Rookie Scouting: Wide Receivers
Wide Receiver is one of the deepest positions in fantasy football. There are only a handful of difference makers. We are always looking to find that true alpha who consistently ends the year as a Top 12 receiver. To increase your chances, there are a few things you need to look for.
- Draft Capital: What round they were selected
- Competition: Who's ahead of them on the team that drafted them
- College Dominator: % of receiving yards and touchdowns
- College Target Share: The % of the team receiving targets
- College Yards Per Reception: How efficient were they downfield
- Size: How tall and heavy are they
- Athleticism: How fast, quick and explosive are they
The more boxes they check off, the better and the more you increase your odds at hitting. Below is a profile of your average WR1 over the past 10 years. Find a wide receiver that looks like this and you're more likely to hit. Note: this sample size reuses wide receivers who finished in the Top 12 each year that they did so.
As far as size is concerned, you just want your WR to hit a minimum threshold. If there is an elite college WR prospect that's 6'5" and tests well athletically, you don't need to be concerned. There are not that many prospects that fit this category, but that's just because it's rare. It doesn't mean you should worry. Once a WR starts to creep below the size threshold, that's when you want to start paying attention. A smaller WR will have a harder time finding success against the larger NFL cornerback.
As for the other metrics, the higher the better. WRS with high Dominator and Target Shares have shown they were used a lot in college and that translates better to the NFL.
For athleticism, there is a range that's acceptable, but I tend to stay away from WRS who run anything slower than a 4.60 40-time. They just don't show up enough in the top 12 rankings year in and year out.
| TOP 12 WR AVERAGES |
73 | 209 | 70 | 4.50 | 15.6 | 40.1% | 29.3% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVERALL WR1 MEDIAN |
74 | 212 | 48 | 4.51 | 15.0 | 39.6% | 29.7% | ||
| YEAR |
OVERALL FINISH |
PLAYER |
HEIGHT (INCHES) |
WEIGHT |
DRAFT PICK |
40 TIME |
COLLEGE YPR |
DOMINATOR | TARGET % |
| 2020 | 1 | Davante Adams | 73 | 212 | 53 | 4.56 | 13.1 | 40.7% | 27.3% |
| 2 | Tyreek Hill | 70 | 185 | 156 | 4.34 | 16.4 | 19.4% | 10.0% | |
| 3 | Stefon Diggs | 72 | 195 | 138 | 4.46 | 12.8 | 36.1% | 26.4% | |
| 4 | DeAndre Hopkins | 73 | 214 | 27 | 4.57 | 17.1 | 39.3% | 27.0% | |
| 5 | Calvin Ridley | 73 | 189 | 26 | 4.43 | 13.5 | 30.1% | 29.7% | |
| 6 | Justin Jefferson | 73 | 202 | 22 | 4.43 | 15.0 | 30.0% | 21.9% | |
| 7 | DK Metcalf | 75 | 228 | 64 | 4.33 | 21.9 | 32.1% | 17.0% | |
| 8 | Tyler Lockett | 70 | 182 | 69 | 4.4 | 14.3 | 44.2% | 36.2% | |
| 9 | Allen Robinson II | 74 | 220 | 61 | 4.56 | 14.8 | 37.9% | 36.7% | |
| 10 | Adam Thielen | 75 | 200 | 225 | 4.54 | 15.9 | 45.9% | - | |
| 11 | Mike Evans | 77 | 231 | 7 | 4.53 | 20.2 | 30.2% | 24.6% | |
| 12 | Robert Woods | 72 | 201 | 41 | 4.51 | 11.1 | 31.6% | 37.1% | |
| 2019 | 1 | Michael Thomas | 75 | 212 | 48 | 4.57 | 13.9 | 39.6% | 25.9% |
| 2 | Chris Godwin | 73 | 209 | 84 | 4.42 | 16.6 | 34.9% | 29.2% | |
| 3 | Julio Jones | 75 | 220 | 6 | 4.39 | 14.5 | 34.4% | 30.8% | |
| 4 | Cooper Kupp | 74 | 204 | 69 | 4.62 | 14.5 | 40.4% | - | |
| 5 | DeAndre Hopkins | 73 | 214 | 27 | 4.57 | 17.1 | 39.3% | 27.0% | |
| 6 | Keenan Allen | 74 | 206 | 78 | 4.71 | 12.9 | 49.5% | 33.5% | |
| 7 | Julian Edelman | 70 | 198 | 215 | 4.57 | 0.0 | -% | 0.3% | |
| 8 | Allen Robinson II | 74 | 220 | 61 | 4.56 | 14.8 | 37.9% | 36.7% | |
| 9 | Kenny Golladay | 76 | 218 | 96 | 4.5 | 14.4 | 41.8% | 36.3% | |
| 10 | Amari Cooper | 73 | 211 | 4 | 4.42 | 13.9 | 47.2% | 38.4% | |
| 11 | DeVante Parker | 75 | 209 | 14 | 4.45 | 19.9 | 46.3% | 18.2% | |
| 12 | Jarvis Landry | 71 | 205 | 63 | 4.65 | 15.5 | 40.0% | 31.9% | |
| 2018 | 1 | DeAndre Hopkins | 73 | 214 | 27 | 4.57 | 17.1 | 39.3% | 27.0% |
| 2 | Davante Adams | 73 | 212 | 53 | 4.56 | 13.1 | 40.7% | 27.3% | |
| 3 | Tyreek Hill | 70 | 185 | 156 | 4.34 | 16.4 | 19.4% | 10.0% | |
| 4 | Julio Jones | 75 | 220 | 6 | 4.39 | 14.5 | 34.4% | 30.8% | |
| 5 | Antonio Brown | 70 | 186 | 186 | 4.56 | 10.9 | 32.8% | 29.7% | |
| 6 | Michael Thomas | 75 | 212 | 48 | 4.57 | 13.9 | 39.6% | 25.9% | |
| 7 | Adam Thielen | 75 | 200 | 225 | 4.54 | 15.9 | 45.9% | - | |
| 8 | JuJu-Smith-Schuster | 73 | 215 | 62 | 4.54 | 14.7 | 31.9% | 29.1% | |
| 9 | Mike Evans | 77 | 231 | 7 | 4.53 | 20.2 | 30.2% | 24.6% | |
| 10 | Stefon Diggs | 72 | 195 | 138 | 4.46 | 12.8 | 36.1% | 26.4% | |
| 11 | Robert Woods | 72 | 201 | 41 | 4.51 | 11.1 | 31.6% | 37.1% | |
| 12 | Keenan Allen | 74 | 206 | 78 | 4.71 | 12.9 | 49.5% | 33.5% | |
| 2017 | 1 | Antonio Brown | 70 | 186 | 186 | 4.56 | 10.9 | 32.8% | 29.7% |
| 2 | DeAndre Hopkins | 73 | 214 | 27 | 4.57 | 17.1 | 39.3% | 27.0% | |
| 3 | Keenan Allen | 74 | 206 | 78 | 4.71 | 12.9 | 49.5% | 33.5% | |
| 4 | Larry Fitzgerald | 75 | 218 | 3 | 4.53 | 18.2 | 51.3% | - | |
| 5 | Jarvis Landry | 71 | 205 | 63 | 4.65 | 15.5 | 40.0% | 31.9% | |
| 6 | Michael Thomas | 75 | 212 | 48 | 4.57 | 13.9 | 39.6% | 25.9% | |
| 7 | Julio Jones | 75 | 220 | 6 | 4.39 | 14.5 | 34.4% | 30.8% | |
| 8 | Adam Thielen | 75 | 200 | 225 | 4.54 | 15.9 | 45.9% | - | |
