Wide Receivers 1-10
Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
Jerry Jeudy consistently impressed during his time with Alabama. The speedster scored 24 touchdowns over his last 28 games with the Crimson Tide. In 2018 he was first among all SEC players in touchdown receptions. Jeudy racked up 159 receptions in his three years with Alabama and totaled over 2700 yards.
Fantasy Outlook
I see a lot of Odell Beckham Jr. in Jeudy. Jerry doesn’t have quite the same sure hands that OBJ had coming out of LSU but almost everything else is similar in their respective games. Jeudy has fantastic burst speed off the line and can maintain impressive speed when going deep. He uses his fantastic footwork to run crisp routes and uses his feet to gain impressive separation from defenders. This versatility means Jeudy can play all over the field and run all sorts of routes from short to intermediate to deep. Although he’s on the smaller side, Jeudy can still make contested catches in the endzone.
What to Watch for
As the de facto number one wide receiver option, Jeudy doesn’t have much to prove in the combine. Just sit back and enjoy the performance. Jerry’s impeccable footwork should impress in both the 40-yard dash and the sideline tap drills. Jeudy’s frame is a little below average at six feet, one inch. I’ll be keeping an eye on his vertical jump to see if he can still get up there to make the play.
Potential Landing Spots
Jeudy is a unique talent that plenty of teams may find difficult to pass up. After all, who couldn’t use an elite number one receiver on their squad? I’ve seen Jeudy linked with numerous teams including (but not limited to) the Detroit Lions, New York Giants, New York Jets, and the Las Vegas Raiders. One thing is for sure though, Jeudy will be off the board before the 13th pick of the 2020 draft.
CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
Largely considered the second-best receiving option in 2020, CeeDee Lamb likely won’t have to wait long for his name to be called. Lamb was pretty consistent over his three years spent with Oklahoma. He averaged about 57 receptions each season and accrued more than 3200 receiving yards. In 2019, he ranked first in the Big 12 in yards per reception and receiving touchdowns.
Fantasy Outlook
If I had to compare Lamb to a current NFL wide receiver it would likely have to be DeAndre Hopkins mainly due to his catch radius and body control near the sidelines. Lamb can effortlessly twist his body into an open area, making poor throws seem much better than they were. Lamb has marvelous footwork which earns him my highest elusivity grade among 2020 wide receivers. His cuts are capable of shaking some of the best corners. As a result, CeeDee posts some impressive yards-after-the-catch numbers and is very difficult to bring down.
What to Watch for
Lamb has been praised for his sure hands over the past few years. I’ll keep a close eye on CeeDee during the gauntlet drill to be sure his natural hands are every bit as good as they say. Lamb can cut well in open space, but I’m curious to see him “beat the drums” in the pass routes drill.
Potential Landing Spots
Lamb will likely be picked somewhere in the first half of the first round in the 2020 NFL draft. I’ve seen him linked to teams like the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and the Las Vegas Raiders. That being said, this draft is insanely deep with wide receiver talent. It wouldn’t be that out-of-the-ordinary for Lamb to fall back a bit.
Jalen Reagor, TCU
At 5-11 and 195 pounds, Jalen Reagor is built more like a running back at first glance. TCU even gave him 35 rushing attempts over his three years with the horned frogs. He was the Big 12’s number one punt returner in 2019 but still put up impressive receiving numbers. Reagor had 22 touchdown receptions with TCU and over 2200 receiving yards.
Fantasy Outlook
Reagor is a true speed demon who is capable of taking the top off a defense at any time. I tend to compare him to guys like DeSean Jackson or Will Fuller. Reagor is quick but he’s truly dangerous when he gets up to top speed. He’s capable of playing out wide even with his lower stature because his speed allows him to create impressive separation. Reagor could make for a solid rookie dynasty pick if he lands on the right team.
What to Watch for
I’ve heard that Reagor can run a 4.29 40-yard dash. That’s ridiculously fast. I want to see if he can show us that speed in the combine. We know his top speed is good, but I want to see how quickly Reagor can run the short shuttle. Route running is one of Jalen’s worst abilities. He will likely need some coaching in that area. NFL teams will keep a close eye on Jalen during the pass routes drill to see exactly how much coaching is needed in that department.
Potential Landing Spots
Teams looking for a potential home run hitter on offense and special teams may look to Reagor, though it may be a surprise to see him taken in the first. I could see teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, or Green Bay Packers toying with the idea of taking him in the first.
Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
Shenault Jr. put up 149 receptions and a little under 2000 receiving yards in his three years with Colorado. He led the Pac-12 in receptions in 2018. Laviska played more games with each season but never totaled more than 11 in one season. His injury report will play a big part in NFL teams’ potential interest in 2020.
Fantasy Outlook
I believe Shenault Jr. is fairly similar to JuJu Smith-Schuster. His burst speed is pretty mediocre but he does so many things the right way. Shenault runs a crisp route, catches with his hands, has good control, and can make difficult highly-contested catches. Although his best skill is his toughness. Laviska could fall pretty far in fantasy drafts if he falls in the combine. Inconsistent QB play and injuries have left a rather large question mark on this receiver.
What to Watch for
I’ll be looking to see if Shenault Jr. can show his agility in the 2020 combine. His 220-pound frame is fairly thick for a wide receiver. NFL teams will want Shenault Jr. to prove he can still play at 110% at the next level. They will want to see if Laviska has enough speed to make him a true threat, or if he will just be another possession receiver.
Potential Landing Spots
Shenault Jr. is worthy of a first-round pick but could just as easily fall much further with a poor combine performance. Even if he falls, I could see the Cincinnati Bengals taking him with the first pick of the second round. Other teams that have expressed interest in Shenault Jr. are the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and Green Bay Packers.
Tee Higgins, Clemson
Higgins’ stats aren’t overly impressive, but that’s mainly because he was playing for such a talented team in Clemson. The Tigers have tons of talent on their team, so Higgins had to perform with the opportunities he was given. It’s also worth noting that the Tigers blew out so many teams that Higgins was on the bench quite a bit in the second half. That being said, Tee was still number one in receiving touchdowns in the ACC in 2018 and 2019.
Fantasy Outlook
Standing at six feet, four inches; Tee Higgins is the tallest receiver in our top ten. As a result, his game is much different. Higgins doesn’t get as much separation as the other top wide receiver prospects. He uses his size, range, and vertical ability to get up and highpoint the ball instead. He still wins downfield though. Higgins came down with 15 of 23 deep targets, which ranked sixth among qualified NCAA wide receivers. If a team like the Eagles were to draft him, Higgins should be immediately serviceable in dynasty fantasy leagues.
What to Watch for
Many will be watching Tee Higgins’ 40-yard dash closely. NFL teams already know Higgins is more than capable of going up and getting the ball. What they want to see is impressive burst speed and agility from a guy who’s been called “deceptively fast.” I’m also curious to see how he performs in the gauntlet drill.
Potential Landing Spots
Many believe the Philadelphia Eagles will nab Higgins with their first-round pick. It certainly seems like a good fit, but the Las Vegas Raiders or the Buffalo Bills could have Higgins pretty high on their draft boards as well.
Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
Jerry Jeudy may be a beast, but y’all are sleeping on my man Henry Ruggs III. Among the talented class of receivers out of Alabama, it’s said that Ruggs is the fastest. His speed off the line is average but his long speed is downright scary. Henry is at his most dangerous when he gets the ball in open space where he can put on the jets. He had 98 receptions and a little over 1700 receiving yards in his three years with Alabama.
Fantasy Outlook
For the most part, Ruggs flew under the radar because he was playing behind Jerry Jeudy. On any other Division I team he would likely be the number one option. If he lands with a team in the first round like I think he will, Ruggs could be a good rookie fantasy option, especially for dynasty leagues. He has the skillset to make an immediate impact on the right team.
What to Watch for
Many will be watching Ruggs’ 40-yard dash to see if he’s as fast as Alabama claims. Scouts will likely pair his 40-time with Henry’s over-the-shoulder catch drill to ensure he’s capable of taking the top off of NFL defenses.
Potential Landing Spots
I believe a solid performance at the combine should increase Ruggs’ pre-draft rating for a lot of NFL teams. I could see him going fairly early in the first round to either the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, or Miami Dolphins.
Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
Unfortunately, Bryan announced a broken foot last Friday and will not be participating in the 2020 combine. If I’m not mistaken, Bryan Edwards is our first wide receiver to stick around all four years. Over that span, he had 234 receptions and a little over 3000 receiving yards for the Gamecocks. For three years straight (2017-2019) Edwards was among the top ten for receptions in the SEC. Will his consistency eventually carry over to the NFL?
