After being the No. 12 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, expectations are high for wide receiver Henry Ruggs III. With Tyrell Williams out for the foreseeable future with a torn labrum, the Raiders will be counting on Ruggs to be their defacto No.1 receiver this season.
But what type of production can we expect from Ruggs in the Raiders’ offense this season? We know that Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow will be significant parts of the passing offense, but how do Ruggs and his speed fit into the equation?
It’s worth noting that his most productive season in college was in 2019 when he caught 40 passes for 746 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. However, Ruggs did share the field with fellow first-round pick Jerry Jeudy and two other star receivers who could be selected high in next year’s draft.
At The Huddle, they believe Ruggs will be the league’s most useful rookie receiver as he is currently projected to catch 50 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns. Considering how big of a role he is expected to have in the Raiders’ offense, those numbers don’t feel all that unrealistic. Here is a snippet of what the site has to say about Ruggs entering the season:
“Ruggs will be a Week 1 starter and the WR1 in this offense despite a lack of experience as more than just the fast guy way down the field. Not unlike Hill or even Marquise Brown last year, Ruggs will likely offer a handful of big games with deep receptions but then struggle in many more as a rookie. He’s a great pick in a dynasty but he will be more of a dangerous weapon that can go off at any time than a future 100-catch WR.”
In regards to Ruggs’ 2019 projection, it is worth noting that in the last four seasons, only eight receivers have gained 800 yards or more during their rookie seasons. Only Michael Thomas and A.J. Brown have eclipsed 1,000 yards during their rookie seasons since 2016.
For Ruggs to reach that type of production, he’s going to need to see six-seven targets per game and will need to hit on a dozen or so big plays to reach that yardage total. Luckily for him, that is where he specializes and the Raiders will try to find ways to get him the ball in space.
Ruggs is the No. 45 ranked receiver at The Huddle and he’s got the upside to finish much higher than that this season given his talent and opportunity. Don’t be afraid to reach a little on Ruggs in your fantasy drafts if he is available anytime after the seventh or eighth round. If Ruggs sees a consistent amount of targets in the Raiders’ offense, he could be a league-winner for your fantasy team.
Dominate your fantasy football league with TheHuddle.com. Custom rankings! Sleepers! New customers, take 20% this year’s subscription. Order now! https://tools.thehuddle.com/subscribe?promocode=nflwire20
[vertical-gallery id=72889]
[lawrence-newsletter]