2026 Fantasy Football: Jayden Reed among Justin Boone's top sleeper picks at WR

Fantasy football managers are smarter than ever, so finding a player who's actually being slept on can be difficult. With that in mind, let's shine the spotlight on some players available in the late rounds or even off the waiver wire who could surprise in 2026.

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Over the next week, I'll revisit my favorite sleeper candidates at every key fantasy position. Today, we're taking a look at wide receivers.

This isn't the first time I've targeted Shaheed as a sleeper, going back to his time with the Saints. 

While he made an obvious impact during the Seahawks' Super Bowl run — including on special teams — his fantasy production was limited as he learned the offense on the fly after being traded before the deadline. However, don't let that overshadow his potential. 

Shaheed was a WR3/flex option during the first half of the season with the Saints in 2025 — the WR21 in fppg through five weeks in 2024 before getting hurt — and he posted six top-20 WR fantasy finishes in 2023. This is a player who's flashed a ceiling he hasn't come close to reaching yet. 

There have been plenty of comments from beat writers like Brian Nemhauser, suggesting Shaheed will be a bigger part of the offense now that he has a full offseason to prepare with the team. The reports coming out of OTAs and training camp have only confirmed that, indicating Shaheed is standing out and being used as more than just a vertical field-stretcher. 

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the unrivaled leader and target hog in Seattle's WR room, but behind him it's wide open in terms of playing time. Cooper Kupp is 33 years old and only topped 50 yards once following Shaheed's arrival. Meanwhile, promising sophomore Tory Horton needs to prove he can stay healthy for a significant stretch. 

That positions Shaheed to emerge as the Seahawks No. 2 receiver, just as he was in New Orleans — putting him back in the WR3/flex conversation for fantasy with significant spike-week upside. He's quietly one of the best values available at the moment. 

Downs is a dangerous playmaker packaged in a smaller frame at 5'9" and 171 lbs. That might be why the Colts have primarily used him as their third receiver, which has limited his production and fantasy outlook. Even so, Downs did manage at least 50 yards and/or a touchdown in 50% of his games last season. 

With Michael Pittman Jr. and 111 targets out of the picture, the Colts' passing attack will look much different in 2026, built around Alec Pierce (who's still rehabbing from an ankle injury), Downs, tight end Tyler Warren and newly-acquired veteran, Keenan Allen.

Warren is one of my favorite tight end targets this year, but Pierce's return date is still unknown and Allen is just a contributing piece at 34 years old. That's why it hasn't been surprising to hear the coaching staff talk about Downs expanding his role to include more snaps on the perimeter. 

That creates an opportunity for Downs, who has had stretches of strong production at times during his first three years in the league. 

Remember back in 2024 when Joe Flacco replaced Anthony Richardson Sr. in seven games? During those Flacco starts, Downs posted weekly fantasy finishes of WR8, WR25, WR16, WR34, WR21, WR75 and WR18 while averaging 7.1 receptions and 66.4 receiving yards. It's a small sample size, but a glimpse of what Downs could do in the right setting with competent quarterback play. 

Through the first nine games last season, while Daniel Jones was still healthy, Downs was a fantasy WR4. That's exactly how he's being drafted this year as the WR48 in ADP, not baking in the opportunity that could materialize with Pittman gone. 

There's no doubt in my mind Downs has the skills to become a more impactful fantasy weapon if he gets the chance and he's available outside the top 100 picks in drafts.  

Reed has always had the talent to take on a larger role in the Packers offense. With Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks no longer on the roster, the odds of Reed becoming a more meaningful fantasy asset have increased substantially.

Christian Watson is the top option in the passing game, but the battle for the No. 2 pass-catcher is up for grabs. Tight end Tucker Kraft is working his way back from an ACL tear, partial LCL tear and partial meniscus tear suffered in November, which could lead to a slow start. Though last year's first-round pick Matthew Golden will get more opportunities during his sophomore campaign, he struggled as a rookie, topping 40 yards just once in his last nine outings.

Reed has an interesting profile with a massive fantasy ceiling — albeit very sporadic production so far in his career. The former second-rounder instantly earned a role in Matt Lafleur's offense and finished as the WR23 as a rookie, scoring 10 total touchdowns (eight receiving, two rushing) and adding 119 yards on the ground, despite only seeing the field for 56% of Green Bay's snaps.

Early returns were excellent the next year, with Reed averaging WR14 fantasy stats through the first nine games of 2024 while seeing an increase in playing time up to 66%. But after the Packers' Week 10 bye, his numbers fell off a cliff, topping 50 yards just once the rest of the way and dropping down to 60% of the snaps. 

Then last year, Reed scored a TD in Week 1 before breaking his collarbone a week later and missing most of the season. 

For Reed to truly hit in fantasy, we'll likely need to see him earn more snaps, either in two-receiver sets (which is not guaranteed) or through the team using more 11 personnel (three wideouts). But with the recent WR departures, Reed will have as good a chance as ever to reach his potential in 2026. He's a fantasy WR4/flex with upside. 

The departure of Mike Evans mixed with Emeka Eguka's new toe injury is creating opportunity in Tampa Bay's receiver room. Egbuka still has time to overcome the injury and have a strong season, but it's a situation to monitor. Veteran Chris Godwin would be the main beneficiary if Egbuka misses time or is limited, but McMillan and rookie Ted Hurst are waiting for their opportunities. 

McMillan was a third-round pick in 2024 who caught fire down the stretch of his rookie season. It was enough to make him the WR9 (17.4 fppg) during that five-week span that included the fantasy playoffs:

Week

Rec.

Yards

TDs

14

4

59

2

15

5

75

1

16

5

57

1

17

5

51

2

18

5

74

1

Unfortunately, his sophomore season was derailed before it started due to an awkward landing during a preseason contest that resulted in three fractured vertebrae in his neck and two herniated discs. The injury kept him sidelined for the majority of 2025. 

Expectations were low returning from such a serious issue, but McMillan managed to contribute in the final month, including a seven-catch, 114-yard outing in Week 17. 

Even with the talented players around him, McMillan has proven he deserves a role in this offense and fantasy managers should be excited to see what he can do during a healthy 17-game season. 

Though I still have Egbuka and Godwin ranked ahead of him, McMillan remains a screaming value being drafted outside the top 150.

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