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 players at the wide receiver 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 names ahead of the 2025 fantasy football season.
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Polarizing Fantasy Football Players: Draft or Pass?
Who is one wide receiver with a high standard deviation you are higher or lower on and why?
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 FantasyPros’ expert consensus rankings (ECR) and my WR48, this situation is simply not worth the fuss. For one, Aiyuk is reportedly being considered for the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, meaning he would miss the first four games, at a minimum, with 21 days to be elevated onto the 53-man roster. In totality, we are talking about a possible return ranging from Weeks 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 teammates in his own wide receiver room in Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. Consider me out 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 five-touchdown mark for most of his career. Deebo Samuel 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 at WR37. I have him ranked as my WR15. As the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, he steps into a true No. 1 WR 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 to Carolina. McMillan is the clear favorite to be Bryce Young‘s top target. With a path to 120-140 targets and red-zone dominance, McMillan 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)
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