Dynasty rookie WR rankings 2022

Our 2022 pre-draft dynasty fantasy football rookie rankings continue today with a look at wide receiver. This year’s crop is a fascinating bunch with some slam dunks at the top and a ton of potential long-term fantasy depth. Wide receiver can take a little time to develop in the NFL, but often we do see some of their best production come within roughly the first five years of their career. Keep that in mind and try to stay young at the position on your dynasty rosters.

Keep in mind that this is only an initial list to get us set for the combine. Things will of course change after the NFL Draft. However, it’s important we have a baseline of how these players stack up against each other before the draft.

Dynasty rookie WR rankings for 2022 1. Treylon Burks, Arkansas Burks has the intangibles that you look for in a fantasy wideout. Of course, the elephant in the scouting room is his lackluster performance at the NFL combine. Sure, the 40 time doesn't look great, but it's far from unprecedented for a player to have success after running in the 4.5s. DeAndre Hopkins , Antonio Brown and Davante Adams all come to mind. Burks is a versatile mismatch who can make plays all over the field and all around the formation. In some ways, he's like a bigger Deebo Samuel . Despite the poor testing numbers, there's a ton to like about Burks. He should step in and produce right away.

Player Comp: Dez Bryant

2. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State Wilson is one of the most athletic wideouts in this year's class. He can make plays anywhere you want him to on the field. Though he isn't the biggest player, Wilson makes up for it with strength and YAC ability. He also flashed sub-4.4 wheels at the combine. From a route-running standpoint, he lacks the polish of former college teammate Chris Olave. But Wilson is much more dynamic and that's a skillset that NFL teams tend to covet. His ability to make big plays happen is very appealing and gives him a very bullish long-term dynasty outlook.

Player Comp: Diontae Johnson

3. Drake London, USC Physical and imposing, London has the big body and wide catch radius to make an immediate impact on Sundays. At USC he played both outside the numbers and in the slot. That versatility will come in handy in NFL offenses. While he lacks plus-level speed, London can win in contested situations and can use his body to create space. He's coming off a season-ending broken ankle, but this injury won't impact his status for 2022. London's massive size and ball skills bode well as he moves to the next level, and for dynasty purposes he enters the league very young, which is always a plus.

Player Comp: Mike Evans

4. Chris Olave, Ohio State Olave has route-running ability for days and the speed and ball skills to hold his own. From a route standpoint, he's arguably the most polished of this year's wideouts. He displays an advanced and nuanced understanding of route concepts. As such, he has the ability to play both inside and outside. The biggest knock on Olave is his slight frame. While not an issue at Ohio State, his lack of size could pose a problem at the next level. Still, his overall high skill level and athleticism position him well for success in the NFL as a No. 2 option. He will be a fantasy factor.

Player Comp: Calvin Ridley

5. Jameson Williams, Alabama Extremely speedy and shifty, Williams is a big play waiting to happen. He transferred to Alabama from Ohio State after being buried behind the likes of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. That move worked well as he was featured in Crimson Tide offense and put up big-time numbers in the process. Of course, Williams did tear his ACL in the National Championship game, but he's reportedly making great progress in his recovery and will reportedly be ready for camp. With his massive ceiling, Williams has the overall profile we're looking for in fantasy football.

Player Comp: Will Fuller

6. Jahan Dotson, Penn State Penn State seems to churn out dynamic wide receivers. Dotson is a big-play dynamo who can make things happen with the ball in his hands. But he isn't just a water bug downfield threat. Dotson is capable of making plays at all three levels of the field. He has some nuance to his routes with the ability to vary speed and accelerate instantly. While he lacks prototype NFL size, Dotson fared well against press coverage in college. He can also catch anything thrown his way. The lack of size is a knock, but Dotson is a baller. He should start from the gate and will surface on the fantasy radar sooner rather than later.

Player Comp: Tyler Lockett

7. George Pickens, Georgia A size/speed prospect, Pickens is a contested-catch specialist with a massive catch radius. Despite suffering a torn ACL in the spring, Pickens made it back on the field toward the end of last season. He then showed up and ran in the 4.4s at the combine. His skillset is most effective on vertical routes and in the red zone, but he's capable of making plays all over the field. He has the youngest breakout age of this year's wideouts. Pickens is a bit thin and will have to add some bulk to win against NFL-caliber corners. But overall, Pickens has the look of a future starter and will be a fantasy factor.

