Few players saw their fantasy stock climb like Michael Wilson did in the second half of 2025, and now the job is making sense of the explosion. There’s a lot moving in this profile, so treat the diligence seriously before spending a top-100 pick on him.
Should You Draft Michael Wilson in Fantasy Football?
The breakout wasn’t built from nothing. Wilson is a 13.0-yard-per-catch receiver for his career, and he’s scored on 8.6% of his receptions. Last season amplified the talent and playmaking already in the profile, not the first sign of it.
He went in the third round back in 2023 for a reason, even without a heavy workload during his time at Stanford. This is a good player who put up great numbers for a stretch last season, making him a tough handicap in 2026 and one that comes with a wide range of opinions.
The run of elite production that built his ADP is real. Wilson posted three top-10 weekly finishes in a four-game span, including a pair of weeks in which he led the entire position in scoring, upside that isn’t common.
START PREPARING: PFN’s FREE Fantasy Mock Draft Simulator
The offensive environment gives that stretch some staying power. Arizona led the league in pass rate last season at 69.4%, and it wasn’t particularly close. Cincinnati ranked second at 65.1%, while the league average was 59.2%. Even if you think there is some regression, volume figures are working in favor of everyone attached to this offense.
The quarterback situation is the risk that has to be part of this conversation. Jacoby Brissett wasn’t thrilled with how the franchise viewed him this summer, and Carson Beck is a real bet to see the field at some point this season.
Arizona goes on bye in Week 14, and if this looks like a lost season by then, there’s a path to the rookie getting run for a stretch that sets up favorably against the Jets, Saints, and Raiders. That risk needs real consideration here, because it was Brissett who slowed Wilson down the stretch last season. Losing him would change the target projections and the production patterns at the worst possible time.
Preseason Fantasy WR Rankings
- Ja’Marr Chase | CIN
- Puka Nacua | LAR
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA
- Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET
- Drake London | ATL
- Justin Jefferson | MIN
- CeeDee Lamb | DAL
- Nico Collins | HOU
- A.J. Brown | NE
- Malik Nabers | NYG
- George Pickens | DAL
- Chris Olave | NO
- Rashee Rice | KC
- Zay Flowers | BAL
- Jaylen Waddle | DEN
- Tee Higgins | CIN
- DeVonta Smith | PHI
- Ladd McConkey | LAC
- Terry McLaurin | WAS
- Emeka Egbuka | TB
- Tetairoa McMillan | CAR
- Garrett Wilson | NYJ
- Jameson Williams | DET
- Christian Watson | GB
- Luther Burden III | CHI
- Rome Odunze | CHI
- Parker Washington | JAX
- Carnell Tate | TEN
- DJ Moore | BUF
- Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI
- Davante Adams | LAR
- Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX
- Quentin Johnston | LAC
- Mike Evans | SF
- Stefon Diggs | WAS
- Michael Wilson | ARI
- DK Metcalf | PIT
- Jakobi Meyers | JAX
- Josh Downs | IND
- Michael Pittman Jr. | PIT
- Jayden Reed | GB
- Courtland Sutton | DEN
- Wan’Dale Robinson | TEN
- Chris Godwin Jr. | TB
- Alec Pierce | IND
- Makai Lemon | PHI
- Jordan Addison | MIN
- De’Zhaun Stribling | SF
- Khalil Shakir | BUF
- Romeo Doubs | NE
