Aspects described herein relate to selecting a rank for wireless communications using multiple transmit antenna layers. A first effective throughput achievable using a first rank and based at least in part on a first block error rate (BLER) associated with the first rank can be estimated along with a second effective throughput achievable using a second rank and based at least in part on a second BLER associated with the second rank. The first rank or second rank is selected to be used for transmitting communications over multiple transmit antenna layers based at least in part on comparing the first effective throughput to the second effective throughput, and the selection can be indicated to a transmitting entity from which the communications over the multiple transmit antenna layers are received.