Player Comp: Mike Williams

8. Christian Watson, North Dakota State Insert heart eyes emoji here. Watson is the small-school wideout to love this year. He has impressive size and good long speed. Watson also has the ability to consistently make plays in a straight line downfield. He also comes from an NFL pedigree, as his dad played safety in the NFL. Of course, Watson will be making a major step up in competition from what he faced in the FCS. He enters the NFL somewhat inexperienced but has the intangibles to make an impact at the pro level. His dynasty future is bright.

Player Comp: D.J. Chark

9. Skyy Moore, Western Michigan Thickly built and extremely agile, Moore is coming off a very productive 2021 season. He's tough and uses his footwork to get open. While he showed good long speed at the combine, he's faster than he is quick. Still, he does figure to be primarily a slot receiver in the NFL. He isn't an above-the-rim contested catch type and will need to expand his route tree. But his plus ability to get open and overall athleticism should get Moore on the field early in his career. He's a very easy-to-like dynasty prospect.

Player Comp: Hunter Renfrow

10. David Bell, Purdue Bell is a high-volume receiver at Purdue who has the versatility to play inside or outside. On the field, there's a lot to like, but his performance at the combine is concerning. Bell ran a one of the slowest 40-yard dash times among the wideouts. Now, we have seen wideouts run in the 4.6s and have success in the NFL, so this isn't a deal breaker. And Bell really doesn't win with speed. He's as creative as they come and has elite footwork. That skillset will go a long way at the next level, though his fantasy upside may be a bit capped.

Player Comp: Zay Jones

11. John Metchie, Alabama While this year's crop of Alabama wide receivers isn't quite as impressive as we've seen in recent season, they still boast some quality options like Metchie. He's a slot receiver with the ability to run routes with the best of them and rack up yards after the catch. He doesn't necessarily pop from a speed standpoint, but he's more than able to make plays in contested situations. Like teammate Jameson Williams he's coming off a torn ACL but should be fine for the start of 2022. He figures to be a long-term starting slot receiver in the NFL.

Player Comp: Randall Cobb

12. Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama Tolbert is a crisp route runner who can make plays all over the field. As smooth as a hot knife through butter, he straight up dominated at South Alabama the past two seasons. He has plus ball skills that he leveraged to consistently win in contested situations. He does have some lapses in concentration at times and will enter the league a bit older at 23. But Tolbert is still a baller with a big frame who could certainly emerge as a No. 2 receiver. He's a good bet for future fantasy success.

Player Comp: Michael Gallup

13. Wan'Dale Robinson, Kentucky A versatile offensive weapon who can play all over the formation. Robinson is not the biggest player, but he has the ability to make things happen with the football. He started his college career out at Nebraska and transferred to Kentucky last season. He then proceeded to put up some big-time numbers, with the third-most catches in the nation. He figures to spend much of his time in the slot at the next level, but we could see some "wide back" usage like Deebo Samuel or Rondale Moore . Despite his diminutive size Robinson has the talent to be a versatile weapon in the NFL.

Player Comp: Rondale Moore

14. Justyn Ross, Clemson Ross is a big-bodied receiver who can play above the rim. He suffered a spinal injury in 2020 and wasn't quite the same player last season. Injuries like this are always tricky. In some instances, time heals wounds and the player returns to form. In other instances, we never see the pre-injury play come back. To be fair, Clemson simply wasn't the same team last season. In 2019, Ross was one of Trevor Lawrence 's top targets. His lackluster testing numbers do give some pause, but Ross still has appeal as a dynasty prospect who can surface as a No. 2 or No. 3 option.

Player Comp: Terrace Marshall Jr.

15. Alec Pierce, Cincinnati This dude is an athlete. Pierce put on a show at the combine with a speedy 40-yard dash and big-time numbers in the jump events. On the field, he has the size and ball skills to play on the outside in the NFL. He's coming off an impressive 2021 season, but the numbers may paint a slightly more optimistic picture than we should expect. He'll have to develop more as a route runner to truly reach his ceiling in the NFL. But we have seen development in the pro level out of similar players like Donovan Peoples-Jones . Pierce offers a high long-term dynasty ceiling, but he enters the league much closer to his floor.

