Pre-NFL Draft Prospect Preview: Wide Receivers

As the 2025 NFL Draft is approaching, there are a lot of names that fantasy managers should know as this year's wide receiver class has some players who could be immediate difference makers or draft day busts. The hard part is deciding which category they will fit into. Matt breaks down his analysis of the top wide receiver prospects to know in your dynasty rookie drafts.

Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona): NFL Comp – Michael Pittman Jr.

McMillan possesses a decent catch radius and can make plays when he has the ball in space. He’s not afraid to block for which will help him stay on the field. He struggled from a lack of consistent quarterback play which held him back from having a larger impact in a game-by-game basis. He’s also been randomly removed from the gameplan at times, which isn’t entirely his fault. He seems to have some struggles breaking tackles and is used as a decoy for his team more than I’d like to see. I also saw issues with drops and separation which is somewhat worrisome. I wasn’t overly impressed with his skills in 50/50 situations, but I think most of that was inaccuracy at the pass.

Fantasy Impact:

While he has talent, he needs the right situation to become a reliable fantasy asset. If he were to sign with the Chargers, Rams, Packers, or Chiefs, I’d be interested in him. However, in any other situation, I think he’ll likely end up being an ancillary piece that’s more boom/bust than reliable. Consistency is an issue with his film. He’s not the most polished wide receiver in the class, and I’m afraid that his opportunity might be limited if he’s forced into a situation where he needs to be the number one target for an offense. I had similar concerns about Keon Coleman heading into his rookie season. Either way, he should be one of, if not the first WR off the board in April.

Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State): NFL Comp – DJ Moore

Good hands and a solid route runner; he can be used in motion and earns targets from his quarterback. He can get good separation and has excellent hands in the red zone. As a possession receiver, he has the ability to break big plays. He is a reliable receiver and can be used creatively all over the field. While he may not break many tackles, he makes up for it with his extensive route tree. He’s an unselfish player who runs at full speed even on plays he doesn’t get a touch which shows character.

Fantasy Impact:

His skill set and opportunity should make him a highly sought after target by any team in need of a reliable WR. Similar to JSN, he is very good at finding the open space and being in a position where his QB can make a play. I may go against the consensus, but I would rather have him than any other wide receiver in this class. He seems to have the potential to be a huge draft day value in fantasy.

Luther Burden (Missouri): NFL Comp – Deebo Samuel lite

Yards after catch (YAC) is his strongest attribute. He’s incredibly creative with the ball in his hands and has excellent start/stop motion which allows him to be very good at moving the ball in space. There were many designed plays specifically for him. It also takes more than just an arm tackle to bring him down which bodes well for his ceiling. He has very quick feet and can turn on a dime with above average athleticism.

Fantasy Impact:

Landing on a team with a creative offensive mind would be the best fit for him with my favorite landing spots for him would be the Rams, Packers, or Ravens. He has the skill set to be a very efficient fantasy WR. Don’t be surprised if he is the first WR off the board in your drafts depending on his landing spot.

Travis Hunter (Colorado): NFL Comp – Chris Godwin

This will serve as a temporary placeholder since we’re uncertain about his positional versatility, potentially playing CB, WR, or both. What impressed me about him on film was his ability to locate open spaces on the field for his quarterback to find him. I observed this frequently, and I believe it has the potential to translate well to the NFL as when the line breaks down, it is a big benefit to have a WR that knows how to create space from coverage and allow his QB to find an open man in a scramble. He’s above average at catching the ball in both contested and non-contested situations, as well as while running in stride.

Fantasy Impact:

While he has the potential to be a valuable fantasy wide receiver, his positional situation and the presence of established receiving options on the team that selects him will play a crucial role in determining his success. With the high injury risk in football, it also might not be in the best interest of a franchise to have a player who is a big part of not one, but two important phases of the game. If he were to get injured, that would mean the team would have to replace two players vs. one. If he does select WR, I don’t believe he’d thrive in a role as the primary target, but rather in a 1A-1B situation where he doesn’t consistently draw top coverage. Either way, he could become a decent value pick in rookie drafts. It’s going to be a decision with how risk-averse you want to be in the event that he does not actually play WR in the NFL.

