ridiculous receptions you’ve ever seen. Tate caught over 85 percent of his contested targets as a junior and never had a season below 50 percent. He’s acrobatic, with elite focus hauling in passes, and is effective after the catch, making efficient use of the space available without risking fumbles or lost yardage.

Tate pairs his reliability with elite route-running skills, a true master of setting up his man through subtle moves and head fakes. Over the middle of the field, Tate dominates, hitting timing routes with precision and breaking at the right time to come open as needed. He shreds zone defenses, weaving into pockets of space and getting north/south after the catch. Tate is the best blocker at the receiver position in this class, too, with a grit to his game, always looking to put a punishing finish on each block.

Despite all his skill, Tate isn’t an exceptional athlete. His top speed won’t consistently threaten cornerbacks and he doesn’t have the raw short-area quickness that pops off the tape. That’s really the only negative on his scouting report, however. He could stand to add some weight, as his 6-3 frame could certainly take it, but that’s about it.

One of my favorite players in this class, Tate has all the tools to thrive in the league immediately. He’s reminiscent of recent NFL success stories such as Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Egbuka. Simply put, guys who can create separation the way he can, with veteran-like route running abilities and savant-level body control at the catch-point are built to win in the NFL. Tate is a top-10 player in this class for me and an easy pick for a team needing a game-changing receiver.

3: Makai Lemon, USC

A five-star recruit and two-way player in high school, Lemon made an impact at both wide receiver and cornerback in his true freshman season at USC. As a sophomore in 2024, he started playing receiver full-time, hauling in 52 receptions for 764 yards and three touchdowns. Lemon’s junior season marked his ascension to stardom, as he was named first-team All-Big Ten behind 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding a pair of rushing scores as well. Lemon led all power conference players in receiving yards in 2025 and was tied for second in touchdowns.

At 5-11, 195 pounds, Lemon fits the mold for a lot of modern NFL receivers. His change-of-direction abilities are otherworldly, making moves in the open field that make defenders look silly. Whether he’s running complex routes or shaking guys after the catch, Lemon is slippery and tough for defenders to get their hands on. Combined with lightning-quick acceleration off the line of scrimmage, Lemon can attack all levels of the field, running a complete route tree with a technical precision coaches will love.

Against zone coverages, Lemon knows where to sit to stay open and can adjust his routes on the fly to attack holes in the zone. He doesn’t run himself into trouble and he developed a good rapport with his quarterback in this regard. After the catch is where Lemon is at his most dangerous, weaving through the defense like a running back and staying strong through contact to generate huge plays. Despite being a little undersized, he thrives in contested catch situations, with plus body control and strong hands to make tough catches.

Against press coverage, Lemon struggles. He gets jammed at the line a little too often and doesn’t have the play strength to play through the defender and run his route. Teams may have to protect Lemon from this in the NFL by playing him mostly in the slot, which does impact his value. I also question if he has the top-end vertical speed to truly threaten defenses over the top consistently, but this is more of a minor nitpick.

Lemon is such a fun watch on tape and his fit in the NFL is a natural one. An easy first-round pick, modern NFL offenses thrive with receivers like Lemon who can make tough catches in traffic, have inside/outside versatility, and create chunk plays with the ball in their hands. If you’re looking for a dominant X-receiver, there are better options in this class, but Lemon is one of the best all-around prospects.

4: KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

A true freshman phenom at N.C. State, Concepcion was a four-star recruit from Charlotte who committed to play for the in-state Wolfpack. He was an offensive dynamo, totaling 71 receptions for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 320 rushing yards at 7.8 yards per carry. The performance earned him ACC Rookie of the Year honors as well as a spot on multiple freshman All-America teams. As a sophomore, his numbers dipped considerably, and he transferred to the Aggies prior to his junior season. In 2025, he bounced back with his new team, racking up 57 catches for 886 yards and nine touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown, and he was named first-team All-SEC.

Standing at 5-11 and 190 pounds, Concepcion is the player in this class who will draw all the Deebo Samuel comps. He’s an excellent route runner, with a diverse route tree and an advanced ability to tempo his routes to create separation through fakes and quick cuts. Versatility is the name of his game, with experience on the outside, in the slot, and even in the backfield. Concepcion has great focus at the catch point, going up and making some tough catches in traffic despite his size.

