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8 WRs to draft in the RB dead zone (2026 fantasy football)

FantasyPros · Jul 22, 2026 11:09 · 5 min read

8 Wide Receivers to Draft in the RB Dead Zone (Fantasy Football)

The running back dead zone has generally been between the third and sixth rounds. Running backs in this range have struggled historically compared to wide receivers and even tight ends in the same span. A couple of factors go into ... read more »

A couple of factors go into the running back dead zone. The top one is fantasy players pushing running backs up in the ADP after seeing an early run at the position in the first two rounds. However, that has changed over the past few years. The general public has become more willing to draft wide receivers early in their fantasy drafts.

With more wide receivers getting drafted in the first two rounds, running backs have been more appropriately ranked and drafted. While the dead zone isn’t as significant as in the past, there are several wide receivers that fantasy players should target over running backs in this range.

Let’s look at my eight favorite wide receivers to draft inside the running back dead zone in 2026.

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Wide Receivers to Draft in the RB Dead Zone (Fantasy Football)

ADP via FantasyPros

Rashee Rice (KC): ADP 25.5 | WR11

Rice has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this offseason. He served a 30-day sentence for violating his probation. Furthermore, the superstar is rehabbing following a clean-up procedure on his knee. Hopefully, Rice doesn’t get suspended, and he and Patrick Mahomes are ready to play in Week 1. Last year, the superstar played in only eight games due to a suspension and an injury. However, he was outstanding when on the field, averaging 18.8 PPR fantasy points per game, scoring over 23.1 in half the contests.

DeVonta Smith (PHI): ADP 26.5 | WR12

The worst-kept secret in the NFL was the A.J. Brown trade. Smith has taken over as the Eagles’ No. 1 wide receiver with Brown in New England. Last season, he finished as the WR20, averaging 11.9 PPR fantasy points per game. However, Smith was outstanding when seeing enough volume, averaging 19.3 fantasy points per game in the seven contests where he had seven or more targets, scoring 20 or more in nearly a third of those outings. Smith will have a career year as Jalen Hurts’ top pass catcher.

Zay Flowers (BAL): ADP 31.5 | WR14

Baltimore made several changes to their receiving corps this offseason. Yet, Flowers’ role as the clear-cut No. 1 option in the passing game remains unchallenged. Last year, the former Boston College star averaged 14.3 PPR fantasy points per game, a career high. However, he was even better when Lamar Jackson played, averaging 15 fantasy points per game on only 6.9 targets per contest. Despite coming off his first career WR1 finish, don’t be surprised if Flowers sets career highs in every category this season under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.

Tee Higgins (CIN): ADP 35.5 | WR16

Unfortunately, Higgins has a history of injuries. However, he has finished in the WR15 through WR19 range in PPR scoring in three of the past four years, including 2025, despite Joe Burrow missing over half the season. Despite averaging slightly fewer targets per game with Burrow (6.7 vs. 7.8), Higgins averaged more fantasy points per contest (15.2 vs. 13.4) and fantasy points per target (2.3 vs. 1.7) with the superstar quarterback. The 15.2 fantasy points per game average would have made him the WR10 on a points-per-contest basis last year.

Jaylen Waddle (DEN): ADP 42.5 | WR22

While the Miami Dolphins’ offense was inconsistent last season, Waddle ended the year as the WR24, averaging 12.1 PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, the veteran didn’t need a massive target share to produce top-12 fantasy numbers. Waddle averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game in the 12 contests with six or more targets last season. He would have finished as the WR11 on a points-per-game basis with that average. Waddle should have no trouble totaling 102 targets (six per game) as Bo Nix’s clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver.

Christian Watson (GB): ADP 53.5 | WR27

Last season, Watson was the WR15 on a points-per-game basis among wide receivers with at least nine games played, averaging 13.2 PPR fantasy points per contest despite averaging only 5.5 targets per outing after missing the first seven weeks recovering from a torn ACL. Furthermore, he averaged 16.1 fantasy points per game in six of the 10 contests with five or more targets last year. More importantly, the Packers moved on from Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks this offseason, which should open up more targets for Watson in 2026.

DJ Moore (BUF): ADP 54.5 | WR28

After years of dealing with subpar quarterbacks, Moore gets to play with Josh Allen in 2026. Yet, he has been productive, averaging 14 or more PPR fantasy points per game in five of seven seasons since his rookie year despite never being an elite touchdown scorer. Meanwhile, the Bills have lacked a go-to wide receiver since Stefon Diggs was traded. However, Diggs finished as the WR9 in his final season in Buffalo, averaging 9.4 targets and 16.1 fantasy points per game. Moore could have similar success with Allen under center.

Rome Odunze (CHI): ADP 58.5 | WR29

Odunze got off to one of the hottest starts last year, ranking as the WR3 over the first month, averaging 19.9 PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he scored 15 or more fantasy points in half of his games. Meanwhile, DJ Moore is gone, and the Bears did nothing to replace him. While Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland are popular breakout candidates, Odunze could easily have a Jameson Williams-like top-12 finish if he gets seven targets per game. For reference, he averaged 7.5 targets per game last season.