Last week, I wrote about the 8 safest running backs with high upside. Today, we will cover the 9 safest wide receivers with high upside. Each player listed below’s risk factors for injury have been carefully evaluated and ranked in our Fantasy Football Draft Injury Guide. All nine players listed below have a unique opportunity to provide big-time fantasy upside, and unlike their counterparts who possess numerous risk factors for injury, these nine have very few.
The contents of this article serve as a preview for the Fantasy Football Draft Injury Guide. If you find this information valuable, be sure to purchase the guide now!
Brian Thomas Jr.: ADP WR8/OV14
Age: 22 Position: WR Height: 6’2 Weight: 209 Exp: 1
Injury Risk Rating
Brian Thomas Jr. erupted onto the scene in his rookie season and looks to continue his dominance in year two. BTJ has a mostly clean injury history, minus a concussion from college and a rib injury last season. The rib injury will not linger into 2025 and is not a risk factor for future injury. The concussion, however, will make it more likely to suffer another concussion, which is the only reason BTJ is “low risk” versus “very low risk”. Overall, fantasy managers are drafting a high upside, low risk player in Thomas Jr.
View Brian Thomas Jr’s full injury profile here.
Drake London: ADP WR9/OV17
Age: 24 Position: WR Height: 6’4 Weight: 215 Exp: 3
Injury Risk Rating
London is still just 24 years old, which means his biology is as efficient as it ever will be, and his age is not a risk factor. London has one major injury on his resume. Back in college, he fractured his ankle, ending his season. This is an injury that can lead to future issues. Luckily for London, his ankle fracture has not been a problem in his first three seasons in the NFL. The 4th year veteran has missed only one game in 2023 due to a groin injury. London also dealt with a mild hip pointer and hamstring injury last season, but neither kept him out of any games, telling us they were not severe enough to cause lasting issues. London is relatively low risk for injury in 2025.
View Drake London’s full injury profile here.
Ladd McConkey: ADP WR11/OV22
Age: 23 Position: WR Height: 6’0 Weight: 185 Exp: 1
Injury Risk Rating
McConkey was excellent in his first season in the NFL, and he looks to build off that success in 2025. McConkey’s age won’t be a risk factor for injury for several years; he has a few injuries worth discussing, but none of which are major concerns for 2025. Last season, McConkey dealt with a lingering AC joint injury; this one should heal fine, and being a non-weight-bearing joint won’t be an issue long term. A mild knee injury and ankle sprain are worth noting, but to this point, McConkey has avoided any recurring ankle injuries, and McConkey has not had any lingering effects of the back injury from college. Overall, McConkey only has a few mild risk factors for injury in 2025 and is low risk.
View Ladd McConkey’s full injury profile here.
Garrett Wilson: ADP WR14/OV30
Age: 24 Position: WR Height: 6’0 Weight: 183 Exp: 3
Injury Risk Rating
Wilson has not missed a game since entering the NFL and has hardly even dealt with any minor injuries. One mild ankle sprain in training camp, a mild rib injury, and a mild elbow bruise won’t be factors that increase risk for injury in 2025. Anything can happen, but Wilson is as safe as they come at wide receiver from an injury standpoint.
View Garret Wilson’s full injury profile here.
Jaxon Smith-Njibga: ADP WR15/OV33
Age: 23 Position: WR Height: 6’0 Weight: 197 Exp: 2
Injury Risk Rating
Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked the part in 2024 and should take over as the WR1 in Seattle following the departure of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. At 23 years old, JSN’s body should heal efficiently and help protect him against injury, but he does have one significant/controversial hamstring injury to talk about. Depending on who you listen to, JSN either dealt with a significant hamstring injury with setbacks in 2022, or he shut himself down for the season to get ready for the NFL. Either way, this hamstring injury has not shown its ugly face in his NFL career. It still needs to be remembered, but not enough to avoid drafting him this season.
View Jaxon Smith-Njiba’s full injury profile here.
Marvin Harrison Jr.: ADP WR19/OV38
Age: 22 Position: WR Height: 6’3 Weight: 209 Exp: 1
Injury Risk Rating
Harrison has never missed a game between college and the NFL, but has dealt with a few injuries. The two ankle sprains are not a big concern since they were not severe enough to force him to miss any time. Mild ankle sprains do not cause enough tissue damage to impact ankle stability and proprioception (the body’s awareness of where it is in space). The two concussions will increase his risk for future concussions, and are the reason he is considered “low risk” versus “very low risk”. Harrison is primed for a great season.
View Marvin Harrison Jr’s full injury profile here.
DJ Moore: ADP WR21/OV45
Age: 28 Position: WR Height: 6’0 Weight: 213 Exp: 7
Injury Risk Rating
Moore has been remarkably healthy throughout his NFL career, missing only one game in 2019 and one game in 2020. Moore is in his prime at 28 years old, and age will not be working against him just yet. With no notable injuries that were significant enough to be a risk factor for future injury, and only 28 years old, DJ Moore comes into 2025 as a low risk for injury.
View DJ Moore’s full injury profile here.
DK Metcalf: ADP WR22/OV48
Age: 27 Position: WR Height: 6’4 Weight: 229 Exp: 6
Injury Risk Rating
Normally, a history of a foot fracture will put a player at increased risk for future lower-body soft tissue injuries due to mechanical compensations following the injury. Fortunately for Metcalf, he was only a teenager when he fractured his foot, which makes the healing and regaining proper mechanics process much easier. Metcalf has remained healthy through much of his NFL career, with his only missed games coming in 2023 and 2024. An MCL injury stole two games from Metcalf last season. Fortunately, recurrence rates for MCL injuries are fairly low (8-10%), with most occurring within 2-4 weeks of return to play.
We know Metcalf is a massive human (6’4, 229lbs) and this size helps absorb contact, protecting against injury. All this in mind, Metcalf borders on low-medium risk for injury in 2025, meaning fantasy managers should not view his injury risk as a deterrent to drafting Metcalf.
View DK Metcalf’s full injury profile here.
Xavier Worthy: ADP WR27/OV55
Age: 22 Position: WR Height: 5’11 Weight: 165 Exp: 1
Injury Risk Rating
Worthy flashed his elite speed and explosiveness at times last season and looks primed to build on a solid rookie campaign. Fantasy managers may be concerned about his slender frame at just 165 pounds, but can rest easy knowing this is his only present concern from an injury standpoint. Worthy has been able to stay healthy throughout college and his first season in the NFL, with only minor hamstring, ankle, and finger injuries, none of which forced him to miss time. He is only 22 years old and should be considered “low risk” for injury this season.