Every offseason, the love for rookies in fantasy football is made apparent. And honestly, it’s a good thing. Rookies hold untapped potential to provide fantasy rosters an edge over the competition. Landing a rookie who gains a prominent role on their team’s offense is a huge boon for fantasy lineups.
Last season, Emeka Egbuka got off to a hot start after Jalen McMillan went down during the preseason. But now, rookie wide receivers from the 2026 NFL Draft enter the mix for opportunity this season, too. This article will provide insight into why these five rookie wide receivers have a chance to be bigger producers in fantasy football this season, based on their opportunities. We also take a quick look at rosters to see if the path to fantasy success is possible in their respective teams.
Five Rookies On The Rise
Ted Hurst II – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The irony is all over this one. Last season, as mentioned earlier, Emeka Egbuka took advantage of early training camp injuries to get on the practice field with the first-team offense. It seems history is repeating itself as third-round rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst is now getting a similar chance as the Bucs deal with early training camp injuries again. Oh, and there’s no more Mike Evans either.
With Jalen McMillan and now Egbuka dealing with injuries, Hurst has taken advantage of the added practice time with Baker Mayfield. Hurst has reportedly been turning heads during training camp with crazy grabs and touchdown catches. Hurst has to keep up the momentum he’s been building. If he can show that he needs to be on the field, especially with his 6’4″ size, when everyone returns, he can lock in a starting role with the Bucs.
Hurst’s size would make him a viable replacement for Mike Evans, who left in free agency. No, I’m not saying that Hurst will be Mike Evans if he’s on the field, but the Bucs can certainly use another receiver with 6’4″ height and a potential red zone threat. Hurst’s final year at Georgia State put him at 1,000 receiving yards on just 71 receptions. He also added six touchdowns and averaged 14.1 yards per reception.
If Hurst doesn’t jump out early, we will be talking about him later this season as a top waiver wire add. So add him to your watch list in case another injury befalls another Bucs wideout.
Denzel Boston – Cleveland Browns
Third-round rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston is another player who is making noise and turning heads at training camp. But that’s not the only reason why Boston is a player fantasy managers should be keeping tabs on. Boston was moved up to a starting role before the Browns’ first preseason game. Monken believed moving Boston up to receive starting reps during camp would “unlock a veteran player.”
Even with added pressure on Boston during training camp, he continued to make plays. Eventually, he was named a starter before the end of training camp. Not long after, the Browns released wide receiver Cedric Tillman. This move solidified Boston’s status as a primary piece in the Browns’ wide receiver room for me. The 6’4″ wide receiver should command plenty of opportunities with Deshaun Watson now named the starting quarterback.
De’Zhaun Stribling – San Francisco 49ers
De’Zhaun Stribling was the 49ers’ second-round selection from the 2026 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss. Stribling finds himself in a promising situation, even if, at first glance, you don’t believe it. The Niners severed their connection with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and they aren’t looking back. Fellow wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has been shut down for the season behind a knee injury. And as much as I love me some Mike Evans, he’s already dealt with multiple injuries during training camp.
Evans looks like a big risk for fantasy because of injuries alone. Christian Kirk, another receiver the Niners brought in during the offseason, is also dealing with injuries. On top of that, Kirk is starting the season in injured reserve due to a calf injury. Stribling has been taking advantage of all the extra reps with Brock Purdy. Stribling even earned a night off as Kyle Shanahan kept him out of the Niners’ final preseason game.
Stribling has earned the trust of his coaches during training camp. The threat of an in-season injury to veteran players is also real. The combination of these items should allow Stribling to take off right out of the gate, even if he’s playing “Robin” to Mike Evans’ “Batman”. I should probably try a different comic book analogy, like “Miles Morales to Peter Parker” or something. Maybe next time. Fantasy managers, add him to the list.
Malachi Fields – New York Giants
The Giants are revamping their wide receiver group this offseason. Honestly, I’m pulling for Odell Beckham to get a roster spot. But that’s not who this section is about. Rookie wideout Malachi Fields is earning his spot and making waves during camp. Reporters are already suggesting that Fields has locked in a starting spot as the WR2 next to Malik Nabers. That’s high praise to get as the preseason winds down.
Fields is a big-bodied receiver whose size would play nicely opposite Malik Nabers’ all-around skill set. This also provides Jaxon Dart with another big target, especially in the red zone. With Fields’ willingness to block allowing him to stay on the field, he should be an interesting target for fantasy managers in both Redraft and Dynasty formats.
Caleb Douglas – Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are in the middle of a complete offensive overhaul. This presents rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas with a rare opportunity. To become the Dolphins’ new WR1. Usually, we see rookie wide receivers take over for the “aging vet”, but the Dolphins don’t have that problem. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are gone, leaving Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert as the top options. Douglas brings a physical frame at 6’4″, 208 lbs, with a 4.39 speed. With the lack of bona fide talent to deter targets, Douglas could slot in as the top option.
Douglas is a wide receiver who is going undrafted. While the expectations for the Dolphins offense are low this season, there should be enough opportunity for Douglas to be a viable option for fantasy. How much depends on what the Dolphins can actually do. Still, Douglas already being named the starter for the Dolphins works in his favor. Now we just need to see if he can put it all together on the field.
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