The Fantasy Range of Outcomes for Incoming Rookies
Here’s a full breakdown of the incoming fantasy rookies (that we care about) & a range of possible outcomes.
(Listed by Dynasty ADP according to FantasyPros)
QB’s
Joe Burrow – Fresh off a historic Heisman-winning season, Burrow comes into the NFL as the most-hyped QB since Andrew Luck. He’s going to immediately slot in as a starter no matter where he lands. That might make him the only QB in this class who can say so. He lacks elite physical tools, but really, with the kind of quarterback he is, his best tool is going to be the one between his ears. Even though Burrow wasn’t afraid to scramble in college (115+ rushing attempts each of the last two seasons), his yards per-carry (3.1 & 3.2) suggests he isn’t going to do much as a runner at the next level other than move around in & out of the pocket. That’ll put a cap on his fantasy upside. All of the top-6 fantasy QB’s in the game are at least somewhat decent scramblers – Patrick Mahomes being the worst of the bunch.
Pure pocket passers generally take some time to adjust to the speed of the NFL. The list of immobile QB’s who have come into the NFL & immediately made significant fantasy contributions is a short one – meaning Burrow’s unlikely to be more than a mid-level QB2 as a rookie. At best, he’ll be a matchup-based starter. He’s a lot more attractive in dynasty where he’s the QB in this year’s class most poised to end up having a long career.
Ceiling – Aaron Rodgers
Floor – Jared Goff
Tua Tagovailoa – Tua is a very polarizing prospect who offers a lot more dual-threat upside than Burrow, but also comes with a lot more question marks, all health-related. Nobody knows if Tua’s going to see the field in 2020 or whether he’ll be able to hold up physically in the NFL long-term. But if he is able to, the sky is the limit. He’s been consistently compared to Russell Wilson & even Steve Young. Trent Dilfer has even gone as far as to compare him to Dan Marino. His redraft value for this year is murky, but if he lands somewhere with a clear path to playing time (Miami?) & is medically cleared to play before the start of the regular season, he’s going to start shooting up fantasy draft boards.
Ceiling – Russell Wilson
Floor – Marcus Mariota
Justin Herbert – Justin Herbert is just as polarizing as Tua, if not more so. He doesn’t come with the same health-related concerns, but he does come with a lot more on-the-field inconsistencies. There are some who have Herbert ranked ahead of Tua as a prospect & then there are some who don’t believe he’s even worth a first-round pick. He’s got prototypical size (6’6”/236) & showed a surprising amount of athleticism at the combine (4.68 40/35.5” vertical/4.46 shuttle). All of the physical tools are there. Is he the next “raw” QB who’s going to end up being overdrafted or will a coaching staff be able to bring the best out of him? Only time will tell…
Ceiling – Josh Allen
Floor – Brock Osweiler
Jordan Love – Jordan Love is another polarizing prospect at QB… sensing a theme here? Supporters will point to his 2018 season (64.0% completion/32-6 TD-INT ratio) while detractors will question why his statistics fell off a cliff last year (61.9% completion/20-17 TD-INT ratio). Love is fairly athletic (4.74 40) & his pure arm talent has been compared to Patrick Mahomes. The question becomes whether or not his decision-making is going to be solid enough for him to succeed at the next level.
Ceiling – Carson Wentz
Floor – Jameis Winston
Jalen Hurts – Hurts has perhaps the highest fantasy upside of any QB in this class. His raw speed (4.59 40) puts his speed on par with some of the best scramblers the NFL has seen, including Josh Allen (4.75), Deshaun Watson (4.66), Cam Newton (4.59), Russell Wilson (4.55), & Colin Kaepernick (4.53). All of the current top-6 fantasy QB’s (Lamar, Mahomes, Russ, Deshaun, Kyler, & Dak) are at least decent scramblers, which means Hurts – who is a more-than-decent scrambler, having rushed for 800+ yards three times & double-digit rushing TD’s twice, including 20 this past season at Oklahoma – has got the best chance of anyone in this class to emerge as a true difference-maker in fantasy.
