4 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Breakouts - Players Set to Take Over WR1 Roles (2025)

John Johnson's 4 fantasy football wide receivers who should take over WR1 roles in 2025. These wide receiver breakout candidates include: Tetairoa McMillan, Rashod Bateman, Keon Coleman, Kyle Williams.

Who will earn and keep the coveted WR1 roles for each of the 32 teams in the NFL is a question that's not always easy to answer. But the eventual truth is important for fantasy managers to uncover, especially in dynasty fantasy football leagues.

Being early on players like Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who didn't immediately take over the Lions' WR1 role as a rookie, or Puka Nacua, who immediately became his team's top receiver option, can give your fantasy team a massive boost for years to come.

Of course, there are surprises every year about a team's WR1 role. Leaning into uncertainty and sifting through the data and film to find the right answers is crucial. That's what I'll try to do below. Thanks for reading as always, and let's dive in!

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Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

This one is pretty obvious. With Xavier Legette disappointing last season, Jalen Coker being an undrafted free-agent signing, and Adam Thielen set to turn 35 years old before the 2025 season starts, this is one of the easiest WR rooms in the league to take over.

I have plenty of issues with McMillan's game, but he still has the size and athleticism to at least justify getting a big target share. He's solid after the catch with the ball in his hands, so you have to imagine he'll get a lot of work over the middle of the field, where he can best leverage his size.

Tetairoa McMillan screen pass against unblocked defenders vs NAU and Tre Harris screen pass against unblocked defenders vs LSU. Both hung out to dry against 2 defenders. One of many clips that show me Harris is just a better WR. pic.twitter.com/eOOoXAR3R7

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 19, 2025

It won't be pretty, though. McMillan has some glaring flaws in his game. But Legette was an incredibly raw prospect coming out of college and didn't develop particularly well as a rookie. And Coker, as an undrafted guy, has a massive uphill battle to earn a significant target share.

What's funny is that I wouldn't be surprised if Thielen, if he stays healthy, leads the team in targets for the first half of the year. There are major concerns with McMillan's lack of speed, route-running issues, ability to win downfield, and occasional lackluster effort.

Tetairoa McMillan on working with/ Panthers WR coach Rob Moore: “Even though I was fortunate enough to get drafted in the first round … even the best in the world need to get coaching.” pic.twitter.com/qp3memPKTp

— Joe Person (@josephperson) May 9, 2025

He's pretty delusional calling himself "the best in the world," though. I also have major issues with his attitude. I had to grit my teeth putting him on this list, but I'm only doing it because of his draft capital. I think he's a bust and don't like him as a player.

Kyle Williams, WR, New England Patriots

We can start by forgetting about every receiving weapon the Patriots had last year. Even though the film showed Patriots quarterback Drake Maye playing well, none of the team's wide receivers were remotely impressive.

There are still believers in WR Kayshon Boutte, but it's best to throw water on that fire. Boutte was not good last season. He had a long touchdown catch and a few other solid plays, but that doesn't mean he'll be able to win consistently. The data and film suggest otherwise.

We should really stop pretending that Kayshon Boutte will break out in 2025. Despite having Drake Maye and poor target competition, Boutte had (min. 250 routes):

1.39 YPRR (WR60 of 91)
0.059 1D/RR (WR72)
0.16 TPRR (WR71)
0.014 Sep Score (WR80, worse than Jahan Dotson)

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) May 26, 2025

Luckily, we have this great data now, so we don't need to watch every snap. Every route is charted for us. The Pats' WR1 next season will be Kyle Williams, if my analysis holds up correctly. There are a few reasons for this. The first is that he's a highly talented player.

New England Selects Washington State WR Kyle Williams 69th Overall

🇺🇸 14 Receptions on 20+ Yard Throws in 2024 (1st Among WRs) pic.twitter.com/jriBY73g7x

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 26, 2025

Williams was very impressive in college. He isn't getting nearly enough hype. Many analysts have pointed to him having the best release package of any WR in the draft. Additionally, he ran a 4.41 (laser-timed) 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine, so he has blazing speed.

His biggest competition is Stefon Diggs, a 31-year-old receiver who turns 32 in November and is coming off an ACL tear. I think Williams will be the team's WR1 by midseason and should go on a tear in the fantasy playoffs. Draft him wherever you can. He will be a league winner.

Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Bateman taking the WR1 job from Zay Flowers might seem pretty controversial. The problem with Flowers is that he disappears when the team gets to the red zone. That's what happens when you're a small-bodied, 5-foot-9 receiver who struggles to win contested reps against bigger, stronger defensive backs.

Flowers' game is fine for the other parts of the field. But when we dig deeper, Bateman seems to have the potential to just take his job. He had a solid season last year and had more touchdowns, higher yards per target, and higher yards per catch than Flowers.

Rashod Bateman: +3 ASS
Lamar Jackson: +1 Hero Throw@FantasyPtsData

pic.twitter.com/X7DcegP8Q5

— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) October 22, 2024

And he was a better separator as well. The first part of his career has been marred by injuries, and though players don't often break out in their fifth season, there's a solid chance Bateman could improve further on his 2024 campaign.

His effectiveness in the red zone could become more pronounced if tight end Mark Andrews starts to decline. Andrews was used heavily as a run-blocker last season, and though he caught 11 touchdowns, his crucial drops in the playoffs aren't helping his stock. Neither is the fact that Baltimore was, at one point, open to trading him.

Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills

Following a hot take with a bit less of a hot take, I think Coleman showed flashes of a connection with quarterback Josh Allen last season. If it weren't for a wrist injury knocking him out for a few games and hampering him for more, I'd be a bit more in on Coleman taking the WR1 job for the Bills pretty quickly.

Currently, he's No. 2 on the team's depth chart behind WR Khalil Shakir, but Shakir's smaller frame and play style make him more suited for the slot. That could lead to him getting fewer snaps since the Bills have tight ends Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid. In two-WR sets, there isn't space for a third (i.e., slot) receiver.

Keon Coleman was hot garbage. pic.twitter.com/jcUjdfHpXm

— Morgan Colby (@MorganColby_FF) May 16, 2025

However, I don't think Coleman is a particularly good receiver. He struggles as a route runner and separator. On nearly all his routes, he didn't consistently win against coverage. What he does have is the height and strength to make contested catches at a high rate, though.

And Allen has one of the strongest arms in the NFL. So even if Coleman can't separate particularly well, Allen has no problem zipping deep passes his way. His nine catches for 195 yards and a touchdown in two weeks (before his wrist injury) showcased that he can be pretty productive.

Happy Birthday Keon Coleman ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/P4NWZu9hY1

— Primetime Adam (@AdamZientek3) May 17, 2025

He goes up for it like a basketball player quite often, which is always fun. Allen was a big proponent of his team drafting Coleman precisely for these reasons, and he'll likely be more comfortable giving him a solid target share in 2025 after he's had a year of development under his belt.

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