WR3s with WR1 Potential (2026 Fantasy Football)

The best way to build a championship team in fantasy football is to prioritize upside.

In this article, we’re going to help you in that regard, highlighting three wide receivers drafted as WR3s (WR25 or later) who have a chance to finish as WR1s (WR12 or better). We’ll use FantasyPros Expert Consensus to choose these WR3s.

With that in mind, find out why Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Rome Odunze are WR3s who have WR1 upside.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
Dynasty Rookie Rankings: Expert Consensus
Fantasy Football Trade Tools
DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE

WR3s with WR1 Upside | Fantasy Football

Each of these wide receivers is young with a path to heavy targets in 2026.

Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB)

FantasyPros ECR: WR25

Emeka Egbuka had a weird rookie season. Usually, rookie wideouts save their best production for the second half of the season, once they’re acclimated to the NFL. But the opposite happened with Egbuka. By the end of the year, he was the WR4, losing snaps to Jalen McMillan.

However, we have to note that the former Ohio State standout dealt with a hamstring injury in Week 6. It clearly affected his play, as this was right around the time that his decline began.

It’s best to take Egbuka’s rookie season as a whole rather than his second-half decline: 63 receptions for 938 yards and six touchdowns. If I told you that he did that in his first year without mentioning the distribution of the production, would you have been disappointed with that? It’s nothing ground-breaking, but it’s still solid production.

With Mike Evans now a 49er, the path is clear for Egbuka to emerge as the Bucs’ clear-cut WR1 in his second season, especially with Chris Godwin showing signs of decline. He definitely has the talent and situation for a top-12 finish in fantasy football.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI)

FantasyPros ECR: WR29

Marvin Harrison Jr. has been a disappointment in his NFL career as he enters his third season, especially since he was considered a can’t-miss prospect. But there are reasons for optimism in 2026.

For one, Kyler Murray is now a Viking. It’s clear that Harrison and Murray didn’t have chemistry on the field. More importantly, Drew Petzing is no longer calling plays. Perhaps a more innovative playcaller like new head coach Mike LaFleur, who comes from the Sean McVay tree, can figure out how to use Harrison more effectively.

Yes, Michael Wilson emerged last year, but a large chunk of that production came when Harrison was sidelined. When Harrison returned to action, Wilson was relegated to third in line for targets. I’m taking the position that Harrison leads the wideouts in targets this season.

At WR29, I love the value on this talented wideout. Don’t let two seasons of disappointing production move you off a talented player. Stay patient.

Rome Odunze (WR – CHI)

FantasyPros ECR: WR30

Rome Odunze is a bit similar to Egbuka in that he got off to a strong start but then fizzled down the stretch. The explanation for that is an injury. Odunze dealt with a lingering foot issue that suppressed his production in the second half of the season.

While I think that Luther Burden III is the better player, I have to acknowledge that Odunze has a high upside at a cheap cost, making him worth a look in drafts.

Would it be crazy to think that Odunze leads the team in targets in 2026? It’s unlikely, but I don’t think it’s a shocking outcome.

Odunze is another high-upside WR3 worth targeting as the team heads into Year 2 of the Ben Johnson era.