Devy Wide Receivers Re-Evaluated: Who's Risen, Who's Fallen?

A year later, Kevin revisits the top freshman wide receivers from the 2024 class to track their progress, devy value shifts, and what it means for your rankings moving forward.

Wide receiver is the lifeblood of most devy teams. The position offers the deepest talent pool, the highest ceilings, and often the most week-to-week reliability once these guys hit. But when wideouts miss, especially those taken early in devy drafts, it can be devastating. Because of the draft capital tied to the position, one bad pick can derail your long-term build in a hurry.

That’s why it’s crucial to circle back and re-evaluate. In this article, we’re diving into last year’s freshman wide receiver class and checking in on where they stand now. Some are already ascending into elite territory, while others are falling behind or buried on depth charts. We're looking at production, usage, ADP movement, and overall trajectory.

And here’s the thing. This 2027 WR class has the potential to be special. I’m talking about some of the best devy wide receiver prospects I’ve seen in the last ten years. There’s real star power here. So let’s break it down. Who’s rising, who’s falling, and what does it mean for your devy roster heading into 2025 and beyond?

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

2024 ADP: 1st Round – WR1 (2027 class)
2025 ADP: 1st Round – WR1 (2027 class)

What more can we even say at this point? Jeremiah Smith entered college as the WR1 in his class, and somehow still managed to exceed the hype. Not only did he hold on to that WR1 spot — he elevated himself to the number one overall devy asset in the format. That just doesn’t happen, especially not this quickly.

Smith wasted no time making his presence known. From the jump, he looked like a grown man out there. Listed at 6’3”, 215 pounds, with elite ball skills and burst, he gave Big Ten defenses fits all year. He opened his freshman season with a 6-catch, 92-yard performance and never looked back.

He delivered all year long, and when the lights were brightest, he turned it up another level. In the College Football Playoff, he torched Tennessee and Oregon for a combined 290 yards and 4 touchdowns. Even when teams started throwing bracket coverage and extra attention his way, it didn’t matter. In the national title game against Notre Dame, Smith delivered again — putting up 88 yards and a touchdown, including a 56-yard dagger on 3rd-and-11 to seal the game.

Freshmen just don’t do this. His final stat line? 76 receptions, 1,315 yards, and 15 touchdowns. Unreal.

There’s a real argument to be made that Smith is already one of the most valuable players we’ve ever seen in devy formats. He’s a legit Heisman candidate going into his sophomore year and, barring injury, should be a lock for top-5 draft capital in 2027. This is the type of player you build your entire devy roster around.

Alabama WR Ryan Williams

2024 ADP: 2nd Round – WR3 (2027 class)
2025 ADP: 1st Round – WR2 (2027 class)

Ryan Williams wasted no time putting his name on the map. He came out firing as a true freshman and quickly moved up in value, rising from WR3 in last year’s class to a top-five overall devy asset. He’s now locked in as the WR2 of the 2027 group heading into year two.

Williams led Alabama in receiving as a freshman, finishing with 865 yards and 8 touchdowns, and earned First-Team All-SEC honors in the process. Not bad for a kid who wasn’t even supposed to be on campus this early. He made splash plays all year, but none bigger than his game-winning 75-yard touchdown against Georgia that instantly became one of the most memorable moments of the season.

Heading into 2025, the only real question is who will be throwing him the football. With Milroe off to the NFL, it’ll be either Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, or true freshman Keelon Russell. But honestly, it might not matter. Williams showed he could produce regardless of the situation and still has room to grow. He found the end zone in 7 of his 13 games and showed elite traits throughout the year, even if he cooled off a bit down the stretch.

From a devy standpoint, there’s still a clear gap between Jeremiah Smith and the rest — but Williams isn’t far behind. There are a few names on this list that could close that gap or even surpass him this year, but let’s not forget: he just turned 18 and is already one of the most explosive receivers in the country. With a better passer at the helm, Williams could be in line for an even bigger breakout in 2025.

Auburn WR Cam Coleman

2024 ADP: 3rd Round – WR4 (2027 class)
2025 ADP: 1st Round – WR3 (2027 class)

I’m expecting a massive sophomore leap from Cam Coleman, and honestly, it’s already starting. He’s jumped two full rounds in ADP and is now sitting firmly as the WR3 in the class, and if anyone is going to challenge Ryan Williams for that WR2 spot, it’s Coleman.

He flashed early, but it was the final stretch of his freshman season that really turned heads. Over Auburn’s last three games, Coleman saw 25 targets and turned them into 22 catches, 306 yards, and six touchdowns. That kind of late-season breakout is exactly what you want to see from a five-star freshman playing in a flawed offense.

Let’s not forget that Auburn’s quarterback play was rough last year. Despite that, Coleman finished with 37 receptions, 598 yards, and 8 touchdowns. He did it while competing for targets in a limited passing game and still found ways to produce with elite physical traits and separation ability.

Now, with Jackson Arnold likely coming in at quarterback, the arrow is pointing all the way up. Add in the fact that Auburn’s offense could be sneaky good in 2025 with Coleman, Nick Singleton Jr., and Malcolm Simmons leading the charge, and there’s a real path to dominance.

Cam Coleman is my biggest buy in devy right now. The upside is massive, the breakout signs are already there, and with even marginal QB improvement, he could be the guy that challenges for WR1 territory by this time next year.

Clemson WR TJ Moore

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