2024 Rookie Profile: Malachi Corley
Hey there, fellow dynasty enthusiasts! Welcome to the latest edition of Fantasy In Frames’ Rookie Profile series. We aim to help you prepare for the upcoming season and dominate your dynasty leagues, starting with your rookie drafts.
Today, in the first of our 2024 Rookie Profiles, we’ll be talking about wide receiver Malachi Corley!
Player Overview
Malachi Corley could have come out last season and still been a day 2 draft pick. He’s unpolished, but with the ball in his hands, he is electric. The YAC-King for a reason; Malachi is looking to bolster the WR room in the Big Apple with traits no one else in that room has. Quite simply, Malachi Corley is the DAWG that is in the DAWG that is in him.
Rookie Summary
Let’s talk about Corley’s game from his 2023 tape. At Western Kentucky, he mainly rocked the slot and motion roles but didn’t master the full range of NFL routes. He’s solidly built but a bit stiff in his route running, though he’s got some speed to burn. There’s untapped potential here, especially in his versatility for screens and sweeps, but he needs to refine his route skills. He’s not afraid to get physical after the catch, but questions linger about his contested catches. Still, over his four-year stint, he’s been a consistent force, with impressive stats. In 2023, he was mostly a slot guy, pulling in over 60 catches for nearly 800 yards and seven TDs, with a ton of standout moments on his highlight tape.
Fantasy Value
Being drafted to the New York Jets is a gift and a curse for fantasy managers. On the one hand, he gets attached to the future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is coming off a devastating Achilles injury at 40 years old, and on the other, he gets injected into a team that struggled to do anything offensively. Last season, the Jets ranked 29th in points per game, 31st in yards per game, 31st in yards per play, 32nd in RedZone Scoring Percentage, and 32nd in touchdowns per game. We need Aaron Rodgers to save Nathaniel Hackett and, ultimately, the New York Jets passing attack, a passing attack that was 4th in passing plays per game, FOURTH!
Malachi’s success will depend on Aaron Rodgers’s abilities and his position as a starting quarterback. From early interviews, it seems like the coaching staff is going to manufacture touches for Corley and utilize his YAC ability. If this is the case, then it’s all wheels up for the Western Kentucky wide receiver.