Davante Adams cracks ESPN’s top-10 WR list for 2026 despite low yardage

Davante Adams cracks ESPN’s top-10 WR list for 2026

Davante Adams landed at No. 10 on ESPN’s 2026 wide receiver rankings released on Wednesday, sneaking into the top tier even after posting his lowest receiving total since 2015.

How Adams made the cut

ESPN’s annual list is built from votes by scouts, coaches and executives across the NFL. Adams earned at least one sixth-place vote and survived the cut despite finishing 2025 with 789 receiving yards: his lowest output in a decade. But the veteran still delivered 14 touchdowns for Matthew Stafford, who claimed MVP that season.

One NFC executive pointed to Adams’ enduring instincts and refined route-running as the reason he remains effective in his 30s. “His instincts and route running are still there even as his athletic traits have declined,” the exec said. “He just knows how to get open.”

The Rams’ dynamic duo

The Los Angeles Rams placed two receivers on the list, with Puka Nacua finishing fourth behind Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Nacua’s all-around game drew praise from an NFL coordinator who called him a “complete receiver” with elite hands, blocking chops and after-catch burst.

Stafford and Adams connected easily on go routes and back-shoulder throws, a chemistry that fueled Stafford’s MVP run. Adams’ veteran savvy masked the drop in yardage, turning limited targets into high-percentage scores.

What’s next for the Rams and Adams

The Rams enter 2026 as Super Bowl favorites after adding Myles Garrett via trade in June and nearing Aaron Donald’s return. Adams, now 33, will chase another deep playoff run while Nacua eyes a monster contract year.

ESPN’s list underscores the Rams’ offensive firepower, with two receivers in the top 10 and a roster stacked at nearly every position. If Stafford stays healthy and Adams keeps producing, Los Angeles could be back in the Super Bowl conversation.