The 2026 NFL Draft has sent shockwaves through the Dynasty Fantasy Football landscape, and two wide receivers have emerged as clear winners in the post-draft rankings. While it may seem counterintuitive to call a receiver a "winner" after his team drafts a first-round pass-catcher, context is everything. Let's break down why DeVonta Smith and Rashee Rice are climbing the ranks.

When the Philadelphia Eagles selected Makai Lemon in the first round, the immediate assumption was that A.J. Brown's departure is imminent—likely via a post-June 1 trade. If Brown is shipped out, DeVonta Smith stands to benefit enormously. Over the last three seasons, Smith has seen 29 targets in just three games without Brown, averaging a stellar 16.6 PPR Fantasy points per game. He's also thrived when Dallas Goedert has been sidelined. While Lemon will eventually carve out his role, Smith is firmly in his prime and poised to claim a true WR1 role. He currently sits at WR21 in our updated rankings, but the tier is tight—you could easily slot him as high as WR17.

On the other side of the ball, Rashee Rice is an even clearer winner. There was buzz that the Kansas City Chiefs might target Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson as high as ninth overall. Instead, they waited until pick 176 to draft Cyrus Allen, and they largely ignored the wide receiver position in free agency. That leaves Rice entrenched in one of the most productive roles in football. Over his last 17 healthy regular-season games, he's posted 120 catches, 1,377 yards, and 10 touchdowns. At just 26 years old, Rice has climbed to WR9 in our rankings, with a case to be made for as high as WR6. The caveat? He doesn't have a long-term contract, and off-field concerns linger. If you're risk-averse, this may be the peak of his trade value. But for contenders, only five wide receivers project to outscore him this season.