With the NFL Draft in the books, it’s time to turn our attention to which college prospects are next in line to absorb the snap and target share left behind by this year’s prospects. Which Devy players are worth monitoring and which aren’t? Find out in this wide receiver edition of rookie replacements. Prospects are covered by relevant draft capital with a few UDFA bonuses.
Rookie: Drake London – Pick 8 / Atlanta Falcons
Replacement:
Jordan Addison: Following a breakout true freshman season in 2020, Jordan Addison, Jordan Addison, a former 4-star recruit from the 2020 class, delivered a tremendous secondary breakout as a sophomore last season. He was a consensus First-Team All-American and became Pitt’s 3rd Biletnikoff Award winner alongside Antonio Bryant and Larry Fitzgerald. Addison also improved his Dominator Rating from 28.5% to 36.2%, while capturing 1/3 of the team’s share of receiving yards and a downright wicked 38% of the team’s TD share in 2021. He now joins Caleb Williams at USC and is primed for another 1,000-plus yard season with Lincoln Riley’s high-powered offense ready to prove the Spartans are contenders. With the NFL showing some leniency lately toward lower-massed receivers, Addison could be a lock for day one capital and is a top-tier Devy asset.
Mario Williams: Mario Williams was rated as a 4-star and the fourth-best receiver in the 2021 recruit class according to 247Sports composite rankings. Williams held 34 offers that included Alabama, Clemson, and Auburn. Williams had a solid freshman season with the Sooners, posting 380 yards and four touchdowns. He did fade out after Week 11 against Baylor but showed enough in his early play to get excited for his potential as a Devy prospect. Wiliams followed Lincon Riley to USC and now teamed back up with Caleb Williams. The instant chemistry with Williams and knowledge of Riley’s offensive system is tremendous for his 2022 projection. Like Addison, the NFL has become forgiving to thinner receivers that show the ability to separate and play inside or outside. Willaims should also be considered a valuable Devy asset.
Rookies:
Garrett Wilson – Pick 10 / New York Jets
Chris Olave – Pick 11 / New Orleans Saints
Replacements:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: As a former 5-star recruit in the 2020 class, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has the pedigree and skill set to be a dynamic receiving weapon at the next level. His 25.9% dominator and 3.23 yards per team pass attempt last season give him a solid breakout year, and it’s one that put him on the map right. Smith-Njigba is a top-five Devy asset in all formats and needs to be rostered now.
Marvin Harrison Jr.: Not receiving much attention coming out in the 2021 class, Marvin Harrison Jr. is a former 4-star that has excelled quickly with the Buckeyes and looks to take over the perimeter this upcoming season. Being the son of former Son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison is not something to overlook. Harrison has already showcased he can be an excellent receiver and has the bloodline that makes him very intriguing. He’s another Devy asset that should be rostered right now as his value will only soar once the season starts.
Rookies:
Jameson Williams – Pick 12 / Detroit Lions
John Metchie – Pick 44 / Houston Texans
Replacements:
Jermaine Burton: Burton transferred from Georgia to Alabama after having a sensational 2020 season. Even with injuries plaguing him last season, he was still able to produce, but never to the extent that put him back on the Devy map. Last season, Burton posted a 13.92% DR and 144.4 passer rating when targeted. Reports are out that Burton already has incredible chemistry with Bryce Young. Look for Burton to propel his draft capital next season and revamp his Devy value.
Ja’Corey Brooks: Brooks was once a highly regarded 5-star receiver who attended Booker T. Washington High School in Miami and finished his high school career at IMG Academy under Bobby Acosta. In his freshman season with the Crimson Tide, Brooks saw opportunity in the season’s final few games. He finished the season with a DR of 5.96% and a 110 passer rating when targeted. In his limited time, Brooks showcased his ability my a nice ball tracking reception of a touchdown. With Jameson Williams and John Metchie off to the NFL, Brooks will man the outside and absorb some of the 352 targets that will be left behind. Look for a sophomore breakout from Brooks in 2022. He should display enough to earn blue-chip status in the Devy community.
