Today, we continue our 2022 Prospect Profile series where we break down each prospect’s outlook for their potential rookie campaign in the NFL by assessing their individual strengths and weaknesses, reviewing potential landing spots, and giving our assessment of their potential fantasy relevance in the coming season.
The next player to continue our 2022 Prospect Profile series is Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver, Penn State University.
Projected Draft Spot
Late first round
Potential Suitors
Patriots, Packers, Cardinals, Chiefs, Lions
Strengths
Jahan Dotson is an interesting NFL rookie prospect, but above all else, he is a very good one. The four-star recruit had very good production at Penn State with a mediocre quarterback, and much of the offense ran through him. Dotson has very good speed (4.43 40-yard dash time) and is agile, so he gets open and has good YAC ability. Dotson is a good route runner who can get open at all three levels of the field. What stands out most, though, are his hands – often described as sticky and strong, and some say the best in this WR class. . Dotson has a very good catch radius and has good physicality for his size (5’11” 178 lbs.). All of these traits (as well as a 40″ vertical jump) help him with contested catches. Dotson is not quite a ‘tweener, but he is on the low end of the size you want in an NFL WR – still, he is not a Calvin Austin or Wan’dale Robinson.
Weaknesses
It is hard to point out a significant weakness for Dotson. He is one of those “does everything well, but nothing elite” players, though some find the lack of an elite trait itself a weakness. While his route-running is good, there are tweaks he can make to improve, which will help against bigger, faster, stronger defensive backs in the NFL. While his size is not a major drawback, it is possible that there will be times it is a hindrance, especially if he does not improve his play strength. The size and strength concerns also make Dotson easy to tackle. Athleticism can better workaround that in college than in the NFL. And as is the case with many college receivers – especially ones with the limitations he has – Dotson will have to improve his run blocking, which would keep him on the field more.
Player Comparisons
Dotson has drawn comparisons to Brandin Cooks, a receiver with similar size and a fellow “jack of all trades, master of none” type. The two also shared some traits as college prospects, though Cooks was faster (4.33 40-time). Because of Dotson’s size and “big play waiting to happen” nature, he has also been compared to DeSean Jackson and T.Y. Hilton. On the lower end of player comparisons, Nelson Agholor comes up, while Phillip “Porkman”Simmons of the Dynasty Rewind team named Diontae Johnson as a player comp for Dotson on the higher end. Player Profiler’s comp for Dotson is Tyler Lockett.
Best Case Drafted By: Green Bay Packers
No surprise here. When considering the WR-needy teams I named above, Green Bay is probably the best landing spot for any early rounds WR. With the departure of Davante Adams, and the only subsequent WR addition being Sammy Watkins, the Packers provide Dotson with a direct path to volume to go along with an overall good offense and a very good quarterback. Similar to the Packers, the Chiefs traded their top WR (Tyreek Hill) and brought in only Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Being attached to Patrick Mahomes with a mediocre run game and an aging Travis Kelce would also provide a direct path to volume.
Worst Case Drafted By: Detroit Lions
While I am not a fan of Mac Jones, the prospect of Dotson playing with Jared Goff, and then likely a second-year QB taken in this downdraft class (say, Matt Corral at 32nd overall), while competing with D’Andre Swift, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and TJ Hockenson for targets, makes the Lions the worst landing spot among the suitors referenced above.
Fantasy Relevant Next Season?
The way WRs are stepping into the NFL and succeeding earlier than in the past, it is very possible for a few taken early this year to be fantasy relevant in their rookie year. Dotson could very well be one. With his hands and athleticism, he will get enough looks to provide a safer floor than some other 2022 WR prospects. He can make big plays, and maybe make them fairly often. However, he needs to be used correctly. Despite playing over 80% of his college snaps on the outside, Dotson will probably do better in the slot, but not just for getting open in the middle and working underneath – for beating defenses deep, too. Another factor that will increase the chances of fantasy relevance for Dotson is if he fixes the small issues with his route running and improves his strength. Both will get him open more in the NFL, and that leads to touches. Should Dotson’s landing spot be unfavorable, he is less likely to give you reliable fantasy production in his first season, but might have a few spike weeks or be a person of interest on waivers.