Worthy Wideouts: The Next Wave Of Rookie WRs in Fantasy

April 27, 2021

Frank Dyevoich breaks down the skill set of the incoming rookie WR class ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft.

When it comes to fantasy football, especially dynasty, the wide receiver position has the longest shelf-life of prime production. Running backs typically fall out of their prime around age 27, but wide receivers can maintain their prime well into their 30s, making the elite ones invaluable to your dynasty squad. For example, heading into 2021, National Fantasy Championships ("NFC") has only two top-15 running back in ADP that will be 27 or older to start 2021, Derrick Henry and Alvin Kamara. Whereas for wide receivers there are nine players in the top-15 in ADP at the position who will be 27 or older to start 2021. Due to their extended playing careers, rookie wide receivers could be the missing piece that brings your dynasty team from a contender to a winner. Therefore, it is important to know these players as prospects before they enter the league.

Rookie wide receivers are also extremely valuable in redraft leagues because they make for some of the best value in the later rounds. Last year, Justin Jefferson finished as the WR7 in PPR scoring, but he was drafted as the 49th wideout off the board. Chase Claypool finished as the WR22 (ADP WR84), Cee Dee Lamb as the WR24 (ADP WR 38), and Brandon Aiyuk as the WR34 (ADP WR65). If fantasy owners can snag the right rookies during the second-half of their drafts, they could be on their way to a fantasy championship.

This season, there are approximately five players who are truly special and are likely to make an impact from day one. So, let's take an early look at the 2021 rookie wide receiver prospects so that we can have an immediate idea of their roles and projected production once they are drafted.

Early Look at the Incoming Rookie WR Class: Tier 1

Ja'Marr Chase - LSU

Ja'Marr Chase is the best overall wide receiver prospect in this draft. It does not matter that he opted out of the 2020 season, as he will still likely be the first receiver off the board. Even Jaylen Waddle's mother has him as the number one wide receiver on her board. Chase is so good that in 2019 he relegated Justin Jefferson to the slot position, and we saw what Jefferson could do lining up on the outside in the NFL (set rookie record for receiving yards).

In that historic Tigers' offense led by Joe Burrow, Chase hauled in 84 receptions for 1,780 yards (21.1 YPR) and 20 touchdowns on his way to winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver. In the National Title game, he dropped a cool nine receptions for 221 yards and two touchdowns, which proved that he can play at an elite level on the biggest stage.

If anyone had any questions about Chase's athleticism after opting out of 2020, he answered those questions at his pro day where he posted ridiculous numbers. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds and posted a 41" inch vertical and 11' foot broad jump. He is an athletic stud. One statistic that blew my mind when studying Chase (there were many) is that since 2019, he led all wide receivers in the nation with 46 explosive plays. DeVonta Smith was second with 44 and Rashod Bateman was third with 37. The thing is, Chase is the only one who opted out of the entire 2020 season.

Chase has few flaws in his game if any. His deadliest weapon is his blazing acceleration once he gets the ball in his hands. His speed has a few different gears, and when he hits the throttle, he's gone. Standing at only 6'0" tall, Chase is a wizard on contested catches. His ability to track the football in the air and adjust his speed is rare. He's also able to contort his body mid-air at various angles and box out his defender as he catches the ball at its highest point. He simply out-plays and out-works his defender to routinely make big plays for his team.

Chase is a natural hands catcher, snatching the ball out of the air instead of catching it with his body, which enables him to catch the ball in stride at full speed for significant yards after the catch. Chase also shows incredible sideline awareness and balance, routinely dragging two feet in bounds on sideline and endzone catches. He has not had to run the most diverse route tree at LSU, but there is no doubt that he can be coached to perfect his craft. One thing he will need to improve at the next level is separation at the line of scrimmage, but that should come naturally to him as well, just as everything else does. I expect Chase to go to the Falcons, Bengals, or Dolphins in the top six picks of the NFL Draft.

Pro Comparison: Steve Smith. Not the biggest guy, but he outmuscles defenders at the catch point and uses his speed and physicality to turn small gains into explosive plays. He's naturally gifted and refuses to be shown up by his competition. He will not be outworked by anybody. A playmaker. A game-changer.

