Archives for September 2023

Devy Digest: Barion Brown

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Barion-Brown-Return-090623

 

 

Kentucky Wildcats

Wide Receiver
Barion Brown
6'1" 166lbs
Age: 19
Draft Eligible: 2025
Devy Digest WR Rank: 10

 

Devy Digest: Barion Brown

 

 

Who is Barion Brown?

Brown was a high 4* in the composites and attended Pearl-Cohn High in Tennessee, where he did a little of everything on the Football field, including playing quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back. Off the football field, Brown was a decorated track athlete as he won back-to-back State Championships in the 100 and 200 meter dash. That game changing, elite speed translated onto the football field as he outran defenders game after game. As a true Freshman, Brown started 7 games and was an impact player every time he touched the ball. Brown finished his Freshman season with 50 catches and became one of the most dangerous return men in college football.

Advance Metrics: Courtesy of Campus 2 Cant

As you can see, Brown had a great Freshman season. The start to the current season has been less than ideal, but we need to see how this offense shapes up.

2023 Outlook

Liam Coen returns as the offensive coordinator and Devin Leary is the new Quarterback, who should distribute the ball better than Will Levis did last season. So far it's been a slow start to the season, but Brown has already shown his return prowess by returning a kickoff 99 yards to the house in the season opener against Ball State. Brown and fellow true Sophomore Dane Key are one of the more potent duos in all of college football. Brown should be used in all phases including jet sweeps, bubble screens, and go routes in order to utilize his skill set and get him in open space.

Strengths

Brown has speed in spades and he knows how to use it. Coen should find ways to get him the ball in open space and let him work. Brown is creative when he has the ball in his hands and you hold your breath every time he touches it as he can take it the distance every time. Brown tracks the ball well, which is why he is such a good returner, and why I'd like to see more go and post routes from him.  I'd also like to see him expand the route tree and give him more variation to win. We'd like to see Kentucky utilize Brown's mix of short, shifty speed with long speed. Brown has galloping strides that can outrun most defenses. It's encouraging that the new offensive coordinator is trying to find ways to get him the ball.

Improvements/Concerns

There is a lot of mystery in regards to Brown, either due to his skill set or the offense that is being run at Kentucky. As a true Freshman, he wasn't asked to run many different routes and was very limited in that offense, running more short to intermediate routes. Could it be he isn't as refined as a route runner or was it due to a combination of Quarterback play from last year and the former play caller? So far in the current season, we still haven't seen Brown used in the explosive ways we would like to see. Kentucky has run a pretty balanced offense so far and Leary looks competent at the helm, as he hasn't forced anything and just takes what the defense is giving them.  Brown hasn't taken over the receiving room as we have hoped, but the season is young and there are a lot of games to go, but it bears to watch. Brown has a slight frame, we'd like him to add on 5-10 lbs, but in today's game, it isn't as much of a concern as it used to be about a decade ago.

Devy Value

Brown is a hold right now. I don't think anyone is too nervous with the slow start and I wouldn't be selling him. He's at worse the WR3 of the 2025 class.

NFL Outlook

Brown's speed gives him a safety net at the next level. We know guys with his type of game changing speed go in the first round purely on their speed and nothing else. His range of outcomes is easily a top-15 pick, and why his devy value is a hold.

Week 1 Observations: IDP Edition

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Week 1 Observations: IDP Edition

 

Week 1 is officially over. And, just like most fantasy football creators, I have observations of what I saw. We witnessed teams with Super Bowl aspirations lose in week one (Chiefs, Bills, Bengals), and other teams come away with surprising victories (Rams, Jets, Lions).
After digesting all of week one’s results, let’s analyze the IDP developments and their impacts on our fantasy football rosters.

Players that Impressed

Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle

A player with 19 tackles would be first on the list. What is even more impressive is that Wagner is 33 years old! The next oldest player inside the Top 12 is 28 years old. It is obvious that Bobby Wagner still has a lot of treads left on his tires, and he is a must-start in fantasy. Wagner was my preseason pick for Defensive Player of the Year, and he has not disappointed after one week of play.

