Wrapping up our roundtable series on rookie sleeper picks, the Footballguys staff weighs in on the wide receiver position today.
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Today's question: Now that the NFL Draft is over and we know the landing spots, which rookie wide receiver sleeper pick with the potential to surprise everyone?
Houston's Dark Horse
WR Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans
Jeff Haseley: The Houston depth chart fits nicely for Jayden Higgins to see immediate usage, which could turn into immediate volume if/when he proves to be more effective than Christian Kirk. Chances are, it may take half a season or longer to see an increase in targets/volume, but the potential is there for him to thrive. With Tank Dell a big question mark for the future, Houston is looking at Higgins as a replacement in due time. The offensive line gave C.J. Stroud some trouble last year, but if that improves, the passing game in general should improve, thus making Higgins one to watch, especially later in the season. Houston doubled up on Iowa State receivers, taking Jaylin Noel 45 picks later, but make no mistake about it, Higgins has an adequate size and speed combination of 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, and sub-4.50 speed. He will have a chance to showcase his skill set and find his niche in the Texans offense.
Phil Alexander: I wasn't planning to bring up Jayden Higgins, considering he was practically a first-round pick (No. 34 overall). But since Jeff already mentioned him, I'll add that the Houston rookie is significantly undervalued in early Best Ball drafts. Higgins' current ADP on Underdog Fantasy is around pick 120, placing him between Marvin Mims Jr. and Keon Coleman, players who have a limited chance of securing a featured role in their offenses. Nico Collins is clearly the Texans' WR1. However, the departure of Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell's serious knee injury have created a significant opportunity for targets in Houston. I agree with Ben's high opinion of Jaylin Noel, but Noel's profile suggests he'll likely compete with Christian Kirk for slot snaps in his first year. Higgins is a big, fast receiver who can separate both inside and outside and has excellent ball skills – essentially the perfect complement to Collins in two-receiver sets. We'll need to see how the Texans' wide receiver rotation shapes up in training camp, but right now, Higgins is a dark horse candidate to lead all rookie pass-catchers in fantasy scoring.
Herbert to Harris: LA's Next Connection
WR Tre Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
Meng Song: The Chargers drafted Tre Harris in the second round, and he has an immediate opportunity to be a weekly WR3 with upside in fantasy. Ladd McConkey projects to lead the team in target share heading into his second season, but there isn't an established No. 2 pass-catcher in Los Angeles behind him. Mike Williams reunited with the Chargers this offseason, but he's on a small one-year, $3 million deal and hasn't exactly been the most durable player. And Quentin Johnston has struggled with drops, which is kind of an issue for a wide receiver.
Harris has his own injury concerns, but if he can stay on the field, he'll have a chance to see high-value targets even as a rookie. The Chargers can utilize Harris on high-percentage throws close to the line of scrimmage and as a deep threat, which is where his fantasy ceiling lies. Justin Herbert ranked fifth in deep ball completion rate last year, so if Harris can establish chemistry with him, the rookie could produce some big plays on a weekly basis.
Bob Harris: Add me to the Tre Harris column. As noted in our Rookie Draft Guide Version 3.0, getting drafted in Round 2 by the Chargers is about the best-case scenario for Harris.
Despite questions about his versatility, Harris was in the midst of a potentially record-breaking 2024 season at Ole Miss with an FBS-best 987 receiving yards by the second week in October (181 yards more than the next-closest player on the list). Though he missed the final five games with that injury, Harris caught 60 passes for 1,030 yards with seven touchdowns in his final college season.
Now, he'll play with one of the better quarterbacks in the league -- Justin Herbert -- alongside one of the more exciting young receivers, Ladd McConkey.
The roadblock for Harris? Quentin Johnston, who, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper, will have to battle for a roster spot this summer.
Popper predicts Harris will be on the field with Mike Williams and McConkey in three-wide sets this season. Harris' long-term appeal is even greater with Williams on a one-year deal.
