2025 Fantasy Football Winners & Losers: Wide Receivers
Each year we dissect the season that was. The ups and downs. The injuries. The new hotness. The free agent super signing. The big trade that did or didn’t pan out. The studs and duds of our fantasy football frenzy. This look back is essential before starting to dive into 2026. Who would you put in each of these categories and why? Comment below.
SEASON MVP
Puka Nacua (Rams) – Nauca led all wide receivers in PPR fantasy points per game with 23.4 and overall at 375. He got hurt in Week 6 and missed Week 7, but other than that, he was a Top8 WR in all but four games. He was WR1 over Weeks 1-7, WR2 over Weeks 8-14 and WR1 (by 7 full points per game) in the fantasy playoffs. When he’s healthy, he’s the top WR in fantasy. All we need to worry about is if Matthew Stafford returns in 2026.
1ST HALF MVP (Week 1-7)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks) – Just like pretty much every category on this list, Nacua could be mentioned here, but he missed Week 7. So, JSN gets the nod. He was drafted as the WR14 and finished WR2. JSN had 10+ targets in four of the seven games and hauled in at least eight receptions five of the seven. Just four touchdowns would have slowed him down if not for five 100+ yard games. JSN should remain a stud in 2026, but can Sam Darnold repeat? That’s my only concern.
2ND HALF MVP (Weeks 8-14)
Rashee Rice (Chiefs) – Rice finished as the WR4 during this stretch behind JSN, Nacua and Michael Wilson, but considering you drafted him in the early-middle rounds knowing you’d have to wait half the season, he produced for you once he got on the field. Rice was a Top12 WR in four of his eight games. Two of those he was PPR WR2 overall. He had double-digit targets in four of the eight games and caught five touchdowns. Now, we know Patrick Mahomes is TBD for 2026, so no projections on Rice yet, but when these two play together it’s a QB1/WR1 connection.
FANTASY PLAYOFF MVP (Weeks 15-17)
Chris Olave (Saints) – Olave had a bounce back season after concussions derailed 2024. He saved the best for last though. During the fantasy playoffs, Olave had 20.5, 37 and 26 PPR fantasy points with four total touchdowns and 36(!) targets over that span. He may have even ended up a waiver add for you. Regardless, it’s often these type players that win leagues. The Saints could be a fun brand of “YOLO-ball” in 2026.
BREAKOUT
George Pickens (Cowboys) – Drafted WR29 (behind Calvin Ridley) and finished PPR WR6; his best by 20 spots in his four year career. Pickens was easily the best WR pickup in the NFL this season and should continue to expand in 2026. He saw career-highs across the board. Pickens and Cee Dee Lamb were able to co-exist in the Cowboys’ offense. I expect more of the same in 2026, but Lamb should remain the true WR1 for Dak Prescott.
BUST (DRAFTED AS TOP15 WR)
Justin Jefferson (Vikings) – If you scroll past names like Tee Higgins (without Joe Burrow), Stefon Diggs (half committed to football), Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Quentin Johnson and DK Metcalf, you’ll eventually find Justin Jefferson. Remember him? He was part of that 2019 LSU Championship team. Oh, and he was drafted as the WR3 after four seasons of finishing WR6, WR4, WR1 and WR2 when he played at least 11 games. This year though, nah. He pulled a “Mike Evans” and got his 1,000+ yards on the season, but was a lost cause catching only two touchdowns all season. To make matters worse, you definitely played him every week assuming they’d figure it out. They didn’t. Now, do I think for one second that this was Jettas’ fault? Of course not. Doesn’t matter. It’s the end result that we care about. We’ll throw this out heading into 2026, but… it’ll leave a scar come draft season.
SLEEPER (DRAFTED ROUND 8+)
Wan’Dale Robinson (Giants) – Ended up PPR WR14 in what felt like a completely dysfunctional Giants offense. I have a hard time believing many fantasy managers started him with any frequency unless out of emergency. He was very “boom or bust” throughout the season. He had six games of 15+ PPR points; three of those over 20 PPR points. Unfortunately, he also had 10 games with less than 14 PPR points. The Giants have promise heading into 2026, but it’s almost guaranteed that Robinson will be the WR2 on his own team assuming Malik Nabers is healthy enough next season.
BEST DRAFT PICK VALUE (BASED ON ADP)
Michael Wilson (Cardinals) – This is what a league winner looks like. If drafted, it was a dart throw in a “high-upside” offense, but easily the fourth option behind Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride and James Conner. Well, Conner went down. MHJ went down. McBride plays tight end. Wilson made the most of his opportunities finishing WR10 overall, but that was backloaded majorly. From weeks 11-18, he was, wait for it… WR2(!) behind only Nacua!
ROOKIE STANDOUT
Tetairoa McMillan (Panthers) – Solid rookie season finishing WR24 in PPR. He had only two “boom” games catching two touchdowns both Week 6 and Week 11. Other than that, he was a WR2/WR3 most weeks. He did see a nice run of touchdowns over Weeks 11-16 catching five in as many weeks.
WHAT IF…
Joe Burrow (Bengals) didn’t miss 10 games.
Burrow got hurt in Week 2 and missed the next 10 games before making a comeback in Week 13. During Weeks 2-12 without Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase was WR4 in PPR with 21 points per game. Tee Higgins was WR22 with 13.5 points per game. When Burrow returned for Weeks 13-17, Chase was WR3 with 20 PPR points per game and Higgins was WR7 with 17.5 points per game. So, Chase gets his regardless, but Higgins stays a Top10 option with Burrow. If Burrow, Chase, Higgins and Chase Brown can stay healthy together in 2026, the Bengals should run away with the AFC North – if their defense can just be not the worst.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON ________ FOR 2026
Parker Washington (Jaguars) – was overall “mid” in 2025 with a few flashes after Travis Hunter was lost for the season and Brian Thomas Jr. failed to regain his rookie flare. Parker made a name for himself in the final three games though. He was by far the best Jaguars receiver, but also the WR4 overall Weeks 16-18 with 22 PPR fantasy points per game. Washington’s last three games were as follows: Week 16 6/145/1 WR3, Week 17 8/115/0 WR 9, Week 18 5/87/1 WR7. There’s a very real chance it’s Washington heading into 2026 as the Jags’ top wideout.
Be sure to check out Razzball Football’s updated rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF
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