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Bradley Ylitalo’s Scouting Notebook: Final Wide Receiver Rankings

Bradley Ylitalo Posted On April 21, 2018
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We’re only days away from the draft, and I’m extremely excited to bring you my final wide receiver rankings. I’ve been a little hard on this group in the past. But as I sat and made these final rankings, the depth we have here became unignorable. There’s a lot of talented pass catchers to target.

As I did with the quarterback and running back rankings, I’ll rank these 20 receivers and also split them into tiers to further help you as you prepare for your rookie drafts. In parenthesis, I will let you know relative to the wide receiver position, whether each prospect is more suited for PPR or standard scoring. Let’s talk about some wide receivers!

Tier One

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1) Calvin Ridley, Alabama (PPR)

Calvin Ridley, DJ Moore, and Courtland Sutton. Rank them any way you want. Make me choose, and I’m taking Ridley. No slight to the next two on this list, but he just brings a more refined game to go along with his elite get-off and deep speed. His hips and body are very loose which helps him get open with ease. If Ridley had been playing with a better quarterback, his stats would have shown just how dominant he was.

2) DJ Moore, Maryland (PPR)

You can point to Calvin Ridley’s age as a concern. Besides run blocking, I don’t have any concerns with DJ Moore. I’ve been saying it for months, and now with the fact that he measured in at 6’0 (which was a nice surprise), this comparison just makes too much sense. DJ Moore is essentially Stefon Diggs. He’s got a complete game and will get work right away as a Z or slot receiver.

3) Courtland Sutton, Southern Methodist (Standard)

Courtland Sutton has all the tools to be ranked number one in these rankings. He just needs some polishing up. If he lands in the right spot, he has a real chance to be a more consistent Dez Bryant. A true WR1 and franchise player is what Sutton will be if he taps into his potential. Worst case, he’ll be a long-term starting X receiver.

Tier Two

4) Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (PPR)

Christian Kirk was remarkably consistent in his three seasons in College Station and was rewarded with two First-Team All-SEC honors. He’s dangerous at all levels of the field and will be anything but an easy cover. In terms of play style, he and John Ross are pretty darn similar. Don’t let Ross’s rookie year struggles keep you from taking a chance on Kirk.

5) James Washington, Oklahoma State (Standard)

They don’t give out Biletnikoff awards like Halloween candy. James Washington earned it as he led a very potent Oklahoma State offense. If Washington can prove he’s even a formidable run blocker, he should have no problem seeing significant snaps right away. He can win with his routes, and uses his strong hands and vertical ability to consistently win contested catches. Washington appears to be one of the safer receivers in this group.

Tier Three

6) DJ Chark, Louisiana State (Standard)

If DJ Chark weren’t a ‘body catcher’, who knows how high he would end up. This kid may have the most impressive combination of size and athleticism this position has to offer. Add in his comfort level with the ball in his hands and his promise as a run blocker, and we see why the NFL really likes him. I’m going to need to see more improvement in his routes before I can say I’m completely confident in him, but the upside is undeniably there.

7) Deon Cain, Clemson (Standard)

Cain’s value has been a roller coaster ride. At his highest, he was a top four receiver and at his lowest, barely top ten. I think he’s settled nicely as a solid tier three receiver. Cain’s a more than sufficient athlete and was one of the best I’ve seen at using his body to win 50-50 balls. His hands aren’t fantastic, and he’ll now need to get better at beating press coverage. Cain is valued in DLF’s ADP as a mid-third rounder. I’m feeling really good if I can get him there.

8) Anthony Miller, Memphis (PPR)

Aside from the quarterback-wide receiver duo at Oklahoma State, Riley Ferguson to Anthony Miller was the most potent in the country. While I like Ferguson, this was much more about Miller if you’re asking me. He was consistently able to create space from AAC corners with his fast feet and effort. Unfortunately, the NFL won’t be as easy. If Miller can bring the same attitude he played with at Memphis, he’ll have no problem earning a starting job.

9) Dante Pettis, Washington (Equal)

He’s most known for breaking the FBS record for career punt return touchdowns. Watch the tape though, and you’ll see a kid who should one day be known for being an all-around offensive threat. Pettis will carry with him natural athleticism with a rare combination of body fluidity with the ability to stick his foot in the ground. His hands are the only real question mark. Overall, Pettis is a unique talent that any team would be lucky to have.

10) Tre’Quan Smith, Central Florida (Equal)

He garnered 1,100 yards and thirteen touchdowns, yet he’s still mostly an unknown commodity. Tre’Quan Smith was a centerpiece of the Central Florida offense and boasts a complete toolset. His only elite trait may be his vertical game, so he’s going to need some sharpening before he’s a consistent contributor. Once he’s ready though, he’ll be about as well-rounded as they come. Smith’s a great option value wise – you’re just not necessarily getting a big name.

11) Michael Gallup, Colorado State (PPR)

Rankings-wise, Michael Gallup seems 1,000 miles apart from sixth-ranked DJ Chark. This is why I love having these tiers, because Gallup is not very behind at all. The Ram – who absolutely dominated the Mountain West – is a little less fluid than you’d like, but that didn’t slow him down in the slightest. He’s a good run blocker and a playmaker after the catch. Gallup should find himself contributing in more ways than one early on.

Tier Four

12) Jordan Lasley, UCLA (PPR)

He’s been one of my favorites from the moment I first saw him. If it weren’t for a couple off-field concerns, you’d be able to pencil in Jordan Lasley as a day two pick. He constantly won vs corners with effortless quickness and advanced technique through his routes. Unfortunately, he had some drop issues and wasn’t terrific as a blocker either. View Lasley as an upside-based pick with the potential to be a valuable WR2.

13) Antonio Callaway, Florida (Standard)

If these were pure talent rankings, Antonio Callaway would have ranked much higher. This kid can play. It’s the off-field issues that make him tough to grade. Callaway sat out the entire 2017 season and missed out a valuable opportunity to prove his worth. His 4.41 forty came as no surprise, as he might actually look a little faster than that on tape. His hands need a lot of work but if coaches can get the ball in his hands he’ll take it from there.

14) Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame (Standard)

No, I do not dislike Equanimeous St. Brown. He’s 6’5 and ran a 4.48 forty. There’s obviously some potential there. But there are also some real concerns latched onto his game. His ability as a blocker, given his frame, is noteworthy, and I don’t mean in a good way. His routes while decent aren’t very sharp, and he’s got hands that aren’t exactly superb. I get the hype with St. Brown. I just wouldn’t think about grabbing him until at least late in round two.

15) DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State (Standard)

He might not become a star, but they don’t come much more solid than DaeSean Hamilton. He was a terrific leader at Penn State and has a pretty well-balanced toolset. None of his traits are what I would necessarily call exceptional, yet he doesn’t have any overwhelming concerns either. I won’t be surprised in the least if Hamilton finds himself having a long, maybe somewhat boring, consistent career.

16) Cedrick Wilson, Boise State (PPR)

Let me gush about Cedrick Wilson for a bit. This is a man who knows how to play the wideout position. He finished second in the country in receiving and flashed a lot of really good traits in doing so. With admirable burst off the line, intriguing top end speed, and great body control, he’s just built to play receiver. But there’s a reason he’s ranked in tier four, he’s got some things to work on. His lack of strength was exposed at the combine when he could only muster eight reps on the bench press. Add in his troubles with beating press coverage and his uninspiring forty time and you can see why some aren’t very high on Wilson.

17) Auden Tate, Florida State (Standard)

Some will see Tate at the end of tier four and think he’s way too low. But in my eyes, I’m even being a tad generous. Shocked? Let me lay out my case. Sure, I’ll cede that Tate’s combination of size and contested catch ability is pretty darn impressive – maybe the best this class has to offer. After that, it looks pretty bleak for the Seminole. As his 4.68 second forty attests to, he’s not a good athlete. Furthermore, he’s not going to win very often at all with his routes. I have a hard time believing Tate will be much more than a red-zone target. I just don’t see him creating separation from NFL corners. He’s got some tools to work with and may pan out, I just think his odds are rather low.

Tier Five

18) Allen Lazard, Iowa State (Standard)

There’s just a lot to like, and not much to be wary of with Allen Lazard. Not just a 6’5 giant, he showed technical route running, and superbly strong hands at Iowa State. The fact that he managed to earn two First-Team All-Big 12 honors is a really good sign. He wasn’t a great athlete by any means on tape but did put on a pretty good showing at the Combine. Lazard should get drafted as a backup X receiver, and get a chance to earn a starting job not to far down the road.

19) Keke Coutee, Texas Tech (PPR)

If you want a fun player to watch on tape, here’s your guy. Keke Coutee was another First-Team All-Big 12 receiver, but he, unlike Lazard and Washington, got there with his after the catch skills. Coutee’s a fluid athlete that Texas Tech used in a variety of ways. The more compact NFL field will be a tricky adjustment coming from the wide open Big 12, but he’s got the natural talent to make the adjustment.

20) Simmie Cobbs, Indiana (Standard)

I don’t know what it is about him, but I love me some Simmie Cobbs. He’s well built at 6’3, and has some of the best hands in this entire group. He’s not going to blow you away with his quickness or speed and hasn’t shown a ton of route versatility, but his 50-50 ball and surprising skills with the football in his hands should buy him some time as he learns how to play in the NFL. Cobbs is a prospect that fits the mold of having a relatively high floor and low ceiling.

Names to Consider

Richie James, Middle Tennessee State (Equal)

Richie James is an enticing athlete with electric open field ability. I just can’t fully get on board with his slight build, poor strength, and below-average route running.

Daurice Fountain (Equal)

A late riser, Daurice Fountain is a name you need to know headed into your rookie drafts. He showed really good straight-line speed, quickness, and vertical as a Panther. Fountain will need to sharpen up his game quite a bit transitioning from the FCS. His frame and athleticism are well worth taking a chance on.

J’Mon Moore, Missouri (PPR)

J’Mon Moore was extremely effective in the Missouri offense. He’s got a 6’3 frame with solid hands and is certainly capable of grabbing the ball up high. But his 4.6 forty and unrefined routes don’t paint a very pretty picture.

Marcell Ateman, Oklahoma State (Standard)

Marcell Ateman was overshadowed by James Washington and Mason Rudolph, but might just make a name for himself in the NFL. He’s got an ideal build and showcased an all-around game in Stillwater. Similar to J’Mon Moore though, he lacks straight-line speed and struggles to consistently create separation.

That wraps up this edition of “Bradley Ylitalo’s Scouting Notebook”. Please leave a comment or question about a specific prospect, or fit for your team, below. Feel free to shoot me a question on Twitter (@NFL_Drafthub), I’m always happy to interact with football fans. See you next time!

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