NFL Fantasy Football: Rookie Wide Receivers to Consider

Like QBs, rookie WRs should be taken with caution. However, there are a few guys falling into good situations that warrant attention in the draft this year.

Dez Bryant, DAL

Putting a sleeper tag on a player that has been talked about as much as Bryant might be hard to rationalize, but this rookie has a chance to make a major fantasy impact if he gets off to a quick start in training camp.

Though he was not the first receiver selected, the 6-2, 225 pound Bryant is the most talented wideout from this recent draft class. His combo of size and ability after the catch has many talking perennial Pro Bowler (though he caused some head scratching with a rather ordinary 40-time at his Pro Day workout).

Lining up alongside Miles Austin and Jason Witten will take the initial pressure off Bryant, and he will see plenty of one-on-one coverage, something a receiver with his ability dreams about. Unless he stubs his toe early on or Roy Williams finally shows a pulse (ha ha ha HA! – ha ha ha HA!), Bryant will be given every opportunity to start right away.

Do not expect a large quantity of receptions in year one, but the big play will be in full affect and Bryant should be the first rookie receiver taken in this format. If your league does not award points on number of receptions, Bryant is even more valuable to you. In addition, the Cowboys are saying Bryant will be their primary punt returner. Once again, if you get his special team yards and/or scores, keep an eye on his training camp special teams work.

So, where to take him? Well, some Cowboys homers will likely take him in the third round and you won’t have to worry about it. But, I’ll end up having him slotted around the No. 30 wide receiver–I’ll have him up in the mid to high 20s if he is named the starter in training camp. If you get ST yards/scores, you could even have him up in the teens.

WR Demaryius Thomas, DEN

Drafted before Bryant (but taken by the same team that took Tebow), you wonder if you’re missing something or if Denver is onto something. Thomas certainly does have the tools (size, speed, quickness) to make him a star (6’3”, 225 lbs).

Thomas has been reported (during offseason work in Denver) to have impressive quickness, but has not perfected his route running. Thomas will be put into action immediately on this Denver offense, which has a ton of targets up for grabs after trashing Brandon Marshall, and his size will make him an ideal target. Scouts say he lacks straight-line speed and plays like a WR/TE hybrid. OK.

I think Thomas will be a safe pick in most drafts. He is listed as the number one wideout in Denver for a reason, and that is to make plays and gain us fantasy points as Denver wideouts always do. Look for Thomas to steal tight end passing assignments from Graham and also make bigger wideout-type plays.

I like this replacement for Marshall. I will have him rated in the mid 40s on my draft board, which makes him a sub in my league. A good gamble though, especially considering the next best receiver in Denver now is Jabar Gaffney. If Denver tries to bring in another veteran WR before camp starts, it means they aren’t sold on Thomas. If they stand pat, Thomas should be a starter.

WR Arrelious Benn, TB

The Buccaneers traded up three spots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft to select Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn with the 39th overall pick. Benn had only 38 receptions for 490 yards and two touchdowns at Illinois last season, thanks in large part to a series of injuries (including a high-ankle sprain three plays into his 2009-10 season and a concussion). Benn eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2008 when he was healthy.

Benn is a physical, tough, 6’1″ split end prospect with the kind of freakish athleticism that head coach Raheem Morris covets. Turns out that Morris tried to recruit Benn to play at Kansas State, where he was a quarterbacks coach prior to taking the defensive coordinator job with Tampa Bay.

“When you turn on the tape and watch Benn, you see a guy who catches the football, and then after he catches the football, he’s tough to get on the ground,” Morris said.

The wide receiver position in Tampa Bay is extremely thin after the Bucs let Antonio Bryant walk in the offseason. Benn should get an opportunity to win a starting job out of training camp, and will likely put up excellent fantasy numbers as a rookie in 2010-11, making him a prime sleeper candidate worthy of targeting in the middle to late rounds of fantasy drafts this season. I’ll have him rated around No. 60 for my WRs.

WR Dexter McCluster, KC

WTF, you say? Maybe I’m still having an unnatural man-crush on this guy from the Cotton Bowl. That was one of the best single game bowl performances I’ve ever seen, right up with Bo Jackson’s 1985 Cotton Bowl. Once he got in the open field, he was insanely fast and elusive.

I kept having visions of a stronger Percy Harvin out there–on a worse team, but with better skills, hence over looked. Walking out of Jerry World, he was already my 2010 Sleeper target.

Kansas City sure didn’t overlook him either, taking him in the second round and hoping for some Parvin-esque joojoo. McCluster doesn’t have a defined position with the Chiefs, and that’s a good thing. He’ll likely line up at wideout, slot, running back, wildcat, and return man during the 2010 season. If not the next Percy Harvin, perhaps the next Josh Cribbs?

McCluster has tremendous speed and is extremely quick, as evident with his combine-best 4.06 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle. He gained close to 1,700 yards from scrimmage and had 44 receptions in his final season at Ole Miss. His lack of size is going to keep him out of KC’s backfield, but he will get touches somewhere.

This kid is worth a flyer late in your draft, especially if you get ST points. Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers are going to get most of the touches, but McCluster will get his—especially if one of those guys gets dinged up.

Brandon LaFell

Here is your super sleeper WR, the great Bandon LaFell out of LSU. Watch this kid in camp to see if he’ll be a starter.

The Panthers bolstered their receiving corps with the addition of LaFell in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

LaFell will compete for playing time in training camp along with the Panthers’ other young wideouts, but LaFell will likely have the opportunity to contribute right out of the gates (because the Panthers are desperate for help at receiver alongside Steve Smith). In addition, with Smith out with his broken arm, this kid has the opportunity to start right away. And the second best veteran WR in Carolina is Dewayne Jarrett, so the position just screams for help.

LaFell won’t be the primary target in the Panthers’ passing game when Smith plays. And on one of the top rushing offenses in the NFL, LaFell’s upside is limited, but he could still produce solid fantasy numbers if he wins the number two job out of training camp.

LaFell is an intriguing rookie worthy of a draft pick in the late rounds as a flier that fantasy owners can envision filling in on bye weeks or when the Panthers have a favorable matchup. Or if Smith is hurt for a while, perhaps he’ll be even more.

Free Agents to watch

Golden Tate, SEA – A tough, slot receiver who has the ability to create after the catch. However, Tate struggles against press coverage and is a little stiff out of his breaks. Looks more like a solid slot guy at the next level.

Damian Williams, TEN – A smooth, coordinated wideout who lacks a great burst in and out of his breaks. Williams catches the ball well and has a real polish to his game, but he doesn’t look explosive or physical enough to play on the outside in the NFL. He will not get many touches for the Titans unless someone gets hurt.

Emmanuel Sanders, PIT – I went to a spring practice a few years back when SMU was recruiting my son and watched this kid go crazy in the scrimmage during practice. Explosive and a great pass catcher, BUT do not even think about him until Big Ben gets back, and then the dreaded November/December weather will be upon Pittsburgh. Only take him if he looks like he’s won a starting job and is producing.

Jordan Shipley, CIN – Sure, I guess. Shipley will give the Bengals a much-needed presence in the slot. He isn’t the biggest or fastest of wideouts. However, he’s got a good feel verse zone, knows how to pluck the football, and will move the chains on third down. Some dumb sip will take him in the eighth round though.

From the FanTake blog: Spence Park Soapbox 

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