Training camp and the NFL preseason are well underway, and we’re solidifying our takes here with who we’re looking to draft and who we’re not for the upcoming fantasy football season. There is a group of wide receivers I just can’t get enough of that I will be targeting on my teams for 2025.
Who are the pass-catchers I’m targeting as a “must-have” wide receiver? Let’s dive in and take a look at a trio of fantasy wide receivers I must have on my fantasy teams this season and their FantasyPros expert consensus ranking (ECR).
3 Must-Have Wide Receivers (2025 Fantasy Football)
George Pickens (WR – DAL) | ECR: WR29
From March until the beginning of May, we were hard at work writing the obituary for DK Metcalf and Pickens in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense with an unnamed quarterback at the helm before the inevitable signing of Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers will pair with everybody’s favorite offensive mastermind, Arthur Smith — a dynamic duo that will for sure have zero drama this season. Now, with Pickens traded to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason, he has a new lease on his fantasy life for 2025.
Comparing “Expected” vs. Actual TDs for fantasy-relevant players in 2024 via @FantasyPtsData
> Trey McBride, George Pickens, the Vikings backfield, and Chase Brown got unlucky last year and are positive regression candidates
> I’m most worried about James Cook and McLaurin pic.twitter.com/1rNrAWQOLO
— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) June 26, 2025
If Pickens wants targets, he’s going to get plenty of them. Not just that, but with CeeDee Lamb playing in the slot in 3-WR sets and then playing flanker, the offense is going to be productive with Lamb and Pickens condensing targets in this Cowboys’ passing game. Pickens’ game is all about getting open down the field, and he’ll be able to do that with less attention paid to him. After the newly-paid tight end Jake Ferguson, the rest of the pass-catching depth chart feels distant from the top options in terms of how many targets they will take.
In Dallas, we could see the targets shake out similar to the Philadelphia Eagles trio of receivers A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert. Even better, there will be a ton more passing volume than you could ever hope for in Philadelphia. For an efficient passing game, Dak Prescott is as good an option as any as long as he’s healthy. With the Eagles’ trio, the top two receivers combine for a large percentage of the targets, while the tight end is the clear third target, and there is a huge gap down to the rest of the pass-catching depth.
The best-case scenario for Pickens this season is that he and Lamb condense targets so much that they shut out Ferguson from the majority of the target-earning and Prescott stays healthy. Thanks to a run game that, on paper, leaves a lot to be desired, the Cowboys’ offense has the look of an offense that will be extremely dependent on the passing game. That benefits Pickens for 2025, and I want to in as much as possible on an elite talent now going to a great situation for passing volume and increased fantasy value.
Davante Adams (WR – LAR) | ECR: WR16
Davante Adams joined the Rams in free agency this past March and honestly, that move couldn’t be a better one for him. Adams replaces Cooper Kupp and will now be schemed open by one of the best offensive gurus in the NFL in Sean McVay. The Rams are one of the most condensed offenses in the NFL in terms of personnel, so as long as he’s healthy, he’s not coming off the field.
Davante Adams was one of just ten Wide Receivers to post 17+ PPG last season
he did so despite playing for two below average offenses
32 years old or not…
Adams with Stafford is a BUY pic.twitter.com/7YmunQwJiH
— DynastyIM (@dynasty_im) July 21, 2025
Adams has historically been one of the best fantasy wide receivers in the league, dating back to 2016. In PPR, Adams has been a top-12 wide receiver each of the last five seasons and has earned no fewer than 141 targets in a season. He’s scored at least eight touchdowns in every season but one since 2016. It’s safe to say it’s bankable production from Adams, but what about the age concerns?
Sure, it’s mildly concerning from a historical standpoint that Adams is entering his age-33 season in 2025, but he hasn’t fallen off by any significant degree in terms of per-route metrics. Adams’ yards per route run (YPRR) came back up over 2.00 last season. He’s still stayed plenty strong in the target-earning department as he’s earned a look on 25% of his routes. He’s as safe as it gets in the first few rounds for a wide receiver that could earn 130-140 targets this season.
And before you ask, no, I’m not worried about Matthew Stafford, who has had back injuries previously to this offseason and has managed them quite well to provide his wide receivers the opportunity to hit ceiling outcomes time and time again. There’s a reason they call him “The Kingmaker,” and Adams should continue to wear that crown in 2025.
Tee Higgins (WR – CIN) | ECR: WR15
The best part about drafting Tee Higgins is that it gets your access to the prolific Bengals’ passing game without having to spend your first-round pick and likely 1.01 on Ja’Marr Chase. The duo of Chase and Higgins will maintain the status quo as one of the best wide receiver tandems in fantasy football and the NFL, too.
The Bengals’ offense is one of the most fruitful offenses for fantasy production, and with Mike Gesicki remaining in Cincinnati, there’s not much preventing the Bengals’ train from rolling in 2025. Cincinnati has been a top-three team in pass rate over expected (PROE) in each of the last three seasons, so there’s no danger of the team rolling back the passing game in the immediate future.
a Tee Higgins tweet perhaps pic.twitter.com/KoD8IYvpna
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) June 12, 2025
As for Higgins, he’s been amazingly consistent throughout his career, with four out of five NFL seasons with at least 1.80+ YPRR, a 20% target per route run (TPRR) rate, and all five seasons with at least six targets per game. Higgins is entering his age-26 season squarely in his prime and ready to produce in a prolific passing offense that’s perfect for fantasy football.
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Kevin Tompkins is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Kevin, check out his profile and follow him on Bluesky @ktompkinsii.bsky.social.
