Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Draft Busts for 2025: Tee Higgins, Rashee Rice and More Make the List

Let's continue the fantasy football draft bust and steal series by looking at possible wide receiver busts.

We've looked at running back busts and steals and quarterback steals and busts so far.

I'll be using the FantasySP Average Draft Position list for help in identifying some possible busts. I'm going to limit myself to the wide receivers currently going in the top-100 picks.

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Malik Nabers - Giants

I hate to put Nabers on this list, because I love him as a fantasy asset, but he has a higher chance of busting this season than he does of being a draft steal.

He's going to have a new quarterback, and defenses are going to do their best to take Nabers away this season. I think he's going to have a monster second season, but there's a chance he underperforms based on his preseason draft hype.

Nabers is the fifth receiver off draft boards, going at pick eight on average.

Brian Thomas - Jaguars

Thomas is in a similar boat to Nabers in that he's a second-year receiver, and coming off a monster rookie season. He's the eighth receiver off boards, and going at pick 15 on average.

Again, defenses are going to try to take him out of the picture each week, and with some of Trevor Lawrence's overall struggles, Thomas isn't the most sure fantasy option already. There's a better chance Thomas busts then becomes a draft steal again.

Tee Higgins - Bengals

Higgins is the No. 13 wideout on the ADP list and is going at pick 28 on average. When he's on the field, Higgins is a top-end fantasy wideout option, but he's missed too many games over the past two seasons.

He's already the second receiving option after Ja'Marr Chase and that means he's already got a lower fantasy ceiling. I just think that ADP is a bit too high right now - maybe things will be better as the season approaches.

Rashee Rice - Chiefs

Rice got in just four games last season because of an injury, so to see him as the No. 16 receiver and going around pick 33 is a bit alarming to me.

He's got a super high ceiling on the Chiefs, but Kansas City has also revamped its passing game and has other good options now, so Rice might not be the No. 1 receiver every game.

Unless his ADP drops, I think Rice is going to be a player I skip in drafts for the upcoming season.

Garrett Wilson - Jets

Wilson is going around pick 34 and is the 17th wideout off draft boards so far. I'm just not a big fan of the team around him.

If you've read my work in the past, you know I'm not a big believer in Justin Fields, especially as a passer. Wilson is easily the top receiving target in New York, so on volume alone he can be a major fantasy asset. I still think he's going too early in fantasy drafts, and I'd personally be looking elsewhere for fantasy wideout help.

Tetairoa McMillan - Panthers

I was a bit surprised to see McMillan as the No. 26 wideout and going at pick 54 on average.

He's likely going to be the top wideout for Carolina, but with the inconsistent Bryce Young throwing to him, I'm not a major fan of McMillan going into his rookie season. 

McMillan should be drafted in standard drafts, but not this early, in my opinion. We'll see if he can prove me wrong eventually.

George Pickens - Cowboys

Pickens is the No. 29 receiver off draft boards, going at pick 59 on average so far. I think that's too early for him going into his first season with Dallas.

He'll play second fiddle to CeeDee Lamb, which might seem favorable to most. I just don't see him finishing as a top-30 fantasy wideout though, so drafting him inside that doesn't make sense to me. Unless he falls a bit, I'm likely skipping Pickens in drafts.

Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders

Samuel is going around pick 81 as the No. 39 fantasy wideout off draft boards so far. Going into his first season with Washington, I think Samuel is overrated.

He will be behind Terry McLaurin, who is the clear star wideout for the Commanders. There's enough other talent at wideout to possibly make Samuel pretty sparsely used as a pass catcher.

Samuel could get enough work as a ball carrier to gain more fantasy value, but with Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler among the running backs on the team, there's not a huge role for Samuel there either. I'm skipping Samuel unless he drops a couple more rounds.