Final FronTiers–Wide Receiver (2025 Draft Prep)

By Winsto (08/20/2025)/(updated 08/27/2025)

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. 

 

NOTE:  Players moving up tiers are in Green while players moving down tiers are in Red.  New comments are in Blue.

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 

 

I am keeping Rice here, despite the 6 game suspension.  Yes, he will miss time, but he should be a top 20 WR at the very least for the remaining 11 games.

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 

 

  • Ricky Pearsall, SF 
  • Matthew Golden, GB
  • Emeka Egbuka, TB
  • 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 
  • Isaac TeSlaa, Det

 

I bumped up Pearsall, Golden, and Egbuka to the top of this tier.  I think the ceiling is higher with them than the rest of players listed, thus worth the gamble. TeSlaa just looks good. Detroit’s staff believes it, too, as they traded Tim Patrick away.  To me, that is telling.  Admittedly, it is difficult to put a teams WR3 in this tier, but talent tends to create opportunities.  And, it is a long season.

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 
  • Chris Godwin, TB
  • 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, MIN
  • Keenan Allen, LAC
  • Hollywood Brown, KC
  • Keon Coleman, BUF
  • Jayden Reed, GB 
  • Hollywood Brown, KC
  • Dont’e Thornton Jr., LV
  • Amari Cooper, LV
  • Xavier Legette, CAR
  • Darius Slayton, NYG
  • Josh Downs, IND
  • Michael Pittman Jr., IND
  • Christian Kirk, HOU
  • Brandon Aiyuk, SF
  • Marvin Mims Jr., DEN
  • Tory Horton, SEA

 

Godwin passing his physical and avoiding the injury list to start the season is promising news. Rice’s suspension bumps Brown up a bit.  Thielen’s trade does not really move the needle for me.  Thornton Jr. is intriguing.  The Amari Cooper signing is not going to change my mind about that.  That said, maybe Cooper has something left in the tank? Horton may have opportunities if Kupp doesn’t stay healthy.  Mims Jr. has won the WR2 on his team, so could he have a year 3 spike in production?

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