2018 Rookie Profile: Anthony Miller, WR Memphis
Out of the entire 2018 rookie class, Anthony Miller is probably the player I am highest on compared to consensus rankings. It is easy to fall in love with his game when you watch his tape. Furthermore, his ability to walk-on at the University of Memphis and set all-time school records for receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns speaks to his tremendous work ethic and confidence he has in himself. Let’s take a look at why you should also be excited about Anthony Miller as a prospect.
Stats
As mentioned above, Miller’s collegiate career started slowly. He walked on as a freshman and battled an injury early in his career. When he finally started playing, he was productive from the start. He put up modest numbers as a sophomore and then “video-game-like” numbers in his junior season.
Statistics from sports-reference.com
In case anyone thought it was a fluke, he increased his totals in each category his senior season. Not only was he extremely productive, he was very consistent as well. He also had some monster games, including a 15-catch, 224-yard, four-touchdown performance against Connecticut and a 14-catch, 195-yard, three-touchdown performance against Central Florida.
Film
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Anthony Miller’s tape is spectacular. He has occasional drops, but it is also filled with ridiculous one-handed grabs (74 seconds into the video below), catches over defenders, and great separation. He wins in all areas of the field, including being a prolific touchdown scorer.
By no means am I saying he is the next Antonio Brown, but the way Miller competes, runs routes, and catches balls over defenders despite his smaller frame remind me a lot of the future Hall-of-Famer. I am actually surprised Miller is not receiving more hype as we prepare for rookie drafts because his tape is one of the best I have seen out of the entire 2018 wide receiver class.
Measurables
Miller’s athletic testing scores (via Mock Draftable) are a bit of a mystery. He was not able to participate in much of the Combine, so his Spider Chart below is not as detailed as other prospects. His height, arm length, and wingspan are nothing to write home about, but offensive coordinators in today’s NFL are finding more and more ways to get receivers with Miller’s size open in space.
Miller’s bench press was impressive, which could help him at the line of scrimmage and at the catch point against bigger defenders. His hand size was also impressive, which probably helps him make all of those ridiculous one-handed catches you will find in his highlight tapes.
While we did not see any 40-yard dash or three-cone drill times from Miller at the combine, his tape does suggest he is both quick and fast on the field.
Dynasty Value
Miller was not able to participate in much of the combine as he still recovers from a broken foot. While not great news for his NFL draft stock, this could end up keeping him under-the-radar come rookie draft time and allow savvy owners to select him the second or third rounds.
His DLF March Rookie ADP was 23.50 and his DLF March Startup ADP was 150.17. I would be excited to see him sitting there in any of my rookie drafts come April. While he could climb a few spots depending on which team selects him in the NFL draft and which round he is chosen in, I still believe Miller will be one of the better values of 2018 rookie drafts.
Conclusion
Anthony Miller will be nearly 24 years old by the time the 2018 NFL season starts. His age, combined with his technique as a route-runner, lead me to believe he can make an immediate impact for an NFL team, similar to how Cooper Kupp did for the Rams last season. Hopefully, he lands in a situation that will allow him to contribute early.
The 2018 wide receiver class does not appear to have a player who stands out from the rest right now. There is so much debate with so many receivers appearing interchangeable in rankings. With the current outlook, the smart play might be to trade back into the second round of rookie drafts and select a player like Anthony Miller. Who knows, he might end up being the best receiver out of the bunch!
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