In this short article, I am writing down my top 10 wide receivers for the 2025 season. Of course, rankings are subject to change, based on what happens in the pre-season, but most of these players will still be in the top-10 when the season starts. I am also providing you with some insights in how I view these players and why I have ranked them inside the top-10.
This top 10 is based on PPR format and subject to change until the start of the season. For the latest rankings, check the full rankings by subscribing to https://thefantasydutchman.com/draft-kit/
#10 – Tee Higgins (Bengals)
It wouldn’t surprise you that Higgins is not the highest ranked Bengals wide receiver, but I think Burrow can support two top 10 receivers, even if he takes a step back from last seasons’ numbers.
With Higgins, there is always the injury fear. At the beginning of his NFL career in 2020, he didn’t have too many serious injury problems. Sure, he was listed on a lot of injury reports, but it wasn’t until 2023 that the fear of his injuries became more serious. In 2021 he missed 2 games with a shoulder strain, but in 2023 and 2024 he missed a total of 9 games. Health is therefore a big question mark.
When looking at his numbers, we see a lot of positives. We also have to take into account that he is the WR2 on the Bengals behind Chase. In 2024, Higgins played 12 games, with an average of 18.5 fantasy points per game! That’s almost the same as Jefferson and more than Lamb.
This year, I have predicted Higgins at 88 receptions for 1108 yards . And yes, that’s with the fact that he will stay healthy. And that’s the main reason for me that I didn’t rank him higher, because there is a big risk in taking him. But if he stays healthy, Burrow is cooking and the defense stays bad for the Bengals, I think Higgins can crack the top 5.
#9 – Drake London (Falcons)
Let me be straight up, I think this can be a very special Drake London year. Why? Because Michael Penix Jr. is under center, and as we have seen at the end of last season, where Penix was the QB, London got a lot of targets. Yes, they still have Mooney, yes they still have Pitts, but their targets didn’t change too much compared to when Cousins was the QB. Also, Mooney suffered a shoulder injury in camp, which cost him a few weeks.
I think London will be peppered with targets again this season, but there is still a small risk of Penix who hasn’t that much experience in the NFL. I have London currently sitting at 95 receptions for 1225 yards. Last season, London averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game, but with Penix under center and Mooney who might not be up to speed at the beginning of the season, I think he can crack that number.
#8 – Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions)
Some of you might be seeing Amon-Ra’s name at #8 and be like, what? Why? He was the number 3 in the last 2 seasons! And yes, you are right on that. But hear me out. The last 2 seasons for the Lions were with the offensive mastermind Ben Johnson. He has left for Chicago, and his successor John Morton, well we don’t know how he is going to utilize the offense in Detroit.
Also, Morton was talking highly about Jameson Williams and how he wants more explosive plays to happen. Even though I don’t read too much into coach speak in the pre-season, I think this is a small hint that they want to throw the ball more deep. And with Goff at quite a low aDOT in 2024, I think more targets will go Williams’ way, at the cost of Amon-Ra. Last season, Amon-Ra scored 18.6 fantasy points per game, but I think that will be regressed a little this season.
Don’t get me wrong, Amon-Ra is still a fantastic receiver, and there is a big chance I am wrong here. I still have him ranked for 94 receptions, 1128 yards and 11 touchdowns. But I am being a little more cautious here, because of the unknown of the Lions this season. They have one of the most difficult schedules of all NFL teams and the O-Line lost some very big pieces.
#7 – Puka Nacua (Rams)
For me, the number 5, 6 and 7 in my rankings are very close to each other. Personally, I think you can take who you feel most comfortable with. At #7, I have Puka Nacua. The same as with Tee Higgins, Puka scored a lot of points when playing last season. On average, 18.8 fantasy points per game. The important part in my last sentence is the word ‘when’. Because last season, he missed 6 games due to a PCL sprain. After his injury, he was still great and won a lot of players their championship.
Puka is a target darling for Stafford, even with 6 games missed, he still managed to get 106 targets, an average of almost 10 targets per game. So, why didn’t I rank Puka higher? Two reasons: Adams and Garoppolo. No, this is not a flashback to when they played with the Raiders. Adams has been the Rams’ top acquisition during the off-season, and I think Adams will soak up more targets than Kupp did. Also, Adams is a threat in the RedZone, meaning he will probably steal some touchdowns from Puka. The other reason, Garoppolo (or Jimmy G), might be the quarterback in week 1 for the Rams, because of Staffords’ back issues. Currently, the Rams still say that Stafford should be good to go for week 1, but I take this with some caution and reflected a Jimmy G start in week 1, which lowers Puka’s ceiling.
For now, I have ranked Puka for 105 receptions for 1333 yards. If we get some more clarity around Stafford’s status, his receptions could go a little up or down.
#6 – Brian Thomas Jr. (Jaguars)
For me, Brian Thomas is the one elite WR who I am moving around the most in my rankings. That’s all because of Travis Hunter. If Hunter will be a full-time WR, I move Thomas down, if Hunter will mainly be a WR, but will also play CB, I will move Thomas up a little. Based on the camp news, I’m trying to get a feel for what the Jaguars want to do with Hunter.
It’s an understatement to say that Brian Thomas Jr. has surprised a lot of people during last season. He was a great wide receiver, who also made sure that people who drafted him got a lot of joy. With 16.7 fantasy points per game, you can say that he had a successful rookie year. Of course, he had some down weeks, but from week 11 onwards, he never scored less than 13.6 fantasy points per game.
