X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Rookie Wide Receiver Rankings: 2025 NFL Draft Prospects

Jayden Higgins - NFL Draft Prospects, Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings

Mike Fanelli breaks down the top five wide receiver prospects for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. Which WRs stand out and have a good chance of being selected early?

Last year’s wide receiver rookie draft class was one of the best in recent memory. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze were top-10 picks. Meanwhile, seven wide receivers were first-round picks, with Brian Thomas Jr., Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall, and Xavier Legette coming off the board before the end of Day 1.

Unfortunately, many of the first-round wide receivers had poor rookie seasons. Odunze, Pearsall, and Legette struggled to make a consistent impact. However, Nabers and Thomas were superstars as rookies, while Harrison and Worthy flashed a massive upside throughout the year.

While the 2025 wide receiver draft class lacks a big-name prospect and the superstar upside that the 2024 group offered, this year’s class is far from lackluster, especially at the top. Let’s dive into my top five wide receiver prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

5) Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

Last year, Iowa State had two of the top wide receivers in college football. Jaylin Noel and Higgins both finished in the top four in receiving yards last season. Higgins had a breakout year, totaling 87 receptions for 1,183 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, leading the team in receptions and touchdowns. More importantly, the Iowa State star improved from 2023 to 2024.

Higgins had 34 more receptions, 200 more receiving yards, and three more touchdowns from his junior to senior year. Scouts love his high football IQ, believing he can play all over the field. Some have compared him to Nico Collins coming out of Michigan a few years ago -- a comparison I agree with.

Higgins has a massive wingspan, allowing him to make impressive catches downfield. Yet, he deserves more credit than he has been given during the predraft process. He was one of the top wide receivers in college football last season despite being asked to run a somewhat limited route tree with poor quarterback production. Higgins should be a significantly better pro than a college player.

 

4) Luther Burden III, Missouri

Many NFL Draft evaluators have Burden as their No. 2 wide receiver. Others have the Missouri star as their top pass-catcher. However, I’m lower on the wide receiver than the consensus. Burden struggled last year compared to the 2023 season. He finished last year with 61 receptions for 676 receiving yards and six touchdowns, leading the team in receptions and scores.

Some scouts believe Burden can have the biggest immediate impact among the wide receiver class as a rookie because of his dual-threat abilities. The Missouri star had 34 rushing attempts for 234 yards and four touchdowns in college, including nine for 115 and two last season, leading to many calling Burden the NFL’s next Deebo Samuel Sr. Yet, he can do much more than that.

Burden has been labeled a screen merchant because of his run-after-the-catch abilities. However, he can do more than catch screens. He has had success winning on the outside in one-on-one matchups, showing the ability to track the ball and adjust for it in the air.

 

3) Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

While Jeremiah Smith was the star of Ohio State’s passing attack despite being a freshman, Egbuka had a massive role last season. The veteran wide receiver had 81 receptions for 1,011 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, leading the Buckeyes in receptions while ranking second in yards and scores behind Smith. Furthermore, he ended his college career as one of Ohio State’s top pass-catchers.

Egbuka ranks first in Ohio State history in career receptions (205) and receiving yards (2,868) while finishing seventh in receiving touchdowns (24). More importantly, he was someone Will Howard could trust in the critical moments of a game. The Ohio State star is an impressive route runner who can track and adjust to off-target throws.

Some scouts have compared Egbuka to his former teammate, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Egbuka does an excellent job of influencing defenses with the timing and tempo of his route running. Don’t be surprised if he is the next wide receiver to come out of Ohio State and dominate in the NFL.

 

2) Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

While the 2025 wide receiver class lacks an elite guy like last year’s group, many consider McMillan the closest thing to a top-tier prospect. However, the Arizona star is the No. 2 wide receiver in my rankings. There are conflicting reports about how fast he ran the 40-yard dash at Arizona’s pro day. Yet, the question about his speed isn’t a massive concern for me.

McMillan had an outstanding college career. He finished his career with back-to-back superior seasons. The Arizona star had 90 receptions for 1,402 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games in 2023. Last year, he had 84 receptions for 1,319 receiving yards and eight scores in 12 games.

