- Puka Nacua sits, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba excels once again: An ankle injury kept Nacua sidelined. Meanwhile, Smith-Njigba went off for 123 receiving yards to extend his NFL lead and tighten his grip on a top-two PFF receiving grade.
- George Pickens kept up his production with CeeDee Lamb back: Pickens was a frequent producer in the Cowboys' offense while Lamb was out injured, and he still managed four catches for 82 yards this past week with Lamb back in the fold.
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Estimated Reading Time: 17 minutes
We're diving into the top wide receivers by PFF receiving grade through Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season. To qualify, players need to have logged at least 100 receiving snaps.
1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (92.7)
Nacua did not play in Week 7 due to an ankle injury.
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (92.3)
Smith-Njiba continues to light up defenses, this time with eight catches and 123 receiving yards against the Texans in Week 7. He beat All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. for an 11-yard touchdown catch to close out the first quarter. From there, he recorded five catches of 15-plus yards, including three on conversion downs. Smith-Njigba averaged 3.8 yards after the catch per reception and 3.51 yards after the run. He finished the night with a 90.2 PFF receiving grade (tied for first). It was his second consecutive game with a 90.0-plus PFF receiving grade.
The superstar third-year receiver is hot on Puka Nacua’s tail for the No. 1 spot in these rankings, and for good reason. He continues to dominate both primary coverage schemes, having logged 90.0-plus PFF receiving grades against man and zone looks. He’s also doing it from every level of the field. Smith-Njigba owns a perfect PFF receiving grade on deep targets (99.9), a near-perfect grade on throws 10-19 yards downfield (97.5) and an 85.7 PFF receiving grade on passes within nine yards of the line of scrimmage.
Smith-Njigba enters Week 8 with 50 catches for 819 yards (most). He is up to four touchdowns on the season, with three in as many weeks.
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (87.1)
St. Brown rebounded from his rough day versus the Chiefs (45 receiving yards) with six catches for 86 yards against the Buccaneers. He recorded three explosive gains in the first quarter, including two catches of 20-plus yards. One of those receptions went for a 27-yard touchdown early in the period, a play on which he beat cornerback Jacob Parrish across the middle of the field. St. Brown averaged 7.5 yards after the catch per reception and finished the night with a 75.5 PFF receiving grade.
The USC star moves up to fifth in receiving yards (538) across 50 catches. Like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, St. Brown is lighting up defenses downfield. He also owns a 98.9 PFF receiving grade at the intermediate level. St. Brown has caught 13 of 17 targets from that range for 254 yards (second most) and two touchdowns. He’s secured three of five contested targets and is generating a 157.1 passer rating when targeted from that depth (second best).
4. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals (85.3)
The Steelers had no answer for Chase on Thursday Night Football. He caught a career-high 16 passes on 23 targets for 161 yards. It was his second game this season with more than 160 receiving yards. Chase finished with eight catches of 10-plus yards, earning a 94.8 PFF receiving grade on those plays. Four went for more than 15 yards, including an 18-yard grab with two minutes remaining in the game to move Cincinnati closer to field-goal range while down by a point. Chase racked up nine first downs and caught his third touchdown pass of the season, breaking away from Jalen Ramsey late in the second quarter for the eight-yard grab. He ended the contest with an 89.5 PFF receiving grade.
The former fifth overall pick has 58 catches this season and remains a top-two wide receiver in targets (79) and receiving yards (629). Fifty-five of those targets have come within 19 yards of the line of scrimmage, where he’s recorded 41 catches with 24 first downs and nine explosive gains. He is averaging 7.71 yards per route run and boasts a 90.3 PFF receiving grade (fourth best) within that range.
5. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys (82.7)
Pickens cracks the top five after a four-catch, 82-yard performance against the Commanders. He secured a 24-yard pass over rookie Trey Amos midway through the first quarter and later bested Marshon Lattimore for a 44-yard grab to close out the first half. Pickens was targeted 18.0 yards downfield on average in the game, the second-highest average for him this season, and finished with a 72.6 PFF receiving grade.
Pickens remains a top-five wideout in receiving yards entering Week 8, with 36 catches for 607 yards. The fourth-year stud continues to shine from deep, having made seven catches for 203 yards (fifth most) and two touchdowns. He sports a 95.3 PFF receiving grade from that depth.
6. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons (82.7)
The 49ers limited London to 42 receiving yards on four catches in Week 7, his second game with fewer than 50 this season. He did make three catches of 10-plus yards, including a 19-yard gain late in the second quarter.
