Ranking the Receivers: 2025 Wide Receiver Rookie Prospects (Part I)

by John Laub · Featured
Dynasty draft rookie rankings

PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out. Here John Laub breaks down his dynasty draft rookie rankings and analysis of top wide receiver prospects eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ranking the Receivers: 2025 Wide Receiver Prospects (Part I)

Dynasty Fantasy Footballers were spoiled last year when three rookie receivers posted 1,000-yard crusades. The 2025 class does not offer the same level of skills and talent and is not likely to produce three immediate impactful stars again. Some competitors will provide fantasy production just not the prolific numbers in 2024.

NFL Draft Interest

Over the past four NFL Drafts, twenty-two receivers have been selected in the first round, averaging five and a half each year. In the current class, I only have first-round grades on four prospects, one of whom is Travis Hunter, who might not even play full-time on offense. In the same four-year period, teams grabbed forty receivers in the second and third rounds of the Draft.

Analyzing the Class, the position’s value is on Day 2 of the Draft, and Dynasty owners must navigate a plethora of players who are close in grades and skills. Of course, the success rate pales in comparison to first-round picks and the fantasy ceiling of those drafted on Day 2 do not have the same outcome as their classmates on Day 1. The landing spot and potential opportunity will determine the final fantasy value of each competitor.

I have given thirteen prospects second- and third-round grades and expect at least ten to come off the board. Looking at the last twelve years, the current receiver crop ranks with the 2019 and 2020 Classes. Luckily, it is better than the disastrous group in 2016. Enjoy my fellow PlayerProfiler teammates.

 Scholar’s Wide Receiver Rankings, WR Model and Statistical Benchmarks

2025 Scholar’s WR Draft Rankings

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Prospect Resume

Over the past 12 years, not many receiver prospects have come from the desert in Tucson, Arizona. Tetairoa McMillan is the top-graded wideout from the Wildcats’ program. He has dominated the Pac-12 and Big 12 in the last three years. He leaves the school as its all-time leader in receiving yards with 3,423 on 213 catches with 26 touchdowns and averaged a colossal 16.1 yards per catch (ypc.).

In high school, McMillan was a four-star recruit from California and the No. 4 ranked WR in the nation after being named the 2022 California Player of the Year. A finalist for the National Football Player of the Year in 2021, he also partook in the 2022 All-American Bowl. When he joined the program, T-Mac was the highest-ranked recruit in Arizona history.

As a true freshman in 2021, McMillan made eight starts and led all freshmen in the nation with 702 yards on 39 receptions and eight scores. He established a school record for receiving yards by a Wildcats’ freshman and scored in seven of 12 games. As a sophomore in 2023, T-Mac produced 90 receptions for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns—his receiving yards were the second-most in Wildcats’ history. He was named Second Team All-Pac-12 and Second Team All-American.

In 2024, McMillan grabbed 84 passes for 1,319 yards and eight scores. He collected First Team All-American and All-Big 12 accolades and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. In addition, he was named Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. He ended his college tenure with over 100 receiving yards in a game nine times and over 200 yards in three contests.

Film Breakdown and Skills

A prototypical X-receiver at 6-5 and 212 pounds, McMillan excels outside the hash marks and challenges secondaries vertically. He is a speedy athlete for his size and accelerates well along the boundary. An elite ball tracker, the junior receiver extends his frame and possesses phenomenal hands. He is victorious fighting for contested balls, holding onto the ball through contact.

A fluid mover east-west, McMillan has an easy first-step release and beats press with physicality and technique. He is a graceful before-and-after-the-catch runner with a high motor, wrestling for additional yards. The former Wildcat employs impressive vertical ability and is sure-handed in the middle of the defense. With strength and determination, he also breaks free from arm tackles. A large wing span and catch radius, he is a behemoth in the red zone and at back-shoulder fades. McMillan also provides position versatility—he also played in the slot at Arizona—and has a diverse route tree on his resume.

