By Winsto (08/20/2025)
When trying to decide which wide receivers to go with, you want to consider a few things: ability, potential targets, talent of the quarterback, and potency of the offense. In terms of ability, some players pass the eye test and some do not. In terms of potential targets, ask yourself who else is on the offense that will receive targets, and how do you think those targets will be distributed. Regarding the quarterback play, it is always a plus for a wide receiver to play with an upper level quarterback. And finally, how productive do you think the offense is going to be?
What also complicates matters is whether you play in a non-PPR league, a PPR league, or a 1/2 PPR league. As stated in previous articles, I, personally, am not a fan of PPRs. The following tiers are a sort of compromise of the three options.
In addition, touchdowns can be fluky, but they do matter. Some players tend to have higher touchdown ceilings than others. Yes, you do want to pursue targets and yardage, but do not simply ignore touchdowns because many consider them to be fluky. They are not completely random.
Tier 1-”the Ja’Marr” Tier
- Ja’Marr Chase, CIN
Chase is in the ideal situation. He is an elite talent. He has an elite QB. His offense is going to have to put up ridiculous points to keep up with their opponents—Cincinnati’s defense is very worrisome. He belongs in his own tier.
Tier 2-”the give me the ball” Tier
- Justin Jefferson, MIN
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET
- Nico Collins, HOU
- Malik Nabers, NYG
Jefferson is elite and will command targets during Jordan Addison’s suspension. As long as he gets adequate QB play, he will thrive. St. Brown has had 1,200 or more receiving yards and double-digit TDs two years in a row. Collins and Nabers should see many, many targets.
Tier 3-”should finish as a WR1” Tier
- CeeDee Lamb, DAL
- Drake London, ATL
- Puka Nacua, LAR
- Brian Thomas Jr., JAX
- A.J. Brown, PHI
- Davante Adams, LAR
- Tee Higgins, CIN
I have slight concerns with Lamb, Nacua, Thomas, and Adams, as all four are going to cede more targets this year than years past. This is why they are not in Tier 2. London has a chance to really emerge this year. Brown and Higgins continue to thrive in their offenses, though both have missed multiple games the last several years.
Tier 4-”the last top tier” Tier
- Tyreek Hill, MIA
- Ladd McConkey, LAC
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA
- Mike Evans, TB
- Terry McLaurin, WAS
- Garrett Wilson, NYJ
I have these receivers slightly below Tier 3, but are still solid bets to finish with 1,000 yards receiving or more and at least 6-7 TDs. Hill is the biggest risk/reward pick here. Evans should continue to be a TD monster. McLaurin does come with risk due to his contract situation. Wilson is a good player, but I do worry his QB play will limit his ceiling. I see a substantial drop off after this group, with the remaining tiers having more risk.
Tier 5-”the borderline WR2/WR3 zone” Tier
- Courtland Sutton, DEN
- Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI
- Jameson Williams, DET
- DeVonta Smith, PHI
- D.J. Moore, CHI
- D.K. Metcalf, PIT
These guys are simply a notch below the previous tier. Will Harrison Jr. take the next step? Will Moore get better QB play? Can Metcalf produce with Lamb being the alpha wide receiver?
Tier 6-”the risk/reward zone” Tier
- Tetairoa McMillan, CAR
- Jerry Jeudy, CLE
- Xavier Worthy, KC
- Travis Hunter, JAX
- Rashee Rice, KC
- Jordan Addison, MIN
McMillan is set up to succeed as long as Bryce Young continues to improve. Jeudy has flashed several times in the past. Can he build on the 2nd half of last season? Worthy and Rice are tricky, as they have not really co-existed, yet. In addition, Rice and Addison are going to miss some time due to suspensions, but I “think” they are both borderline WR2s when they play.
Tier 7-”the interesting zone” Tier
- Jaylen Waddle, MIA
- Zay Flowers, BAL
- Jakobi Meyers, LV
- Calvin Ridley, TEN
- Ricky Pearsall, SF
- Matthew Golden, GB
- Chris Olave, NO
- Khalil Shakir, BUF
- Emeka Egbuka, TB
- Jauan Jennings, SF
Of this group, Pearsall, Golden, and Egbuka are riskier, but they have higher ceilings than the rest. Waddle, Flowers, and Meyers are solid, but I believe their ceiling is limited. Olave has much uncertainty with his QB, so I am a bit low on him.
Tier 8-”the probably a WR4/WR5 zone, but maybe more?” Tier
- Rome Odunze, CHI
- George Pickens, DAL
- Cooper Kupp, SEA
- Deebo Samuel, WAS
- Darnell Mooney, ATL
- Cedric Tillman, CLE
- Stefon Diggs, NE
- Jayden Higgins, HOU
- Luther Burden III, CHI
- Kyle Williams, NE
- Isaac TeSlaa, DET
- Elic Ayomanor, TEN
- Chris Godwin, TB
- Rashid Shaheed, NO
- Adam Thielen, CAR
- Keenan Allen, LAC
- Keon Coleman, BUF
- Jayden Reed, GB
- Hollywood Brown, KC
- Xavier Legette, CAR
- Darius Slayton, NYG
- Josh Downs, IND
- Michael Pittman Jr., IND
- Christian Kirk, HOU
- Brandon Aiyuk, SF
There a couple of players here that intrigue me. Tillman had a short stretch of production last season before injury. Luther Burden III is talented, but in crowded WR room. The same goes for TeSlaa. Ayomanor is making some noise in Titan camp. Aiyuk could be helpful down the stretch if you can tolerate him taking a roster spot for the first half of the season while returning from injury.
Tier 9-”the, wow, you are still drafting—must be a deep league” Tier
- Quentin Johnston, LAC
- Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG
- Tre Harris, LAC
- Marvin Mims Jr., DEN
- Rashod Bateman, BAL
- DeMario Douglas, NE
- Romeo Doubs, GB
- Michael Wilson, ARI
- Joshua Palmer, BUF
- Tutu Atwell, LAR
- Tyler Lockett, TEN
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, MIA
- Josh Reynolds, NYJ
- Ray-Ray McCloud III, ATL
- Brandin Cooks, NO