Evan Tarracciano· Sep 3, 2026
Tarracciano names six wide receivers he considers must-have values who will outperform their current average draft position in 2026 fantasy drafts, including specific upside calls for Garrett Wilson, Jaylen Waddle, Parker Washington and Jalen Coker.
“here are several receivers I'm looking to add to my teams whenever possible, who will outperform their current average draft position (ADP)”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
11 checkable claims — 7 sleeper calls, 2 player season numbers and 2 positional finishes — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 14 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 2.
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Who this take is about
11 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Sleeper CallsLuther Burden IIIChicago BearsSep 3, 2026
Luther Burden III to outplay his draft cost
“Everything has fallen into place for Luther Burden III to have a breakout campaign during his sophomore campaign, and I'm investing whenever possible.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Chris Godwin Jr. to outplay his draft cost
“Drafting Chris Godwin might not elicit a lot of "oohs and aahs" from your competition, but it is a smart move to bank on his return to fantasy relevance.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Luther Burden III to record 652 receiving yards
“Barring injury, he is a shoo-in to improve upon his 47/652/2 rookie numbers from 2025.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jaylen Waddle to finish top 18 at his position, by fantasy points
“Waddle is currently ranked ... as WR18, and he should beat that mark if he remains healthy for 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsDJ MooreBuffalo BillsSep 3, 2026
DJ Moore to outplay his draft cost
“While his ECR is lagging far behind his ADP, I don't think those numbers capture his true upside. I'll take him as my WR3 all day long.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Parker Washington to record 1,000 receiving yards
“he should easily surpass 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career if he receives the target volume that most of us expect”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Parker Washington to outplay his draft cost
“even though he's being drafted much earlier than he was a month or two ago, I'm still willing to make him a priority add”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsGarrett WilsonNew York JetsSep 3, 2026
Garrett Wilson to outplay his draft cost
“here are several receivers I'm looking to add to my teams whenever possible, who will outperform their current average draft position (ADP). ... Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJalen CokerCarolina PanthersSep 3, 2026
Jalen Coker to outplay his draft cost (WR58 ADP)
“If (and yes, it is a major if) Coker stays healthy all season, he should blow past his current WR58 ADP cost.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Garrett Wilson to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“volume alone should drive Wilson into low-end WR1 territory without issues”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJaylen WaddleDenver BroncosSep 3, 2026
Jaylen Waddle to outplay his draft cost (WR18)
“Waddle is currently ranked as the final receiver in Tier 3 in the expert consensus rankings (ECR) as WR18, and he should beat that mark if he remains healthy for 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris BrockmanTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- Jon GrudenTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done.
- Joel CorryTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause.
- Jared DubinDepth Chart Calls · Daniel FaaleleMiss · 0Dubin grades the Faalele trade, predicting Faalele has a decent chance to be Jacksonville's Week 1 starting right guard in competition with Wyatt Milum, and that Evan Neal's odds of making the Giants' 53-man roster improved while Jon Runyan and Francis Mauigoa hold the Giants' starting guard jobs.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Matt Money SmithSleeper Calls · Tre HarrisMiss · 0Smith says Ladd McConkie is a legitimate No. 1 receiver who could post a Jaylen Waddle-like season of roughly 1,700 yards and eight touchdowns, and he predicts second-year Chargers receiver Trey Harris will have a big year under Mike McDaniel. He also expects Philip Rivers to become an NFL head coach and thinks the Chargers offense will be good in the coming season.
- Brandon CarneySleeper Calls · Javonte WilliamsHit · 100Carney predicted AJ Brown would not be back with the Eagles, forecast a wave of free-agent landing spots (Breece Hall to the Chiefs, Alec Pierce to the 49ers, Rico Dowdle to the Saints, George Pickens to the Patriots, Mike Evans to the Bills), and named Week 1 starting quarterbacks for several teams in flux. He also gave fantasy takes on Javonte Williams, Chris Olave and others.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonSleeper Calls · Saquon BarkleyMiss · 0Johnson says the Steelers aren't legitimate Super Bowl contenders even with Aaron Rodgers back, and that Saquon Barkley can have a bounce-back season in year nine with the Eagles competing for a championship if the offensive line stays healthy.
- Ross JacksonSleeper Calls · Devaughn VeleMiss · 0Ross Jackson agreed to the same Saints mock draft board — Jeremiah Love at eight, Akeem Mesador in the second, Keonte Scott at 73, Keelan Rutledge and Ted Hurst in the fourth, Xavien Harris at 148, Aaron Anderson in the fifth and Bryce Boettcher in the sixth — and also called Devon Vellet a 2026 breakout candidate.
- Greg CosellSleeper Calls · Omarion HamptonMiss · 0Cosell expects the Nick Bonito vs. Will Campbell matchup to be pivotal, predicts Caleb Williams' future is bright, expects the Chargers' run game to improve dramatically under Mike McDaniel with a good season from Omarion Hampton, and expects Sean Payton not to hide Stidham.
- Andrew EricksonSleeper Calls · Malik NabersMiss · 0Erickson gave his 2026 first-round board, leaning on running backs early with Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, Ja'Marr Chase as his WR1 and Christian McCaffrey slipping to 12. He also touted Malik Nabers as a buying opportunity, projected big touchdown numbers for Burrow and Chase, and called Barkley a buy-low.