Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: D.J. Chark, WR JAC
Editor’s Note: To help you dominate your rookie drafts, this series will feature a look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of over 40 dynasty rookie draft prospects and run all through the month of May and even into June. We’ll cover all the premier prospects but also give you critical information on some of the lesser known talents. All of these rookie updates will be loaded into our ever-evolving 2018 Rookie Draft Guide – the ultimate resource for dynasty enthusiasts all over the world.
Name: D.J. Chark
Position: Wide Receiver
Pro Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
College Team: Louisiana State University
Draft Status: Round two, 61st overall
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
COMBINE REVIEW
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 199 pounds
- Arms: 32.375”
- Hands: 9.25”
- 40 Yard Dash: 4.34 seconds
- Bench Press: 16 reps
- Vertical Jump: 40 inches
- Broad Jump: 129 inches
STRENGTHS
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Chark has the unique blends of size and speed that NFL teams crave. His 6’3” frame gives him the catch radius to be the quarterback’s best friend, and his 4.34-second 40-yard dash definitely shows up on the field as well as the track at the Combine.
He doesn’t just have speed. He is also blessed with explosiveness and suddenness that can leave defenders in his wake in a fraction of a second. Even in the run first, run second, and run third offense of LSU, Chark’s ability to blow by defenders and get open with his athleticism was definitely on display.
In addition to the athleticism and size, Chark has a few other qualities that you just can’t teach. His body control near the sidelines definitely caught my eye. He also has a wicked double move and the ability to set up defenders when he is going deep. One of my favorite things about him is the competitive spirit he possesses. He is very willing to do whatever is asked of him, be it returning punts, run blocking, or running routes over the middle. He also wants to be the leader of the offense, which is why he asked to wear Leonard Fournette’s number 7 this past year. I like that in a player!
WEAKNESSES
One of the biggest concerns is that Chark is a bit raw as a receiver. Part of that really isn’t his fault. With the LSU offensive game plan, Chark just didn’t get as many meaningful routes in games as all of us would have liked. He was also able to rely on his athletic ability to get him open when he needed it. As a result of this situation, he is a bit behind when it comes to the development and refinement of his route tree. The good news is that this can definitely be fixed with practice and good coaching.
The other concern people have is that he is 6’3” but just under 200 pounds. At that height, I typically want my receivers to be at least 210-215 pounds. Anything lighter than that and they tend to get pushed around quite a bit. That is exactly what can happen with Chark. It won’t take NFL defenses very long to figure out you just need to get physical with him at the line and it destroys all of the timing. He needs some time with an NFL weight program to add some upper body strength to fend off the press.
OPPORTUNITIES
How good of an opportunity you think Chark has really depends on how you feel about some of the other young receivers on the Jaguars’ roster. Personally, I think the position is completely up for grabs. Marqise Lee is the veteran of the group, since he is entering his fifth year in the league. However, I’m not overly convinced that Lee has the ability to be more than a complement. In his four years, his career bests sit at 63 receptions, 851 yards, and three touchdowns. That leaves an awful lot up for grabs at the position.
The receiver who best profiles as a top target on the team is the high potential but perennial disappointment that is Donte Moncrief. Maybe this is the year he finally puts all of it together, stays healthy, and lives up to what we keep wanting him to be. However, I’m not sure I would be willing to bet much money this actually happens. With only Moncrief and Lee likely to open the season ahead of Chark on the depth chart, there is a pretty solid chance he becomes a starter sometime this year.
THREATS
I think Lee is what he has been, but Moncrief could blow up and become a true number one receiver. That would leave Chark to fight it out with Lee for the second piece of the pie. It is also possible that some of the other young receivers, like Keelan Cole or Dede Westbrook, take that next step and start to leap over Chark while the former Tiger is trying to develop and work on his routes.
The biggest threat might just be the team he is on. An offense with Blake Bortles at the helm doesn’t really get me overly excited. I know the Jaguars were better last year, but I think one of the biggest reasons is they took the ball out of Bortles’ hands more often. He had his lowest numbers in terms of attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and about everything else since his rookie season. That isn’t a trend you see if a young quarterback is going to be the future of your franchise. The team could continue to transition into a running team in an attempt to hide Bortles a bit more, which would leave fewer opportunities for Chark.
SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS
If I’m being realistic, unless there is an injury, I think Chark will be limited to the third receiver role on the offense this year. He isn’t polished enough to be an every-down receiver even though he is a very willing run blocker. He’ll be more of a situational deep threat. This means he could be a great target in best ball leagues, but it will be very difficult to know when you can trust him as a fantasy owner this year in a traditional league.
Hopefully, he gets some high-quality coaching and takes the weight program seriously this year. If so, he could be poised to take the next step in 2019. I will be highly encouraged if I start seeing his snap count climbing as the year progresses. I’ll also be watching the routes closely and seeing how he deals with NFL corners trying to get physical with him.
LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS
Moncrief’s deal is only for a single year, and while Lee’s contract is for much longer, the majority of the guaranteed money comes in the first two years. That means that very few things are set in stone when it comes to the position long term. If Chark develops well this year and shows some promise, it is possible that he could make it easy for the Jaguars to move on from one of them in the not too distant future.
In terms of overall upside, I think that Chark has a pretty high ceiling since most of his issues are things which can be improved upon. While I don’t think he will ever be a fantasy WR1, I think he could develop into a fantasy WR2 if all goes perfectly. Think Mike Wallace during his best years in Pittsburgh. Chark could be the deep threat game-changer who might only have five catches but one of them is a 60-yard bomb for a score. Of course, he has the added bonus of being several inches taller than Wallace, which means he could be a goal-line jump ball or back shoulder fade kind of target as well.
NFL COMPARISON
I’m never great with comparisons because I think every player is at least a little bit unique. However, the directions were to find one, so I’ll do my best. If I had to pick, I would say he is a bit of a mix of Torrey Smith and Mike Wallace. What he does have that neither of them had is height. He is several inches taller than either of them, but he has the same deep speed and burst that those guys had. He also has the run after the catch ability that Wallace so often put on display. Mix in some of the issues he will occasionally have when it comes to actually catching the ball and he fits in pretty well with those two.
PROJECTED RANGE FOR ROOKIE DRAFTS
Unless it is an IDP league, I think you are going to see Chark come off the board somewhere in the middle to late second round. I think he is one of the receivers who are in the mix once you start getting to the top quarterbacks and tight ends in this draft class. Where he ends up in that mix really depends on how your league values those positions. With that said, he isn’t going to make it very far into the third round (if he even makes it there) of most rookie drafts. If you like him, plan on spending your second round pick to get him. I think he’s one of the best later second round targets in this year’s draft.
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- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round Three - April 28, 2021
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round Two - April 26, 2021
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round One - April 25, 2021
