Chase, Jefferson, Smith-Njigba Lead Top 10 NFL WR Rankings by Coaches, Execs in New Poll

NFL executives, coaches and scouts voted Cincinnati Bengals superstar Ja'Marr Chase as the best wide receiver in the league entering the 2026 season.

The anonymous poll, which was conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, yielded the following top-10 ranking for the wideout position:

1. Ja'Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals)

2. Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings)

3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks)

4. Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams)

5. Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions)

6. CeeDee Lamb (Dallas Cowboys)

7. George Pickens (Dallas Cowboys)

8. Nico Collins (Houston Texans)

9. A.J. Brown (New England Patriots)

10. Davante Adams (Los Angeles Rams)

Chase's selection as the No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL doesn't come as a huge surprise since he topped the rankings last year as well.

He followed that up with the fifth straight Pro Bowl and second straight First Team All-Pro season of his career, registering 125 receptions for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns.

Just behind Chase in second place for a second consecutive year is his former collegiate teammate at LSU in Jefferson.

Jefferson is coming off a down year by his standards with 84 catches for 1,048 yards and two touchdowns, but much of that can be attributed to poor quarterback play by J.J. McCarthy and others.

The 27-year-old Jefferson's overall body of work speaks for itself, as he has started his career with six straight 1,000-yard seasons, and is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro.

Making his debut in the rankings after going unranked last year is Smith-Njigba, who enjoyed a breakout 2025 season with the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

After reaching the 100-catch and 1,000-yard mark for the first time in 2024, JSN took his game to the next level last season, setting career highs with 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns en route to being named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

Smith-Njigba's NFC West rival in Nacua also went unranked last year to a top-five spot this year, as he comes in at No. 4 on the list.

Unlike the three players behind him, who were all first-round picks, Nacua entered the league to little fanfare, as the Rams took him in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft.

He has greatly exceeded expectations, though, and last season marked his best campaign yet, finishing with 129 grabs for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, resulting in his first selection to the All-Pro First Team.

Rounding out the top five is a player who has become synonymous with consistency in St. Brown.

St. Brown has finished each of the past four seasons with at least 100 catches and 1,100 yards, and each of the past three seasons with double-digit touchdowns.

A First Team All-Pro in 2023 and 2024, St. Brown was chosen as a Second Team All-Pro last season after recording 117 receptions for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns.