Second and Third Year Player Development: Week Ten

In this weekly column, I dissect a few young players who haven’t made much of a consistent impact to date. Some of these players may be available on your waiver wire, while others may be available via a cheap or moderate trade. Acquiring or not acquiring one of these players could decide how well your dynasty or keeper team does for the next few years. This week I will be taking a longer look at the Washington Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson as well as the intriguing Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Griff Whalen and LaVon Brazill. I will focus on their most recent matchups to draw the majority of my insight.

Leonard Hankerson, WR WASH

The third year receiver took some time to start clicking with his young talented quarterback, Robert Griffin, but the chemistry is finally coming through this season. Last season Hankerson caught 38 of his 58 passing targets (66%) in sixteen games. So far in 2013, the receiver gets at least three passes thrown his way per game and is on pace to more than double his 2012 production (38 catches for 543 yards and three touchdowns).

There are several factors to explain this increase. Griffin trusts Hankerson’s hands more than last season and the young receiver is making more of an effort to come back to his quarterback when RG3 is under pressure. Hankerson is also willing to attack defenders as a run blocker to open up running lanes.  Hankerson spends the majority of his time on the outside opposite Pierre Garcon, but he is also often sent in motion or lined up directly behind another receiver helping him to achieve a free release. The young play maker also runs sharp routes and is effective catching short passes in stride.  He does a good job adjusting to the ball in the air whether catching it at its highest point or diving down low to make the reception.

The Redskins seemed to design their passing plays to have Garcon, rookie tight end Jordan Reed, and Hankerson all take turns clearing out the middle of the field, running underneath routes to create valuable yardage. It’s easy to see that Hankerson was once coached up by HOF Minnesota Vikings great Cris Carter, as he takes pride in doing the little things well, such as setting up defenders, running precise routes, etc.  The receiver uses his body to shield the ball from the defensive backs and always knows where he is on the field so he can stick the landing near the sidelines to gain a first down.

I have my doubts Hankerson will ever be more than a dynasty WR3, but in a Shannahan offense his role could continue to grow.

Griff Whalen, WR IND

The second year wide receiver played with Andrew Luck at Stanford in their college days, but the wide out didn’t play a down as a colt in 2012 due to injury. This season Whalen had an opportunity in the first three 2013 Colts games. He subsequently went back to the taxi squad only to be brought back up again after Reggie Wayne‘s season ending injury. The matchup against the Rams seemed to be a great chance for Whalen to prove he was on the team based on his talent, not simply because of his previous college experience with Luck.

While the second year receiver didn’t start the game, he was featured in most of the Colts three and four receiver sets, and spent most of his time lined up in the slot. Whalen ran mostly short crossing patterns on his five targets. He finished with three receptions for 36 yards.

Whalen did a good job adjusting to the ball as one pass was thrown far behind him, yet he still found a way to contort his body back to the ball to make the catch.  Luck did not hit him in stride to take advantage of his quickness for extra yardage.  He tries to block in the running game, but the majority of the time he would simply get in the defender’s way for a second or two before relenting.

Whalen has showed some improvement with his play against St. Louis. The receiver shielded the ball from defenders and demonstrated good leg drive to fight for extra yardage after Cortland Finnegan hit him near the end zone. His quarterback trusted him enough to target him in the red zone, but Whalen rewarded that trust with a bobbled pass at the two yard line. The young wide out does not always highly regard his safety as he caught a dangerous high-thrown pass in the middle of the field to set up the Colts offense near the goal line. Whalen took a very hard shot, but continued to hold onto the ball.

I would have a hard time valuing him for more than a dynasty WR5. Whalen is a hold for depth and bye week help only.

LaVon Brazill, WR IND

The former promising third year receiver has done next to nothing in the NFL, but with an opportunity to play a meaningful role, is there any chance at redemption? Brazill came off a four game substance abuse suspension early this season, but has made little impact so far. Much like Whalen, Brazill did not start, but made appearances in three and four wide receiver sets. His first target was a memorable one as the ball was thrown by Luck over 50 yards down the field near the end zone when Brazill was inadvertently knocked off his pattern by a defensive back.

The young receiver also took over returning punts from David Reed. He did not look like a natural returner, but showed good burst and seemed to see the field well. Brazill found a few good return lanes and displayed a nice stutter set. Once Luck left the game in the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Matthew Hasselbeck started targeting him more. He ran a few crisp patterns and was targeted in the end zone twice. On one of those passes, Brazill was not looking for the ball and it zipped past him. The other throw was a one-handed drop that he simply didn’t turn around quickly enough to find. Brazill lacks the chemistry with Luck that Whalen has. I’m not sure if his talent is distinguishable enough from Whalen’s to leap-frog him which makes him a dynasty WR6 at best, making him appealing only to those in the deepest of dynasty leagues.

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