The final picks of the 2025 NFL Draft have been made, and while the rookie class always garners immense attention, shrewd fantasy football managers know to look for the subtle shifts in veteran landscapes.
For wide receivers, the draft can be a pivotal moment – whether a team opted not to bring in significant competition, a new quarterback arrived, or an existing player’s role was implicitly solidified.
This post will break down some veteran wide receivers whose fantasy stock is on the rise following this year’s draft.
Here are five wide receivers whose stock is on the rise.
Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans): Calvin Ridley’s fantasy stock has seen a significant boost after the 2025 NFL Draft. The Titans selected Cam Ward as the No. 1 overall pick, a quarterback with a strong arm and proficiency for deep throws, which aligns perfectly with Ridley’s strengths. Crucially, the Titans waited until later in the draft to select another wide receiver, making Ridley the undisputed top option in their passing game. He finished 2024 as the WR28 in fantasy, despite what was described as “questionable QB play,” and his current ADP (average draft position) places him even lower, suggesting he’s undervalued. With vacated targets from departing players and a more accurate quarterback in Ward, Ridley is projected to see a substantial target share. His career average for catchable targets suggests room for improvement in his catch rate with Ward, potentially leading to a return to top-20 fantasy WR status.
Garrett Wilson (New York Jets): Garrett Wilson’s fantasy stock is firmly on the rise, primarily due to the Jets’ post-draft landscape. The team prioritized bolstering its offensive line and did not add significant wide receiver competition until later rounds, affirming Wilson’s role as the clear top receiver. With Justin Fields, who played some college ball with Wilson, on a fresh start in New York, Wilson might finally get an uptick in production. Wilson’s existing high volume, combined with improved quarterback play and protection, positions him to be a consistent high-end fantasy producer and a strong candidate for a top-10 fantasy receiver finish.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals): Marvin Harrison Jr.’s fantasy stock is on the rise as he heads into his second season. The Cardinals’ 2025 draft focused largely on defensive players, meaning they didn’t bring in any significant target competition for Harrison Jr. He remains the clear alpha receiver in Arizona’s offense. While his rookie year didn’t meet the sky-high expectations, he still ranked in the top 20 for total targets (114) and finished top-5 in end-zone targets and air yards. He scored 8 touchdowns, indicating his nose for the end zone. With Kyler Murray fully healthy and another year to build chemistry, Harrison Jr. is poised for a breakout sophomore campaign, with expectations for him to be a strong WR1 option.
D.K. Metcalf (Pittsburgh Steelers): D.K. Metcalf’s fantasy stock has seen a significant rise following his trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joins the Steelers as their new No. 1 wide receiver, a role solidified by the Steelers not drafting any significant wide receiver competition in the early rounds after trading for him. The main hindrance to Metcalf’s production will come from the quarterback position where there is no good starter at the moment as the whole football world awaits whether Aaron Rodgers will be joining the team. Metcalf’s elite contested-catch ability and big-play upside are well-suited for a scheme that is expected to emphasize play-action and deep shots. His target share is projected to increase significantly, giving him a higher weekly floor and ceiling in his new environment.
Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens): Zay Flowers’ fantasy stock is on the rise as he enters his third season. He built on a strong rookie year with a 1,000-yard sophomore campaign, finishing as the WR24 in total points and WR33 per game. He maintained a strong 25% target share, which was 12th among wide receivers, and significantly improved his efficiency in 2024, ranking 13th in yards per route run. Flowers is considered Lamar Jackson’s clear No. 1 option in the passing game. With further development and potentially better touchdown luck in 2025, he has the potential to climb into the high-end WR2 tier, making him a reliable fantasy option with a strong weekly floor.