| 9 | Tyreek Hill | 70 | 185 | 156 | 4.34 | 16.4 | 19.4% | 10.0% | |
| 10 | A.J. Green | 76 | 211 | 4 | 4.5 | 14.9 | 42.2% | 25.7% | |
| 11 | Marvin Jones Jr. | 74 | 200 | 159 | 4.46 | 13.6 | 26.3% | 27.8% | |
| 12 | Golden Tate | 70 | 202 | 60 | 4.42 | 16.1 | 44.3% | 29.9% | |
| 2016 | 1 | Antonio Brown | 70 | 186 | 186 | 4.56 | 10.9 | 32.8% | 29.7% |
| 2 | Jordy Nelson | 75 | 217 | 37 | 4.51 | 13.2 | 49.6% | 31.2% | |
| 3 | Mike Evans | 77 | 231 | 7 | 4.53 | 20.2 | 30.2% | 24.6% | |
| 4 | Odell Beckham Jr. | 71 | 198 | 12 | 4.43 | 19.5 | 34.5% | 27.6% | |
| 5 | T.Y. Hilton | 69 | 183 | 93 | 4.39 | 14.4 | 41.9% | 30.3% | |
| 6 | Julio Jones | 75 | 220 | 6 | 4.39 | 14.5 | 34.4% | 30.8% | |
| 7 | Michael Thomas | 75 | 212 | 48 | 4.57 | 13.9 | 39.6% | 25.9% | |
| 8 | Doug Baldwin | 70 | 189 | 225 | 4.53 | 14.8 | 27.0% | 22.1% | |
| 9 | Davante Adams | 73 | 212 | 53 | 4.56 | 13.1 | 40.7% | 27.3% | |
| 10 | Brandin Cooks | 70 | 189 | 20 | 4.33 | 13.5 | 38.9% | 26.9% | |
| 11 | Larry Fitzgerald | 75 | 218 | 3 | 4.53 | 18.2 | 51.3% | - | |
| 12 | Michael Crabtree | 73 | 214 | 10 | 4.59 | 13.3 | 34.3% | 24.0% | |
| 2015 | 1 | Antonio Brown | 70 | 186 | 186 | 4.56 | 10.9 | 32.8% | 29.7% |
| 2 | Julio Jones | 75 | 220 | 6 | 4.39 | 14.5 | 34.4% | 30.8% | |
| 3 | Brandon Marshall | 76 | 230 | 118 | 4.52 | 16.1 | 42.5% | 29.4% | |
| 4 | DeAndre Hopkins | 73 | 214 | 27 | 4.57 | 17.1 | 39.3% | 27.0% | |
| 5 | Odell Beckham Jr. | 71 | 198 | 12 | 4.43 | 19.5 | 34.5% | 27.6% | |
| 6 | Allen Robinson II | 74 | 220 | 61 | 4.56 | 14.8 | 37.9% | 36.7% | |
| 7 | Larry Fitzgerald | 75 | 218 | 3 | 4.53 | 18.2 | 51.3% | - | |
| 8 | A.J. Green | 76 | 211 | 4 | 4.5 | 14.9 | 42.2% | 25.7% | |
| 9 | Jarvis Landry | 71 | 205 | 63 | 4.65 | 15.5 | 40.0% | 31.9% | |
| 10 | Doug Baldwin | 70 | 189 | 225 | 4.53 | 14.8 | 27.0% | 22.1% | |
| 11 | Demaryius Thomas | 75 | 229 | 22 | 4.41 | 25.1 | 70.9% | 47.6% | |
| 12 | Calvin Johnson | 77 | 236 | 2 | 4.35 | 15.8 | 55.3% | 37.3% | |
| 2014 | 1 | Antonio Brown | 70 | 186 | 186 | 4.56 | 10.9 | 32.8% | 29.7% |
| 2 | Demaryius Thomas | 75 | 229 | 22 | 4.41 | 25.1 | 70.9% | 47.6% | |
| 3 | Jordy Nelson | 75 | 217 | 37 | 4.51 | 13.2 | 49.6% | 31.2% | |
| 4 | Dez Bryant | 74 | 220 | 24 | 4.57 | 17.0 | 62.5% | 38.6% | |
| 5 | Emmanuel Sanders | 71 | 180 | 82 | 4.41 | 13.7 | 34.2% | 30.1% | |
| 6 | Julio Jones | 75 | 220 | 6 | 4.39 | 14.5 | 34.4% | 30.8% | |
| 7 | Odell Beckham Jr. | 71 | 198 | 12 | 4.43 | 19.5 | 34.5% | 27.6% | |
| 8 | Randall Cobb | 70 | 192 | 64 | 4.46 | 12.1 | 28.2% | 26.7% | |
| 9 | Jeremy Maclin | 72 | 198 | 19 | 4.48 | 12.4 | 29.5% | 23.7% | |
