For fantasy managers, the 2025 draft class is shaping up with some real potential stars. Combine results and advanced analytics are providing a clearer picture of each player’s athleticism and ability. Analysts and pundits are diving deep into every detail of the tape. It’s an exciting time for NFL teams looking to build their future and Best Ballers looking to build their bankrolls.
Contests like Underdog Fantasy’s “The Big Board” allow us to speculate on rookie WR values before we learn their final landing spot and fantasy situation. In this article, we’re looking to evaluate some of the top options at their current price points. We’ll briefly break down profiles, combine results, and analytics for the top prospects—so you can decide which wide receivers are worth the premium and which ones could be a steal.
Top 5 WR Prospects for Best Ball and Season-Long Drafts
Note: Current ADP from “The Big Board” on Underdog (as of March 3rd).
- Tetairoa McMillan (ADP: 44.5)
- Luther Burden III (ADP: 70.9)
- Emeka Egbuka (ADP 76.2)
- Tre Harris (ADP 125.2)
- Elic Ayomanor (ADP 176.3)
Tetairoa McMillan (ADP: 44.5)
McMillan has emerged as one of the most dynamic possession receivers in the class. At 6’4″ with elite hands and an exceptional catch radius, his production has been eye-popping. Over the past three seasons with Arizona, he posted over 3,400 receiving yards along with 26 touchdowns. He averaged over 100 yards per game in both 2023 and 2024. His on-field production was absolutely huge, and multiple mock drafters are taking him off the board in the top 10 of drafts.
He did not participate at the combine, so we don’t have deep details on his athletic comps just yet. He has impressive size and yet appears to have the agility of a smaller receiver. His long arms give him an exceptional catch radius, which should allow him to snatch the ball away from defenders in tight coverage. McMillan’s size and strength should help him absorb NFL-caliber contact while also maintaining body control and balance when making contested catches. This blend of size, strength, and athleticism figures to make him a mismatch for defensive backs at the NFL level.
Unfortunately, Best Ball drafters are paying a premium for his potential for immediate production in the 4th round. I think it’s difficult to look at the young ascending players surrounding him—many of whom were touted just as highly as he is coming out—and feel comfortable being bullish prior to seeing his landing spot. I’ve seen 10 different NFL teams for him in mock drafts, with the Saints and Panthers being common. I’m not sure I’m ready to make a 4th round bullish bet on those situations without more clarity on the projection.
Luther Burden III (ADP: 70.9)
A natural playmaker from Missouri, Burden has demonstrated an ability to turn short passes into explosive plays. With a body that allows him to break tackles and an ability to accumulate yards after the catch, he could quickly become one of the top offensive weapons for his NFL team.
At the combine, Burden posted a 4.41 40-yard dash and showcased reliable hands in drills. Advanced metrics reveal that his drop rate has been exceptionally low while his contested catch ability ranks near the top of his peer group. Physically, he appears to have the goods. The 2024 season did not pan out the way we would have liked production-wise, with just 676 yards receiving and 6 TDs. This is a far cry from 2023, when he put up 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns. Ideally, the momentum would have carried forward, but we can still expect him to come off the board in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft based on the totality of his resume.
He is a high-ceiling playmaker, but can we justify the ADP in the 70s? Orbiting his price tag in “The Big Board,” we find players like Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Calvin Ridley, Chris Godwin, and Jauan Jennings. He is also being mocked often at 21 to Pittsburgh, which is an objectively poor spot for receivers until something changes at quarterback. Houston would be better, though the year-2 struggles of Chris Stroud and success of Joe Mixon raise questions about how much damage even WR2 can do here.
I think it’s challenging to pull the trigger on Burden, but you have to remember just a season ago what you could buy in this range. Yes, you could be getting a Keon Coleman in this draft range. However, we also saw Brian Thomas Jr. and Ladd McConkey in this space as well in 2024. Upside is on the table if you do want to risk it.
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Emeka Egbuka (ADP: 76.2)
He has consistently been one of the most productive receivers in the Power Five. While not as flashy as some of his counterparts, he has smooth route-running and reliable ball-tracking ability that led to big-time production. His career (much of which was played alongside stone-cold stud Marvin Harrison Jr.) saw him tally over 200 receptions, almost 3,000 receiving yards, and 24 touchdowns.
Egbuka didn’t participate at the combine, but we can glean some insight from his lengthy experience at a top program. He stands at 6’1″ and weighs around 202 pounds, offering a solid build in harmony with both strength and speed. It’s a compact frame that may help him absorb contact and allow for quick acceleration. He could be a threat to break tackles after the catch, while his smooth, precise route running could allow him ample opportunity to get open and create opportunities.
Much like Burden, you’re going to have to pay a steep middle-round price to get him in the best ball streets, at least in the pre-draft contests. I honestly think Egbuka is a “safer” prospect than Burden in this 70s ADP zone, but I’d probably rather just load up on WRs early and fill other positions in this range. We should be optimistic about Egbuka, but we would prefer the Rams or Texans over the Steelers in terms of a landing spot.
Tre Harris (ADP: 125.2)
Transitioning from a Group of Five program to the Power Five, Tre Harris managed to hold his own despite the jump in competition. Known for his excellent route-running and ability to create separation, Harris has posted solid numbers in yards per route run and catch efficiency that really show promise.
He has the NFL physical size we typically look for, which is a plus. At 6’2″ and 205 pounds, his stature is not at issue for the NFL game. However, his combine results were mixed in terms of athleticism. His speed (4.54 40-yard dash) was far from exciting. His broad jump measured 10 feet, 5 inches, ranking him tied for seventh among 15 receivers. He’s going to have a tougher time getting wide open in the NFL, and based on what we see, he’ll likely need to improve as a contested catch/traffic player to reach his upside potential.
His pre-draft ADP reflects a moderately high cost in the 120s, which is still pretty expensive given that he won’t (in all likelihood) be a first-round pick. We could instead be taking discounted quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends in this range of the draft as opposed to speculative upside rookie receiving talent with no guarantees on role for 2025. Look for a lower price on him before you invest.
Elic Ayomanor (ADP: 176.3)
Let’s finish strong with a play I actually like. At Stanford, Elic Ayomanor was a solid receiver option, especially noted for his quickness and reliable catch technique. Despite some early setbacks and adjustments coming off an ACL injury, his combine performance was that of someone who has bounced back well. He ran a 4.44 40-yard dash while posting a vertical jump of 38.5 inches. Ayomanor demonstrated the athleticism required at the next level, which is a very strong follow-up to an impressive Senior Bowl performance.
On the stat sheet, we also find a lot to like. Over 60 receptions and 1,000 yards receiving in 2023 as a sophomore was really strong, while 83/831/6 as a junior was enough to keep him on the radar. PFF had him graded for 14 contested catches in 2024, which was top 25 in the country. At 6’2″ and 210, he’s shaping up to be a potential chain mover and red zone threat. He could be as high as a second-round pick, which would inflate his visibility and price in the streets.
However, the ADP at the moment is not that of a player who will play a key role in 2025. Going late in the draft at 176, there is certainly way more upside than downside here. If he lands on a relatively open depth chart, the profile suggests he could find opportunities early or even immediately. If your roster construction demands late upside flyers at WR, then this could be an under-the-radar play.