Many scouts have compared him to Mike Evans or Drake London for his size and ability to win 50-50 balls. Yet, McMillan also does an excellent job of working his way back to the quarterback during scramble drills. He will likely be the first wide receiver drafted in April.

 

1) Matthew Golden, Texas

Golden was a mid-round prospect heading into the 2024 season after spending his first two college seasons at Houston. He had 76 receptions for 988 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 20 games during his two years with the Cougars, totaling fewer than 40 receptions and 590 yards in both seasons. However, Golden became a star for the Longhorns.

Texas needed Golden to step up when Isaiah Bond missed time with an injury. Not only did he live up to expectations, but Golden outplayed Bond as the Longhorns’ No. 1 wide receiver. He quickly became a reliable target for Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Golden had 58 receptions for 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, leading the SEC in scores.

Furthermore, he led the Longhorns in receiving yards and touchdowns while ranking second in receptions behind Gunnar Helm. Golden made play after play for Texas during its College Football Playoff run. His draft stock has been heading in the right direction since the end of the college season, especially after running a 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the second fastest overall and first among wide receivers.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Wade Miley

Exits Rehab Outing On Sunday
Yordan Alvarez

Smacks Third Home Run
Nicolas Dalby

Gets Finished For The First Time
Roman Anthony

Dealing With Foot Injury
Andrew McCutchen

Picks Up Four Hits In Loss
Randy Brown

Gets Back In The Win Column
Slade Cecconi

Throws Bullpen On Sunday
Geraldo Perdomo

Homers, Swipes Two Bags
Ikram Aliskerov

Gets First-Round TKO Finish At UFC Kansas City
Matt Wallner

Could Miss Most Of May
Andre Muniz

Gets TKO'd At UFC Kansas City
Ceddanne Rafaela

Tallys Five RBI In Rout Of Guardians
George Kirby

Set To Throw Live Batting Practice On Monday
Connor Norby

Collects Three Hits, Homers
Ivan Demidov

Has Historic Outing In Game 4
Timo Meier

Records Two Points Sunday
Andrei Svechnikov

Nets Hat Trick In Game 4 Win
Parker Messick

Strikes Out Eight On Sunday
Leon Draisaitl

Caps Off Four-Point Effort With First Postseason Overtime Goal
Connor Hellebuyck

Gets Pulled Again
Brice Matthews

Stays Hot On Sunday
Alexandre Carrier

Fails To Finish Game 4
New York Mets

Jonah Tong Tallies Season-High 10 Strikeouts
Tyler Tucker

Makes Early Exit Sunday
Marcelo Mayer

Stays Hot At The Plate On Sunday
Matt Shaw

Goes Deep On Sunday
Jacob Misiorowski

Strikes Out Nine In Latest Start
Chase Elliott

Recovers from Speeding Penalty to Finish Fifth
Joey Logano

Finishes Last at Talladega After Disqualification for Missing Spoiler Brace
Ryan Preece

Loses Talladega Race First in Photo Finish Then in Post-Race Inspection
NASCAR

Poor Toyota Strategy Arguably Cost Bubba Wallace Winning Chances at Talladega
Christopher Bell

Unhurt After Hard Contact with Inside Retaining Wall
Aaron Nola

Pitches Seven Strong Innings
Tylor Megill

Strikes Out Nine In No-Decision
Hunter Brown

Strikes Out Nine In Win
Agustín Ramírez

Agustin Ramirez Homers Twice
Andy Pages

Homers In Four-Hit Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Game 4
Darius Garland

Questionable For Game 4
Jaden Ivey

Making Progress
Frederik Andersen

Exits Game 4 With Injury
Jake Neighbours

Shines On Sunday With Three Points
Jordan Binnington

Makes 30 Saves In Game 4 Victory
Patrik Laine

Not Expected To Play In Game 4
Sam Montembeault

Labeled Day-To-Day
Aliaksei Protas

Considered A Game-Time Decision Sunday
Logan Thompson

A Game-Time Call Sunday
Max Brosmer

Minnesota Adds Insurance With Max Brosmer

Donovan Edwards Inks Deal With Jets

Nick Nash Signs With The Falcons
Cam Ward

Xavier Restrepo Reunites With Cam Ward In Tennessee
Chase Elliott

Is One OF The Top Overall DFS Picks Of The Week
Joey Logano

Could Joey Logano Finish A Race With A Top Finish At Talladega?
NASCAR

DFS Players Should Like Bubba Wallace For Talladega This Week
Christopher Bell

Should DFS Players Roster Christopher Bell At Talladega?
Austin Cindric

Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering For Talladega DFS Lineups?
Shane Van Gisbergen

