Wide receivers have become pivotal to their team’s success. With the league shifting towards more passing, receivers have become increasingly critical.
Rookie WRs make a major impact from the start and take another big leap in year two.
Three second-year WRs are poised for a big 2025 NFL season.
Three Second-Year Wide Receivers Set For Big 2025 NFL Season
The three second-year wideouts poised for a big 2025 campaign are:
- Malik Nabers
- Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Rome Odunze
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Malik Nabers took the league by storm in his rookie campaign. He had 109 receptions, 1,204 receiving yards, and seven receiving TDs.
Nabers posted those numbers catching passes from Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito.
This season, Nabers gets an upgrade at the QB position with Russell Wilson under center. Rookie Jaxson Dart will back up Wilson. Both are an upgrade over the QB situation the Giants had last season.
Nabers is the only reliable option in the passing game for the Giants. With Russell Wilson, expect the Giants to throw deep more with Wilson’s moonballs. Nabers will be the main benefactor.
Look for Nabers to improve upon his numbers from last season, which were excellent.
2025 prediction: 110 receptions, 1,350 receiving yards, and 10 receiving TDs.
Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
The expectations for Marvin Harrison in his rookie campaign were very high. He did not live up to the high expectations, but Harrison did have a good rookie campaign.
Harrison had 62 receptions, 885 receiving yards, and eight receiving TDs.
Kyler Murray threw for under 4,000 passing yards. Murray’s inability to throw for a lot of yards hurt Harrison’s production and may keep Harrison’s ceiling lower than it could be.
Still, Nabers was very productive with a worse QB room than Harrison had.
In year two, Harrison will look to improve upon his solid rookie season. He will be more familiar with the NFL and with Kyler Murray. The expectations are a lot lower than when he first entered the NFL, which will reduce the pressure.
He may not be ready to become a top 10 wide receiver in year two, but Harrison will improve on his numbers from last season.
2025 prediction: 75 receptions, 1,075 receiving yards, and nine receiving TDs.
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze is another second-year wideout poised for a good season. He had a decent rookie campaign in a dysfunctional Bears offense.
Odunze had 54 receptions, 734 receiving yards, and three receiving TDs last season.
Chicago completely revamped their offense. They brought in offensive guru Ben Johnson to be the head coach and vastly improved their offensive line. This was all to help second-year QB Caleb Williams improve. Williams took a lot of sacks last year, which the Bears aim to drastically reduce this season.
With an improved offense, this will help Odunze improve in his second year.
Keenan Allen is no longer there to take targets away, and Odunze will be the WR2 behind D.J. Moore.
Expect a big jump in production for Odunze in his second season in the NFL.
2025 prediction: 70 receptions, 1,025 receiving yards, and six receiving TDs.
