A to Z Sports NFL positional rankings: Wide receivers | A to Z Sports NFL Newsletter
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A to Z Sports NFL positional rankings: Wide receivers
Training camp is just around the corner, so the A to Z Sports staff is cranking out our top 20 positional rankings heading into the 2025 season. We began with the wide receivers, which is arguably the most stacked position group in the league right now. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable rankings.
No. 1 – Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals: “Winning the triple crown as you enter the prime of your career will earn you this distinction. Stock in Chase has never been higher, and it may frankly never be this high again. He's arguably the most dangerous player in the entire league with the ball in his hands. Imagine an even faster and taller Steve Smith Sr.? That's who he is, and as offenses continue to shift their focus in the passing game, his strength before and after the catch will continue to be invaluable. I'm sure his former LSU teammate has a response ready for him this year, but Chase has earned the crown for now." —John Sheeran
No. 5 – Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams: "Puka Nacua didn't quite have the production (79-990-3 in 11 games played) of his record-setting rookie season, but that doesn’t matter. He elevated his game with the Los Angeles Rams in 2024 despite injury, and did more than enough so to be considered among the NFL’s elite receivers. This former fifth-round draft pick has proven to be the NFL’s most effective receiver per route run with a 23.5% success rate last season. He’s an elite separator whether lining up against man, press-man, or zone coverages. He’s converting first downs at a clip that no other receiver in the league is (17.8%). I’m not sure a single wide receiver brings more to the table heading into 2025 in terms of analytical profile." —Charles Goldman
No. 7 – Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: "If you ask me, ranking a player who was a first team All-Pro the last two years this low is insane. Especially after coming off a year where he was second in the league in receptions, fifth in receiving yards, and third in touchdowns. He was also the sixth highest graded receiver per PFF. He’s widely considered to be one of the top five receivers in the league, but here he is at 8th on this list. One guy had him at 16 and called him a slot merchant. What are we doing here, people?" —Mike Payton
No. 10 – Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars: "Brian Thomas Jr. came into the NFL in a situation that wasn't the best, to be quite frank. He joined a team that was pretty bad, and the offense wasn't great, with not many other weapons around him to take pressure off of him. Not to mention, Doug Pederson, his head coach, was let go. But he did have one thing — a talented quarterback who can get him the ball, and the opportunity to instantly be the franchise guy. After one season, I think having Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 11 is pretty fair. There are a few guys ahead of him on this list who you could make a case for BTJ being better than. But you could also make the case that some of those receivers just had down years last year, and have strung together consistency year after year. BTJ still has a lot to prove, but it's pretty clear he could be even better than the No. 11 wide receiver in the league." —Justin Churchill
No. 12 – Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "12 may be just a little too low for Evans, but it’s not unreasonable. There’s a very good chance he cracks the top 10 if he didn’t miss three games in 2024. Regardless, he’s still as dangerous as ever, and he’s evolved his game in terms of route running, usage, and run blocking. The only true knock on his game is that he has some really bad drops on occasion that leave people scratching their heads. The Bucs’ crowded receiver room won't stop him from producing at his usual level in 2025. Evans is as complete a receiver as they come, and he’s shown that every single year he’s been in the league." —Evan Winter
No. 16 – Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams: "It's a dangerous age for wide receivers at 32, but Davante Adams hasn't given many signs of regression. Yes, it has been a tough couple of years playing for bad teams on the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets, but his individual performance is still absurd. After his trade to the Jets last year, the star receiver had 854 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games. Extrapolating those numbers to a full 17-game season, that would be 1,319 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. With those Jets' circumstances, and sharing targets with Garrett Wilson. Now that Adams signed a two-year, $44 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams to play with Matthew Stafford, it's easy to see a path for him to be great for at least one more season." —Wendell Ferreira
No. 20 – DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles: "DeVonta 'Skinny Batman' Smith is as smooth as they come for a No. 2 target. In 2024, Smith hauled in 68 receptions for 833 yards and eight touchdowns, showing he can be a go-to guy for Jalen Hurts if A.J. Brown isn't open. He might not be the biggest receiver out there, but his elite speed sure makes it tough for defenders to keep up with. Whether it's a deep shot downfield or coming through on third down, Smith is always ready to deliver." —Kelsey Kramer
NFL’s top 20 WRs: Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson battle for the top spot, and surprise player sneaks into the top 10
Talent across the NFL at the WR position is arguably at an all-time high entering the 2025 season. From established players like Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson to young up-and-comers like Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., the league is in fantastic hands for the foreseeable future at the WR position. This makes it the […]
Several players around the league earn new contracts
The NFL saw several of its stars receive new contracts over the past few days. Let’s take a look:
- CB Sauce Gardner: The New York Jets gave Gardner a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid cornerback ever.
- WR Garrett Wilson: The Jets handed out another mega-deal, giving Wilson a four-year, $130 million contract extension.
- OL Trey Smith: The Kansas City Chiefs signed Smith to a four-year, $94 million contract extension just before Tuesday’s deadline, making Smith the highest-paid guard in NFL history.
- OLB Von Miller: The Washington Commanders signed Miller to a one-year contract late Wednesday night.
- CB Jahdae Barron: The Denver Broncos signed their 2025 first-round pick Barron, leaving Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart as the only remaining unsigned first rounder.
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