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Should you draft Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, and Jayden Higgins in fantasy football in 2025? Dan breaks down the fantasy outlooks for these rookie WRs.
Historically, rookie production is a way to unlock the upside of your fantasy team. We have been blessed with plenty of talented rookies over the years, but 2025’s draft class wasn’t initially expected to have a ton of depth at that position.
Still, there were plenty of talented wideouts taken in the first two rounds of fantasy drafts that can have a fantasy impact in 2025. Typically, wide receiver production increases towards the end of the fantasy season, but there are some names that could provide a floor starting in Week 1.
Three rookies that fantasy managers will be choosing between in 2025 are Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, and Jayden Higgins. Should you draft any of them in 2025? Read below to find out.
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Emeka Egbuka Fantasy Football Outlook
Few players have seen their fantasy outlook get better than Emeka Egbuka this offseason. The expectation going into the season was that Egbuka would have some early appeal as Chris Godwin worked his way back into shape after a season-ending ankle injury in 2024.
Now we know that Godwin isn’t expected to see the field until Week 5 at the absolute earliest. Additionally, the Buccaneers lost second-year receiver Jalen McMillan to a neck injury for at least the first half of the season, and veteran tight end Cade Otton has missed time with an injury as well.
Egbuka was always going to emerge as the WR2 to start the season due to his talent. But now, there is even less target competition than we ever expected. Given the nature of Godwin’s ankle injury (dislocation with a fracture and ligament damage), there is a good chance that it takes him most of the season to regain his form from before the injury.
The rookie wide receiver is going to be a major factor in a Buccaneers offense that should be very pass-heavy again in 2025.
Matthew Golden Fantasy Football Outlook
Matthew Golden entered the 2025 offseason as a fringe first-round pick after putting together a respectable, but far from dominant, season at Texas (58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns). However, a strong performance at the NFL Combine (5-foot-11, 191 pounds with a 4.29 40-yard dash) cemented his status as a first-round pick.
Matthew Golden running Cheetah Dagger pic.twitter.com/anrsgicmez
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) April 25, 2025
He was selected by the Packers to hopefully give Jordan Love a legitimate WR1 instead of a bunch of secondary pieces. The early reviews throughout the offseason have been growing, with Golden getting consistent praise for his speed, route running, and sure-handedness. Golden caught two of three targets for 46 yards in his limited preseason action.
The Packers have been clear that Golden will be a starting receiver as a rookie in their two-receiver sets. The Packers also still have plenty of competition for targets, but that competition took some hits this offseason. Jayden Reed is dealing with a foot injury, Dontayvion Wicks is working through a calf injury, and Christian Watson will miss the start of the season recovering from a torn ACL.
There will be plenty of opportunities for Golden to establish early on that the Packers’ passing attack needs to flow through him.
Jayden Higgins Fantasy Football Outlook
Jayden Higgins was excellent in his final two seasons at Iowa State, catching 140 passes for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns. Higgins consistently flashed the size to make physical contested catches and the speed to take the top off the defense during his college career.
Jayden Higgins is a full route tree player. CB worried about the back shoulder fade because he's big, so now he gets advantage to work back inside.
*A lot* more breaking route wins than expected. pic.twitter.com/71gG8GU6DC
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) March 4, 2025
Higgins was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Houston Texans to be an outside complement to Nico Collins in 2025. So far this preseason, there have been highs and lows for the rookie receiver (five receptions on seven targets for 40 yards).
The good news is that Higgins seemingly did enough to cement himself as a wide receiver in the team’s three-receiver sets. Unfortunately, it also appears that the Texans will be comfortable starting the season with Collins and Christian Kirk in their two-receiver sets. Higgins will have a ways to go to earn playing time over Kirk, who is a solid veteran with the ability to get open.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, all three rookie receivers are worth drafting in redraft leagues in 2025. Both Egbuka and Golden are set to give instant production and should be considered solid WR2s in fantasy given their respective offensive environments. Higgins doesn’t have as clear a path to instant fantasy production, but is in a good offense looking for playmakers.
Who Should I Draft Tool
Not sure who to draft? Check out the Who Should I Draft tool:
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Who Should I Draft? Some common 2025 fantasy football draft decisions are regarding players like Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, or Jayden Higgins. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning teams in 2025. Draft your optimal fantasy football teams for 2025. Our free Who Should I Draft? tool will help make your fantasy football draft decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to draft... all free! Make the right decisions.
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Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Draft
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Draft tool for 2025 drafts for Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, or Jayden Higgins:
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