Kader Kohou, DeShon Elliot and Jevon Holland, DB, Miami

I was confident that the Dolphin’s defense would have one superlative IDP player from their defensive backfield; I thought his name was Jalen Ramsey. Instead, the Miami defensive backfield has three! Led by Kader Kohou, DeShon Elliot, and Jevon Holland, the Miami defense was patrolled by playmakers all over the field. The game was a shootout and provided plenty of opportunities for the DBs to shine. With 36 total tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss, these three DBs were almost impossible to stop from making plays. With all three, targeting just one in IDP may be challenging, but Holland and Kohou offer the most in IDP.

Josh Allen, LB, Jacksonville

Entering the season, Josh Allen was a trendy “sleeper” pick. Allen always had a nice blend of tackles and sacks. However, as tackles went up, sacks went down. In week one against the Colts, Allen notched ten tackles and three sacks-a massive game-changer for the Jaguars. If Josh Allen can maintain some semblance of this level of play, he will be mentioned in the same breath as TJ Watt and Micah Parsons. This could be the season Allen puts it all together.

Jessie Bates, DB, Atlanta

Jessie Bates was one of the leaders of the defense in Cincinnati. Moving to Atlanta, that role needed to be clarified. However, after week one, Jessie Bates has declared himself the defensive spark plug. With ten total tackles and two interceptions, Bates was the clear leader on a defense that desperately needed production. Last year, Bates set a career-high with four interceptions and one forced fumble. If Bates can maintain some level of contribution in multiple areas as he did in week one, Bates may be looking at an All-Pro level season.

Players that surprised

Brandon Stephens, CB, Baltimore

The Ravens’ defense has plenty of players that can shine in IDP formats. However, Brandon Stephens was a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers. A 3rd round pick in 2021, Stephens had a solid rookie season and notched 78 total tackles and four passes defended. In 2022, he took a step back and recorded 37 total tackles. It appears Stephens may be back to his rookie form. I do not expect him to record this many tackles every week, but it is conceivable that he could break the 90-tackle mark this season with some contributions in tackles for loss and passes defended.

Germaine Pratt, LB, Cincinnati

Germaine Pratt has been a solid, dependable linebacker in the NFL. However, in IDP circles, he has been mediocre. A linebacker who only contributes in one statistical category does not make a significant mark as an IDP player. In week one, Pratt recorded 11 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. Pratt needs to be rostered in your league, so act fast! I am predicting a breakout season for Pratt in 2023.

Players I “felt” could Break Out and Did!

Jermaine Johnson, DE, New York Jets

I was as big of a Jermaine Johnson truther as there can be entering the season. In his 49% snap share, Johnson recorded five total tackles and one sack. If his snap share rises to 60% to 65%, he can put up huge numbers for fantasy purposes. For now, let’s bask in the glow that Johnson started week one with a strong game and hope his Jets defense can continue to provide him with opportunities to shine.

Reed Blankenship, S, Philadelphia

After a small sample size last year, Reed Blankenship earned the starting spot after CJ Gardner Johnson departed for the Lions. Blankenship is an undrafted free agent in his second year with the Eagles. In 2022, Blankenship recorded 34 total tackles with one interception. With the starting job his to lose heading into the 2023 season, Blankenship rewarded fantasy managers that invested early with 12 total tackles and two passes defended. Blankenship is well on his way to an outstanding IDP season. Blankenship has found himself with a rib injury and has been ruled out of this Thursday night’s match up against the Vikings.

Terrel Bernard, LB, Buffalo

After Tremaine Edmunds departed for Chicago, Bernard was the savvy IDP manager’s pick to inherit the volume vacated by the departed Edmunds. However, some thought rookie Dorian Williams might also pop. After week one, Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano look to be the tandem policing the middle for the Bills. Bernard tallied ten total tackles against the Jets. To elevate to the upper tier of IDP linebackers, Bernard must also contribute in other areas. If Bernard is available in your league, run, don’t walk, to grab him.

