2015 NFL Draft: WR Prospects with Instant-Impact Ability

Rookie wide receivers have set the NFL on fire this season, and they've done so in a variety of roles within their offenses. 

Some, like Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin, have primarily won with pure size, while others, like Odell Beckham Jr., are winning with a combination of speed and elite route running. 

The 2015 NFL draft may not produce the depth at the receiver position that came from the 2014 class, but a number of receivers have the tools to make an immediate impact in the NFL. 

The following slideshow highlights five draft-eligible receiver prospects who could play a starring role in an NFL offense and become legitimate weapons on your fantasy team in 2015.

Amari Cooper, Alabama

Dave Martin/Associated Press

Amari Cooper doesn't have elite size or blazing speed, but he is the most technically sound receiver in the college game. 

His quick footwork at the line of scrimmage and coming out of his breaks gives him the ability to create separation even when he lacks the pure speed to run away from coverage. 

This aspect of Cooper's game makes him remarkably similar to New York Giants standout rookie Odell Beckham Jr., who is already playing at a high level in the NFL despite similar physical limitations. 

Cooper also made a seamless transition from AJ McCarron to Blake Sims this season and continues to put up impressive numbers. For a receiver who relies heavily on the timing aspect of his game, it's impressive to see him develop rapport with a new starting quarterback so easily.

Kevin White, West Virginia

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Some receivers don't need to separate to make plays, and Kevin White definitely falls into that category. 

While he isn't as physical a player as Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Mike Evans, he plays with the same tenacity and desire to attack the football.

At 6'3", White has the size to win many 50-50 situations with ease, but his ability to track the ball in the air and position himself appropriately is an underrated trait which further enhances his ability to make contested catches at an impressive rate. 

The combination of White's size and fundamentals makes him a strong candidate to win a starting job as a rookie in 2015.

Jaelen Strong, Arizona State

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Jaelen Strong falls into the same category as Kevin White, as receivers with the ability to win battles due to their size. 

Strong and White have virtually the same measurables and similar athletic ability, giving both receivers the ability to compete for 50-50 balls and find immediate success in the NFL in that area. 

Strong's timing, both in terms of his route running and ability to attack the ball, is a notch below White's, but as we have seen with Kelvin Benjamin this year, fundamentals aren't necessarily needed to make an impact. Obviously Strong will need to refine his skills in these areas to reach his full potential, but if he lands in the right system he'll be able to make a difference in certain matchups. 

DeVante Parker, Louisville

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

DeVante Parker is a fascinating prospect because we don't often see players with his size (6'3", 208 lbs) and pure speed. 

Speaking strictly in terms of physical tools—mainly his height and speed—Parker compares extremely well to Randy Moss. But we've seen players with similar tools (former Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings receiver Michael Jenkins, for example) enter the league with high expectations but fail to even approach Moss' success. 

Earlier this month Bleacher Report's Dan Hope wrote an excellent piece analyzing Parker's game. While Parker may not be able to match a young Moss step for step in a race, the profile of his talents is remarkably similar. 

While Parker does need to refine his route running, especially on the intermediate routes, his physical tools give him the ability to create mismatches the minute he steps on an NFL field.

Phillip Dorsett, Miami (Fla.)

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

Phillip Dorsett is the one receiver on this list with below-average size (he's listed at 5'10"), but he is a strong candidate to set the pace in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. 

While Dorsett's speed is certainly nice, it's hardly rare. Multiple receivers enter the league every year with 4.4 40-yard dash times or better. But Dorsett is able to combine that speed with elite quickness in his breaks, which reminds me of New Orleans Saints rookie Brandin Cooks.

Dorsett's route running doesn't quite live up to the high standard set by Cooks, but he does show some similar traits. Like Cooks, Dorsett is developing an ability to vary his acceleration off the line of scrimmage and out of his breaks, making it extremely difficult for defensive backs to keep pace when locked in man coverage. 

He may be the one receiver on this list who doesn't receive consensus first-round grades, but Dorsett definitely has the skill set to play a meaningful role in an offense as a rookie in 2015.