| 10 | Alshon Jeffery | 75 | 216 | 45 | 4.53 | 16.4 | 39.7% | 33.9% | |
| 11 | Golden Tate | 70 | 202 | 60 | 4.42 | 16.1 | 44.3% | 29.9% | |
| 12 | T.Y. Hilton | 69 | 183 | 93 | 4.39 | 14.4 | 41.9% | 30.3% | |
| 2013 | 1 | Demaryius Thomas | 75 | 229 | 22 | 4.41 | 25.1 | 70.9% | 47.6% |
| 2 | Josh Gordon | 75 | 225 | 225 | 4.57 | 17.0 | 25.0% | 14.9% | |
| 3 | Antonio Brown | 70 | 186 | 186 | 4.56 | 10.9 | 32.8% | 29.7% | |
| 4 | A.J. Green | 76 | 211 | 4 | 4.5 | 14.9 | 42.2% | 25.7% | |
| 5 | Brandon Marshall | 76 | 230 | 118 | 4.52 | 16.1 | 42.5% | 29.4% | |
| 6 | Calvin Johnson | 77 | 236 | 2 | 4.35 | 15.8 | 55.3% | 37.3% | |
| 7 | Dez Bryant | 74 | 220 | 24 | 4.57 | 17.0 | 62.5% | 38.6% | |
| 8 | Alshon Jeffery | 75 | 216 | 45 | 4.53 | 16.4 | 39.7% | 33.9% | |
| 9 | Eric Decker | 75 | 215 | 87 | 4.6 | 15.2 | 44.5% | 30.4% | |
| 10 | Andre Johnson | 74 | 225 | 3 | 4.4 | 21.0 | 28.8% | - | |
| 11 | Pierre Garcon | 72 | 210 | 199 | 4.48 | 14.3 | 37.7% | - | |
| 12 | DeSean Jackson | 70 | 175 | 50 | 4.35 | 14.9 | 32.1% | 22.5% | |
| 2012 | 1 | Calvin Johnson | 77 | 236 | 2 | 4.35 | 15.8 | 55.3% | 37.3% |
| 2 | Brandon Marshall | 76 | 230 | 118 | 4.52 | 16.1 | 42.5% | 29.4% | |
| 3 | A.J. Green | 76 | 211 | 4 | 4.5 | 14.9 | 42.2% | 25.7% | |
| 4 | Dez Bryant | 74 | 220 | 24 | 4.57 | 17.0 | 62.5% | 38.6% | |
| 5 | Andre Johnson | 74 | 225 | 3 | 4.4 | 21.0 | 28.8% | - | |
| 6 | Demaryius Thomas | 75 | 229 | 22 | 4.41 | 25.1 | 70.9% | 47.6% | |
| 7 | Wes Welker | 69 | 185 | 225 | 4.7 | 11.3 | 17.4% | - | |
| 8 | Eric Decker | 75 | 215 | 87 | 4.6 | 15.2 | 44.5% | 30.4% | |
| 9 | Roddy White | 73 | 208 | 27 | 4.5 | 20.5 | 50.5% | - | |
| 10 | Reggie Wayne | 72 | 198 | 30 | 4.45 | 17.6 | 32.1% | - | |
| 11 | Julio Jones | 75 | 220 | 6 | 4.39 | 14.5 | 34.4% | 30.8% | |
| 12 | Vincent Jackson | 77 | 230 | 61 | 4.46 | 17.3 | 70.3% | - | |
| 2011 | 1 | Calvin Johnson | 77 | 236 | 2 | 4.35 | 15.8 | 55.3% | 37.3% |
| 2 | Wes Welker | 69 | 185 | 225 | 4.7 | 11.3 | 17.4% | - | |
| 3 | Victor Cruz | 72 | 204 | 225 | 4.52 | 14.8 | 39.9% | - | |
| 4 | Jordy Nelson | 75 | 217 | 37 | 4.51 | 13.2 | 49.6% | 31.2% | |
| 5 | Roddy White | 73 | 208 | 27 | 4.5 | 20.5 | 50.5% | - | |
| 6 | Larry Fitzgerald | 75 | 218 | 3 | 4.53 | 18.2 | 51.3% | - | |
| 7 | Steve Smith | 69 | 185 | 76 | 4.41 | 21.2 | 31.0% | - | |
| 8 | Percy Harvin | 71 | 184 | 22 | 4.41 | 16.1 | 21.4% | 21.6% | |
| 9 | Mike Wallace | 72 | 199 | 84 | 4.33 | 20.1 | 29.6% | 22.6% | |
| 10 | Marques Colston | 77 | 225 | 236 | 4.5 | 13.9 | 34.6% | - | |
| 11 | Brandon Marshall | 76 | 230 | 118 | 4.52 | 16.1 | 42.5% | 29.4% | |
| 12 | Hakeem Nicks | 73 | 208 | 29 | 4.63 | 18.0 | 52.2% | 32.8% |