Is A Solid, Safe, DFS Choice For Talladega Lineups
Austin Dillon

Is Austin Dillon A Viable DFS Play At Talladega This Week?
Josh Berry

Qualifies Too High At Talladega To Be Worth Rostering In DFS
Michael McDowell

Should DFS Players Take A Shot On Michael McDowell At Talladega?
Noah Gragson

Could Be A Sneaky DFS Play For Talladega
William Nylander

Posts Two Assists In Losing Effort
Denny Hamlin

Probably Qualified Too Well for DFS Consideration
Kyle Larson

Increasingly Undervalued Due to His Crashing, but Still a Great DFS Option
Kyle Busch

Nearly Always Leads at Talladega, but Rarely Leads Much
Tyler Reddick

Drafting Track Record Worse Than It Looks
Daniel Suarez

Likely Motivated at Talladega Since Trackhouse Cars Likely Too Slow for Him to Win On Regular Tracks
Ryan Preece

Qualifies Fourth Due to Ford Dominance, but Don't Expect Him to Finish There
Jake Sanderson

Keeps Senators Alive With Overtime Winner
Mackenzie Blackwood

Records First Postseason Shutout
Gabriel Landeskog

Scores First Goal In Nearly Three Years
Ivan Barbashev

Gives Vegas Vital Win
Nikita Kucherov

Records Three Assists In Game 3 Win
Troy Stecher

Cleared For Sunday
Jimmy Butler III

Ruled Out On Saturday
Isaiah Stewart

Questionable For Sunday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 4
Jrue Holiday

Won't Play On Sunday
Quinn Ewers

Dolphins Select Quinn Ewers In Seventh Round
Mitchell Robinson

Questionable For Game 4 Versus Detroit
Michael Porter Jr.

Available On Saturday Night
Russell Westbrook

Won't Suit Up For Game 4
Riley Leonard

Drafted By Colts Saturday
Will Howard

Steelers Select Will Howard In Sixth Round Of NFL Draft
Kyle McCord

Eagles Add Kyle McCord To Quarterback Room
Ollie Gordon II

Miami Adds Ollie Gordon II To Backfield
Oronde Gadsden II

Chargers Add KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Oronde Gadsden II To Offense
DJ Giddens

Colts Add DJ Giddens To Backfield
Jaydon Blue

Dallas Cowboys Draft Jaydon Blue In Fifth Round
Jordan Watkins

49ers Add Jordan Watkins To Offense
Shedeur Sanders

Browns Trade Up To Select Shedeur Sanders In The Fifth Round
Sam Howell

Seahawks Trade Sam Howell To Vikings
Elic Ayomanor

Titans Continue To Address Offense, Select Elic Ayomanor
Jalen Royals

Chiefs Bolster Receiver Room With Jalen Royals
Jaylin Lane

Commanders Add Jaylin Lane To Wide Receiver Room
Dylan Sampson

Browns Select Dylan Sampson With 126th Pick
Gunnar Helm

Titans Use Fourth-Round Pick On Gunnar Helm
Jarquez Hunter

Rams Select Jarquez Hunter In Fourth Round
Darius Garland

Won't Suit Up For Game 3
Darius Garland

Unavailable For Pregame Warmup
Jrue Holiday

Classified As "Day-To-Day"
Brandin Podziemski

Not On Injury Report For Game 3
Jimmy Butler III

Warriors Optimistic About Jimmy Butler III Playing Saturday
Jae'Sean Tate

To Remain Out Saturday
Jock Landale

Unavailable For Game 3
Terry Rozier

Out On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Ruled Out For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Orlando
Kevin Love

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Magic
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF