Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Draft Rankings: Projections, tiers, and sleepers

Ja’Marr Chase didn’t just defend his WR1 crown in 2024 — he ran away with it. The Bengals’ superstar outpaced Justin Jefferson by a jaw-dropping 85.5 fantasy points, racking up nine top-10 weekly finishes (three more than any other wideout) while leading the league in routes, targets, catches, yards, touchdowns, and end-zone looks (17). He’s been a fantasy stud since day one, landing inside the top 12 in points per game every season of his career, including three top-five campaigns.

Last year was his magnum opus — 127 receptions, 1,708 yards, and 17 scores — and with Tyler Boyd gone, Chase saw his role evolve, lining up in the slot on a career-high 32.2% of snaps, a number that’s risen every single season. Simply put: he’s the gold standard at WR right now.

CeeDee Lamb has firmly cemented himself as an elite WR1, stacking three straight seasons with over 100 receptions. In 2024, he once again carried the Cowboys’ aerial attack, hauling in 101 catches for 1,194 yards and six scores in just 15 games. 

Lamb commanded a massive 32.3% target share when on the field — seventh-best among all wideouts — and still ranked 6th in receptions (6.7 per game) and 8th in yards (79.6 per game) despite spending half the year catching passes from backup quarterbacks.

Without Dak Prescott, his efficiency took a hit, dropping to 10.9 yards per reception and a shorter 7.0-yard average depth of target (down from 8.6 with Prescott). Still, his individual dominance shined — Lamb posted 3.52 yards per route vs. man coverage, third-best in the league. Even after missing two games, he finished with 73 more targets than any other Cowboys WR, and with George Pickens now in the mix, Lamb should still remain one of the NFL’s most heavily featured — and feared — receivers.

After shaking off an early-season knee injury and returning in Week 8, Puka Nacua went on an absolute tear, leading all wideouts in target rate per route (38.9%) and yards per route run (3.65). Over that span, he averaged 7.5 catches, 95.5 yards, and three touchdowns, while commanding a target on 37% of his routes — the highest mark for any WR with 100+ routes in the last decade. On the field, Nacua vacuumed up a massive 41.1% of the Rams’ targets, aided by Cooper Kupp's late-season decline. 

With Davante Adams stepping into a bigger role than Kupp had down the stretch, Nacua may lose a slice of volume but should still enjoy elite-level usage. The only knock? Through two seasons, he’s yet to truly erupt in the touchdown column, sitting at just nine scores in 28 games.

Drake London finally had the breakout we’ve been waiting for, hauling in 100 receptions for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024. Under Zac Robinson's guidance and with competent quarterback play, London began to look every bit like a true WR1 — and there's still untapped upside. 

With Kirk Cousins, London was a steady, reliable target, but it was Michael Penix who unlocked his ceiling, as London topped 100 yards in two of three games with the rookie, compared to just one such game all year with Cousins.

Nico Collins is on the verge of cracking the elite WR1 tier — all he needs now is a full, healthy season. In just 12 games last year, he reeled in 68 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns, despite a midseason hamstring issue cooling off the scorching start he had. 

Even so, Collins was still one of the league’s most efficient weapons, averaging 2.87 yards per route run, trailing only Puka Nacua (3.57) and A.J. Brown (3.04). When he suited up, Collins drew targets on 28.3% of his routes and commanded a hefty 33.4% of Houston’s total looks. 

Inside scoring territory, he was even more dominant — grabbing 39.4% of the team’s red zone targets and an absurd 57.9% of end zone looks, rates that would’ve ranked top five among all wideouts over a full season. If he can stay on the field, the WR1 leap is right there for the taking.

Slotted in as the WR27 in early rankings, Xavier Worthy has all the makings of a surprise top-12 finisher in 2025. As a rookie, the ex-Texas standout posted WR33 numbers, averaging 9.3 half-PPR points per game, but he caught fire when it mattered most. During the fantasy playoffs, he morphed into a league-winner, ranking as the WR10 while averaging 10.3 targets and 17.5 points per game, never dipping below 16.6 in any outing.

Per Fantasy Points Data, Worthy’s 0.51 fantasy points per route run in that stretch ranked 17th out of 88 qualifying receivers, outpacing even Ja’Marr Chase’s 0.38. He then capped his rookie campaign with a Super Bowl masterpiece — eight grabs, 157 yards, two touchdowns, and 31.7 fantasy points.

With Rashee Rice staring down a likely long suspension, the runway is clear for Worthy to take off. If his late-season heater was any indication, he’s got breakout written all over him — and he could easily be the kind of player who tilts leagues.

Davante Adams could be on the verge of turning back the clock to his Green Bay glory days. Even in what was considered a “down” year — one that saw him miss three games — he still managed to post WR16 numbers. No, he doesn’t have Aaron Rodgers under center anymore, but Matthew Stafford is more than capable of feeding him the rock. And with Puka Nacua demanding plenty of defensive attention, Adams should have all the space he needs to cook defenders and put up vintage stat lines in 2025.