Attributes

The ceiling is high for McMillan. Yet, the former Wildcats’ star needs to improve in some areas to reach it. He needs a technique upgrade, committing to the little aspects of the position at the next level. Despite size and physicality, he does not always play like the alpha male, who wins at all costs. Press coverage against physical corners can frustrate and stymie him at the snap. His route salesmanship is occasionally inconsistent, and he lacks elite separation on deep passes. If McMillan dedicates himself to his craft, he could be a Tee Higgins clone and produce prodigious numbers. Nevertheless, there is a universe in which he fails and mirrors Treylon Burks in the NFL. I’ll bet that McMillan becomes the next Higgins-style playmaker.

Scholar’s Grade: A-

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Prospect Resume

The succession of wide receiver talent at Ohio State seems endless looking back at the names of Buckeyes’ who became NFL stars in my lifetime: Terry Glenn, Cris Carter, Santonio Holmes, David Boston, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison, Jr. Amazingly, Emeka Egbuka leaves Columbus, OH as the program’s all-time leader in catches (205) and receiving yards (2,868). During his tenure on campus, Egbuka has been overshadowed by Smith-Njigba, Harrison, Jr. and Jeremiah Smith. Despite often playing second fiddle, Egbuka’s career aligns with the foremost greats at Ohio State.

As a high school junior, Egbuka caught 83 passes for 1,607 yards and 25 scores and was named 2019 Player of the Year in Washington. He did not play his senior season because of COVID. He also competed on the diamond. The five-star prospect was the No. 1 rated receiver, the No. 8 player overall in the nation and arrived in Columbus in January 2021.

As a freshman, Egbuka ended the campaign with nine receptions for 191 yards. The following season, the sophomore terrorized opponents with 74 catches for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 15.6 ypc. He concluded the crusade ninth nationally with 46 receptions of 10-plus yards and fifteenth with 19 catches of 20-plus yards. Afterward, Egbuka garnered Second Team All-Big Ten honors and was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award.

In 2023, the Buckeyes’ playmaker battled through an injury that sidelined him for three games, finishing the year with 41 receptions for 515 yards and four scores. Last season, Egbuka bounced back and recorded his second 1,000-yard campaign on 81 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 12.5 ypc. He collected Third Team All-Big Ten and leaves campus as one of the best wideouts who wore the Scarlet and Gray.

Film Breakdown and Skills

Egbuka profiles as a big slot receiver with a well-built frame at 6-1 and 205 pounds. As a Buckeye, he was deployed more often in the slot than on the outside and ran a nice route tree from inside. A smooth, savvy and fluid mover, he uses short-area quickness with sharp footwork to beat both man and zone coverage. Egbuka employs double moves and wins positioning consistently. He snaps in and out of breaks and navigates well through traffic.

The four-year Buckeye has a substantial football IQ and is a nuanced and thorough playmaker. With reliable hands, he is good at ball-tracking and has strong reaction skills with the pass in the air. Very dependable underneath, he separates well rapidly and excels after the catch with good field vision and contact balance. A long strider, he also shakes defenders with a high motor and sneaky elusiveness. He effortlessly changes direction and stacks lateral cuts. Displaying robust athleticism, he contorts his body, easily plucks the pass and secures the ball before transitioning to a runner in a split second. Flashing as a returner, the former Buckeye provides utility as a special teams contributor at the next level.

Attributes

Not overly elusive, Egbuka is not a speed merchant or a consistent vertical threat on the outside. He did not line up on the boundary often or stack opponents deep in the route. The sleek receiver does not highpoint the ball well and allows the pigskin to hit his frame at times. He endured knee and ankle injuries in 2023, and there are questions about long-term durability in the NFL. A polished receiver at 22, Egbuka profiles as a dominant slot receiver with versatility. As a professional, he should easily adjust to a faster game and immediately impact a timing-based aerial attack.

Scholar’s Grade: B+

Travis Hunter, Colorado

Prospect Resume

In my lifetime, I have been lucky enough to witness the premier two-way Heisman trophy winners in history—Charles Woods on and Travis Hunter. Last year, Hunter dominated the college football landscape playing both corner and receiver for the Buffaloes. In addition to the Heisman, he was the first two-time winner of the Paul Hornung Award and captured both the Bednarik and Biletnikoff Awards.

