Welcome to the ultimate installment of my preliminary rankings and tiers for every main place for fantasy. At this time I’m tackling the deepest place, and the one which’s doubtless to provide your fantasy squads essentially the most whole factors this season: Huge receiver.
You will discover all my preseason fantasy content material, together with my different rankings and tiers, right here. I’ll replace rankings in late August. Hopefully, these preliminary appears will allow you to to begin occupied with participant values and draft methods.
The way you strategy the receiver place depends upon your league settings. In leagues that begin three receivers and a flex, there’s nonetheless loads of depth, however the high tiers vanish shortly. Full-point PPR (vs. Half) can also push receivers up boards in drafts.
Earlier than we get to the rankings, listed below are two fast observations on the place.
Receiver accidents have been tough the previous two seasons. I mentioned this within the working backs rankings column, and it’s a part of why the highest working backs have had the higher hand over the perfect receivers the previous two seasons. These high-end receivers all missed no less than 5 video games throughout 2024-2025: Puka Nacua, CeeDee Lamb, Nico Collins, A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill, Drake London, Malik Nabers, Chris Olave, Mike Evans, Tee Higgins, Davante Adams, Terry McLaurin, and Christian Watson. Loads of others within the tiers under them additionally noticed prolonged absences. Yikes. That’s a number of angst for fantasy managers. Hopefully that development reverses this season.Rookie receivers are contributors — however it might probably take a minute. As school offenses proceed to extra carefully resemble NFL items, we hold getting an increasing number of receivers of all shapes, sizes, and skillsets who can contribute as rookies on the NFL degree. I’ve received 9 rookie receivers ranked in my Prime-80 under, and there are a number of others on my waiver wire watch record. Belief me after I say that no less than one rookie receiver — and doubtless two or three — will likely be very fantasy-relevant in some unspecified time in the future this season. Touchdown spot is clearly key, and a part of that equation is the chance to see the sector. No person needs roster cloggers, and a number of the rookie move catchers gained’t click on in any respect. However should you do draft a rookie receiver, plan to be affected person. Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown had been each unbelievable of their rookie seasons, however not instantly. Jefferson erupted pretty early whereas St. Brown exploded down the ultimate stretch of the season. Christian Watson is one other identify that involves thoughts – he scored seven TDs in a four-week stretch beginning in Week 10 of his rookie marketing campaign. Inhale. Exhale.
I’ve organized the WRs into tiers, as I do at each place. You need to do the identical. To reiterate, everybody needs the perfect gamers, and a tiered strategy permits fantasy managers to have an important view of (a) ranges of gamers who will be anticipated to have comparable fantasy manufacturing, (b) the place the drop-offs are between these ranges, and (c) what number of gamers in a variety stay out there at any given time. Tiers actually assist when place runs come, and so they facilitate simpler drafting, no matter format.
My receiver rankings and tiers are for Half-Level PPR. Season-long rankings proven are on a fantasy factors per recreation (FPPG) foundation and exclude the ultimate week of the season. I’ve ranked 65 gamers.
The Solar God is as dependable because it will get Getty Photos
TIER I – The First Spherical Picks
J. ChaseP. NacuaJ. Smith-NjigbaA. St. Brown
St. Brown has been among the many most constant gamers in fantasy this decade, and deserves to go late in Spherical 1. It’s not an attractive choose, however you already know what’s attractive? Profitable fantasy championships. Can JSN repeat his ridiculous success from 2025? I’m doubtful, and the others on this tier (and lots of in Tiers II and III) have finished it greater than as soon as. Chase is the clear WR1 for me, and particularly with Nacua’s adventures this low season. He simply wants Joe Burrow to remain on the sector.
J. JeffersonA.J. BrownC. LambD. LondonG. PickensN. CollinsC. OlaveR. Rice
Was 2025 only a blip for Jefferson, or ought to we be fearful? After what’s arguably the best begin to a profession of any receiver, together with 4 straight Prime-5 WR finishes from 2021-2024, Jefferson was unplayable for a lot of final season, and completed because the WR37, at simply 9.1 FPPG. I’ll financial institution on Kyler Murray being ok, and motivated sufficient, to get J.J. near his historic numbers, if not again as much as elite standing. The remainder of the receivers on this group are all fairly secure picks, barring damage. I’ve A.J. Brown larger than most. Pairing one of many recreation’s greatest downfield threats with a QB who led the NFL in yards per competitors and downfield accuracy final season looks like a no brainer. Two Cowboys within the Prime-10? Uncommon, however not unprecedented.
