3 NFL Wide Receiver Breakout Candidates: Pro Bowl Predictions and Fantasy Football Outlooks

June 17, 2025

Joey's wide receiver breakout candidates and potential first-year Pro Bowlers for 2025 fantasy football. His three wide receivers risers and sleepers.

There were plenty of first-time Pro Bowlers at the wide receiver position last year. There were six wide receivers who made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2024, and those players were Jerry Jeudy, Nico Collins, Zay Flowers, Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Although Thomas, Nabers, and Smith-Njigba were all selected as alternates when the initial Pro Bowl rosters were released, those Pro Bowl selections all count the same. With the 2025-2026 season just a few months away, now is the perfect time to predict which wide receivers will earn their first Pro Bowl selection this year.

So, let's dive in and predict which three wide receivers will make their first Pro Bowl in 2025.

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

It was a bit shocking that Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey did not make his first Pro Bowl last season. He caught 82 passes for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns across 16 games in his rookie campaign. Although he didn't break out until later in the season, he finished with better all-around numbers than several Pro Bowl AFC wideouts. 

Flowers only caught 74 passes for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games, and Collins caught 68 passes for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. McConkey finished with more catches and receiving yards than both of those wideouts in 2024. So, there was an argument to be made that the Chargers wideout deserved a spot on the Pro Bowl roster. 

With another year in the league, though, there's a solid chance he will make his first Pro Bowl during the 2025-2026 season. McConkey is coming off a successful rookie campaign, and his connection with quarterback Justin Herbert should only grow in Year 2.

From Mina Kimes on NFL Live: On throws over 10 yards, the WR with the highest catch rate in 2024 was Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The second best catch rate on throws over 10 yards: 73%, Ladd McConkey pic.twitter.com/uNO6NVJYEf

— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) June 9, 2025

After earning a 24.5% target share in 2024, we could see that number increase in his second season. McConkey is the clear WR1 in this Los Angeles offense, and his second half of the year could be a sign of what's to come. The 23-year-old caught 45 passes for 657 yards and three touchdowns over the final seven games. As a result, he should like his chances to make the Pro Bowl.

McConkey should also be a strong selection in the second round of 2025 fantasy football drafts. He finished as the WR13 in PPR formats in his rookie season and was a strong WR1 option in the second half of the year. The former Georgia product averaged 18.7 PPR fantasy points across the final seven weeks. 

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

When the Arizona Cardinals selected wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, there was a lot of hype surrounding the generational prospect. He totaled over 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in each of his final two college seasons in 2022 and 2023 at Ohio State. 

However, there was definitely an adjustment period for Harrison in his rookie season with the Cardinals. He only totaled 62 catches for 885 yards and eight touchdowns and struggled to make a difference in Arizona's passing game. The former Ohio State product caught four passes or fewer in 10 of his 17 games. 

There's no doubt that Harrison was a bit disappointing in his rookie campaign. He ranked 49th in route win rate (43.8%), 107th in target separation (1.03), 85th in contested catch rate (28.6%), and 70th in yards after the catch (148) among all wide receivers in 2024. 

However, it wasn't all bad for the Cardinals wideout last year. He ranked seventh in air yards share (42.3%), fifth in unrealized air yards (829), and third in win rate versus man coverage (42.8%). Harrison also had plenty of strong games throughout the season, which included a four-catch, 130-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams. 

As a result, the potential is there for Harrison to make his first Pro Bowl in 2025. He is entering his second season, and this could be the year that he takes a major step forward. It took the wideout one full year at Ohio State before breaking out as a sophomore in 2022. A similar thing could play out for the 22-year-old in his NFL career. 

Harrison has also put on a lot of muscle this offseason, which is definitely an encouraging sign for him heading into the 2025 season. That could help him be more physical at the line of scrimmage and fight through contact. Given that the Cardinals were impressed with him during OTAs in May, we shouldn't count out the former top-5 pick from making the Pro Bowl. 

Marvin Harrison Jr. is JACKED 😳🤯

MHJ been living in the weight room this summer 💪

(via @AZCardinals) pic.twitter.com/SCarQYSLqA

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 9, 2025

He is the clear top option in this Arizona offense and has a great chance to pass the 1,000-yard threshold in 2025. That will likely make him a nice pick early in the 2025 fantasy drafts. A true breakout campaign could be coming for the former Buckeyes star. 

Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London posted respectable numbers in his first two NFL seasons. He caught 72 passes for 866 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie campaign in 2022 and then reeled in 69 passes for 905 yards and two touchdowns back in 2023. With Kirk Cousins coming to town before the 2024 season, many predicted a breakout season for London. 

That's exactly what happened as London caught 100 passes for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns across 17 games. He was a consistent WR1 option for the Falcons while maintaining an impressive 29.1% target share. His 158 targets were also the third most in the NFL last year, only behind Nabers (170) and Ja'Marr Chase (175). 

Even when Michael Penix Jr. took over later in the season, London continued to put up solid all-around numbers. He caught 22 passes for 351 yards and two touchdowns in three games with Penix from Week 16 to Week 18. That capped off an impressive campaign for the former USC product. 

Despite that breakout campaign, though, London was not named to the Pro Bowl in 2024. He was worthy enough of that selection, but there were plenty of elite wide receivers to choose from in the NFC last year. Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Terry McLaurin, Nabers, Smith-Njigba, and Evans all had incredible seasons. 

However, he arguably had a better season than both Evans and Smith-Njigba. London had more catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns than both of those receivers in 2024. So, the Falcons wideout was sort of a Pro Bowl snub last year. 

That won't be the case this upcoming season because the 23-year-old will make his first Pro Bowl in 2025. Penix is set to be Atlanta's starting quarterback, and the gun-slinging lefty will target his top wideout a ton. In his three starts last year, he targeted London 39 times through the air, including 18 times in Week 18 against the Carolina Panthers. 

Michael Penix Jr.’s response when asked if Drake London is underappreciated:

“He won’t be after this year.” 👀🥶 pic.twitter.com/yBQ7B3C8Gs

— Not Bijan (@InBijanWeTrust) June 11, 2025

That will surely help London's case to be a Pro Bowler this season. That potential high target share should also help him be a consistent fantasy option for managers. After finishing as the WR5 in PPR formats last year, another top-7 wide receiver finish could be in the cards for the soon-to-be Pro Bowler. 

Honorable Mentions: Garrett Wilson, Tee Higgins, D.J. Moore

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