Wide Receiver Rankings and Tiers: One Staffer's Opinion

Last week, I published my running back rankings, examining where I diverged from consensus opinions. Today, we'll do the same with wide receivers. 

While the wisdom of the crowds is a valuable tool, examining one staffer's thought process can help you gain a deeper understanding of how we arrive at these assumptions. Next to each receiver's name, I'll share where my ranking compares to our ADP. Where there is a sizable gap, I will provide some additional thoughts and context.

Let's start with a guy who is in a tier of his own this year.

The Ja'Marr Chase Tier

Fresh off the Receiving Triple Crown, Chase is in a tier of his own. He's at the peak of his career. His team is forced to air it out often due to their sieve-like defense. He's got the speed to get behind defenses. He's a menace after the catch. He has steel-trap hands and a tenacity that allows him to wrestle jump balls from defenders. In my opinion, whether PPR or standard scoring, Chase should be the first overall pick.

• WR1 - Ja'Marr Chase

Elite WR1s

Over the last three years, Lamb and Jefferson are the other guys to snag the wide receiver fantasy scoring title besides Chase. Like Chase, they're also in the primes of their careers, making them plays you can easily invest an early-first-round pick in.

• WR2 - CeeDee Lamb (+1 compared to ADP) - We've seen Lamb finish as the overall WR1 with his quarterback.
• WR3 - Justin Jefferson (-1) - Jefferson is inarguably one of the league's best receivers, but a quarterback getting his first NFL start is a tiny blemish on a should-be-elite outlook.

Rock-Solid WR1s

Every player in this tier is worth first-round consideration. While it's hard to justify drafting any of these guys ahead of Chase, Lamb, or Jefferson, they all have overall WR1 in their high-end range of outcomes.

• WR4 - Malik Nabers (+1) - Nabers set the all-time rookie target share record last year and will play with a much-improved quarterback room in 2025.
• WR5 - Puka Nacua (-1) - Health concerns and the presence of Davante Adams are mild concerns, but Nacua should still be great, just as he was alongside Cooper Kupp.
• WR6 - Nico Collins (+1) - Collins has developed into one of the league's best receivers, and offseason investments in the offense should allow for more scoring opportunities.
• WR7 - Drake London (+1) - London's playstyle as a contested-catch specialist will pair very well with Michael Penix Jr., a quarterback who isn't afraid to let his receiver make a play on the ball.
• WR8 - Brian Thomas Jr. (+1) - A huge rookie season has expectations for Thomas high going into Year 2, and the ceiling could be even higher under new HC Liam Coen.

Low-End WR1s

These guys are coincidentally cut from a similar cloth as undersized and shifty guys who play bigger than their listed sizes. This tier is extremely flat. However, the volume each of these receivers should receive sets up a nice floor and ceiling combination.

• WR9 - Ladd McConkey (+2) - There wasn't a weakness in McConkey's game last year as he developed into a receiver who could win at every level of the field.
• WR10 - Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+5) - We saw a flash of the upside when DK Metcalf got injured last year, and now the path is cleared for a season-long breakout.
• WR11 - Amon-Ra St. Brown (-5) - St. Brown posted the lowest target share since his rookie season and buoyed his production with touchdowns, setting up for a concerning ceiling amidst the Jameson Williams breakout.

WR2s With Immense Upside

I'm comfortable taking all of these guys in Round 2, as the upside for every receiver in this tier is 20+ PPR points per game. Some question marks push outside of the draftable WR1 range, but the ceilings are undeniable. 

• WR12 - A.J. Brown (-2) - A low-volume passing offense and stout defense put a cap on Brown's ceiling, despite being one of the league's best receivers.
• WR13 - Rashee Rice (+6) - Since the back half of his rookie season, Rice's role as Patrick Mahomes II' go-to receiver has been very lucrative in fantasy.
• WR14 - Garrett Wilson (-1)
• WR15 - Marvin Harrison Jr. (+3) - He played much better as a rookie than the surface-level stats imply, and should take a leap in Year 2.

Shaky WR2s

This is a pocket of the draft where receivers are very volatile, and the running backs are a bit easier to stomach. These guys all have decent upside. But the draft cost, coupled with the potential for a fallout, makes them less-than-ideal targets.

• WR16 - Davante Adams (+1)
• WR17 - Tee Higgins (-6) - While the boom games are great, inconsistent production and frequent injuries make Higgins a frustrating player to roster.
• WR18 - Terry McLaurin (-3)
• WR19 - Tyreek Hill (-3)

The WR Honey Pot

In this area of the draft, running backs become extremely volatile, and wide receivers can become league winners. Every year, wide receivers drafted in their range end up finishing way ahead of their projection. The upside you'll get from receivers here outweighs most other positions, making them my primary targets in the early-to-middle rounds.

• WR20 - Tetairoa McMillan (+7) - Rookies drafted inside the top-10 typically make immediate impacts, and McMillan should fill a considerable need as Carolina's X receiver.
• WR21 - Jameson Williams (+3)
• WR22 - Mike Evans (-2)
• WR23 - DJ Moore (-2)
• WR24 - Travis Hunter (+5) - Hunter could fit in Chris Godwin's role under HC Liam Coen, providing him with a steady stream of targets from the slot.
• WR25 - Jaylen Waddle (+8) - Tyreek Hill lost a step last year, and health is the only thing that has held Waddle back from WR1 production.
• WR26  - Chris Olave (+8) - The Saints' quarterback room is questionable, but Olave's talent is undeniable, making him a fantastic value in drafts.
• WR27 - DK Metcalf (-4) - Aaron Rodgers should elevate the offense, but Metcalf's limited route tree might not mesh with Rodgers' penchant for savvy route runners.
• WR28 - Courtland Sutton (-6) - A much better backfield, stout defense, and added target competition could make it tough for Sutton to replicate last year's production.
• WR29 - DeVonta Smith (-4) - Like AJ Brown, he's a great receiver, but the team situation doesn't lend to many fantasy points.
• WR30 - Zay Flowers (-2)

Keep Dipping Into the Honey Pot

There's a tier break between these receivers and the ones above, but the same principles apply. 

• WR31 - Calvin Ridley (+1)
• WR32  - Jerry Jeudy (+2)
• WR33 - George Pickens (-3)
• WR34 - Rome Odunze (+3)
• WR35 - Jakobi Meyers (+6) - Meyers is the WR1 on a much-improved offense and outperforms his ADP almost every year.
• WR36 - Ricky Pearsall (+7) - After an excusably slow start to his rookie season, Pearsall broke out over the second half of the season and has a more straightforward path to a full-time role in Year 2.
• WR37 - Josh Downs (+10) - Downs posted a top-20 target share last year, and a slight uptick in his team's overall production could set him up for a massive breakout.
• WR38 - Chris Godwin (-7) - He's coming off a season-ending ankle injury, and Emeka Egbuka could challenge his role as the primary slot receiver.
• WR - Jordan Addison (-3)
• WR40 - Xavier Worthy (-14) - He was fed volume out of necessity last year, but his efficiency and production both cause some concern.

WR4s Worth Betting On

At this point in this draft, we're well beyond the sure things. It's hard to justify aggressively targeting these receivers as they're being drafted in a similar spot to injury-away backs with high ceilings, but I like to sprinkle these guys in where I can.

• WR41 - Luther Burden III (+16) - Burden could be a super-charged Amon-Ra St. Brown if he grasps the slot role in Ben Johnson's offense.
• WR42 - Khalil Shakir (-2)
• WR43 - Darnell Mooney (+6)
• WR44 - Cooper Kupp
• WR45 - DeMario Douglas (+28) - The wide receiver room in New England is wide open, and Douglas is a young and athletic guy who has shown some flashes over his first two seasons.
• WR46 - Stefon Diggs (-4)
• WR47 - Michael Pittman Jr. (+3)
• WR48 - Jauan Jennings (-10) - There's some early-season appeal for Jennings, especially for drafters who aggressively targeted rookies, but that could wane as the season progresses.

Middle-of-the-First-Round Rookies

Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan got the vaunted top-ten draft capital. But teams invested heavily in these guys as well. While the paths to leading their teams in targets are a bit bumpy, betting on talent is never a bad idea, especially when it comes at a price like this.

• WR49 - Emeka Egbuka (+2)
• WR50 - Matthew Golden (-2)

Tough Clicks

These are names we know well, but it's hard to draft any of them when they're going in drafts. Injuries, added target competition, and new teams give these players shaky floors.

• WR51 - Brandon Aiyuk (-5)
• WR52 - Jayden Reed (-7)
• WR53 - Deebo Samuel Sr. (-14) - He had the fewest yards per game of his career last year, and his efficiency metrics have been pointing downward since that magical 2021 season.
• WR54 - Christian Kirk (+1)

High-Upside Round 2 Rookies

Both of these rookies landed with teams that have good quarterbacks, and both receivers have a chance to be the secondary options on their teams. While they're not sure things, the upside makes them both great targets in the mid-to-late rounds of your drafts.

• WR55 - Jayden Higgins (-2)
• WR56 - Tre Harris (-2)

More Upside Than Risk

These receivers are incredibly cheap in your drafts, regularly falling into the later rounds. There's good reason for that. There's little projectable volume in this draft. Some of the younger players have lost their shine after slow starts to their careers. There are some aging veterans we're starting to sour on. However, all of those concerns are baked into their relatively low draft costs.

• WR57 - Xavier Legette (+8) - Legette likely takes a backseat to rookie Tetairoa McMillan, but his athleticism could lead to big plays in a should-be improved offense.
• WR58 - Wan'Dale Robinson (+10) - The efficiency was awful for Robinson last year, but his role as a high-volume extension of the run game makes him worth a late-round dart throw.
• WR59 - Rashid Shaheed (-3)
• WR60 - Marquise Brown (-2)
• WR61 - Keon Coleman (-9)
• WR62 - Rashod Bateman (-3)
• WR63 - Cedric Tillman (+4)
• WR64 - Kyle Williams (-3)
• WR65 - Elijah Moore (+32) - I want to make bets on the Bills offense, and Moore's upside as a potential gadgety slot player gives a unique high-upside way to do so.
• WR66 - Joshua Palmer (+4)
• WR67 - Quentin Johnston (-1)

Late-Round Darts

At this point in this draft, I'm looking for pure upside. Volume is likely non-existent in this range, so I want to put my chips on players with desirable skill, athleticism, or team situations.

• WR68 - Jalen Coker (+14) - Like Xavier Legette, Coker could improve with an improved supporting cast and offensive environment.
• WR69 - Romeo Doubs
• WR70 - Marvin Mims Jr. (-10) - There are a lot of mouths to feed in this Denver offense, and I worry that Pat Bryant could cut into Mims' usage as the field stretcher.
• WR71 - Adam Thielen (-7)
• WR72 - Darius Slayton (+7)
• WR73 - Jordan Whittington (+35) - Eye-popping efficiency as a rookie gives Whittington some contingent upside if Puka Nacua has to miss any time.
• WR74 - Adonai Mitchell (+19) - I was a big fan of Mitchell's prospect profile, and Anthony Richardson Sr.'s poor play can largely contextualize his rookie-season struggles.
• WR75 - Alec Pierce
• WR76 - Kayshon Boutte (+47) - I'm applying the same thought process here that I did to Demario Douglas; the Patriots' wide receiver room is wide open, and I want to take chances on the players I like best.
• WR77 - Tutu Atwell (+14)
• WR78 - Calvin Austin III (+3)
• WR79 - Roman Wilson (+17) - A rookie-season injury caused no impact last year, but he's a good receiver underneath and could benefit from playing with Aaron Rodgers.
• WR80 - Dont'e Thornton Jr. (+7)

Keep An Eye One Throughout Camp

Currently, these players are difficult to draft. But they're players who could move up (or down) quite a bit once we start getting a clearer idea of depth charts throughout training camp.

• WR81 - Diontae Johnson (+7)
• WR82 - Dyami Brown (-4)
• WR83 - Jalen McMillan (-20) - It took multiple injuries for McMillan to find a full-time role last year, and the addition of Emeka Egbuka could make his role even smaller in Year 2.
• WR84 - Pat Bryant (-8)
• WR85 - Tre Tucker (+33) - Game-breaking speed and an open receiver room behind Jakoby Meyers make Tucker an interesting late-round pick.
• WR86 - Jalen Royals (+3)
• WR87 - Jaylin Noel (-13) - He's a good receiver, but he might be WR4 on the depth chart this year.
• WR88 - Josh Reynolds (+36) - Mostly forgotten about in fantasy circles, Reynolds should be the No. 2 target behind Garrett Wilson in New York.

Desperation Dart Throws

Rankings here will stray far from consensus as different rankers look for various things in late-round targets. I'm drawn to youth and the allure of the unknown.

• WR89 - DeAndre Hopkins (-18) - Hopkins is chasing a ring before retirement, but that probably won't help you in fantasy.
• WR90 - Jack Bech (-28) - Overlapping skill sets with Jakobi Meyers signal Bech potentially being a better bet in dynasty than season-long fantasy.
• WR91 - Michael Wilson (-14)
• WR92 - Xavier Restrepo (+13) 
• WR93 - Tai Felton (+23) - Felton is a fun player on a good offense that will likely need an injury ahead of him to play full time, but it's a cheap way to get into a good Vikings offense.
• WR94 - Luke McCaffrey (+20) - Reports have been good for McCaffrey this offseason, and he could take a step forward in Year 2 as the Commanders' slot receiver.
• WR95 - Devaughn Vele (+24) - There's been a steady drumbeat for Vele this offseason after looking decent in his rookie campaign.
• WR96 - Andrei Iosivas (-13)
• WR97 - Dontayvion Wicks (-13)
• WR98 - Ray-Ray McCloud III (-3)
• WR99 - Mike Williams (+10)
• WR100 - Tyler Lockett (-14)

WRs Outside Of My Top 100

You probably aren't looking at these guys outside of the deepest of leagues. And many of them don't qualify for our ADP. But here's how I'd rank some guys outside of my top 100.

• WR101 - Van Jefferson
• WR102 - Tory Horton
• WR103 - Arian Smith
• WR104 - Jalen Tolbert
• WR105 - Brandin Cooks
• WR106 - Marquez Valdes-Scantling
• WR107 - Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
• WR108 - KaVontae Turpin
• WR109 - Christian Watson
• WR110 - Savion Williams
• WR111 - Isaac TeSlaa
• WR112 - Treylon Burks
• WR113 - Mack Hollins
• WR114 - Jalen Nailor
• WR115 - Jahan Dotson
• WR116 - Jimmy Horn Jr.
• WR117 - Parker Washington
• WR118 - Jalin Hyatt
• WR119 - Chimere Dike
• WR120 - Curtis Samuel