As a wideout, Hunter logged 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, and on defense, he made 32 tackles, forced a fumble, intercepted four passes and logged 11 pass breakups. Incredibly, he twice registered three receiving touchdowns and an interception in the same game. Playing over 1,300 snaps, he was also named All-American on both sides of the ball.

Despite missing three games the year before, the former Colorado star played 1,102 snaps—475 on offense, 631 on defense and 32 on special teams. He earned First Team All-American and First Team Academic All-American as well as All-Pac-12 honors at multiple positions. On offense, Hunter recorded 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the first player ever in college football history with 50-plus catches and three interceptions: Only Champ Bailey’s 1998 season with 47 catches and three interceptions is close.

In 2022, he enrolled at Jackson State to display his skills. As a true freshman, he was named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award as the top player in FCS, SWAC Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-SWAC. In high school, Hunter was a consensus five-star recruit and the nation’s top-ranked prospect after being named Georgia Player of the Year as a senior in 2021. He became the highest-graded recruit to ever commit to an FCS school since 2006. He also played point guard on the basketball team.

Film Breakdown and Skills

At 6-1 and 185 pounds, Hunter is uber-twitchy with stupendous body control and first-class ball skills. He tracks the pass well and secures the pigskin with exceptional body control and excellent hands. A fluid athlete, he navigates open space with smooth speed and good field vision, darting in and out of traffic. The Heisman winner adjusts well to poorly thrown passes and catches the ball in stride with sticky hands and a large wing span. A contortionist, he is stupendous at high-pointing the pass with tremendous vertical athleticism.

With competitive toughness, long arms and strong hands, Hunter often wins at the catch point. He has a sharp release and excellent footwork and easily defeats man coverage. Superb mental processing acumen, he uncovers holes in zones and is comfortable working in traffic. He has stupendous start-stop quickness, lightning change of direction skills and magnificent foot dexterity. With the ball in his hands, Hunter jukes and eludes tacklers, churning out extra yardage after the catch.

Attributes

An explosive playmaker, Hunter shakes defenders with elusiveness and long speed. Playing both positions with a non-stop motor, he has an incredibly high football IQ to dissect and defeat opponents. Maniacal football instincts, the rangy-and-lanky playmaker can flip field position at any moment, impacting the outcome of the game.

Hunter’s route tree has not sprouted fully: He predominately ran slants, outs and posts in college. He improvised to get open when plays broke down. At times, he relied on athleticism over technique and would clearly benefit from more reps on offense. He has a wiry frame and is not overly physical. Will he dedicate himself to one side of the field? Will he play over 50 snaps a game on offense? Still, many questions remain before placing a Dynasty value on the former Colorado star. Yet, he would be a Pro Bowl-level receiver if he commits 100% to the offensive side of the field.

Scholar’s Grade: B+

Luther Burden, Missouri

Prospect Resume

Will the real Luther Burden please stand up? Heading into the 2024 season, Burden was a preseason All-American and First Team All-SEC after a stupendous sophomore campaign. Unfortunately, he did not come close to replicating his 2023 season. Without question, the Tigers’ wideout has been the most difficult evaluation over the last three months.

In high school, Burden was a consensus five-star recruit and only the third one in history who signed with Missouri. He was ranked as the No. 2 receiver and No. 17 player in the nation. From East Saint Louis, IL, he earned the Illinois Player of the Year and was invited to the 2022 Under Armour All-America Game. As the team’s kickoff and punt specialist as a senior, he illustrated his game-breaking ability, returning 21 punts for 852 yards with six touchdowns and averaging 48.2 yards per kick return.

Early Career

As a true freshman in 2022, Burden saw action in all 13 games while making 10 starts. He concluded the campaign with 45 catches for 375 yards and five touchdowns through the air, adding 88 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and returning a punt for a score. Among true freshmen, his nine total touchdowns were second most in the SEC behind Quinshon Judkins. After a two-touchdown performance against Vanderbilt, he collected SEC Freshman of the Week honors.

