Quality receivers headline 2026 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Week 13

As the end of the college football regular season draws near, the time for breakout performances and statement games has passed. There's only so much room to improve one's stock, and with so many conference games already in the bank, most teams aren't staring down the top opponent on their schedule.

Yet, the opportunity for certain players to fumble their pre-draft momentum remains. This is especially true at receiver, where it seems like every season offers a new injection of two-dozen (if not more) draftable talents vying for capital and a shot to make an impact. These races are close, at least from the outside, and a poor end to the season could have a real monetary impact.

Let's take a look at the receivers (and a quarterback) worth watching in Week 13.

Ian Strong, WR, Rutgers (at Ohio State)

Strong has kept himself in the top-100 conversation with a strong (no pun intended) season on a middling Rutgers Scarlet Knights team. He's slipped since pacing the Big Ten for yardage early in the year, and quality performances against conference competition have added credibility to his draft stock.

However, against the best team on Rutgers' schedule, Oregon, Strong posted just one catch for six yards. He left that game early with an injury, failing to make an impact in the first half and not receiving the opportunity to prove himself in a pass-heavy game script.

Those chances should present themselves on Saturday. Ohio State is a 32.5-point favorite and boasts NFL talent at every level of the defense. Don't expect Strong to carry the Scarlet Knights to victory, but if he can win enough matchups against Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Matthew Jr., he'll rightfully have a little more hype.

Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma (vs. Missouri)

Burks is also flirting with Day 3 capital, and he's been a victim of quarterback John Mateer's injury, hindering his aggressiveness downfield.

Against SEC competition, Burks has largely struggled, posting 50 yards just once (against Texas) since his 100-yard day against Michigan. Clearly, the juice is there to make big plays against bigger teams. Consistency has been more elusive, and a Missouri defense with a stacked defensive line will task Mateer with getting the ball out quickly.

Burks' sub-4.40 speed bodes well for that assignment. Whether he's getting manufactured touches or making splash plays downfield, Burks looks like an X-factor for a contest that could insulate Oklahoma's playoff aspirations.

Makai Lemon, WR, USC (at Oregon)

Lemon has done everything necessary to lock himself into Round 1. He's productive, athletic, and embodies an archetype of receiver that the NFL is learning to love. 

Checking the box down the stretch means playing well against some of the best teams in the country. Oregon, now an established championship contender, presents as such. It'll be a big day for quarterback Jayden Maiava and the entire offense, and with slimmer margins comes added responsibility for an offense's most trustworthy receiver.

MORE: Jayden Maiava 2026 NFL Draft scouting report studies college football's most productive passer

Lemon is quarterback-friendly, without sacrificing upside. He is USC's best chance at making a game-changing play, and the opportunity to add heartbreaker to his resume could put him over Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson for the right team.

Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas (at Texas)

It's been an up-and-down year for Green, who is having both the most efficient year of his career (personal-best marks in yards per attempt, completion percentage, touchdown percentage, and yards per game) and a weekly battle with inconsistencies.

I still think there's an adequate backup in Green's profile. He is physically talented enough to compete in the SEC, winning with arm strength and athleticism. He's a rushing threat who has nearly 1,200 career pass attempts to his name. Even so, Green is not a lock to get drafted, and suboptimal outings against LSU, Mississippi State, and Auburn are leaving a sour taste in evaluators' mouths.

He doesn't have to upset a good Texas team this weekend to recoup his losses. But playing well against a talented defense and giving the Razorbacks a chance to end their skid would go a long way in shaping the narrative of his senior season.

More NFL Draft news

• Texans rebuild offensive line, Bills finish Super Bowl defense in TNF three-round mock draft
• What Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders can (and can't) do in his first NFL start
• Arizona State star Jordyn Tyson injury concern could threaten NFL Draft stock
• Darrell Jackson Jr. 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: FSU's top prospect vying for top 100