Wide receivers are one of the most critical components, and a core building block, for all fantasy football teams. This is especially true in PPR formats, where fantasy owners are rewarded for every catch that a wide receiver makes. We are here to help you plan your wide receiver draft strategy, and to target the right players on each NFL team.
Below are our 2015 fantasy football wide receiver depth charts as we approach the start of the NFL and fantasy football season. For each team you will find the primary wide receiver (WR1), the secondary wide receiver (WR2), the third wide receiver (WR3), and dynasty values. Players listed under "Dynasty Value" have added value in dynasty/keeper league formats and can be targeted on draft day.
There have already been some preseason injuries, and more may be coming, so we will be updating these depth charts throughout the preseason and all through the fantasy football season. It’s important to stay on top of the wide receiver situations and any depth chart changes throughout each week of the fantasy football season, so be sure to check back regularly. By staying on top of all the depth charts changes, preseason position battles, and in-season injuries, you can draft the right receivers, adjust your rosters off the waiver wire, find sleepers, potential breakouts, and dominate your fantasy football leagues.
All WR1/WR2/WR3 listings are based off current Fantasy Football projections, not NFL depth chart values. Players listed under "Dynasty Value" have increased value in a Dynasty league.
AFC EAST: Fantasy Football Wide Receiver (WR) Depth Charts
Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
Solid | Patriots | Julian Edelman | Danny Amendola | Aaron Dobson | N/A |
Solid | Jets | Brandon Marshall | Eric Decker | Quincy Enunwa | N/A |
Solid | Bills | Sammy Watkins | Robert Woods | Percy Harvin | Sammy Watkins |
Questionable | Dolphins | Jarvis Landry | Kenny Stills | Greg Jennings | DeVante Parker |
There is not much in the way of surprises in the AFC East entering the 2015 season, but the one situation I am monitoring closely is in Miami. Jarvis Landry had a very solid rookie campaign, racking up 84 receptions in a blossoming Dolphins offense. Miami added Greg Jennings to act as a veteran presence in the locker room and drafted DeVante Parker, who was arguably the best raw talent to come out of the draft. Parker saw a few snaps in the Dolphins' last preseason game, which means Parker should be ready for the opener. I still expect him to be eased in, but he could be a WR3 as soon as Week 4.
The Patriots will be without Brandon LaFell for at least the first six weeks after he was placed on the PUP list, so it'll be Edelman and Amendola seeing a majority of the snaps at wide receiver, with Aaron Dobson mixing in. Edelman is the only one with any fantasy value at the moment.
AFC WEST: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
Solid | Broncos | Demaryius Thomas | Emmanuel Sanders | Cody Latimer | Cody Latimer |
Solid | Chiefs | Jeremy Maclin | Albert Wilson | Jason Avant | Albert Wilson |
Solid | Raiders | Amari Cooper | Michael Crabtree | Andre Holmes | Amari Cooper |
Solid | Chargers | Keenan Allen | Stevie Johnson | Malcolm Floyd | Keenan Allen |
While the top receivers on each of these teams is unquestioned, the back end of each corps has a few question marks. Cody Latimer is riding the hype train in Denver, and may take away some looks from Manny Sanders between the hash marks. Demaryius Thomas is still a top five wide receiver, but it remains to be seen if Peyton Manning has one last great campaign in him--if he declines, Sanders and Latimer may see their fantasy relevance fade.
Michael Crabtree is still a talented wide receiver, and could make for a serviceable flex play if Derek Carr takes a step forward. Amari Cooper looked positively electric in the preseason, and should be able to carve out WR2 production every week despite being on a lackluster offense.
I expect a bounce-back season for Keenan Allen, as he is the unquestioned top wide-out in what should be a fairly efficient offense. There has been plenty of buzz around Stevie Johnson possibly having an increased role with tight end Antonio Gates suspended for four games, but I'm not sure he'll be able to replicate the production he had in Buffalo.
AFC NORTH: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
Volatile | Ravens | Steve Smith | Kamar Aiken | Breshad Perriman | Breshad Perriman |
Questionable | Steelers | Antonio Brown | Markus Wheaton | Sammie Coates | Martavis Bryant |
Solid | Bengals | A.J. Green | Marvin Jones | Mohamed Sanu | N/A |
Questionable | Browns | Dwayne Bowe | Andrew Hawkins | Brian Hartline | N/A |
The Ravens are the team to watch in this division. Steve Smith was solid for most of last year, but faltered in the second half. Rookie Breshad Perriman is a talented threat on the outside and if he can get healthy (he's currently dealing with a knee sprain) he may challenge Smith for the lion's share of the targets as the season wears on.
The WR2 spot for the Steelers is very much up in the air, as Ben Roethlisberger's recent endorsement of Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant's four-game suspension will make it a situation to monitor over the course of the season. Wheaton should have WR3 value for at least the first four weeks.
I want absolutely no part of any member of the Browns passing offense in 2015, but if you have to roster one I actually like Hawkins over Bowe.
AFC SOUTH: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
Solid | Colts | T.Y. Hilton | Andre Johnson | Phillip Dorsett | Phillip Dorsett, Donte Moncrief |
Solid | Texans | DeAndre Hopkins | Cecil Shorts III | Jaelen Strong | Jaelen Strong |
Questionable | Titans | Kendall Wright | Harry Douglas | Dorial Green-Beckham | Dorial Green-Beckham, Kendall Wright |
Questionable | Jaguars | Allen Robinson | Allen Hurns | Marqise Lee | Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee |
The Titans are an interesting team from a fantasy perspective, as the success of all of their receivers hinges on the play of Marcus Mariota. I would love to see rookie Dorial Green-Beckham become a legitimate option, as he's got the body and skill set of a legitimate NFL receiver, but maturity issues and the rookie learning curve may delay his fantasy relevance.