As a freshman, the Tigers’ receiver played predominantly on the outside before coach Eliah Drinkwitz moved him to the slot as a sophomore. In 2023, Burden thrived, leading the Tigers in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,212) and touchdown receptions (9). He accumulated Second-Team All-America and First-Team All-SEC honors and was named Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist. He recorded over 100 receiving yards six times and became the eighth Tiger to surpass 1,000 yards receiving.

Last year, the junior fell short of his production as a sophomore with 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns, adding nine carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Shoulder and arm injuries as well as the failure of the Missouri aerial attack to take flight factored into Burden’s underwhelming performance. Organizations must solve the riddle in order to finalize a grade on the former Tiger.

Film Breakdown and Skills

In Drinkwitz’s scheme, Burden excelled in the slot. At 5-11 and 205 pounds, he is a twitchy athlete with a stupendous first step and rapidly defeats defenders in the short game and middle of the field. The three-year competitor has tremendous hands, plucking the ball away from his body and reeling in the pass with ease. Manufacturing consistent separation, his elusiveness in the open field and obliteration of tackle angles create a plethora of yards after the catch.

With a running back’s build and frame, the third-year receiver rapidly wins at the line of scrimmage and is a tackle-breaking machine. He has excellent body control and play strength and is a mismatch nightmare for opposing coaches. Creative offensive coordinators will employ Burden in motion where he excels with two-way option routes inside the hash marks. A very good route tree on tape, he is an aggressive playmaker. He can challenge defensive backs vertically, and occasionally, he beats opponents down the seam.

Attributes

Can Burden win against press coverage? A smaller wing span and catch radius, he was often employed in stack alignments with free releases off the line of scrimmage and avoided man-to-man battles with physical defensive backs. The former Tigers’ playmaker does have concentration drops on tape. According to PFF, over 75 percent of his catches came inside ten yards of the line of scrimmage. He does not have elite home run speed, which caps his fantasy production. Also, he needs to improve his technique in and out of breaks. The offensive play caller and scheme will determine the final Dynasty value

Scholar’s Grade: B

Elic Ayomanor, Stanford

Prospect Resume

Last summer, I drafted Elic Ayomanor in both of my DEVY leagues and highlighted the Cardinals’ receiver in the Scholar’s Dynamic Dynasty Prospects on PlayerProfiler. Unfortunately, many DEVY players and Draftniks did not follow my advice. Seven months later, Ayomanor is one of the biggest risers after the 2024 season and will surely be selected in the second round of the Draft.

In 2024, Ayomanor led the Cardinals in receiving with 63 catches for 831 yards and six touchdowns. He logged three 100-yard receiving games and averaged 13.2 ypc. The redshirt sophomore garnered Second Team All-ACC and the Tommy Vardell Award—the Stanford upperclassman who exhibits excellence in the classroom and on the field. He also collected the Deswarte-Eller Award, granted to the team’s most outstanding sophomore.

In 2023, he snatched 62 passes for a career-high 1,013 yards—the first Cardinal to surpass 1,000 yards since 2018—and six scores, averaging 16.3 ypc. The redshirt freshman earned All-PAC-12 honorable mention, First Team Freshman All-America (PFF) and the Jon Cornish Trophy. He established a school record with 294 receiving yards versus Colorado (and All-American CB Travis Hunter) and topped the 100-yard mark three times. The previous season, he did not appear in a game for the Cardinals.

From Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, Ayomanor excelled up north in track-and-field before moving to Massachusetts. In 2018, he was on Team Alberta, the Canada West National Champions, and in 2019, was ranked No. 8 in Canada in the 200m. He was a top 10 recruit in Massachusetts and the 91st-ranked receiver in the nation coming out of high school.

Film Breakdown and Skills

At 6-2 and 210 pounds, Ayomanor dominates outside of the hash marks and tracks the ball well deep. With good hands, he easily plucks the ball out of the air and creates additional yards after the catch. He is a savvy and precise receiver who runs sharp routes and wins against press and zone coverage. He alters his route tempo and is fearless in traffic, absorbing hits while hanging onto the football. The former Cardinals’ receiver can take the top off the defense and pursues the deep pass with vigor and determination.

