7 Dynasty Third-Year Wide Receivers to Buy or Sell: Fantasy Football WR Risers and Fallers (2025)

Dave Ventresca highlights seven third-year wide receivers to buy or sell in 2025 dynasty fantasy football leagues. Should you trade for Marvin Mims Jr., Zay Flowers, or Quentin Johnston?

With rookies reporting to the Los Angeles Chargers camp last week, 2025 NFL training camps are officially underway. More teams are set to report the following week, and preseason football will soon begin, marking the start of the 2025 NFL season.

While casual redraft players are just beginning to wake from their hibernation, dynasty fantasy football managers have been working around the clock to identify any possible edge they can find. Wide receivers have been a point of emphasis for dynasty gamers in more recent seasons. Over the years, we have seen many receivers make significant strides in their third season. Sadly, that’s not the case for every third-year receiver. There are times when it’s better to move off such players, and then there are times when gamers should buy third-year players.

So, which third-year wide receivers should dynasty players buy or sell in their 2025 dynasty football leagues? Let’s take a look and find out.

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

Third-Year Fantasy Football Wide Receivers To Buy

Zay Flowers - Baltimore Ravens

Flowers broke the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career in 2024. Despite that accomplishment, he still only finished as the PPR WR25 and the WR36 in PPR points per game.

Be that as it may, Flowers is still a good player. Unfortunately, he’s stuck in a Baltimore offense that throws the ball at a below-average rate and primarily relies on its running game. This is the main reason Flowers has yet to finish as a top-24 (or better) receiver.

SEVENTY-FIVE YARD TOUCHDOWN FOR ZAY FLOWERS!!!!!

Tune in on CBS! pic.twitter.com/1rxQdgbKGf

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 31, 2023

Flowers' situation may prevent him from ever reaching his true fantasy ceiling. However, he’s a talented enough player that it’s worth rolling the dice in the hope he eventually figures it out.

Check in with the Flowers owner in your league. If he has soured on the third-year receiver, work a deal to get him on your team.

Jayden Reed - Green Bay Packers

Reed has yet to crack 900 receiving yards in a single season, but he offers gamers big-time upside thanks to his big play ability as a receiver and rusher.

JAYDEN REED LEFT WIDE OPEN FOR THE 70-YARD TD.

📺: #GBvsPHI on Peacock pic.twitter.com/cAvTn5HLLd

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2024

Still scoring TDs... Jayden Reed takes it 34 yards to the house! @Packers

📺: #GBvsPHI on Peacock pic.twitter.com/rDhTef9Jm7

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2024

Talent is not Reed’s issue, but seeing consistent playing in two receiver sets is. Green Bay has a crowded receiving room, and the addition of 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden makes this receiving room look like the New York subway at rush hour.

However, Reed is still a talented player, and it would behoove the Packers to find more ways to get the ball in his hands. His value has taken a hit following the addition of Golden, but this is a good time to take a shot on acquiring Reed. He’s still got some areas to improve as a receiver, but is a good route runner and is electric with the ball in his hands.

Players like this usually find a way to put it all together for a big season at some point.

Cedric Tillman - Cleveland Browns

Tillman enjoyed a nice three-game stretch last year after the Browns traded Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills. From Weeks 7-9, Tillman posted a 21-255-3 line on 32 targets.

Cedric Tillman with 17-yard TD grab#LACvsCLE on CBS and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/JiPRuYZtJ6

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 3, 2024

Unfortunately, he suffered a concussion in Week 12 and would miss the remainder of the season. It’s worth noting that most of Tillman’s production was aided by Jameis Winston at quarterback. Cleveland’s quarterback situation is less than ideal in 2025, so we may not see Tillman post similar production.

However, Tillman still posted a 23% targets per route run (TPRR) and a 33.7% air yards share (AY Share) in that three-game stretch per Fantasy Points Data Suite. It’s a small sample size, but Tillman looked the part of a legitimate X receiver. This data gives some hope that he could produce similar results over an extended time.

Tillman showed just enough last year that it could be more than a flash in the pan. He is a forgotten name in most dynasty leagues. His three-game mini-breakout could be overlooked due to his season-ending injury.

It’s worth kicking the tires on a trade to acquire Tillman. You might catch a break and trade your way into a WR1.

Jalin Hyatt - New York Giants

Hyatt hasn’t done much through his first two NFL seasons. He has only caught 31 passes for 435 receiving yards and has yet to score a touchdown in his career.

As bad as that is, there might be a glimmer of hope for the former third-round pick. Hyatt has reportedly added 20 pounds of muscle this offseason, and that could be a sign he is realizing he’s quickly running out of time to become an impact player.

New York also signed quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason. He is an upgrade compared to former starter Daniel Jones and could benefit Hyatt in another way as well.

While Wilson isn’t quite the same player he used to be, he’s had great success in three receiver sets the last two years. Per Sharp Football, among 44 qualifying quarterbacks over the last two years, Wilson’s ranks in three receiver sets are:

Ninth in success rate
10th in yards per attempt
First in touchdown rate
Fourth in expected points added (EPA) per attempt

That aligns well with head coach Brian Daboll, who prefers using 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three receivers) on offense. Hyatt could see more opportunities if the Giants run more three-wide receiver sets this season.

He will, however, need to beat out one of Darius Slayton or Wan’Dale Robinson for playing time in 11 personnel. If he does, his ability to stretch the defense could mesh well with Wilson’s strengths as a passer.

Hyatt has been so bad for two years that it’s very possible he was outright dropped and is sitting on waivers. It’s more likely than not that Hyatt is a bust, but he could be a surprise third-year breakout. He’s certainly worth a speculative add if he’s available on waivers.

Third-Year Fantasy Football Wide Receivers To Sell

Quentin Johnston - Los Angeles Chargers

Johnston showed signs of life last year after a highly disappointing 2023 rookie season. He caught 55 passes for 711 receiving yards and scored eight touchdowns in 2024.

Quentin Johnston TOUCHDOWN

📺: #LACvsCAR on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/OzD8IfKRTC

— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024

While that was nice to see, it might be fool’s gold. Despite the statistical improvements, Johnston continued to have difficulty separating from defenders and struggled at the catch point.

The Chargers clearly took notice and drafted rookie receiver Tre Harris in the second round of the NFL Draft. He profiles very similarly to Johnston as an X receiver. This is significant because the current Chargers regime did not draft Johnston. The selection of Harris suggests that the team may have seen enough from Johnston and wanted to get their player to take over his role.

The reality is that Johnston was probably overdrafted as a first-round pick two years ago. He hasn’t sufficiently developed his route running, and it looks like Los Angeles has a replacement lined up in Harris.

KeepTradeCut estimates that Johnston’s current trade value is a 2026 third-round pick. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s worth unloading Johnston off your team, as you could use that pick to acquire a better asset during the season.

Marvin Mims Jr. - Denver Broncos

Mims showed signs of life during the 2024 season, setting career highs in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Unfortunately, it didn’t translate to much fantasy production as Mims finished 2024 as the PPR WR57.

He’s flashesignificantome big play ability but struggles to consistently separate from defenders. Aside from the deeper routes down the field, Mims' overall game still needs improvement. This has limited his upside, as head coach Sean Payton has been unwilling to give Mims consistent playing time.

Denver still has Courtland Sutton in the mix, and the team added tight end Evan Engram as well as rookies Pat Bryant and R.J. Harvey this offseason. All of these players present roadblocks to a potential Mims breakout.

Payton has had seasons where he condensed targets and heavily featured elite players (i.e., Michael Thomas, Jimmy Graham, Reggie Bush). But he has also had years where his offense spread the ball around too much for fantasy owners' liking (remember the days of Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson).

The 2025 Broncos feel more like the latter than the former. That means it’s unlikely any receiver in this offense has a huge statistical season. It also makes Mims a sell. Find someone in your league who’s still bullish on Mims and get him off your roster.

Tank Dell - Houston Texans

Dell is coming off a major knee injury he suffered in Week 16 last year. He dislocated his kneecap and tore his ACL, MCL, LCL, and meniscus.

Tank Dell #texans

Oh no. His left foot is trapped as his teammate lands into the outside of his left knee. Concern for multi-ligament injury. Likely ACL/MCL. Awful for him pic.twitter.com/vLzE963C4a

— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) December 21, 2024

It’s unlikely that Dell will return in 2025. Even when he does, given the extensive damage to his knee, he may not be the same player.

You won’t get much in a trade for Dell, but this is a situation where it’s probably best to take the loss and move on.

It's a shame because Dell looked like a late-round gem, but this knee injury more than likely negatively affects his career. Get what you can and move on without him.

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