Rookie SWOT: Kenny Lawler

Jeff Miller Posted On September 2, 2016

Editor’s Note: As our coverage of the 2016 NFL Draft and its impact on fantasy football continues, we will be finishing up our 2016 Rookie SWOT series. These articles featured video highlights, combine reviews, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, short-term expectations, long-term expectations and rookie draft advice for over 30 of the best dynasty league prospects from this year’s draft.

Make sure you’re ready for your dynasty league rookie draft and season by staying up on all these articles, checking out our rookie draft guide, rookie rankings, rookie draft cheat sheet and mock draft rooms. There are simply no better resources out there for dynasty fantasy football enthusiasts.

Name: Kenny Lawler

Born: June 25, 1994 (Age 22)

Position: Wide Receiver

Pro Team: Seattle Seahawks

College Team: California

Draft Status: Round Seven, Pick 243

Combine Review

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 203
Hand Size: 10.5”
40 Time: 4.64
Vertical Jump: 31”
Broad Jump: 111”
Short Shuttle: 4.20
3 Cone Drill: 7.13

Video Clip

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Strengths

Huge, soft hands
Elite ball skills
Made circus catch after circus catch
Large catch radius
Fade machine
Shows good route running at times

Weaknesses

Elite ball skills let down by abject hatred of contact
About as physical as a newborn baby
Athletic traits of a slot receiver but is a boundary guy only due to points one and two
Inconsistent route runner
Too many concentration drops that betray his excellent hands

Opportunities

On a roster full of guys who fill roles, there really isn’t anybody who is a threat in the red zone (assuming Jimmy Graham is never Jimmy Graham following his brutal injury). That could open the door for Lawler, who is already their best bet in jump ball situations.

Threats

On paper, the Seahawks have one of the most mediocre receiving corps in the NFL, lacking anybody who profiles as a true number one. The guy playing there (Doug Baldwin) is quite good, but also miscast. Jermaine Kearse is just OK, but sees the field due to consistency and his run blocking. Paul Richardson is an athletic specimen, but is also thin, frail, and unproven. Then we have Tyler Lockett, the darling of the dynasty community, and in my view a future high end WR2, but it seems like he stuck in the third receiver deep role for the time being.

It is pretty clear the problem isn’t that there are a bunch of amazing talents in Seattle. Instead, aside from Richardson, they are all firmly entrenched in their roles. For a seventh round rookie to push any of them would take a mighty effort on his behalf.

Short-term Expectations

In short, they aren’t great. Baldwin and Kearse just got new multi-year deals this off-season. Lockett is in year two of his rookie deal and is the most likely of the group to ascend the ranks. Even Richardson has looked great this preseason. Unless Lawler impresses the coaching staff with his ability in the red zone, it will be very difficult for him to see the field in any meaningful way this season.

Long-term Expectations

My biggest concern with Lawler isn’t his sub-par athleticism. I’m most worried about his ability to get open or win in contested situations against NFL corners, safeties, or even linebackers. When you have the athletic profile he does, you need to be able to create separation through route running or physicality, which are two things I don’t think he will be able to do at this level. Maybe if he showed the tenacity to fight for balls, I’d have more faith, but he doesn’t, so I don’t. All of this conspires to betray his biggest strength: adjusting to the ball in the air, then going up and getting it. It worked in college against smaller, slower guys, but the Pac-10 isn’t the NFC West.

Lawler could develop into an NFL starter, but from a fantasy perspective, I seriously doubt he ever does anything warranting anything more than an end of the bench roster slot.

NFL Player Comparison

After way too long racking my brain, I can’t come up with one, so I am stealing from Bleacher Report who comp him to Eddie Royal. I see it, but don’t totally agree either.

Rookie Draft Advice

Lawler hit an ADP high of 28 in rookie mocks back in February. Since then, he has slowly slid down boards, currently sitting as a mid-fourth round pick. That feels about right, as his touchdown upside becomes worth the gamble late in your rookie draft.

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Jeff Miller

Honorary Contributor at Dynasty League Football

A video game dealer by day, fantasy author by night, and super handsome guy all the time, Jeff is here to answer the questions nobody asked. Also: dated pop culture references and the misuse of uncommon words.