Fantasy Outlook
Unless he goes to a truly needy team, I doubt Edwards will have much impact during his rookie NFL season. That being said, his talents are certainly well-rounded enough for Edwards to take a big step in his sophomore season. Bryan has a similar skill set to Odell Beckham Jr., especially when it comes to his hands. He’s shown some flashes of absolute brilliance where you aren’t quite sure how he came down with the ball. He’s capable of making acrobatic, one-handed plays look effortless. He tends to use his physicality and hand fighting to create separation instead of his speed.
What to Watch for
Many scouts will likely say that Edwards is a good example of a high floor/ low ceiling player. He should be a safe pick but his potential ceiling is anyone’s guess. Unfortunately, Edwards announced last Friday that he has broken his foot and will not be available for the 2020 combine.
Potential Landing Spots
Trying to predict where Edwards lands without any combine will be difficult. He now runs the risk of being labeled a “just okay” prospect and could fall quite far in the draft. The Washington Redskins seem like a good potential landing spot for Bryan.
Justin Jefferson, LSU
It took a while for the 6-3, 192-pound receiver to get substantial playtime, but once LSU gave Jefferson the opportunity he took off running, literally. Justin has impressive burst speed and used his instinctive pass-catching to go off in the 2019 season, leading all NCAA wide receivers in receptions on the year. He also had the third-most receiving yards in the NCAA last year.
Fantasy Outlook
We’re beginning to reach the point where fantasy relevance will become more difficult to predict without knowing which team a particular prospect will end up with. That being said, with a solid camp, Jefferson should be on plenty of teams’ radars near the end of the first round. He’s well-rounded enough to make an immediate impact on the right squad.
What to Watch for
Jefferson’s route tree could certainly use some polishing. I’m sure scouts will keep an eye on Justin during the pass routes drill to see how much coaching is needed in that area.
Potential Landing Spots
With a good enough combine, I could see Jefferson going late in the first round to teams like the New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, or Green Bay Packers.
Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty
An interesting pick for our top ten to be sure, Gandy-Golden is the only top-ten player to not play for a power five school. Antonio racked up 150 receptions and over 2400 yards in just two years with the Liberty Flames.
Fantasy Outlook
Gandy-Golden has drawn comparisons to DeVante Parker mainly due to his nimble feet and subtle route stems. He’s what many scouts like to call “deceptively fast” which is just combine talk for a guy with impressive build-up speed who lacks urgency when he initially begins a route. I doubt Gandy-Golden does enough in 2020 to warrant a very high rookie dynasty pick.
What to Watch for
There will be plenty of question marks with Gandy-Golden heading into the combine, especially when one considers the level of competition he played against in college. Most scouts will make sure Gandy-Golden has truly gotten rid of his Junior-year issues, particularly drops and tight hips. I would keep watch during his gauntlet and short shuttle drills.
Potential Landing Spots
This could be a tough one to predict, but I could see Gandy-Golden landing with the Vikings in the second or maybe even the Raiders in the third.
Quintez Cephus, Wisconsin
If you follow college football at all, you likely know that Quintez Cephus is a bit of an anomaly. He played 10 games in 2017 but his season was cut short by a knee injury. In 2018, he missed the season because he was charged with sexual assault. He was eventually acquitted at trial and reinstated to the Wisconsin football team and university. He then went on to have his best season by far in 2019.
Fantasy Outlook
At 6-1, 207 pounds, Cephus already has the build and sure hands in tight spaces to compete in the NFL. Capable of playing possession or going for the big play, Cephus can make plays all over the field. He struggles with separation and doesn’t naturally shift his route running speed to keep defenders on their heels. Quintez would likely need to go to a team that needs immediate wide receiver help if he’s going to put up fantasy-relevant numbers in 2020.
What to Watch for
Agility, burst speed, and routes will likely be Cephus’ biggest question marks heading into the 2020 combine. I would make sure his 40-yard dash time is up to par. Besides his measurables, I’m sure plenty of teams will want to sit down with the young man and make sure there will be no off-field issues.
Potential Landing Spots
Without a spectacular combine, I just can’t see Cephus getting drafted before day three of the 2020 NFL draft. Who knows, crazier things have happened.
- Ryan Kruse (@ryanpkruse)