Branch paces rookie receivers with 77.4 offensive grade

Williams second at 74.0 in 2026 class

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Highest offensive grade among rookie WR this season Zachariah Branch 77.4 Antonio Williams 74.0 Denzel Boston Via @PFF on X

What happened: Zachariah Branch, the No. 79 pick in 2026, sits first among rookie wide receivers at 77.4. Antonio Williams follows at 74.0, with Denzel Boston at 73.7 and Josh Cameron at 71.1. Carnell Tate rounds out the top five at 68.1.

Why it matters: The order inverts draft capital, with third-rounder Branch ahead of fourth overall pick Tate. Williams, Boston and Cameron cluster within 2.9 points behind Branch. That early gap frames the race for first-year production during the 2026 regular season.

By the numbers: PFF rookie WR offensive grades: Branch 77.4, Williams 74.0, Boston 73.7, Cameron 71.1, Tate 68.1. Gap from first to fifth: 9.3 points.

What to watch: Coming weeks test whether Williams or Boston trim Branch's 3.4-point cushion.

Sources

@PFF 2026-10-20T18:45:25.798073+00:00

CONVERSATION

Loading comments…

NFLAnalysisZachariah BranchAntonio Williams

Follow NFL Intelligence

Real-time signals and analysis

@WireReportNFL

WR Pro

The day's sports, briefed to your inbox at 7am ET. Every claim sourced.

$9/month Free weekly newsletter →