The 2025 Season is in the books. For dynasty players, it’s a time to sit back, take stock, and see how players fared. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be looking back at the 2025, 2024, and 2023 classes by position. I’ll be evaluating if their stock rose, remained the same, or dropped over the course of the season. Now could be the time to sell high, buy low, or hold on to a winning hand. Today, I continue with the Wide Receivers from the draft class of 2025.
Stock Up
Tet McMillan, Carolina Panthers
About: McMillan was largely perceived to be the top receiver in the draft, even if he wasn’t the first one taken. He backed that up with his play on the field for a Panthers’ team that made the playoffs. He finished as WR16 and won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He’s the team’s WR1 and a great addition in Dynasty. In short, despite big expectations, he had an even better rookie year.
Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: Egbuka felt like something of a luxury pick for the Buccaneers, who already had Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and second-year man Jalen McMillan. And yet, when injuries depleted that group, Egbuka stepped up. He cooled a bit toward the end of the season, but still finished as WR23 on the season. Now that Evans is moving on, Egbuka is set up to take on a bigger role. It’s wheels up if he’s on your roster.
Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
About: Burden was an intriguing prospect coming into the draft, landing in a good spot with the Bears and Ben Johnson. Predictions for how he’d finish ranged from modest to over-the-top. After a slow start, Burden showed some good flashes down the stretch. He finished with a solid 47 receptions for 652 yards. Both Burden and tight end Colston Loveland showed more pop down the stretch. This off-season, the Bears traded D.J. Moore and let Olamide Zaccheaus leave in free agency. That portends more opportunities for Burden moving forward, as he’s likely the starter opposite Rome Odunze.
Stock Neutral
Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions
About: TeSlaa was an eyebrow-raising pick when it was made, but he seemed to fit the Lions’ offense. He finished his rookie year with 16 receptions for 239 yards and six touchdowns. He is a deep-league roster stash that doesn’t have any real week-to-week value due to a very low floor. That remains unchanged.
Pat Bryant, Denver Broncos
About: Bryant struggled with consistency and health as a rookie. Still, I liked the flashes of what I saw. He finished with 31 receptions for 378 yards and a touchdown. I thought there was space for him to step up in year two. But the Broncos made a trade for Jaylen Waddle. Waddle and Courtland Sutton sit atop the depth chart, with a logjam between Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, and Bryant. That leaves his value in flux, and thus leaves him stuck in neutral on this list. I think he could still take a small step forward in year two, but his ceiling is likely capped.
Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans
About: Dike and Ayomanor were part of the youth movement for the Titans’ offense in 2025, coming in alongside veteran Calvin Ridley. The Titans’ offense wasn’t great. But it’s a new coaching staff and a new lease on offense. So, why are these guys stuck in Neutral? Well, the Titans already added Wan’Dale Robinson and might add more in the draft. It’s also unclear how the receivers, who lack significant draft capital, fit in a new offensive scheme. For now, they are a hold without a clear week-to-week value.
Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks
About: Horton was an interesting pick that made some splashes as a rookie. Then the team acquired Rashid Shaheed mid-season. That seemed to block Horton’s path to a bigger role. This off-season, the Seahawks re-signed Shaheed. This leaves the team with the same top three receivers all returning. Horton has talent, and he’s in the mix, but he doesn’t have a clear path to touches. He’s a deep league stash or possible handcuff.
Stock Down
Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
About: Despite being the second overall pick and doing a buddy commercial with Trevor Lawrence, Hunter wasn’t really a big factor on offense for the Jaguars. He finished with 28 receptions for 298 yards before being lost for the season. Now, the talk this off-season is that in year two, he’ll be a starting cornerback and only occasional contributor on offense. That’s not what you want to hear if you took him at the top of your rookie draft. Maybe he’ll be more involved, but it doesn’t look as if he’s going to be a primary receiver or a starting option in fantasy outside of IDP leagues any time soon.
Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers
About: The Packers have historically been resistant to taking receivers in the First Round. That was what raised eyebrows when Golden was taken 23rd overall. And yet, he didn’t have a big impact on the field. He finished with just 29 receptions for 361 yards and no touchdowns. Golden is fast and has talent, but it wasn’t a great debut. He has a chance to step up in year two, but for now, he’s not a reliable starting option.
Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans
About: The Texans took not one but two bites at the receiver apple in the 2025 NFL Draft. They nabbed former teammates in Higgins and Noel. But neither really showed much offensively in 2025. They combined for 67 receptions. Higgins did add six touchdowns, but considering the injuries and opportunities, it was underwhelming. Still, both remain a part of the answer for the Texans moving forward. But for the time being, neither is a reliable starting option.
Tre Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Wide receiver seemed to be an area of need for the Chargers in 2025, which made the selection of Harris intriguing. But the team added veterans and took a different route, leaving Harris without a consistent role. He finished the season with just 30 receptions on 43 targets in 17 games. Harris is another young player who could see his role expand in year two. Fantasy players have to hope that will happen. But it’s hardly a lock. Harris is another stash without a clear week-to-week role.
Jack Bech, Las Vegas Raiders
About: No team has less going for it at receiver than the Raiders. Bech was the receiver they locked onto in the draft, grabbing him in the Second Round of the NFL Draft. The receiver ended up with just 20 receptions on 29 targets. The Raiders still don’t have much at receiver, and yet it’s unlikely Bech will play a major role. Despite his draft capital, I’m not sure he even NEEDS to be rostered. If you do, you’re just stashing him, hoping he can emerge in a new offense.
Kyle Williams, New England Patriots
About: The Patriots are another team that needs receivers and receiver production. And yet, Williams had little role in 2025. He finished with just 10 receptions for 209 yards despite a Third-Round draft position. This off-season, improving at receiver is a No. 1 priority for the defending AFC Champions. And yet, Williams doesn’t seem to be a part of that long-term plan. He’s another player who’s a deep league stash at best.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