Player Comp: Bryan Edwards

16. Khalil Shakir, Boise State A slot receiver who has the knack for making difficult catches look routine and routine catches look difficult. Shakir has excellent short-area quickness, and he's also drawn a lot of praise for being an extremely high character player. He doesn't quite have prototype NFL size and isn't the most athletic, but Shakir is just a darn good football player with a nuanced and savvy understanding of the game. He may not be an instant impact player, but Shakir is a good bet to surface as a starter in the NFL.

Player Comp: Marqise Lee

17. Calvin Austin III, Memphis Small, but extremely quick, Austin put up major numbers over the last two season. Things happen when the ball is in his hands. Austin posted one of the fastest 40-yard dash times at the combine. He also tends to play bigger than his size on the field. That said, his lack of size does present some limitations against NFL-level defenders. He can struggle in contested situations and isn't likely to create much after first contact. Austin will likely start his career out as a returner and could work his way into a larger role like we've seen with players like Isaiah McKenzie .

Player Comp: Isaiah McKenzie

18. Romeo Doubs, Nevada Doubs is a height/weight/speed prospect who was very productive at Nevada over the last two seasons. During that span he scored a hefty 20 touchdowns. A high-aDOT receiver, Doubs has the ability to make plays downfield. He also plays with a mean streak in him. His hands can be an issue at times, and he isn't the most polished route runner. But it's tough to ignore a player with his intangibles. Doubs can also continue in the return game. He's a deep upside dynasty option.

Player Comp: Tre'Quan Smith

19. Bo Melton, Rutgers Melton is a very tricky evaluation. His overall production at Rutgers doesn't really jump off the page. He's a solid route runner and it's fair to argue that he'd have put up more impressive numbers with a better quarterback. But then he went to the combine and put on a show. Melton ran one of the fastest 40 times, jumped well, excelled in the agility events, and even posted a solid 18 reps on the bench. A player can certainly test well and then not perform on the field, but Melton's athletic chops suggest there's more than meets the eye. He's a very interesting sleeper option.

Player Comp: Darnell Mooney

20. Tyquan Thornton, Baylor By this point, you likely know Thornton's name from the blazing fast 40-yard dash time he ran at the combine. For a brief moment, it looked like he topped John Ross ' record, but regardless, he still went sub-4.3. That's “eff you” fast. And it isn't just track speed. It translates to the field, as he can create separation at will on vertical routes. He can also make plays in contested situations and has a wide catch radius. But Thornton is also rail skinny and ran a limited route tree at Baylor. His speed is a major plus, but he'll need to add bulk in order to emerged as a viable fantasy option.

Player Comp: Denzel Mims

21. Kevin Austin Jr., Notre Dame Here's yet another big and fast wideout coming out of Notre Dame. But he's much more like former golden domer Miles Boykin than he is to Chase Claypool , as Austin enters the NFL still very close to his floor. Extremely lightly used in college, Austin has just 54 career catches. That was largely due to his missing all of 2019 due a team rule violation and most of 2020 with a foot injury. However, Austin stepped up in 2021 and flashed ability to make plays downfield. Despite the limited resume, his elite athletic profile and big frame make him a very interesting developmental dynasty prospect.

Player Comp: Miles Boykin

22. Dontario Drummond, Mississippi Matt Corral's top receiver from last season started his college career out at the JUCO level. He transferred to Ole Miss in 2019 but has really blossomed over the last two seasons. Drummond resembles a small tight end, as he lacks speed but is built like a tank. Despite the bulk, he's very fluid and has the ability to rack up the yards after catch. He figures to be nearly exclusively used in the slot at the next level. That sort of role doesn't bode especially well for his long-term fantasy outlook, but he could work his way into some reasonable volume if he reaches his ceiling.

Player Comp: Quincy Enunwa

23. Ty Fryfogle, Indiana Following a breakout 2020 season, Fryfogle regressed somewhat last year. But he does come with a very intriguing athletic profile. While he didn't necessarily run fast at the combine, he flashed plus-level explosion in the jumps. He uses those hops on the field to make plays above the rim. However, his lack of speed often translates to little or no separation. He can also fall into the habit of catching the ball with his body. Fryfogle has enough positive traits to make a 53-man roster, but we aren't likely to see him as anything more than a No. 4 option.

