Predicting Wide receivers is hard enough just before the season, because their success can be so contingent on the players around them, especially the quarterback. Predicting WRs in February is even tougher because there is so much that can change between now and the start of the season. So as time progresses, this list will change. But here is draft 1.0.
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1. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals – I realize how elementary it looks to see someone choose fantasy’s WR1 for the 2024 season as the predicted WR1 for the 2025 season. I think Chase is not only very capable of the feet though, but is the most safe bet for a top 3 WR in fantasy. He not only is one of the most athletic and skilled WRs in the NFL, but has who I believe to be the best pure passer in the league slinging him the rock in QB Joe Burrow. Chase may not have 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 TDS in 2025, as he did in 2024, but I still think he will come out on top among WRs in fantasy.
2. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings – If there is a WR in the NFL that matches the athleticism and skill of Chase, it is Jefferson. While 2024 was a career high year in fantasy for Chase, that was not at all the case for Jefferson, who still finished as fantasy’s WR2. I list Jefferson as 2nd due to his potential QB. Whether it be Sam Darnold again or essentially-a-rookie J.J. McCarthy under center for the Viks, neither pale in comparison to Joe Burrow.
3. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys – Lamb is only 1 year removed from a dominant fantasy WR1 season of 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 TDs. As is with all WRs, the success of his season in 2025 will be contingent on the health of his QB, Dak Prescott. If Prescott can stay on the field for 17 games, Lamb very well could be a top 3 fantasy WR again, if not WR1.
4. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams – Nacua entered the 2023 season as a rookie with fellow all-pro WR Cooper Kupp out with an injury for the 1st four games. Nacua proceeded to have one of the greatest starts to a career in NFL history with 25 receptions for 266 yards in his 1st two games. He has now taken the clear role of WR1 for the Rams and gets the target volume he needs to be a top 5 fantasy WR in 2025.
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5. Nico Collins, Houston Texans – With Collins’ size, speed and strength, he can look seemingly uncoverable at times. He has had health issues in all 4 years as an NFL receiver, which makes me slightly nervous putting him as high as 5th, but when he is on the field he is dominant. In 2024 he missed 5 games but still had 68 receptions for 1,006 yards and 7 TDs. I’m going out on a limb and predicting he’ll stay healthy all season in 2025 and will finish with huge fantasy numbers.
6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions – This guy plays with a constant chip on his shoulder on arguably the most explosive offense in the NFL. Although the Lions are just loaded with weapons in both the run and passing game, St. Brown still gets enough targets and opportunities to be an extremely valuable commodity in fantasy. In 2024 St. Brown finished as fantasy’s WR3 with 115 receptions for 1,263 yards and 12 TDs. Aside from Chase, St. Brown is possibly the next safest bet for a top fantasy WR in 2025.
7. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders – I don’t think the addition of WR Deebo Samuel hurts McLaurin’s fantasy value in 2025. In fact, I think it does the opposite. If Samuel can find a resurgence in Washington, that will draw the possible double team away from McLaurin, leaving his play making ability still in tact. Washington started the 2024 season with a rookie QB, Jayden Daniels, who needed a couple games to get his feet wet in the NFL. Once Daniels got some games under his belt, he took off, and so did McLaurin, averaging just over 12 fantasy points per game from week 3 on. Only Ja’Marr Chase averaged over 13 fantasy points per game in 2024.
8. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons – London finally got a chance to play with a starting NFL caliber QB in 2024, in Kirk Cousins. With that he set career marks across the board with 100 receptions for 1,271 yards and 9 TDs. In 2025, London will be catching passes from 2nd year to-be QB Michael Pinex Jr., who took over for Cousins in the later part of the 2024 season after Cousins suffered a shoulder injury. Pinex looked NFL ready and should be able to develop some chemistry with his star receiver this off season, keeping London’s fantasy value strong, possibly even top 5 among WRs in fantasy strong.
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9. Malik Nabers, New York Giants – It will be interesting to see what the Giants do to address their QB situation. Will they draft a young QB or will they try to bring in a more seasoned veteran? As a rookie in 2024, Nabers played with a combination of Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock under center, none of which are of starting caliber QBs in the NFL. Yet Nabers still had 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and 7 TDs. If the G-Men are able to acquire the likes of a Kirk Cousins, Nabers could jump to a top 5 fantasy WR.
10. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars – Yet another young LSU receiver on the list (see: Ja’marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Malik Nabers). Thomas was also a rookie last season, who lost his starting QB, Trevor Lawrence, to injury in week 10. As a whole, Lawrence did not play that well before he was injured. The Jags turned to back-up QB Mack Jones in Lawrence’s absence, which isn’t any better then what Nabers was dealing with in NY, yet Thomas still managed to turn 87 receptions into 1,282 yards and 10 TDs. It’s really hard to tell what we’ll get from Lawrence in 2025, but if he can be any bit of that transcendent QB he was suppose to be coming out of Clemson, Thomas could finish much higher than 10th at the end of the season.
11. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles – Big strong #1 option in Philly
12. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins – 2024 was a down year in Miami. Has Hill lost a step?
13. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals – Best #2 option in the league with best pure passer at QB.
14. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Has never had less than 1K yards receiving in a year, but is also entering his 11th season.
15. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks – Has seemingly taken over as #1 option in Seattle
16. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos – Underrated talent, looks like he has developed chemistry with his 2nd year to-be QB Bo Nix.
17. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers – Chargers may bring in help in the WR room, taking targets away from him.
18. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets – Wilson may go up the ladder in my predictions depending on who the Jets acquire as a quarterback.
19. Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans – I think Diggs still has it. Will the Texans lose him to free agency?
20. (R) Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona – Will probably be the 1st WR off the board in the NFL draft in April. His fantasy stock may rise depending on which team he’s drafted to.
Thanks for checking out my predicted top 20 WRs list for 2025. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you think I was way off with one of these receivers? Did I leave someone off the list? Let me know what you think. I will be periodically updating this list as things change in the off season, especially once free agency hits and after draft. So until next time….peace.
Great breakdown, Mike! Predictions are tough this early on, especially with so many QB situations still up in the air. Good shout on Malik Nabers — if the Giants can get a solid QB, he seems like a prime candidate to shoot up the rankings. Do you think the same could be said for Garrett Wilson if the Jets land a strong quarterback? It’ll be interesting to see how your predictions play out.
Hey Robert!
Thanks for checking out my article and taking a moment to leave some thoughts!
Both NY teams will be looking for quarterbacks to bring in for the 2025 season. Nabers is super talented, so if the Giants can bring in the right QB, his fantasy value could go way up. The same can be said with Wilson of the Jets, who just released WR Davante Adams. Wilson’s fantasy value could really improve with a high quality QB coming in, and the absence of Adams. It certainly will be interesting to see how it all shapes out.
This was an awesome read! I love how you break down the predictions with solid reasoning—it really gets me thinking about draft strategy for next season. The pick for [insert top WR mentioned] as a breakout star makes a ton of sense, and I’m curious to see if [another mentioned WR] lives up to the hype. Also, the analysis on potential sleepers was spot on—those late-round gems can make or break a season! Do you think any rookies could shake things up and surprise everyone in 2025? Looking forward to more of your insights!
Hey Bob!
Thanks for checking out this article and for your kind words! I really appreciate it!
I feel like rookie WRs are really hard to predict until after the NFL draft, so you can kind of look into his situation with the team he is on, ie quarterback, WR on the other side, etc. I do think Tetairoa McMillan should do pretty well regardless of where he is drafted, though.
This was a great breakdown of the top wide receiver predictions for 2025! It’s always exciting to see how young talent develops and which veterans continue to dominate. I think some of the rising stars could really shake up the rankings, especially if they land in the right offensive schemes. Do you think we’ll see a shift towards younger WRs leading fantasy points, or will established names still hold strong? Also, injuries always play a huge role—any sleepers you think could step up if a top WR goes down? Can’t wait to see how the season unfolds!
Hi Laura!
Thanks for checking out my article on my WR predictions for 2025! I appreciate you taking a moment to leave your thoughts!
I do think we will see some shift in young receivers breaking out in fantasy. Guys like Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are very talented! 2024 was a very strong year for rookie WRs. I also see guys, who are now becoming veterans, still dominating like Ja’Marr Chase. The thing about WRs is that their QB has so much to do with their success.
I’m not sure if he’s considered a sleeper, but a WR who I left off of the list is Marvin Harrison Jr., who was a rookie last year. I know that he is extremely talented, but he just didn’t live up to expectations last season. I could see him really break out in 2025.