JoJo Earle: If there is a player with the twitchy, athletic upside and speed to garner a comp even close to Jaylen Waddle, it’s Earle. He was rated as a 4-star recruit and held 27 offers. At the beginning of the season, he looked like he had already carved a role, but that dwindled quickly. He suffered a leg injury against New Mexico State, which was it for Earle’s freshman season. Earle is a dual-sport athlete with a tremendous special team presence. He can play anywhere on offense and will have an opportunity to carve out a role early on this season. This time around I have faith he will impress. In Devy, Earle is a rosterable asset with day one or two draft capital projection.
Notable receivers to monitor: Shazz Preston and Thaiu Jones-Bell
Rookies: Jahan Dotson – Pick 16 / Washington Commanders
Replacement:
KeAndre Lambert-Smith: We know about Parker Washington, and he is most likely to replace some of the production left behind by Jahan Dotson, but KeAndre Lambert-Smith is an exciting player that could surprise in 2022. The nephew of former Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor was a 4-star recruit in the 2020 class and held 24 offers. He has played out wide the last two seasons and could finally put together a campaign that bumps him up Devy ranks. Coming out of high school, Lambert-Smith ran a 4.50, jumped 39 inches, and 3.83 shuttle at the Opening Regionals in 2019. If we have learned anything from Penn State prospects, they constantly improve their high school numbers drastically, so Lambert-Smith could be a big-time riser once he performs at the combine. Don’t overlook him.
Rookie: Treylon Burks – Pick 18 / Tennessee Titans
Replacement:
Jadon Haselwood: Once rated as the best receiver in the 2019 recruit class, Jadon Haselwood has found a new home with the Razorbacks. After three years with Oklahoma and never surpassing 750 receiving yards during that time, Haselwood will now look to replace the production left behind by Treylon Burks. In 2021, Burks saw 88 targets and posted 1,100 receiving yards. As enticing as it is to think that Haselwood could soak up that vacated production, the fact is that Burks is a much better prospect than Haslewood. There should be no reason why Haselwood can’t finally have a breakout season in 2022, but I’d imagine more of 800 yards and six touchdown stat line than anything Burks put up this past season. If you own Haselwood, be thankful for the second chance, but temper your expectations.
Notable receiver: Matt Landers
Rookie: Christian Watson – Pick 34 – Green Bay Packers
Replacement:
Zach Mathis: An unfortunate series of injuries for Zach Mathis has left him playing in just 23 games over the last four years. According to Mathis, he screwed up his hip flexor, broke and dislocated his pinky, broke his elbow, tore his MCL, and tore his meniscus twice. Needless to say, it’s been a long road for Mathis, but he is finally healthy now, and the 6’6″ 205lb receiver is ready to take over for Christian Watson. In Devy circles, he’s an obvious non-add, but a name to monitor for next season, just in case.
Rookie: Wan’Dale Robinson – Pick 43 / New York Giants
Replacement:
Tayvion Robinson: It’s going to be challenging to fill the shoes of Wan’Dale Robinson, who held 45% of the receiving yard market share for Kentucky last season, but Tayviojn Robinson looks primed to try and do so. The former 4-star from the 2019 class initially committed to Virginia Tech but transferred to Kentucky in December 2021. Robinson is entering his senior year and currently has 1,526 yards and nine touchdowns on his resume with Virginia Tech. This could be a breakout year for him if he and Will Levis’s reports already have chemistry are true. He’s a CFF asset and a wait-and-see Devy type for rookie drafts.
Rookies: Tyquan Thornton – Pick 50 – New England Patriots
Replacements:
Hal Presley: Rated as a 3-star in the 2021 recruit class, Presley looks to have an opportunity to take over some of the production left behind by Thornton. In regards to Devy, Presley doesn’t hold much value and is currently not a rosterable asset, but his length is intriguing.
