The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books and while most of the boom in fantasy football will be felt at the running back position, the first round still brought us four wide receivers. Rookie receivers have been some of the best value picks you could make in recent seasons. There will be some big hits from the 2025 crop.
However, these rookie wideouts can take some time to become consistent starters. While this sometimes has to do with general Year 1 development, it can also be a result of situation. When rookies do miss, it’s usually because managers didn’t quite have a full grasp of the pitfalls of offensive environments — look at Rome Odunze’s middling rookie year statistical performance in a broken and crowded Bears’ ecosystem or Marvin Harrison’s disappointing fantasy campaign in a volatile role with the Cardinals.
Advertisement
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]
Here, we’ll examine both the risk and reward present in each of the first-round rookie receivers’ Year 1 outlooks as it stands coming out of the draft. These factors can change and crystallize as we go through the summer months but for now, this will allow you to get an early start in weighing both sides for all four first-round wide receivers.
Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
The risk
The obvious elephant in the room is how much time Hunter allocates to the defensive side of the football. If he’s only a 75% snap player on offense, at some point that does cap his overall fantasy ceiling and floor. I’m skeptical that this ends up being the case but you also can’t ignore the downside.
Advertisement
Hunter will also be contending with a player in Brian Thomas Jr. who looked like a superstar down the stretch for the 2024 Jaguars. At the same time, while I could not be more in on BTJ and his future as a No. 1 wideout, let’s remember that he only became a true volume hog in the final portion of last season when Jacksonville’s other main guys were injured. That should not be read as a negative for Thomas the player, but it’s a reminder that these two talented wideouts are likely to eat into each other’s projections.
There’s also the fact that we don’t have a ceiling outcome season on record for Trevor Lawrence. I’m high on Liam Coen and the offense he’s about to construct but there’s also the risk of the unknown when an offensive coordinator is elevated to the head coach gig. There is an unproven factor to both guys.
The reward
Hunter is one of the best wide receiver prospects I’ve ever evaluated. The talent is immense and the Jaguars have already indicated he will be an offense-first player for them. You don’t take a player No. 2 overall — and trade up to get them, no less — unless they’re going to help you score points. I have little doubt that when Coen gets a look at this guy and Lawrence throws a few routes with him in practice, they’ll both agree this guy can rarely, if ever, leave the field when they drop back to pass.
Even if Hunter does have to come off the field to preserve his body for cornerback work on 20% to 15% of the offensive snaps, he’ll be on the field for critical downs and in the red zone. He’ll be someone they design plays for at every level. That’s where fantasy points are scored.
Advertisement
While there is some risk with Coen as a head coach — there always is with new hires — he proved to be one of the best minds in the game last season. The Buccaneers offense was a top 5-10 unit by every relevant metric and pushed all the right buttons. That unit had two wide receivers reach excellent production in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Hunter will be a prime player for an ascending group.
Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
The risk
We don’t have any playing time restrictions with the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft. Among first-round wide receivers, he has the cleanest projection to get on the field since he’s a true X-receiver, which stands out in the Panthers’ current room. Xavier Legette was much better prior to being moved to that spot after the Panthers’ bye last season. McMillan will take it over from Day 1.
Advertisement
The only real possible issue here would be if Bryce Young’s performance down the stretch in 2025 turns out to be a fluke. Young was 15th in EPA per dropback from Week 11 on last season. After a disastrous rookie season and a benching early in 2025, Young turned the corner to offer verifiably above-average play behind center once he resumed the starting role. Drafters will need to count on the Young and Dave Canales partnership taking yet another step if McMillan is going to be a fantasy starter as a rookie. Even if you’re bullish on the offense overall, which I am, you have to acknowledge that it isn’t a certainty.
The reward
If Young is up to the task, there’s not too much standing in the way of McMillan eventually becoming a useful player in fantasy football, even if he’s not destined for an immediate WR1 finish like some of the guys from the 2024 class.
Advertisement
McMillan possesses all the skills to be a Day 1 starter at X-receiver. He wins against press coverage, separates over the middle of the field and is a vertical threat as a ball-winner. His ability to win on dig routes and other intermediate in-breaking routes is an ideal overlap with Young’s game:
While there are some nice pass-catchers on this roster, McMillan should become the top target earner in short order. Adam Thielen has been solid as a big slot receiver but is getting older, while Legette was a volatile prospect who played as such in his rookie season and must be moved around the formation. Former UDFA Jalen Coker is a favorite of mine but he might have to split slot reps with Thielen. McMillan will meet little resistance in earning the high-value perimeter targets in this offense.
Overall, the Panthers look like an offensive unit on the rise. Their run game was excellent all throughout last year, the offensive line was successfully retooled and McMillan boosts the overall health of the receiving room by pushing everyone else into more comfortable roles. Young showed real signs of progress while playing an aggressive brand of football with improvisation chops under pressure during his late 2024 breakthrough. As long as that play holds into this season, McMillan can be a nice fantasy value if he’s ranked outside the top 30 players at his position.
Emeka Eguka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The risk
This one is fairly obvious: the Buccaneers feature one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. Egbuka is one of the most refined receivers I can remember scouting, so he will be ready to rock early on in his career. But as long as everyone is healthy on this roster, he is at best the No. 3 receiver.
Even more interesting, Egbuka projects well to a power slot receiver role. The freshly extended Chris Godwin is one of the premier power slot receivers in the game. While both guys can operate outside, their respective skill sets would be best maximized as big interior options. That could create a log jam where neither guy ends up hitting their ceiling. GM Jason Licht said the Egbuka pick has nothing to do with Godwin’s rehab and he expects him to be ready for Week 1.
Advertisement
With Godwin and Mike Evans in the fold, it will be impossible to project a fantasy-viable role for Egbuka in 2025, unless something major changes in this wide receiver room.
The reward
Any idea that Egbuka won’t be the WR3 on this team and immediately relegate Jalen McMillan to a part-time role is misguided. McMillan had a nice finish to his rookie season but is not a consistent player and profiles best as a rotational player. He will still see snaps but Egbuka is a superior player.
So, you’re getting a talented Round 1 rookie receiver tied to one of the best offenses in the NFL last season. Tampa Bay ranked fifth in EPA per play overall and third in dropback success rate. Also, Evans has consistently missed time the last few seasons with hamstring issues and Godwin is coming off a major injury. If those veterans aren’t on the field, Egbuka would instantly become a fantasy starter. His game overlaps extremely well with Baker Mayfield, as Egbuka thrives on out-breaking routes and can catch passes away from his frame.
Advertisement
Chaos happens every NFL season. Egbuka would be the rare wide receiver who has a clear path to benefit from that chaos.
Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers
The risk
The Packers rotated their wide receivers last season. No one cleared a 17% target share and Jayden Reed led the team with a 73.9% route participation. Almost the entire room is coming back, outside of Christian Watson, and I’d be shocked if they just cast aside any of their young wide receivers entirely. This crowded passing game could still be congested in 2025.
Green Bay also leans extremely run-heavy. They ranked 32nd in neutral pass rate last season with Josh Jacobs as the figurehead of the offense. Was that in part because they lost faith in their pass-catchers or more a blend of Jordan Love’s injury and Jacobs’ excellent play at running back? That may be the key to deciphering Golden’s Year 1 target projection.
The reward
Golden is an excellent player who fits perfectly in Green Bay’s wide receiver room. While the public, and admittedly their running back, obsessed over their need for a true No. 1 receiver — easier problem to identify than solve — what this room really lacked was a consistent speed threat and vertical ball-winner. That’s the player Christian Watson was in flashes and, despite their size differences, Golden is that player in reality.
Golden should quickly emerge as Love’s preferred target on deep in-breaking routes. Love loves to throw them and that’s where Golden’s route running is best expressed. While that might make him a “better in best ball” type of projection, it does mean that when he hits, he will hit big for your lineup.