The 22-year-old reacts well to off-target throws and contorts his frame with outstanding body control. He separates at the top of the route stem and wins contested battles. Smoothly plucking the pass, he has very good hand-eye coordination and times jump balls well, securing passes with strong and innate mitts. Ayomanor has good straight-line speed, catches the pass in stride and makes splash plays. A physical and indignant playmaker, he finds holes in space and boxes out smaller defenders. In the run game, the two-year starter does not shy away from contact and wants to get dirty with corners to seal off the outside.

Attributes

Ayomanor is a good but not great athlete. Does he have elite-level explosiveness and burst? The Combine will provide more insight into overall athleticism. Over the past two campaigns, he did not run an in-depth route tree at Stanford: lined up 802 times outside and 130 in the slot. Limited run-after-catch production for Ayomanor might limit upside in the NFL. With a second-round grade, he profiles as a Robin to a Batman in an aerial attack. Dynasty managers need to become more familiar with the former Stanford playmaker, and luckily, there are still seats on the Ayomanor Express in 2025 and beyond.

Scholar’s Grade: B

Matthew Golden, Texas

Prospect Resume

Among high school recruiting fanatics, many were shocked—myself included—when Mathew Golden selected Houston over LSU, TCU, Arkansas, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin three years ago. In high school, Golden was a four-star prospect, the No. 26 receiver recruit in Texas and the No. 155 player overall in the nation. In three seasons, he logged 3,242 receiving yards, scored 32 touchdowns, posted two 1,000-yard campaigns, returned kicks and competed in track-and-field: He triple-jumped 21.85 and galloped the 100m in 10.93.

As a true freshman for the Cougars in 2022, Golden played in 11 games and made eight starts with 538 snaps. He snatched 38 passes for 584 yards and seven touchdowns and brought back five kicks for 116 yards, averaging 23.2 yards. He also surpassed the century mark twice against SMU and East Carolina.

As a sophomore, he was named Second Team All-Big 12 (KR/PR) and Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year honorable mention in 2023. A versatile receiver, Golden played 274 snaps out wide, 124 in the slot and 35 on kickoff returns, earning the second-highest grade by PFF at 90.4. He registered 38 catches for 404 yards and six touchdowns. He also returned two kicks all the way for the Cougars.

At Texas

In the spring of 2024, Golden decided to transfer to Texas for his junior season and started all 16 games for the Longhorns. Despite a crowded locker room at receiver, he rose to the top of the pecking order by the end of the campaign. He posted career-bests across the board with 58 catches for 987 yards and nine scores, averaging an impressive 17.0 ypc. In two of his final four college games, he surpassed 125 receiving yards. He posted 162 against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and 149 against Arizona State in the CFP playoffs. After three years in college, Golden comes out of school early after earning a high pre-draft grade.

Film Breakdown and Skills

Golden is a good route runner with scheme-adverse skills at 6-0 and 195 pounds to succeed at the next level. He works well underneath the coverage and can stretch the defense vertically with his home run speed. With burst and acceleration, he employs a quick release off the line of scrimmage. He also sinks his hips with sharp cuts to gain separation. The former Longhorn stacks defenders early in the route to get open and uses short-area agility to elude defenders.

The three-year competitor plays with a physical style and excels at back-shoulder throws with good body control. At the end of the route, Golden snaps at the top of the stem and elevates to high-point the ball. He smoothly extracts the football out of the air with good hands and bolts upfield after the catch with speed and shiftiness.

Attributes

In three crusades, Golden mastered a full route tree, exhibited precise running and beat opponents at all levels of the field. He is a versatile playmaker, who can line up in the slot and on the outside at the Z-position. The speedster developed as a diabolical route-runner throughout his college tenure, running lots of screens as a freshman and adding more vertical routes as a junior.

During his two seasons at Houston, Golden missed five games due to injuries (foot and rib). He can lose contested ball battles against longer-armed and more physical corners. At times, he appears to lose concentration and drops passes. As a run blocker, he is not a difference-maker and will need to improve on his technique as a professional. Golden is the biggest riser in the early scouting process after announcing his intent to play in the NFL. In a weak class of receiver prospects, the former Longhorn might sneak into the back half of the first round.

Scholar’s Grade: B

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