How lengthy till Malik is again within the neighborhood? Getty Photos
TIER III – Borderline WR1s/2s
T. HigginsD. SmithJ. WaddleL. McConkeyG. WilsonZ. FlowersT. McLaurinT. McMillanM. NabersD. AdamsC. WatsonE. EgbukaM. Evans
I like a number of the receivers on this tier, and plan to pepper them in Rounds 3-5 and with first rate {dollars} in auctions. I’m larger than most on Watson, and assume the departures of Doubs and Wicks ought to open the door for him lastly placing collectively a whole season as an alpha. McLaurin and McConkey even have my consideration this season, as each are arrange for lots of quantity, and are paired with a QB who can get them the ball. Has Nabers fallen too far? He’s a Spherical 2 choose when absolutely wholesome.
L. Burden IIIJ. WilliamsR. OdunzeB. Thomas, Jr.D.J. MooreC. SuttonC. Tate (R)M. Harrison, Jr.C. Godwin, Jr.A. PierceD.Okay. MetcalfM. WilsonJ. Addison
This tier options a number of gamers with good upside, however unsure flooring. Questions abound, however there are gamers right here who’re going to assist individuals win leagues. Thomas fell off a cliff after his good rookie season. Which participant are we getting in 2026? Has the Burden hype gone too far, and are we sleeping on Odunze? How good can Tate be as a rookie, in Cam Ward’s second season? If Harrison and Wilson are each wholesome, who will likely be higher? Can Metcalf return to alpha canine standing, or is Aaron Rodgers simply too previous to attend for him to get open downfield? What occurs when Moore is paired with Josh Allen? Pierce has led the NFL in yards per catch for 2 straight seasons. Can he do it once more?
Reed: Large season incoming? Getty Photos
M. Pittman, Jr.J. Tyson (R)P. WashingtonQ. JohnstonJ. ReedR. PearsallJ. DownsW. RobinsonK. ShakirX. WorthyM. Lemon (R)
This tier is generally a mixture of slot retailers, who can positively allow you to win weeks and particularly in Full-point PPR, and youthful gamers who haven’t fairly confirmed it but. Whereas I don’t assume anybody on this tier will end as a Prime-10 participant on the place, historical past says that one in all them will. I’m excessive on Reed this season, who like Watson ought to profit from Inexperienced Bay lastly not having a deep rotation on the place.
J. CokerR. DoubsJ. MeyersJ. NailorA. MitchellM. GoldenR. ShaheedJ. McMillanJ. JenningsK.C. Concepcion (R)M. WashingtonJ. JeudyT. TuckerD. Boston (R)R. FlournoyT. Harris
Receiver is deep. It at all times is. And yearly, there are gamers who come from this tier and decrease who shock. It may be rookies, or older vets, or something in between. You may get most of those guys pretty late in drafts. Most gained’t pan out into something that helps you greater than Bye week and damage fillers, however some will likely be weekly starters, no less than for stretches. My favorites on this tier (at price) are Nailor, McMillan, and Shaheed, who will hopefully be extra absolutely included into Seattle’s offense in his first full season with the group.
C. RidleyK. BoutteD. WicksJ. NoelR. BatemanI. TeSlaaS. DiggsT. HunterD. MooneyD. Stribling (R)O. Cooper, Jr. (R)T. FranklinT. DellA. Williams (R)Z. Department (R)
I may’ve simply listed 10-15 extra guys who’re simply as doubtless as the fellows on this tier to be fantasy contributors in some unspecified time in the future this season. Regulate Diggs, who will hopefully signal someplace in August. There are a number of rookies on this tier. Department and Williams are in skinny receiver rooms after the WR1, and have good alternatives to compete for snaps and targets instantly. I’ll make one ironclad prediction for this season: Everybody who reads this column will choose up one of many gamers on this tier at one level this season (and drop one). Ebook it.
That’s that for my preliminary rankings and tiers. Maintain it right here for extra preseason fantasy content material.