Ceiling – Cam Newton
Floor – Tim Tebow
Jacob Eason – “Arm” & “Talent” are the two words you’re going to hear most associated with Eason. He’s 6’6”/231 & can get the ball anywhere on the field. Having started at Georgia & then being forced to transfer to Washington, he’s shown the ability to get through adversity. He might not be pro-ready, but teams who are looking for a piece of clay that they can mold are going to be especially high on what Eason brings to the table.
Ceiling – Ben Roethlisberger
Floor – Zach Mettenberger
Jacob Fromm – Fromm is essentially the polar opposite of Eason. While he’s not technically small (6’2”/217), he lacks prototypical size & nobody is raving about his arm talent. On the other end of the spectrum, he’s probably more pro-ready due to having run a pro-style system at Georgia. He’s the kind of quarterback that earns the dreaded “game manager” label. He makes sense in a system that is going to ask him to get the ball out quickly & into his playmakers’ hands (…New England?)
Ceiling – Kirk Cousins
Floor – Trevor Siemien
RB’s
Jonathan Taylor – Taylor comes into the NFL following 3 straight 2,000-yard seasons at Wisconsin & his stock has been steadily rising since posting elite speed & agility scores at the combine (4.39 40/4.24 shuttle – numbers as good as or better than both Ezekiel Elliot & Saquon Barkley). At his ceiling – he’s a potential rushing champion. At his floor – he’s a potential committee back who contributes nothing in the passing game. He lacks the raw receiving skills that Elliot possesses, but at 5’10”/226 pounds – with elite athletic traits – he’s built for a substantial rushing workload. Don’t be surprised if a team gives him 300+ carries immediately to begin his career.
Ceiling: Nick Chubb
Floor: Latavius Murray
D’Andre Swift – Swift is the latest Georgia runningback to come into the pros with significant hype, following in the footsteps of Todd Gurley, Sony Michel, & Nick Chubb. Based on the success of the other three (the jury’s still out on Michel), we should expect Swift to have a relatively high floor. Swift doesn’t possess the power of the other three, but he’s possibly the most complete back of the bunch, as he profiles as a true 3-down back who will contribute in the passing game. He’s shiftier than he is fast, but after averaging over 6.0 yards per-carry in all three seasons at Georgia & having run a 4.48 40-yard dash, we can expect him to continue to rip off chunk gains at the next level. Once you factor in his receiving potential, his fantasy upside is as high as – if not higher than – Jonathan Taylor’s. But he’s also a lot more likely to fall into a committee at some point due to his smaller stature. His landing spot will go a long way in determining his redraft value.
Ceiling: Alvin Kamara
Floor: Duke Johnson
J.K. Dobbins – Dobbins has a very similar profile to Swift. He’s short, thick, & quick, and he’s coming off a highly productive career at a highly-competitive college. He might not have the long-speed that Swift has, but he’s a more powerful back who’s willing to lower his shoulder & run through defenders. He should slot in immediately as a starter for whoever drafts him. At worst, he’s should be option 1B in a committee. His range of outcomes as a rookie is anywhere between a high-end RB2/low-end RB1 to a matchup-based flex, depending on where he lands.
Ceiling – DeAngelo Williams
Floor – Derrius Guice
Cam Akers – Akers is essentially a carbon copy of D’Andre Swift, with perhaps a bit more power & strength:
Swift (5’8”/212/4.48 40/35.5” vertical/121” broad jump)
Akers (5’10”/217/4.47 40/35.5” vertical/122” broad jump)
Swift is getting more love based on his 2019 production (1,218 yards & 6.2 YPC to Akers 1,144 & 5.0 YPC) but anyone who watched Florida State’s games will be sure to tell you just how bad their offensive line was. Don’t believe us (or PFF’s rankings which had FSU’s o-line ranked 129th out of 130) ?? Just type “Cam Akers o-line” into Twitter & find out for yourself…
Ceiling – Dalvin Cook
Floor – Duke Johnson
Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Edwards-Helaire would likely be getting a lot more love if he wasn’t a 5’8” former walk-on. He was sparsely used early on at LSU but was given a chance as the workhorse back this past year & responded with 1,414 rushing yards, 6.6 YPC, 16 rushing TD’s, to go along with 55 receptions for another 453 yards. Not bad. He’s no home-run hitter (4.60 40), but when you flip on the tape, you see an absolute bowling ball of a man with a very low center of gravity. Not only is he powerful in the run game, but he’s quick enough to be a legit factor in the receiving game too. Oh, and don’t forget, he’s got a killer spin move (just flip on the tape against Alabama). His versatility should really excite fantasy owners, as there’s no reason for him to ever come off the field, whether in the red-zone or third down. CEH can do it all.
Ceiling – Maurice Jones-Drew
Floor – Royce Freeman
Zack Moss – People tend to really either love or hate Moss. Supporters will point to his tackle-breaking ability & elusiveness (third-highest single-season broken tackle rate of any runningback charted by PFF) as evidence that his skills translate to the next level, while detractors will point to his low-level of competition and below-average speed (4.65 40) as evidence that he won’t make the cut against tougher NFL competition.
Ceiling – Kareem Hunt
Floor – Benny Snell
A.J. Dillon – Dillon is an absolute behemoth of a man (6’0”/247) who shocked a lot of people with his explosive combine results (4.53 40, 23 bench reps, 41” vertical, 131” broad jump). He doesn’t always play to his size & he’s not going to play on 3rd down at the next level, but he’s the best bet of the group (behind Jonathan Taylor) to emerge as a Derrick Henry-type early-down hammer.
Ceiling – Jerome Bettis
Floor – Ron Dayne
Antonio Gibson – Antonio Gibson is the latest Memphis scat back to come into the NFL with considerable hype, following in the footsteps of Tony Pollard & Darrell Henderson. He gained a lot of attention after the combine but is still a very difficult player to project. He has all of 33 carries & 44 receptions on his college resume. It’s risky projecting anyone with 77 career college touches to become an impact RB in the NFL – especially one who spent the majority of their snaps as a slot WR – but with his physical skillset (6’0”/228/4.39 40/16 bench reps/35” vertical) & incredible efficiency (19.0 yards per-catch/11.2 yards per-carry) on his limited amount of touches, the sky is the limit.
Ceiling – David Johnson
Floor – Cordarelle Patterson
Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Vaughn looked really good in 2018 (157/1244/12) but took a step back in 2019 (198/1028/9). He can do a little bit of everything, but the problem is that when you project him as a pro, there’s just not really any one thing about him that stands out. He’s not huge (5’10”/214) or particularly powerful. He put up a solid 40-time (4.51) but his vertical (32”) & broad jump (117”) leave reasons to question his overall explosiveness. He projects as a back-up at the next level who could slot-in in a pinch.
Ceiling – Philip Lindsay
Floor – Paul Perkins
Eno Benjamin – Eno’s quicker (4.25 shuttle) than he is fast (4.57 40). He’s undersized but runs with a lot of heart, fighting through tackles & making defenders miss. He’s got a lot of moves as a runner, but sometimes he can get a little too fancy & that might keep him off the field early as a pro. Despite his lack of long speed, he can definitely add an explosive element to whichever offense he joins.
Ceiling – Chase Edmonds
Floor – Boston Scott
Anthony McFarland – Anthony “No relation to Booger” McFarland reminds a lot of people of Darrell Henderson coming out of the draft last year. His college statistics are inconsistent but the selling point for him is that he showed up in a few big games (like against Ohio State in 2018, when he ran 21 times for 298 yards & 2 TD’s). He’s undersized (5’8”/208) but has that extra gear (4.44 40). He won’t be able to withstand a workhorse role in the NFL, but he can be an effective part of someone’s rotation.
Ceiling – Ahmad Bradshaw
Floor – Jacquizz Rodgers
Darrynton Evans – Evans is another small runner (5’10”/203) with considerable burst. Coming from a small school (Appalachian State), he’s got a lot to prove. He had an excellent combine (4.41 40/20 bench reps/37” vertical), which pretty much cements him being drafted. He does go down on first contact often & doesn’t have a whole lot of power to his game, but with his college success & combine performance, he showed that he’s deserving of the chance to provide the speed element in a committee situation somewhere.
