Your fantasy draft is probably coming up soon. Everyone has a different strategy on draft day, but a team with dominant wide receivers almost always goes far. You want one of the elite ones if you can get them, and these fantasy football receivers should rack up points for you this year.
The Super Elite
These players will likely be gone in the top 5-7 picks of the draft. If you get a chance to take one of them, you probably should.
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase did something incredible in 2024. He led the NFL in catches, yards, touchdowns, and targets. The only player to have more fantasy points than Chase in 2024 was Lamar Jackson, and there’s no reason to think he’ll start slowing down now. Chase is armed with a new contract and still has Joe Burrow throwing the ball to him – a good recipe for some huge numbers.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson is almost Chase’s equal. He has an explosive play potential at any moment and will routinely put up huge numbers. Tee Higgins is a better second option than Jordan Addison is in Minnesota, meaning Jefferson will see more tough matchups. Plus, there is a lot of uncertainty around how good JJ McCarthy will be in his first season under center. But Jefferson put up great fantasy numbers with Sam Darnold at quarterback, so don’t let that stop you from taking him.
The Very Good
Talented players who have just enough question marks around them to make them not top-5 picks. These guys will likely be late first-round or second-round picks.
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
2024 was a bad year for Cowboys fans. Dak Prescott missed much of the season with a hamstring injury, and CeeDee Lamb missed the final two weeks of the year with a shoulder injury. On top of that, about everything that could go wrong on the field for the Cowboys did. Still, Lamb had a good fantasy year when he was on the field. With a healthy Prescott getting him the ball, look for his excellent production to continue.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
St. Brown had knee surgery in the offseason but is expected to be ready to go for the preseason. Questions will linger after offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to be the head coach of the Bears. You shouldn’t worry a lot, though. The Lions are still really good, and St. Brown is a big part of that. If the knee is truly healthy, he should have another great season.
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Nacua led the NFL in yards per route run in 2024 with 3.7. He’s a dynamic receiver who can run physical routes but also show off his speed. Matthew Stafford is still good enough to get Nacua plenty of chances. On top of that, the Rams don’t have any other elite options at receiver, so Nacua’s targets should remain very high in 2025. Look for another big year.
Brian Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars
The LSU alum had an outstanding rookie season in 2024, averaging just under 12 targets per game. With Trevor Lawrence healthy again and back under center in 2025, look for Hunter to put up nice numbers once again. A new head coach promising a more balanced offense might cause Thomas’ targets to go down a touch, but it’ll also be Lawrence at quarterback instead of Mac Jones.
The Rest of the Best
If you spent your first-round pick on another position, these wideouts should be great second-round options in your draft. Each of them has a flaw or two, but the talent is there.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
This is a risky pick, but it’s not because of the talented Nabers. The Giants have a mess at quarterback. The idea of Russell Wilson throwing to Nabers all season doesn’t fill me with confidence. Rookie Jaxson Dart might be under center by the end of the season, but there will be growing pains there, too. Nabers had seven TDs last season on a bad team—there’s no reason to think he can’t duplicate at least that in 2025.
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
At 31, Hill is at greater risk for injury and skill decline, especially when his best asset is his speed. He played hurt for much of 2024, which affected his production. Here’s hoping Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy for the entire season, because Hill is much more lethal with the star under center.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Collins is one of those guys who, unfortunately, always seem to miss time with injury. It’s frustrating for fantasy owners because the upside is huge when he’s healthy. It doesn’t hurt to have CJ Stroud throwing him the ball, either. There’s reason for optimism in a new season. However, there is one concern: the Texans’ offensive line appears to be a glaring weakness in 2025.
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
London’s potential has been apparent since his rookie season. Atlanta’s shift to a pass-heavy offense in 2024 helped his production, giving him 48 more targets than he had in 2023. The real reason to think he’s going to elevate even further is how dominant he was in the games he played with Michael Penix. London had 22 catches and 2 TDs in the final three games. I expect the solid connection between the two young stars to continue into 2025.
Published: Jul 15, 2025 12:31 pm