Fantasy Football Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

The 2025-26 NFL season is about to begin which means fantasy football is back! Most fantasy football team managers don’t make major lineup moves in the first week of the season. Typically managers will start the players they drafted in the earlier rounds. However, since every week is important it would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one because he was drafted to be a starter. Here are fantasy football week 1 wide receiver rankings.

[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve List]

[Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week]

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High WR2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 territory.

Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

Players that could miss this week’s game

WR2 Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson has been dealing with a hamstring injury this preseason. It seems like Jefferson should be ready to play in Minnesota’s season opener. If Jefferson misses Week 1 against the Chicago Bears Adam Thielen moves up to WR30 between Stefon Diggs and Jameson Williams.

WR11 Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill was limited in practice on Wednesday because of an oblique injury. His return to practice is a good sign for him to play in Miami’s season opener. If Hill misses Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts Jaylen Waddle will move up to WR14 between Tee Higgins and Xavier Worthy. Nick Westbrook-Ihkine would move up to WR55 between Wan’Dale Robinson and Rashid Shaheed.

WR34 Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

Jauan Jenning has missed time in training camp due to a calf injury and a contract dispute with the 49ers. He was limited in practice Wednesday because of the injury. If Jennings misses Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks Ricky Pearsall moves up to WR24 between Zay Flowers and Jerry Jeudy.

WR45 Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers

Jayden Reed missed practice on Wednesday with a foot injury. His status the rest of the week will determine where he stands for Green Bay’s season opener. If Reed misses Week 1 against the Detroit Lions Romeo Doubs moves up to WR53 between Marvin Mims Jr. and Xavier Legette.

WR49 Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

Keon Coleman was limited in practice on Wednesday. It was unspecified why Coleman was limited in practice. If Coleman misses Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens Josh Palmer moves up to WR48 between Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Josh Downs.

WR51 Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons

Darnell Mooney was limited in practice on Wednesday with a shoulder injury. Mooney is considered day-to-day with his status for Atlanta’s home opener up in the air. If Mooney misses Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ray-Ray McCloud moves up to WR57 between Christian Kirk and Demario “Pop” Douglas.

WR57 Christian Kirk, Houston Texans

Christian Kirk was held out of practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury. It is unclear if Kirk will be ready to play in Houston’s home opener this weekend. If Kirk misses Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams Jayden Higgins moves up to WR54 between Marvin Mims Jr. and Xavier Legette. Jaylin Noel moves up to WR71 between Dyami Brown and Tyler Lockett.

WR76 Issac Teslaa, Detroit Lions

Issac Teslaa was limited in practice on Wednesday because of an illness. It is unclear if this illness could cause Teslaa to miss Detroit’s season opener. If Teslaa misses Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers Kalif Raymond will become the WR93 between Kayshon Boutte and Greg Dortch.

WR92 Noah Brown, Washington Commanders

Noah Brown was limited in practice on Wednesday because of a knee injury. This injury could cause him to miss Washington’s season opener. If Brown misses Week 1 against the New York Giants Luke McCaffrey moves up to WR91 between Josh Reynolds and Andrei Iosivas.

Players that are currently not expected to play

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receivers: Chris Godwin & Jalen McMillan

Chris Godwin is expected to miss multiple games to begin the year while still recovering from a dislocated ankle that cost him a majority of last season. Jalen McMillan was placed on Injured Reserve with a neck injury. While Godwin and McMillan are out Emeka Egbuka and Sterling Shepard are expected to fill in as the starting receivers opposite Mike Evans. Egbuka is expected to take on the Chris Godwin-role in the is offense until he returns.

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

Rashee Rice was suspended fir the first six games on the 2025-26 regular season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He will be out until Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 19th. While Rice is out Xavier Worthy and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown are expected to be Kansas City’s starting wide receivers.

Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

Jordan Addison has been suspended for the first three games of the 2025 regular season for violating the league’s Substances of Abuse Policy. He will be eligible to return in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday September 28th. While Addison is out newly acquired receiver Adam Thielen is expected to be the other starting wide receiver opposite Justin Jefferson. This could result is Thielen having some flex value during those weeks.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

Last week the San Francisco 49ers moved Brandon Aiyuk to the PUP List to begin the year. This is because he tore his ACL late last season. He is expected to be out until Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Aiyuk is out Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings are expected to be the team’s primary receivers. It is unclear what kind of role Aiyuk will have once he returns to the lineup.

Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers

Jalen Coker was placed in Injured Reserve after suffering a quad strain. He is expected to miss the first 4 to 6 games of the year. Many believed Coker had a shot at being Carolina’s number two pass catcher behind Tetairoa McMillan this season. Now Xavier Legette and Hunter Renfrow will compete for that role. Renfrow is expected to fill in for Coker’s slot reps while he is out.

Tank Dell, Houston Texans

Tank Dell was placed on the PUP list to begin the year. This means Dell will miss at least 4 t0 6 weeks to begin the year. After his nasty knee injury last year and back-to-back season ending injuries, Dell’s NFL future is up in the air. Houston seemingly has made plans for beyond Dell’s time with the team drafting Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel on Day 2 of the draft this year. It is unclear when Dell will return and if he will return to the Houston Texans at all.

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

Christian Watson was placed on the PUP list to begin the season. This does not come as a surprise as Watson tore his ACL in Week 18 last year. Watson has battled many serious injuries during his tenure in Green Bay. It is unclear what is role is going forward with the team after making the additions of Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in this past draft.

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