Ernest Jones, LB, Los Angeles Rams

When the Rams allowed Bobby Wagner to walk, many wondered what the Rams were thinking. Wagner was the key to the defense and would be missed greatly by a defense missing playmakers. Jones tallied eight tackles against the Seahawks in week one, with three tackles for a loss. In 2022, Jones tallied 114 tackles. On most teams, a player notching those tackle numbers is usually a focal point of the defense. However, Jones played alongside the future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner for the last two years. Now, it is Jones’ turn to lead the Rams’ defense. For IDP, Jones will need to contribute in more areas other than tackles to be a genuinely elite IDP linebacker.
For now, grab him in all formats.

Jordan Whitehead, DB, New York Jets

Jordan Whitehead was one of Josh Allen’s favorite targets on Monday night, connecting on three passes. That previous sentence would be all right, except that Whitehead played for the opposing team. In addition to the three interceptions, Whitehead also notched two tackles. Teams may quickly learn that if you try to avoid Sauce Gardner, other players on the Jets defense can also make plays. I anticipate those types of interception numbers only a few times a season, but it shows Whitehead can read the quarterback and make plays.

Players that did not break out (yet?)

Devin Lloyd, LB, Jacksonville

I was a big fan of Devin Lloyd’s heading into this season. And I am not entirely abandoning him as a player I invested in on my Dynasty rosters. However, week one was a disappointment. Lloyd totaled three tackles and one fumble recovered. Those stats were not horrible, but coming from a linebacker, we need more from a player with a 72% snap share. Lloyd is a hold in Redraft formats, but if a similar performance like that occurs next week, Lloyd will be a release candidate.

Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Detroit

Malcolm Rodriguez, the breakout star of last season’s Hard Knocks, saw his field time diminish in week one to just a 14% snap share. In that time, he only made one tackle. The Lions will use a three-safety look, as Alex Anzalone is the only linebacker locked into a steady snap share. Barring any injuries, Rodriguez is no longer worth rostering.

 

Players that disappointed

Micah Parsons, LB/DE, Dallas

This post is about something other than whether you should trade or drop him. That would be a ridiculous response after one week. However, we were hoping for more than three total tackles and a sack for a player who was the first defensive player taken in many IDP drafts. He is a great player and should rebound, but let’s hope he reads this and it motivates him to better things.

Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland

For the same reasons I listed Micah Parsons, I listed Myles Garrett. For a Top 3 DE in most formats, three total tackles and one sack were underwhelming for Garrett.

Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco

A pattern with these top-tier defensive lineman is that their success revolves around their ability to cause havoc in the backfield. With only two tackles against Pittsburgh, better days are ahead for Bosa. Let’s hope we don’t see offenses chipping on Bosa to the point where he may not warrant the high draft capital most managers invested.

Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore

Besides notching three total tackles, Hamilton did not add any countable stats for IDP managers, as he was on the field for 76% of the defensive snaps. I expect a bounce back from Hamilton against the Bengals (hey, the Browns looked good against them), but monitor his output closely. At 6’4″ and 220 pounds, Hamilton is a prototype for modern-day safeties who can also move into the box and add support. Hamilton is capable of contributing in many ways as an IDP star.

Haason Reddick, DE, Philadelphia

Haason Reddick terrorized quarterbacks last year as he recorded 16 sacks in 2022. And although he can certainly return to that form again in 2023, his first game was not the start to make that goal a reality. Reddick tallied only one tackle against the Patriots. I expected better for a DE on the field for 58% of the snaps. Similarly to Parsons, Garrett, and Bosa, I expect a bounce back; I hope it comes sooner rather than later.

Injured Players to monitor

Jalen Pitre, S, Houston

Early in the game against the Ravens, Jalen Pitre took a blow to the chest and left the game due to bruised lungs. Pitre recorded two total tackles before exiting the game. Many IDP managers have high hopes for Pitre this season; let’s hope he can recover quickly and return to the field.

Nakobe Dean, LB, Philadelphia

While on the field, Nakobe Dean provided plenty of reasons for IDP managers to be excited about this season. In his 49% snap share, Dean made seven total tackles. However, Dean left the game in a walking boot and was placed on the IR. It will be four more weeks before we can see this promising linebacker on the field again.

