To close out the 2014 season, Pushing the Pocket is going to look at the group of players who stood out more than any other this year.
Quite clearly the rookie wide receiver class this season was a special group. Even during the draft the high expectations that the group commanded couldn't construct a realistic likelihood for the reality that eventually enveloped the regular season. None of Sammy Watkins, MIke Evans or Odell Beckham should be considered busts. Brandin Cooks could have been labelled that, but much of his season was lost to injury. Kelvin Benjamin has come as advertised, even if what he is doesn't match up to the other first round picks at his position.
The first round alone doesn't define the rookie class though. There are so many receivers who are strung through the full draft that need to be considered during their second seasons. Instead of simply overviewing them, it may be more beneficial to rank them
1. Odell Beckham Jr New York Giants.
A favorite of so many during the buildup to the draft, Beckham overcame a very difficult situation early in the year to blossom into the best rookie wide receiver after one season. He should have the offensive rookie of the year award wrapped up quite comfortably and the rookie of the year award will depend on how Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack are viewed.
Beckham has enjoyed a record-setting season while being the focal point of the New York Giants passing attack. He has not only been a big play receiver and a regular touchdown scorer, he has also shown off the ability to stand up to a heavy workload while already being a very refined receiver.
There isn't much room for Beckham to grow, simply because he's already so refined and it took him all of two weeks to adapt to the speed and complexity of running routes in the NFL. He is a superstar and will be in high demand next season. Of the top three rookie receivers from the draft, he is the only player with a stable quarterback situation servicing him. It appears that the only threat to his production is the potential new faces that the Giants bring in to complement him and ease his work load.
However, those new weapons could arguably make him even more productive if it creates more big play opportunities over a full 16 game season.
For Next Season: The only issue with Beckham in 2015 will be the price you have to pay to get him.
For the Next Decade: Beckham has the technical ability, awareness, physical talent, consistency and drive to potentially play 15 years in this league at a high level.
Read More on Odell Beckham JrHere.
2. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Although he is likely to cause an emphasis on offensive pass interference simply because of his audacious push offs that occur on a regular basis, Evans can't consider his rookie season anything other than a success. The "big" receiver of the top three proved to be very valuable to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense, in spite of their overall futility and awful quarterback play.
His fantasy value was largely built on his ability to make plays on the ball in the end zone. The athleticism and catching ability he showed off on those plays was often very impressive, but there are some minor reasons to be concerned.
While the quarterback situation should get better because the Buccaneers are guaranteed a top two pick in the 2015 draft, Evans played his rookie season as the offense's number two receiver. When the Buccaneers lined up to play on Sundays, Vincent Jackson was across from him to keep the defense from A: Covering him with their best cornerback on every play B: Roll their coverage towards him. We don't know how Evans will react to being the number one receiver in the future, but right now he has proven to be a very productive number two for the Buccaneers.
In terms of his ceiling, Evans has all the physical ability to develop into a top 10 player at his position. His primary concern is his reliance on extending his arms and bullying defensive backs to create separation. It's less consistent than quick, precise route running and gives the officials excuses to throw flags.
Evans is similar to Alshon Jeffery in terms of his situation and how they both win the ball in the air. However, unlike Jeffery, Evans has a frame and skill set that suggests he can develop into a more well-rounded player.
For Next Season: 2015 may come with a wave of cold water for Evans. He will likely be playing with a rookie quarterback who is adjusting to the NFL game, while Jackson isnt' certain to still be on the roster. Even if Jackson is on the roster, Evans could become the focal point of the passing game for the defense.
For the Next Decade: The Buccaneers appear to have found a long-term number one receiver. Evans may never reach the heights of A.J. Green in terms of exploiting all of his physical talent with precise technique, but he has already shown that he has an established skill set that will be very condusive to scoring in the NFL.
3. Sammy Watkins, Buffalo BIlls
He's always open.
It's true. It may not be highlighted often enough, but it's true. Watkins is a phenomenal talent who has proven that he can be a special player in the NFL moving forward. However, he's going to need a new quarterback to allow that to happen. Kyle Orton improved his service over EJ Manuel somewhat, but Orton has struggled more and more as the season has gone on.
Against the New York Jets, Watkins showed off his explosiveness and physicality with a number of big plays. Those are the kinds of plays you can expect to see from the receiver on a more regular basis if he gets a better quarterback to supplement his statistics.