Jaylen Waddle - Alabama

Picture a Ducati Motorcycle flying down the highway weaving in and out of traffic with an effortless flow. That is Jaylen Waddle. On any given Sunday, Waddle is the fastest player on the field. But it is not his speed that sets him apart, after all, there are a bunch of guys who can run a sub-4.3 40-yard dash, it is his ability to play at an elite level and operate effectively at those high speeds. He runs crisp routes, sells fake routes, is decisive in and out of his breaks, has excellent vision and elusiveness in the open field, and he does it at 100 MPH.

He did not participate in the combine drills at either of Alabama's pro days, but we have seen him race Henry Ruggs III (4.27 40-yards dash) and finish neck and neck (via 247Sports). His first two seasons at Alabama were spent in the shadows of Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, and DeVonta Smith (discussed below), but Waddle made his presence known scoring 13 touchdowns on 78 receptions (6% TD rate) and averaged 18 yards a clip.

This year appeared to be his season to shine, but it was cut short by an ankle injury in Week 6, and fellow Tide receiver Smith went on to win the Heisman trophy. However, before Waddle got hurt, he was averaging more targets and yards per game than Smith, and he appeared to be quarterback Mac Jones' favorite target. Oh, and he is tough as nails, evidenced by his choice to play in the National Title game despite not being fully recovered from his ankle injury.

Waddle is the most exciting player in this draft. He possesses an unparalleled ability to maintain complete control of his body while stringing together buttery smooth cuts and accelerating to top-speed at various angles. He never overextends his movements or loses his balance, and every move he makes is perfectly timed and flawlessly executed mid-jump to hyperspace. An argument can be made that Waddle is the best route runner, the most explosive, the most versatile, and has the best hands of any receiver in this draft class, and NFL teams are likely drooling over the possibilities on offense with a player like him.

His elite combination of explosiveness and speed can be used on bubble screens, end-arounds, slants, and throws to the flat, and just when a defender thinks he has him figured out Waddle can hit the double-move and take the top off the defense, or simply burn his coverage on a go route. His topflight vision also makes him a deadly weapon in the return game (averaged 19 yards per punt return at Alabama). Time and time again, defenders are inches away from Waddle and closing, and they never lay a finger on him.

I'd love to see him go to a creative offense like the Panthers with the eighth pick, or to an up-and-coming team like the Giants with the 11th pick or the Chargers with the 13th pick. A popular landing spot for Waddle is the Eagles with the 12th pick, but they just drafted Jalen Reagor who does the same things Waddle does, albeit not nearly as well.

Pro Comparison: Don't say it! I promise I won't say it...  I'm going to say it: Tyreek Hill. I know Hill is a unicorn and draws comps to many receivers, but, like him, Waddle operates at a different speed than everyone else while maintaining flawless execution. They both possess a rare combination of speed, explosiveness, and balance, and they are both capable of destroying defenses in the running game and the return game as well. If he lands in the right spot with a creative play-caller and an above-average quarterback, Waddle can be just as special.

DeVonta Smith - Alabama

DeVonta Smith was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard won it in 1991. Smith first put his name on the map in the 2018 National Title game versus Georgia when he hauled in the game-winning touchdown in overtime as a freshman. He really came into his own in 2019 as the team leader in receiving yards (1,256) and receiving touchdowns (14), and in 2020 he had arguably the best season of all-time at the wide receiver position, winning the Heisman and the Biletnikoff as the national leader in receptions (117), receiving yards (1,856), and receiving touchdowns (23). He capped off his historical season with an astounding 21 receptions for 345 yards and six touchdowns in only one and a half games during the College Football Playoffs (12 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of the National Title game) as Alabama took home the title for the seventh time under Nick Saban.

The biggest knock on Smith is his size, as he comes in at 6'0" and only 166 lbs., and his stick-like frame has earned him the nickname the "Slim Reaper." However, Smith is as tough as they come, and he won't hesitate to make a big play over the middle knowing he is going to take a vicious shot. Fear is not a word in his vocabulary.

Smith is a pure technician when it comes to playing wide receiver. Every step he takes is deliberate and he has the best footwork in the class. He wins at the line of scrimmage, using his lightning-quick feet and perfect hand placement to gain separation right from the snap. He runs crisp, clean routes and doesn't lose any momentum cutting in and out of his breaks. His stop and start ability is elite, routinely slamming the brakes at high speeds to find giant holes in the secondary as defensive backs are more concerned about him beating them over the top.

Smith can run every route in the route tree and find separation in a phone booth, and he is extremely physical at the catch-point despite his small frame. He possesses an unnatural ability to contort and twist his body to make spectacular catches a common occurrence, and his mid-air ball tracking ability is the best in this draft. As if that wasn't enough to make him a bona fide top-15 pick in the draft, the Slim Reaper is electric with the ball in his hands. He is incredibly twitchy with elite change-of-direction skills and slippery elusiveness at fast speeds, he's never caught from behind, and his acceleration explodes off the screen. Smith could go as high as the pick-six to the Dolphins, but I'd love to see him land with the Panthers at pick eight, the Giants at pick 11, or the Eagles at Pick 12 (biases aside).

Pro Comparison: Davante Adams, but smaller. Every element of Smith's game reminds me of Adams, from their incredible ability to use their quick feet to gain separation off the line, explosive speed to beat defenders on the outside, and knack for finding the soft spots in the defense to move the chains, to their physics-defying acrobatic catches and nose for the endzone. They both have Gorilla Glue hands and are extremely deadly after the catch, and they are both a lot tougher than they look.

Tier 2

Rashod Bateman - Minnesota

Rashod Bateman is arguably the best route runner in this class, competing with DeVonta Smith for that title. He has a knack for finding separation downfield and making big plays, and he plays much bigger than his frame. He came in at only 6'0" and 190 lbs., but he plays like he is 6'4" and 215 lbs. We saw what he could do in 2019 when he put down 60 receptions for 1,219 yards (20.3 YPR) and 11 touchdowns, but he opted out of his 2020 season after just five games.

Bateman ran most of his routes from the slot in 2020, but he was not the same player that he was in 2019 after battling COVID-19 in the summer. If you assess him off of his 2018 and 2019 tape there is no doubt that Bateman is a true alpha receiver despite his size.

He has excellent footwork off the line, and he utilizes sharp and decisive cuts in and out of his breaks to get his defenders thrown off balance and provide his quarterback with wide-open windows. He has great ball-tracking skills and can adjust to over and underthrown passes while maintaining his focus to make difficult catches. He does not have elite top-end speed, but he uses his savvy route running and short-area quickness to create chunk plays and efficient run after the catch opportunities. He has excellent hands and is extremely physical both at the catch point and in the open field.

I'd love to see him go to the Ravens at pick 27 or 31 to give Lamar Jackson a bonafide X receiver to throw to, but he would be a force in fantasy if he were to go to the Titans at pick 22, the Packers at pick 29, or the Bengals at pick 38 in round two.

Pro Comparison: Allen Robinson, but smaller. They are both nuanced route runners who find separation at will, and they have excellent ball skills, routinely making difficult catches look easy. They can play outside or in the slot, and they want the ball in critical moments. I also see some Stefon Diggs when watching Bateman run routes and run after the catch, but Diggs is more explosive and versatile.

Rondale Moore - Purdue

If electricity were a football player, it would be Rondale Moore. He is only 5'7", but he is a brick wall, weighing in at 181 lbs. He plays with blazing speed and elite explosiveness, and he is a bully with the ball in his hands. He does not have the college stats to back up his talent since he only played seven games combined from 2019 to 2020, but his tape speaks for itself.

Moore is quite possibly the most electric prospect we have ever seen, and his athletic measurables are downright ridiculous. He clocked a supersonic unofficial 4.29-second 40-yard dash at his pro day (98th percentile) to go along with an elite 42.5-inch vertical jump (99th) and 6.68-second three-cone time (92nd). Oh, and not to mention that he squatted 600 lbs. in Purdue's weight room this offseason. Not too shabby for a small slot receiver.

I truly believe that Rondale Moore is a unicorn. He is unquestionably the best receiver in this class after the catch, and his pure athleticism is unmatched. His acceleration from a stopped position is among the fastest we have ever seen, and his cat-like reaction time makes it almost impossible to lay a finger on him. The element that separates Moore from other explosive players is the raw physicality that he plays with. He is the size of a Chihuahua, but he runs like a Rottweiler, plowing through anyone that gets in his way. His feet are always churning and he fights through every tackle, routinely turning short gains into explosive plays downfield.

Moore's physicality has led to the development of incredible contact balance, enabling him to bounce off of defenders, break through arm tackles and spin away from closing defenders without wasting a step or sacrificing speed. He also possesses elite lateral agility, short-area quickness, and open-field elusiveness, which makes him arguably the most difficult player to tackle. More has top-tier dynamic playmaking ability, explosive burst, and fluid change of direction skills.

I'd love to see Moore go to the Packers at pick 29 because they have not had any versatility in the receiving game since the departure of Randall Cobb, and Moore is Cobb if he were struck by lightning. I'd also like to see him go to the Saints at pick 28, the Ravens at picks 27 or 31, or to the Falcons at pick 35, or the Panthers at pick 39.

Pro Comparison: None. Moore is a combination of several players. He has the versatility, elusiveness, and explosiveness of Tyreek Hill, but he runs after the catch with the anger, physicality, and power of Deebo Samuel. He has Steve Smith's "mine" mentality when the ball is in the air and Golden Tate's open-field vision. He is the ultimate weapon, and any team that fades him because of his size will be sorry.

Elijah Moore - Ole Miss

Elijah Moore is going to be a lethal weapon out of the slot in the NFL. He opted out of his 2020 season after eight games, but what an eight games it was. He averaged 12.7 targets, 10.7 receptions for 149.1 yards, and one touchdown per game, and over his final three games, he averaged an astounding 13 receptions for 200 yards and 1.6 touchdowns. To put that into perspective, Moore's 13-game pace over his last three games was 169 receptions for 2,600 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Despite only playing in eight games, his 86 receptions are a school record, passing current Tennessee Titan A.J. Brown's record of 85 receptions, which he accomplished in 12 games in 2018. Production aside, Moore showcased his speed and athleticism at his pro day, where he ran a 4.34 second 40-yard dash (95th percentile) and posted a blazing 6.65 seconds three-cone time, which was the fastest time for all wide receivers since 2018.

Moore is so clean when he runs his routes. His release off the line is identical for all of his routes which makes it extremely difficult for cornerbacks to get a read on him. He has incredibly efficient footwork, and he sells false routes better than anyone else in this class. Moore is electric with the ball in his hands, utilizing his elite agility to string together cuts at high speeds without losing balance or momentum. His stop-start ability is among the best in this class, and when combined with his explosive burst he consistently has defenders on skates trying to follow him around the field.

Similar to DeVonta Smith, Moore wins at the line of scrimmage with hypnotizing footwork and a perfectly timed release. He has naturally soft hands and plucks the ball out of the air at full speed on crossing routes which helps him to capitalize on explosive run after the catch opportunities. He is a consistent chain mover with a knack for finding the sweet spot in a zone defense, and he has an extraordinary ability to maintain possession through impact on vicious hits over the middle.

I'd love to see Moore go to the Saints at pick 28 or the Packers at pick 29, but he is likely to go in the second round which makes the Jaguars at picks 33 or 45, the Panthers at pick 39, or the Cardinals at pick 49 very attractive options for projected fantasy success at the next level.

Pro Comparison: Antonio Brown. Brown is a tad taller and a tad bulkier, but I can't ignore the striking similarities in their game. They are both smaller guys, however, they win with intelligence and flawless route-running. They have a perfectly timed release off the line, are always in the right spot at the right time, always know where the soft spots in the defense are, and can be relied on to make the big play for their quarterback in clutch moments. They have fluid and efficient footwork and an elite ability to set up their defenders in a variety of ways to gain separation at will and ensure that they are always open.

Kadarius Toney - Florida

On any other football team, Kadarius Toney is likely the best offensive weapon, but he had to share the field with tight end phenom Kyle Pitts. As a result, he has not been talked about enough this draft season, and he is going under the radar heading into the draft. Toney was not a factor at Florida until his senior year, but he burst onto the scene with 70 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is an explosive playmaker and projects as a dynamic slot receiver at the next level.