After the catch is where Concepcion thrives. He turns into a running back with the ball in his hands, weaving through the defense for huge plays. He’s liable to house a simple slant if he has an angle, and he routinely adds 10-15 extra yards after short catches. When he hits a seam, he’s gone. Against zone coverage, he finds soft spots to settle into and he manipulates zone defenders well to create extra space for the throwing lane. Concepcion is strong, too, running through would-be tacklers and playing physical against press coverage.

Concepcion is undersized, and while that doesn’t show up often, it can occasionally be an issue at the catch point, where bigger, longer defenders have an advantage. As a blocker, he leaves a lot to be desired, frequently overwhelmed on contact and not playing with the desired technique and toughness.

After a down sophomore season, I was a bit skeptical we’d be talking about Concepcion as a potential first-round pick, but here we are. I have a late first-round grade on him and he offers a lot that NFL teams will love. He can attack all three levels of the field and makes a killing over the middle, can play inside or outside, and is a weapon that creative playcallers will love to be able to utilize.

5: Denzel Boston, Washington

A four-star recruit from Washington who took a redshirt year in 2022, Boston was primarily a special teamer as a redshirt freshman in 2023. But with the Huskies losing their top three receivers to the NFL after that season, Boston stepped into a much larger role as a sophomore, nabbing 63 receptions for 834 yards and nine touchdowns. Primed for stardom in 2025, Boston was limited with an ankle sprain late in the season, but still managed to put up 56 receptions for 755 yards and 10 touchdowns, even throwing for a touchdown on a trick play. He earned third-team All-Big Ten as a junior.

If you want an alpha to win on the outside, Boston is your guy. Measuring at 6-4 and 209 pounds, he has the size to dominate almost every cornerback he faces. Boston creates separation against press coverage through physicality and exceptional route running, with fantastic little moves to sell his routes and sharp breaks to get open. A contested catch monster, he plays with great body control and vise-grip hands to reel in all sorts of tough catches. Defenders simply don’t stand a chance one-on-one at the catch point.

While he’s not a quick-twitch athlete, Boston has solid speed and can threaten deep down the field. He can also create after the catch, at least more than most receivers his size. Over the middle of the field, Boston is a nightmare for defenses to cover, shredding them for routine chunk plays. As a blocker, he plays with tenacity and technique, adding value even when the ball isn’t heading his way.

Boston’s hips can be a little stiff, limiting his wiggle and separation ability against corners who can match his physicality. He won’t break away from a ton of people in the open field and he can be a bit slow off the line. Because of this, Boston is likely limited to playing on the outside in the NFL, which hampers his versatility.

A physical monster of a receiver, Boston has a late first-round grade from me. He plays with such exceptional toughness through contact and has an immediate role in the NFL with his skill set. He creates consistent separation and thrives over the middle of the field, so I’m not worried about his ability to translate to the next level — he avoids the red flags on his profile that some similar prospects have had in the past. Almost every team could use Boston, and he’ll have his share of suitors.

6: Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

Son of a former Jets draft pick and a three-star high school recruit, Brazzell played two years at Tulane, losing most of his true freshman season to a shoulder injury in 2022. He bounced back as a sophomore and was a top transfer portal target after putting up 44 receptions for 711 yards and five scores, earning third-team All-AAC along the way. His first season with the Volunteers in 2024 didn’t amount to much, but in 2025 he exploded with 62 receptions for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns, earning consensus first-team All-SEC honors.

A 6-5, 200-pound monster on the outside, Brazzell is an explosive downfield separator. He rockets off the line of scrimmage and gets vertical quickly, making his fit in the league as a deep threat easy to see. Brazzell just moves differently than most guys his size, both in terms of quickness and flexibility. The way he eats up space on his routes stresses defenses, and he rapidly accelerates through his breaks to maximize the immediate separation he gets.

At the catch point, Brazzell times his jumps well and uses his length to secure receptions before defenders can get to him. There might not be a better receiver in this class to toss a jump ball to, as few cornerbacks can compete with Brazzell’s size and strength. Against zone coverage, he finds available gaps and has a nice feel for settling into soft zones. As a blocker, Brazzell is both willing and effective, walling off on the outside and playing with a finisher’s mentality.

At the moment, Brazzell’s route tree is somewhat limited. Tennessee mostly used him as a deep threat, and while he was incredibly effective at that, he didn’t do much else. On the few occasions he was asked to run more varied routes, he showed some hesitation and a lack of precision, allowing defenders to catch up after he created initial separation. There are also too many drops on Brazzell’s tape, something he’ll need to clean up in the NFL. He’s too good to be dropping some of those passes.

I have Brazzell with a second-round grade as it stands today. He’s a bit boom-or-bust right now — there’s so much to like on his tape, but his game is limited in some specific ways that make his projection to the next level a bit iffy. We’ve seen guys with similar profiles struggle to find a place in the NFL when they can’t become more well-rounded players, and I think Brazzell risks that. But he’s such an elite deep threat that it might not matter. If he can succeed at that early, it’ll buy him time to develop the rest of his game.

7: Chris Bell, Louisville

A three-star recruit from Mississippi, Bell is a great story of a four-year player getting better and better each season. After playing minimally as a true freshman, he made an impact as a sophomore, catching 29 passes for 407 yards and two touchdowns. Bell’s breakout campaign came as a junior, with 43 receptions for 737 yards and four touchdowns. As a senior, he stepped it up even further, with 72 catches for 917 yards and six touchdowns, earning first-team All-ACC recognition. Unfortunately, Bell tore his ACL against SMU shortly before Thanksgiving, putting his draft stock in a bit of flux.

At 6-2, 220 pounds, Bell is built more like a running back than a receiver. He uses his size to his advantage, punishing defenders after the catch and running through arm tackles. With legit speed and surprising quickness and short-area agility, he creates separation at all levels of the field, tempoing his routes well and selling fakes to give him extra space. Defenders are forced to respect Bell’s ability to blow by them down the field, giving him the freedom to rapidly decelerate on comebacks and in-breaking routes for easy yards.

Bell thrives in contested catch situations, boxing defenders out effectively and high-pointing the football. His deep-ball tracking is a plus, adjusting to off-target throws and reeling in well-placed passes in tight spaces. Off the line of scrimmage, Bell creates immediate advantages through his release packages, with a variety of moves he uses to give himself early separation. As a blocker, Bell is both willing and physical, adding to his value, and he can line up outside or in the slot.

Against zone coverages, Bell struggles more. He’s still learning how to find soft spots in the zones to make himself available to the quarterback and currently has a bad habit of overrunning the coverage and taking himself out of plays. I’d also like to see him continue to develop his route tree, as he mostly produces on deep passes and in the quick game. There isn’t a ton of intermediate work on his college tape.

As I said, Bell tore his ACL on November 22, throwing his draft stock into turmoil. It’s believed to be a clean ACL tear and he should be recovered in time for the start of the 2026 season, but he obviously won’t be able to participate on the field in the pre-draft circuit or work out at the Combine. I have a second-round grade on Bell, and while some have him ranked as a first-round talent, he may not go that highly now with this injury. Still, Bell’s upside is tantalizing, and he already does so much so well. There’s a lot to like on his tape.

8: Elijah Sarratt, Indiana

A zero-star recruit from Virginia, Sarratt was an FCS Freshman All-American at St. Francis (PA) and transferred to James Madison for his sophomore season. He was sensational with the Dukes, posting 82 receptions for 1,191 yards and eight touchdowns, adding a rushing touchdown as well. He followed HC Curt Cignetti to Indiana where he made third-team All-Big Ten with 53 catches for 957 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior. As a senior in 2025, Sarratt missed three games with a hamstring injury but still had 51 catches for 687 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition for his efforts.

Checking in at 6-2, 209 pounds, Sarratt owns the middle of the field. He absolutely shreds zone coverages, breaking open between defenders with uncanny timing on his routes. As a route runner, he has an advanced understanding of how to set up defenders, creating consistent separation, particularly over the middle of the field. Sarratt is a great chain-mover, knowing where the sticks are and always making sure he gets first downs in critical moments. There might not be a more clutch conversion specialist in this class.

Sarratt has excellent hands and rarely drops passes, securing tough catches consistently and never wavering to the point of concentration drops. He has plus body control at the catch point to keep his feet in-bounds and haul in passes outside his frame. Though he’s not often used as a deep threat, he tracks the ball well in the air and runs his vertical routes well. As a blocker, Sarratt is both willing and capable, putting in the dirty work to help out the run game when asked.

For all his strengths, Sarratt isn’t very fast, and he’ll struggle to get vertical against NFL-caliber corners. He’s inconsistent against press coverage, lacking the varied releases to gain immediate advantages off the line. Since so much of his game is predicated on timing, any disruption to that proves costly, and corners playing press coverage had success slowing him down in college. Sarratt also doesn’t offer much after the catch, though he does have decent screen production in college.

Sarratt is a classic possession receiver with a high floor. I have a second-round grade on him and I think he can be a good WR2 in the NFL. He’s not as dynamic, athletic, or exciting as other names on this list, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who plays the game more consistently and fundamentally sound.

9: Ja’Kobi Lane, USC

A four-star high school recruit from Mesa, Arizona, Lane arrived at USC as a true freshman and played sparingly, though he did catch two touchdowns in the team’s bowl game that year. As a sophomore in 2024, Lane stepped into a starting role and responded with 43 receptions for 525 yards and 12 touchdowns, becoming one of the nation’s premier red zone threats. Despite battling through several mysterious upper-body injuries as a junior, Lane still racked up 49 receptions for 745 yards and four touchdowns.

At 6-4, 200 pounds, Lane is a weapon down the field and in the red zone. He times his jumps perfectly, boxing out defenders like a basketball player and using his long arms to snare passes before defenders can reach them. Lane’s body control at the catch point is impressive, and it allows him to make catches that few others could. His “toe drag swag” is top-notch and he plays with focus, consistently making tough catches in traffic.

Despite his size, Lane can move. He plays with surprising wiggle and burst, with some quick-twitch hips to his game that allow him to create separation off the line and at the tops of his routes. Against zone coverages, Lane knows how to settle in the soft spots and make himself available to his quarterback, creating easy quick passes for crucial conversions.

Lane’s route tree is fairly limited right now. He mostly runs vertical routes or quick slants and comebacks, meaning he’ll be boxed into a specific role in the NFL until he can diversify. He’s not the fastest receiver, either, with limited vertical separation — it’s part of why he attempts so many contested catches. I’d also like to see him play stronger through initial contact from the defensive back at the line of scrimmage, as he can get knocked off his path too easily right now.

I have a third-round grade on Lane, and I like his fit in the league as a WR3 or WR4 who can get vertical and make tough catches in the red zone. He can absolutely grow into more responsibility and production, but that’s where I see him contributing as a rookie. His game isn’t well-rounded enough just yet to be a priority second-round pick for receiver-needy teams, but with Lane’s physicality and production, it wouldn’t surprise me if he went in that range.

10: Ian Strong, Rutgers

A three-star recruit from New York, Rutgers was Strong’s only power conference offer coming out of high school. He saw the field early as a true freshman before exploding onto the scene as a sophomore in 2024, racking up 43 catches for 676 yards and five touchdowns, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a result. Despite playing through an undisclosed injury for much of his junior season, Strong still put up 52 catches, 762 yards, and five touchdowns, once again being named honorable mention All-Big Ten.

Measuring at 6-3, 211 pounds, Strong is a phenomenal deep threat. He uses his long strides to eat up ground down the field, putting immediate pressure on the secondary to adjust. At the catch point, Strong plays with athleticism and technique, high-pointing the football and securing tough catches with soft hands. His plus catch radius and body control makes him a great weapon on 50/50 balls, where he routinely beats the defensive back to the ball and out-muscles them for big plays.

As a route runner, Strong showcases a surprisingly advanced skillset, selling fakes well and creating separation at the tops of his routes. After the catch, he becomes a bowling ball, using his natural strength to run through people and finishing big plays with gusto. Strong shows up big in the red zone, using his size to create mismatches and could have an early role in the NFL as a red zone threat.

Strong’s route tree is pretty limited to vertical routes at the moment, which limits his role until he can develop a more well-rounded game. He doesn’t really threaten over the middle of the field and Rutgers rarely went to him on short routes or quick-game concepts. As a blocker, Strong doesn’t consistently perform, with his effort waning play-to-play, particularly if he hasn’t gotten the ball in a while.

Overall, I like Strong as a third- or fourth-round pick, a deep-ball specialist who can find an immediate role in the NFL as a rookie. Every team needs a receiver who can threaten vertically the way he can, and if Strong can develop some other parts of his game, his ceiling is very high. He won’t be for everyone, but as a big-play threat, they don’t often come better than Strong.