In 2024 the likes of Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr, and Ladd McConkey made massive impacts both in the NFL and for Fantasy Football as rookie wide receivers. Thomas Jr scored the fourth most PPR (points per reception) Fantasy Points, Nabers the sixth most, and McConkey (tied) the 12th most for the position. We also saw rookie wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr, Rome Odunze, Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall, and Jalen McMillan flash for Fantasy Football, just not as consistently. While it was great to have this list of rookie wide receivers impacting Fantasy Football in 2024, this is definitely not a new concept in the Fantasy world.
Understanding the positional landscape before an NFL Draft can give you an edge in your future Fantasy Football drafts for a rookie class. The NFL Draft will shake rankings and values due to landing spot and draft capital, but I wanted to take a look at this wide receiver class and give my top six guys, in order. Why six? I ranked my top six running backs recently from this class, and once again, I feel six wide receivers stand out the most and need to be known. Wide receiver classes are typically somewhat deep, and this one has some good names beyond the six listed below to dive deeper into later. For my top six, I will plug their stats, give you details about their perceived skill sets, and then give NFL comparisons. Let me know if you agree or disagree with this order:
Skrip’s Top 6 WRs in the 2025 NFL Draft Class for Fantasy Football
6. Matthew Golden (Texas)
2022 (11 games at Houston)
- 38 receptions for 585 receiving yards and seven touchdowns
2023 (nine games at Houston)
- 38 receptions for 404 receiving yards and six touchdowns
2024 (16 games at Texas)
- 58 receptions for 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns
Matthew Golden raised some eyebrows at this year’s NFL Combine, running the fastest 40-yard dash for the position and the second fastest of any player this year with a 4.29. Golden’s first season at Texas, during his final college season in 2025, was his breakout year, and he was named 2nd-Team All-SEC.
Golden has versatility in his wide receiver role and can play both inside and outside. Golden is consistent at producing at all three levels but stands out due to his long speed and burst to make the big plays. Golden is a separator due to his great alternating route tempo along with his route-running abilities. Golden’s ball-tracking skills help him make the big plays, and his upside in that department is evident by his 17 yards per catch in 2024. Golden competes heavily, plays through contact, and protects the ball well. Golden offers field-stretching qualities that can translate to FLEX appeal for Fantasy Football.
NFL Comps:
- Optimistic: Chris Olave
- Realistic: John Metchie III
5. Tre Harris (Ole Miss)
2020 (Seven games at Louisiana Tech)
- One reception for 20 receiving yards
2021 (12 games at Louisiana Tech)
- 40 receptions for 562 receiving yards and four touchdowns
2022 (12 games at Louisiana Tech)
- 65 receptions for 935 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns
2023 (12 games at Ole Miss)
- 54 receptions for 985 receiving yards and eight touchdowns
2024 (Eight games at Ole Miss)
- 60 receptions for 1,030 receiving yards and seven touchdowns
Tre Harris has finished three straight seasons with solid receiving yard production, but led the nation in receiving yards per game in 2024. Harris was a 1st-Team All-C-USA in 2022 and a Third-Team All-SEC in 2024 during his career.
Harris is a deep-ball threat with elite ball tracking down the field. Harris has alignment versatility with solid field awareness. Size, length, natural hands, body control, a great catch radius, and contested catch qualities give Harris this noted upside. Harris has a physical red zone presence and can be a threat there as well. Harris controls his pace and tempo well and has progressed in his route-running. This man is used to a heavy workload. There is a lot of upside qualities to Harris’ game that scream future Fantasy Football upside FLEX.
NFL Comps:
- Optimistic: Nico Collins
- Realistic: Alec Pierce
4. Luther Burden III (Missouri)
2022 (13 games)
- 45 receptions for 375 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns
- 18 rushing attempts for 88 yards and two rushing touchdowns
2023 (13 games)
- 86 receptions for 1,212 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns
- 7 rushing attempts for 31 rushing yards
2024 (12 games)
- 61 receptions for 676 receiving yards and six touchdowns
- 9 rushing attempts for 115 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns
Burden’s 2023 season was what put his name on the map before the impacts of a change in use and poor quarterback play in 2024 aided some regression. Burden finished ninth in the FBS in receiving yards back in 2023. Burden was a 1st-Team All-SEC selection in both 2023 and 2024.
Burden is a catch-and-run specialist with yards after catch upside on short throws. Burden has post-catch burst and acceleration that adds to those qualities. Burden has dynamic playmaking abilities with natural instincts and can contribute plenty on special teams. Burden successfully separates at all three levels, has good top-end speed and acceleration, along with alignment versatility. Burden’s ball skills help him win; he is a natural hands catcher and has deep ball tracking qualities. Burden has solid body control for having a compact build and has athletic roots. Burden is twitchy and has a solid change of direction. If Burden is properly utilized like he was in 2023 at the NFL level, he can certainly have some major PPR upside with his playmaking abilities.
