Week 1 Fantasy Wide Receiver Rankings Featuring Justin Jefferson And Nico Collins

Get a fantasy edge with our Week 1 wide receiver rankings, featuring PPR, half-PPR, and non-PPR projections for top options like Justin Jefferson, Nico Collins, Tyreek Hill, and rookie Tetairoa McMillan.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) celebrates after a reception during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

We all know that in fantasy football, volume is king. And while running backs get the most touches in the NFL, wide receivers accumulate a ton of points, particularly in PPR formats. 

With Week 1 in the books following the Eagles 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, it’s the perfect time to dive into our Week 1 fantasy football wide receiver rankings and fine-tune those crucial start-or-sit decisions. We saw CeeDee Lamb lead the way on Thursday Night Football, accumulating seven receptions for 110 yards (18.0 PPR points). However, George Pickens (6.0 points), A.J. Brown (1.8 points), and DeVonta Smith (4.6 points) were all underwhelming. Let's see take a look at the rest of the receivers across the NFL heading into Week 1.

Justin Jefferson Headlines Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

Most fantasy managers would rank Ja’Marr Chase as the WR1, but if not him, Justin Jefferson is the clear frontrunner. Jefferson sits firmly in the elite tier of this season’s wide receivers, right alongside Chase and CeeDee Lamb, and in nearly every format, these three were the first off the draft board. 

.@Vikings WR Justin Jefferson lands at No. 9 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025!@NFLFilms @JJettas2 pic.twitter.com/KDrYg0XUYo

— NFL (@NFL) September 2, 2025

Jefferson’s star power and skillset gives J.J. McCarthy a weapon capable of shredding the Chicago Bears’ defense, cementing Jetta’s top spot in our Week 1 wide receiver rankings. With Jordan Addison sidelined, expect the Vikings to target Jefferson early and often. I wouldn’t be shocked if he topped 30+ fantasy points in Week 1.

Nico Collins Is A Top-Two Receiver In Week 1

Last season, Nico Collins turned heads with a handful of standout performances (6/117, 8/135/1, 12/151/1), firmly establishing himself as a legitimate WR1. Heading into the opening week of the season, he’s poised to be a focal point of Houston’s passing attack, showcasing his big-play ability and likely finding the end zone at least once. While the Texans added Christian Kirk, Kirk is trending towards not playing in Week 1. Plus, they’re still missing Tank Dell, and with Joe Mixon sidelined for at least the first four weeks, Houston will have to lean heavily on their aerial attack to keep pace with Matthew Stafford’s Rams—putting Collins in prime position for a dominant debut.

Jayden Higgins has also seen a significant rise in the rankings but Collins has a shot at overall WR1 status in the opening week of the season.

Tyreek Hill Cracks the Top 12

We are higher on Hill than the consensus and expect him to have a productive Week 1 showing against an Indianapolis Colts secondary that doesn’t inspire much fear. Hill is always a big-play threat and with superstar running back De’Von Achane dealing with a calf issue, the Dolphins could rely more heavily on the passing attack. 

Tetairoa McMillan: The Top Rookie Wideout In Week 1

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium. | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Over the past week, I’ve watched sharp, high-stakes fantasy drafters aggressively target Tetairoa McMillan, pricing him as a top-15 wide receiver. To justify that ranking, he’ll need to post around 240 PPR fantasy points this season. The rookie has already been named the Carolina Panthers’ WR1, and with Jalen Coker on Injured Reserve and Adam Thielen now in Minnesota, McMillan is poised to be peppered with targets. In Week 1, Carolina plans to feature Chuba Hubbard in the running game against the Jaguars, but if the ground attack stalls, McMillan will be the prime beneficiary. Don’t forget, Bryce Young showcased late-season progression in 2024, which bodes well for McMillan’s early-season opportunities.

Adding an extra layer of intrigue, Week 1 could feature a true draft-day showdown: Travis Hunter, the No. 2 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, may line up at cornerback to cover McMillan. It’s not every day that two first-round wide receiver selections face off on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage in their NFL debuts. This matchup alone (while not certain to happen) could make McMillan a must-watch fantasy option. He is currently the WR20 in our PPR rankings, right on par with the consensus.

Latest Week 1 Wide Receiver Ranking Updates (9/7):

• Following Jefferson, Collins, Chase, and Lamb, Brian Thomas Jr. rounds out the top five.
• With Chris Godwin sidelined, Mike Evans becomes the WR8 in Week 1 while Emeka Egbuka is in the backend WR2 conversation.
• Marvin Harrison Jr. is ready to break out and he is our WR17 in PPR formats heading into a Week 1 clash against a dismal New Orleans Saints team.
• Courtland Sutton has jumped into the top 20.
• Garrett Wilson falls out of the top 24 due to a tough matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Expect the Jets to employ an extremely run-heavy attack.
• Travis Hunter is the WR37. It's hard to predict his numbers when we're not entirely sure how often he'll be on the field but a five reception, 50-yard performance seems likely. Just don't bank on a touchdown.
• Jakobi Meyers has climbed to WR38 following the retirement of Amari Cooper.
• Luther Burden III falls to WR85 given the crowded wide receiver room in Chicago. It's going to take a few weeks before he's a bigger piece in this offense.

Week 1 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings (PPR, Half-PPR, Non-PPR)

More Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings:

• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends
• Kickers
• Defenses / Special Teams