Zay Flowers

Dynasty Debate: Flowers, Downs, or Hyatt

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Dynasty Debate: Flowers, Downs, or Hyatt

By Kyle Highfill

 

 

Zay Flowers


Age: 22 (September 11)
Height: 5’9 ft
Weight: 182 lbs
NFL Comparison: T.Y. Hilton

Zay Flowers is going to be one of the most fluctuating draft pick positions we have seen. The tape has shown that he can be a top wideout in the NFL, but it is going to be tougher for him to compete with his smaller frame, if he’s not in the slot. He had one of the best receiving yards per team pass attempt last season at 2.45 yards per attempt, which shows that he can get downfield fast. Flowers only played 33% of his snaps from the slot position last year, which is also why his yards per pass attempt numbers are so high. I think that Flowers is a guy that could have success in the NFL if he is able to use his quickness, like Devonta Smith does, to beat corners off the line and get downfield quickly. Flowers also has great body control and decent hands which makes him more reliable in those deeper pass attempts. The issue with Flowers that people are going to be nervous about is that he is going to be 23 years old when the NFL season comes around. To put that into perspective for you, Ja’Marr Chase just turned 23 years old earlier this month. I have a bad feeling that Flowers may fall in some drafts because of his age and because he isn’t this spectacular athletic freak like the top wide receivers in this class. Flowers is going to need to end up in a good situation if he wants his rookie stock to continue to rise.

 

 

Josh Downs


Age: 21 (August 12th)
Height: 5’9 ft
Weight: 171 lbs
NFL Comparison: Tyler Lockett

Another skinny slot receiver in the NFL? Yes, another slot receiver that is going to be one of the most consistent wide receivers for fantasy football over the next few years. Downs has been one of the most consistent receivers in college football over the past 3 years, after he broke out 2 years ago while posting a class-leading, 3.52 yards per team pass attempt. With such an early breakout age, Downs is ready to go absolutely bonkers in the NFL. His size is small, but given that he’s lined up in the slot position almost 90% of the time, during his time at North Carolina, it won’t really matter. Downs has the capabilities to beat you with his speed, but will beat you with his shiftiness more often than not. Downs won’t be drafted to be the WR1 on a team, but he is going to be a great help to any offense lacking a consistent piece over the middle.

 

 

Jalin Hyatt

Age: 21 (September 25th)
Height: 6’0 ft
Weight: 176 lbs
NFL Comparison: Jameson Williams / Nelson Agholor

In 2020-2021, if you asked the average football enthusiast who Jalin Hyatt is, the answer would most likely be, “I don’t know.” If you asked a football enthusiast this year who Jalin Hyatt is, the answer would most likely be, “A guy that had a lot of big plays for touchdowns.” The issue with this is that his breakout age of 21 is not what we would typically look for in potential studs in the NFL. That’s not to say that he won’t be good in the NFL, but we might just have to lower our expectations a little bit. Hyatt is absolutely a field stretcher and that’s what a lot of teams are looking for in the first couple rounds of the NFL draft. His vertical speed is proven to be a threat for opposing defenses, even against top teams in the SEC. He posted multiple games with 2 TDs or more this year. During his best game this year, he posted 6 receptions, for 207 yards, and 5 touchdowns, against Alabama nonetheless. Hyatt weight is also a concern for the same reasons as Flowers, but he is able to use his speed a little bit better than Flowers can. Hyatt’s potential is definitely there, but it is going to take the situation for him to be able to excel during his first few years in the league. The biggest downfall for Hyatt’s fantasy value will be the lack of receptions he typically gets. When he gets those receptions, they are usually to the house or for a big play, but he is going to have to capitalize on each one if he wants to be a top 12 fantasy wide receiver during his career.

 

Conclusion

There is so much talent between these three wide receivers and that is why they are being ranked between the WR3-6 on almost every big board I have seen. Some analysts even have one of them above guys like Jordan Addison or Quentin Johnston. Currently, my top 6 rookie wide receiver rankings are Jaxon, Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison, Josh Downs, Zay Flowers, and then Jalin Hyatt. These rankings could fluctuate depending on the NFL draft, but I am a firm believer that talent almost always outweighs situation. It would have to take a pretty bad situation for me to drop any of these wideouts outside of the top 6.

Rookie Spotlight: Zay Flowers

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Rookie Spotlight: Zay Flowers

By Cody Folden

 

Zay Flowers could be the Swiss Army knife of the draft. At 5’9” 182 pounds, and in a scouting combine full of disappointment and lack of flair at the wide receiver position, Flowers had a workout that was exactly what he needed.. Running a 4.42 forty and having a 1.53 10 yard split was just what was expected for him. In his 4 years at Boston College, he finished with a stat-line of 200 catches for 3,056 yards and 29 TD's. The yardage mark makes Flowers number 10 all time for receiving yards in the ACC. His senior year was his best with 78 receptions and 1,077 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He did everything stat wise his senior season to enter the NFL draft as a top WR prospect. 

 

Positives

Versatility 

Dynamic in Open Field

Good Core

With his small stature we know he will be out for some teams, but there are things about his game that he excels at, and other parts that need fine tuning. Flowers versatility is one of the best in this class. He can line up inside, outside, and motion to anywhere on the field and know exactly where he is. With the versatility comes a good core and feet. In the open field Flowers is the definition of slippery. He’s got that natural twitch about him that makes defenders second guess where he is going to be and by then it is already too late. With mediocre QB play he stayed dynamic. 

 

Negatives

Route Running

Body Catches

Slim Frame

These 2 things may come to a surprise with the numbers he puts up, but sometimes he doesn't sell his route as much as he needs to so that the defender buys in and gets faked out. He has the core and mental capacity to do it and this may be a result of Flowers being the only option for Boston College all year, but something he can definitely improve on. Flowers catches with his pads (body) far too often on film to be happy with but, again, this can be worked on and fixed. As for the slim frame he added alot of weight for the combine. That isnt his play weight so, like every year, people will be worried about his slim frame. Remember all the negative connotations about Devonta Smith? It worked out for him, and I feel it can work for Flowers too with good luck and a lack of major injury in college. 

 

 

NFL Player Comparisons

Devonta Smith, Curtis Samuel, Wandale Robinson

There is no question these types of players have a strong presence in the game today. The comparisons are for these three players because they all have proven they can play the X and Z receivers respectively. They can line up and be successful as the farthest receiver from the QB and all can thrive by being the “flanker” or motion man. Zay Flowers also fits this category. 

 

Best Fits

San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan is an offensive guru. We all know this, the one thing he can't get right is keeping his quarterback healthy. The 49ers already have 2 dynamic receivers and a second year player in Danny Gray that can fly. If they stay with Brock Purdy, they need one more dynamic and albeit cheap weapon. Zay Flowers is that guy.

 

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings and their fans feel they have a head coach in Kevin O’Connell that is also dynamic. They have the arguable #1 receiver in the game today in Justin Jefferson, and with a smaller WR free agency market and having a need at the position. I believe they focus on defense in free agency and use their draft picks on offense. With a dynamic receiver, K.J Osborn, and an almost inevitable extension to TJ Hockenson; they need a WR of Flowers ability. 

 

Arizona Cardinals: Another WR destination with the rumors of DeAndre Hopkins getting traded and cutting Chosen Anderson. The new coach Jonathan Gannon and GM Monti Ossenfort need more weapons. Why not grab Zay Flowers to be your flanker and pair him with Hollywood Brown and Rondale Moore.