By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Our focus this week is on wide receivers and, specifically, our perceived “best” receiver combinations out of the 32 teams in the National Football League. There are some no-brainers, then other where there are a lot of question marks. Again, these represent just one man’s opinion!
TIER 1
- LOS ANGELES RAMS: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams (Jordan Whittingham)
- DALLAS COWBOYS: Cee Dee Lamb, George Pickens (Ryan Flournoy)
- CINCINNATI BENGALS: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins (Andrei Iosivas)
Figuring out who is the best dynamic duo of these three tandems is a toss-up. From a fantasy perspective, all of the named duos seem to produce every weekend. In parentheses are younger wide receivers who might step up if any of the headliners are injured — or might figure to take fantasy points away from the top guys as they develop.
TIER 2
- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: A J Brown, Romeo Doubs (Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte)
- PITTSBURGH STEELERS: DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman (Germie Bernard)
- DENVER BRONCOS: Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton
- TENNESSEE TITANS: Wan’Dale Robinson, Carnell Tate/Calvin Ridley
- CHICAGO BEARS: Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III (Khalif Raymond, Scotty Miller)
- GREEN BAY PACKERS: Christian Watson, Jayden Reed (Matthew Golden, Skyy Moore)
- MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison/Jauan Jennings
- CAROLINA PANTHERS: Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette/Jalen Coker (John Metchie, Chris Brazzell, Jimmy Horn)
- TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin (Jalen McMillan, Ted Hurst)
- SAN FRANCISCO 49ers: Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall/Christian Kirk
- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp/Rashid Shaheed (Jake Bobo)
In general, each of these wide receiver combinations feature at least two high-level athletes but questions remain about their landing spot, quarterback situation, or need to develop. For instance, Waddle and Sutton in Denver have the potential to be dynamic, but we have questions about whether head coach Sean Payton’s scheme and management will take full advantage. In New England, Brown and Doubs have the QB to get them the ball, but how much will they take points away from the other. Jefferson is the clear No. 1 in Minnesota, but is this the place for Jennings to be recognized for the high quality receiver that he is?
Green Bay has a couple of younger guys in Golden and Skyy Moore who could potentially thrive in the Jordan Love-led offense, potentially taking attention away from Watson and Reed. With DJ Moore gone in Chicago, how much will the Bears’ aerial focus shift to Odunze and Burden? We are enthusiastic about the combination of Robinson, Tate and Ridley in Tennessee, but Tate has yet to prove himself at this level and former wunderkid Ridley is coming off an injury. Metcalf and Pittman are both top drawer receivers in Pittsburgh, but for how long will the seemingly ageless Aaron Rodgers be able to keep slinging it? In San Francisco, Evans provides a real weapon for Brock Purdy to go alongside Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle (when healthy), but Ricky Pearsall has yet to really prove himself. Smith-Njigba seemed to be Sam Darnold’s go-to guy in 2025, but midseason acquisition Shaheed could have an impact now that he has had more prep time with Darnold & Co. Like Ridley in Tennessee, Kupp may be aging out but still remains a threat.
TIER 3
- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Brian Thomas, Jr., Jacobi Meyers/Parker Washington
- BUFFALO BILLS: DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir (Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman)
- HOUSTON TEXANS: Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins/Tank Dell (Jaylin Noel)
- NEW YORK JETS: Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell (Omar Cooper, Tim Patrick)
- BALTIMORE RAVENS: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman (Elijah Sarrat, Devontez Walker)
- CLEVELAND BROWNS: Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman (Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion)
- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy (Tyquan Thornton)
- LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston (Tre’ Harris)
- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks (Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown)
- WASHINTON COMMANDERS: Terry McLaurin, Treylon Burks (Antonio Williams, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown)
- ATLANTA FALCONS: Drake London, Jahan Dotson (Olamide Zaccheaus, Zachariah Branch)
- NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Chris Olave, Jordyn Tyson (Devaughn Vele, Bryce Lance)
- ARIZONA CARDINALS: Marvin Harrison, Jr., Michael Wilson (Kendrick Bourne, Devin Duvernay)
This tier may actually prove to be a leading source of fantasy points because you typically have one obvious No. 1 and then a lot of capable, but lower profile guys in the supporting cast. For the NY Jets, Wilson is the lead but we are hearing some good things about Mitchell coming out of minicamp. The Chargers are intriguing because McConkey is the most ballyhooed but in many respects Johnston is proving the lead point-getter now that he has matured in the league. In Buffalo, DJ Moore should provide some much needed consistency as a No. 1, but I’m curious to see if the Bills finally find a place for App State alum Jalen Virgil, whose potential remains largely untapped with blistering speed, large catch radius and much improved route running. Baltimore, Jacksonville, Houston, Washington, Atlanta and Arizona all have clear No. 1s, but will the other rostered WRs step up?
TIER 4
- MIAMI DOLPHINS: Malik Washington, Tutu Atwell/Jalen Tolbert (Chris Bell)
- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Alec Pierce, Josh Downs (Nick Westbrook-Ikhine)
- NEW YORK GIANTS: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton (Calvin Austin, Malachi Fields)
Questions abound with each of these WR cominations. Nabers was really good in his rookie season, but is coming off a pretty bad injury. With Pittman gone from Indianapolis, Pierce has an opportunity to become the lead receiver — but will the Colts become run-heavy with a healthy Jonathan Taylor? Miami still has a lot of questions at quarterback and even more questions as to whether Washington, Atwell and Tolbert are the answer at WR.
TIER 5
- LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor (Jack Bech, Malik Benson)
With Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington, Jr. at running back and questions as to who will start at QB, the veteran Kirk Cousins or the Heisman Award winning Fernando Mendoza, a pair of mostly unproven veterans in Tucker and Nailor leave us wondering about how good the Raiders will be, even if they seem to be doing a lot of good things, personnel wise, on both sides of the ball. We’ve seen one statistical report that Tucker and Nailor represent good “value” where they are being drafted in Best Ball. Several pundits are saying good things about Benson, too.
