-2017 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2017 Draft Kit
The Steelers padded their receiving depth with the addition of Southern Cal's JuJu Smith-Schuster. The second-round pick scored 10 times in each of his last two seasons with the Trojans, averaging 14.9 yards per grab in that span. While Smith-Schuster isn't a burner and needs work on his route running technique, he is a good-hands man who can work as a short- and mid-range receiver for the Steelers. He'll also be just 20 years old at the start of the season, so he could have a nice, long career ahead of him. Smith-Schuster is worth a late pick in dynasty/keeper leagues and a Round 2 or 3 pick in rookie-only drafts.
Kenny Golladay hopes his size and speed nets him a decent role as a rookie with the Lions this season. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound wideout from Northern Illinois has a large catch radius, good speed and big, reliable hands to match. In two years at NIU he topped 1,100 yards and at least eight scores in each, so he's used to getting big numbers. He's thin for the position, he has barely played against top-notch competition and is still developing as a route runner, but there is potential here. In fact, the Lions believe Golladay can contend for the No. 3 receiver job in training camp as a guy who could line up out wide or in the slot. Training camp will go a long way in determining that, but if that's the role he ends up with, he'll be worth nabbing with a sneaky pick in the final round or two in seasonal leagues. He's also going to get snared with a late pick in dynasty/keeper leagues and with a Round 2 pick in rookie-only drafts.
Frankly, the selection of LSU receiver Malachi Dupre was a steal for the Packers. He wasn't the most popular or oft-used receiver for the Tigers, but he came through with some big plays. Averaging 16.4 yards per catch over 31 collegiate games, Dupre used his 6-foot-3 size and decent speed to outmaneuver his opponents. He didn't score much (14 touchdowns) but that might have been a byproduct of the offense, something he won't have a problem with in Green Bay. Keep an eye on him in training camp this summer as he has a chance to make the Packers active roster as a reserve. Down the line he could see some playing time, which is why he's worth a late pick in deep dynasty/keeper leagues and in rookie-only drafts.
The Titans have had just one 1,000-yard receiver since 2012, something rookie Corey Davis intends to change. Davis dominated at Western Michigan, topping 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns in each of his last three seasons. His 6-foot-3, 209-pound size made him a problem for every defender he faced, including those at big-time football schools. Davis should be given every opportunity to start for the Titans, but if there's an issue at all, it's that the Titans prefer a conservative offense predicated on the run. Last year they ranked 28th in the league in pass attempts, and Davis' arrival doesn't figure to transform coach Mike Mularkey's offensive philosophy. It should still mean over 100 targets for Davis, who could easily become a fixture in the end zone. It wouldn't be a shock to see the rookie finish with the 65 catches and 945 yards Rishard Matthews had with Tennessee last year, but with less than nine touchdowns. He's a safe No. 3 Fantasy receiver to start the season, worth taking ahead of uninspiring wideouts like Randall Cobb. That should mean a Round 7 pick in seasonal leagues, a Round 6 pick in dynasty/keeper leagues and a Top 5 choice in rookie-only drafts.
Curtis Samuel has a shot to begin the season as the Panthers' main slot receiver, though he also has the skill set to run with the ball and line up anywhere on offense. The former Ohio State Buckeye played a lot like new teammate Christian McCaffrey, running the ball and catching passes to the tune of 7.5 yards per run and 11.7 yards per catch over three seasons. Assuming he gets on the field right away (his top competition being Russell Shepard and Charles Johnson), Samuel could weave his way to 50 receptions and around 25 carries before the season ends. He's a fun late-round pick in any format just because of his upside, though finding the guts to start him from week to week could be difficult even if he hits. He's also worth taking late in dynasty/keeper leagues and with a top-20 pick in rookie-only drafts.
The Jets selected rookie receiver ArDarius Stewart in the third round of the NFL Draft from Alabama, and he's expected to compete for playing time right away. Stewart could push for a starting spot, especially with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker gone from the Jets, but most likely he will be the No. 3 receiver behind Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson. Fellow rookie Chad Hansen is also in the mix, but we expect Stewart to have a bigger role. In 2016, Stewart had 54 catches for 864 yards and eight touchdowns, and he finished his three-year career for the Crimson Tide with 129 catches for 1,713 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's only worth a late-round flier in deeper seasonal leagues, and he's at least a third-round pick in all rookie-only drafts.
