6 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Bust Candidates for 2026

Let's go over some fantasy football wide receiver draft bust candidates in today's bust/steal article.

Here is the article on wide receiver draft steal options. Also check out the stories for quarterbacks (steals and busts) and running backs (steals and busts). Check back in the coming days for the tight end steal/bust stories.

Fantasy football average draft position data can be found on FantasySP in the leadup to the 2026 NFL season! Conduct your fantasy football mock drafts through FantasySP too - you can now customize the scoring settings to tailor to your fantasy leagues!

Justin Jefferson - Minnesota Vikings

Let's start big and label Jefferson as a possible draft bust. He's the sixth fantasy wide receiver off draft boards, going at pick 12 on average so far.

Jefferson struggled a season ago, with the Vikings' quarterback play really dragging him down. Kyler Murray should help Jefferson bounce back, but I do not like Jefferson's ADP and think he'll go down as a bust again from that spot.

Getting him closer, or after, pick 20 feels like a much better spot to land Jefferson near. Know the risk you are taking if you grab Jefferson early in the second round, or even late in the first round.

Nico Collins - Houston Texans

Collins is the No. 9 fantasy wideout, going near pick 24 so far. He was the No. 8 fantasy receiver last season, but I still am labeling him as a draft bust candidate for 2026.

Why? Collins has dealt with injuries throughout his career, and as he ages, I don't see that getting any better. He has topped out at 15 games, and has been at 12 or less games on two occasions.

He's a great fantasy asset when healthy, but it's a risk to grab Collins that early given his injury history. Getting him closer to pick 30 sets up a chance for him to outperform his ADP, and be a draft value, not just breaking even.

George Pickens - Dallas Cowboys

Pickens is WR10 right now, going at pick 25 on average. He was WR5 in fantasy last season, but I see him regressing.

I also debated putting CeeDee Lamb on this list, but I think he bounces back, and importantly, stays healthier. That will limit Pickens a bit. 

I just don't see Pickens replicating his great 2025 season in 2026. Getting him a round, or more, later sets up room for him to exceed expectations, but I see his ADP as his fantasy ceiling in 2026, which means he's not a very good draft value.

Rashee Rice - Kansas City Chiefs

Rice is going near pick 28 on average. He is WR12 off draft boards.

Rice was solid across his eight games played in 2025. He has played just 12 games over the past two years, and has some off-the-field issues too. 

Rice is a high-upside fantasy wideout with Patrick Mahomes throwing to him, but he's a risk due to his injury history and legal troubles. I just don't love gambling on a player that early in a fantasy draft, so I'd let someone else take the risk, unless he falls a round or two.

Luther Burden - Chicago Bears

Burden is WR20 and going near pick 44 so far. He was barely a top-50 fantasy wideout last year.

Now, Burden did show some nice things in his rookie season, and his situation improved after the offseason moves the team made, so some improvement is expected. I just think he's going too early in drafts, even if he's capable of more than that.

Unless he slides past pick 50, I would be skipping Burden this season in fantasy drafts. I just don't think the ADP is a smart draft choice or value, and I'd let someone else take the gamble that early in a draft.

Jaylen Waddle - Denver Broncos

The last wide receiver I want to mention today is Waddle, who is WR22 so far. He is also going inside the top-50 picks, at pick 48 on average so far.

Waddle is coming off a pretty good season, mostly serving as the Dolphins' No. 1 wideout after Tyreek Hill was injured early on. Waddle has been a solid No. 2 wideout over his career, and the same could happen for his new team with Courtland Sutton around.

Honestly, I don't know why Waddle is going so early in fantasy drafts, or before Sutton, for that matter. I see Sutton as the better top option, and he already has chemistry with Bo Nix - that's something Waddle will have to develop yet. Maybe the two wideouts split the top role depending on the game, but that probably means Waddle is going too early in drafts. I think he's more set up to be a draft bust than to overachieve, so again, he's not a great draft value.