The 2025 NFL Draft has now come and gone. While the NFL season is still a ways away, this was the last major shakeup of NFL rosters. With the landscape no longer subject to significant changes, it’s full steam ahead toward preparing for the upcoming fantasy football year.
Most dynasty rookie drafts will take place over the next couple of months, making right now the perfect time to update our 2025 dynasty rookie wide receiver rankings.
Top Rookie Wide Receivers To Draft in Dynasty Leagues
2025 PFSN Dynasty Rankings: Superflex | 1QB | QB | RB | WR | TE | Rookie SF | Rookie 1QB | Rookie RB
1) Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
I had bumped Luther Burden III ahead of Tetairoa McMillan prior to the draft. But draft capital matters. McMillan was always going to be the first WR off the board, but going at No. 8 overall is excellent draft capital.
McMillan’s talent was evident the moment he stepped foot on Arizona’s campus. As a true freshman, McMillan led the Pac-12 in yards per reception (18.0). Sure enough, he took a huge leap forward as a sophomore, catching 90 balls for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a junior, he led the Big 12 in receiving yards with 1,319, including five games with 100+ yards receiving.
At 6-foot-5, McMillan has all the makings of a classic X receiver. But he’s not just a go-up-and-get-it guy — he’s a polished route runner who should be able to win right away at the NFL level.
Don’t fret about McMillan’s 4.53 40-time. It’s not that important at wide receiver. He just needs to not be unathletically slow. A 4.53 time is fine.
McMillan is a lock to start right away, and the target competition could not be weaker. The Panthers’ wide receivers behind McMillan are 35-year-old Adam Thielen, 2024 UDFA Jalen Coker, and 2024 first-round bust Xavier Legette. McMillan should be an alpha target hog immediately and is the clear WR1 of this class.
2) Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s truly splitting hairs between Travis Hunter and McMillan. If you want to argue Hunter is the WR1 of this class, I certainly won’t stop you. Just look at his reception-perception performance as provided by Matt Harmon.
Talent-wise, it’s all there. Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He led the Big 12 in receptions and receiving scores. The main concern for his fantasy value is that two-way players simply do not exist anymore.
We’ll learn a lot more about the NFL’s plan for the Heisman Trophy winner in the coming months. Obviously, for fantasy purposes, we don’t want him playing much cornerback at all.
Hunter will certainly play some role on defense, but I’m banking on it being merely situational. The Jaguars traded up to get Hunter, and it was not cheap. There’s no way they make this move for a cornerback. Head coach Liam Coen already said Hunter will be an offensive player to start.
What keeps Hunter behind McMillan for me is the slightly better situation for McMillan. Hunter is competing with one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in Brian Thomas Jr. There are enough targets to go around, as the Jaguars lack a second option in the passing game — which should clearly be Hunter. But McMillan is the No. 1. Still, fantasy managers who snag Hunter should be thrilled.
3) Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last year, Emeka Egbuka was considered a first-round dynasty rookie selection. Then, he decided to return for his senior season.
We know the stigma against four-year players is real. However, it can also be taken too far. The reason early declarations are viewed more favorably is because they show an ability to perform at a high level sooner. Egbuka was capable of going to the NFL as a junior — he simply chose not to. Chris Olave did the same thing.
Egbuka caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Ohio State has a pretty good track record when it comes to producing NFL-caliber wide receivers. Given that Egbuka was pro-ready a year ago, he should be able to hit the ground running.
This feels very much like Olave’s situation, where the talented and NFL-ready WR was dinged for returning to school an extra year.
Egbuka didn’t need to be fast or super athletic — he’s a fundamentally sound receiver. But he did it anyway, running a 4.42 40-time for a 97th-percentile speed score.
The landing spot in Tampa Bay is both good and bad. It’s good because Egbuka joins a prolific offense with 30-year-old Baker Mayfield, who projects to be the starter for the better part of the next decade.
It’s bad because it may take a couple of years before Egbuka can truly reach his final form, as he will be firmly behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin this year. Evans, being 32 years old and Godwin being 29, while coming off another devastating knee injury — gives Egbuka a chance to rise faster. But pending Godwin’s health, Egbuka is opening the season as his team’s WR3, at best, whereas the other top receivers are all going to be at least their team’s WR2.
4) Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears
It’s fascinating how perceptions of players can change over time. I shot Luther Burden III up my board predraft, placing him at WR1 after the combine. Now, I’ve moved him down to WR4.
Some may ding Burden for the significant drop in production from his sophomore to junior years. In 2023, he had six 100-yard receiving games, yet he had only one last season.
However, it’s not entirely Burden’s fault. In fact, it may not be at all.
Missouri experienced injuries at the quarterback position, which played a huge role in Burden’s lack of gaudy numbers. As a reminder, he caught 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023.
Much like Egbuka, Burden landed in a spot where his team doesn’t need him. As a primary slot receiver, he’ll need the right offense and the right quarterback to maximize his potential. Ben Johnson is the perfect coach. We don’t yet know if Caleb Williams is the right quarterback, but it’s hard to imagine the Bears not scheming him the ball. He was the best receiver in the nation at forcing missed tackles last year.
At the same time, manufactured touches won’t be enough. But that’s all Burden may get as a rookie while competing with DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland for targets. Burden will likely need Odunze to fail or for Williams to become a truly elite quarterback to reach his potential.
5) Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers
I don’t like this ranking at all. If Matthew Golden is a bust like I think he will be, then there’s no spot I can place him that will feel right. I’d be doing all of you a disservice to ignore draft capital and landing spot.
Golden massively improved his draft stock with his 4.29 40-time, propelling him into the first round of the NFL Draft. The Packers making him their first Round 1 wide receiver since Javon Walker in 2002 says a lot.
On the one hand, he’s an early declare — which we love to see. He led the SEC in touchdown receptions as a junior, despite playing alongside the much more hyped Isaiah Bond.
On the other hand, he only had one year of decent production, and it wasn’t really that great: 58 catches for 987 yards and nine TDs as a junior. He averaged a paltry 1.82 yards per team pass attempt.
Ultimately, I struggle with wide receivers who rise largely due to speed. It’s just not something that matters at the position. Furthermore, history has shown that these super-fast sub-4.3 WRs are actually poor bets at the NFL level.
Of course, he has a chance to become a true WR1. Despite the deep wide receiver room, the Packers lack a go-to option. For now, just know that me putting him in the final spot of the first round is done reluctantly.
6–17) The Rest of the Rankings
6) Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans
7) Tre Harris, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
8) Jack Bech, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
9) Kyle Williams, WR, New England Patriots
10) Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans
11) Pat Bryant, WR, Denver Broncos
12) Jalen Royals, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
13) Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Detroit Lions
14) Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans
15) Savion Williams, WR, Green Bay Packers
16) Tai Felton, WR, Minnesota Vikings
17) Tory Horton, WR, Seattle Seahawks