By trading up to get Watkins during last year's draft, the Bills gave up their first round pick from this season. While that costs them an opportunity to better their team, it isn't the reason that they won't get a quarterback. The Bills' pick this season will be far down the draft because of their regular season record. They wouldn't be in position to select Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota regardless of whether they traded for Watkins or not last year. Right now, it appears that a trade for Jay Cutler is the best possible scenario for Watkins and the Bills, but even that seems unrealistic.
Individually, Watkins failed at the catch point a few too many times and had some durability concerns to handle as a rookie. Later in the year he cast a forlorn figure as his dismay at his situation appeared to grow. These aren't things that should have a long-term impact on his outlook.
For Next Season: Expecting a huge leap in Watkins' production seems foolish at this point. The Bills are likely starting Kyle Orton again next year, meaning that any individual improvement from Watkins could be negated.
For the Next Decade: Watkins could suffer for a long time because of the Bills' quarterback situation. Their quality defense will keep them away from the very top of the draft, so they may need to get creative. In four or five years time, Watkins could easily be playing for another team also. Looking at Watkins in a vacuum, his rookie season still has to entice fantasy owners and suggest he can be a very productive player for a very long time.
4. Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers
Although his production says otherwise, it's true that Ben Roethlisberger has declined to an extent over the past two seasons or so. He has peaked and valleyed throughout the year in terms of his performance, but a very strong supporting cast and excellent work from Todd Haley has kept the offense on track. Roethlisberger's decline should theoretically have a lot to do with Bryant's value, but Bryant isn't necessarily the type of receiver who is reliant on his quarterback or situation to produce.
Bryant needs to develop a lot if he is to become a well-rounded wide receiver, but he is a constant big play threat with natural receiving ability and phenomenal athleticism.
In limited time as a rookie, Bryant showed off his talent. With Antonio Brown locked down as the team's number one receiver for the foreseeable future and Markus Wheaton also having an established role, Bryant doesn't look set to be forced into a bigger role than he can handle anytime soon. This should allow him to take advantage of more favorable situations and continue to create huge gaps of separation against defensive backs for long touchdown receptions.
For Next Season: Brown and LeVeon Bell will continue to be the two biggest producers on the Steelers offense, but Bryant may get a much larger slice of the remainder than his peers. Bryant's talent simply overshadows that of his teammates.
For the Next Decade: The Steelers have a recent track record of success when drafting wide receivers, so Bryant may not be re-signed after his rookie contract. That throws a huge amount of uncertainty around his projection for the next decade. While Bryant is very talented, he will need to develop releases from the line, route running responsibility and greater consistency to be considered a valuable player over the stretch of a long career.
5. Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts
During his time in college, Donte Moncrief's talent was clear but his quarterback consistently failed to give him opportunties to show it off. In the NFL, Moncrief is set to play with one of the very best quarterbacks in the league for a very long time.
He may not be as well-rounded as other receivers in the class, but Moncrief possesses some impressive explosiveness and has a clear route to production in the NFL. Eventually, the Colts should figure out how to build an offense that functions enough to allow Andrew Luck to reach his full potential. Ahead of Moncrief on the Colts depth chart are two players who likely won't be with the team next season. Reggie Wayne appears set to retire, while Hakeem Nicks' one year deal in Indianapolis clearly hasn't worked out the way he anticipated it would.
Moncrief may come as a surprise this high in the rankings, but of the receivers in favorable positions moving forward, he has the most talent as an individual.
For Next Season: 2015 is going to be an important year for Moncrief. He should be a starter across from T.Y. Hilton and at worst he should be the team's third option. Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener will still steal targets away from him, but he should be a viable starting option in fantasy, if an inconsistent one.
For the Next Decade: This is where Moncrief's value is. Being tied to Andrew Luck can only be a positive for his production. He has the physical talent and has shown natural receiving ability, he just needs to develop and prove his long-term consistency to turn into one of the better fantasy options from this class. Even though he's unlikely to ever come close to the best.
6. John Brown, Arizona Cardinals
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, John Brown is a special player.
Bruce Arians was known for his ability to work with wide receivers during his time as the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator. He is the person who watched over the development of Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders amongst others. In Arizona, Brown has been stuck behind Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald for most of the season. While that hurts his short-term production, it should be aiding his long-term development.
Brown may be short, but he's not weak and he can play physically at the catch point. His acceleration and overall skill set is reminiscent of what Antonio Brown was a few seasons back before he turned into one of the very best wide receivers in the NFL. John Brown will need Antonio Brown's work rate and intensity to match his performances on the field, but the talent is definitely there.
The situation in Arizona offers less certainty, but Arians and general manager Steve Keim have proven to be prudent performers in their respective roles to this point in their relatively short careers.