Toney is a very similar player to Elijah Moore. He is able to gain separation with crisp route-running, and he makes explosive plays after the catch. The difference is Moore is a flawless route runner and Toney is a very good one. However, he possesses all of the elite athletic traits that will help him to take his game to the next level in the NFL with the right coaching. Toney is also much more physical than Moore, routinely shedding high tackles, breaking arm tackles, and bouncing off of big hits where defenders try to push him over instead of wrapping him up. As a result, Toney racks up significant yards after contact, which is a coveted trait by NFL coaches.

He has enough explosion to pull away from defenders at the catch point, but he does not have the elite top-end speed that makes him a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. NFL coaches who prefer a bigger more physical slot receiver to a shiftier, more polished slot receiver will likely have Toney above Moore on their boards, so don't be surprised if Toney is drafted first.

A ton of mock drafts have Toney being drafted in the first round, so I'd like to see him go to the Cardinals at pick 16 (way too early in my opinion), the Jaguars at pick 25 or 33, or the Packers at pick 29. If he were to fall to the second round, an ideal landing spot for him would be the Dolphins at pick 36, the Eagles at pick 37, or the Lions at pick 41.

Pro Comparison: Alma mater aside, I see a ton of Percy Harvin when watching Toney. They are both explosive after the catch and were used all over the field, including a ton of work out of the backfield. Toney is more physical than Harvin was, but Harvin was a tad more elusive in the open field. I also see a lot of Curtis Samuel in Toney's game. Last season, Samuel was used in the slot and out of the backfield, and he made a ton of explosive plays for the Panthers. Samuel has a faster top-speed, but Toney will be best-suited for a similar role in the NFL.

Terrace Marshall, Jr. - LSU

Terrace Marshall (not Terrance) does not get enough credit for his talent as a wide receiver because he was largely overshadowed by Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase in 2019. Despite playing a supporting role, he still hauled 46 receptions for 671 yards and an impressive 13 touchdowns in 12 games. Last year, he had the featured role all to himself and he dropped 48 receptions for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns in only seven games before opting out for the remainder of the season. It is even more impressive when remembering that he did so while catching passes from two freshmen, T.J. Finley and Max Johnson, and junior Myles Brennan, a significant downgrade from Joe Burrow.

Marshall stands at a hair under 6'3" and weighs 205 lbs., and at his pro day, he posted an impressive 39" inch vertical jump and 10.5' foot broad jump. Even more impressive was his 40-yard dash time, which clocked in at 4.38 seconds, the same time as fellow Tiger and undisputed number one prospect Ja'Marr Chase.

Marshall is a ball hawk, plain and simple. He has excellent ball-tracking skills and fantastic acceleration that enables him to chase down overthrown balls. He runs crisp routes, but he can be seen letting up early at times which will need to be corrected at the NFL level. He has incredible sideline awareness for unguardable back-shoulder throws, and he perfectly times his jumps to catch the football at its highest point. His ability to high-point the ball, combined with rare mid-air body control and a wide catch radius make him lethal on contested catches.

Marshall has hauled in 61% of his contested catches since 2018 per PFF, the highest percentage of draft-eligible receivers. He is also incredibly versatile for his size as he lined up on the outside for the majority of his snaps in 2019, and ran most of his routes from the slot in 2020.

I'd love to see Marshall go to the Ravens at picks 27 or 31, but recent medical issues "popped up" and he is expected to slide into the second round. No new information has been released. Were he to slip, The Giants at pick 42, the Jaguars at pick 45, and the Cardinals at pick 49 would be very intriguing landing spots for his projected fantasy production at the next level.

Pro Comparison: Dez Bryant. Bryant is a little bulkier, but what Marshall lacks in frame, he makes up for in speed. Both receivers have an incredible ability to position themselves and use their size to gain leverage on their defenders on contested catches. They run routes with conviction to gain separation downfield and pick up aggressive yards after the catch. Like Bryant, Marshall should be a lethal red-zone weapon at the next level.