Monaray Baldwin: He is also rated as a 3-star from the 2021 recruit class. Baldwin has more of the explosive talent to take over the role of Tyquan Thornton. He ran a 10.66 100-meter which is equivalent to a 4.45 – 4.5 40 time. Baldwin also doesn’t possess much value in Devy, and Baylor’s development of receivers to the NFL doesn’t have an excellent track record either.
Rookies: George Pickens – Pick 52 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Replacements:
Adonai Mitchell: Mitchell was not a highly regarded recruit coming out in the 2021 class. He was rated as a 3-star but did have 20 offers. He has the height of 6’4″ to make a difference on the outside, where he spent 95% of his time last season. He displays the adjustment and catch radius needed to replace a player like George Pickens. He will need to improve his concentration as he had six drops on just 52 targets last year. This is something to monitor as he continues to develop.
Arik Gilbert: Arik Gilbert is a big-time athletic specimen who has had a rough start on and off the field. It looks as though he finally has a solid foundation at Georgia, but that is contingent on him moving to wide receiver. With Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington, and the emergence of Oscar Delp this spring, Gilbert needs to be officially a WR for his value to rise. He is absolutely a name to monitor as we go through this off-season.
Arian Smith: Smith is a dynamic receiver with legit track speed. Looking at how the NFL is valuing speed now, Smith could be in line for day two draft capital by default.
Notable receivers: Ladd McConkey, Dominick Blaylock
Rookie: Alec Pierce – Pick 53 – Indianapolis Colts
Replacement:
Tyler Scott: With Alec Pierce off to the NFL, Tyler Scott takes over as the Bearcats WR1. Last season Scott posted 520 yards and five touchdowns off 45 targets. Scott will have a noticeable decline in quarterback play with Desomd Ridder no longer there, but still, the former 3-star recruit with a basketball and track background should soak up some of the 82 targets left behind by Alec Pierce. Look to Scott as a possible college fantasy addition, but his lack of production, size, and route-running limits him as a Devy free agent.
Rookie: Skyy Moore – Pick 54 / Kansas City Chiefs
Replacement:
Corey Crooms: Rated as a 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, Corey Crooms held just seven offers. Last season while playing along with Skyy Moore, Crooms posted 768 yards and six touchdowns on 44 receptions. His 16.4 yards per reception makes him very intriguing as a playmaker downfield. He doesn’t have elite athleticism and posted a 4.90 40 time, but the on-field speed looks much better than his 40. Like Jahan Dotson’s high school numbers, Crooms will time better once he reaches the next level. His 24% dominator and 2.08 yards per team pass attempt last season while sharing the field with Moore should put him on radars this season as he has the potential for putting up well over 1,000 yards if his development and QB play is on schedule.
Rookie: Velus Jones Jr. – Pick 71 / Chicago Bears
Replacement:
Cedric Tillman: Velus Jones Jr. exploded last year, which was unexpected considering he did almost nothing at USC for years. Similarly, Cedric Tillman, a former 3-star from the 2018 class, had minimal production until he posted 931 yards and nine touchdowns last season. With 67 targets vacated by Jones Jr., Tillman could be in store for a massive 2022 campaign with Hender Hooker under center once again. Tillman will be 23 at the time of next year’s draft, but he’ll still be two years younger than Jones Jr. was as a third-rounder. Also, Tillman has a bloodline as his father played four NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Tillman tests well at the combine, he could be a big-time riser and have desirable draft capital.
Notable receiver to monitor: Bru McCoy
Rookies: Jalen Tolbert – Pick 88 / Dallas Cowboys
Replacement:
Jalen Wayne: Filling in for Jalen Tolbert won’t be an easy task, but Jalen Wayne looks to be the next man up. Wayne is a former 2-star from the 2017 recruit class. Since 2017, he’s seen only 150 targets. He does have a solid bloodline as his uncle is former Colts receiver Reggie Wayne. Turning 23 on May 13th of this year, Wayne will be an older prospect with just over 1,000 yards and five touchdowns to his name to this point in his career. He will be an exciting prospect to follow, but that’s about it.