Player Comp: Quintez Cephus

24. Erik Ezukanma, Texas Tech A height/weight/speed standout, Ezukanma has the ability to make plays downfield as well as creating yards after catch. He showed the ability to make tough catches and can create yards after the catch all day. In fact, he has enough juice as a runner that he saw 10 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns this past season. Ezukanma tends to operate at just one speed, and he could use some polishing up as a route runner. However, his size and playmaking ability should land him on a roster. He's worth monitoring.

Player Comp: Joshua Palmer

25. Isaiah Weston, Northern Iowa Weston has impressive size, speed, and athleticism that allowed him to stand out against FCS competition. However, like a lot of small schoolers, he'll face a major step up in class against NFL corners. That said, his intangibles are extremely intriguing.

26. Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee Jones is a bit older, as he transferred from USC to Tennessee. While he never had a massive receiving year at the college level, he does possess top-shelf speed and can effectively turn into a returner with the ball in his hands. His upside gives him deep appeal.

Player Comp: Devin Duvernay

27. Jalen Nailor, Michigan State Despite having a track background, Nailor failed to impress in his 40 at the combine. But don't hold that against him. His play speed is evident on the field, and he's dealt with a series of injuries. Of course, that is also cause for concern. He's a risk/reward prospect.

28. Danny Gray, SMU A state champion sprinter at the high school level, Gray has speed for days. He showed an ability to make plays all over the field at SMU. Despite being slightly undersized, Gray's speed will be appealing to NFL teams. He's a deeper option to keep an eye on.

Player Comp: K.J. Hill

29. Jaquarii Roberson, Wake Forest A downfield specialist who is coming off two very productive seasons at Wake Forest. He doesn't have the size to consistently win in contested situations, but Roberson knows how to get open. That skill could help him land on a 53-man roster.

30. Tanner Conner, Idaho State Can you say sleeper wideout? Conner checks the boxes for height and weight, and he uses that build to make plays above the rim. Though not a burner, Conner show the ability to rack up the YAC. He's one of the deep names to know at wideout.

31. Braylon Sanders, Mississippi A big-play specialist, Sanders has seen over 20 air yards per target in each of his last two seasons. However, you'll notice he has not been heavily targeted over that span. That's due to his lengthy injury resume, which is a fairly large red flag.

32. Kyle Philips, UCLA Chip Kelly's first recruit at UCLA, Philips is a slot receiver with good quickness and plus ability as a route runner. He can also contribute in the return game. Not overly athletic but gives off some serious poor man's Julian Edleman vibes.

Player Comp: Julian Edleman

33. Jerreth Sterns, Western Kentucky Like his quarterback Bailey Zappe, Sterns went off this past season in Western Kentucky's Air Raid offense. Take that with a grain of salt, but Sterns is a talented player who has a knack for getting open. However, his size will be a major limitation.

34. Jaivon Heiligh, Coastal Carolina A plus athlete with good long speed, Heiligh was very productive over the last two seasons against small-school competition. He's as natural as they come catching the football but will need to add bulk to his frame. He's an intriguing deep sleeper to monitor.

35. Makai Polk, Mississippi State Put up big-time numbers last season, but keep in mind that it came in Mike Leach 's system. Still, Polk has the size and ball skills to compete at the next level. However, he does lack top-end speed and will need to improve his play strength.

36. Mike Woods II, Oklahoma Woods transferred from Arkansas to play under Lincoln Riley last season. While he brings plus athleticism, his on-the-field play doesn't stand out. He has a one-speed style that won't get him too far at the next level if he's able to catch on with an NFL team.

37. Devon Williams, Oregon A top recruit out of high school who initially went to USC before transferring to Oregon. Williams is massive, but often plays much smaller. He also lacks quickness and long speed. However, his build and ability to play above the rim at least give him a shot.

38. Slade Bolden, Alabama A slot receiver who is capable of getting open in the short and intermediate. However, he offers limited athleticism and won’t do much after the catch. Despite the Alabama pedigree, Bolden isn't a good bet to crack a 53-man roster in the short term.

Player Comp: Trey Quinn

39. Charleston Rambo, Miami (FL) An older player who started his college career out at Oklahoma with Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb . He's physical but did struggle against press last season. He also has dealt with drops issues. He figures to be roster depth or practice squad material.

40. Johnny Johnson III, Oregon A slot receiver who was a solid producer for the Ducks, but really didn't pop in any one area. He also posted lackluster testing numbers and will likely have to earn his keep on special teams in order to make an NFL roster.