Tier 3

Amon-Ra St. Brown - USC

Amon-Ra St. Brown has not only the best name in this draft class, but he is also a top-tier route runner and has the tools to be a successful slot receiver at the next level. His stats don't jump off of the page, but all you see in his tape is fluid routes and a knack for finding the soft spots in the defense. He has enough speed for chunk plays, but he does not have the long speed to turn any reception into a house call. He needs improvement in his footwork and he needs to be more physical at the line of scrimmage or press coverage in the NFL will eat him alive. He projects as a reliable slot receiver that won't turn any heads, but he will get the job done when his number is called.

Pro Comparison: Jarvis Landry.

Tylan Wallace - Oklahoma State

Tylan Wallace is right up there with DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle in terms of best hands in this class. He is slightly undersized at 5'11", but his skill set projects as an outside receiver in the NFL. Despite a small frame, Wallace has elite ball-tracking skills, perfectly timed jumps, and incredible mid-air body control. He comes down with difficult catches outside of his frame, runs with power and aggression after the catch, and he has the mentality that no one is going to outwork him or win against him regardless of their size. If he were 6'2" he would be a first-round pick, but some players have a winning mentality and work ethic that won't allow them to fail, and Wallace is one of those players.

Pro Comparison: Greg Jennings.

Amari Rodgers - Clemson

Amari Rodgers is a bully. He is a versatile weapon that will run most of his routes from the slot, but he can also be lined up in the backfield, and he's deadly in the return game. He is a savvy route runner who uses effective changes in speed during his routes to manipulate defenders and gain separation downfield. He has great burst from a stopped position, and despite his bulky frame, he has the top-end speed to make every touch a house call. Rodgers is a punishing runner after the catch, consistently choosing to lower his shoulder and run defenders over for an extra yard or two instead of running out of bounds to avoid contact.

Pro Comparison: Randall Cobb with Deebo Samuel's aggressiveness after the catch.

Dyami Brown - UNC

Dyami Brown is a deep-ball specialist at the next level. He has excellent sideline awareness and an elite ability at tracking the deep ball and hauling it in over his shoulder. He has fantastic burst off the line of scrimmage which helps him to easily beat press coverage, but he is a limited route runner lacking in home-run speed. He has decent ball skills on contested catches, but he needs to work on maintaining possession through contact in the air.

Pro Comparison: Kenny Stills.

D'Wayne Eskridge - Western Michigan

If the 2021 rookie wide receivers were all comic book characters, D'Wayne Eskridge would be the Flash. He goes from 0-60 in the blink of an eye and if he hits the open field no one is catching him. Eskridge's incredible burst allows him to blow past defenders who try and press him at the line to gain downfield separation, and it makes him deadly on comeback and curl routes since he can hit the brakes and stop on a dime at top speed.

One aspect of his game that GMs will absolutely fall in love with is his willingness and aggressiveness as a blocker. He is not the biggest guy, but he will try and lay out anyone he is assigned to block. He will likely be used as a field stretcher at the next level with occasional run after the catch opportunities for explosive plays out of the slot, but he needs to develop a more diverse route tree and correct his shaky hands if he wants to see consistent playing time.

Pro Comparison: More physical T.Y. Hilton.

Jaelon Darden - North Texas

Jaelon Darden does not get a lot of hype coming out of a small school, but this kid is excellent at every aspect of his game. He is a nuanced route runner who can separate in a phone booth and take any touch to the house. He has sticky hands, lightning-quick feet, and is the human embodiment of the phrase "quick twitch." He uses his incredible stop and start ability to cut, jump, juke, spin, and otherwise evade tackles in any way imaginable.

His creativity with the ball in his hands is something to behold and he is a threat to make an explosive play on every snap. Darden has impressive acceleration and burst, and combined with his quick twitch and open-field elusiveness, Darden is a true YAC monster. He reminds me of Steph Curry in the sense that he is incredibly exciting to watch and if you blink you might miss something spectacular. Darden has provided my favorite quote from a prospect this draft season, "slow feet don't eat."

Pro Comparison: Tyler Lockett with Odell Beckham Jr.'s run after the catch explosiveness and improvisation.

Other Names to Watch:

Tamorrion Terry - Florida State

Nico Collins - Michigan

Seth Williams - Auburn

Jonathan Adams, Jr. - Arkansas State

Tutu Atwell - Louisville

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