How loaded is the NFL with wide receiver talent? Between spectacular spikes and sudden drops, the pecking order for the very best at the position can change as quickly as a speedy target streaking through the open field.
Youth is serving the league well, with wideouts aged 26 or under dominating the league with their hands, route-running, reliability, and big-play ability.
From the reigning Triple Crown winner to a physical specimen getting a fresh start, here’s looking at the much-updated top 25. Just like with other Sporting News NFL player rankings, this is leaning a lot more toward season projection vs. past performance.
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NFL wide receiver rankings 2025
1. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (age: 25)
Chase is coming off leading the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,709), and receiving TDs (17). Working with Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins in Cincinnati, he can have another big season full of big plays. Between his open-field quickness after the catch and his field-stretching speed, he has become the league’s most dangerous receiver.
2. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (age: 26)
Jefferson is right there with his former LSU teammate Chase. His savvy route-running can get him open against everyone, and he can swiftly glide past defenders with the ball in his hands. The Minnesota star has now developed into a top scoring threat — so much so that he can take the Triple Crown soon, too.
3. Puka Nacua, Rams (age: 25)
Nacua is off to the races with his great two seasons as the Rams‘ new No. 1, giving them a seamless transition from Cooper Kupp. He had some injury issues in 2024, but he was the same type of chunk-play receiver when healthy.
4. Nico Collins, Texans (age: 26)
Collins has the classic size of a top outside target (6-4, 222 pounds), and he has delivered that way, consistently stretching the field and being a reliable red-zone threat as Houston‘s indispensable, young go-to guy.
5. Malik Nabers, Giants (age: 22)
Nabers came in expected to be as smooth as previous LSU receivers, going back to one-time Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. He’s a polished route-runner who proved he can get open for lesser QBs, and he can be helped with his production once rookie Jaxson Dart gets his shot.
6. Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (age: 22)
Where there’s a Chase and a Jefferson, Nabers and Thomas are on their Bayou heels. Thomas wasted no time showing the Jaguars he’s a complete alpha who commands the ball downfield and in the red zone. He can further thrive as Trevor Lawrence’s top target in the Mike Evans role in Liam Coen’s offense.
7. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (age: 25)
St. Brown exploded early as a dynamic slot, but he’s become a more complete alignment-independent receiver of late, upping his big-play juice and red-zone scoring. Those attributes are key in the Lions new offense.
8. A.J. Brown, Eagles (age: 28)
Brown is a game-changer for the Eagles with his field-stretching and double-team drawing. He uses all of his speed and plays bigger than his 6-1, 226 pounds to win many of his coverage battles.
9. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (age: 26)
Lamb is a wiry, elusive target at 6-2, 200 pounds. The Cowboys star thrives as both a big slot and strong intermediate route-runner, and he looks smooth with his hands and separation, often making it look easy for Dak Prescott.
10. Tee Higgins, Bengals (age: 26)
Higgins was having a big season that was ultimately limited by injuries last season. On every other team, he would be seen as a No. 1. With Chase on the other side, it’s hard to slow Higgins down given the quickness he packs in his 6-5, 220-pound frame
11. Mike Evans, Buccaneers (age: 31)
Evans has had unprecedented wire-to-wire consistency as he looks for his 12th consecutive 1,000-yard season and his seventh overall double-digit TD campaign in Tampa Bay. His connection with Baker Mayfield has rejuvenated him all over the field.
12. Davante Adams, Rams (age: 32)
Adams is right there with Evans on a path to the Hall of Fame with his late-career high level of play. He’s also looking for 10-plus TDs for a seventh season, which is a near lock now playing off Nacua in the Rams’ offense. His consistent excellence through multiple teams also deserves more appreciation.
13. Ladd McConkey, Chargers (age: 23)
McConkey developed an instant connection with Justin Herbert as the Chargers‘ new quick slot (6-0, 185 pounds) to replace Keenan Allen. He didn’t disappoint with his hands and routes, and now he’ll be helped by Allen’s return.
14. Terry McLaurin, Commanders (age: 29)
McLaurin has been a solid downfield receiver with his size and speed, but he turned up his intermediate play while scoring a career-high 13 TDs with his best QB to date, Jayden Daniels. Washington was smart to pay to keep that mojo intact.
15. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (age: 23)
Smith-Njigba’s slot work is similar to that of McConkey, with just a little bigger frame (6-0, 197 pounds). He emerged in his second season to push the team past DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, making him Seattle‘s clear No. 1 working (mostly) inside or outside while getting some help from former Ram Cooper Kupp.
16. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (age: 31)
Hill’s age-related slowdown and the cumulative effect of his injuries are containing his best asset of pure speed, but the Dolphins star can still drive defenses batty downfield with his savvy route-running and quickness after the catch.
17. DeVonta Smith, Eagles (age: 25)
Brown takes over the swole for Jalen Hurts in the Eagles offense, while Smith is more of the skinny diminutive dasher (6-0, 170 pounds) in relation. He is an off-the-charts route runner with underrated explosiveness.
18. Garrett Wilson, Jets (age: 25)
Wilson joined the club of young wide receivers getting their big payday, and he’s needed a ton to carry the passing game as the Jets offense transitions to a new scheme and QB, Justin Fields. Fields may feel better with Wilson than Aaron Rodgers did, revving up Wilson’s all-around go-to guy skills.
19. Drake London, Falcons (age: 31)
London, the first wide receiver taken in the 2022 draft ahead of Wilson and others, came into his own with his big frame (6-4, 215 pounds) in the Mike Evans vein last season. His spike to prolific production needs to come with more consistency, especially with Michael Penix Jr. now being Atlanta‘s full-time QB.
20. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (age: 29)
Godwin has dealt with the recent adversity of major knee and leg/ankle injuries, but he has persevered to remain a key part of their offense. There was a bit of a hiccup in his production until he thrived again as a primary ace slot last season.
21. Courtland Sutton, Broncos (age: 29)
Sutton went from a potential exit out of Denver to being an essential target in Bo Nix’s rookie season. He has always looked the part of a classic alpha at 6-4, 216 pounds, and that manifested into more apt production with a QB who could get him the ball all over the field.
22. Jameson Williams, Lions (age: 24)
Williams is another member of the 2022 draft class. Between suspension and injury issues, it took him a couple of seasons to find his big-play groove playing off St. Brown in the Lions’ offense. The speedy threat is now locked in, and he should benefit from a more aggressive passing game for Jared Goff.
23. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (age: 22)
McMillan has many of those promising qualities of Mike Evans and the other downfield and red-zone threats of his size (6-4, 219 pounds). Like Thomas, the Panthers‘ rookie also gets to benefit from a former Evans offensive scheme. He can be a career-changing go-to guy for Bryce Young as a rookie.
24. Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals (age: 23)
Harrison’s expectations were way too high as a rookie given his pedigree, but he needed time to work on the little things and streamline his game to deliver as the type of talent he is. Here’s lowering those expectations and setting up his true upside in Year 2 in Arizona.
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
25. DK Metcalf, Steelers (age: 27)
Metcalf was in desperate need of a change from the Seahawks’ offense, as he was rather limited as a size-speed threat at 6-4, 229 pounds. Going to Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers will advance his route-running and bring back his scoring prowess from early in his career, which is needed more than ever as a true No. 1.