X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Draft Busts: Overvalued WR2s to Avoid in 2025

Xavier Legette - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire

Andrew Ball's fantasy football No. 2 wide receivers to avoid in 2025 drafts. His overvalued WR2s and draft avoids, featuring Xavier Legette and more.

It's one of the most common talking points in sports media: Who do you go to when you need a big play?

On the football field, it's the top wide receiver, and those are the guys fantasy managers love to target early in drafts. But there's a handful of No. 2 receivers (Tee Higgins, Davante Adams, and Jameson Williams) who trump other teams' WR1.

This article is not about those guys. Below are WR2s on their respective teams who fantasy managers should avoid in drafts this year.

Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.

 

Cooper Kupp, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a former first-round pick who broke out in his second year and enters the all-important third season, has question marks in the new Seattle offense.

JSN finished 12th among wide receivers in targets (137) and seventh in receptions (100). The WR9 finish was built on volume. In nearly every other scenario, Smith-Njigba would be a surefire pick in the top two rounds. And he may be selected there, but it's far from a guarantee.

Head coach Mike Macdonald fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after one season of calling plays. The Seahawks threw at the fifth-highest rate in 2024. Macdonald wants more from the ground game in 2025, hiring Klint Kubiak. He's shied away from three-receiver sets, and WR target rates have been below average.

Opportunities may be limited for JSN with Sam Darnold and the offensive coordinator in town, but he'll still be the clear WR1 in the Pacific Northwest.

And here's where we finally get to talking about Cooper Kupp. All of the arguments against JSN apply to Kupp, but to an even greater degree as the second fiddle.

Plus, there are lingering concerns about his durability. Kupp missed 18 games in the three seasons since he won the receiving triple crown. And he was unplayable at the end of the 2024 season, logging four catches on nine targets in three games (including one goose egg).

Los Angeles brass decided it was done with the 32-year-old and replaced him with ... another 32-year-old. The switch from Kupp to Davante Adams wasn't a youth movement; it was based on talent.

So, Kupp joins a Seattle roster that should run the football more and rely less on wide receivers, and he has a lengthy injury history and age concerns. Pass.

 

Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Denver Broncos

A second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Marvin Mims Jr. has only been a part-time player through two professional seasons. Sure, he's a two-time Pro Bowler (as a returner), but the offensive productivity hasn't matched his draft capital.

Mims averaged 38% of the snaps in his rookie season. That number decreased in Year 2 (27%). It's hard to score fantasy points when you're on the sidelines.

In Mims' best game (8-103-2 against Cincinnati in Week 17), he still played fewer than 50% of the offensive snaps. The 46% was his season-high, matched in the prior week (3-62).

Mims can score anytime he's on the field. A 3.1 touchdown per route rate is how he managed to even be on the fantasy football radar and finish as the second-best fantasy-scoring wide receiver on Denver's roster.

And the roster is a big reason why it's hard to envision a more involved Mims in 2025. Courtland Sutton is locked in as the one and will be on the field for 85% of the snaps. Then, it's a mess. Devaughn Vele had his moments as a rookie and picked up some accolades in OTAs. Fellow second-year receiver Troy Franklin will get some run. Rookie third-round pick Pat Bryant has drawn comparisons to Michael Thomas from head coach Sean Payton. Add newly acquired tight end Evan Engram to the mix, and there's a lot of target competition.

Is Mims a great best ball selection? Absolutely. But the playing time will be too inconsistent to commit to in redraft.

 

Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers

Carolina's front office realized, at the end of a disastrous rookie season for Bryce Young, that he needed some elite talent at wide receiver. So, it spent a first-round selection on Xavier Legette in 2024, and then double-tapped in 2025 with Tetairoa McMillan.

And the reason the second chance was needed is that Legette wasn't that good in Year 1. Legette's 49 receptions (51st among WRs) on 84 targets (46th) for 497 yards (71st) and four touchdowns (49th) added up to the WR60 in PPR formats.

Diontae Johnson played his game for Carolina in Week 7. Adam Thielen was sidelined with an injury. In that time frame, he was marginally more productive than the undrafted Jalen Coker. Then, when Coker was also out, he failed to take advantage of the absences and averaged 8.3 PPR points. Once Thielen returned, he was the best of the bunch.

Not once did Legette reach double-digit PPR points without a touchdown. The former Gamecock struggled to get open and won his route just 31.6% of the time.

There's a case to be made that Legette isn't even the second receiver on the Carolina offense. McMillan will start as the X receiver. Thielen may be the WR2 by production, although a chunk of his snaps is projected to come out of the slot.

The bigger point is that Legette is part of a crowded wide receiver room on a team that ran more than it passed in neutral situations, and is projected to be in the bottom third in plays this season.

The Carolina offense has two draft-worthy players: Chuba Hubbard and McMillan.

 

Josh Reynolds, WR, New York Jets

Josh Reynolds -- the man who caught 13 passes in nine games a year ago -- is reportedly the favorite to start opposite Garrett Wilson for the New York Jets this fall. That helps his previously nonexistent fantasy football stock, right?

Other rosters that lack a strong WR2 across the league have a second option elsewhere. The Cardinals field one of the best tight ends in football, Trey McBride. It's the same story for Las Vegas, where quarterbacks can pepper Brock Bowers. Pittsburgh has two above-average tight ends, Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth.

The rosters that truly lack pass-catching talent and depth are New York, New England, and Tennessee. The Titans at least have veteran Tyler Lockett and a group of rookies with upside. DeMario Douglas and Hunter Henry each caught 66 balls for the Patriots last season, and the team added Stefon Diggs and third-round rookie Kyle Williams.

So, that brings us to the worst wide receiver depth chart in the league. Somebody has to play, and Reynolds had fantasy-relevant moments throughout his time in Los Angeles and Detroit. If he's on the field all the time, isn't that a better late-round pick than a part-time player?

In theory, sure, that could be a fruitful strategy. But not in New York.

The biggest concern with Wilson this season is whether or not quarterback Justin Fields can throw well enough to support a WR1. In his 3.5 seasons as a starter, we've witnessed the fall of the once-promising Darnell Mooney (who has since reinvigorated himself in Atlanta) and a WR42 start (through six weeks) for George Pickens in Pittsburgh.

The lone success story is DJ Moore in 2023. He was the WR6 with 1,364 receiving yards. The aforementioned Mooney was the WR2 with 414 yards, less than a third of Moore's total.

That's because 2,562 passing yards is Fields' career high. When there are only 197 yards per game to distribute among wide receivers, we're, at best, relying on one for fantasy football.

Don't let the starting title fool you: The Texas A&M alum doesn't need to be drafted in regular-sized redraft leagues. There are numerous WR3s, even some WR4s, worth selecting instead.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NBA

Bronny James Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
NBA

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
NBA

Ryan Rollins Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Brad Keselowski

Likely to Brush Past Chicago Street Course to Focus on Daytona
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek One of the Best Underdog Options After Strong Runs at Mexico City and Last Year
Cole Custer

Strong Mexico City Run and Xfinity Series Chicago Win Make Him a Solid DFS Option
Erik Jones

Likely Not Good Enough on Road Courses for DFS Consideration Despite Poor Qualifying Result
Noah Gragson

May Be Better Than Other Cheap DFS Options
Riley Herbst

Despite Decent Mexico City Run, Don't Expect Riley Herbst to Contend at Chicago
Cody Ware

Is a Road Course Veteran, but It's Rarely Helped Him in NASCAR
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Is The Heavy Favorite to Win at Chicago Street Course
Christopher Bell

Should Be Strong Despite Practice Struggles at Chicago Street Course
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF