The Steelers drafted Michigan WR Roman Wilson in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. It took Wilson until his fourth season to lead Michigan in receptions or receiving yards. But his 2023 campaign was impressive. Wilson tallied a 48-789-12 receiving line, accounting for 25.1% of the team’s receiving yards and half of the receiving TDs. Wilson caught 71.6% of his targets on a 13.9-yard average target depth. That led to a huge 11.8 yards per target. Wilson ranked 29th in yards per route and 22nd in Pro Football Focus receiving grade among 286 qualifying WRs. The 5’11, 185-pounder played 65% of his snaps in the slot last year and figures to primarily stick inside as a pro. But don’t mistake him for just a short-range target. Wilson regularly won deep at Michigan last year and blazed a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. He also has one of the most reliable pairs of hands in this year’s WR class, dropping only one of 50 catchable targets last season, per PFF. The Steelers lost 136 targets via trade/free agency. Wilson should handle a chunk of those alongside George Pickens. While QB play is a question mark for 2024, the Michigan product is firmly in play as a late-round stash.
The Rams spent a third-round pick on RB Blake Corum from Michigan. Corum played behind Hassan Haskins as a sophomore in 2021, ripping off 6.6 yards per carry and scoring 11 times on 144 carries (7.6% TD rate). Then came a huge 2022 season: 247 carries for 1,463 yards and 18 TDs in 12 games. All three marks ranked top-13 in the country. Corum averaged a strong 5.9 yards per carry, finishing first in Pro Football Focus rushing grade among 168 qualifying RBs. His 2022 campaign ended, though, with a torn meniscus in his left knee in late November. That injury played a part in Corum’s decision to return to Michigan for his senior year. He put up big numbers again in 2023 – 258 carries for 1,245 yards and an FBS-high 27 TDs – but his advanced metrics were down. Corum averaged just 4.8 yards per carry and sunk to 71st in PFF rushing grade among 157 qualifiers. So the big question here is whether Corum can regain that 2022 form. If he does, he’ll prove to be one of the best pure runners in this year’s RB class. If not, we’re looking at an undersized back (205 lbs.) that doesn’t offer a ton in the passing game. Kyren Williams dominated backfield work for the Rams in 2023, but the team had little else in the backfield. There's a chance Corum takes a significant amount of work from Williams. Expect him to stay close to his early rookie ADP.
The Bengals selected Alabama WR Jermaine Burton in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. Here’s a tricky one. Burton, a highly touted recruit, began his college journey at Georgia (2020-2021). Right away, he showed value by finishing third on the Bulldogs in catches (27), yards (404) and TDs (3). His 497 yards beat Ladd McConkey and Adonai Mitchell in 2021; he ranked a close third among the group in catches (26). Come 2022, Burton transferred to SEC rival Alabama. He led the Crimson Tide in receiving over the next two seasons, showing electric downfield ability. That surfaced most prominently in 2023 with 20.5 yards per catch on a 20.2-yard average depth of target. Despite the downfield usage, Burton didn’t register a single drop last fall. A plus athlete (9.09 RAS score) at 6’0, 196 pounds, there’s a lot to like in his profile. So why’d he last so long in the draft? NFL scouts say he had “up and down moments” with both coaching staffs, per The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Reporter Bob McGinn said pre-draft that Burton was removed from “at least two teams’ boards for various character-related issues.” Burton also lacks a standout production profile, one that includes a single-season career-high of only 40 catches (2022). That said – Cincinnati supples an excellent landing spot, particularly with Tee Higgins on the trade block. Consider Burton an upside target for dynasty rookie drafts.
The Cardinals spent a third-round pick on RB Trey Benson from Florida State. Benson suffered a multi-ligament knee injury as a freshman at Oregon in 2020 and did very little in 2021. He transferred to Florida State ahead of the 2022 campaign and turned in two highly efficient seasons for the Seminoles. Benson averaged 6.1 yards per carry and scored on 7.4% of his attempts across the past two years. An explosive runner with strong contact balance, Benson scored TDs of 80+ yards as a runner, receiver, and pass-catcher at Florida State. He confirmed his elite athleticism by earning a 9.73 Relative Athletic Score at the Combine, highlighted by a 4.39-second 40 time. Benson also showed promise as a pass-catcher over the last two years, catching 32 of 39 targets and averaging 11.5 yards per reception. He averaged just 13.2 touches per game at Florida State but has the potential to garner a bigger workload as a pro. Going to Arizona likely limits Benson's touch outlook for 2024. But it's a solid landing spot for his dynasty outlook. Check our rookie rankings to see where he lands.
The Jets used a Round 3 pick on Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley. Corley has commonly drawn comparisons to Deebo Samuel for his after-catch skills. The 5’11, 215-pounder averaged a huge 8.2 yards after catch per reception over his four-year career, including 9.2 over the last two seasons. Corley boasts an impressive combination of power, acceleration, and agility. He forced 55 missed tackles over his final two seasons. There’s not much else to his game at this point, though. In fact, 133 of Corley’s 259 receptions at Western Kentucky – or 51.4% – came on screens. He did very little work downfield, with a minuscule 6.3-yard career average target depth. Corley totaled just 20 catches on 47 targets 20+ yards downfield over the past four years. He has enough athleticism to develop into a more complete receiver. But, at least in the short term, Corley will need heavy volume and designed touches to be a real fantasy factor. He projects as the third or fourth target for a Jets squad that’s expected to remain pass-centric.
The Commanders selected Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Sinnott was a no-star recruit and walked on at Kansas State. He totaled just two catches across his first two years on campus but earned a scholarship and significant role as a junior in 2022. Sinnott ranked fourth on that Wildcats team with 447 receiving yards and tied for second with four receiving TDs. 2023 brought new career highs across the board: 49 catches, a team-high 676 yards, and a team-high six scores. Sinnott ranked ninth in both Pro Football Focus receiving grade and yards per route among 81 qualifying TEs. The 6’4, 250-pounder boasts plus ball skills and fluidity in his routes and after the catch. He crushed the Combine with a 4.68-second 40 time, a 40-inch vertical, and elite marks in 3-cone and short shuttle to earn a 9.73 Relative Athletic Score. Sinnott also brings versatility, lining up in-line, in the slot, out wide, and in the backfield at Kansas State. The Commanders currently have Zach Ertz atop the depth chart, but he’s playing on a one-year deal. He also turns 34 next season. If Jayden Daniels hits, Sinnott could develop into a spot-start TE1 before the end of 2025.
The Colts selected Texas WR Adonai Mitchell in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. The 6’2, 205-pounder registered a 4.34-second 40 time and 39.5-inch vertical at the Combine. It earned him a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score that ranks 5th out of 3,402 WRs from 1987 to 2024. Mitchell’s college production never matched that size-athleticism combo, though. He totaled just 38 catches in 21 games for Georgia across 2021 and 2022, with a left high-ankle sprain ruining his sophomore season. Mitchell transferred to Texas this past year and set career highs with 55 catches, 845 yards, and 11 TDs. But he ranked a distant second to WR Xavier Worthy in catches and yards and underwhelmed in advanced metrics. Among 286 WRs with 50+ targets last year, Mitchell ranked just 98th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and 179th in yards per route. His raw athleticism shows up on deep balls and contested catches, but the tape also shows below-average play strength and inconsistent effort. The ceiling here is undoubtedly high if everything clicks. But the floor is also scary-low. We’ve seen plenty of big, hyper-athletic WRs bust. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mitchell also didn’t interview well in the pre-draft process. With the Colts, he’ll enter training camp as the favorite to play on the outside over Alec Pierce. Even if he wins that role, Mitchell will profile as a volatile best ball pick.
The Panthers selected Texas RB Jonathon Brooks in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Brooks spent just 10 games as Texas’ lead back and is coming off a November ACL tear. But there’s a reason the Panthers made him the No.1 RB off the board. Brooks averaged 114 rushing yards and 1.0 rushing TDs on 6.1 yards per carry across his 10 outings last year. He ranked top-12 among 157 qualifying RBs in Pro Football Focus rushing grade, missed tackles forced per attempt, and PFF Elusive Rating. Brooks was also a weapon as a receiver, averaging 2.5 catches and 29 receiving yards per game. He ranked 21st among 112 qualifying RBs in yards per route and 12th in PFF receiving grade. Flip on the tape and Brooks impresses with elite acceleration, sneaky elusiveness, and enough long speed to break big runs. He’s a natural pass-catcher with good hands and plenty of juice after the catch. The 6’0, 216-pounder certainly has three-down potential in the NFL. We’ll track his rehab from that torn ACL, but Brooks is on track to be medically cleared by the start of training camp (confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). If healthy, Brooks should slot in as the RB1 ahead of Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders. There’s a top-15 ceiling here if the Panthers can get significantly better play out of Bryce Young.
The Patriots selected Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Polk transferred to Washington following one season at Texas Tech (28-264-2). He proceeded to miss nine games in 2021 with a fractured clavicle. Polk started producing with QB Michael Penix Jr. in 2022. Polk ranked third behind Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze in all three major receiving categories, though: catches (41), yards (694), and TDs (6). He did lead the group with 16.9 yards per catch. The 22-year-old’s production reached another level in 2023, boosted by several missed games from McMillan. Polk set career highs across the board and popped with a 92-yard TD vs. Stanford. On tape, Polk shows inside/outside versatility and fearlessness over the middle. His hands, body control, and strength allow him to excel in contested situations. Polk also passed the NFL Combine test with an 8.85 Relative Athletic Score. He lands in a New England offense with weak WRs, which presents immediate opportunity -- plus a first-round QB in Drake Maye. We're not especially excited about Polk but will be curious to see how the market treats him. Keep an eye on his rookie ADP heading into your dynasty rookie drafts.
The Chargers traded up in Round 2 of the NFL Draft to select Georgia WR Ladd McConkey 34th overall. McConkey’s raw college production doesn’t jump off the page. He never reached 60 catches or 800 yards in a season. But he played in a run-leaning Georgia offense and had to battle TE Brock Bowers (among others) for targets. McConkey was super efficient, leaving school with career 75.3% catch rate and 2.54 yards per route. His career-best 3.26 yards per route last year ranked eighth among 409 WRs with 35+ targets. McConkey is devastatingly quick and a polished route runner, making him one of the best separators in this WR class. And he’s a weapon after the catch, with a career 0.25 missed tackles forced per catch – a better rate than guys like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze. McConkey boosted his stock at the Combine with a 4.39-second 40 time and 9.34 Relative Athletic Score. The 6’0, 186-pounder can play both outside and in the slot. He might not big a big-play producer or high-TD-rate receiver at the next level, but McConkey has the potential to rack up a bunch of receptions. Going to the Chargers presents immediate opportunity. The WR corps shed Mike Williams and Keenan Allen this offseason, leaving Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston as the top returning players. The landing spot helps McConkey's fantasy outlook. Check out our rookie rankings to see where he lands.
The Bills selected Florida State WR Keon Coleman in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Coleman’s most impressive college season came at Michigan State back in 2022. He led that squad as a sophomore with 58 catches, 798 yards, and seven TDs – notably ahead of then-senior Jayden Reed. Coleman transferred to Florida State this past year and turned in a mixed season. The good: He led the Seminoles in receiving yards and tied for 11th in the country with 11 receiving TDs. The bad: Coleman trailed teammate Johnny Wilson in most key metrics, including yards per game, targets per route, yards per route, and Pro Football Focus receiving grade. He ranked 149th in PFF receiving grade among 286 qualifying WRs and 175th in yards per route. Coleman’s tape is also a mixed bag. The 6’3, 213-pounder boasts one of the most impressive highlight packages in this year’s WR class, combining a big vertical with impressive body control and strong hands to make some nasty grabs in traffic. But he’s inconsistent in contested situations, converting just 20 of 46 (43%) such targets over the last two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. That includes just 10 of 30 last year. Coleman also struggles creating separation, landing in the 47th percentile among all FBS WRs in separation rate vs. single coverage, per PFF. His combination of size and ball skills gives Coleman the potential to be a downfield and red-zone weapon as a pro. Landing in Buffalo, he joins a squad that lost 241 targets with the departures of Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs. Couple opportunity with the presence of Josh Allen, and Coleman has the potential to enter fantasy lineups in Year 1.
49ers GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan talked about WR Ricky Pearsall as a guy they believe can contribute right away. “(Pearsall) just plays the position real well, whether he was outside, inside, all three positions,” Shanahan said in his post-draft press conference. “He can separate down the field, he can separate underneath, extremely good hands. … There’s nothing he can’t do." It sure sounds like the Pearsall pick was made with the expectation that WR Brandon Aiyuk or WR Deebo Samuel will be traded. Insider Michael Silver tweeted late Thursday night that he's heard Samuel is more likely to be traded at this point. Shipping away either guy would be excellent news for Pearsall's dynasty value -- and turn him into an interesting 2024 redraft pick.
The Panthers traded up one spot to grab South Carolina WR Xavier Legette with the final pick of Round 1. Legette is one of the toughest evaluations in this year’s WR class. He did next to nothing over his first four college seasons, totaling just 42 catches. That stretch included a 2020 hamstring injury and a 2021 motorcycle accident – all after Legette spent his senior year of high school playing QB. Then he came out of nowhere for a huge 2023 campaign. Legette’s 1,255 receiving yards ranked eighth in the country. He accounted for 37.6% of South Carolina’s receiving yards and 33.3% of the receiving TDs. And he ranked top-16 among 286 qualifying WRs in both yards per route and Pro Football Focus receiving grade. Then Legette smashed the Combine, recording a 4.39-second 40 time and 40-inch vertical at 6’1, 221 pounds to earn a 9.90 Relative Athletic Score. That elite combination of size and speed pops off the tape. Legette can dominate on deep balls and after the catch. He also has a big catch radius and reliable hands. Legette is relatively raw in the route-running department, though, and isn’t the most agile player. It’s fair to wonder how much more room he has to grow considering he turned 23 in January. Legette lands in an offense with decent opportunity, but we wouldn't bet on big target share in 2024. Carolina acquired WR Diontae Johnson to boost a receiving corps that Adam Thielen led in 2023. Check our rookie rankings to see where Xavier Legette settles.
The 49ers selected Florida WR Ricky Pearsall in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Pearsall spent five years in college and will turn 24 before his second NFL game. But he’s a polished prospect, winning with precise route running, sticky hands, and after-catch elusiveness. Pearsall emerged as Arizona State’s No. 1 WR in his third year on campus in 2021. He then transferred to Florida, where he led the Gators with 661 receiving yards and five TDs in 2022. This past year brought new career highs with 65 catches and 965 yards – a big 31.4% of Florida’s total receiving yards. Pearsall also ran it 21 times for 253 yards (12.0 YPC) and five TDs across his five college seasons. He surprised at the Combine with a 4.41-second 40 time and 42-inch vertical at 6’1 and 189 pounds. Pearsall’s advanced age and middling production profile are legit concerns. But his polish and ability to contribute in multiple ways gives him a chance to make a fantasy impact early in his career. We'll see whether the 49ers retain Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Long term, the Florida product projects as a real-life WR2 and a potential fantasy WR3.
The Cardinals spent the 27th pick on Missouri DL Darius Robinson. Through four years, Robinson totaled just 4.5 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss. He broke out with 8.5 sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss in his fifth season. Robinson should get a shot at early playing time, but beware of his late college breakout.
The Chiefs selected Texas WR Xavier Worthy in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Worthy set the Combine record with a 4.21-second 40 time and plays to that speed on the field. He averaged 14.0 yards per reception for his college career, making big plays both downfield and after the catch (7.3 career YAC/reception). He’s also an impressive route runner. Worthy broke out as an 18-year-old true freshman, easily leading the Longhorns with 62 catches, 981 yards, and 12 TDs. A QB change and a fractured finger led to a dip in raw production in 2022, although Worthy still led Texas in all major receiving categories. He made it three straight seasons as Texas’ top receiver last year, despite the arrival of WR Adonai Mitchell. Not only did Worthy easily beat Mitchell in catches (75 to 55) and yards (1,014 to 845), but he also dusted him in advanced metrics like targets per route (0.25 to 0.17) and yards per route (2.14 to 1.72). The glaring concern with Worthy: He’s just 165 pounds. Only two WRs at 170 pounds or lighter – DeVonta Smith and Tank Dell – have reached 10 PPR points per game since 2000. Worthy, though, is just the third sub-170-pound WR since 2000 to be a top-50 pick in the draft (joining Smith and Dexter McCluster). His chances of success increase in Kansas City. The Chiefs are simply thin at WR, especially with Rashee Rice facing a multi-game suspension. Note that free-agent addition Marquise Brown signed a one-year deal. Worthy ultimately projects in WR5 range for early best ball drafters.
The Lions traded up to the 24th spot in Round 1 of the NFL Draft to select CB Terrion Arnold. He spent just three years at Alabama, the past two as a starter. He snared 5 INTs as a junior. Arnold plays the wrong position to make a significant impact in most IDP dynasty leagues, though.
The Jaguars drafted LSU WR Brian Thomas in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. After two relatively quiet seasons to open his college career, Thomas busted out as a junior this past year. He racked up 1,177 yards and an FBS-high 17 TDs on 68 receptions. The big-play machine averaged 17.3 yards per catch on a 13.9-yard average target depth. He hauled in 15 of 22 targets 20+ yards downfield for 670 yards and 12 TDs. The catches, yards, and TDs were all top-3 marks in the nation, and Thomas was one of 24 WRs to score a 99.9 PFF receiving grade on deep targets. With a 4.33-second 40 time, strong ball-tracking ability, and high-end ball skills, Thomas has all the tools to be a dominant deep-ball weapon in the NFL. He wasn’t nearly as productive on short and intermediate routes at LSU and needs to improve as a route runner to emerge as a No. 1 WR in the NFL. But his combination of size (6’3, 209 lbs.) and athleticism (9.84 RAS) gives him the potential to do so. Thomas should at least be a valuable best-ball asset as a rookie. But with Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Evan Engram, and free-agent addition Gabe Davis rostered, the weekly floor figures to be low here. We’ll also see if Trevor Lawrence can improve after plateauing in 2023.
The Eagles selected CB Quinyon Mitchell in the first round of the NFL Draft. Mitchell posted limited tackle totals across four years at Toledo (three in the starting lineup). He defensed 37 passes over his final two seasons, though. And NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said Mitchell was “the best corner at the Senior Bowl, and it wasn’t close.” Corners carry little value in most fantasy formats, and you shouldn’t get too excited about Mitchell in your IDP rookie draft. Landing in Philly at least gives Mitchell a shot to make an impact soon. The Eagles return both starting outside corners from last year but played poorly in the secondary and are getting old at both spots.
The Dolphins spent the 21st pick of the NFL Draft on Edge Chop Robinson. After a year at Maryland, Robinson closed out his college career with tow years at Penn State. He totaled 60 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 20.0 tackles for loss across his three seasons. Robinson delivered a 97th-percentile speed score at 254 pounds at the Scouting Combine. We're a little concerned that Robinson won't claim high enough snap shares to produce consistent fantasy stats.
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