PFF Wide Receiver Rankings Ahead of 2025 Season

[River Dog]

More offseason discussion fodder. Here are PFF's top 32 ranked wide receivers:

1. A.J. BROWN, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
2. JUSTIN JEFFERSON, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
3. JA'MARR CHASE, CINCINNATI BENGALS
4. AMON-RA ST. BROWN, DETROIT LIONS
5. PUKA NACUA, LOS ANGELES RAMS
6. CEEDEE LAMB, DALLAS COWBOYS
7. NICO COLLINS, HOUSTON TEXANS
8. TYREEK HILL, MIAMI DOLPHINS
9. MIKE EVANS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
10. TERRY McLAURIN, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
11. DRAKE LONDON, ATLANTA FALCONS
12. MALIK NABERS, NEW YORK GIANTS
13. GARRETT WILSON, NEW YORK JETS
14. TEE HIGGINS, CINCINNATI BENGALS
15. BRIAN THOMAS JR., JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
16. DAVANTE ADAMS, LOS ANGELES RAMS
17. DEVONTA SMITH, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
18. CHRIS GODWIN, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
19. BRANDON AIYUK, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
20. D.J. MOORE, CHICAGO BEARS
21. JAYLEN WADDLE, MIAMI DOLPHINS
22. LADD McCONKEY, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
23. D.K. METCALF, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
24. CHRIS OLAVE, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
25. ZAY FLOWERS, BALTIMORE RAVENS
26. MARVIN HARRISON JR., ARIZONA CARDINALS
27. JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
28. RASHEE RICE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
29. JOSH DOWNS, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
30. DEEBO SAMUEL, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
31. COURTLAND SUTTON, DENVER BRONCOS
32. JAMESON WILLIAMS, DETROIT LIONS

For the life of me, I can't see how they could rank Metcalf over JSN. Yeah, I know. I'm a Metcalf hater.

Another curious selection is Mike Evans at #9. I thought his game has clearly regressed, that Godwin had replaced him as their go-to receiver.

[Stream Hawk]

A.J. Brown is not #1. It’s Jefferson or Chase then Brown can be in the discussion, but whatever. He is excellent, just not better than those two.

[4XPIPS]

A.J. Brown is not #1. It’s Jefferson or Chase then Brown can be in the discussion, but whatever. He is excellent, just not better than those two.

PFF is based on productivity. Some WRs are in pass heavy offenses and will out produce others, but doesn't always align with the eye test who really is better. I do agree Justin Jefferson is better, but his projections are based on a season with a 2nd year QB who is basically playing his rookie season, so it's a high ranking for a WR who may lack productivity if JJ plays like a rookie.

IMO if Ladd McConkey is healthy, I think he is better than half the players above him.

[River Dog]

A.J. Brown is not #1. It’s Jefferson or Chase then Brown can be in the discussion, but whatever. He is excellent, just not better than those two.

PFF is based on productivity. Some WRs are in pass heavy offenses and will out produce others, but doesn't always align with the eye test who really is better. I do agree Justin Jefferson is better, but his projections are based on a season with a 2nd year QB who is basically playing his rookie season, so it's a high ranking for a WR who may lack productivity if JJ plays like a rookie.

IMO if Ladd McConkey is healthy, I think he is better than half the players above him.

I'm sure productivity has a lot to do with PFF's ranking, but clearly, they are looking at a lot more than productivity, at least that from the most recent season. How else could they rank Mike Evans ahead of Chris Godwin and Metcalf over JSN? Or take a look at Jalen Waddle. Despite playing in 15 games, he was the 44th ranked WR in terms of receiving yards yet PFF has him ranked 21st. Puka Nacua didn't score a single TD last season, yet he's ranked #5.

[Stream Hawk]

Yeah, it’s crap. Don’t even get me started on Puka being overrated. JSN clears so many of these others ahead of him.

[NorthHawk]

Again, it's projection with them thinking Darnold will have a step back without the Vikings WR corps and good (or better) OL. Therefore the WRs won't get the stats their talent suggests they should.