Rookie: David Bell – Pick 99 / Cleveland Browns
Replacement:
Tyrone Tracy: There are a few options that could arise at receiver for Purdue. Still, with Milton Wright recently becoming academically ineligible, the door opens for Tyrone Tracy, who transferred from Iowa after spending the last four years as a Hawkeye. The former 3-star from the 2018 class enters 2022 with just 865 yards and five touchdowns under his belt. His best season came in 2019 when he saw a career-high of 63 targets and produced 589 yards and three touchdowns. He also had eight drops that season, so something to monitor. He will also turn 23 in November, so age is not on his side. What is on his side is opportunity. He is more of a CFF target than Devy, but a prospect you want to get to know.
Rookies: Danny Gray – Pick 105 / San Fransico 49ers
Replacement:
Rashee Rice: With 79 targets last year, Rashee Rice could see a nice jump in target share with Reggie Roberson and Danny Gray off to the NFL. In the 2019 class, Rice was a 3-star with 23 offers. He has solid length at 6’3″ and mass of just over 200lbs. He could see a jump in Devy ADP as it is inevitable for him to see an uptick in production. Probably not a draft capital candidate, but worth keeping an eye on.
Rookie: Erik Ezukanma – Pick 125 / Miami Dolphins
Replacement:
Myles Price: Working from the slot might not precisely replace Erik Ezukanma, who played 80% on the outside, but Myle Price looks to be the best candidate to lead the team in targets next season. Price is a former 3-star from the 2020 class. He was vastly productive in high school as a receiver and runner, producing 3,884 total yards, including 1,606 rushing and 2,278 receiving in his three years at The Colony high school in Texas. Now going into his junior year and putting on over 20lbs since his recruitment, Price could be a solid target for college fantasy and a rookie draft target if he puts together a productive 2022 season.
Notable receiver to monitor: Loic Fouonji
Rookie: Romeo Doubs – Pick 132 / Green Bay Packers
Replacement:
Jamaal Bell: Bell is another prospect that has been with Nevada for the last two years but doesn’t have an effective resume to this point. That can all change as Bell looks to be a solidified starter and has already impressed during the spring game this off-season. The former 3-star from the 2020 recruit class is undersized and has a lackluster profile. Bell isn’t a name to worry about in Devy and has a low potential floor in CFF.
Rookie: Calvin Austin III – Pick 138 / Pittsburgh Steelers
Replacement:
Javon Ivory: A former 3-star in the 2019 recruit class, Javon Ivory held 9 offers. Ivory has good length to maximize his catch radius and has experience playing DB in high school, which correlates with how receivers develop and project at the next level. Going into his fourth year, Ivory should have a great opportunity to exceed his production from past years and possibly be a receiver we discuss in next year’s draft class.
Notable receivers: Joseph Scates, Zach Switzer
Rookies: Khalil Shakir – Pick 148 / Buffalo Bills
Replacements:
Stefan Cobbs: Cobbs is a former 3-star recruit from the 2018 recruit class. He is a redshirt senior season this season and, to this point in his career, hasn’t shown enough to be considered an asset in Devy or CFF. This could be a career year for him, but how the Boise State offense looked during the spring game doesn’t provide much confidence that Cobbs will improve his value this season.
Rookie: Kyle Philips – Pick 163 / Tennessee Titans
Replacement:
Logan Loya: A former 4-star recruit from the 2020 class, Logan Loya looks to man the slot where Kyle Philips has left a void. With only four targets in his two years at UCLA, Loya has spoken out about his preparation this offseason and how he is ready for his opportunity this upcoming season. Nearly identical in stature to Philips, Loya could surprise this season and make a name for himself in his third season. The lack of targets and opportunities is a bit of a red flag, but Loya needs a solid campaign to put him on evaluators’ radars.
