We are talking about one of the deepest rookie wide receiver classes in years. Wide receivers have become a crucial part of any good fantasy football team. Uncover strategic insights while upgrading your fantasy team with our expert rookie rankings!
Welcome to our dynasty wide receiver rookies article. We are discussing the most electric position in fantasy football. This is one of the deepest wide receiver classes in years with talent that will add value instantly in redraft and dynasty. We will break down dynasty rookie into tiers and give some analysis.
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Tier 1 Rookie WR Rankings
Elite Talent
Marvin Harrison Jr, Ohio State
Malik Nabers, LSU
Everyone is familiar with the name Marvin Harrison. The first thoughts that come to mind are Hall of Famer and All-Pro. Marvin Harrison’s son, Marvin Harrison Jr, shows a lot of the same talent and hard work as his father. Now he is a taller and stronger athlete than his father and shows true top 5 talent coming into this year’s draft. He is a great route technician, aware of space and coverage. Allowing his frame and hands to catch just about any pass his way with a 60% contested catch percentage. Harrison Jr will be a clear-cut top pick in upcoming dynasty drafts.
Now I have Malik Nabers a lot closer to Marvin Harrison Jr than most. Another amazing LSU wide receiver to come out, Malik’s ability to create plays after the catch and go up to grab the ball at the high point, will put him as a top 20 pick this year. Malik finished with a 61.9% contested catch percentage and was able to separate himself from defensive backs with 48% of his 1,017 yards coming after the catch. Plays both the outside and slot, allowing him to be versatile for any offense he gets to play for at the highest level. Both of these wide receivers will easily fall between the 1.02-1.06 in dynasty drafts.
Tier 2 Rookie WR Rankings
Day 1 Starters
Rome Odunze, Washington
Adonai Mitchell, Texas
Xavier Legette, South Carolina
Troy Franklin, Oregon
Rome Odunze starts off my next tier, Day 1 Starters. A finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, Odunze comes off an amazing junior year, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,553 yards and 13 touchdowns. Odunze shows great athleticism and speed. Shows effortless route running, able to deceive defensive backs with his quick feet and head movement allowing himself to open up his route tree.
Speaking of quick feet, Xavier Legette is one of the better receivers in and out of his routes in this class. He had an 86.1 PFF Grade against man coverage and he’s a great vertical threat with 554 deep yards in 2023. He does lack the ability against contested catches and I would’ve loved to have seen more out of him from the Senior Bowl since 2023 was his breakout year.
My next receiver Adonai “AD” Mitchell left Georgia to come to Texas and showed up very well finishing with 11 TDs. AD has some of the best hands in the class and catches away from the body. Has incredible body control, coordination, and ball-tracking ability working the boundary. One of my favorite aspects of AD’s game is his run-blocking ability. Bullying defensive backs and creating lanes for his running back.
Another outstanding receiver in this class is Troy Franklin. Now he is a little bit on the smaller size (6’3″ 187lbs) compared to some of these other incoming receivers, but he plays strong and is able to do a great job with contested catches. Franklin plays a lot outside and shows great body control, especially on the sidelines. Very explosive (estimated 4.35 40) and his big-play ability allows him to open up the deep threat in any offensive scheme he’s in. His biggest concern really is his route tree and his lighter frame, being able to hold up during a 17-game season in the NFL.
Tier 3 Rookie WR Rankings
High Upside
Johnny Wilson, FSU
Xavier Worthy, Texas
Keon Coleman, FSU
Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Tez Walker, North Carolina
Brian Thomas Jr comes into this class as the “other” LSU receiver. Playing alongside Nabers, kept many from seeing how great Brian played in 2023. He led the FBS with 17TDs with 1,177 yards receiving. A very explosive receiver and a deep threat for any team he joins, he’s able to go up for contested catches. I see the concern in his route running. He tends to bend routes instead of sharp turns and has little moves to get off the line if across a physical defensive back. He will be a great WR2, like Jaylen Waddle or Tee Higgins.
Leaving Michigan State and coming to Florida State was a great move for Keon Coleman. He had an instant connection with Jordan Travis and made big plays leading the team with 11 TDs. His size gives him such an advantage over smaller backs with his amazing ability for 50-50 jump balls. Coleman’s lack of separation off the line or route running is a concern at the next level. His size and hands give him great upside if his new receiver coach can help him in his route tree.
Speaking of FSU receivers, Let’s talk about a unique receiver in Johnny Wilson. Size will be the first thing that stands out for him. He’s 6’7″, 235lbs, and has great explosiveness and body control for his size. He runs routes very well and uses his body like a basketball player preventing defensive backs from breaking up the pass. Though he uses his size well and route tree is great, my biggest concern watching him is his ball tracking and concentration. Drops can be a concern and could be a player who could transition to a tight-end role due to his size.
Now I am looking forward to seeing Xavier Worthy at the combine to see his true 40-yard dash. He is
expected to run a 4.29 and it shows on the field. Because of his ability to get deep, defensive backs tend to play off allowing him to create space. His spatial awareness allows him to be a great target for the quarterback (106 QB Rating when targeted). I want to see him in an offense that will move him around to keep him off physical defensive backs due to his size (160lbs).
Now two receivers I was excited to see at the Senior Bowl were Ladd McConkey and Tez Walker, and both had two different outcomes there. McConkey was talked about a lot and showed up really well in practices and 1-on-1 ones. Tez struggled in practice and had an even worse Senior Bowl game. So, let’s start with McConkey. He was one of the highest-graded receivers against single coverage with a 96.9 PFF grade. McConkey is an outstanding route runner, with excellent short-area quickness; capable of creating separation and threatening down the seam. He does lack the size to consistently win on the outside and struggles against contested catches but his ability in the middle and separation helps him stand out.
Tez is a great playmaker with the ball in his hands. He has a tall frame and long arms which helps with outside-sideline catches as well as 50-50 jump balls. What I wish I had seen more from the Senior Bowl was his ability to separate from defensive backs, especially, more talented and physical defensive backs. His size and playmaking ability make him a very high-upside player this draft.
Honorable Mention
- Roman Wilson, Michigan
- Luke McCaffrey, Rice
- Antwane Wells Jr, South Carolina
- Moose Muhammad lll, Texas A&M
- Malik Washington, Virginia
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