Tre Harris (Ole Miss): NFL Comp – Gabe Davis

Watching him, I had a mixed bag of thoughts. If he’s hit in stride, he can make big plays, but he struggled with consistency. I liked how he was utilized on the field and where he was lined up. He’s a big-bodied wide receiver who can play outside the numbers as well as in the slot. If he joins a team with a creative play-caller, he could be a valuable asset for a dynasty roster.

Fantasy Impact:

Tre Harris is going to be one of the names this draft cycle that landing spot is going to turn him into a must draft vs. a risky pick. He has skills that can be used well by an NFL offense, but if he gets drafted into a situation where there are established players ahead of him, I fear he might end up getting lost in the depth chart and become more of an ancillary piece.

Matthew Golden (Texas): NFL Comp – Chris Olave

Overall, I enjoyed his film. He is strong at the catch point and I liked his utilization. My worry though, is that he primarily excels in low-ADOT situations, which could limit his fantasy ceiling. Golden thrives in space, where he frequently makes big plays. He’s got both short and long speed which is an asset that is heavily utilized in the NFL by most offensive coordinators. I envision him being used by a franchise in the way Hollywood Brown was during his Ravens tenure. In fact, I think his best landing spot would be the Ravens.

Fantasy Impact:

I did see some issues with separation, however in the right system with the right coach, I can see that being fixed quickly. Golden’s strongest asset is his ability to catch the ball in stride. He will be a day 2 pick which will give him a lot of opportunity. Based on his skill set, Golden should be a value pick in rookie drafts.

Isaiah Bond (Texas): NFL Comp – Tyler Lockett

Although I don’t think he has a big ceiling, he does possess some traits that could be useful in fantasy as more of a flex WR. I liked how he was utilized in the redzone in motion. He has shown flashes of speed despite his 40 time being lower than promised. Bond could be one of the WRs in the class that falls into a great situation based on his projected draft cost, but what he does with that is going to be a question.

Fantasy Impact:

If he lands on a team that is in need of a gadget type WR or has a QB who tends to pass more toward the redzone, I think he could be a value pick in drafts this year. I wouldn’t take him early as I just don’t see the ceiling being there.

Elic Ayomanor (Stanford): NFL Comp – Juju Smith-Schuster

I have to admit, I think Elic might be my favorite target in drafts this year. His tape was very impressive, and I think he may find his way into a great situation. He was heavily targeted and was a key piece in the offense.

Fantasy Impact:

With his combination of size and extensive route tree, he can be a very successful NFL and fantasy WR. I’m putting my flag down on him as a guy I am not leaving a draft without. His ceiling could be one of the best in the class and I also think his floor should be serviceable as a flex WR to start with the chance that he grows into a larger role.

Xavier Restrepo (Miami): NFL Comp – Hunter Renfrow

I can see how Xavier could become a useful NFL WR, however I’m not sure if that will translate for fantasy managers. He had success in the middle of the field, but I saw some inconsistencies with his hands and route running. I wasn’t overly impressed with his run blocking skills and saw him “give up” on some routes which could be a huge problem if that happens in the NFL.

Fantasy Impact:

Overall, he is a dart throw pick that has some traits that may end up proving useful to an offense, but more as an extra piece rather than a focal point. If he gets day 2 draft capital, I’ll be willing to take a shot at the end of the 2nd or early 3rd in drafts. If he gets day 3 capital, I’ll pass on him.

Jalen Royals (Utah): NFL Comp – Jayden Reed lite

I’m not going to lie… I wasn’t overly impressed with his film. It was very clear that he has talent, but I’m nervous about opportunity. He needs to go to a team that is thinking long term and even that might not turn out to be a good thing. I saw him give up on a play where if he helped block, could have been a big play. If I saw that, you know an NFL GM will too.

Fantasy Impacts:

I’m assuming he will be a day 3 pick, but toward the end of the draft. He did have short area quickness, which can be useful to an NFL offense. He just won’t go to a situation where he can be a significant piece of the offense in my opinion.

Tez Johnson (Oregon): NFL Comp – Tank Dell

Looking at the film, he has talent to develop into a solid WR in the NFL, however his size is a big red flag. He has speed and decent route running skills, but the NFL is a whole other ball game.

Fantasy Impact:

Just because we have seen limited success with WRs of his size and stature does not mean that he will follow the same path. He is just a dart throw in the late rounds of your drafts. If you have space on your taxi where you don’t need to drop anyone, you can draft him, but I’d be staying away in most situations.