With Coen, a new head coach has arrived in Duval county. One of the things that stood out when Coen was the OC for the Buccaneers in 2024, is his average yards per play, which was a lot higher than the league average (https://thefantasydutchman.com/new-coaches-fantasy-footballs-probable-winners-and-losers/). I think Coen will help the Jaguars and Brian Thomas go to the next level, that’s why I have ranked him as #6 with 98 receptions for 1400 yards. But still, a lot is depending on what Travis Hunter’s role will be in this offense, because he is the biggest threat to targets and RedZone receptions for Thomas.
#5 – Nico Collins (Texans)
Dell is already out for 2025, Diggs went to the Patriots, what do you have left? Nico Collins. Last season, Collins played just 12 games due to a hamstring injury. And there is already my worry, since coming into the league in 2021, Collins never played a full season because of injuries. But when he played, he averaged 17.6 fantasy points per game last season. If he can achieve that in 2025 without being injured, he can be one of the top wideouts. Especially without Diggs and Dell, more targets will be coming Collins’ in my projections.
Of course, the Texans acquired Kirk in the offseason and drafted both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, but I am not too worried about them taking a lot of targets away from Collins. Last season, in just 12 games, he was targeted 99 times. In 2023 he played 15 games, getting 109 targets. The similarity in both seasons? CJ Stroud as quarterback. Even though Stroud took a step back in 2024, Collins still got a lot of targets and fantasy points. So the connection is there, and with that connection, I project Collins for 100 receptions for 1410 yards and 9 touchdowns. And that’s with some injury concerns factored in.
#4 – Malik Nabers (Giants)
A sophomore ranked that high? Yes, I think that Nabers will be just outside the top-3 wide receivers this year. Does that mean there are no concerns? Well, sure there are concerns. First, the Giants have the most difficult schedule projected. The second concern is the quarterback play. For now, Russell Wilson is the quarterback, but can and will Nabers be peppered with targets? I think so, seeing as last year Nabers got the ball from the likes of Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock. Does it change my outlook when Jameis Winston or Jaxson Dart will start? Well, I will be excited when Jameis will start, that will move Nabers’ ceiling even higher. When Dart starts, I won’t change my outlook compared to Russ.
Also, the wide receiver room of the Giants hasn’t improved, so there is no real competition for Nabers. The only other wideouts that are somewhat relevant for targets are Robinson and Slayton. Even with this schedule and the quarterback play, I project Nabers for 115 targets and 1403 yards. Can he improve from his 18.2 fantasy points per game from his rookie season? I’d say so.
#3 – Justin Jefferson (Vikings)
I am going to say about the numbers 2 and 3 the same as I did earlier about 5, 6 and 7. You can switch these guys, as I have ranked them very closely to one another. Why Jefferson at 3 you ask? All because of his current hamstring issue. I have moved Jefferson’s stats a little bit down, and that’s why he is currently at #3. No one would argue that Jefferson is one of the best wide receivers currently in the NFL. This is also reflected in his fantasy points per game, since coming into the league in 2020, he never scored less than 17.1 fantasy points per game over one season. Last year was even a ‘down’ year compared to the previous two seasons where he averaged more than 20 fantasy points per game, whereas last season this was 18.7.
This year, he has again a new quarterback. Last year was with Sam Darnold, but he is now in Seattle. This year, JJ McCarthy is the quarterback. Drafted last year, but suffered a season-ending injury during pre-season. So he had time to learn plays, but now he can show his talent on the field. In combination with the magic of Kevin O’Connell with quarterbacks, I think this can be a great season for Jefferson.
If reports come out that he is completely fine for week 1, the chance is very big he will move back to #2 in my wide receiver rankings. Especially as we now heard that Jordan Addisson will have a 3 game suspension at the beginning of the season. Currently, I have Jefferson ranked for 110 receptions for 1485 yards.
#2 – CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys)
The #1 wide receiver of 2023, now ranked at #2 in my ranking. The big question for Lamb is the health of Dak Prescott. Last season, when Dak was out, CeeDee still put up good fantasy numbers, but with Dak it should be a lot better. On average, he had 17.6 fantasy points per game last season. Not real wide receiver 2 numbers, but I think this season will be better. Dak Prescott would help CeeDee’s ceiling, but also Schottenheimer as play caller will help. Schottenheimer is known for a lot of passing plays compared to run plays, and with the current running back room in Dallas, I don’t see that changed.
There is one big change in Dallas though, he is called George Pickens. Dallas acquired him this offseason and is a massive upgrade to the previous wide receivers next to Lamb. Is Pickens a threat to Lamb’s targets? Maybe. But I can also see a world where teams have to watch two great wide receivers, instead of one. Hopefully for Lamb, that will open up the field for him even more. Currently, I have Lamb projected for 112 receptions for 1434 yards.
#1 – Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals)
Does the #1 come as a surprise? I don’t think so. But even so, I think Chase will be the #1 wide receiver this year by quite some margin. Even though I have ranked Higgins also in the top 10, I don’t think he will take too much away from Chase that he won’t put up the #1 numbers. Burrow is still at the Bengals, and the connection between Burrow and Chase is somewhat magical. With the number of pass attempts and pass yards I project for Burrow, I think Chase will get a lot of receptions, yards and touchdowns. Especially because the Bengals didn’t really strengthen their defense, so they have to score a lot of points to keep up.
Last season, Chase scored a whopping 23.7 fantasy points per game. I think he can do that again, or at least put up the numbers to be the #1 again this year. Currently, I have him projected for 125 receptions for 1625 yards and 14 touchdowns.