The 120 best standard wide receivers for fantasy football in Week 1

September 3, 2025

Welcome to the 2025 Fantasy Football Season

As we dive into the opening week, it’s clear that there are plenty of questions swirling around the standard wide receivers. That uncertainty, oddly enough, adds to the excitement. Will Ben Johnson and Liam Cohen manage to transform their quarterbacks? Could the addition of George Pickens be the spark the Cowboys’ passing game needs? And how will the rookie perform as the season unfolds? This week, we should start to get some clarity on these matters.

Coker has suffered a quad injury and will now be sidelined for at least four weeks after being placed on IR. This development follows the Panthers trading Adam Thierren, leaving Coker’s position up for grabs. It appears that Xavier Leggette might benefit in fantasy circles as a result.

Mooney was hindered by a shoulder injury during preseason but has returned to practice. If he can participate in a couple of sessions this week, it seems he’ll be ready to play.

Reed is dealing with a Jones fracture in his leg and plans to take the field despite it. It’s unclear how this issue will impact his performance in the long run.

Downs has been struggling with hamstring problems but is expected to return to practice this week. We’ll have to keep an eye on his participation to gauge his readiness.

Jennings was back at practice on Monday after grappling with a calf injury and some contract negotiations. He may take a week to ramp up, which might actually be sufficient time. One might think he won’t see a lot of action right away.

Godwin won’t be heading to IR, but he is likely out until October. Jalen McMillan will also miss time in Tampa Bay, which could pave the way for Emeka Egbuka to step into a more prominent role.

This week, all eyes will be on Hunter as he makes his NFL debut when the Jaguars host the Panthers. The Colorado star, who previously shined in both wide receiver and cornerback roles, won the Heisman Trophy last year, and it’ll be intriguing to see how he’s utilized in Jacksonville this season.

Tetairoa Macmillan, Panthers

McMillan was drafted as the second receiver at No. 8 in April and is set to make his pro debut against the Jaguars on Sunday. Standing at 6’5″, he’s expected to be a key target for the Panthers right out of the gate.

The first-round pick from Ohio State will also see his NFL debut when the Bucks face off against the Falcons on Sunday. Egbuka has made a positive impression during training camp and could make an immediate impact as Chris Godwin works his way back from an ankle injury.

Tesaa has the potential to become a breakout star and will be making his Lions debut against the Packers this Sunday. The third pick from Arkansas showed significant promise during the preseason, leading many to believe he could be an X-factor for Detroit’s offense.

When we examine the fantasy receiver matchups, it’s beneficial to target high-scoring games or situations where receiver teams may be trailing. A prime example here is the Cowboys, whose aggressive passing game should lead to Dak Prescott throwing the ball over 40 times.

Here are some game odds for fantasy receivers: