Updated Fantasy Football Rookie Wide Receiver Rankings: Travis Hunter, Emeka Egbuka, Tre Harris, Kyle Williams, Elic Ayomanor, Dont'e Thornton

September 3, 2025

RotoBaller's updated 2025 fantasy football rookie wide receiver rankings with September updates. See the top rookie WRs and draft targets, including Emeke Egbuka, Dont'e Thornton, and more.

If you're taking part in last-minute fantasy football drafts and want to identify the top studs and sleepers among rookie wideouts, you have come to the right place. We're back with our freshly updated 2025 fantasy football rookie wide receiver rankings. Where do key first-year pass-catchers such as Travis Hunter, Emeka Egbuka, Tre' Harris, Kyle Williams, Elic Ayomanor, and Dont'e Thornton Jr. stand among the other rookie WRs? Navigate the rankings below to find out.

These rookie rankings will be continually updated all offseason long as depth chart developments, injuries, and more take place, so be sure to check back regularly for updates. In addition to this article, you should also be sure to check out our other dynasty rookie rankings and analysis articles, including in-depth coverage of various NFL rookie profiles. Identifying sleepers and busts among first-year players is key for dynasty and redraft leagues, so we have you covered.

Four of our lead fantasy football analysts -- Phil Clark, Jackson Sparks, Andrew Lalama, and Matt Donnelly -- have put together these fantasy football rookie rankings. In addition to these rookie rankings, in our 2025 fantasy football rankings dashboard, you will also find our team's Dynasty fantasy football rankings. Bookmark that page, and use it to prepare for all of your 2025 fantasy football dynasty league drafts.

Fantasy Football Rookie Wide Receiver Rankings (September)

Rookie rankings are from after the 2025 NFL Draft with August Updates. Bookmark our PPR rankings, Half-PPR rankings, and standard (non-PPR) rankings.

Recent Fantasy Football News for Rookie WRs

Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan enters his first NFL season as his team's clear No. 1 option in the passing game. In the past week, Carolina has traded away veteran wideout Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings and lost Jalen Coker (quadriceps) to a quad injury, which should only increase McMillan's targets. The No. 8 overall pick has a favorable matchup on paper in his NFL regular-season debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2024, Jacksonville's defense ranked dead-last in total receiving yards allowed (4,605) and 28th in total receiving touchdowns allowed (29).

Additionally, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young finished 2024 by playing the best football of his career, throwing for 1,583 yards and 11 touchdowns over his final seven games. If Young can carry that momentum to 2025, McMillan could get his season off to a strong start. He should be viewed as a low-end fantasy WR2 in Week 1.

Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie two-way star Travis Hunter is listed as a starting wide receiver and backup cornerback on the team's initial depth chart. Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. are listed in the first-team offense, along with Dyami Brown. The Colorado product exploded for 96 catches, 1,258 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns last year, cementing his status as a top prospect. He was ultimately drafted second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded up to select him. He was just as dominant on the defensive side of the ball at school, totaling 36 tackles, four interceptions, and 11 passes defended during his final collegiate season.

He won the Heisman Trophy and was also named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. There is still some uncertainty about whether Hunter can stay healthy for a full season while playing on both sides of the ball, but if he can, the sky is the limit. He's a solid low-end WR3 option heading into the 2025 fantasy season.

Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

An unnamed NFC executive told The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue that Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is "plug and play" and "will be pro-ready." Egbuka is expected to play a prominent role in Tampa Bay's offense right away, with fellow wide receivers Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) both set to miss the beginning of the season.

Egbuka won a national championship in his final collegiate season at Ohio State, recording 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns in the process. Given his prospect pedigree as a first-round pick and the opportunity for immediate contribution with the Buccaneers, Egbuka has been a deserved riser throughout fantasy draft season. He profiles as a high-upside fantasy WR3 for 2025.

Tre' Harris, Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers Quentin Johnston (head) and Tre' Harris (undisclosed) are not listed on the team's Week 1 injury report and were full participants in Tuesday's practice. Johnston suffered a scary concussion in the team's second preseason game in the middle of August against the Los Angeles Rams, but he has since been cleared from the concussion protocol and is on track to play in Friday's season opener in Brazil against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs.

The 23-year-old former first-rounder has struggled with drops early in his career and now must battle for playing time with Harris, putting him off the fantasy radar in 12-team fantasy leagues, especially after Keenan Allen rejoined the team. Harris, a second-rounder in April, will play on Friday, but he figures to struggle for volume early on and should be on the bench in deeper leagues.

Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans

Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com writes that rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor is listed alongside Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett as a starter on the team's unofficial depth chart entering the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the hosting Denver Broncos. Ayomanor flashed in training camp and the preseason for Tennessee and displayed some strong chemistry with fellow rookie quarterback Cameron Ward.

While the 22-year-old will probably go undrafted in all 12-team fantasy leagues, he's at least a young receiver to put on your watch list going into the 2025 campaign. Ayomanor played ahead of fellow rookie Chimere Dike in the preseason and has a leg up on the WR3 role already. Ridley is going to be the overwhelming favorite for the majority of targets, but don't rule out Ayomanor passing Lockett on the depth chart sooner than later.

Dont'e Thornton Jr., Las Vegas Raiders

Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com writes that rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor is listed alongside Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett as a starter on the team's unofficial depth chart entering the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the hosting Denver Broncos. Ayomanor flashed in training camp and the preseason for Tennessee and displayed some strong chemistry with fellow rookie quarterback Cameron Ward.

While the 22-year-old will probably go undrafted in all 12-team fantasy leagues, he's at least a young receiver to put on your watch list going into the 2025 campaign. Ayomanor played ahead of fellow rookie Chimere Dike in the preseason and has a leg up on the WR3 role already. Ridley is going to be the overwhelming favorite for the majority of targets, but don't rule out Ayomanor passing Lockett on the depth chart sooner than later.

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