Quay Walker, LB, Green Bay

One of the most impactful players to hit the injury report, Quay Walker, sustained a concussion in the Packers’ week one game against Chicago. On a 49% snap share, Walker had four total tackles, an interception, and a touchdown. IDP managers had a lot of high hopes if they punted linebackers and drafted Walker as their LB1. Let’s hope he returns to the field soon…

IDP Waiver Wire Rankings: Week 2

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IDP Waiver Wire Rankings: Week 2

 

Week 1 was wild to say the least. It was packed full of excitement and disappointment. It seemed as if defensive players were scoring as much, if not more than offensive players in fantasy. There were plenty of sacks and interceptions to go around. There were also plenty of IDPs who surprised us with their performances as well. With that being said, I’m here to give you my top IDP Waiver Wire adds heading into Week 2.

RANK PLAYER TEAM POSITION
1Drake JacksonSFDL1
2Denico AutryTENDL2
3Germaine PrattCINLB1
4Dorance ArmstrongDALDL3
5Denzel PerrymanHOULB2
6Demario DavisNOLB3
7Carl GrandersonNODL4
8Jordan WhiteheadNYJDB1
9Trent McDuffieKCDB2
10Arden KeyTENLB4
11Dax HillCINDB3
12Derrick BrownCARDL5
13Keisean NixonGBDB4
14Darius SlayPHIDB5
15Andre CiscoJAXDB6
16Justin MadubuikeBALDL6
17Jadeveon ClowneyBALDL7
18Jonathan GreenardHOUDL8
19Nate HobbsLVDB7
20Jack GibbensTENLB5
21EJ SpeedINDLB6
22Robert SpillaneLVLB7
23Devonte WyattGBDL9
24Dennis GardeckARZLB8
25Yannick NgakoueCHIDL10

Waiver Wire Rankings: Week 2

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Waiver Wire Rankings: Week 2

 

Wow, what a crazy Week 1 to start the season. No Kelce, no Andrews, JK Dobbins and Aaron Rodgers done for the year. Lots of fantasy teams were.. and are in shambles already. Now that the dust has settled from this crazy week, let’s take a look at who we should be targeting via waiver wire. Every week I will be putting out a Waiver Wire list and ranking them by priority. So without further adieu, here is my list heading into Week 2:

RANK PLAYER TEAM POSITION
1Kyren WilliamsLARRB1
2Puka NacuaLARWR1
3Tyler AllgeierATLRB2
4Gus EdwardsBALRB3
5Justice HillBALRB4
6Roschon JohnsonCHIRB5
7Rashid ShaheedNOWR2
8Zach MossINDRB6
9Hayden HurstCARTE1
10Zay JonesJACWR3
11Robert WoodsHOUWR4
12Kendrick BourneNEWR5
13Tutu AtwellLARWR6
14Joshua KelleyLACRB7
15Kenneth GainwellPHIRB8
16Zach ErtzARZTE2
17Melvin GordonBALRB9
18Luke MusgraveGBTE3
19Jaylen WarrenPITRB10
20Rashee RiceKCWR7
21Matthew StaffordLARQB1
22Mac JonesNEQB2
23Josh ReynoldsDETWR8
24Brock PurdySFQB3
25Jared GoffDETQB4
QUARTERBACK

There were so many of us who waited at quarterback and took Aaron Rodgers late. With that being said, I would be targeting quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford, Brock Purdy, or Jared Goff as a replacement. Obviously these QBs are not available if you are in a Superflex League, so I would look to acquire one of these guys via trade. If you can’t get one of these QBs, you could target Mac Jones (ugh) in desperation. Jones had a very good Week 1 and this could be a sign that he’s ready to take the next step as a viable fantasy quarterback.

 

 

RUNNING BACK

Kyren Williams had a great Week 1 with 15 carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns. He is my top waiver add this week. Now Cam Akers did get 22 carries, but didn’t do much with them, only averaging 1.3 yards per carry. Kyren Williams got the important touches, and that matters. Moving on, I have said all offseason that Tyler Allgeier was going to have a role in the Atlanta offense and could be useful. Looks like this is true, so go grab him everywhere you can get him. Atlanta runs the ball so much that both Bijan and Algeier are going to eat. 

I’m grabbing Gus Edwards and Justice Hill where I can afford it, but just not sure how the Ravens backfield is going to shake out just yet. Sunday’s Ravens/Bengals game could be a shootout, so we may not get a good idea how they’re gonna use that backfield just yet.

If you are in a dynasty league then Roschon Johnson is not available. It was only going to be a matter of time before he takes over this Bears backfield, however that may be sooner than later. He looks to be the receiving back already, so he has flex appeal immediately. Grab him wherever you can get him.

 

 

WIDE RECEIVER

Puka Nacua is by far the top Wide Receiver add for this week after posting 10 rec for 119 yards.His teammate Tutu Atwell had a great game as well putting up 119 yards himself on 6 catches. Both receivers should be scooped up this week. Other wide receivers I’m targeting are Rashid Shaheed, Robert Woods, and Zay Jones.

Robert Woods looks to be the clear go-to guy for CJ Stroud and will be very useful in fantasy this season. He should be a priority for those of you who need help at WR. There will be a lot of FAAB spent on Nacua, Atwell, and Shaheed. So if you want to play it smart, let your league fight for those guys while you get a trusty player in Robert Woods. Same goes for Zay Jones, Trevor Lawrence trusts him. He's going to get his targets no matter what.

 

 

TIGHT END

What a miserable week for the tight end position. Your top scorer was Hunter Henry. Of course, Travis Kelce and Mark Andews missed week 1 due to injury. This offseason I waited at the tight end position and targeted Hayden Hurst and Zach Ertz. I loved what I saw this weekend from those two pass catchers. Hurst is my top TE pickup for the week after posting 15.1 fantasy points on 5 rec for 41 yards and a touchdown. He is being featured in the Carolina offense and will be a weekly starter. 

The same goes for Zach Ertz after leading his team with 10 targets in Week 1. He ended the day with 6 receptions for only 21 yards, however he was targeted heavily in the red zone. If he would have caught one of those end zone targets, he would have finished in the top 3 for the week. With Tight End being so thin and unpredictable, Ertz is a definite target of mine. Go get Hurst and Ertz if you can.

Devy Digest: Monday Musings Week 2

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Devy Digest: Monday Musings Week 2

Devy Risers


Photo courtesy: Colin E Braley- Freelancer, Associated Press

Kansas- RB Devin Neal was someone we liked more than others when doing his profile. He is a willing pass protector and has soft hands which makes him a 3 down back. He continues to be very efficient with his touches and is someone that can garner day two draft capital, while being productive enough to start in C2C leagues.

Texas- RB Jonathon Brooks is going to continue to have a large role in the offense and he continues to show why. He runs hard and is not easy to bring down, while having enough wiggle to make a guy miss. He also has good enough hands where he isn't a liability in the receiving game. CJ Baxter will continue to earn more opportunities, but Brooks is someone that has a key role in a potent offense and a program that has a lot of attention. He'll be playing on Sundays at the next level and is someone that can be acquired cheaply in C2C leagues.

Texas- WR Adonai Mitchell is a viable WR2 for Texas and, due to the weapons on the team, will have ample opportunity to shine vs man coverage or zone coverage as opposing defenses have to play the entire field and can't solely focus on one player.

Houston- WR Sam Brown was always someone that held value in C2C and CFF formats. Coming into the season, he was projected as the Cougar's WR2 who would get a target boost with the vacated targets left by Tank Dell and the allure of Matthew Golden. However, Brown has been a viable option and someone that should be considered as a devy asset. He is the deep threat in this offense and has made progress with character concerns from last year. He is someone you should be inquiring about in all C2C formats.

Devy Quandaries


Photo courtesy: Lauren Leigh Bacho, Getty Images

Ohio State- TreVeyon Henderson has been a faller for me. After a tremendous true Freshman season, he's been used as a committee back with backs that aren't as talented as him. This isn't a Penn State, Michigan, or Florida situation where they have multiple backs who are just as talented. Miyan Williams and Chip Trayanum shouldn't be getting as many carries, and while it might be due to the opposition and not how they value the room, it's something that is a little concerning. I always had questions about his durability and how he would be viewed at the next level. He profiles as more of a 3rd down back in the NFL to me.

Alabama- RB Jase McClellan is not very efficient, nor will he get the bulk of the carries due to the depth of the backfield. He hasn't looked very good this year, but the NFL values Bama running backs. McClellan doesn't look like a back who is able to create for himself. He is the lead back for a powerhouse factory in Alabama, but I've never been a huge fan of his.

Devy Fallers


Photo courtesy: John David Mercer, USA Today Sports

Alabama- RB Jam Miller is in a tough spot. He's playing behind Jace McClellan and behind him is highly touted true Freshman Justice Haynes, who has looked more explosive. It feels like Miller will get leap frogged in the pecking order and like someone who will transfer out. Jam doesn't have the receiving profile, so he isn't someone that can secure a role in the offense like Roydell Williams and true Freshman Richard Young can. I would try to sell Jam Miller right now while his stock hasn't completely plummeted.

Oklahoma- RB Jovantae Barnes had offseason surgery due to a dead bone in his leg. He was never someone that looked efficient and his usage is now taking a hit.

C2C names to watch


Photo courtesy: Chuck Burton, Associated Press

Wake Forest- RB Demond Claiborne has been pretty efficient with his touches, and while he lacks the long speed to take it to the house, he has enough elusiveness to pick up yards on the ground. Wake Forest is a pretty potent offense with the tempo they run and Claiborne should be a name to watch.

Western Michigan- RB Jalen Buckley has been very efficient with his touches and showed his explosiveness with a 75 yard burst and touchdown against a power 5 defense in Syracuse The game script got away from Western Michigan, but he is someone that has made the most with his touches.

NC State- WR Kevin Concepcion as a true Freshman, leads the team in receptions. We like the fact that he is being targeted and while watching the tape, it's easy to see why. KC finds ways to get open and is currently being used as the short to intermediate option to move the chains. It's only a matter of when his route tree is expanded. We like his usage so far and he has become the safety blanket for QB Brennan Armstrong.

Auburn- TE Rivaldo Fairweather transferred up from FIU and I liked his athletic traits. He looks to be a possible mismatch in coverage as the season progresses. Auburn hasn't looked very good so far, but someone is going to emerge in this passing game and it's worth a dart throw.


Musings Wrap Up

Could Texas actually be back? Quinn Ewers showed poise and made the plays when the team needed it. Alabama's Jalen Milroe throws a great deep ball, but will need to improve on processing the defense to be a complete quarterback. We saw Devin Brown play the entire second half for Ohio State and it appears, while he is talented, he is still raw. TCU's Emani Bailey appears to be the clear RB1 and it was indeed the fumble last week that put Trey Sanders into the forefront. Utah's RB Micah Bernard has been ruled out for the season, so all Ja'Quinden Jackson managers have life again. It was good for Clemson wide receivers to show out, albeit against lesser competition, but Beaux Collins and Antonio Williams had good days. Florida's Eugene Wilson earned more playing time, which will be important for Florida as he is the most explosive player on that team.

Dynasty Dilemma: Rashee Rice

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Dynasty Dilemma: Rashee Rice

 

I'm going to begin by stating that I, Brendon Booth, H A T E the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, I don't say that because I've been a Raiders fan for over 40 years, although I do for that reason, as well. It's simply this: as a fantasy football analyst, I hate the fact that the Chiefs have rostered seven wide receivers and nobody knows what to do with them. I say this as an owner of Kadarius Toney. I say this as an owner of Justyn Ross. I say this as a 30% shareholder of Deneric Prince who was squeezed off of the 53-man roster to make room for KC's 7th WR. And I say this as an NON-owner of Rashee Rice, in spite of the fact that I would like to have him on one or more of my rosters.

Rice was a stud at pass-heavy SMU. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the 2nd round of the 2023 draft and you would think that draft capital would quickly earn him a heavy role in the Chiefs offense. There is just too much competition in that WR room to get a great feel of how he is going to be deployed. If he is an integral piece, earning a high enough target share from Patrick Mahomes to be relevant in fantasy, then he could be a nice waiver wire pick-up for you, if he's available. This is our dynasty dilemma. Let's dig a little deeper on this rookie, though, and see if we can figure something out together.

As I said, Rice holds 2nd round draft capital. While one of the prime indicators of fantasy success for wide receivers is being drafted in the first round, there are plenty of 2nd rounders that hold significant value. Christian Watson, George Pickens, and the Chiefs' own Skyy Moore were all 2nd rounders in 2022. 2021 saw Elijah and Rondale Moore both go early on Day 2. In 2020, the 2nd round WRs included Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Jr., and personal favorite Van Jefferson. While all of these guys vary in their potential offerings, you can see how 2nd rounders can be viable assets.

On the field, Rice presents some true upside. While his 4.51 combine 40-time isn't ideal, Rice offers elite level explosiveness with a 1.49 10-yard split placing him in the 92nd percentile, and a 41-inch vertical jump, good for a 96th percentile spot. In basketball, they call that "jumping out of the building." His 6'1", 204 lb frame makes him big enough to be a contested catch target and a red-zone threat as he plays even bigger than his stature. Rice is more than capable as a route-runner in short and intermediate situations but is even better on deep throws, and he is good at creating yards after the catch. He also shared college targets with fellow SMU teammates, now in the NFL, Danny Gray of the 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles TE Grant Calcaterra.

Rashee Rice offers the size, skillset, athletic profile, and college pedigree that you want, and the draft capital of at least 6 WRs in the top 48 of dynasty rankings. His current DynastyPros ranking of 53 just screams "SLEEPER."

Did I mention that I hate the Chiefs' WR situation? Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, and Skyy Moore are poised just under TE Travis Kelce as starting targets for Patrick Mahomes. Justin Watson, Justyn Ross, Richie James, and Rice round out the receiving corps, with Rice listed on the depth chart as the backup Z, or flanker, to Toney. Now, Toney has a pretty sketchy injury history which could lead to the perfect opportunity for Rice to slide into the starting mix, but the Chiefs have stated that Rice, along with Ross will "start out as 'package' players." So IF there's an injury to Toney and Rice graduates to the flanker role, there could be some value there.

Depth chart position isn't the only thing working against Rice. Let's take a second and look at his teammate Skyy Moore and HIS situation as a rookie in Andy Reid's offense. Moore, again, also a 2nd round pick was limited to the point of irrelevance as a rookie. Moore is slightly smaller and a little bit faster than Rice, and is more suited to the Y or slot role, and he earned lower than a 30% target share as a rookie, in 16 games. He had 22 catches for 250 yards, had an average target depth of 7.7 yards, and earned just 5.7% of team air yards. Contrast that with fellow rookie George Pickens who, albeit in a different role, had one-third the drop rate of Moore and almost four times the receptions on three times the targets, an aDOT of 14.7 yards, and 27.4% of team air yards. If the Chiefs believe the best thing for Rice is to slowly acclimate, his only spot in your roster is on the taxi squad.

The final drawback to Rice hasn't anything to do with situation or ability, it's in his attitude. He has been reported as "nonchalant" in his intent and "takes plays off." He also hasn't shown a desire to increase his commitment to detail as a route runner and chooses to "get by" on size and physical abilities rather than technique. Reports are that he ran a very limited route-tree in college and a poor attitude means that he could be in trouble if he is supposed to improve in the NFL. If all Rice wants to do is run downfield and catch jump balls for glory, there is a place for that, but it won't equate to much production.

After investigation, I might be better off, at this point, not owning any shares of Rashee Rice, and you may be, too. That means, however, that his value is at an all-time low. If his usage rate mirrors Skyy Moore's as a rookie, Rice will definitely be worth a stash if you have a taxi squad spot open. His value is that of a handcuff running back or a mid to late 2nd round rookie pick in 2024 or 2025. If you are trading with a Rice owner, don't be afraid to add him to the receiving side in exchange for a 3rd rounder or a Jordan Mason type. If waiting on his potential, which he has plenty of, is good enough for Andy Reid, it should be good enough for us.