Player: Laquon Treadwell

Position: Wide Receiver

School: Mississippi

Draft Status: First Round, 23rd Pick (Minnesota Vikings)

Rookie Wide Receiver Ranking: #1

A five-star recruit out of Crete-Monee High School in Illinois, Treadwell headed to Oxford as a skinny 6-foot-3 wide receiver. He ended his career with the Rebels as the nation's most physically intimidating pass catcher. Almost immediately, Mississippi knew it had something special in Treadwell. 

While he averaged just 8.4 yards per reception as a freshman in 2013, Treadwell proved his worth as a possession receiver for Bo Wallace. In his first college game, Treadwell recorded nine receptions for 82 yards in a win over SEC rival Vanderbilt. He would go on to put up seven-plus receptions five times as a freshman while failing to tally as much as one 100-yard game. His freshman season came to a culmination in a 25-17 win over Georgia Tech in the Music City Bowl. It represented Mississippi's sixth consecutive bowl win and put the program on the map as a force for the 2014 season. 

As a sophomore in 2014, Treadwell struggled some. He put up just 48 receptions in nine games, including a substandard four-catch game in a loss to LSU prior to being lost for the season the following week with a broken tibia and and dislocated ankle. 

It was a horrible two-week stretch for Mississippi, who entered the late October game against LSU as the third-ranked team in the nation. In the end, Ole Miss would go on to lose to TCU 42-3 in the Peach Bowl without Treadwell in the lineup. 

Fully recovered as a junior the following season, Treadwell put up his best performance. An 80-yard, one-touchdown performance in a win over Alabama early in the season pushed him back into the national spotlight. He'd then follow that up with six 100-yard plus performances in seven games, including a career-best 14-catch, 144-yard outing in a loss to Memphis. Treadwell's college career came to an end with a three-touchdown performance in a 48-20 win over Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl. 

Scouting Report

Strengths: At 6-foot-2 and 221 pounds, Treadwell is among the most physical receivers to enter the NFL in some time. His ability to get off the line in press coverage cannot be understated. He also tends to impose his will at the point of contact against smaller defensive backs. With an ability to high point the ball, Treadwell provides a huge target and catch radius on the outside. A solid blocker in both the run game and down the field in the passing game. Understands how to get open on intermediate routes and possesses plus-level hands. 

Weaknesses: Treadwell is a pure possession receiver, plan and simple. He's not going to beat defenses over the top and will get caught from behind. Tends to struggle finding open lanes beyond intermediate routes. Will have to find a way to create cushion at the second level or defensive backs will just cover him underneath without any help over the top. 

2016 Outlook

There's a decent chance Treadwell will end his rookie season as the Vikings' No. 1 receiver. He boasts more upside than fellow youngster Stefon Diggs and is that one missing piece that Teddy Bridgewater needs on the outside. We can expect Teddy to target him early and often as the quarterback's go to guy in a possession receiver role. 

Treadwell's real value is going to be in PPR-heavy formats. There's no reason to believe he will see less than 120 targets as a rookie. This meaks Treadwell a solid add, even in re-draft leagues. 

Due to the presence of Adrian Peterson in the backfield and Kyle Rudolph at tight end, targets may be at a premium in the red zone. Add in an inability to take the top off the defense, and Treadwell's fantasy upside is limited. Likely won't be much more than Michael Crabtree-level producer in fantasy football. Ceiling is as a top-15 guy. 

Dynasty Outlook

There's a relatively high floor here. Though, don't expect Treadwell's fantasy performance to improve a great deal down the road like some others in this draft class. He already boasts a pro-ready skill-set, but the upside is capped due to his inability to make big plays. This means that Treadwell's dynasty value isn't much more than his value in re-draft contests. Keep that in mind when taking part in rookie pool drafts.