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Should you draft Jayden Higgins, Luther Burden III, Tre' Harris, or Kyle Williams in 2025 fantasy football? Joey breaks down the fantasy outlooks for these four rookie receivers.
Drafting the right rookie can win you your fantasy football league. However, taking a rookie receiver is a significant risk, as they often experience growing pains during their transition from college to the pros.
While receivers like Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Ladd McConkey were immediate difference-makers, other top rookies like Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze, and Keon Coleman failed to meet expectations. So, what about this year's crop of rookie WRs?
Let's focus on some of the late-round picks of the bunch: guys who are talented but won't be No. 1 options from the jump. Jayden Higgins, Luther Burden III, Tre' Harris, and Kyle Williams each join the NFL as WR2s at best, but not without potential. Here are my fantasy football outlooks for the four rookie wideouts.
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Jayden Higgins Fantasy Football Outlook
Iowa State featured a talented passing attack in 2024, with Higgins leading the charge. The big-bodied receiver snagged 87 passes for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns in his senior season, boosting his draft stock in the process.
Higgins garnered comparisons to Texans star Nico Collins before the draft, and for good reason. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Higgins is a smooth mover for his size and excels at making tough catches downfield.
Funnily enough, the team that drafted him was Houston, where he'll line up opposite Collins. With Tank Dell out indefinitely, Houston needed another receiver and chose Higgins with the No. 34 overall pick.
I will be insufferable about Jayden Higgins pic.twitter.com/U1WbngfPOp
— T.J. Randall (@TJ_Randall12) August 16, 2025
Higgins' competition for the No. 2 target spot on the team is minimal. Third-round rookie Jaylin Noel, Higgins' college teammate, is a smaller receiver who will likely play only in three-receiver sets. Tight ends Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover will get theirs, but they should not be serious threats to Higgins' target share.
The big question regarding Higgins is actually out of his control. Houston's offensive line was one of the league's worst last season, and now features rookie Aireontae Ersery at left tackle instead of the excellent Laremy Tunsil, who was traded to Washington this offseason.
Can Higgins still make big plays downfield if C.J. Stroud is running for his life on every snap? The answer to that question will determine whether he can emerge as a viable fantasy receiver in Year 1. Regardless, Higgins is currently being drafted in Round 10 in fantasy drafts, so his cost is not an issue. Feel free to take a chance on him as a bench option.
Luther Burden III Fantasy Football Outlook
After an inconsistent career at Missouri, scouts were unsure if Burden warranted a first-round pick. He put up sensational numbers in 2023 but failed to crack 700 yards in 2024. It needs to be said, however, that Burden was a victim of shoddy quarterback play, and some of that regression was out of his control.
Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears saw enough in Burden to draft him with the 39th overall pick in the draft. On paper, he'll be the team's No. 3 wide receiver behind DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. However, Burden should see the field a lot and could exceed expectations. The rookie excels after the catch on short passes and also possesses absurd ball-tracking and hands on downfield shots.
Bears rookie WR Luther Burden III getting his number called a good amount tonight 👏 pic.twitter.com/jYV73ptwHo
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 18, 2025
The question is this: why did the Bears select Burden (as well as first-round TE Colston Loveland) if they already had Moore and Odunze? The incumbent receivers could be poor fits in Johnson's offense, or they may have failed to impress the new head coach on tape. Either way, this could mean Burden is in line for a larger target share than expected.
So, there is a chance that Burden emerges as a key part of the Bears offense in 2025. And if QB Caleb Williams enjoys a second-year breakout as expected, there could be plenty of production to go around. That means Burden could hit the ground running even if he does have to share snaps with Moore and Odunze.
While no one is saying that Burden will be the team's WR1 from the jump, he could work into a larger role as the year goes on. For a player who's being drafted in Round 10 or later, that's pretty tempting. Burden could be a league winner down the stretch if he can earn a bigger role in the Chicago offense.
Tre' Harris Fantasy Football Outlook
The Chargers have invested a significant amount of draft capital in wide receivers in recent years, with mixed results. 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston looks like a clear miss, while 2o24 second-rounder Ladd McConkey excelled as a rookie and could be the Chargers' main man for years to come. However, it was clear that the team wasn't happy with the talent surrounding McConkey.
So, Los Angeles decided to spend another early draft choice on a wide receiver, taking Harris at No. 55 overall. And his skill set appears to be a great complement to McConkey's as the team's No. 2 target.
At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Harris is a physical receiver with good downfield presence. He lacks explosive speed, but makes up for it with a large catch radius and excellent toughness after the catch. He improved his route running and hands in his final year at Ole Miss and has the potential to improve even more.
Tre Harris in preseason week 2:
⚡ 85.4 PFF Grade
⚡ 5 Receptions for first down
⚡ 2 Contested Targets / 2 Contested Catches
⚡ 85 Yards pic.twitter.com/cNnyidEcDr— PFF Fantasy (@PFF_Fantasy) August 18, 2025
While some may be concerned about his speed (Harris ran a 4.54 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine), there are plenty of examples of big and physical receivers who thrived in the NFL despite a lack of explosion. Take Mike Evans, for example. The Buccaneers star ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, but there was never any doubt regarding his ability to get downfield.
The Chargers may not have a pass-heavy offense, especially after the first-round selection of RB Omarion Hampton. However, with Mike Williams' retirement, Harris just has to beat out Johnston, fifth-round rookie Keandre Lambert-Smith, and 33-year-old Keenan Allen to earn an every-down role. As a late-round dart-throw receiver, you could do much worse.
Kyle Williams Fantasy Football Outlook
The Patriots had an awful group of skill players in 2024, and the team desperately needed to retool. Well, in free agency and the NFL Draft, the team did just that, acquiring plenty of weaponry for young quarterback Drake Maye. Joining New England this year are WR Stefon Diggs, second-round rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson, and third-round rookie Williams, who is an incredibly exciting prospect.
Williams is exactly what the Patriots were missing last season: an explosive speedster who can make plays downfield and after the catch. He averaged over 17 yards per reception and scored 14 touchdowns in his final season at Washington State.
This Kyle Williams rep at the Senior Bowl is just filthy man
Cooks the defender TWICE on the same route..
1,196 Yards and 14 TD’s this year btw
92nd Percentile 40 Time (4.40) ain’t bad
..and now he gets paired with Drake Maye
Kyle Williams is coming for that WR1 role in NE pic.twitter.com/N8RIlp3jZX
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) May 9, 2025
When you have a quarterback with a big arm, it's frustrating to see him unable to use it. Now, with Williams on the outside, Maye will be able to air it out as often as he likes.
While Diggs will be the primary receiver on short passes and third downs, New England will look to get Williams the ball in space and downfield. The rookie could be in for a big role in Year 1 if he beats out the mediocre DeMario Douglas as the team's WR2.
Williams is going in Round 13 of fantasy drafts, but with Ja'Lynn Polk out for the season with a shoulder injury, that ADP could be on the up and up. As long as his price doesn't rise too much, take Williams in the later rounds and watch a young star emerge in front of your eyes.
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