2025 College Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Profiles II

I place the Cum Laude tier of College Fantasy Football wide receivers under the microscope in part II of the series… Enjoy, my fellow CFF fanatics.

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CFF Wide Receiver Profiles II

Cum Laude

Chase Sowell, Iowa State

Team Offense (Rank): 416 ypg. (39)
Passing Yards: 256 ypg. (39)
Points Scored: 31.1 ppg. (41)
2024 FPPG: 13.3

Rocco Becht returns to call signals for the Cyclones, but his two top playmakers (Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel) from last year are no longer in the program. Over the offseason, coach Matt Campbell used the transfer portal to refurbish the wide receiver corps and acquired Chase Sowell, who was a four-star transfer recruit and ranked as the No. 7 wide receiver available during the winter.

For the past two campaigns, Sowell played at East Carolina, snatched 81 passes for 1,300 yards and four touchdowns, and averaged 16.0 yards per catch (ypc). A home run hitter, the newest Cyclone concluded the 2024 campaign with seven receptions over 40 yards while logging 19 ypc. He also posted two 100-yard receiving games for the Pirates. In 2023, Sowell paced the team in receiving with 47 catches for 622 yards and a touchdown. At 6-4 and 195 pounds, the redshirt junior fits the idyllic stereotype of a receiver that coach Campbell covets, and Sowell will shine for CFF coaches in 2025.

Notebook: “I was looking for that football situation that could develop and elevate my game. Honestly, the whole (Iowa State) staff cared for me…The football layout for what I wanted was obviously to get more targets and to get the ball in my hands in different ways. Just the way they used Jayden Higgins and his versatility in the offense was very intriguing to me,” Sowell reflected on his transfer to Iowa State (cyclonesfanatic.com).

Pofele Ashlock, Hawaii

Team Offense (Rank): 366 ypg. (89)
Passing Yards: 268 ypg. (23)
Points Scored: 22 ppg. (111)
2024 FPPG: 14.5

Is the run-and-shoot offense back in 2025? Every college fantasy football fan hopes that affirmative is the answer. If the offense takes off, Pofele Ashlock will clearly rebound after a disappointing 2024 campaign. He kicks off the upcoming season with 1,461 career receiving yards and 15 scores on 144 catches. The junior playmaker has recorded a pass in all 24 games played, with multiple receptions in all but one.

In 2024, Ashlock finished second on the Rainbows with 61 receptions for 629 yards and tied for the team lead with six scores. The year before, he was named FWAA Freshman All-American, catching 83 passes for 832 yards and nine touchdowns. Micah Alejandro looks like the best quarterback to wear the Hawaii uniform since Cole McDonald in 2018 and 2019, and the CFF community is projecting a big season for the new signal caller. In order to reach expectations, the receivers must take a step forward. I am venturing to forecast that Ashlock exceeds 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns in 2025.

Notebook: “I came off a senior season (in high school) of an ACL tear and all college offers and interest had dropped. So, I was the one that’s left standing. Hawaii took a chance on me. And so why would I leave on (a team) that took a chance on me? Nowhere in the world do you get love like in the 808. So, I really take pride in this football team,” Ashlock stated in the summer of 2024 (khon2.com).

Nick Cenacle, Hawaii

Team Offense (Rank): 366 ypg. (89)
Passing Yards: 268 ypg. (23)
Points Scored: 22 ppg. (111)
2024 FPPG: 14.3

In a high-flying passing game, it is always an interesting debate when two receivers on the same team are nearly equal in terms of talent. At Alabama, DeVonta Smith and Jerry Jeudy both shared targets in 2019, and last year, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins at Iowa State dominated defenders and produced a plethora of fantasy points. If the Rainbows’ offense takes flight this fall, Nick Cenacle and Ashlock are both likely to become weekly CFF starters.

A Montreal native, Cenacle graduated from Vanier College in Saint Laurent, Canada in 2022 and was rated the No. 3 player overall and No. 1 wide receiver in Canada. An honor roll student, he played on Team Canada and Team Quebec, competing in the International Federation of American Football. During his first two seasons at Hawaii, he did not make a big impact for the Rainbows. In 2024, the junior playmaker led the team in catches (63) and yards (721) and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (6). At 6-2 and 195 pounds, the senior will again collect a large target share and form a dynamic duo with Ashlock in Honolulu.

Notebook: “I’m coming back 100%. It’s because of all those guys (at Hawaii). It’s a whole family. They built me. It didn’t feel right leaving these guys. I want to build this whole team together,” Cenacle said in an interview last December after the season ended (staradvertiser.com).

Joseph Williams, Colorado

Team Offense (Rank): 383 ypg. (69)
Passing Yards: 318 ypg. (6)
Points Scored: 32.9 ppg. (31)
2024 FPPG: 10.8

In mid-November last year, Joseph Williams began to pop as a playmaker for Tulsa, and I featured the true freshman in a CFF waiver wire column. He became a weekly starter in lineups over the final four weeks of the season. In 2025, he projects for even better production as a member of the Buffaloes.

In high school, Williams was a three-star prospect, the No. 103 athlete and No. 168 player in Texas before enrolling at Tulsa. When the dust settled after his true freshman campaign, he was named the AAC Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Hurricane to win the award. Williams recorded three consecutive games with 100-plus receiving yards while accumulating 30 catches for 588 yards—both were second best on the club. He also snagged five touchdowns while averaging 19.6 ypc.

During the winter, Colorado needed help at receiver after losing their top four wide outs (Travis Hunter, LaJohntay Wester, Jimmy Horn and Will Sheppard) from last year. In the portal, coach Deion Sanders flipped Williams from Utah to Colorado in December. At 6-2 and 200 pounds, the former Hurricane has been impressive in the offseason and fulfills a need in the Buffaloes’ aerial assault. He is currently one of the better values in CFF drafts.

Notebook: Writer Harrison Simeon placed the Buffaloes’ wide receiver unit under the microscope: “(Joseph) Williams transferred in from the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and instantly became a favorite target of Salter and Lewis. Salter, in particular, fed him during April’s spring game with sideline balls for Williams to use his strength, length and tracking to go and get (it).” (si.com)

get familiar with 🎱@JosephWQB1 x @07KSalt pic.twitter.com/JiRyJXkVhA

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) April 7, 2025

Twitterverse on Fire!

At their current CFF ADP, who are you targeting among P4 wide receivers in drafts this summer?

• Hudson Clement, Illinois: 19%
• De’Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi: 32%
• Dane Key, Nebraska: 33%
• Kevin Coleman, Missouri: 16%

“I expect a big year from De’Zhaun Stribling if he gets good quarterback play.” @SnapAgainThanos

“Hudson Clement for me but this poll is extremely close.” @aceholesrule

“All aboard the Dane Key Train!” @UW_Purple_Reign

“I went with De’Zhaun Stribling for the upside, but both Dane Key and Hudson Clement are about as safe of a floor as you can ask for in CFF. Kevin Coleman as well, but at a slight downgrade until we can get more tape on QB Beau Pribula.” @eliotmays

“Hudson Clement is going to be the third Illini WR in a row to have 900-plus yards, 70-plus receptions and at least five touchdowns. Altmyer to Clement all season long. Clement showed you everything you needed to see in the bowl game versus Memphis: He had eight first downs on 11 catches. Certified chain mover!” @TheCFBNation

Eugene Wilson, Florida

Team Offense (Rank): 387 ypg. (66)
Passing Yards: 226 ypg. (69)
Points Scored: 28.3 ppg. (64)
2024 FPPG: 12.9

If you compose rankings in any fantasy format long enough, there will be players that you whiff on and others that fail to meet expectations for a variety of reasons. In 2024, I was very bullish on Eugene Wilson. Unfortunately, he suffered an early-season injury and only played in four games, accumulating 19 catches for 266 yards and a score. Once again, Wilson is intriguing, and I have been selecting the Gators’ junior often, acquiring him in six of 10 CFF drafts.

In 2023, Wilson exploded as a true freshman: He snatched 61 passes for 538 yards and six touchdowns. He was named to the Freshman All-SEC and All-American teams. In the classroom, he earned SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. His Dad was a Super Bowl Champion with the New England Patriots, and coming out of high school, the younger Wilson selected Florida over Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, and Texas A&M. A four-star prospect, he was graded as a top 10 recruit in Florida and was invited to the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game. Banking on talent does not always work, but Wilson is underrated by the CFF community in 2025.

Notebook: “(Eugene) looks like a million bucks. We all know No. 3 is one of the elite skill players in the entire country. When he does go out there, he’s as impressive of a skill player as we have. It’s going to be huge for the Gators to get him back. This guy’s a one-play touchdown player,” coach Billy Napier stated (gatorswire.com).

Makai Lemon, USC

Team Offense (Rank): 437 ypg. (23)
Passing Yards: 292 (10)
Points Scored: 30.2 ppg. (51)
2024 FPPG: 12.3

When identifying offenses in CFF, it is wise to bank on coaches who have a long and proven track record. Coach Lincoln Riley has orchestrated some of the best units since the turn of the century at Oklahoma and USC. Of course, the quarterbacks have been the most valuable CFF players on Riley’s teams, while the receivers have not shone as brightly. Regardless, the Trojans’ playmakers are fairly valued at current ADP, and Makai Lemon is a player that I am trying to acquire this summer.

In high school, Lemon was named an Under Armour All-American and a Polynesian High School Player of the Year finalist, while being selected to compete in the Polynesian Bowl. He was a four-star recruit and the No. 9 wide receiver prospect in the nation. As a freshman in 2023, he saw action on both sides of the ball (corner and receiver) while recording six catches for 88 yards.

As a sophomore last year, the Trojans’ electric playmaker logged a team-leading 52 catches for 764 yards (14.7 avg) and three scores. He also paced USC with 19 kickoff returns for 514 yards (27.1 avg), including a long of 80 yards. Lemon opens training camp as a Biletnikoff and Paul Hornung Award candidate. At 5-11 and 195 pounds, the junior receiver will be at the top of the pecking order for the Trojans and provide plenty of fantasy production.

Notebook: “At 5-11 and 195 pounds, Lemon is lightning quick. He has short strides but moves his legs like pistons in an engine, firing out of his stance to eat up cushion in coverage or getting vertical before defenders can adjust. He is also a nuanced and technical route runner…he already has a good baseline of different releases versus press coverage,” PFF analyst Trevor Sikkema wrote (trojanswire.usatoday.com).

USC WR Makai Lemon is the #2 returning WR in all of P4 CFF, per @PFF, behind only Jeremiah Smith

✌🏻 83.9 Offense grade (2nd)
✌🏻 85.3 Receiving grade (2nd)
✌🏻 3.03 yards/route run (3rd)
✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/sZ3OTP3o28

— Arrogant Nation✌🏻 (@FightOnRusty) April 14, 2025

David Amador, UTSA

Team Offense (Rank): 451 ypg. (12)
Passing Yards: 284 ypg. (11)
Points Scored: 33 ppg. (27)
2024 FPPG: 12.9

In 2021, the Roadrunners became one of my favorite offenses to watch on a weekly basis. QB Frank Harris, RB Sincere McCormick, and WR Zakhari Franklin ascended to weekly fixtures in CFF starting lineups in coach Jeff Traylor’s offense. UTSA posted a 12-2 record and scored nearly 37 points per game. In 2022, the Roadrunners smashed opponents again, scoring 36.8 ppg. and finishing with an 11-3 mark behind Harris and Franklin.

Over the past two seasons, UTSA has won 16 of 26 games and not been as productive on offense. Yet, with QB Owen McCown returning in Traylor’s explosive scheme, the offense should exceed last year’s 33.2 ppg., and David Amador will likely lead the pass-catching corps in San Antonio.

A three-star recruit, Amador played quarterback in his senior year when the starter went down and led the team to a championship game. He concluded high school with 77 receptions for 1,694 yards and 17 touchdowns, adding 112 carries for 1,140 yards and 16 scores. As a passer, he threw for 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns.

At UTSA, Amador immediately saw playing time as a freshman in 2023 and made an impact last year after enduring a nagging hamstring injury in training camp. When he finally got on the field, the sophomore recorded 31 catches for 376 yards and a touchdown in five games. The drum beat is loud in San Antonio in regard to Amador’s expected role in Traylor’s passing game in 2025. In the past two years, the UTSA offense has not been as fantasy-friendly, but the offensive components are in place to reach the splendor of three years ago. Once again, astute CFF fans are acquiring offensive playmakers from UTSA.

Notebook: “(David) truly is a guy who can do all of the things on the football field you need to win. He never says a word. He just practices. He’s an amazing human,” UTSA coach Traylor said in the spring (expressnews.com).

Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Team Offense (Rank): 429 ypg. (30)
Passing Yards: 263 ypg. (29)
Points Scored: 35.7 ppg. (14)
2024 FPPG: 9.9

All college fantasy footballers know that the Ohio State machine produces some of the absolute best wide receivers every season. The list of All-Americans is far too long to reproduce, and the depth chart is deep in Columbus, OH. Sophomore Jeremiah Smith is the current stud in the locker room. Nevertheless, Carnell Tate is ready to make a big leap forward.

At 6-3 and 191 pounds, Tate earned four stars as a recruit in high school and was the No. 25 player overall and No. 10 at wide receiver as a senior. A Chicago native, he played at IMG Academy in Florida his last two years in high school and averaged 20.3 ypc. in 2022. During two campaigns at Ohio State, the junior has corralled 70 passes for 997 yards and five touchdowns. Despite roster turnover, the Buckeyes will continue to soar above opponents, and Tate doubles his career numbers in his third season wearing Scarlet and Grey.

Notebook: Tate dismissed any rumors that he was leaving Ohio State in the offseason: “The plan was never for me to leave. I don’t know where that came from, where that started. I bleed Ohio State,” he said in February (buckeyesports.com).

Corey Rucker, Arkansas State

Team Offense (Rank): 384 ypg. (68)
Passing Yards: 228 ypg. (67)
Points Scored: 25.8 ppg. (65)
2024 FPPG: 16.6

In 2022, Corey Rucker called an audible, moving from Jonesboro, AR, to Columbia, SC, to play football. Unfortunately, the transfer did not provide many positive memories on the gridiron. Rucker only played in two games, catching a 52-yard touchdown on his only reception, before enduring a season-ending injury. He returned to Arkansas State last year and has one year of eligibility in 2025.

The redshirt senior is one of the most prolific wide receivers in program history. As a member of the Red Wolves, he already adorns the all-time leaderboard with the most career receiving yards with 3,037 and is second in touchdown catches with 23 and career receptions with 180. In the past three seasons, he has been the team’s leading receiver. Last fall, he posted career bests in catches (69) and receiving yards (1,053). He also paced the team with seven touchdown catches. At 6-0 and 214 pounds, Rucker is a preseason All-Sun Belt selection by many national publications and will feast once again on Sun Belt secondaries in 2025.

Ted Hurst, Georgia State

Team Offense (Rank): 389 ypg. (64)
Passing Yards: 256 ypg. (38)
Points Scored: 23.8 ppg. (98)
2024 FPPG: 17.2

It was an interesting offseason for Ted Hurst. In December, he declared his intention to return to Georgia State. After spring practices, the Panthers’ wide out entered the transfer portal, and reports indicated that both Texas A&M and Tennessee were seeking to add Hurst for depth at receiver. In the end, Hurst returned to Georgia State, and CFF fans rejoiced with the decision.