Golden could also very well lead this team in targets. I’m a big fan of Jayden Reed’s game so for the time being, I’ll likely rank it a close call between the two. Given that the strength of his game is downfield, Golden’s targets could be more high-yield than other Packers wideouts.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Wings’ Paige Bueckers gets first shot at WNBA defenses in preseason debut loss to Aces
The WNBA preseason tipped off Friday with Paige Bueckers making her pro debut for the Dallas Wings against the Las Vegas Aces.Facing an Aces squad returning four starters from their back-to-back title teams in 2022-23, plus two-time champion Jewell Loyd in the mix, Dallas faced an uphill battle as Las Vegas won in a rout 112-78.AdvertisementJackie Young starred in her return to South Bend, Ind., scoring 28 points and adding nine assists as Aces coach Becky Hammon extended Young’s minutes into the fourth quarter to the delight of Notre Dame fans. Young was particularly effective getting to the line, taking a career-best 13 free throws and making all of them.Fellow Fighting Irish alums Loyd and Arike Ogunbowale had more muted performances, combining for 15 points. Loyd was tasked as Bueckers’ primary defender, however, and was in a defensive stance uncommon […]
Angels GM Perry Minasian discusses poor play: ‘We’re going to roll with what we have’
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels have won just four of their last 18 games. They entered the weekend with MLB’s lowest on-base percentage, second-highest strikeout rate, and a slew of very bad offensive numbers over their first 30 games.General manager Perry Minasian sat down with reporters Friday to discuss his team’s poor play.Advertisement“I think teams go through stretches,” he said. “You know, teams go through stretches where they don’t swing the bat well. When you don’t swing the bat, you’re gonna have some numbers that aren’t flashy, right?“But you can pick a six-game stretch, 10-game stretch, from anybody and point to certain times where, man, they’re really struggling, and offensively they haven’t scored.”The issue for the Angels, however, is that the offensive struggles have gone far beyond six or 10 games. It’s been three full weeks of offensive […]
Ryan Garcia spends loads of cash for showboat entrance only to lose to Rolly Romero: “Nothing without PEDs”
On one of the most important nights in recent boxing times, a trio of stars fought on the same card in Times Square in New York City. Ryan Garcia was the headliner due to his brand name, as well as his long-awaited return from suspension. Standing in his way was Rolly Romero. And he surely did stand in his way.Garcia came in super confident. He showed a different side in the leadup to the fight, but made sure to showboat on fight night. His ring walk consisted of a ride-up in a Batmobile that surely cost him some serious dough. But then, disaster struck, as soon as the second round.Garcia got dropped by Romero with strong back-to-back left hooks. Garcia looked stunned, as did the entire crowd and boxers who were attending ringside. Garcia couldn't get going for much of […]
Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. leaves game after pitch hits left forearm
San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. left Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after taking a pitch off his left forearm in the third inning from starter Mitch Keller. Immediately after making contact with the 93 mph fastball, Tatis’ arm had visible swelling.Tatis is having an outstanding season thus far, hitting .345/.419/.602 with eight home runs and seven stolen bases. He went into Friday’s game with a WAR of 2.1, per FanGraphs, which placed him third in the majors behind Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso.The two-time All-Star has been productive when on the field, and this season’s hot start buoyed hopes that he’d put together an MVP-caliber season. Tatis finished third in the National League MVP balloting in 2021 but missed the 2022 season due to wrist surgery and a suspension following a performance-enhancing drug test. He won the […]
Prince Harry’s security loss sparks rift with King Charles
King Charles III is reportedly feeling frustrated and upset over Prince Harry's response to losing his recent security appeal, according to a new report. The Duke of Sussex, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, has been locked in a legal battle with the UK government over the downgrade of his taxpayer-funded security. The appeal, which Harry hoped would restore his full protection, was rejected on May 2, sparking a public reaction that has deepened tensions with his father. In a candid BBC interview following the court's decision, Harry, 40, expressed his disappointment, calling the situation a "good old-fashioned establishment stitch up." He claimed that King Charles, 76, "won't speak to me because of this security stuff," highlighting a personal rift tied to the case.Audacious! American tourist flirts with King CharlesHarry also voiced concerns about the safety of his […]
Becky Hammon on mentor Gregg Popovich stepping down as Spurs head coach: ‘My heart’s a little heavy for him’
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon praised Gregg Popovich after he stepped down from coaching the San Antonio Spurs to become their full-time president.Popovich suffered a mild stroke in November that kept him from calling plays for the team the rest of the season, and he retires from coaching after 29 years on the job. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson, who served as interim head coach for the rest of the season, will take over permanently.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBefore the Aces' preseason matchup against the Dallas Wings on Friday night, Hammon applauded Popovich, who took her under his wing in the years leading up to her tenure in Las Vegas."That's who mentored me, that's who spent literally thousands of hours with me," Hammon said. "Watching him, I was there eight years. It's a lot of games, it's a lot of practices, it's a […]