Rookie: Mike Woods – Pick 202 / Cleveland Browns
Replacement:
Jalil Farooq: A product out of Landham, Maryland, Jalil Farooq was a highly regarded 4-star coming out of the 2021 class. He possesses solid size and has shown within his high school film that he can be dynamic after the catch. He looks to compete with Drake Stoops for the slot role, and seniority could help the redshirt senior Stoops get the first crack to open the season. Nonetheless, in terms of Devy, Farooq is an exciting player to monitor here. Due to Covid, Farooq’s high school didn’t play football in the fall of 2020 or the spring of 2021. Lack of experience could hinder his development, but he is a prospect to keep on your radar.
Rookie: Bo Melton – Pick 229 / Seattle Seahawks
Taj Harris: Harris transfers from Syracuse, where he played the last four years. He saw just over 250 targets and produced just under 2,000 yards and 10 touchdowns during that span. Harris now enters a semi-deep group of receivers at Rutgers and looks to take over where Bo Melton left off. Harris turned 22 in April and will be 23 at the time of the NFL Draft. Based on his current profile and range of possibilities in 2022, he most likely won’t see the capital needed to make him a Devy-worthy asset.
UDFA Bonus:
Rookies: Justyn Ross
Replacements:
Joseph Ngata: Ngata was once a highly regarded recruit in the 2019 recruit class. He has excellent size, and his high school film would lead you to believe he can be a manipulative route runner and stack defenders on the nine route with solid long speed. We have not seen any of that to this point in his career. Injuries and lack of development have held Ngata back, but his upside is that of a future potential WR1. Looking at the fact he has only seen 90 targets in his three years with the Tigers is a major red flag. Even with a good year in 2022, I’m not sure Ngata can do enough to regain his value, but George Pickens’s draft capital will be a good measure of how NFL teams value upside over college production.
Beaux Collins: A 4-star recruit from the 2021 class, Beaux Collins came into Clemson and immediately showcased his ability on the field. Collins was a bright spot to look upon for the future in what could be considered a down year for the Tigers. He has solid speed and plays with toughness above the rim. There are some glimpses of Justyn Ross when you watch him. Collins is a rosterable Devy asset and should see an even more significant uptick in value after net season.
Dacari Collins: Decari came in just a couple of spots behind Baeux in 247Sports recruit ranks as another 4-star recruit in the 2021 class. He has tremendous length for an outside receiver and is a jump ball magnet in contested situations. He doesn’t play with the same athleticism and speed that Beaux possesses but is a nice compliment as a second-level and RedZone target. As much as Collins will most likely have a productive career at Clemson, I’m not sold he has the athletic traits to get the draft capital worth rostering him in Devy.
Notable receivers: Brannon Spector, EJ Williams (Out due to knee surgery)
Rookie: Charleston Rambo
Replacement:
Frank Ladson: There is no telling if Frank Ladson can resurrect his career, but if anyone has the skillset to take over for Charleston Rambo, it’s Ladson. He has the length and long strides to beat defenders downfield and stack defenders within this route stem. Ladson’s struggles come from his inability to separate at the line of scrimmage and at the top of his route. If he can be lined up in space and sent on a nine route, the possibility of him winning is high. I’m not sold on Ladson in Devy, but he could be an interesting add in CFF.
Rookies: Kevin Austin
Replacement:
Lorenzo Styles III: Another product of the 2021 class, Lorenzo Styles, a 4-star recruit, looks to take over for Kevin Austin in the Irish offense. Styles has played in the slot the majority of the spring, but Braden Lenzy could be moved outside to be a deep threat, or Styles could be the perimeter guy as well. Time will tell, but Styles could be productive either way and looks to possibly have a breakout season on the horizon. He is a rosterable Devy asset in deeper leagues.
