When it comes to fantasy football, few topics spark more debate than the most polarizing players-those whose values vary wildly from one expert to another. These are the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends that divide rankings, dominate draft-day discussions, and often determine whether you’re a contender or pretender. In this article, we asked our collection of Featured Pros to weigh in on one player at each key position with a high standard deviation, meaning analysts are all over the board in how they rank them. Whether it’s a breakout candidate you should be targeting or a risky pick to fade, our experts share who they’re significantly higher or lower on and why. Let’s dive into the most hotly debated Wide Receivers ahead of the 2025 fantasy football season.
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Polarizing Fantasy Football Players: Wide Receivers
Polarizing Players: Wide Receivers
Who is one WR with a high standard deviation you are higher or lower on and why?
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)
“With too many variables, I’m lower on Jaxon Smith-Njigba. While he finished as WR9 last year, he takes a hit in the quarterback department with Sam Darnold replacing Geno Smith. On top of that, he also takes a hit in the coverage department as he is now the clear WR1 in Seattle. While Cooper Kupp will help ease the pressure on him a bit, I see Kupp taking the underneath PPR role that JSN utilized a lot last year that made him so valuable in PPR leagues.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)
“The more I think about Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the WR1 in Seattle, the more I worry he is being overvalued. It’s normally a great thing when targets are vacated, as they are with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett gone. But the signing of Cooper Kupp means JSN moves to the outside more often, where he was less effective. The change to Sam Darnold at QB raises some concerns, as well as the addition of a new offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak, who will try to establish the run more than his predecessor. I still believe JSN is a weekly starter in fantasy but not a top-12 WR as he’s currently ranked, more realistically finishing outside the top-15.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
Keon Coleman (WR – BUF)
“Keon Coleman, WR, Bills: Coleman entered the league at 21 with only two seasons as a college starter. His rookie season predictably turned up more negative than positive, but he still flashed with 19.2 yards per catch. Buffalo passed on adding competition for his ‘X’ role this offseason, instead signing Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore. Spot-start WR3 production is within Coleman’s range of outcomes.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
Stefon Diggs (WR – NE)
“I am higher on Stefon Diggs (5.4 standard deviation) than the consensus rankings (WR44). Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 last season. However, the veteran was playing well before getting hurt, ranking as the WR9 over the first seven weeks, averaging 7.9 targets and 12.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite splitting targets with Nico Collins and Tank Dell. More importantly, Diggs is the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver in what should be a significantly improved Patriots’ passing attack. If the veteran wide receiver is ready for Week 1, Diggs should end the year no lower than a high-end WR3.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Chris Olave (WR – NO)
“Chris Olave is the antithesis of RJ Harvey. His ECR WR28 translates to a WR36 ADP. Early drafters are just far too low on a wideout who has only ever produced near-elite metrics when on the field. Olave has endured multiple injuries and concussions, and a New Orleans QB carousel that includes a TE taking a boatload of snaps on offense. He’s a great late mid-round target who could massively outproduce his draft cost if Tyler Shough or someone else can provide consistency behind center.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Tyreek Hill (WR – MIA)
“Tyreek Hill’s 2024 season was a far cry from his usual explosive standards, finishing as the WR33 in points per game (10.5) – a massive disappointment for fantasy managers who spent early-round draft capital on him. While much of the blame can be pinned on Tua Tagovailoa‘s injury, Hill still underwhelmed even when his quarterback was healthy. In the 11 games with Tagovailoa under center, Hill surpassed 100 receiving yards just twice and averaged 12.4 fantasy points per game, only good enough for WR18 during that span. He was battling a wrist injury from Week 1 onward, which may have impacted his efficiency, but the steep drop in performance is still concerning. His yards per route run plummeted to just 1.75 – less than half of his 2023 mark – signaling a potentially sharp decline. Hill also turned 31 this offseason, and the dreaded age cliff for speed-dependent wide receivers may be arriving. His outburst at the end of the 2024 season – removing himself from the game and demanding to get out of Miami – adds another layer of uncertainty regarding his role and long-term future with the Dolphins. There are so many red flags: declining efficiency, age, durability concerns, and potential chemistry issues with the team that make him a high-risk, low-confidence fantasy pick in 2025 drafts, especially if his ADP remains in the early rounds.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Puka Nacua (WR – LAR)
“Things were looking real good for Puka Nacua until Los Angeles went out and signed Davante Adams. Unlike former Ram Cooper Kupp, Adams has been relatively healthy for most of his career. That’s bad news for Puka, who will probably play second fiddle to Adams. As if that’s not enough, here’s an interesting nugget I heard from fellow fantasy analyst Smitty, which I’ll paraphrase: “Puka has played 29 games so far in his NFL career; he has a total of only 9 TDs”! Even if it’s a 1A/1B situation between the two WRs, Ringo thinks Adams will eat into enough of Nacua’s targets to make his current lofty consensus ranking at WR 4 very risky.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF)
“After injuring his knee in October of last year, just months after signing a massive contract extension, Brandon Aiyuk needs to be a major fade for fantasy managers in 2025. Currently the WR39 in the ECR and my WR48, this situation is simply not worth the fuss. For one, Aiyuk is reportedly being considered for the PUP list, meaning he would miss the first four games minimum with a 21-day period to elevate onto the 53-man roster. In totality, we are talking a possible return ranging from week 5-8. That screams no go in every which way, on top of then having to compete with targets upon his return with Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and guys in his own WR room in Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. Consider me out big on Aiyuk for 2025, despite the watered-down price.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)
“Terry McLaurin is a player I think could disappoint this season. Last year, he had 13 receiving touchdowns, which was the most he had since his rookie season, when he had seven. I believe this past season was more of an outlier because he has hovered around the 5-touchdown mark for most of his career. Deebo Samuel Sr. isn’t who he used to be, but I think he could easily steal some of McLaurin’s targets, and it will cap his fantasy football ceiling.”
– Nick Penticoff (Fantasy Football Astronauts)
Tetairoa McMillan (WR – CAR)
“Tetairoa McMillan is one of the most undervalued wide receivers in early drafts, currently going off the board as WR37. I have him ranked as my WR15. As the 8th overall pick, he steps into a true WR1 role in Dave Canales’ offense – a system that’s historically funneled targets to big-bodied X receivers like Mike Evans. McMillan brings elite size, ball skills, and a strong college production profile, and he’s the clear favorite to be Bryce Young‘s top target. With a path to 120-140 targets and red-zone dominance, Tet is a market inefficiency you should be smashing in every draft. The breakout is coming – grab him before the market corrects.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (Armchair Scouting)
Jalen McMillan (WR – TB)
“Jalen McMillan’s ECR is WR55, which suggests he’s draftable. How on earth is McMillan going to have a fantasy-relevant role with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both healthy and with first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka joining the Buccaneers’ WR corps? McMillan scored eight TDs as a rookie, but seven of them came in the Buccaneers’ last five games, after Godwin’s season-ending injury. McMillan averaged 1.22 yards per route run — not a number that suggests impending stardom. Don’t squander a draft pick.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
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