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Late-round wide receivers rarely announce themselves before the fantasy football season starts, but NFL training camp has a way of tipping the hand. A rookie just won his team’s top camp honor. A four-year veteran is drawing praise from a head coach who once benched him. A trade acquisition has his own quarterback calling him a problem for opposing defenses. These seven names sit outside the top 35 wide receivers on most boards, and each one carries signals worth paying attention to before the final rounds of your draft. Jalen Coker has Carolina’s trust and a new contract Coker signed a three-year, $35 million extension in June, cementing his status as Carolina’s clear No. 2 receiver behind Tetairoa McMillan. Chris Brazzell’s torn LCL only reinforces that role heading into 2026. In six games last season, Coker actually out-targeted McMillan, posting a 20% target share to McMillan’s 18.3%. Speaking to reporters about the Panthers’ deep receiver room, Coker said, “We’re all big, strong guys, so I think it’s going to be, you know, just another great opportunity for us to showcase our abilities.” He’s never averaged more than 8.4 fantasy points per game in a season, but the price reflects that. Josh Downs enters season after best camp yet Indianapolis traded Michael Pittman to Pittsburgh, clearing target volume, and Downs has responded with what he calls the best training camp of his career. The team also signed veteran Keenan Allen, and Downs has been picking his brain. “Keenan’s very smart, a savvy vet, great player,” Downs said. “He did a lot of similar things with Shane (Steichen) when he was in San Diego.” A minor calf injury briefly interrupted camp but is not considered a concern for Week 1. In games with at least eight targets, Downs has averaged 14.2 fantasy points, and Indianapolis has stated intentions to use him across the formation this season. MORE: Dylan Sampson, Jonah Coleman among the best late-round RB sleepers Adonai Mitchell has his quarterback’s confidence Mitchell arrived in New York via trade last season and immediately impressed in a limited sample, averaging 7.2 targets per game down the stretch. Teammate Garrett Wilson has been effusive about him this camp, calling him “a ticking time bomb” (in a good way) and adding that “it just comes down to we got to go put in a good rest of this training camp.” Quarterback Geno Smith echoed that sentiment, saying he thinks Mitchell “is going to be a special player for a long time.” The Jets used first-round picks on a receiver and tight end this offseason, but rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq is out indefinitely with a hernia injury. Matthew Golden is a different player in Year 2 Golden posted an unremarkable rookie season considering he was a first-round receiver, but Green Bay’s departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks cleared targets. Head coach Matt LaFleur has praised his development, saying, “I think he has elite hands… I think it was a good ball especially because he changed the angle on Jordan.” Golden caught a 57-yard touchdown on Family Night and has been a fixture with the first-team offense throughout camp. “It’s definitely starting to slow down for me,” Golden said. “It’s starting to feel like I can go out there and just play and have fun.” Speaking of Doubs… MORE: Josh Jacobs’ exempt-list stint leaves Packers’ backfield without a real answer Romeo Doubs is trending up in New England Doubs left Green Bay for a Patriots offense that ranked ninth in neutral passing rate a season ago, and he’s now the clear No. 2 receiver behind A.J. Brown. After a slow start adjusting to a new offense, head coach Mike Vrabel has noticed progress. “New offense, new year, figuring out the player, getting to know him,” Vrabel said. “Really, a lot of positive things, I think, trending in the right direction.” Doubs described his own approach plainly: “I’m just going out there, playing fast, playing physical and just making sure I put the team in a better position.” MORE: Patriots reportedly used a video board trick to mess with opposing kickers for over a decade Jalen McMillan carries risk, reward into Week 1 McMillan has flashed talent when healthy, including eight touchdowns as a rookie and a 114-yard game last season, but durability remains the central question. A knee injury has lingered through much of camp, and head coach Todd Bowles offered a cautious update this week: “They’re headed in the right direction. I don’t know how fast. I’ll have a better gauge next week.” Mike Evans’ departure leaves volume available in Tampa Bay’s passing game if McMillan can stay on the field, but he’s missed 17 games over his first two NFL seasons combined. KC Concepcion is the rookie Cleveland can’t stop talking about Concepcion just won the Browns’ Maurice Bassett Award as the team’s top training camp rookie, voted on by the media that covers the team. Head coach Todd Monken has been direct about his plans for the first-round pick. “I mean, that dude is explosive. He’s tough, he’s got great contact balance,” Monken said. “We’ve got to find a number of ways to get him the ball with his explosiveness, his quickness, his contact balance.” Concepcion has also been building chemistry with quarterback Deshaun Watson throughout camp, telling reporters, “he expects me to get open.” MORE: Printable one-page fantasy football IDP rankings cheat sheets for DL, LB, DB & overall — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —