The 2013 NFL Draft may not have been stacked with tremendous top of the line talent at wide receiver, but it was one of the deepest in recent memories. The simple fact that a Keenan Allen or Quinton Patton could drop to the mid rounds tells you pretty much everything that you need to know about the class.
From a fantasy lens, don't expect much from this rookie class in terms of standard leagues. At best, you are going to get a couple decent FLEX options. At worse, there aren't going to be any decent draftable options and most rookies who do make an impact will be waiver-wire pickups.
In terms of dynasty leagues, it is ripe with talent. As many as six or seven could eventually turn into decent WR1 options. Lets take a look at my top-five fantasy producers from the 2013 wide receiver class.
1. Tavon Austin, St. Louis Rams
Austin is going to be one of Sam Bradford’s primary receiving targets this upcoming season. There is no other way to go about it after the Rams traded a bounty to move up into the top 10 for his services. The West Virginia product will be an immediate force in the slot and should make a killing in PPR leagues. You can easily expect him to tally nearly the same amount, if not more, than Danny Amendola received when he was healthy. That being said, Austin is much more electric with the ball in his hands and should rack up yards after the catch.
Don’t expect Austin’s numbers to be limited solely because he is a rookie. St. Louis invested way too much into him for that to be the case. He will be a starting slot guy out of the gate and not look back. It’s also important to take into account that Brian Quick, the Rams second round pick in 2012, failed to impress last season. Without a ton of consistent receiving weapons on the outside, Austin and Jared Cook should get a lot of play between the hashes.
In terms of dynasty leagues, Austin is an absolute stud. He immediately becomes the Rams’ top play-making receiving target and should grow into a more defined role moving forward.
Projected 2013 Statistics: 80 receptions, 1,050 yards and seven touchdowns.
2. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans
We can debate whether or not Hopkins was the best receiver on the board at 27, but that’s not really the point here. He fits what the Texans are attempting to find opposite Andre Johnson and should find himself in the No. 2 receiving spot ahead of the likes of DeVier Posey, Keshawn Martin and Lester Jean. Not much competition for Nuke there to be honest.
The larger handicap as it relates to success as a rookie is Hopkins’ relatively raw skill set and Houston’s run-first offense. Johnson tallied 58 percent of Houston’s targets for wide receivers this past season and Houston ran the ball about 50 percent of the time. This seems to indicate that targets will be far and few to go around.
We will have to see how his game translates to the National Football League, but Hopkins does seem like a solid dynasty option. Johnson is 31 and likely has just a couple seasons of true WR1 production ahead of himself. Houston exhausted a first-rounder on Hopkins, so it believes he translates into being the heir apparent.
Projected 2013 Statistics: 45 receptions, 675 yards and three touchdowns.
3. Robert Woods, Buffalo Bills
Woods is one of the most polished rookies in this draft class. He played in a pro-style offense at Southern California and the learning curve really shouldn’t be all too great for him. In addition, the WR2 job opposite Stevie Johnson has been open for quite some time now. I don’t expect T.J. Graham or Marcus Easley to get a ton of attention.
Woods’ success in 2013 and beyond will be contingent on how EJ Manuel turns out and whether Kevin Kolb makes an impact in 2013. Kolb’s success, or lack thereof, will go a long way in determining what Woods does as a rookie. Meanwhile, if Manuel pans out in 2013 and beyond; Woods becomes a solid WR2 option in dynasty leagues.
Projected 2013 Statistics: 50 receptions, 575 yards and four touchdowns.
4. Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers
There are some executives out there who believe that Allen was just the best receiver in the 2013 NFL Draft class, but that he is the receiver most likely ready to make an impact. The surprise fall of Allen from the top half of the initial round to the third round was caused by a combination of injuries and a supposed “red flag” at the combine as it relates to a drug test.
On the field, Allen reminds me of the Anquan Boldin-types; someone that can come in and physically impose his will. The good news here is that he will be going to a Chargers’ team without many consistent receiver threats on the outside and with a proven quarterback in Philip Rivers. There is no reason to believe that Allen cannot earn a starting gig opposite either Malcom Floyd or Vincent Brown should he have a stellar training camp. This seems to indicate that he will be a solid waiver-wire pick up, much like Danario Alexander last season.
Moving forward, Allen is a decent option in dynasty drafts. He should have a lengthy NFL career if his injuries holdup, which were the major reason for his fall from the first round.
Projected 2013 Statistics: 42 receptions, 550 yards and three touchdowns.
5. Quinton Patton, San Francisco 49ers
I still find it incredibly hard to believe that Patton fell all the way to the 49ers at the end of the fourth round. He was the most productive collegiate player in the draft and possesses the best set of hands in the class as well. Playing in a spread offense at Louisiana Tech, Patton caught 183 passes for nearly 2,600 yards and 24 touchdowns in two seasons. A possession receiver if there ever was one, he brought in a ridiculous 80 percent of the passes thrown in his direction.
The 49ers did add Boldin in the offseason, but have both Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams coming off injuries. There is a real chance that he could earn the No. 3 wide receiver gig with a strong training camp performance. If that happens, expect immediate production from Patton as a rookie. He already runs pro-ready routes, has solid hands and makes plays in tight windows. He also has one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in Colin Kaepernick throwing him the ball.
In terms of dynasty options, Patton could be a real gem. Both Boldin and Manningham are set to become free agents and Crabtree has yet to sign an extension. If Patton is a surprise of this draft, like many expect, he could easily be San Francisco’s No. 2 wide receiver in 2014.
Projected 2013 Stats: 35 receptions, 430 yards and three touchdowns
Honorable Mention
Denard Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars: Could play tight end, wide receiver or running back. Will likely be utilized out of the backfield early as a swiss-army knife of sorts. Check him out in league that allow for non position-specific options.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings: It's going to be a tremendous learning curve for Patterson as a rookie. I am not expecting a whole bunch from him, especially with Christian Ponder at quarterback. That said, the Tennessee product as one of the highest ceilings of any receiver in the class and would be a great dynasty option.
Kenny Stills, New Orleans Saints: If only for one reason, Stills could be a fantasy stud because of the Saints passing attack and the fact that they're actually missing solid receiver help outside of Marques Colston and Lance Moore.