The Jaguars added some speed to their receiving corps with the addition of Oklahoma wideout Dede Westbrook. As the Sooners' No. 1 receiver in 2016, Westbrook caught 80 passes for a jaw-dropping 1,524 yards and 17 touchdowns, earning the Biletnikoff Award for best receiver in the nation. Over his two years with the Sooners he averaged a touchdown every six receptions! The big-play vertical threat should compete for playing time right away with the Jaguars, potentially knocking Allen Hurns out of a job, but his chances of being a fixture in the offense are slim for 2017. Until he flashes in training camp and/or the preseason, he won't be worth drafting in seasonal leagues. Look him up with a late-round pick in dynasty/keeper formats and with a late second-round/early third-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
Kansas City selected receiver Jehu Chesson in the fourth round of this year's NFL Draft from Michigan, and he's expected to be a reserve receiver in 2017. Kansas City needs help at receiver with guys like Chris Conley, Albert Wilson and Demarcus Robinson fighting for playing time with Jeremy Maclin (Baltimore) now gone, and Chesson could emerge as a playmaker behind Tyreek Hill. But he has to prove himself first after he had just 35 catches for 500 yards and two touchdowns at Michigan last year, and he only had 114 catches for 1,639 yards and 12 touchdowns in his four-year college career. We don't recommend drafting Chesson in the majority of seasonal leagues, and he's only a late-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
The Chargers made a surprise move in the NFL Draft to select Clemson receiver Mike Williams at No. 7 overall in the first round. Receiver didn't appear to be a priority for the Chargers with Keenan Allen coming back from last year's torn ACL, the emergence of Tyrell Williams, and with Travis Benjamin and Dontrelle Inman also on the roster, as well as tight ends Hunter Henry and Antonio Gates. But Mike Williams was the pick, and now he has to prove himself, which could be tough since he's dealing with a back injury heading into traning camp. If he's fine for training camp then Williams could establish himself as the No. 2 receiver for the Chargers, but he should see plenty of playing time as at least the third option behind Allen and Tyrell Williams. Still, there are a lot of mouths to feed with the Chargers, and Mike Williams could struggle to stand out in his rookie year. Williams is worth a late-round pick in all seasonal formats, and he's a first-round pick in all rookie-only drafts. He just finished his final year at Clemson with 98 catches for 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns, and hopefully we see that kind of production on the field in the NFL this year.
Looking for a sneaky sleeper? Tawyan Taylor should fit the bill after the Titans drafted him with a third-round pick. The shifty 5-foot-10, 203-pound receiver has the wheels to burn defenses deep and the quicks to make defenders miss off of screens and slants. In each of his last two seasons at Western Kentucky he caught at least 80 passes for at least 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns. He's a terrific fit in the slot for the Titans after "losing" Kendall Wright to the Bears in free agency, and he should definitely help pad Marcus Mariota's stats with his runs after the catch. While he won't rack up a ton of targets as a rookie, there's definitely a good chance he evolves into a capable contributor down the line. Maybe a strong preseason gets him close to 40 receptions in 2017. He's only worth taking really late in deeper PPR drafts this summer. Otherwise, leave Taylor to long-term formats, where he's worth a late-round flier in dynasty/keeper leagues and a Round 2 or 3 pick in rookie-only drafts.
The Packers spent a fifth-round pick on DeAngelo Yancey, a 6-foot-2, 201-pound receiver from Purdue. He wasn't ultra-productive for the Boilermakers, but last season he put his big-play ability on display when he caught 49 passes for 951 yards (19.4 yards per catch) with 10 touchdowns. We'll see if his athleticism will carry him far in the pros -- he obviously has an uphill battle for playing time with the Packers this summer. Expect him to back up Jordy Nelson and/or Davante Adams, making him useless in seasonal Fantasy leagues. You could spend a late pick on him in deep dynasty/keeper formats or in rookie-only drafts.