Wide Receivers
It’s crucial to pay attention to your league’s scoring rules for wide receivers. High-volume possession guys such as Amon-Ra St. Brown become even more valuable in full-PPR formats, whereas in non-PPR leagues, someone like Brian Thomas gains ground—since he racked up more yards than ASB despite catching 38 fewer passes.
We’re using half-PPR rankings here, which try to balance those extremes, but make sure you reference the rankings appropriate for your league format if you’re playing under a different system.
Justin Jefferson: Yahoo Ranking 5 – Labs Ranking 2
This ranking difference mainly comes from Yahoo bumping up running backs in their default order compared to wide receivers. They slot three backs between consensus top picks Ja’Marr Chase and Jefferson, while our staff doesn’t have Jefferson ranked lower than No. 3.
This is another spot where knowing your league’s scoring system matters. In full PPR, Jefferson is a clear pick at second overall. If you’re drafting anywhere from the second to the fifth slot, he’s a nearly automatic pick. I would still take him at No. 2 in half-PPR, but in non-PPR, it makes more sense to put running backs above him.
Drafting strategy-wise, having an early pick lets you circle back for players like Kyren Williams or James Cook in rounds two and three, so you don’t have to stress about missing out on the top running backs if you select Jefferson first.
DJ Moore: Yahoo Ranking 48 – Labs Ranking 37
This is one of the biggest differences between an early-round Yahoo ranking and our own, and it highlights how Yahoo’s default ranks stack up against others. Most of the reasons to target Moore have already been touched on when discussing Caleb Williams: there’s plenty of optimism surrounding the Bears’ offense.
Moore led Chicago in receiving last year, and while he’ll see more competition, it wouldn’t be surprising if he remained their top option. The younger players the Bears are counting on will probably need some time to develop, so Moore should stand out early in the season.
Since Moore’s Yahoo ADP is pushing into the 50s, he should still be available in the fourth round, even though we grade him as a borderline Round 3 talent. I wouldn’t let that value pass by.
Jameson Williams: Yahoo Ranking 56 – Labs Ranking 47
Jameson Williams has shown consistent progress throughout his three seasons with the Lions. Most importantly, he has managed to stay largely healthy and avoid off-field issues, playing in 15 games in 2024 and surpassing 1,000 receiving yards.
Our optimism about Williams comes partly from his ongoing development as he enters his fourth year. The other reason is that the Lions themselves could regress this season. With both coordinators departing and losses along the offensive line, Detroit may not be as dominant as they were during their 15-2 run in 2024.
That impressive record often put them ahead late, which resulted in Detroit ranking just 25th in passing rate last year. If they find themselves trailing more frequently, they’ll naturally have to throw more often. This shift would boost the entire passing game, but Williams stands to benefit most—his speed and big-play ability are especially valuable when the team needs to score quickly.
Given his current ranking and average draft position, Williams is likely available around the fifth or sixth round.
Keon Coleman: Yahoo Ranking 135 – Labs Ranking 94
Who will become Buffalo’s top receiving option this season isn’t certain, though most people slightly favor Khalil Shakir. However, Sean Koerner—whose rankings make up half of our consensus and who has repeatedly finished atop the FantasyPros contests—disagrees, putting Coleman ahead of Shakir. Our other analyst has the two much closer in value than what ADP or Yahoo rankings show.
Josh Allen and the Bills had the league’s second-ranked offense last year, even though Allen was the only true fantasy standout. Coleman had a somewhat disappointing rookie campaign, due in part to missing several games with injury.
Now, entering 2025 healthy, the former 33rd overall pick is set up for a substantial leap forward. At a minimum, Coleman is a reliable WR3 or Flex candidate in late rounds, and there’s genuine upside for him to finish as a solid WR2.
Best Ball rankings from some of the top industry experts are also available on FantasyLabs.
