2025 Fantasy Football: Least Favorable Defenses For Wide Receivers

With the NFL schedule release coming later today, fantasy drafters are most excited about late-season matchups as they coin flip comparable wide receivers. Using last year’s matchup data can be a trap due to player movement and incoming upgrades via the draft.

New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Chris Olave | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Injuries are around every corner, making it even more challenging to predict a player's future value in December, when fantasy football championships are decided. Here's a look at the top eight wide receiver defenses in 2024, ranked by fantasy points allowed in PPR formats (this data doesn’t include any rushing or passing stats:

2024 Final Wide Receiver Defense Stats (Top 8) | Shawn Childs

Often, a high-ranking defense in catches and yards allowed is helped by facing fewer targets due to game score or a more proficient running offense.

The Bears (13.96) and Rams (13.47) ranked 31st and 28th in yards allowed per catch to wideouts. Their defensive success was helped by the fewest catches (172 and 176) and a low completion rate (60.6 and 57.9). Their cornerbacks tried to keep wide receivers in front of them, but when they failed, it resulted in big plays.

2024 Final Wide Receiver Defense Stats (9 to 16) | Shawn Childs

Here's a look at the bulk of each team’s schedule – six division games, plus one other AFC division and one NFC division:

AFC East: AFC North/NFC South

AFC North: AFC East/NFC North

AFC South: AFC West/NFC West

AFC West: AFC South/NFC East

NFC East: AFC West/NFC North

NFC North: AFC North/NFC East

NFC South: AFC East/NFC West

NFC West: AFC South/NFC South

Based on this structure, the NFC South may have the most challenging wide receiver schedule in its two AFC/NFC division matchups.

2024 Final Wide Receiver Defense Stats (17 to 24) | Shawn Childs

32) New Orleans Saints (Chris Olave)

In 2025, the Saints’ wide receivers finished last in overall production (135/1,833/12 on 238 targets). They face NYJ (2), MIA (4), NE (14), BUF (19), LAR (5), SF (11), ARI (12), SEA (22), TEN (3), NYG (21), and JAC (29).

Their division games look favorable, but a downgrade at quarterback invites repeated struggles by their wideouts, especially with no meaningful options added to the roster via the draft.

31) Pittsburgh Steelers (DK Metcalf)

The passing offense for the Steelers looks messy again this season after ranking poorly in wide receiver stats (139/2,003/10 on 229 targets). Their quarterback position is in transition, and the addition of DK Metcalf is only a slight upgrade due to George Picken getting shipped out of town.

Pittsburgh has favorable division matchups (CIN – 8, CLE – 20, and BAL – 27th) while drawing NYJ (2), MIA (4), NE (14), BUF (19), CHI (1), GB (7), LAR (5), HOU (23), and KC (15). The Steelers have two primo matchups (DET – 31 and MIN – 32) on paper, but they don’t have the wideouts to battle elite, high-scoring offenses.

30) New England Patriots (Stefon Diggs)

There is excitement brewing in Foxborough after a successful offensive draft. The passing window for Drake Maye will improve, but the Patriots still want to run the ball and slow down the clock. Last year, New England ranked 31st in wide receiver fantasy points (162/1,718/10 on 257 targets).

They have four games with the Jets and Dolphins, which were tor four defenses against wideouts. Their schedule against the NFC South is favorable (CAR – 24, NO – 25, TB – 28, and ATL – 30). They also face BUF (19), PIT (18), LV (10), NYG (21), CIN (8), BAL (27), CLE (20), and TEN (3).

2024 Final Wide Receiver Defense Stats (25 to 32) | Shawn Childs

29) Tennessee Titans (Calvin Ridley)

The Titans have hope at the quarterback position, but they still finished in the bottom 25% on wide receiver stats (164/2,280/14 on 282 targets). Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett have proven resumes, and Treylon Burks once had a wide receiver pulse, at least in college.

Outside their division (all league average or better matchups), Tennessee faces KC (15), LAC (16), LAR (5), SEA (22), NYJ (2), CAR (24), ARI (12), DEN (13), LV (10), SF (11), and CIN (8).

28) Las Vegas Raiders (Jakobi Meyers)

Las Vegas is another passing offense that ranked poorly in 2024 (177/2,280/11 on 27 targets). They have one proven wide receiver (Jakobi Meyers) while relying heavily on their tight ends to move the ball.

The Chiefs (15), Chargers (16), and Broncos (13) give them six neutral to slightly negative matchups in their division. The Raiders also square off against DAL (26), JAC (29), NYG (21), TEN (3), CLE (20), CHI (1), HOU (23), IND (17), PHI (6), WAS (9), and NE (14).

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