The Jaguars have a lot of young talent in the receiving corps, and it remains to be seen who will emerge as Blake Bortles' top option--my money is on Allen Robinson. All of Allen Hurns' perceived fantasy value is tied to two multi-TD performances he had last year, and while he might be a bit more consistent as the number two on the team and the deep threat, I don't think he warrants any more than a bench spot for now.
NFC EAST: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
Solid | Giants | Odell Beckham Jr. | Victor Cruz | Rueben Randle | Odell Beckham Jr. |
Questionable | Eagles | Jordan Matthews | Nelson Agholor | Riley Cooper | Josh Huff, Nelson Agholor, Jordan Matthews |
Solid | Cowboys | Dez Bryant | Terrance Williams | Cole Beasley | N/A |
Solid | Redskins | DeSean Jackson | Pierre Garcon | Andre Roberts | N/A |
OBJ is the unquestioned number one in New York, but I'll be interested to see just how much of an impact Victor Cruz can make after a nasty patellar tendon tear. As of right now it looks as though Cruz may not be ready for the opener, leaving the door open for Rueben Randle to see an increased role.
Rookie Nelson Agholor may challenge Riley Cooper for the number two role in Philadelphia, but this offense should run through DeMarco Murray and Jordan Matthews for the time being.
Everything else in the division is pretty much settled at this point, although it remains to be seen if the newly-named Washington starter Kirk Cousins can make DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon fantasy studs once again. Cousins is average on his best day, so I'm avoiding the Redskins for the time being.
NFC WEST: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
Questionable | 49ers | Anquan Boldin | Torrey Smith | Quinton Patton | N/A |
Solid | Seahawks | Doug Baldwin | Jermaine Kearse | Tyler Lockett | Tyler Lockett |
Volatile | Cardinals | Larry Fitzgerald | John Brown | Michael Floyd | John Brown |
Volatile | Rams | Brian Quick | Kenny Britt | Tavon Austin | N/A |
The Cardinals' wide receiver pecking order is one of the most hotly debated topics of the 2015 preseason. Ultimately I think Carson Palmer will spread the ball around enough to make all three fantasy-relevant, but if I had to draft one it'd be Larry Fitzgerald. He's still an absolute monster in the red zone, and will likely lead the team in targets.
The Rams' situation is almost entirely up in the air. Brian Quick was on his way to a breakout year in 2014 before being lost for the season, and nobody else really stepped up to fill the role. I expect him to be the only player worth drafting, but the situation is worth monitoring with Nick Foles now under center.
Rookie Tyler Lockett might make for an intriguing dynasty option, but for now he is far too low on the totem pole of offensive weapons to be fantasy-relevant in 2015.
NFC NORTH: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
Solid | Packers | Randall Cobb | Davante Adams | James Jones | Davante Adams |
Solid | Lions | Calvin Johnson | Golden Tate | Lance Moore | N/A |
Solid | Bears | Alshon Jeffery | Eddie Royal | Marquess Wilson | Kevin White |
Solid | Vikings | Mike Wallace | Charles Johnson | Cordarrelle Patterson | N/A |
With Jordy Nelson out for the season, the Packers' WR depth chart might get pretty interesting. Randall Cobb and Davante Adams are locked in as the top two, but after that it gets murky. They recently resigned James Jones to occupy the WR3 role, but physical freak Jeff Janis and talented rookie Ty Montgomery should pressure Jones for snaps all season.
With Brandon Marshall now in New York, it'll be interesting to see who steps up in the battle for the number two role behind Alshon Jeffery. I'm confident veteran Eddie Royal can fend off youngster Marquess Wilson, but that's no sure thing. Jeffery is highly questionable for Week 1, so it's something that we'll need to monitor right up until game time.
Mike Wallace had a very solid year in Miami in 2014, but it was largely touchdown-dependent. I don't know that he'll have 10 scores in 2015, and Charles Johnson's projected target volume may allow him to usurp Wallace as the team's best fantasy option at wide receiver.
NFC SOUTH: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR)
Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
Solid | Saints | Brandin Cooks | Marques Colston | Brandon Coleman | Brandin Cooks |
Solid | Falcons | Julio Jones | Roddy White | Leonard Hankerson | N/A |
Volatile | Panthers | Corey Brown | Ted Ginn Jr. | Jerricho Cotchery | Devin Funchess, Kelvin Benjamin |
Solid | Buccaneers | Mike Evans | Vincent Jackson | Louis Murphy | Mike Evans |
The big question in this division is who will step up for the Panthers now that Kelvin Benjamin has been lost for the season to a torn ACL. Rookie Devin Funchess will have every opportunity to seize the lead role with nothing but a gaggle of mediocre veterans to challenge him, and I expect he can at least develop into a flex play over the course of the season, with a WR2 ceiling. For now though, it's the Philly Brown and Ted Ginn show.
Mike Evans was spectacular last season with extremely sub-par quarterback play, and I'm excited to see what he can do with the (assumedly) superior Jameis Winston. Vincent Jackson will probably still get his 1,000 yards and five touchdowns as well.