PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! Below, Jeffrey Waalkes looks at WR Sleepers & Busts to know before you draft.
Also, check out Jeffrey’s QB Sleepers & Busts, RB Sleepers & Busts, and TE Sleepers & Busts.
Every new NFL season brings a fresh landscape—coaching changes, depth chart shifts, evolving offensive schemes, and the ever-unpredictable development arc of young talent. Fantasy football in 2025 is no different. As training camps heat up and preseason battles unfold, now is the time to dig beyond last year’s stats and ask the real questions: Who’s stepping into opportunity? Who’s shown flashes that hint at something bigger? And which wide receivers are primed to leap?
Breakout players often emerge not just from talent, but from context—shifts in target share, quarterback play, offensive design, and health all play critical roles. Sometimes, it’s about finally earning trust. Other times, it’s about simply being in the right place at the right time.
Below, we break down three wide receivers who check multiple breakout boxes for 2025 — skill, opportunity, and rising roles within their offenses. These aren’t just upside stashes — they’re players who could swing leagues by midseason. Also, we’ll look at three wideouts to avoid as potential busts.
Let’s dive in.
Sleepers
Cedric Tillman | Cleveland Browns
Cedric Tillman Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Cedric Tillman enters Year 3 with a growing buzz and the tools to deliver on it. Built like a prototypical X-receiver and often compared to Nico Collins, Tillman gave fantasy managers a brief yet compelling glimpse of what he can do during a midseason stretch in 2024. From Weeks 7 to 11, he posted 24 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns — good for WR8 in that span and 18.6 PPR points per game.
This surge came after Deshaun Watson’s injury and was fueled by Jameis Winston’s deep-shot aggression — a role Joe Flacco may also fill in 2025. Unfortunately, a concussion in Week 12 ended his breakout prematurely.
At 6-3, 215 pounds with strong hands and fluid route-running, Tillman fits exactly what head coach Kevin Stefanski wants out of a boundary receiver. The Browns’ vertical concepts create opportunities for downfield isolation routes — where Tillman thrives.
With a healthy offseason and minimal competition for snaps, Tillman is well-positioned to earn a starting role. If he picks up where he left off before his injury, he could be this year’s late-round breakout who returns every-week value.
Don’t overlook Cedric Tillman. He’s more than just a stash — he’s a legitimate breakout candidate on a quietly aggressive passing offense.
Keon Coleman | Buffalo Bills
Keon Coleman’s rookie season was underwhelming from a fantasy perspective — finishing 67th in PPR points per game — but the flashes were real. And with Amari Cooper gone and Josh Palmer entering as a complementary piece, Coleman has a clear path to step up in Year 2.
Coleman averaged 19.2 yards per catch (4th among WRs) and carried a 15.5-yard average depth of target — fifth-best among 84 qualifiers. An incredible 34 percent of his targets came 20+ yards downfield. While only six were completed, the usage alone screams upside, especially with Josh Allen slinging it.
Despite being used mostly as a vertical threat, Coleman averaged 7.7 yards after the catch per reception, fifth-best in the NFL. According to Next Gen Stats, he also led all WRs in YAC over expected, highlighting elite post-catch creativity and vision.
Coleman led the Bills in both red-zone targets (25) and end-zone targets (8), scoring four touchdowns on 29 receptions. With a 6-3, 213-pound frame and proven ability to high-point the ball, he’s built to dominate near the goal line.
A wrist injury in Week 9 slowed his progress, but a healthy offseason and increased familiarity with the offense could unlock the player Buffalo hoped for when they drafted him.
Keon Coleman checks every box: deep-threat, red-zone weapon, after-catch monster — and he’s tied to an elite QB. A Year 2 leap could make him a league-winner.
Marvin Mims Jr. | Denver Broncos
Marvin Mims Jr. may have been quiet early in his career, but his final five games of 2024 suggest a shift is coming. During that stretch, Mims averaged 62 yards per game and ranked WR17 in PPR points per game — all while playing under 50 percent of snaps.
From Week 11 on, Mims led all Denver wide receivers in yards per route run. He also posted a target rate of 28% on routes — 13th-best among all wideouts — proving quarterbacks looked for him often, despite limited snaps.
With Sean Payton retooling the offense around rookie QB Bo Nix, the Broncos are leaning toward a more vertical, uptempo approach. That aligns perfectly with Mims’ deep-speed skillset, especially now that Denver has moved on from Jerry Jeudy and other veteran WRs.
Still only 23 and entering Year 3, Mims is positioned perfectly on the development curve where breakout receivers often emerge. His late-year surge wasn’t a fluke — it was a player finding his rhythm and earning trust.
Marvin Mims is an elite-efficiency wideout who now has a clear path to starting snaps in an ascending offense. Draft him late, and you might end up starting him weekly by midseason.
Busts
While these wideouts offer breakout potential at bargain prices, not every name in your draft queue is worth chasing. In fact, a few well-known wide receivers could end up being traps — players whose roles, efficiency, or surrounding circumstances may not support their ADP.
Let’s shift gears and look at three wide receiver busts to avoid heading into the 2025 season.
Every fantasy season brings with it shiny names and tempting stats—but not all that glitters is gold. At wide receiver, a combination of unstable situations, inflated draft prices, and changing offensive dynamics makes some big-name players far riskier than they appear. These are the WRs with red flags you can’t afford to ignore in 2025.
Terry McLaurin – Washington Commanders
Terry McLaurin Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Terry McLaurin’s 2024 campaign was undeniably electric. He racked up 13 touchdowns, a career high, and finished as the WR7 in PPR formats. But fantasy football is all about projecting forward—not paying for past production—and McLaurin’s outlook in 2025 is littered with landmines.
First, his ongoing contract holdout casts a long shadow. He hasn’t reported to camp, and history shows prolonged absences often lead to conditioning issues and soft-tissue injuries. Even if he suits up in Week 1, missed practice time and a lack of rhythm with his quarterback can create a sluggish start.
Then there’s the obvious touchdown regression. McLaurin’s previous single-season high was six scores—he more than doubled that in 2024. That type of spike rarely sustains, especially when driven by off-script improvisation from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Those moments made highlight reels, but banking on that level of magic to repeat is a dangerous fantasy bet.
Making matters worse, Washington added Deebo Samuel in free agency. Samuel is a scheme-diverse weapon who commands targets in motion, screens, and high-leverage plays. That presence will siphon off valuable looks from McLaurin—especially in red zone packages.
McLaurin is still an elite talent with sharp route-running and deep trust from his QB. But fantasy value is built on volume, opportunity, and scoring equity. With all three under threat, his current draft cost as a mid-WR2 is far more risk than reward.
You’re paying for last year’s ceiling and ignoring this year’s warning signs. Proceed with caution.
Jerry Jeudy – Cleveland Browns
If you filtered Jerry Jeudy’s 2024 numbers by quarterback, you’d find a tale of two seasons. With Jameis Winston under center, Jeudy flourished as a vertical weapon—nearly 80 yards per game and a gaudy 15.7 YPR. But that window has slammed shut, and what’s left behind is a murky depth chart and a fantasy WR skating on thin ice.
Winston is gone. In his place is a chaotic quarterback carousel featuring Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, rookies Dillion Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and the still-theoretical return of Deshaun Watson. None of those names inspires confidence. And while Flacco had a magical stretch last year, he’s 40 and not built for a full season of volume passing.
Without Winston, Jeudy’s efficiency plummeted. His YPR nosedived to 9.4, and his yards per game dropped to just over 50. The offense morphed into a dink-and-dunk attack, and Jeudy was no longer a priority.
Meanwhile, second-year wideout Cedric Tillman is generating buzz as a potential breakout, and David Njoku remains a target hog over the middle. With Cleveland likely to lean heavily on the run game and rotate quarterbacks, Jeudy feels more like a boom-bust dart throw than a locked-in wide receiver.
Jeudy’s highlight reel with Winston is clouding the reality of his 2025 situation. His current ADP assumes stability that simply doesn’t exist. Let someone else take that risk.
DK Metcalf – Pittsburgh Steelers
DK Metcalf’s move to Pittsburgh grabbed headlines—and injected plenty of false hope into fantasy drafts. While his physical tools are elite, his new environment is anything but fantasy-friendly.
Pittsburgh ranked bottom five in pass attempts last season, and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has never led a top-20 passing attack in his career. Metcalf is walking into a scheme that prioritizes the run and suppresses wide receiver opportunities—especially on the perimeter.
Then there’s the quarterback: Aaron Rodgers. On paper, it sounds like a win. But Rodgers is notoriously picky about timing and route precision, and that’s never been Metcalf’s strength. While Metcalf thrives on physicality and contested catches, Rodgers demands rhythm and nuance. That stylistic mismatch could create growing pains—or worse, lost targets.
Yes, George Pickens is gone, and Metcalf will be the team’s WR1. But the passing volume just isn’t there to support elite production, especially in a system that’s likely to drag in both pace and scoring opportunities.
At his current draft price (mid-WR2 range), Metcalf is being drafted as if his situation has improved. It didn’t. He’s being selected alongside players in far better ecosystems, with more volume and better quarterback rapport.
Metcalf is a recognizable name, but names don’t win fantasy leagues—situations do. And this one? It’s full of risk, inefficiency, and poor fit. Let someone else chase the upside.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 fantasy season is ripe with opportunity, but success comes down to making sharp calls on both ends of your roster. Identifying the right breakout players can catapult your team to the top—but avoiding the landmines is just as crucial.
Wide receiver is deep, but that depth creates the illusion that big names always equal big production. Don’t fall into the trap of drafting based on last year’s stats, highlight reels, or brand recognition. Volume, quarterback play, offensive scheme, and target competition are what really matter.
As always, your draft is just the beginning. Stay agile, track news, and look beyond the surface. Championships aren’t won in the first five rounds—they’re won by spotting the truth behind the hype.
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