The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast 1075: The Death of the Fantasy Football WR2
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Jan 20, 2026 The 2025 fantasy football season saw wide receivers struggle like never before. A drop in scoring metrics and target shares revealed a significant decline in WR performance. Injuries played a part, but changes in team personnel and strategies were major factors. Tight ends became the preferred targets, leaving fewer opportunities for wideouts. The rise of heavier formations limited routes and targets for WRs, pushing fantasy managers to rethink their draft strategies and prioritize elite receivers. The landscape of fantasy football is shifting!
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Wide Receivers Underperformed Overall
- Wide receivers scored a historically low share of non-QB PPR points in 2025, concentrated in the non-elite tier.
- Elite WRs remained productive, but the middle tier collapsed, reducing overall WR fantasy value.
Targets, Not Efficiency, Hurt WRs
- WR target share hit a multi-year low in 2025, driving fewer receptions and touchdowns.
- WRs converted targets at a normal rate but simply received fewer looks overall.
Tight Ends Took The Lost Targets
- Running back target share also fell in 2025, so missing WR targets didn't shift to RBs this time.
- Tight ends captured the displaced target share, becoming primary beneficiaries.