Related
Wings’ Paige Bueckers gets first shot at WNBA defenses in preseason debut loss to Aces
The WNBA preseason tipped off Friday with Paige Bueckers making her pro debut for the Dallas Wings against the Las Vegas Aces.Facing an Aces squad returning four starters from their back-to-back title teams in 2022-23, plus two-time champion Jewell Loyd in the mix, Dallas faced an uphill battle as Las Vegas won in a rout 112-78.AdvertisementJackie Young starred in her return to South Bend, Ind., scoring 28 points and adding nine assists as Aces coach Becky Hammon extended Young’s minutes into the fourth quarter to the delight of Notre Dame fans. Young was particularly effective getting to the line, taking a career-best 13 free throws and making all of them.Fellow Fighting Irish alums Loyd and Arike Ogunbowale had more muted performances, combining for 15 points. Loyd was tasked as Bueckers’ primary defender, however, and was in a defensive stance uncommon […]
Angels GM Perry Minasian discusses poor play: ‘We’re going to roll with what we have’
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels have won just four of their last 18 games. They entered the weekend with MLB’s lowest on-base percentage, second-highest strikeout rate, and a slew of very bad offensive numbers over their first 30 games.General manager Perry Minasian sat down with reporters Friday to discuss his team’s poor play.Advertisement“I think teams go through stretches,” he said. “You know, teams go through stretches where they don’t swing the bat well. When you don’t swing the bat, you’re gonna have some numbers that aren’t flashy, right?“But you can pick a six-game stretch, 10-game stretch, from anybody and point to certain times where, man, they’re really struggling, and offensively they haven’t scored.”The issue for the Angels, however, is that the offensive struggles have gone far beyond six or 10 games. It’s been three full weeks of offensive […]
Ryan Garcia spends loads of cash for showboat entrance only to lose to Rolly Romero: “Nothing without PEDs”
On one of the most important nights in recent boxing times, a trio of stars fought on the same card in Times Square in New York City. Ryan Garcia was the headliner due to his brand name, as well as his long-awaited return from suspension. Standing in his way was Rolly Romero. And he surely did stand in his way.Garcia came in super confident. He showed a different side in the leadup to the fight, but made sure to showboat on fight night. His ring walk consisted of a ride-up in a Batmobile that surely cost him some serious dough. But then, disaster struck, as soon as the second round.Garcia got dropped by Romero with strong back-to-back left hooks. Garcia looked stunned, as did the entire crowd and boxers who were attending ringside. Garcia couldn't get going for much of […]
Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. leaves game after pitch hits left forearm
San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. left Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after taking a pitch off his left forearm in the third inning from starter Mitch Keller. Immediately after making contact with the 93 mph fastball, Tatis’ arm had visible swelling.Tatis is having an outstanding season thus far, hitting .345/.419/.602 with eight home runs and seven stolen bases. He went into Friday’s game with a WAR of 2.1, per FanGraphs, which placed him third in the majors behind Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso.The two-time All-Star has been productive when on the field, and this season’s hot start buoyed hopes that he’d put together an MVP-caliber season. Tatis finished third in the National League MVP balloting in 2021 but missed the 2022 season due to wrist surgery and a suspension following a performance-enhancing drug test. He won the […]
Prince Harry’s security loss sparks rift with King Charles
King Charles III is reportedly feeling frustrated and upset over Prince Harry's response to losing his recent security appeal, according to a new report. The Duke of Sussex, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, has been locked in a legal battle with the UK government over the downgrade of his taxpayer-funded security. The appeal, which Harry hoped would restore his full protection, was rejected on May 2, sparking a public reaction that has deepened tensions with his father. In a candid BBC interview following the court's decision, Harry, 40, expressed his disappointment, calling the situation a "good old-fashioned establishment stitch up." He claimed that King Charles, 76, "won't speak to me because of this security stuff," highlighting a personal rift tied to the case.Audacious! American tourist flirts with King CharlesHarry also voiced concerns about the safety of his […]
Becky Hammon on mentor Gregg Popovich stepping down as Spurs head coach: ‘My heart’s a little heavy for him’
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon praised Gregg Popovich after he stepped down from coaching the San Antonio Spurs to become their full-time president.Popovich suffered a mild stroke in November that kept him from calling plays for the team the rest of the season, and he retires from coaching after 29 years on the job. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson, who served as interim head coach for the rest of the season, will take over permanently.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBefore the Aces' preseason matchup against the Dallas Wings on Friday night, Hammon applauded Popovich, who took her under his wing in the years leading up to her tenure in Las Vegas."That's who mentored me, that's who spent literally thousands of hours with me," Hammon said. "Watching him, I was there eight years. It's a lot of games, it's a lot of practices, it's a […]
Be the first to leave a comment