All the buzz surrounding the NFL draft and the pending dynasty rookie drafts soon to follow are all the potential stud wide receivers out there for needy teams, real and fantasy. The first round of your rookie drafts will see over half of the selections for wide receivers, maybe more. Selecting the right ones could put you on the path to dynasty dominance. The wrong one keeps you holding up the rest of your league, and your back pain continues.
These top five players are the ones I am personally targeting this season, and sure the order can change a little depending on the franchise that drafts them.
What is it that I am looking for when I invest my number one pick for a wide receiver? There are things you can't teach; height, weight, hand size, and arm length. Combine that with measurables; vertical, 40 yard dash, broad jump, even bench press. How do these guys play on the big stage? I want my first round wide receivers to be over 6' tall, over 200 pounds and to have 4.50 forty speed or better. The targets spots in the NFL are very small these days, the corners and safeties are getting larger and taller, so it makes perfect sense to me that a tall, fast receiver that can give the quarterback more of a target zone will be the one's who will be future cornerstones for a dynasty team.
1. SAMMY WATKINS
There is not much more that you can say about Watkins. He combines all aspects you want: size, strength, and speed. Add his 32" arms, 9.5" hand size and you have your dynasty receiver for the next 10 years. He will go to a needy team and immediately be their number one guy, unless Detroit moves up in the draft to get him. He won't be on any dynasty board after pick 2. He is also an experienced kick and punt returner that include those stats in their dynasty.
2. MIKE EVANS
Johnny Manziel's favorite target comes in at number two. Not a bad consolation prize if you miss out on Watkins. At 6'5", over 230 pounds, 35" arms, 9.5" hands, and 4.50 forty speed, you have breakaway speed with upside for touchdown targets. Quarterbacks are salivating at the huge wingspan they can fire into and has the weight and strength to break tackles. He played in the most competitive conference in college and will learn to refine his routes in the pros. Certain top 4 dynasty pick.
3. ALLEN ROBINSON
Yeah, I am a Penn State homer. However, in dynasty, there are no favorites, not for me. I may root for a team or player that I enjoyed in college on Sunday, but they won't be drafted by me if they can't cut it in my opinion. I watched him throughout his career and saw a guy who made Matt McGloin look better than he probably was. Every defense was out to stop this guy, and he still dominated. When I watch him high point a ball, it's like watching Alshon Jeffrey. He's 6'2", 220, 32" arms, 9.5" hands, 42" vertical, and can run 4.45 forty times. He shouldn't get out of the first round of your dynasty and could go top five.
4. JORDAN MATTHEWS
Jerry Rice's cousin (yes, that Jerry Rice) certainly has the pedigree of a great receiver. At 6'3", 212 pounds, over 33" arms, 10-3/8" hands, 4.46 40 speed. Good route runner and adapt at playing inside or outside. Large catch radius and has ability to catch the ball one-handed. Should go easily in a dynasty first round. 112 catches and 1477 yards receiving in 2013.
5. DONTE MONCRIEF
People took notice of this athlete at the combine. He is 6'2", 221, 4.40 forty time. He has 9-1/8 hands and 32-1/4" arms. He runs great routes and blocks downfield very well, which tells me he doesn't take plays off. He will be a night for cornerbacks to cover. He has finally started moving up the rankings for some, but not high enough in my opinion. His two best games of the year were against LSU and Auburn.
Kevin Powell is a contributing writer for:
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Email --kpowell1962@gmail.com
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