For Next Season: There is some talk about Larry Fitzgerald potentially leaving Arizona in the off-season, but it seems unlikely. That means Brown will be stuck behind Fitzgerald and Floyd again next year, while the quarterback situation for the Cardinals continues to look bleak.
For the Next Decade: This is where Brown's value potentially lies. Once Fitzgerald moves on, Brown will be the obvious heir to partner Floyd as the Cardinals' long-term wide receivers. If Arians can find a quarterback to adequately service them, they could be one of the best tandems of receivers in the NFL for a long time.
7. Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins
Finding the young, talented wide receiver in the favorable scheme with the young, talented quarterback partner is always a positive for fantasy. Landry definitely fits that mold.
Landry has shown some inconsistencies with the football this year and holding onto it, but most of those have come on special teams rather than on offense. Once he takes over Brian Hartline's role as the team's primary possession receiver(he already has, but officially when the Dolphins move on from Hartline), he shouldn't be featuring much on special teams either way. Landry is a very well rounded player who would benefit from staying in the slot rather than moving outside.
Unless the Dolphins take an unexpected turn with their offense and release both Wallace and Hartline, it seems unlikely that Landry will be moved out of his role anytime soon.
For Next Season: As Tannehill continues to grow and the Dolphins offensive line continues to improve, the then second-year wide receiver should be able to become a very productive player. He racked up the receptions this year, but his yardage and touchdowns need to be bumped up to give him starter value.
For the Next Decade: Landry's consistency through his rookie season should be something he can carry with him over his career. His physical traits aren't such that he is ever likely to become a dominant player, but his consistency at the catch point and refined route running should allow him to consistently produce as a possession receiver.
Read More on Jarvis Landry Here.
8. Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers
If there was ever a case to study to highlight the different values that fantasy football fans and normal football fans hold, then Kelvin Benjamin is it.
Benjamin has found his way to the end zone on a regular basis through his rookie season and produced relatively impressive yardage and reception totals for a first year player. However, he has also benefited largely form his situation as the Panthers repeatedly forced the ball to him with so little talent around him. That's not a major issue, but more significant may be that Benjamin could potentially have been benched if he simply played for another team this year.
Drops were a noted concern with Benjamin coming out of the draft and they repeatedly reared their metaphorical head throughout the former FSU star's rookie season.
Furthermore, Benjamin was also too often showing tentativeness at the catch point when he was working infield and even at times appeared to slow in his routes to completely avoid contact even when the ball was arriving. His ability to run routes was never expected to be impressive, but worryingly he failed to show the requisite strength and balance to consistently stave off aggressive press coverage. Benjamin is a great example of a player who wins in very specific ways, but severely handicaps your offense when asked to do other things.
Benjamin's success may be short-lived unless he develops a lot over the coming seasons.
For Next Season: The Panthers should rebuild their offense entering next season, but Benjamin will remain a starter and focal point. Expecting similar production to this season or even a slight bump wouldn't be unrealistic.
For the Next Decade: Benjamin's career could easily go in a multitude of directions. He may not be in the league in three or four seasons, he may be a role player whose value survives on touchdown receptions. It's unlikely that he becomes one of the best receivers in the NFL though, his ceiling is likely that of an inconsistent actual starter, but a relatively valuable fantasy option.
9. Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles
Matthews is a huge benefactor of his situation in Philadelphia.
He doesn't carry any special traits and is largely just a guy when put in a vacuum. However, as the slot receiver in Philadelphia, he was given yardage by play design on a regular basis last season. Furthermore, when Mark Sanchez replaced NIck Foles, Sanchez relied on him because he could be found more easily than the outside receivers. Chip Kelly has previously spoken about his appreciation of Matthews and how much he wanted him during the draft, but the receiver himself doesn't project to be spectacular.
So long as he is manning the inside receiver role in Kelly's offense, he should be productive. However, if he is forced to move outside, something that seems likely as at least one of Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin should move on after this season, his production will likely drop. If Matthews moves outside, it may be more realistic to have Josh Huff in this spot.
Huff hasn't done much during his rookie season, but he is a talented player who would comfortably replicate the production that Matthews has achieved in his role during his rookie season if given the opportunity to take over for him inside when he moves outside. Huff is talented enough to play outside also, but his true value would be recognized on the inside.
For Next Season: It all depends on what moves the Eagles make during the off-season. Obviously a dramatic move for a new quarterback would aid Matthews' production, but if he moves outside how will he handle being pressed all of the time and working against boundary corners with more help?
