Week 1 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings: Mike Evans in the Top 10, the First Rookie at No. 16, and More
Morgan gives his week 1 fantasy football rankings for wide receivers.
It's time for the final week 1 fantasy football ranking story!
After looking at quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends already, we will end with wide receivers. We'll address things from a PPR perspective and list 30 wideouts.
Check out week 1 fantasy football projections for wide receivers on FantasySP as well.
There shouldn't be any surprise here - Chase will rank first most weeks.
He has a matchup against the Browns in week 1, which is a super favorable matchup based on last year's numbers.
2. Puka Nacua
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Nacua opens his season against the Texans, who are an above-average matchup based on last year.
Even with Davante Adams around, I see Nacua going off this season, and it will start with a great showing in week 1.
Jefferson has a tough matchup against the Bears to kick off his season, but he's a player to trust in every matchup.
You drafted him early, and you should expect him to be a top-three fantasy wideout every week.
4. CeeDee Lamb
Lamb has a tough matchup against the Eagles in week 1, but again, this is a highly-drafted player who you need to trust in every matchup.
We'll see if Lamb can get his season off to a hot start. On volume alone, he should produce big numbers.
5. Nico Collins
I'm not a huge fan of Collins, but when he's healthy, he's a great weekly option.
A slightly above-average matchup against the Rams sets Collins up for a big first week, and he should deliver big numbers.
6. Mike Evans
FantasySP's projections love Evans this week, and so do I. He has a very favorable test against the Falcons.
He's easily the top wideout in Tampa Bay, and down Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, Evans should really shine in week 1. Evans is close to being a must-start guy anyways, but this week, I really like him.
7. Malik Nabers
Give me Nabers in the No. 7 slot. He takes on the Commanders in week 1.
It's a so-so fantasy matchup, but on volume along, Nabers should shine every week he's out there.
8. Brian Thomas
Give me another one of last year's rookie wideouts at No. 8 in Thomas, who takes on the Panthers.
It's a slightly above-average matchup based on last year's marks, and I see Thomas getting his 2025 season off on the right foot.
This might seem low for St. Brown, but the Packers were a tough matchup for fantasy wideouts last season.
After factoring in the tough matchup and adding in the new-look Lions' offense, I'm not as high on ARSB this week.
10. A.J. Brown
Give me Brown to cap my top 10. He goes up against the Cowboys in week 1, which is a very favorable matchup on paper.
Brown should lead the Eagles' pass catchers most weeks, and this matchup gives him a chance to deliver right off the bat.
11. Drake London
London slides to No. 11 as he gets ready for a test with the Buccaneers.
It's a pretty favorable matchup on paper, but I'm not all in on Michael Penix Jr. and this offense yet, so I'm pumping the brakes a bit on London.
12. Tee Higgins
Already our second Bengal here at No. 12, but that matchup against Cleveland is just so good, that we can't wait on Higgins any longer.
He should put up plenty of numbers each week, even while playing second fiddle to Chase. Look for both wideouts to star in week 1.
13. Tyreek Hill
I see a bounceback season coming for Hill, and like his chances of starting fast against an average Colts' defense.
I'd probably rank him higher if he wasn't dealing with an injury.
14. Terry McLaurin
McLaurin has a new contract and is the clear top wideout for the Commanders, so he should be a great weekly option.
A matchup against the Giants is a pretty average test to start the season.
15. Ladd McConkey
McConkey is the top wideout for the Chargers for now. He takes on the Chiefs in week 1.
He'll be the top pass catcher most weeks for LA, and an average matchup should allow McConkey to get off to a solid start.
I'm taking a swing here and saying the rookie opens the year with a big game against the Jaguars.
It's a very favorable matchup, so McMillan gets the nod over several veterans I could have taken here.
Smith-Njigba has a tougher test against the Niners, but I think he'll be a good option against most teams this season, so I'm fine taking him in the top 20.
What I'm most interested to see is how many targets Cooper Kupp gets, and how Sam Darnold looks as the Seattle QB.
18. Xavier Worthy
Worthy will take on a pretty average Chargers' defense in week 1.
Worthy should serve as the top wideout, with Rashee Rice suspended for the first six weeks. Jalen Royals likely being out too helps Worthy's outlook even more.
19. Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy opens his 2025 season against the Bengals, who were actually pretty solid at slowing fantasy wideouts last season.
Jeudy is easily the top wideout for Cleveland, and with Joe Flacco at QB to start, Jeudy should be a pretty solid fantasy asset in the early going.
20. Davante Adams
Adams is the second LA Ram wideout to crack the list.
The matchup against Houston is favorable enough for both he and Nacua to deliver good fantasy totals in week 1.
21. Marvin Harrison Jr.
Give me Harrison at No. 21 as he gets ready for the Saints' defense.
Harrison is the top Arizona wideout, and I think he will break out in 2025. He could get started well in this favorable matchup.
22. Garrett Wilson
I'm not a huge fan of Wilson, or many on this Jets' offense, but I think Wilson is being slept on a bit in week 1.
The Steelers are a pretty average matchup, and as the clear top pass catcher for the Jets, Wilson could put up good numbers on volume alone.
23. Zay Flowers
Flowers will go up against the Bills in week 1, which is a slightly below-average matchup based on last year.
He's the top wideout for Baltimore, and in what figures to be a high-scoring affair, Flowers could put up some big fantasy numbers.
24. Emeka Egbuka
Another Bucs' receiver here at No. 24. The matchup against the Falcons is really standing out to me.
Egbuka should take on a larger role early in the season, and he could put up some big-time numbers as a result. I could see him finishing way above this spot, especially if he finds the end zone.
25. D.J. Moore
Moore and the Chicago wideouts have the best fantasy matchup based on last year's numbers. The problem is that there's several options on the Bears' offense, so that's why Moore ranks so low for me.
We'll see if the Ben Johnson-led Chicago offense can keep putting up big numbers against the Vikings' secondary.
26. Courtland Sutton
I'm a big fan of Sutton and the Broncos' offense in 2025, but a brutal matchup against the Titans' defense has me down on the top wideout for the team.
He should be targeted enough to put up a solid fantasy score still.
27. DK Metcalf
I like Metcalf to lead the Steelers' pass-catching group in 2025. He has a tougher test in week 1 against the Jets though.
I'm really interested to see how the offense looks with so many new pieces in place. On volume though, Metcalf should put up solid fantasy totals.
28. DeVonta Smith
Another Philly wideout here - I love that matchup against the Cowboys.
Smith isn't as consistent as Brown, but Smith can still deliver fantasy starter-worthy fantasy totals. This matchup is right for that to happen.
29. Jaylen Waddle
A second Miami wideout here at No. 29 with Waddle. The average-or-so matchup against the Colts is worth testing with two guys.
I see Miami passing more with De'Von Achane banged up. Adding in Hill's injury and Waddle could easily outproduce this ranking - this is just where I feel most confident putting him.
30. Ricky Pearsall
There were a number of guys I wanted to put at No. 30, but I ended up on Pearsall. He has an average test against the Seahawks in week 1.
I like Pearsall to lead the San Fran wideouts early in the season. Injuries to Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings should help Pearsall out, but the presence of George Kittle will cap his fantasy ceiling a bit too.