Potential Immediate Contributors
WR Kyle Williams, New England Patriots
Jason Wood: In the past five seasons, 87 wide receivers have been drafted in Rounds 4 through 7. Only two—Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown—have provided redraft-worthy fantasy production as rookies. So once again, I'll implore fantasy managers not to overvalue most late-round receivers, even if their college tape seemed more impressive than their draft slot suggests.
I hope my colleagues take that to heart and focus instead on Day 2 picks, where the real value tends to lie. But with that said, I'm rolling the dice on Kyle Williams out of Washington State.
Williams landed with the New England Patriots, a team still desperate for playmakers as it tries to give Drake Maye the tools he needs in what could be a make-or-break season. Stefon Diggs is locked in as the No. 1 receiver, but the competition behind him is wide open. Williams has a real shot at claiming the No. 2 job this summer—and if he does, he could become fantasy-relevant sooner than most are expecting.
WR Jack Bech, Las Vegas Raiders
Jeff Blaylock: I might be pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a sleeper here. After all, Bech is a second-round pick, not some Day Three prospect. During his breakout senior season at TCU, he had 62 receptions for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns. The MVP of the Senior Bowl impressed at the Combine with his effortless-looking gauntlet drill, showcasing strong hands and agile footwork. Bech runs routes crisply and efficiently, finding open spaces without shrinking from contact. He attacks the ball in traffic, enabling him to reel in contested catches.
What may surprise is how quickly he may become the WR2 in Las Vegas. Bech will quickly become Geno Smith's best friend as a third-down chain mover. As a Horned Frog last season, Bech converted 75 percent of his receptions into first downs or touchdowns. To put that in perspective, only A.J. Brown had a higher conversion percentage among NFL wide receivers with at least 60 receptions last season, according to Stathead data. Bech should be an immediate starter for the Raiders, and he has the talent and opportunity to be a league winner for fantasy managers.
WR Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans
Craig Lakins: The Tennessee Titans selected three pass catchers in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. It's the last of those that I'm most excited about.
Perhaps due to many of Stanford's games kicking off late into the night on East Coast time, Elic Ayomanor isn't a known commodity. He's a big-bodied wideout with more than 1,800 receiving yards over the past two seasons, along with 125 receptions and 12 touchdowns. He famously racked up 294 yards in a 2023 game against Travis Hunter's Colorado secondary.
The Titans' wide receiver room is flush with opportunity, with mainly dusty veterans ahead of Ayomanor on the depth chart. If he can surpass guys like Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett, Ayomanor can be a reliable weapon fellow rookie quarterback Cam Ward can grow with.
If Opportunity Knocks
WR Jalen Royals, Kansas City Chiefs
David Zacharias: Jalen Royals posted the tenth-fastest wide receiver 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. His 10-yard split tied for best in class with Matthew Golden. The All-Conference playmaker from Utah State led the NCAA with seven touchdown receptions of 50-plus yards in 2023.
Once projected as a mid-Day 2 pick, Royals slid to Round 4 (pick 133) after a foot injury limited his 2024 season to seven games.
Our Matt Waldman compares Royals to Early Doucet. Royals sees shades of Diontae Johnson in his own game. He told the Deseret News, "I just know walking into that I need to be about my business, lock in and embrace the Kansas City culture."
The Chiefs' wide receiver room is unsettled. Rashee Rice is recovering from knee surgery and could face suspension following his involvement in a hit-and-run. Xavier Worthy was arrested in March on assault charges. Marquise Brown turns 28 in June and is on a one-year deal. JuJu Smith-Schuster turns 29 in November.
Opportunity lurks for Jalen Royals. He may not walk into immediate targets, but with elite burst and big-play credentials, he's one injury or suspension away from relevance in one of the league's most dynamic passing games.
WR Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks
Maurile Tremblay: Seattle's offseason departures of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett freed up 182 targets, creating space in the passing game despite the additions of Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. While Kupp is talented, he's struggled to stay healthy, missing 11 of his last 34 games. Valdes-Scantling historically fills a specialized deep-threat role, never exceeding 81 targets in a season and averaging just 49 targets annually.