For the Next Decade: For as much as Kelly likes Matthews now, he's also not the type of coach who is going to be uncomfortable moving on from players. That is something we saw last off-season when he sent DeSean Jackson packing. Matthews may not need to be in this system to be productive, but this point he's shown little to suggest he can produce similarly in other situations.
10. Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints
Cooks is an electric athlete who lacks the size/physicality to be a well-rounded receiver.
However, playing in Sean Payton's offense is what could inflate his value to fantasy owners. Cooks could be the long term replacement for Darren Sproles in an offense that is directed by a quarterback who appears to be losing his ability to throw the ball deep down the field. These factors could combine to make Cooks a high volume player if he develops well ahead of next season.
For Next Season: Drew Brees' best years are behind him, but one or two more years of high production in Payton's offense aren't unrealistic. Along with Kenny Stills and Jimmy Graham, Cooks should be one of the biggest benefactors from Brees' ability next year.
For the Next Decade: Whether Sean Payton stays on in New Orleans after Drew Brees retires is unclear. If he does, he should at least understand how to properly use Cooks. However, even if he does, we have no way of knowing if Brees' replacement will be effective enough to allow him to prosper or even be an adequate option.
11. Marqise Lee, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are still a long way from being a high-powered offense, but their trio of rookie receivers each impressed this year.
Lee didn't play as much as Allen Robinson or Allen Hurns, but when he did he stood out. He creates separation with such ease that his unreliable hands become less of an issue for his production. Lee should see plenty of targets for the Jaguars over the coming years with Blake Bortles as the team's starting quarterback, pushing the offense into a more expansive approach.
For Next Season: Allen Robinson's broken foot opened the door for Lee to claim a bigger role in the Jaguars offense late in the regular season. He needs to keep his hold on that spot moving into next season, but he could be relegated even lower if Justin Blackmon returns. Robinson had played well up until his injury. He wasn't spectacular though and Lee was the first receiver the franchise invested in this year.
For the Next Decade: Lee's hands are going to frustrate his coaches. Right now he can get away with it because the Jaguars are a developing team and he is a developing receiver, but for him more than your typical rookie receiver, his next two seasons are vital for establishing his long-term outlook. Lee is too talented to not be in the NFL, but he's also not so talented that he can get away with being unreliable.
12. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
It didn't take Adams long to usurp Jarrett Boykin of his third wide receiver spot in Wisconsin. The rookie receiver has had a decent year, but hasn't done much to suggest that he will ever be good enough to take production away from Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson. Adams' biggest issue is that the Packers may add a more viable option at tight end in the off-season, while retaining Cobb to hinder his potential production moving forward.
Being part of an Aaron Rodgers offense will elevate Adams' value, but not to that large of a degree.
13. Josh Huff, Philadelphia Eagles
Huff is a talented player who has been trapped down the depth chart in Philadelphia this season so far. He should be a more prevalent piece in the offense moving forward and benefit from playing with Chip Kelly, his former coach at Oregon. Of course, much will need to be determined around Huff in Philadelphia in terms of his teammates at receiver and quarterback to figure out his value in fantasy football.
14. Cody Latimer, Denver Broncos
Latimer hasn't played during his rookie season. His whole value as a fantasy option relies on the length of Peyton Manning's career. Once Manning leaves Denver, the Broncos likely won't be able to support multiple high-scoring receiving options.
15. Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Robinson would be higher up this list if he hadn't suffered a broken leg during the season. Before being injured, he was a pivotal part of the passing game in Jacksonville. He was receiving a lot of targets from Blake Bortles, but those targets were often coming close to the line of scrimmage. Robinson isn't the kind of player who is going to thrive on short receptions because he is a bigger receiver who wins at the catch point opposed to a smaller receiver who wins with the ball in his hands.
Worthwhile stashes:
Paul Richardson Jr: Jermaine Kearse is a free agent wide receiver this year, so Richardson could be elevated into a bigger role on the Seahawks offense. Richardson is a very talented player, but the Seahawks need to get a lot more stability on their offensive line or Russell Wilson is going to continue to be more of a running rather than passing quarterback.
Bruce Ellington: Like Richardson, Ellington isn't in an ideal to produce big numbers. He does have a lot of individual talent and could eventually turn into a Sproles type of receiver/runner for the San Francisco 49ers or another team at a later point.
Allen Hurns: Hurns is going to be battling for his playing time in Jacksonville over the coming seasons. The undrafted free agent was as impressive as the other rookie receivers in Jacksonville this season, but not so impressive that he is likely to vault himself ahead of the two receivers the team drafted.