In 2024, Hurst earned Second Team All-Sun Belt and established a program record with nine touchdown catches. He totaled 56 receptions for 961 yards, averaging 17.2 ypc. Coming out of high school, the 6-3 and 185-pounder enrolled at Valdosta State and played two seasons for the Blazers, snatching 60 passes for 1,027 yards and 10 scores.

In the spring, the senior playmaker made the Dean’s List, and in the early summer, was named to Phil Steele’s preseason All-Sun Belt team. Second-year coach Dell McGee spent the offseason turning over the roster and signing a really good class of recruits. Hurst is the centerpiece of the aerial assault and will help CFF diehards in 2025.

Notebook: On social media, Hurst posted his decision to stay in 2025: “I am excited to announce that I will be returning to play for Georgia State under the guidance of coach Dell McGee. I’m Home, Let’s Run It Back. Go Panthers!”

Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech

Team Offense (Rank): 463 ypg. (9)
Passing Yards: 297 ypg. (9)
Points Scored: 37.6 ppg. (4)
2024 FPPG: 14.1

It is no secret that Texas Tech is determined to win the Big 12 and reach the College Football Playoffs. The Red Raiders signed at least 21 players to upgrade the overall roster in coach Joey McGuire’s fourth season at Lubbock, TX. A vertical threat, Caleb Douglas returns for a second campaign and seeks to impress NFL scouts in hopes of raising his Draft stock. CFF fanatics are excited to roster the Red Raiders’ big-play receiver in one of the top offenses in the nation.

At 6-4 and 210 pounds, Douglas was a three-star recruit from Texas in high school and signed with Florida over offers from USC, LSU, and Notre Dame. The senior suited up for two seasons at Florida but only made 21 catches for 308 yards and three scores. Afterwards, he transferred to Texas Tech for the 2024 season. He put together a breakout season in his debut with the Red Raiders. He finished as Texas Tech’s second-leading receiver, earning 101 targets and catching 60 passes for 877 yards and six touchdowns. He also posted four 100-yard games. I expect the Red Raiders to finish among the Top 20 offensive units in the nation, and Douglas easily surpasses last year’s production.

Notebook: At the Big 12 Media Days, Douglas spoke about preparing for the 2025 campaign: “Getting in-and-out of my breaks and working on every other aspect of playing receiver, blocking in the run game, and having more catches. At the end of the day, staying strong and being as healthy as I can be for the upcoming season.”

Trent Walker, Oregon State

Team Offense (Rank): 391 ypg. (60)
Passing Yards: 201 ypg. (94)
Points Scored: 24.3 ppg. (95)
2024 FPPG: 15.3

When constructing CFF rosters, an owner needs to balance upside with consistency among the receiver corps. I do not generally lean one side or another but seek a balance: three home run hitters, who can score over 25 points any given week, and three receivers, who average between 10-15 points, is a near-perfect roster build at the position.

In 2025, Trent Walker is one of the more consistent receivers with a high floor and low ceiling. He is available around the tenth round, and I often select Walker, who is rostered on seven of my CFF teams. Last year, Walker made a giant leap forward after three nondescript campaigns in Corvallis, OR. He corralled 81 passes for 901 yards and two touchdowns. He caught at least three passes in every game and accumulated over 50 receiving yards eight times.

Touchdowns are unpredictable, and Walker is in line to improve in the category after the Beavers signed QB Malik Murphy for a $1.5 million NIL deal, according to reports. Oregon State’s schedule is not intimidating, and the passing game will be improved with Murphy. Walker is a nice fourth or fifth receiver on CFF rosters.

Notebook: “The reliability Walker brings to the passing game is so crucial. He will help (QB) Malik Murphy get settled into the offense, and I think it would actually be a good thing to see his individual numbers regress a bit, as the rest of the receiving corps should be able to take some of the burden off of him,” Carter Bahns penned (Beaverblitz.com).