This leaves Tory Horton, Seattle's fifth-round rookie receiver out of Colorado State, positioned to potentially capitalize. Horton boasts appealing physical tools—6-foot-2 with 4.41 speed—and averaged nearly 17 yards per reception in college, highlighting his downfield prowess. His punt-return skills further enhance his chances of being active on game days, providing additional opportunities for involvement on offense.
While Horton won't initially command substantial target volume, even an 8–10% share could realistically yield around 50–60 targets in Seattle's pass-friendly scheme under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Horton's skillset is particularly conducive to fantasy efficiency, as his deep-ball ability can turn limited opportunities into significant spike weeks. With an ADP on the edge between late-round selection and going undrafted, Horton represents precisely the type of low-risk, high-upside rookie sleeper who can significantly outperform fantasy expectations.
WR Tai Felton, Minnesota Vikings
Rachel Tootsiepop: Despite having needs at cornerback and safety, the Minnesota Vikings selected Tai Felton in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, signaling their confidence in his potential. Felton posted strong college numbers at Maryland, totaling 1,124 receiving yards in his final season, which showcased his ability to produce. His athleticism is equally impressive, ranking in the 91st percentile in the broad jump and 89th percentile in both the vertical jump and 40-yard dash, indicating explosive upside. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson already established in the passing game, Felton will likely compete with Jalen Nailor and Rondale Moore for the WR3 role. Although the Vikings' crowded receiver room may limit his immediate opportunities, Felton's speed and playmaking ability make him an intriguing sleeper. His value could rise, particularly if injuries or other factors impact the top targets.
Developmental Prospects
WR Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans
Ben Cummins: Jaylin Noel is the perfect fantasy football wide receiver. He's a versatile slot weapon paired with C.J. Stroud, one of the best passers in the league for years to come. Noel is tough with a compact build, so he'll be a reliable target, racking up receptions. He also exhibited deep-catching ability at Iowa State, which makes sense given his athletic prowess. Noel ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and posted very strong vertical (41.5), broad (11-foot-2), shuttle (4.17), and 3-cone (6.82) numbers.
In short, Noel is a fantastic prospect who just landed in an awesome situation. His game projects to translate seamlessly to the NFL. Christian Kirk will likely box him out of elite immediate production, but it's only a matter of time before that changes. Noel is a dynasty target.
WR Savion Williams, Green Bay Packers
Zareh Kantazbedian: At TCU, Williams spent time playing out wide, where he showcased his speed and agility, while also seeing snaps as a running back, where he demonstrated his power and elusiveness. His versatility should afford him a considerable number of snaps this year.
Williams works well in space and earns yards after the catch. He has excellent timing when high-pointing jump passes downfield. With his size, he can box out defenders on the boundary and in the intermediate.
Williams totaled 322 rushing yards on 51 attempts in 2024. He is nimble, elusive, and challenging to bring down as a rusher. This year, he should see plenty of snaps out of Wildcat formations, a strategy involving direct snaps to the running back.
Williams' profile presents numerous paths to success. A Cordarrelle Patterson career arc should be Williams' floor, but the ceiling is high if he becomes a starting receiver for the Packers. His potential for growth and success makes Williams an immense value who is being selected in the fourth round of rookie drafts.
WR Pat Bryant, Denver Broncos
Andy Hicks: Second-year quarterback Bo Nix needs a receiver with whom he can grow with. Courtland Sutton turns 30 this year, but will be the top guy this season. After that, we have a trio of young guys: Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and Devaughn Vele. As the rookie, Pat Bryant will need to ascend the pecking order quickly or wait his turn. His college profile indicates a smart, instinctive receiver with above-average skills. He is a rare player who earned a start as a freshman at Illinois before becoming a fantastic receiver in his final year. Location is everything for a young receiver in the NFL, and Denver is perfect for Bryant. Either this year or next, his progress through the depth chart should be rapid.
