Wide receivers are the backbone of your NFL DFS lineups. It’s a spot where you’ll need massive production if you’re going to take down a GPP, but it’s also a spot where you can save money on occasion. Some of the best values in a given week are likely to be found at the receiver position.
In this piece, I highlight wide receivers who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.
As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.
And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Or you can just use our NFL DFS sims to effortlessly create advanced lineups.
Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).
You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:
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Ja’Marr Chase ($8,500 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel)
Chase was the clear-cut best receiver in fantasy last season, but he’s had to survive without his star QB for most of the season. Joe Burrow went down with an injury in Week 2, and Chase struggled in three games with Jake Browning under center. He still managed a 26% target share in those outings, but he scored single-digit PPR points in two of them.
Chase’s trajectory changed completely following the acquisition of Joe Flacco. Flacco may not be the same player he was in his prime, but the Bengals have had no issues with him airing it out 40+ times per game. When he’s dropped back to pass, Chase has been his clear primary target. He has a 39% target share in Flacco’s four starts, including a 50+% mark in two of those outings. Chase has racked up at least 91 receiving yards in all four games, and he has double-digit catches in three of them.
Chase draws a matchup vs. the Steelers in Week 11, and he went bananas in his first meeting with Pittsburgh this season. He racked up 23 targets, which he converted into 16 catches, 161 yards, and a touchdown. The Steelers have allowed the most PPR points per game to opposing receivers this season, so Chase should be able to put together another excellent performance.
This game also leads the slate with a 49.0-point total, so it’s expected to be a strong environment for fantasy purposes. Chase leads all receivers in projected Plus/Minus on both DraftKings and FanDuel, making him a logical pay-up option for cash games.
Wan’Dale Robinson ($5,500 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel)
Fantasy players can officially rejoice: Jameis Winston is back in our lives. Winston is a true GOAT for fantasy purposes. He’s never met a throw he didn’t think he could make, and he pushes the ball downfield with reckless abandon. It’s why he’s the only QB in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions in the same season. He’s also prone to dropping some absolute gems during his sideline interviews:
With Winston under center, the Giants’ pass-catchers get a clear upgrade for fantasy purposes. Jaxson Dart has been an outstanding fantasy quarterback, but most of his value comes from his rushing upside. He’s averaged just 202 passing yards in his seven starts, and he’s thrown just 10 touchdowns.
Robinson should be Winston’s top option by default. The Giants were already down top receiver Malik Nabers, while Darius Slayton will miss this week’s contest with an injury. Robinson leads the team with a 27% target share since Nabers went down, and he could be even busier than usual vs. the Packers. With Winston under center, Robinson’s targets should be a bit more valuable than usual.
Michael Wilson ($3,800 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel)
Wilson has seen plenty of opportunities since being drafted by the Cardinals in 2023. However, most of it has just been empty cardio. He has a strong 83% route participation so far this season, but it’s resulted in just a 13% target share.
That said, Wilson has posted a positive Plus/Minus in three of his past four games, and he earned a season-high seven targets last week. He could also take another step forward this week vs. the 49ers. Top receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will miss this game with an injury, opening the door for Wilson to grab a larger share of the pie. Trey McBride should still be the team’s leader in the passing attack, but Wilson should be the next man up in the pecking order. Zay Jones and Greg Dortch are tied for third at receiver in terms of target share, and they’re at just 6% for the year.
It makes Wilson a very appealing value option at just $3,800 on DraftKings. His price tag comes with a 98% Bargain Rating, and he also draws a favorable matchup vs. the 49ers. San Francisco’s defense has been dreadful since losing Fred Warner to injury, and they’re 30th in pass defense EPA over the past three weeks.
Rashee Rice ($7,900 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel)
Paying up for Chase and Rice is difficult on DraftKings, but it’s very doable on FanDuel. In fact, it’s probably advised. Rice is priced at just $8,200, which represents a tremendous discount. It results in a position-best 98% Bargain Rating, and Rice ranks third at the position in projected Plus/Minus.
Rice has played just three games for the Chiefs this season, but he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of them. His receiving numbers vs. the Bills in Week 9 weren’t super impressive – seven targets, four catches, 80 yards – but he made up for it by scoring a rushing TD.
Rice is going to have to navigate a brutal matchup vs. the Broncos in Week 11. They’re second in the league in pass defense EPA, and only the Chargers have allowed fewer fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. However, they’re not quite as imposing with Patrick Surtain currently out of the lineup.
The Chiefs are coming off a bye week – a situation where Andy Reid has historically thrived – and they’re listed as 3.5-point road favorites. The Chiefs are also first in the league in Pass Rate Over Expectation (PROE), and with top running back Isiah Pacheco out of the lineup, even more of their offense than usual could go through the air. Rice leads the team with a 28% target share, so he’s a completely reasonable option in spite of the tough matchup.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($8,900 DraftKings, $9,700 FanDuel)
While Chase was the top receiver in fantasy last year, it’s not so clear-cut in 2025-26. Smith-Njigba is certainly in the discussion. He’s scored the most PPR points at receiver this season, and he’s the clear No. 1 from a utilization standpoint. He’s posted a massive 39% target share this season, and he’s also racked up 50% of the team’s air yards. Both of those figures are the best in the league.
JSN’s volume was down slightly in Week 10, but that was due to the game script more than anything else. He torched the Cardinals for four catches and 82 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter alone, so he could’ve been poised for a huge game if things didn’t turn into a blowout.
Despite his minimal involvement in the second half, Smith-Njigba still turned in more than 20 DraftKings points for the eighth time in nine games. That is remarkable consistency. His lone bust came in his first matchup vs. the Cardinals, where he finished with just four catches for 79 yards.
JSN will have his work cut out for him this week vs. the Rams. They’ve been excellent defensively this season, and they’re third in pass defense EPA. However, receivers have still had a bit of success against them for fantasy purposes, with the Rams allowing the 14th-most PPR points per game to the position. Ultimately, there’s no reason to doubt Smith-Njigba at this point.
Justin Jefferson ($7,500 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel)
Not too long ago, Jefferson would’ve been in the conversation for best receiver in fantasy. Unfortunately, he has been unable to overcome his poor quarterback play this season. The combination of J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz has been unable to duplicate the previous success of Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold, and Jefferson’s average of 14.7 PPR points per game ranks just 13th at the position.
Jefferson had just four catches for 37 yards last week, but that doesn’t tell the full story. He saw 12 targets from his young quarterback, resulting in a 35% target share. Jefferson has been at 32% or higher in four of his past five games, so getting him the ball has been a clear priority.
It makes him an interesting buy-low option at $7,500 in a strong matchup vs. the Bears. Their pass defense has been exploitable all season, and they’ve allowed the sixth-most PPR points per game to opposing receivers. This game also features a 48.5-point total, with the Vikings implied for a solid 25.5 points.
Puka Nacua ($8,700 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel)
Nacua also has a claim to being the top receiver in fantasy. He’s tied with Rice for the most PPR points per game this season, and he’s done it over a much larger sample. He was an absolute demon to start the year, averaging 26.8 PPR points through his first five contests, though he hasn’t been quite as good since returning from injury. He has scored a touchdown in both contests, but he’s garnered just a 21% target share.
There’s no reason to expect that to continue. Nacua has been limited to a 65% route participation or lower in both of those games, which the Rams have thoroughly dominated. He’s still been targeted on 29% of his routes run in those contests, and his volume should be cranked up in a massive showdown vs. the Seahawks.
Seattle has a tough defense, but they have been a massive pass funnel so far this season. They’re No. 1 in the league in rush defense EPA, so opposing offenses have had to take to the air against them. Quarterbacks are averaging the second-most pass attempts per game against Seattle, so Nacua could easily eclipse double-digit targets in this matchup. He still has one of the top ceilings at the position, but he’s projected for significantly less ownership than guys like Chase, Rice, and Smith-Njigba.
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Xavier Worthy ($4,900 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel)
While Rice is the Chiefs’ clear No. 1 receiver, Worthy is still an important part of their passing attack. He was vital in their run to the Super Bowl last season, and he’s maintained a healthy 83% route participation and 19% target share in his three games alongside Rice. He’s had a target share of at least 23% in back-to-back outings, and he led the team in air yards in their last game.
Worthy hasn’t been particularly productive in those contests, which has caused his price tag to plummet to $4,900 on DraftKings. That makes him an interesting buy-low option. Worthy has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.03 when priced at $5,100 or lower (per the Trends tool).
Worthy also stands out as extremely undervalued in Sim Labs. No receiver has a larger discrepancy between optimal lineup rate and projected DraftKings ownership, making him a fantastic choice for tournaments.
Keenan Allen ($5,300 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel)
The Chargers have been one of the most pass-heavy teams in football this season, with only the Chiefs posting a superior PROE. However, they have several options to lean on. Ladd McConkey has solidified his standing as the team’s No. 1 receiver, while Orande Gadsden has had a breakout at tight end. Quentin Johnston is the team’s clear big-play threat at the position.
That leaves Allen as a bit of a wild card. He started the year as the team’s leader in target share, but his numbers have dipped in recent weeks. He’s had a target share of 21% or fewer in four of his past five games, including a 13% mark last week vs. the Steelers.
That’s caused his salary to dip to $5,300 on DraftKings, and he has some appeal at that figure. It results in a 97% Bargain Rating, and Allen gets a decent matchup vs. the Jaguars. They’ve been a below-average defense in dropback EPA, and they’ve allowed the 10th-most PPR points per game to opposing receivers.
Ricky Pearsall ($5,400 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel)
The 49ers are going to be significantly healthier in Week 11. Brock Purdy and Pearsall will both be in the lineup for the first time since Week 4, and it will be their first game with George Kittle available since Week 1. While Brandon Aiyuk still remains without a timetable for return, this is looking much closer to the dominant offense we saw during the 2023-24 season.
Before going down with his injury, Pearsall was emerging as the 49ers’ top receiver. He posted a 20% target share through the first four weeks, and he racked up 43% of their air yards. He averaged 13.1 PPR points per game during that stretch, and he had one top-12 finish at the position.
If Pearsall returns to a full workload, he could be significantly underpriced at $5,700 on FanDuel. His 98% Bargain Rating is tied for the best mark on the slate, and he has plenty of upside vs. the Cardinals.
Romeo Doubs ($5,000 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel)
The Packers’ pass-catching corps has gotten a bit thin in recent weeks. Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft are both out with injuries, while Matthew Golden is questionable for Week 11.
That leaves Doubs as the team’s clear No. 1 option. He’s coming off an uncharacteristically poor showing in Week 10, but he was limited to just a 55% route participation after suffering a chest injury. Doubs has been removed from the injury report and is good to go in Week 11, so he should be looking at a larger workload.
Before last week’s outing, Doubs had posted a target share of at least 29% in three of four games. The Packers might not need to throw the ball a ton vs. the Giants, but they should be successful when they do: New York is merely 22nd in pass defense EPA.
Pictured: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Photo Credit: Imagn
