At one point in time, the AFC West wide receivers were some of the best in the NFL. Now, while there aren’t many top-tier, elite receivers, there are plenty of solid players out wide. Even then, the division only used three draft picks on the position, with the Broncos opting to abstain. In this division, there are a few franchise quarterbacks who make their wide receivers look good.
Continuing our series here at Last Word, we hone in on the AFC West receivers leading the way heading into 2026.
Ranking the Top AFC West Wide Receivers for 2026
5. Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Finally, Quentin Johnston is begging to live up to the expectations set upon him as a first-round pick. As a rookie, he was about as disappointing as any. He took a step in 2024 with 55 receptions on 91 targets for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts). He continued that in 2025 with 735 yards and eight touchdowns on 51 receptions (84 targets).
Last year, he amassed 52.5 yards per game, and his drop rate actually increased to 8.2%. He put up his best career year in terms of yards per target. You’d like to see more than 3.6 receptions per game, but that’s the nature of the beast that is the Chargers’ offense.
Johnston is a bit of a distant fifth in terms of the best AFC West wide receivers, but fifth nonetheless.
4. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
And in a distant fourth is the embattled Rashee Rice. If given the opportunity, Rice could lead the Chiefs’ receiving corps with ease. However, he continues to get in his own way. While his four games in 2024 were due to injury, he missed the first six games of last year due to a suspension that probably should have been longer.
Either way, as a receiver, he’s great. As a rookie, he took the league by storm with 938 yards and seven touchdowns on 79 receptions (102 targets). In four games in 2024, he put up 388 yards and two scores. Then, last year, in just eight games, he totaled 571 yards and five touchdowns on 53 receptions.
Over the last two seasons, he averaged 71.6 yards per game. If he can just knock off the brain-dead off-the-field issues, he can be a legit receiver.
3. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers need a reliable weapon for Justin Herbert, so along came Ladd McConkey out of Georgia. From the jump, he’s been a great go-to receiver and is expected to be one of the best AFC West receivers this year.
As a rookie, McConkey also broke into the league in a big way. In 16 games (14 starts), he amassed 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns on 82 receptions. In his first year in the league, he put up a top-10 season.
Last year, he did take a step back, but so did the Chargers altogether. In 16 games (12 starts), McConkey added 789 yards and six touchdowns on 66 receptions.
He’s a draft crush for all kinds of fantasy managers due to the fact that he has a low dopped-ball rate and has 218 targets to his name already. If the Chargers’ offense can take a step forward from last year’s 18th-ranked passing offense, McConkey will lead the way. With Mike McDaniel taking the reins as offensive coordinator, it’s possible.
2. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Now it’s time to split some hairs. The top two AFC West wide receivers both play at Mile High, but how you rank them is up to your own personal taste. For the sake of this list, Courtland Sutton comes in second.
Sutton has been a reliable stalwart for the Broncos’ offense since 2018. Outside of the 2020 season in which he only appeared in one game, Sutton has appeared in at least 15 gams each year. He had a solid rookie season, but really broke out in 2019 with 1,112 yards and six touchdowns, resulting in his first Pro Bowl nod.
Since then, he was a solid receiver in 2021, 2022, and 2023, but he kicked it into another gear in 2024. Over the past two seasons, Sutton has amassed 2,098 yards and 15 touchdowns, one of only 14 receivers with over 2,000.
He’s been incredibly consistent. Over the past five seasons, he’s averaged over 13 yards per reception each year.
It’s going to be interesting to see how he and his new partner work together.
1. Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
That partner is none other than Jaylen Waddle. The Broncos knew they needed to add juice to the offense after falling short in the AFC Championship last year, so they threw first, third, and fourth-round picks at the Dolphins to bring in the former sixth-overall pick. With an upgrade at quarterback, the sky may be the limit for Waddle.
Despite subpar quarterback play in Miami, Waddle was a star. In each of his first three seasons, he amassed over 1,000 yards and 18 total receiving touchdowns. He even led the NFL with 18.1 yards per reception in 2022.
He took a step back in 2024 (58 receptions, 744 yards, two touchdowns), but returned to form last year. In 16 starts, Waddle led the Dolphins in receiving with 910 yards (400+ better than the next player and nearly 600 better than the next wide receiver) and six touchdowns.
Now, he gets to play for a seemingly competent offense, and he will have Sutton opposite him. He’s a big-play threat from anywhere on the field. With another season of at least 100 targets, he should get back to 1,000 yards.
Also, did you know he’s never earned a Pro Bowl nod?
Main Image: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