Ceiling – Matt Breida
Floor – Daniel Lasco
WR’s
CeeDee Lamb – This Lamb/Jeudy debate reminds us a lot of the Julio/A.J. Green debate of 2011. If someone’s got to be “Julio” here, we’re betting on the other one we know on a first-name basis. “CeeDee” is a true Alpha who can do everything. He’s got prototypical size (6’2”/200), sticky hands, & he’s lightning-quick. He separates, he can high-point jump-balls, & he’s a beast after the catch. He’s going to be drafted as a fantasy starter no matter where he lands, even as a rookie. His landing spot will only dictate whether he lands closer to a low-end WR2 or near-WR1.
Ceiling – CeeDee Lamb
Floor – Sammy Watkins
Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy is another Alpha at the position who can do just about anything you ask. He can play at all three levels, he’s not afraid to get dirty after the catch, & he almost always makes the first guy miss. He’s not quite the same jump-ball threat that Lamb is, but he’s been lauded as one of the best route-runners in recent memory coming out of college. He’s got WR1 potential, but he’s going to be drafted more as back-end WR2 as a rookie, WR3 at worst, depending on where he lands.
Ceiling – Odell Beckham
Floor – Robert Woods
Henry Ruggs – Ruggs brings the X-Factor that every team is looking for – pure unadulterated SPEED. We’ve seen players built on speed “bust” before (it’s hard not to mention Darrius Heyward-Bey when having this conversation) but it’s also hard to look at Tyreek Hill in KC & not think that Ruggs could also potentially be that kind of game-changer. Wherever he lands, you’re probably going to see Ruggs run a lot of deep-routes throughout his career simply as a decoy to open up the offense (a la Desean Jackson) which means he’s likely to be a boom-or-bust fantasy player who ends up making a bigger NFL impact. Being paired (or not paired) with a quarterback who can throw the deep ball is going to go a long way in determining his fantasy status. As a rookie, he’s going to be more of a mid-WR3 drafted with low-end WR2 upside.
Ceiling – Tyreek Hill
Floor – John Ross
Justin Jefferson – Jefferson’s the 4th wideout off the board according to dynasty ADP, but there’s not much separating him from the guys ahead of him. He’s another guy who checks all of the boxes & can do essentially anything you ask him to do. He had a fantastic year this past year (111/1540/18) but a lot of people attributed it to playing alongside Joe Burrow & didn’t think he’d particularly stand out at the combine. Boy, were they wrong, especially about that second part. Jefferson continued to put on a show at the combine just like he had all season long, recording a 4.43 40, 37.5” vertical, & 126” broad jump – all numbers better than Jerry Jeudy. He’s a lock to go in the first round of the NFL Draft & has a real chance to immediately step in as a viable fantasy starter, depending on where he lands.
Ceiling – Stefon Diggs
Floor – Sterling Shepard
Jalen Reagor – Reagor had a pretty impressive combine for someone who was expected to run even faster. If a 4.47 40-yard dash, 17 bench reps, 42” vertical, 138” broad jump(!!), & 4.46 20-yard shuttle constitute a “disappointing” combine, then I’d hate to catch Reagor on a good day. He was hampered by poor quarterback play at TCU, but he’s got as much pure athletic ability as anyone in this class (minus maybe Henry Ruggs). He’s going to add an explosive element to whichever offense he joins & he could end up receiving touches in all three aspects of the game (run, pass, & return).
Ceiling – Tyreek Hill
Floor – Curtis Samuel
Tee Higgins – Higgins doesn’t possess the raw athleticism or versatility of some of the other WR’s in this class. He chose to forgo competing at the combine & his pro-day numbers (mid 4.5 40/31” vertical) left a bit to be desired. What defines Higgins’ game is his size & boy does he know how to use it. At 6’4”/216 pounds, he towers above most defensive backs. If you throw it up, Higgins will go up and get it.
Ceiling – DeAndre Hopkins
Floor – Mike Williams
Denzel Mims – Mims has gone from an after-thought in this year’s class to a projected first-round pick. He had a decent career at Baylor (two 1,000-yard seasons & 8+ TD’s in three straight seasons), but the reason so many teams are interested in him is the raw athletic numbers he posted at the combine (4.38 40/16 bench reps/38.5” vertical/131” broad jump). His quickness (4.43 shuttle) leaves a bit to be desired, which means he’s probably going to have to rely on being a jump-ball artist at the next level. There’s definitely some bust potential here, but Mims carries an extremely high ceiling if he’s able to capitalize on his raw athletic skillset.
Ceiling – Dez Bryant
Floor – Kevin White
Laviska Shenault Jr. – “Viska” – like Jalen Reagor – had a huge 2018 season only to take a statistical step backwards in 2019 (86/1011/6 – 56/764/4). He’s an absolute tank (6’1”/227) who can also play in all three facets of the game (run, pass, return). He’s had an extensive injury history & we’ve seen “position-less” players struggle to make the transition to the NFL before, which means there’s a significant risk factor here. But, if Shenault can stay healthy, he’s got the physical tools to be an explosive chess-piece for whichever offense adds him to their squad.
Ceiling – Juju Smith-Schuster
Floor – Cordarelle Patterson
Michael Pittman Jr. – Michael Pittman Jr. would probably be a first-round pick if he were in just about any other draft class. He checks all of the boxes. NFL bloodline? Check. His father played 11 years in the NFL. Sure hands? Check. He’s dropped only five passes on 176 catchable targets in his career. He can high-point the ball as good as anyone in this class & he’s a load (6’4”/223) after the catch who’s always fighting for extra yardage. Not to mention he showed up at the combine & posted surprising scores in just about every drill. His 40-yard dash (4.53) was nearly as fast as CeeDee Lamb’s (4.50) & his 20-yard shuttle time (4.14) was the second-fastest time among all WR’s & one of just two WR’s under 4.20. His combine measurables are nearly identical to another WR named Mike – the one who plays in Tampa Bay.
Ceiling – Mike Evans
Floor – Corey Davis
Chase Claypool – Right now, Chase Claypool is a WR until he isn’t. His stock has skyrocketed since he destroyed the combine, but surprisingly, he’s still projected to land outside of the first-round. At 6’4”/238 with 4.42 speed & a 40.5” vertical, Claypool naturally draws comparisons to Calvin Johnson (6’5”/237/4.35 40). Is Chase the next Calvin? That would almost certifiably be a hard “NO,” but the sky really is the limit for him athletically, so we shouldn’t put a cap on his upside. He could be just another size/speed freak who doesn’t pan out, or he could be this year’s D.K. Metcalf – a rare athlete who is overlooked due to a lack of college production & ends up being a steal in Round 2.
Ceiling – D.K. Metcalf
Floor – Jonathan Baldwin
Brandon Aiyuk – Aiyuk, like Michael Pittman, would probably be a first-round lock if he were in any other draft class. Even in a class as deep as this one, he’s unlikely to slip past the top-50 picks. A JUCO transfer who really took off for ASU this past year after the departure of N’Keal Harry, Aiyuk fits the mold of a true No. 1 WR in today’s game. He’s big (6’0”/205), fast (4.50 40), can win jump-ball contests (40” vertical), & is a terror after the catch (10.5 yards AFTER the catch), not to mention, he’s a game-changer in the return game (31.9 yards per kickoff return & 16.1 yards on punt returns). Dude is a YAC BEAST.
Ceiling – Chris Godwin
Floor – Justin Blackmon
Bryan Edwards – Edwards might be “just” a jump-baller, but man can this dude jump-ball. He’s got a penchant for the “wow” play & his highlight tape is as fun to watch as anyone’s. Flip on the film & you’ll see a guy who consistently pulls down one-handers & jump-balls in double coverage. He doesn’t look particularly fast or quick & his lack of combine participation did nothing to quell those worries, but Edwards is a man’s man & is as strong of a WR as they come.
Ceiling – Dez Bryant
Floor – Michael Floyd
K.J. Hamler – Hamler is the ideal slot receiver. He’s drawn a lot of comparisons to Mecole Hardman – small (5’9”/178), but lighting fast & can create a ton of separation. Unfortunately, Hamler didn’t run at the combine & his pro day was canceled due to the coronavirus, but those close to Hamler have used GPS tracking technology to give us an idea of his true speed. His fastest play in the past two years at Penn State was tracked at 21.76 MPH, which would have ranked tied for the eighth-fastest play in the NFL last year, according to Next Gen Stats. Don’t sleep on this guy making an immediate fantasy impact if he lands in the right situation.
Ceiling – Tyreek Hill
Floor – Tavon Austin
Donovan Peoples-Jones – DPJ did a whole lot of nothing in college. He was highly recruited, but his best statistical season at Michigan was his sophomore year, where he finished with a 47/612/8 line. He came out for the draft as a junior, when he finished with just a 34/438/6 line. Supporters will tell you that his lack of production had a lot to do with poor quarterback play & will point to his ELITE combine scores (4.48 40/44.5” vertical!/139” broad jump!!) as evidence that his production in the NFL could be a lot better than in college.
Ceiling – Kenny Golladay
Floor – Josh Doctson
Tyler Johnson – Johnson is caught between elite college production & a lack of raw physical skills. He chose not to compete at the combine in hopes that teams would rely strictly on his tape when assessing him, which was probably a good idea. He’s a “bully” who makes his money in contested-catch situations & it’s clear when you watch the film that he wants the ball as bad as any WR out there & he’s willing to fight for it. He’s never going to be a sexy option, but he should make for a solid role-player who has a chance to have a long NFL career.
Ceiling – Anquan Boldin
Floor – Jason Avant
Antonio Gandy-Golden – Gandy-Golden is a big-bodied small-school receiver who feasted on lesser competition (71/1037/10 & 79/1396/10 in his two seasons at Liberty). The problem is that his speed numbers at the combine left A LOT to be desired (4.60 40/4.55 shuttle). As a big-man without any speed or quickness, he’s not going to be much more than a red-zone threat at the next level & carries a high “bust” potential.
Ceiling – Dorial Green-Beckham
Floor – Dorial Green-Beckham
Devin Duvernay – Duvernay profiles similarly to K.J. Hamler as a small but lightning fast (4.39 40/4.20 shuttle) slot WR. The only real difference is that he’s a bit thicker than Hamler (5’10”/200) & should be used more in the running game on handoffs & reverses. His size is going to prevent him from playing a role on the outside or in the red-zone, but he could easily become one of the game’s better slot receivers in time.
Ceiling – Golden Tate
Floor – Tavon Austin
Lynn Bowden – Bowden was a college-receiver-turned-quarterback who’s looking to shift back to receiver as a pro, which inherently makes him a quite polarizing prospect. He’s going to draw a lot of comparisons to Randall Cobb, who was also used all over the field during his time at Kentucky. Still, most college quarterbacks aren’t able to successfully make that shift to receiver as a pro, but supporters will point to Bowden having started as a WR at Kentucky & only having been shifted to QB out of necessity as justification that he’ll be different. Bowden could have helped himself by posting decent speed scores, but he chose not to run at the combine, and that won’t do him any favors. His greatest asset is his versatility & whoever drafts him is probably planning to add another dimension to their offense by utilizing his unique skillset with a wildcat-type package.
Ceiling – Antwaan Randle-El
Floor – Greg Ward
Van Jefferson – Not a whole lot stands out about Jefferson other than the fact that his father (Shawn Jefferson) is a long-time NFL receivers’ coach. Van isn’t particularly fast & his production in college was modest, but he’s been lauded for his understanding of the game & has a solid pair of mitts. He’s got a high-floor & is someone who could step in & contribute immediately. There’s just not a whole lot of upside here.
Ceiling – Steve Johnson
Floor – Zay Jones
John Hightower – At 6’1”/189 with a 4.43 40, 38.5” vertical, & 4.21 shuttle, Hightower’s got all of the measurables needed to make an impact at the next level. His game is far from complete, but he could add a much-needed speed element to a team that needs it.
Ceiling – John Brown
Floor – Devin Smith
K.J. Hill – K.J. Hill reminds us a lot of another undersized & “slow” slot WR – Jarvis Landry. Hill received a lot of praise at the Senior Bowl as one of the most “pro-ready” receivers in this class. Like Landry (4.77), Hill’s 40 time (4.60) leaves a lot to be desired, but he’s got sticky hands, makes the acrobatic look routine, is a willing blocker, and is an absolute DOG after the catch. This guy is tough as nails & should stick in the NFL for a long time.
Ceiling – Jarvis Landry
Floor – Mo Sanu
James Proche – Proche is a bit undersized (5’11/200) & scouts have noted that his route-running could use some refinement, but he has perhaps the best set of hands in this entire class – it’s very easy to fall in love with his game tape. He’s not going to wow you with speed, but he’s the type of receiver who will gain his quarterback’s trust quickly by competing for jump-balls, hauling in off-target throws, & rarely dropping passes.
Ceiling – Jarvis Landry
Floor – Stedman Bailey
Quez Watkins – Small-school receiver (Southern Miss) with speed to burn (4.35 40/4.36 shuttle). These kinds of prospects don’t hit often, but Watkins has the upside to become a vertical-threat for some team at the next level.
Ceiling – John Ross
Floor – Jacoby Ford
TE’s
Cole Kmet – Kmet is the headliner in an otherwise underwhelming TE class. He’s got decent speed (4.70 40), good ups (37” vertical) & a ton of size to play with (6’6”/262). He’s the kind of “Power-Forward” type TE who’s going to go for balls over the middle & play a major role in the red-zone.
Ceiling – Zach Ertz
Floor – Kyle Rudolph
Hunter Bryant – Bryant possesses the highest upside of any TE in this class as the top-ranked “Move-TE” who’ll be used more as a big-slot receiver in the NFL than an actual in-line blocker. His 40-time (4.74) doesn’t exactly wow you but he’s shown on tape that he has the ability to make plays in traffic & after the catch.
Ceiling – Delanie Walker
Floor – Mycole Pruitt
Brycen Hopkins – Hopkins actually posted a better 40 (4.66) & shuttle time (4.28) than Bryant. He’s taller & a bit thinner, so we should expect him to also be used more as a big-slot than as a blocker. He has the potential to make a lot of plays coming across the field & in the red-zone.
Ceiling – Dennis Pitta
Floor – Jace Amaro
Albert Okwuegbunam – Albert “O” – as most announcers are going to opt to call him – participated in just one combine drill. He ripped of a 4.49 40 & at that point, why not quit while you’re ahead? His game tape & technique is inconsistent but he’s got the raw speed to really make a difference as a deep-route runner at the next level.
Ceiling – Coby Fleener
Floor – Bucky Hodges
Adam Trautman – You’d have a tough time getting us excited about Adam Trautman. We smell the Adam Shaheen hype-train happening all over again. We swear, it’s got nothing to do with them both being named Adam (we think… but we can’t be 100% certain it isn’t influencing our subconscious biases). Both guys are humongous, come from small schools, & don’t have a whole lot of speed to their games. We project Trautman to be utilized in the same way as Shaheen – as an occasional red-zone option who’s mostly asked to block.
Ceiling – Adam Shaheen
Floor – Adam Shaheen
Harrison Bryant – Harrison Bryant – not to be confused with Hunter – is very similar to Brycen Hopkins. He’s skinny & isn’t going to be used a ton in the run-game, but that should be considered a bonus for his fantasy prospects. He’s definitely got the speed (4.73) & size (6’5”/243) to make a splash in fantasyland, so consider him the wild-card in this draft.
Ceiling – Greg Olsen
Floor – Zach Miller
Thaddeus Moss – It’s hard to get too excited about Thad Moss’s fantasy potential. There’s not a whole lot to love about his game other than the fact that he’s Randy Moss’s kid (Sorry Thad!). He’s a willing blocker & isn’t particularly fast, so even if he ends up being a solid pro, he probably isn’t going to make too big of a fantasy splash.
Ceiling – Eric Ebron
Floor – Dwayne Allen