The former eighth overall pick now has 38 catches for 469 yards (tied for ninth), with 20 first downs and 10 explosive gains. He has forced four missed tackles and secured six of 12 contested targets for 109 yards. London has moved the chains five times and caught a touchdown pass on contested looks en route to a 92.4 PFF receiving grade (fifth best).
7. Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots (82.1)
Diggs caught each of his seven targets for 69 yards and three first downs against the Titans in Week 7. He logged two gains of 15-plus yards in the third quarter, including a 24-yard pickup on a third-and-8 play.
The 31-year-old veteran is up to 39 catches for 456 yards, with 10 explosive gains. He ranks third in PFF receiving grade against single coverage (92.3), securing each of his 12 targets for 186 yards and 11 first downs. He has also brought in 22 of 25 zone targets for 208 yards and eight first downs.
8. Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (82.0)
Downs missed Week 7 with a concussion.
9. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (81.0)
Hill is out for the season with a knee injury.
10. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams (79.2)
Adams may have been held to 35 receiving yards against the Jaguars, but he was the driver of the Rams' offense in Puka Nacua’s absence. Each of his five catches turned into a big play. Adams caught three touchdown passes, all within two yards of the goal line. He also made two catches of 15-plus yards on his way to a 90.2 PFF receiving grade in the international matchup. Not only did Adams tie with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the highest PFF receiving grade this week, but it was also his highest-graded game of the season.
Adams is up to 31 catches for 431 yards in 2025. The All-Pro wideout is now tied for second in touchdown catches (six) with George Pickens, with five of his scores coming from the red zone. Adams ranks fifth in red-zone PFF receiving grade (79.2) and is also tied for second in explosive gains (15).
11. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins (79.1)
Waddle was injured late in the fourth quarter this past week, putting his status for Week 8 in doubt. The injury occurred as he leaped to secure a target before falling hard to the ground. At the time of the injury, Waddle had just one catch for 15 yards. He was targeted four times in the game amid the Dolphins' struggles.
Waddle now has 405 receiving yards on the season, and the spiraling Dolphins would find themselves in a bigger hole if he is unable to go against the Falcons. Outside of Waddle and Tyreek Hill (265), no other Dolphins receiver has more than 99 receiving yards. Second-year man Malik Washington is the only other Miami receiver to have seen more than nine targets (31).
12. D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers (79.0)
Metcalf made a 39-yard catch on the fourth play of the Steelers' eventual loss to the Bengals, yet he finished the game with only three catches for 50 yards and a season-low passer rating when targeted (38.9).
Metcalf now has 22 catches for 406 yards this season, with eight receptions going for more than 20 yards. Over his past three games, he’s seen seven targets each within nine yards of the line of scrimmage and 20-plus yards downfield. He’s brought in eight of those passes for a combined 165 yards, earning 90.0-plus PFF receiving grades at both levels of the field.
13. Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (78.9)
Boutte caught two passes for 55 yards against the Titans in Week 7. Both catches were explosive gains of 15-plus yards, including a 39-yard touchdown near halftime where he was able to split L'Jarius Sneed and Quandre Diggs for a wide-open reception.
Boutte’s catch streak continues into Week 8, as he has now hauled in all of his targets over his past three games (10). He has recorded 191 receiving yards with three touchdowns during the streak. Each catch has moved the chains, and four have gone for 20-plus yards. Most of his targets this season (20 of 25) have come from 10-plus yards downfield, where he owns a 75.0 PFF receiving grade.
14. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (78.0)
Jefferson was targeted 10 times in the Vikings' loss to the Eagles, securing five catches for 79 yards. Most of his production came when he slipped Andrew Mukuba for a 40-yard gain in the second quarter, his second of two explosive gains on the day. He forced two missed tackles and gained three first downs, but generated a season-low 37.1 passer rating when targeted.
Jefferson remains one of the best playmakers at the position, placing in the top five in explosive gains (15), yards after the catch (211) and yards gained after initial contact (108). He has also forced six missed tackles and gained 20 first downs on 34 catches. Jefferson ranks sixth in receiving yards (528) and seventh in yards per route run (2.39) entering Week 8.
15. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (77.9)
Smith enjoyed a career day in Week 7, catching nine of 11 targets for 183 yards. He recorded a 79-yard touchdown in the third quarter after turning Isaiah Rodgers around and pulling away for the score. Smith finished with five explosive gains, including three catches of 20-plus yards, and led the league in yards per route run (7.04). He also secured three contested catches and ranked in the top five in PFF receiving grade (90.1) and passer rating when targeted (149.1).
All of Smith’s catches against the Vikings came against zone coverage. He has now caught 25 of 27 zone targets for 337 yards and a 73.3 PFF receiving grade this season. The former 10th overall pick now has 38 catches for 504 yards (eighth most) in 2025.
16. Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers (77.5)
Pearsall remains out with a knee injury.
17. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (77.2)
Brown joined DeVonta Smith in putting together a big game against the Vikings, recording four catches for a season-high 121 yards. He had two touchdowns and three gains of 20-plus yards. He broke away from Josh Metellus on a fourth-down play in the first quarter for a 37-yard score. His second score came midway through the fourth quarter, a play on which he outmuscled Byron Murphy Jr. for a 26-yard catch to extend the Eagles' lead. Later in the period, Brown hauled in a 45-yard catch over Isaiah Rodgers to set Philadelphia up inside the Vikings' 15-yard line, already up six. Brown finished the day with an 87.9 PFF receiving grade and a 149.3 passer rating when targeted (fourth best).
The seventh-year veteran now has 29 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns this season. He has moved the chains 16 times and recorded seven catches of 20-plus yards. Nearly all of his targets (27 of 49) are from the short area of the field, where he owns an 89.2 PFF receiving grade. Brown also boasts a near-elite 88.5 PFF receiving grade over his past two games (fourth best).
18. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (77.1)
Pierce notched season highs in targets (10), catches (five) and receiving yards (98) against the Chargers this past week. He tallied four catches of 10-plus yards, including one on a third-and-17 play early in the second quarter where he found himself all alone for a 48-yard catch. Pierce finished the day with a 74.0 PFF receiving grade.
The former Cincinnati Bearcat has seven catches for 146 yards and four explosive gains in his first two games back from injury, earning a 73.2 PFF receiving grade in that span. He’s now up to 16 catches for 317 yards on the season.
19. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (76.9)
The Ravens were on a bye in Week 7.
20. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers (76.9)
Allen erupted for 11 catches and 119 receiving yards on 14 targets. It was his first 100-yard game of the season. He caught his fourth touchdown of the year midway through third quarter, bringing in a four-yard pass. He moved the chains seven times, with three explosive gains — his longest being a 30-yard sideline catch late in the second quarter. Nine of his catches came in the second half.
The 33-year-old great leads the Chargers in catches (44), targets (64) and first downs (27) entering Week 8. He’s up to 435 receiving yards and four catches of 20-plus yards. Allen also paces the Chargers in red-zone targets (11), catching five for 51 yards. Four of those five grabs have gone for touchdowns, accounting for all of his scores this season. Allen owns a 75.1 PFF receiving grade inside the red zone.
21. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (76.0)
Odunze caught two passes in the first quarter against the Saints for 31 yards. They were his only receptions of the game despite his six targets. Both catches were gains of 10-plus yards, including a 20-yarder on a third-down play.
Odunze caught that pass outside the numbers, an area where he continues to get the bulk of his work. Twenty-nine of his 44 targets have come outside the numbers, where he has made 15 catches for 213 yards. Odunze is averaging 14.9 depth yards per target and ranks third in PFF receiving grade (90.2) from that area of the field.
22. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (75.9)
Sutton brought in six catches for 87 yards against the Giants, with two gains of 20-plus yards. His biggest catch of the game came with 18 seconds remaining — a leaping 22-yard snag with Deonte Banks in coverage to put the Broncos in field-goal range. Denver went on to make the game-winning kick two plays later. Sutton was at the center of three explosive gains, secured two contested catches and averaged 3.5 yards per route run.
The 2018 second-rounder has made 33 catches for 469 yards (tied for ninth most) this season, and he’s producing against both coverage schemes. He has caught 21 of 30 zone-coverage targets for 290 yards and 14 first downs. All of his touchdowns this season (three) have come against zone coverage. Meanwhile, he ranks 10th in PFF receiving grade against single coverage (85.2), securing eight of 13 targets for 128 yards and seven first downs.
23. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (74.7)
McMillan caught three passes for 33 yards against the Jets, making it his second consecutive game with fewer than 50 receiving yards. He did tally two first-down gains of double-digit yards, including an 11-yard catch on fourth-and-3 late in the first half. McMillan finished the day with a 61.6 PFF overall grade.
The Arizona product now has 30 catches this season for 413 yards and 24 first downs. He sports 75.0-plus PFF receiving grades at every level of the field beyond the line of scrimmage, with most of his targets coming from the short area (25). McMillan has caught 18 of those passes for 156 yards and 12 first downs, and he is averaging 6.24 yards per route run per reception on throws within nine yards of the line of scrimmage.
24. KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys (74.7)
Turpin returned to the field after missing the past two games with a foot injury. He took his lone target, a slide route, 17 yards, spinning away from a closing Trey Amos in the process.
The Pro Bowl returner has now caught 12 of 14 targets this season for 176 yards and 10 first downs. He has six explosive gains of 15-plus yards.
