It feels like every year we’re saying it’s another great WR draft class and I don’t expect that too change anytime soon. The NFL has more elite receivers than ever before, and the position only keeps getting deeper and more talented.
But great WR rooms aren’t just about talent. You need players who complement each other, win in different ways, and fit together within the offense. You need an X receiver who can consistently beat press coverage and win one-on-one matchups outside. A Z receiver who can threaten all areas of the field and create big plays after the catch. And a reliable Y receiver who knows how to separate quickly and find soft spots in zone. When those roles are filled the right way, everything clicks and defenses have no answers.
I looked at how the WR rooms were built and how much talent was in each room and ranked my top 10 WR rooms heading into 2025.
1. Cincinnati Bengals
Credit Bengals.com
Ja’marr Chase is coming off a triple crown season and is one of the best WRs vs zone coverage in the NFL. He’s a great separator with strong hands and has no trouble beating press. Once the ball is in his hands, 1-on-1 in the open field, no one is bringing him down; he’s the best player after the catch in the league, and it isn’t close. The Bengals move him all over the formation, get him the ball, and let him work.
Tee Higgins has the perfect X receiver build: great size, moves fluidly for his frame, good against man, great vs press, solid route runner, and elite at contested catches. On most teams, he would be the WR1. His ability to win outside opens space for Chase to move around.
Andrei Iosivas is a big-bodied deep threat with speed and explosiveness. The details in his routes need work, and he could improve at the catch point, but he is an overall solid WR3.
Jermaine Burton could’ve been a top 15 pick last year if it wasn’t for his off-the-field issues. He was great vs man in college and is all around a special athlete. Sadly, the off-the-field issues have translated over to the NFL. If he’s able to turn it around, he could make a strong push for that WR3 spot, but I’m skeptical.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
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A.J. Brown is arguably the best man-beater in the league; last year, he led all WRs in yards per route run and first downs against man coverage. No DB can match up with him athletically; he’s big, fast, physical, elite at the catch point, and can’t be pressed effectively. He is a top-tier route runner, too, which I feel gets overlooked by a lot of the NFL community. He’s solid vs zone, too, but his dominance is against man.
DeVonta Smith, despite his lean frame, gets off press very well. He’s great vs man, solid vs zone, and runs clean intermediate routes. Definitely could use some improvement on his deep routes, but one of the best WR2s in the NFL.
Jahan Dotson is an overall solid player. He has reliable hands, good routes, and enough speed to keep defenses honest. He had a very good rookie year but hasn’t quite lived up to it since then. Hopefully, he is able to get back on track.
3. Los Angeles Rams
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Puka Nacua was unreal last year #1 in first downs per route run, yards per route run, and targets per route run. That shows extreme efficiency, and while McVay and Stafford help, Puka is the guy who takes this offence over the top. Last year, he developed into an elite separator, great after the catch, and excellent at breaking tackles. He dominated vs zone (1st in YPRR) and was strong vs man too. The only weak part of his game is deep routes, but he’s rarely asked to run them, so it’s not a big deal.
After all these years of looking for a true X recover, the Rams finally got their guy in Davante Adams. He has also been able to be extremely effective out of the slot, so I do expect him to be moved there from time to time. The difference between 2024 Kupp to 2025 Adams is a huge upgrade. Adams is still able to beat press, unlike Kupp, and that opens up parts of the field Puka couldn’t reach alone. Last year, many teams would double Puka and make the other WRs beat them. Good luck trying that now.
Tutu Atwell is the explosive speed guy who stretches defenses vertically, giving Puka and Adams more room to operate underneath and in the intermediate.
4. Minnesota Vikings
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Jettas is the best deep threat and overall WR in the league. He has insane hand-eye coordination paired with an amazing ability to haul in contested catches; and great subtle footwork that’s able to freeze DBs. His ability to stay in stride through his breaks is something I have never seen before. Top-five hands. Even when the ball doesn’t come his way, defenses tilt toward him, which completely changes the field.
Addison benefits from that gravity, getting more one-on-ones. In year two, he improved vs man and added physicality at the top of routes, though he can still struggle vs press. His crisp intermediate routes punish defenses that overcommit to Jefferson.
Nailor is a perfect WR3 for this room, taking the top off defenses and stretching the field for Jefferson and Addison to work underneath.
It all fits perfectly into Kevin O’Connell’s motion-heavy offense, which thrives on layered route concepts and flexibility. With Jefferson able to line up at X, slot, or flanker, O’Connell can create mismatches anywhere, making this WR room even more dangerous than it looks on paper.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Credit Pewter Report
Mike Evans is still that guy: pure X, still elite vs man, big catch radius, great separation for his size, and maybe the best jump-ball WR in the NFL. He’s also solid vs zone.
Chris Godwin was on pace for a career year last year before going down with a dislocated ankle in week 7. Godwin has elite hands, is very reliable in short-yardage situations, and is great with catches in traffic. He isn’t a deep threat, but feasts underneath. I pray he’s able to get back on track next season.
The Bucs shocked a lot of people when they took Emeka Egbuka in the first round this year. He has a similar style to Godwin: very clean routes, great hands, strong vs press, great vs zone, solid vs man. He isn’t blazing fast but brings polished play. I’m curious how they are going to deploy these 2 guys together.
Jalen McMillan was the flanker last year. He’s the deep threat to stretch defenses: good speed, good hands, but routes need to be polished, and he isn’t strong in contested situations yet. Still, for a second-year player, there’s upside.
This group is deep, balanced, and versatile.
6. Dallas Cowboys
Credit Cowbows.com
CeeDee is a true 1A WR: twitchy, great hands, pristine route runner, elite YAC ability, and great vs man, zone, and press. The only small knock is that contested catches could use some work, but even then, he’s still solid in that area. There isn’t a part of the field he can’t attack.
George Pickens is the X receiver and one of the best deep threats in the league. He has insane body control, strong hands, and wins vs press. The big question is his consistency and effort. When he’s not getting enough touches, he can lose focus, and his routes can get very sloppy. If he can stay dialed, he has legit WR1 upside. This is a contract year for him, so I have faith.
KaVontae Turpin is a pure speed WR3 who can stretch the field, which opens space underneath for Lamb. I was worried for him to be the WR2 in this offence, but I absolutely love him as WR3; this room is built perfectly.
7. Detroit Lions
Credit Total Pro Sports
Amon-Ra is the flanker in this offense; he is elite vs zone, solid vs man, and one of the best WR blockers in the NFL, which is crucial for the Lions’ run game. He is one of the best WRs when he faces press and dominates the middle of the field. When he has the ball in his hands, it’s a very hard task to bring him down; most of the time, 1 DB won’t do the job.
Jameson Williams, usually the X, got better vs zone and man in year two (near 80% success vs zone). He’s explosive after the catch, but struggles vs press. If he improves there, he could become a top WR2 in the league, but for now, he’s an average WR2.
Tim Patrick was an awesome surprise: after two horrible injuries, he returned as a reliable big body WR3 on a very good team. It’s a great story, and as a Broncos fan, I absolutely love to see it.
Isaac Tesla was drafted in the 2nd round this year and was called a reach by basically all of social media, but I see the vision. He’s 6’4″ 214 lbs with 4.43 speed, he’s great vs zone, has great hands, but is a raw route runner. No doubt he is a project, but this staff has earned my trust.
8. Miami Dolphins
Credit NY Post
Tyreek is trending downward, but still a borderline top 10 WR. Great vs man, press, and zone, elite speed, underrated contested catch skills, and dangerous after the catch. McDaniel’s offense moves him around to create mismatches, and he is able to make the most out of those opportunities. I still think he has good football left, and I’m excited to see if he is able to bounce back this year.
Waddle is the league’s most underrated WR. He’s great vs zone, good vs man, has no issues vs. press, has top-tier speed, and is a good route runner at every level of the field. His “down year” was more the offense’s fault than his. If Tua can stay upright, I expect him to go off.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine brings more speed to the fastest WR room in the league. His intermediate game is limited, but that won’t be his job. I expect him to go deep a lot and stretch the field out.
9. Chicago Bears
Credit Bleacher Nation
Rome Odunze can be a true 1A WR: big body, elite at catches in traffic, great hands, near 80% success rate vs press, and very strong success rate on the majority of the routes he ran last year. Every WR in this offence last year was deployed incorrectly; Odunze was used too much underneath or on screens, that just isn’t his game. With smarter deployment, he has a great chance to break out.
Same goes for DJ Moore; he was asked to win too many outside 1-on-1s last year, but that’s the biggest weakness of his game. He’s best underneath, where he can use his YAC ability to turn nothing into something. The hiring of Ben Johnson should fix that.
Luther Burden was drafted in the 2nd round this year. He’s similar to Moore as he’s an inside receiver that’s really good with the ball in his hands, so I’m excited to see how Ben Johnson will deploy these 2 guys together. Who’s taking the Jamo role?
If Caleb Williams settles in and the coaching staff lives up to expectations, this room will break out.
10. Baltimore Ravens
Credit NY Post
Zay Flowers is the chess piece of this Ravens offence, as he gets moved all over the formation. Flowers is great after the catch, can separate anywhere, and is especially strong vs zone. For a smaller frame, he surprisingly has no issues vs press. His main flaw: a 6.3% drop rate, which isn’t that bad, but there’s definitely room for improvement.
Bateman is the primary X and is a very good one. He’s great vs man and press, has clean routes, but not as strong vs zone, and has a slightly high drop rate. Health has been an issue, but if he continues to stay healthy, I believe he will continue to grow and become one of the best WR2s.
Hopkins has clearly lost a step but can still be a productive WR3. He is slow off the line and isn’t a good separator on routes past 10 yards anymore, but still has elite hands, contested catch ability, and finds soft spots in zone. Likely to be used as a power slot and sometimes as an X when Monken wants to move Bateman around.
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