<\/p>\n
As the top wideout in Pittsburgh in 2024, Pickens recorded 900 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns. Having a down year from his 2023 season, where he had over 1100 receiving yards, the organization decided this was enough of a regression to move on. He joins a dominant group of receivers, including Lamb, Jake Ferguson, Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin. Dak Prescott, who is coming off a season-ending injury in 2024, will lead them, and it will be a challenge even to match his 2024 statistics.<\/p>\n
As a sixth-round pick in 12-man fantasy leagues in 2025, there are too many what-ifs to make Pickens worth drafting in this position. Given Prescott\u2019s uncertainty in 2025 after a partial hamstring avulsion and Pickens\u2019s transition to being the wide receiver two for the first time since his rookie season, he is not set up for success in 2025.<\/p>\n
2. D.J. Moore <\/p>\n
In 2024, Moore recorded 966 receiving yards and six touchdowns, marking a 398-yard decrease from 2023. Several changes may have contributed to the decline in performance for this eight-year veteran. Some of these include the addition of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the acquisition of veteran Keenan Allen, or the selection of former rookie Rome Odunze. Any one of these factors could have caused a hiccup in his career, but the situation is only going to get worse.<\/p>\n
The DJ Moore drop hurts way, way worse on the rewatch \u2014 Fields drops this thing in the bucket *under pressure*!<\/p>\n
It was nobody’s say last Sunday, but it hasn’t been anyone but Andrew Billings’ day all season. This can’t last. pic.twitter.com\/7QtMROHrTT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) September 25, 2023<\/a> <\/p>\n In 2025, Moore will be sharing receptions with familiar teammates from 2024, including Odunze and Cole Kmet. There are also several new faces on the roster who are eager to take the spotlight, such as Olamide Zaccheaus, Devin Duvernay, and the highly anticipated rookie, Luther Burden III. With a sophomore quarterback leading the charge and only having a season to work together, it doesn\u2019t give him much of an advantage over any of the other receivers.<\/p>\n Drafted in fantasy leagues as the 45th<\/a> overall pick and ranked as the 21st wide receiver, there are too many risks with the Chicago Bears\u2019 construction to justify this high ranking. With the new addition of Burden III and the return of Odunze and Kmet, Moore will always be matched up against the best pass-defending cornerback, leading to more opportunities for his teammates. This could benefit Chicago in 2025 by providing multiple talented players to pass to, but it will result in Moore having the worst statistical season of his career.<\/p>\n 1. Brian Thomas Jr. <\/p>\n Last season, Thomas Jr. emerged as one of the top rookie wide receivers, amassing 1,282 receiving yards and scoring 10 touchdowns on 87 receptions. This feat was even more remarkable considering he had Trevor Lawrence for only ten games and Mac Jones for the remaining seven. Having almost a picture-perfect rookie season statistically was a great start to this young receiver\u2019s career, but it\u2019s going to get more complicated the longer he is in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n In the 2025 NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected the dynamic wide receiver\/cornerback Travis Hunter with the second overall pick. With receivers like Thomas Jr., Dyami Brown, Brenton Strange, Parker Washington, and the addition of Hunter, the organization now has a receiver room that can match up with any secondary in the NFL. If Lawrence can stay healthy, he has every tool he needs to bring this team back to the playoffs, something they haven\u2019t achieved since 2022.<\/p>\n Heading into the 2025 season, Thomas will start out being the feature receiver on the team, but how long till Hunter steals his shine? Being drafted as the 15th overall pick and ranked as the eighth wide receiver across fantasy leagues, it\u2019s a gigantic risk drafting him, knowing Thomas could get overshadowed by a talented rookie. Some analysts project he will reach 1300<\/a> yards in 2025, but it\u2019s an unrealistic expectation based on who he will be fighting for targets with.<\/p>\n End Of My Fantasy Wide Receiver Busts Rant <\/p>\n Every fantasy player will have a different take on who they believe will be a bust in 2025. I highly recommend avoiding these three wide receivers at their projected draft positions. If any of these players are drafted a few rounds later than their projections, being selected well below their expected value, they could serve as valuable depth on a roster. There are too many variables that prevent them from being top receivers in the league in 2025.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t see any of these receivers surpassing 1,000 receiving yards this season. The best of the group will be Thomas Jr., with my projection being around 900 yards playing a similar role to that of Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins. Moore and Pickens will decline significantly this season, and both have their worst statistical season of their careers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n