Rookie Rundown – Syndication Server

Rookie Rundown: WR Tyler Johnson, Minnesota

Tyler Johnson’s numbers speak for themselves, but a lack of athleticism vs. NFL competition may limit his potential.

Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson is coming off of two of the most complete seasons over the past two years, displaying a wide array of abilities along the way.

In 2017, as a sophomore, Johnson missed two games with a hand injury and still earned an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten team after landing seven touchdowns. He exploded the next season, going for 78-1,169-12 and receiving first-team All-Big Ten recognition. If setting school records for receiving yards and scores weren’t enough, Johnson’s 2019 campaign saw him break his own marks and claim another first-team conference honor.

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 206 pounds
40 time: 4.55 seconds (estimated)

The former high school quarterback wasted little time figuring out the wide receiver position at the collegiate level and enters the 2020 NFL Draft with an alluring blend of traits.

Table: WR Tyler Johnson NCAA stats (2016-19)

Year	Team	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Long
2016	Minnesota	14	141	10.1	1	34
2017	Minnesota	35	677	19.3	7	67
2018	Minnesota	78	1,169	15.0	12	52
2019	Minnesota	86	1,318	15.3	13	73

While Johnson isn’t a burner, he has enough speed to stay ahead of most defenders against whom he has a step. Averaging 15-plus yards per grab over the past three seasons for the Golden Gophers should be satisfying enough to most detractors. That said, speed isn’t his game, nor should it be overtly held against him.

Pros

Insanely competitive — cannot teach fortitude and determination of his degree
Instinctual, especially in traffic — body control and sense of timing are among the draft’s best
Highly productive once given the chance
Background in basketball is evident in his ability to fight for a contested catch and box-out defenders
Excellent hands and focus
Has a good feel for route concepts and nuances, such as when to return to his quarterback
Tough to take down after the catch despite not being particularly elusive
Effort blocker
Plays up to his potential within his skill set — an example would be how well he exploits zone coverage vs. man
Time as a quarterback helps him understand defenses pre- and post-snap
Far better football player than athlete, which tends to get lost on some evaluators

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Cons

Lacks elite physical skills and isn’t going to “wow” too many people in comparison to top-end NFL receivers
Separation windows tend to be small
Needs to improve burst coming out of a break
May be system-limited as a possession receiver vs. zone coverage

Fantasy football outlook

Johnson reminds of Tennessee Titans WR A.J. Brown, whose rookie season couldn’t have gone much better, all things considered. There’s maybe some Marvin Jones and even a little Anquan Boldin to be found in his game, too. Jones is probably the best NFL comparison, though — similar traits in the red zone and tracking the ball, occasionally flashing just enough athleticism after lulling a defender to sleep.

The senior receiver likely comes off of the board no earlier than Round 4 but is more reasonably a Round 5 or 6 pick. At any rate, climbing into Day 2 will require the right coaching and system fits.

Johnson, depending upon where he lands, ranges from being an intermittent Year 1 fantasy football option to a name gamers stash for 2021.

Rookie Rundown: RB James Robinson, Illinois State

James Robinson continued to improve at the collegiate level and now enters the NFL fray with upside galore.

Illinois State running back James Robinson brings a quiet, steady back to the NFL mix with versatility traits that are bound to get him on a team’s roster before all is said and done.

The Redbirds star entered the program in 2016 as the state’s all-time leading high school rusher with a shade over 9,000 yards, and Robinson ranked fourth in the nation for prep rushing scores at 158 when he graduated high school. After being used sparingly in his first two seasons at Illinois State, Robinson was given an opportunity to shine in 2017, and he never looked back.

Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 219 pounds
40 time: 4.64 seconds

After leading the school in rushing as a sophomore, Robinson earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a first-team selection. He’d go on to become a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in 2018, also adding third-team All-American recognition to his second straight all-conference selection. His senior year concluded with honors for being all-conference yet again, and this time Robinson was voted to the first-team All-American squad.

Table: RB James Robinson NCAA stats (2016-19)

Year	Team	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2016	ILST	63	322	5.1	2	—	12	109	9.1	1
2017	ILST	165	933	5.6	12	—	9	75	8.3	0
2018	ILST	205	1,290	6.3	12	57	21	164	7.8	1
2019	ILST	364	1,918	5.2	18	77	16	80	5.0	0

Despite such an impressive resume and climb to national prominence in 2019, Robinson isn’t bound to be one of the first running backs chosen in the NFL draft. In fact, he may not hear his name called until late on Day 3, but there’s some potential for going as early as the late third round.

Pros

Dynamic ability to find lanes and make the necessary moves to get there
Excellent vision and feel for a play’s development — anticipatory senses are NFL caliber
Extremely productive three straight seasons and has three-down traits
Quality blend of burst, elusiveness, jump-cut ability and enough power
Known for his work ethic and reliability as a teammate
Patience is among the first things that jump off the screen, especially when he’s waiting for blockers to find their target
Capable receiver despite not being utilized much in this area
Played in a mixed offensive system that included elements of pro-style football
Among the better incoming backs at blitz pickup
Plays faster in the open field than he times

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Cons

Ran through holes the size of Texas in college — will he have the quickness to hit the gaps in the NFL before they close?
Lacks breakaway speed in shorts
Considerable mileage with more than 600 touches in the last two years
Needs to address his tendency to bounce a play outside, which is a common issue and can be corrected via coaching
Limited skill set and athleticism that could expose him at times in the NFL

Fantasy football outlook

Robinson’s talents and determination will get him on the field in 2020, although how much is anyone’s guess. His landing spot wide open at this time, and the supporting cast will make a huge difference in what kind of workload one can expect from him.

The vast majority of scenarios put Robinson in a rotation or even riding the pine and hoping for a shot. For now, he’s roster depth fantasy football versions, but consider his value to be quite fluid given the significant range in teams that could pursue Robinson.

Rookie Rundown: QB Jacob Eason, Washington

A cannon arm and towering stature cannot be taught, and Eason has both in spades.

Washington Huskies quarterback Jacob Eason was the starter at Georgia before a 2017 Week 1 injury cost him his job to Jake Fromm, so a 2018 transfer brought Eason back to his home state. He’d go on to post respectable numbers in 2019 after being forced to sit out the ’18 season due to the transfer, so Eason missed nearly two full years before getting back on the field.

Coming out of high school in Washington, he was recruited as the top pro-style quarterback. As a starting true freshmen for Georgia, Eason would flash elements of why he earned such a distinction. He picked it up nicely in 2019 and started all 13 contests for the Huskies.

Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 231 pounds
40 time: 4.89 seconds

There’s a great deal about Eason to like at the next level, but it is impossible to watch him and not see glaring deficiencies in some areas of his game that may not be correctable through coaching.

Table: Jacob Eason NCAA stats (2016-17, 2019)

Year	Team	Comp	Att	Comp%	Yds	Avg	TD	INT	Long	Att	Yds	TD
2016	UGA	204	370	55.1	2,430	6.6	16	8	77	33	-45	1
2017	UGA	4	7	57.1	28	4.0	0	0	10	3	-12	0
2019	WASH	260	405	64.2	3,132	7.7	23	8	57	46	-69	1

He’s a project in the NFL, and even in the best of settings, Eason’s peak performance may not materialize quickly enough before a team moves on. Physical tools can be intoxicating to some coaches and general mangers, however.

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Pros

Arguably the strongest arm in the draft — can rip it from anywhere on the field and make all of the NFL throws (including a few that coaches won’t recommend attempting)
Sturdy frame to take hits in the pocket
Ideal fit for a play-action system with a strong running game
Showed improved accuracy in 2019 and maintains it at all levels
Can overcome issues with timing and anticipation based on his arm strength (which also can work against him)
Understands how to change his trajectory and arm angles
Showed he can overcome injury and transfer adversity

Cons

That arm strength can get him into trouble by being overly reliant on it
Too much “deer in headlights” against the blitz and tends to look for an escape or eat a sack before making it through his reads when feeling pressure
Mechanics could use some refinement, which is likely a product of having so much natural arm talent
Lacks functional athleticism in the running game — through and through a pocket passer, which limits his system fits
Inconsistently uses his eyes to look off defenders and struggles to see the whole field with regularity

Fantasy football outlook

Eason will attract some teams during the middle rounds of the draft, and it’s not crazy to think he could go late in the second round, but it will require the right situation.

He’s an ideal project for Bruce Arians in Tampa Bay, because he’ll have two years to learn behind the best QB the game has seen, and Arians’ coaching style complements Eason’s traits.

The likelihood Eason starts in the first two years (or even three) of his career appear to be low. He offers coachable traits that “wow” on tape but also makes far too many mental mistakes that may be borderline impossible to coach out of someone. There’s more Brock Osweiler than Joe Flacco here in the poise department, and it’s going to be a battle to overcome. In Eason’s case, he has the best of Flacco’s physical traits, plus a desire to go down the field, and the worst of Osweiler’s “Bambi on ice” moments.

There is no immediate fantasy football value to be found here, and even dynasty leaguers may want to think twice before investing in Eason’s future success.

Rookie Rundown: WR Gabriel Davis, Central Florida

Central Florida’s Gabriel Davis has been a big-play machine but comes with questions on the next level.

Central Florida wide receiver Gabriel Davis is coming off of a fantastic junior season in which he snagged a dozen touchdown passes. After opting to forgo his senior season, Davis finds himself as an intriguing risk-reward prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 198 pounds
40 time: 4.54 seconds

After starting 13 games as a true freshman in 2017, Davis would go on to earn first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors as a sophomore, a feat he replicated thanks to his dominant junior 2019 season.

Table: Gabriel Davis NCAA stats (2017-19)

Year	Team	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Long
2017	UCF	27	391	14.5	4	80
2018	UCF	53	815	15.4	7	75
2019	UCF	72	1,241	17.2	12	73

Pros

Long-armed frame with a big catch radius
Natural hands catcher and rarely allows the ball to get into his body
Impeccable body control in traffic — easily his best attribute
Improved across the board statistically throughout his collegiate career
Vertical threat with the ability to challenge defenders down the field — ball-tracking skills are on par with the best wideouts of this class
Noticeably talented with hand placement and strength in short area to create separation against smaller defenders one on one
Athletic enough to pull off convincing double moves and has enough burst to get out of breaks efficiently
“Gets it” in jump-ball situations — obviously understands body placement, timing, and vertical extension techniques
Quality effort blocker whose frame and functional strength should promote growth as a pro
Considerable upside with the proper coaching around him

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Cons

May struggle to gain separation consistently in the NFL, especially vs. cornerbacks near his size and strength
Doesn’t always play hard or with consistency when he isn’t involved in the play — needs to prove he is competitive enough for the NFL
Lacks explosiveness and could struggle to be as much of a big-play guy in the pros as he was at UCF
Can get wasteful with his footwork early in routes and coming into breaks — certainly fixable with proper coaching

Fantasy football outlook

Despite all of Davis’ success in college, and his consistent upward trajectory in the box scores, he is somewhat of a project at the next level.

Most prognosticators place a third-round grade on Davis, but he could go slightly higher or lower, depending upon system fit and the like. It is tough to envision him making a substantial difference as a rookie, and fantasy footballers should tuck his name away as a player to watch develop throughout the season. Davis’ has the makings of being a seldomly used situation player in Year 1.

Rookie Rundown: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire draws comparisons to several standout NFL backs.

LSU junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (pronounced “EE-laire”) entered the 2020 NFL Draft class after a strong 2019 campaign with the Tigers. “CEH” didn’t see the field much as a freshman in 2017 but experienced a significant increase in playing time as a sophomore, waiting for his time as a junior to showcase everything in the tool chest.

As a child, Edwards-Helaire lost his father to a 30-year prison sentence on a cocaine arrest, and it brought Shannon Helaire into his life as a stepfather. CEH’s biological dad is out of prison on good behavior after serving 14 years, and Edwards-Helaire’s respect for both men led to the creation of the hyphenated last name. No stranger to adversity in his personal life, Edwards-Helaire had to overcome a procession of coaches telling his family he wouldn’t amount to much due to his stature, something that became a source of motivation for him.

Height: 5-foot-7
Weight: 207 pounds
40 time: 4.6 seconds

Edwards-Helaire, as mentioned, had to wait his turn at LSU, but when he finally was granted a chance, it was obvious he belonged in the starting role. CEH ran for just over 1,400 yards on only 215 totes and showed off his skills out of the backfield, snagging 55 passes for the national champs.

The junior was recognized as a Paul Hornung Award finalist for versatility and voted to the All-SEC team twice (first-team RB, second-team returner). That versatility was on display throughout his time at LSU. Edwards-Helaire was a kickoff returner in addition to his multifaceted chores as a running back, and he even threw a touchdown pass in 2018.

Table: Clyde Edwards-Helaire NCAA stats (2017-19)

Year	Team	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2017	LSU	9	31	3.4	0	10	3	46	15.3	0
2018	LSU	146	658	4.5	7	47	11	96	8.7	0
2019	LSU	215	1,414	6.6	16	89	55	453	8.2	1

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Pros

Efficient producer due to combination of quick feet, elusive wiggle, deceiving strength, impressive vision, and a nasty jump cut … these traits make him unpredictable
Lateral quickness and cutback ability are excellent — immediately dials up burst after a downshift
Quality route-running skills and hands — chews up yardage after the catch
Low center of gravity and can disappear in a mass of humanity
Tremendous ball security
Hard worker, team-first guy with high character
Special teams experience in the return game
Limited mileage on his tires

Cons

Lacks top-end speed
May struggle in the pros to consistently challenge on the perimeter
Pass protection skills are in need of refinement — borderline functional strength vs. massive pass rushers
One year of elite production on an undefeated team full of NFL-caliber talent
Despite finding success in high school and in the toughest NCAA conference, size concerns will turn off some NFL scouting departments

Fantasy football outlook

A wide range of NFL comparisons are bandied about when it comes to Edwards-Helaire. Maurice Jones-Drew is the most obvious one, but comps to Devonta Freeman or even a smaller version of Mark Ingram may be more appropriate.

CEH’s draft stock is somewhat in question, partly because of possible limitations, a lack of premium placed on running backs, and a quality draft class. He is likely to be chosen on Day 2. The best locations for him can be boiled down to zone-blocking systems, but it doesn’t always work out that way, since coaches can convince the brass they’re capable of molding a player or system for a proper fit.

Given his special teams history, it’s quite possible he comes into an already established backfield and is used sparingly as a rookie. Edwards-Helaire could earn third-down work right away, but only if coaches are sure he isn’t going to be a liability in pass pro.

New Orleans, Buffalo, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Miami, Pittsburgh and the Los Angeles Rams are the most viable teams to draft him. Edwards-Helaire’s fantasy football value would be maximized in Tampa, LA and Miami, but he could serve as a useful spell to Todd Gurley or as a complement in Pittsburgh’s backfield. In the best-case scenario (Tampa), CEH is an RB3 or weak No. 2 in fantasy drafts.

Rookie Rundown: RB Lamical Perine, Florida

How does Florida’s Lamical Perine factor into the NFL draft and fantasy football plans?

Florida senior running back Lamical Perine enters the 2020 NFL Draft with the chops to make a roster, but it may take every bit of his grinder mentality to stick around in the pros.

Perine led the Gators in rushing in 2019 and also landed 40 receptions, finding paydirt 11 total times on the season as a 13-game starter. It was the first year in which he was given an increased role in the passing game.

Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 216 pounds
40 time: 4.62 seconds

Perine was accused of allegedly assaulting a man trying to tow a vehicle owned by his mother last May, but no charges were filed, and he is known to have a quality reputation otherwise. Work ethic and a try-hard approach to the game will give Perine his best shot at sticking around in the NFL. System fit also will be imperative for his success, since Perine’s style is almost exclusively suited for a zone-blocking scheme.

Table: Lamical Perine NCAA stats (2016-19)

Year	Team	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2016	FLA	91	421	4.6	1	59	9	161	17.9	1
2017	FLA	136	562	4.1	8	29	10	81	8.1	1
2018	FLA	134	826	6.2	7	74	13	170	13.1	1
2019	FLA	132	676	5.1	6	88	40	262	6.6	5

Pros

Quality character and work ethic — coachable and dedicated to improving
Quicker than fast and has decent enough short-area burst to get to the second level
Versatile skill set and catches the ball well despite not being utilized in such a manner until his senior year
One-cut-and-go mentality that fits into a zone-blocking scheme
Consistently found the end zone when given the opportunity — in an NFL with so much backfield compartmentalization, this may be his inroad to a stable role.
Tough runner who doesn’t shy away from contact to gain needed situational yardage
NFL bloodlines with cousins Samaje Perine and Myles Jack — his father played at Auburn
Displays adequate patience to let his blocks develop
Experienced on special teams
Effort blocker in pass protection with room to improve

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Cons

Almost no second gear to speak of and lacks breakaway ability
Needs to display more creativity to mask speed deficiency
Despite being a capable receiver, pass protection liability could keep him on the sideline for third-down chores.
Almost too eager to take on contact, which could be problematic in the NFL and lead to a shortened career.

Fantasy football outlook

Perine profiles as one of those NFL running backs who hangs around for years and fills in admirably off of the bench but never offers consistent fantasy football returns. He figures to be a Day 3 prospect and will likely be asked to carve out a role on special teams before getting a true shot at being more than a three on the depth chart. His 2020 fantasy football value is zilch at this point in time.

Rookie Rundown: RB J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State

The versatile Dobbins excelled in 2019 vs. the toughest competition to enjoy a banner year. How does he fit into fantasy football plans?

Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins wrapped up his three-year collegiate stint with a declaration to the 2020 NFL Draft. In a lead-up to the selection process that has been anything but traditional, after citing an ankle injury as the reason he wouldn’t run at the scouting combine, Dobbins did not get to run a 40-yard dash at pro day March 25, because there wasn’t one. He has previously been timed at 4.45 seconds, so speed isn’t a concern.

Height: 5-foot-9 1/2
Weight: 209 pounds
40 time: N/A

Dobbins was a starter as a true freshman after being a four-star recruit coming off of a broken leg in his first game as a high school senior — that speaks (yells?) volumes about how highly regarded he was coming into the NCAA ranks.

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He was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree in his freshman and sophomore seasons, earning first-team recognition after the 2019 season. Dobbins also was a second-team All-American and first-team all-conference selection for his standout ’19 season.

Table: J.K. Dobbins’ NCAA stats (2017-19)

Year	Team	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2017	Ohio State	194	1,403	7.2	7	77	22	135	6.1	1
2018	Ohio State	230	1,053	4.6	10	42	26	263	10.1	2
2019	Ohio State	301	2,003	6.7	21	68	23	247	10.7	2

Dobbins slowed in his sophomore campaign before rebounding in a ridiculous way as a junior. He’s widely regarded as the third-best running back prospect of this year’s class.

Pros

Durable — played in all 42 games in his time at OSU, logging 796 offensive touches (18.9/game) — and willing to play through injury
Elite production vs. elite competition — scored a touchdown against all six ranked opponents in 2019, finishing with 11 in those games
Above-average lateral movement skills and a convincing dead leg
Does a tremendous job — it’s really tough to overstate this — of setting up his one-on-one opponents in the open field. It’s arguably his best trait.
Dangerous out of the gun and in pro-style formations, suggesting he can fit in a number of offensive designs in the NFL
Runs with natural body lean, sense of balance, and a low center of gravity
Violent stiff arm that appears game after game on tape
Decisive runner whose ability to stick a foot and go is unquestionably NFL-capable
Pretty good in pass pro for his size
Versatile as a runner and receiver out of the backfield

Cons

Average or worse start-stop ability
Runs as well as his blocking affords and doesn’t create many plays from nothing
His vision isn’t necessarily a negative, but it definitely isn’t a positive — average, at best, and it may appear better than it is due to his non-stop motor. It seems to be more of an asset in the open field than in the box.
Lacks a second-gear ability — fast enough to avoid getting caught from behind by most defenders, but there’s no obvious explosive shift vs. the second tier of a defense

Fantasy football outlook

The compact-framed Dobbins does a little bit of everything on the field and is more of a grinder than a game-breaker, but his style of play eventually wears down defenders and promotes an increase in chunk plays. Aside from one horribly timed drop in a bowl game, Dobbins’ receiving skills shouldn’t be questioned, and he can hold up to the rigors of playing all three downs, if needed. In reality, the NFL’s current view on running backs will likely put him into a shared backfield.

He reminds of a blend of several players and is uniquely himself in many ways. One comparison I see on tape is DeAndre Washington, but there’s more north and south in Dobbins’ game. Other comparisons drawn by prognosticators include Doug Martin, Domanick Williams (Davis), Ray Rice and even Mark Ingram … While similarities from all of those guys are present in Dobbins’ game, he’s his own player and is versatile enough to look much different in various offensive concepts.

Since several teams could use a player of his caliber and style, it invites unlikely suitors. Dobbins probably has a third-round grade for most teams but could slip into the second if one scouting department is higher than most on him.

Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Rams are in need of a running back. KC would be an ideal spot for the long-term value of Dobbins, but he may get buried in the mess of talent around him as a rookie. The Rams and Tampa present the best Year 1 situations in fantasy football. In best-case scenario, he’s an RB2, and in the safest of designations, Dobbins will be bench fodder with the occasional flash on limited handles.

Rookie Rundown: QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

Dissecting what Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert brings to the table.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert enters the 2020 NFL Draft as one of the top prospects, regardless of position. He started seven games as a freshman in 2016 and never looked back, overcoming injury-caused adversity created in 2017 with a strong finish to his time as a Duck.

A locally grown talent, Oregon’s star passer concluded his collegiate career with a pair of All-Pac-12 honorable mentions and Academic All-American awards during each his junior and senior seasons.

Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 236 pounds
40 time: 4.68 seconds

Table: Justin Herbert NCAA stats (2016-19)

Year	Team	Comp	Att	%	Yds	Avg	TD	INT	ATT	YDS	TD
2016	Oregon	162	255	63.5	1,936	7.6	19	4	58	161	2
2017	Oregon	139	206	67.5	1,983	9.6	15	5	44	183	5
2018	Oregon	240	404	59.4	3,151	7.8	29	8	71	166	2
2019	Oregon	286	428	66.8	3,471	8.1	32	6	58	50	4

Herbert is expected to be a top-10 draft pick in April’s selection process, and several teams make plenty of sense. Don’t be surprised to hear his name called for the Las Vegas Raiders (12th) if he slides a little. The Miami Dolphins (5th) and Los Angeles Chargers (6th) are the most likely suitors, depending upon how it shakes out with LSU QB Joe Burrow (expected to go No. 1) and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (could go No. 2).

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Unless an unlikely team trades into the first 10 or so picks, Herbert’s landing spots are somewhat limited based on necessity, but there always will be coaches interested in grooming a quarterback behind a veteran for a year. In the event Herbert falls past 12th, it could get interesting as teams will look to position via trade to draft him.

Pros

Gets through progressions efficiently and is comfortable taking a checkdown — displays controlled aggression in his willingness to risk it down the field … pro-grade out of the boxing this area
Quite possibly the strongest arm in college football in 2019, but it doesn’t come at the sacrifice of putting a softer touch when needed.
Huge frame that allows him to hold his platform and deliver an accurate ball while taking a hit
Tremendous pocket awareness fueled by lively feet (this can work against him, see below)
Athletic enough to do damage with his legs but extremely adept at creating lanes with subtle movement in the pocket
Displays accuracy on the move to either direction
Clean throwing motion and delivers a very catchable ball on all three levels
Throws open targets with anticipatory awareness and a keen understanding of defensive coverage.
Looks off defenders and holds his eyes down the seam — high football IQ illustrated by his attempts-to-interception ratio and is readily apparent on film.

Cons

So many of his big plays in 2019 came via wide-open receivers thanks to a combination of coverage breakdowns and route concepts that created exaggerated separation at the collegiate level.
Needs to show he can consistently work from under center and develop timing-based dropbacks connections with his targets.
Tends to rotate or flip the ball in his hands while dropping back — minor but could lead to timing and fumbling issues as a pro with the rest of the game around him being so much faster.
The footwork is a mixed bag — when it is good, it’s really impressive, but Herbert goes through swings of playing too much on his toes, wasting a step, and not utilizing his platform to maximize drive. This is partly a product of having such a strong arm and the pitter-patter footwork is correctable.
Missed five games in 2017 with a broken collarbone

Fantasy football outlook

Say Herbert lands in Miami, there’s Ryan Fitzpatrick likely ahead of him for at least part of the season. Then there’s the obvious lack of talent around him to be concerned with, so it wouldn’t be an ideal spot for Year 1 fantasy returns.

In Las Vegas, the situation is similar. Derek Carr will start as long as he is getting the job done, and that could span the duration of the season.

The Chargers would give Herbert the best chance of making an immediate contribution in fantasy, and it wouldn’t be a monumental task to unseat Tyrod Taylor as the presumed starter.

Any which way one slices this situation, Herbert is unlikely to start from the onset of the season, and coming from a spread offense into the NFL takes time, even in today’s league that relies less on classic drop-back passing.

While Herbert’s game reminds of a young Ben Roethlisberger, his fantasy football trajectory could follow a similar path whenever Herbert actually gets a chance to take off with a full offseason of starter’s work. Since that appears to be 2021, he’s undraftable in all single-year setups until further notice.

Rookie Rundown: WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma

A star in the making, Lamb should have no shortage of suitors come draft day.

Oklahoma Sooners junior wide receiver CeeDee Lamb declared early for the 2020 NFL Draft after three productive seasons with the Sooners, in which he improved each of the past two years. He would go on to be a first-team AP All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2019, and Lamb earned recognition as a member of the All-Big 12 team.

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Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 198 pounds
40 time: 4.5 seconds

Despite a class with high-end quarterbacks and offensive linemen expected to occupy most of the top-10 draft picks, Lamb belongs in this area of the first round, even if it may not play out that way.

Table: CeeDee Lamb NCAA stats (2017-19)

Year	Rec	Yards	Avg.	TD	Long	Rush	Yards	Avg.	TD
2019	62	1,327	21.4	14	71	9	20	2.2	1
2018	65	1,158	17.8	11	86	0	0	0	0
2017	46	807	17.5	7	82	0	0	0	0

Pros

Lethal after the catch — open-field athleticism, awareness and vision jumps off of the screen when reviewing his film
Elite ball skills and tracking ability — his best traits as a receiver
One of the best receivers in the nation in contested-catch situations — attacks the ball and understands the dynamics behind optimal body placement and adjustments
Dangerous in all three levels of the route tree
Can play all over the field and is easily schemed into any system
Among the best deep-ball playmakers in college football over the last three years. No receiver averaged more yards per catch (minimum 40) in 2019
Tremendous football intelligence and off-field character
Plays after than he times
Experienced punt returner
Adequate lower-body strength to slip flimsy tackle attempts

Cons

Needs to improve efficiency in and out of breaks — could struggle to separate vs. pro-level man coverage
Limited upper-body strength with 11 reps on the 225-pound bench press and is more of an effort blocker, which could be exposed in the NFL
Thin build and doesn’t possess the frame to pack on more mass without threatening his quickness
More question marks than necessarily cons: Lamb played in an offense designed to create separation, which could have inflated his numbers after being untested by suspect Big 12 cornerbacks. How much did he benefit due to catching passes from the past two No. 1 overall picks in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray (plus Jalen Hurts)? How about playing alongside Hollywood Brown for two years?

Fantasy football outlook

As mentioned, despite being a top-10 talent, Lamb may fall victim to external circumstances. Looking at the first round, teams with the need and placement include: Arizona Cardinals (8th), New York Jets (11th), Las Vegas Raiders (12th, 19th), Indianapolis Colts (13th), Denver Broncos (15th), Miami Dolphins (18th). While Miami also has the fifth pick, it’s fully expected they will address quarterback and/or offensive tackle needs.

The most likely teams are the Jets, Raiders and Colts. It is tough to envision Lamb falling past the Raiders after the Antonio Brown fiasco left the cupboard rather barren, and the Jets absolutely need a WR1, especially if Robby Anderson doesn’t return in free agency.

In any of those three situations, the quarterback play (assuming Philip Rivers is a Colt) shouldn’t work against Lamb putting his best foot forward as a rookie. That said, the position rarely posts huge fantasy football statistics in Year 1. We’ve see several strong efforts in recent years, so think of Lamb as a beast-case WR2 and most likely a weekly flex consideration on talent alone.

Rookie Rundown: WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

Rookie rundown for WR Jerry Jeudy of Alabama

Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Alabama junior declared for the draft after two stellar seasons and is most likely to be the first wideout taken and no worst than the second. He’s considered a rare blend of size, speed, and talent that can translate immediately into a starting role for an NFL team.

Height: 6-1
Weight: 193 pounds
40 time: 4.45 seconds

He became a starter in his sophomore season when he ended as a first-team All-American and the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s best receiver. He was not quite as productive as a junior but still ended and one of the best receivers in the country and led the Crimson Tide for a second season. Jeudy was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and needed just one season to work his way to the top of the talent-rich roster at Alabama.

Year	Games	Catch	Yards	Avg.	TD	Runs	Yards.	Total Yards	Total TDs
2017	8	14	264	18.9	2	0	0	264	2
2018	15	68	1315	19.3	14	0	0	1315	14
2019	13	77	1163	15.1	10	1	1	1164	10

Pros

Played the outside and the slot in a pro-style offense versus SEC defenses.
Plays alls position and can move around if needed.
His 4.45/40-time includes great quickness from the line and early acceleration in intermediate and deep routes.
Expected to be an NFL starter immediately with as much upside to become an elite receiver as anyone in this class.
Precise route runner that a quarterback can rely on.
Displayed great deep skills with a 19.3-yard average in 2018, then excelled in shorter and intermediate routes last year.
Capable of scoring on any play, dangerous in the open field with the ball
Tough receiver that can catch in traffic and hold on to the ball.
Expected to become a valuable third-down target.

Cons

Wiry frame could use more bulk to handle NFL-quality jams and press coverage.
Not expected to offer return duties.
Speed and tracking ability likely to see him work as a deep threat at least initially.
Benefitted from a program that ran the ball often and very well.

Fantasy outlook

Jeudy projects as a first-rounder and likely a top-ten overall draft pick. He has all the background characteristics that say he’ll be a starting No. 1 wideout for a team and has the talent to become a Pro-Bowl caliber player. As with any receiver, the offense and quarterback that he plays with will have a large bearing on his success.

Potential suitors include the Bills who need a go-to receiver better than the aging John Brown. Jeudy could provide Josh Allen with a weapon to use for the next several years. The Raiders are also expected to consider Jeudy after spending 2019 with a marginal receiving crew and there is the need for excitement in their new digs in Las Vegas. Like the Bills, the Jets are also expected to be in the market for a top receiver to pair with Sam Darnold.

Rookie receivers tend to underperform expectations for fantasy leaguers but Jeudy will not only be the first rookie wideout taken in the NFL draft, but also in fantasy drafts. His landing spot matters greatly, but he’ll be a benefit where ever he ends up.