NFL Comps:
- Optimistic: Deebo Samuel
- Realistic: Curtis Samuel
3. Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
2021 (10 games):
- Nine receptions for 191 receiving yards
2022 (13 games):
- 74 receptions for 1,151 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns
- 11 rushing attempts for 87 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns
2023 (10 games):
- 41 receptions for 515 receiving yards and four touchdowns
- Five rushing attempts for 25 rushing yards
2024 (16 games):
- 81 receptions for 1,011 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns
- Eight rushing attempts for 33 rushing yards
There have been a ton of wide receivers who were successful in the NFL as Ohio State alumni, but Emeka Egbuka is the all-time receiving yard leader for the program. Egbuka has been a three-time All-Big 10 team selection as a 2nd-Team selection in 2022 and a 3rd-Team nod in both 2023 and 2024. Egbuka was part of a National Championship win in 2024.
Egbuka can play both inside and outside, but primarily is a slot wide receiver with natural route-running fluidity. Egbuka shows toughness and competitiveness with racking up the yards after the catch, and is a reliable hands catcher. Egbuka works in traffic, attacks the ball, is a strong and physical receiver, and competes in blocking. Egbuka has ball-tracking skills and body adjustment comfort. Egbuka is looked at as a very “safe” prospect with a “high-floor”. Egbuka has the skillset to be a PPR machine as a reliable slot outlet for his future NFL quarterback.
NFL Comps:
- Optimistic: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Realistic: Tyler Boyd
2. Travis Hunter (Colorado)
2023 (Nine games):
- 57 receptions for 721 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns
- 30 total tackles, three interceptions, five passes defended
2024 (13 games):
- 96 receptions for 1,258 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns
- Two rushing attempts for five rushing yards and a rushing touchdown
- 36 total tackles, four interceptions, 11 passes defended, one forced fumble
Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy, Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, Biletnikoff Award, Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Paul Hornung Award, was named Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year, and was 1st-Team All-Big 12 in 2024. Hunter won these awards as a combo wide receiver and cornerback, which he has voiced in full that he wants to continue operating as in the NFL. We are unsure exactly the exact percentage of time he will play at wide receiver or cornerback in the NFL, and that will be dependent on the team that selects him.
Hunter has an extremely high processing speed, football IQ, athleticism, anticipation, and instincts on both sides of the ball. Hunter’s elite ball skills make him a true playmaker on both sides of the ball as well. Hunter has catch focus and strength and is also a contested catch winner on both sides of the ball. Hunter’s competitiveness and stamina are unmatched. Hunter has burst at all levels, works back to passes, opens up when needed as a receiver, and his yards after catch abilities are evident. Twitch, fluidity, change of tempo, and acceleration are all sound qualities as well that add to his athleticism. For Fantasy Football, there are a lot of questions, but if Hunter does play full snaps at wide receiver, then he has the traits of a future Fantasy Football star.
NFL Comps: DeVonta Smith, Champ Bailey, Darius Slay, Patrick Surtain
1. Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)
2022 (12 games):
- 39 receptions for 702 receiving yards and eight touchdowns
2023 (13 games):
- 90 receptions for 1,402 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns
2024 (12 games):
- 84 receptions for 1,319 receiving yards and eight touchdowns
Tet McMillan earned 3rd-Team Associated Press All-American honors and 2nd-Team All-Pac 12 honors in 2023, then in 2024 earned 1st-Team Associated Press and 1st-Team All-Big 12 honors. McMillan finished #3 in receiving yards for 2024 and #5 in receiving yards in 2023 for the FBS as Arizona’s all-time leader in the category.
McMillan uses his size effectively and has good hands, a great catch radius, body control, 50-50 ball-winning upside, and possession wide receiver traits. McMillan is a playmaker and that is evident by his ball-tracking qualities on the deep throws, run after catch upside, and elite ball skills. Tet is a three-level wide receiver with positional versatility. The numbers above make it clear that Tet was a consistently high statistical producer, with yardage and touchdown upside as a future red zone threat. 6’5 – 210 lbs that shows great football IQ and dominating traits through the air. For me, Tet is the clear WR1 of this class as the only player I am comfortable labeling as a future alpha WR1 of his NFL team. McMillan checks a ton of boxes and simply looks ready to make an NFL impact as a rookie.
NFL Comps: Pro-type Drake London / Mike Evans type of wide receiver