25. Cooper Kupp, Seattle Seahawks (74.2)
Kupp took a shallow cross upfield for a 32-yard gain on his only target of the night. The former All-Pro now has 24 catches for 293 yards on the season, with eight explosive gains. He has also secured four of six contested targets.
26. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (74.0)
Egbuka suited up against the Lions (hamstring injury) and finished the night with four catches for 58 yards. Tampa Bay leaned on him heavily after Mike Evans left with injuries, targeting him 10 times in the second half. Most of his yards came from two explosive gains. On the first grab, he created a step of separation on a deep crosser for an 18-yard gain. He later recorded a 30-yard gain on the same crossing route, this time getting behind the second level of zone coverage. Egbuka forced a missed tackle and averaged 5.0 yards after the catch per reception. He finished with night with a 63.1 PFF receiving grade.
The first-rounder ranks seventh in receiving yards entering Week 8 (527). He leads all rookies in passer rating when targeted (123.7). He is also tied for second overall at the position in explosive gains (15). All but three of his catches (28) have come against zone coverage this season, where he leads rookie receivers in PFF receiving grade (78.5).
27. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints (74.0)
Olave caught five passes for 98 yards against the Bears, his second consecutive game with 90-plus receiving yards. Olave blew by Tyrique Stevenson late in the second quarter for a 57-yard gain. Two plays later, Olave capped off the drive with a 21-yard touchdown catch. He added a second touchdown in the third quarter, making his way across the field on third-and-4 for a 14-yard endzone catch near the sideline. He finished the day with a 153.3 passer rating when targeted.
Olave is heating up, having made 11 catches for 196 yards and a 76.3 PFF receiving grade over his past two games. He’s up to 44 catches on the season for 444 yards.
28. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (73.2)
Pittman caught seven passes for 58 yards against the Chargers and made three key plays in the second quarter. He found himself wide open for a two-yard touchdown catch on a fourth down to start the period. He later converted a third down with a 10-yard catch with 34 seconds remaining. Two plays later, he notched a 16-yard catch across the middle, taking the Colts inside the red zone with less than 20 seconds left in the half. Pittman gained five first downs and secured three catches of 10-plus yards.
The former second-rounder now has 35 catches for 351 yards this season, and he leads the Colts' receiver group in targets (46), catches and receiving yards. Pittman has a touchdown catch in all but two games (five) this season. He is one of two Indianapolis receivers to score this season (Josh Downs) — and the only one with more than one touchdown catch.
29. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets (72.9)
Wilson missed the first game of his career with a knee injury.
30. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (72.9)
The third Cowboy to make this list, Lamb returned to the field after a three-game absence and quickly shook off any rust. He split Quan Martin and Marshon Lattimore in zone coverage for a 74-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, his first of the season. Lamb had three catches of 10-plus yards on the day, part of his five receptions for 110 yards.
The star receiver now has 21 catches for 332 yards this season, with five gains of 20-plus yards. He has seen seven deep targets, bringing in four for 164 yards and his touchdown against Washington. Lamb boasts a 93.6 PFF receiving grade on those plays.
31. Nico Collins, Houston Texans (72.3)
Collins is in concussion protocol, putting his availability for Week 8 in doubt. The injury occurred early in the fourth quarter last week after a hard landing while he attempted to bring down a target.
That target was his 10th of the game, although he finished with only four catches for 27 yards. Collins did notch two first downs, with his longest catch gaining 14 yards. All of his production came in the second quarter.
The fourth-year receiver is leading the Texans in catches (26) and receiving yards (339). No other Houston receiver has more than 123 yards or more than 18 targets. Should Collins miss time, the young trio of Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will get even more opportunities, with Christian Kirk also out injured. That group has seen 45 targets this season, while Collins has 45 by himself. Noel did record an 82.8 PFF receiving grade on Monday Night Football, ranking sixth best for the week.
32. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (72.3)
Higgins logged six catches for 96 yards, both season highs, on Thursday Night Football. He found space between two defenders for an 18-yard catch on third-and-long in the first quarter and also took a slant route 29 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter. Like Ja'Marr Chase, Higgins came up clutch on the Bengals' last drive. With less than two minutes remaining, he took a 28-yard gain inside the 10-yard line, sliding to keep the clock running. He forced two missed tackles in the game and generated a 139.1 passer rating when targeted.
The former Clemson star now has 24 catches this season for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He has racked up 17 first downs, with seven explosive gains of 15-plus yards. Higgins has been targeted 24 times 10-plus yards downfield, and he has caught 10 of those passes for 187 yards. He owns an 87.2 PFF receiving grade on passes beyond 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.
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