41. Tre Turner, Virginia Tech The brother of former NBA player PJ Hairston, Turner also comes from a basketball background. That translates to plus ball skills above the rim on the field. With that said, his overall athletic profile is limited. He's unlikely to have much success at the next level.

42. Reggie Roberson Jr., SMU A 2020 ACL injury really hampered Roberson's production last season, as he simply didn't look like the same player. However, he did run well in pre-draft testing and has an outside shot at emerging as a deep ball specialist in the NFL

Player Comp: Dazz Newsome

43. Dai'Jean Dixon, Nicholls State Dixon is as tough as they come and has the ability to make contested plays above the rim. But he's also one of the slowest receivers in this year's class. That's going to present a major barrier to making his way onto a 53-man roster.

Player Comp: J'Mon Moore

44. Emeka Emezie, North Carolina State He's the all-time receptions leader at NC State, which is saying something since it’s also the alma mater to Torry Holt. But Emezie is no Holt. Rather, he's much more similar to former NC State WR Kelvin Harmon as a physical receiver who struggles to separate.

45. Tay Martin, Oklahoma State He's quick in short areas, but Martin lacks top-end speed. As such, he offers very little after the catch. Martin is a solid receiver in many areas, but the problem is he just doesn’t stand out in any of those areas.

46. Britain Covey, Utah Covey is an undersized wideout who never really popped as a receiver, but he does offer plus ability in the return game. He finished his college career with 4,241 all-purpose yards. He should get a crack at that role in the next level.

47. Samori Toure, Nebraska Following an extremely productive three seasons in the FCS level at Montana, Toure grad transferred to Nebraska. He's a big slot type with solid ball skills and enough speed to hack it in the NFL. He's a deep name to monitor.

48. Corey Sutton, Appalachian State He has the size for the pro level, but Sutton doesn't blow you away in any one area. He does have ability as a returner, which would help him crack a 53-man roster, but that's far from a lock to happen.

49. Josh Johnson , Tulsa Johnson is a slot receiver who showed plus speed during his breakout 2021 season. However, he's also undersized and will likely find it to be tough sledding against NFL-caliber coverage. He's an interesting deep name but is a long shot for future fantasy value.

50. Stanley Berryhill III, Arizona A standout during the East-West Shrine Game week of practice, Berryhill has good speed but is limited by his size. There's a chance he surfaces as a special teamer, but we aren’t likely to see him make a fantasy impact.

51. Calvin Jackson Jr., Washington State The son of former the Miami Dolphins defensive back by the same name, but you might also recognize Jackson from the Netflix show Last Chance U . Jackson broke out in 2021, but his slight frame isn't particularly well suited to the NFL.

52. Deven Thompkins, Utah State A pure athlete who is coming off a huge 2021 campaign. Unfortunately, he's about three inches too small and 30 pounds too light. As fun as he is to watch, Thompkins is a longshot to make an NFL roster.

53. Jalen Virgil, Appalachian State Virgil is a height/weight/speed prospect who can get vertical in a hurry. However, he a bit of a one-trick pony who still has a lot of developing to do. His athleticism should at least get his foot in the door of an NFL training camp.

54. Jack Sorenson, Miami (OH) He's extremely sure-handed and is coming off a very productive 2021 season. However, it's going to be extremely tough for a high-aDOT receiver with extremely limited speed to make a 53-man roster.

55. Neil Pau'u, BYU Pau'u has good short-area quickness, but he's very limited from an athletic standpoint. He had a productive career at the college level, but Pau'u just doesn't have the game to find success in the NFL.

56. Travell Harris, Washington State An undersized slot receiver with plus speed, Harris is a plus route runner. He struggled with concentration and had drops issues at times in the college level. His lack of size will make it tough for him to catch on with an NFL roster.

Full dynasty rookie rankings for the 2022 class For a deeper look at each player — including stats, fantasy scouting profile, player comps, and more — check out the 2022 FTN Rookie Fantasy Scouting Guide .

We also have a series of articles breaking down the 2022 class by position for dynasty fantasy football:

Overall 2022 dynasty rookie rankings Dynasty rookie QB rankings 2022 Dynasty rookie RB rankings 2022 Dynasty rookie TE rankings 2022

Dynasty rookie WR rankings 2022

Dynasty rookie WR rankings for...

This feature is only available to FTN Fantasy Premium Members Only