Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Cedrick Wilson, WR DAL

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 into July. 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: Cedrick Wilson

Position: Wide Receiver

Pro Team: Dallas Cowboys

College Team: Boise State Broncos

Draft Status: Sixth round, 208th overall

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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

COMBINE REVIEW

• HEIGHT: 6’2’’
• WEIGHT: 197 Pounds
• ARM LENGTH: 31 1/2’’
• HANDS: 9 3/4’’
• 40-YARD-DASH: 4.55
• THREE CONE: 6.89
• VERTICAL JUMP: 37’’
• BROAD JUMP: 121’’

STRENGTHS

Wilson is a diligent route runner who does a very good job of changing up speeds to keep defenders on their toes. He has excellent footwork which allows him to break off routes without rounding them out. This allows him to see targets on the short, intermediate and deep sectors of the field. With that being said, his diverse route tree allows him to play both in the slot and on the perimeter. Wilson’s versatility will add value to the Cowboys’ offense and could allow him to see playing time earlier than expected. His ability to play on special teams increases his odds to make the 53-man roster.

He was very productive during his senior year at Boise State, catching 83 passes for 1,511 yards and seven touchdowns. He owned a 41.09 percent market share of the team’s passing offense last year which ranked fourth in the nation. The year prior, he managed to reel in 11 touchdown passes.

WEAKNESSES

One of the major negatives to his game is his inability to beat press coverage. He weighs only 197 pounds and his lack of size will limit his ability to out-muscle defenders at the line scrimmage and possibly at the catch point. Another thing to be aware of is his lack of speed. He’s fast enough to get downfield, but he lacks the speed to burn defensive backs. It also takes a few extra seconds for him to hit his top-end speed. He also struggles at converting contested catches and this issue stems from his lack of physicality at the catch point.

OPPORTUNITIES

The ambiguity at the wide receiver position for Dallas could allow Wilson to carve a major role in the offense as soon as this season. Nothing is set in stone for the Cowboys and even though they did draft Michael Gallup and sign Allen Hurns in the off-season, all he has to do is exceed expectations to the point where the coaching staff has to play him. We can make that case with most rookie wide receivers, but there isn’t anyone on this roster who is considered a bonafide stud athlete who can prevent him from working his way up the depth chart. If he works hard and plays well, then he’s going to get a chance to prove his worth. Not many sixth-round wide receivers get that opportunity in the NFL.

THREATS

The Cowboys drafted Michael Gallup in the third-round of this year’s draft and the team has high hopes for him. Eventually, he should command a large market share of the targets, leaving fewer opportunities for other receivers on the roster to succeed.

The wide receiver class for the 2019 NFL Draft is going to be stacked with talent and could rival the historical 2014 wide receiver class. With receiver being one of the team’s key needs and with next year’s draft bursting through the seams with talent, the odds are highly likely that the Cowboys will burn one of their top picks on a wide receiver.

Dallas ranked 29th in the league last year with 493 pass attempts and that number should stay close to the same if not decrease this year. The team is built to run the ball and with a healthy offensive line combined with Ezekiel Elliot, the Cowboys will rely on the run more than any other team in the league. This will limit the offense’s passing volume and will curtail the potential output for Wilson and the rest of the receivers on the team.

SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS

During his first few years, Wilson should cut his teeth as a role player on the team. He should produce some numbers in the box score, but unfortunately, he’s not projected to own a large market share of the team’s passing targets. Injuries and quality of play will dictate the amount of playing time he will receive during the early stages of his career.

LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS

The odds of him developing into a top ten fantasy asset are slim to none. Honestly, if he becomes the third or fourth option in the passing offense, it would be a major win. With him being a sixth-round pick, the odds are stacked against him. Even if he gains some traction this year, all the Cowboys need to do is draft one of the top receivers in the draft next year to cannibalize Wilson’s fantasy potential. More than likely he will be a better NFL player than a fantasy asset because he won’t get the consistent workload to make him a reliable option in fantasy.

NFL COMPARISON

Wilson reminds me a lot of Devin Street, who was also drafted by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. They are both tall-lanky receivers who were productive at the collegiate level. However, neither receiver has the speed or athleticism to scare defensive backs. They do share one good quality and that’s their ability to get in and out of breaks and run solid routes.

Another player Wilson compares to is Josh Reynolds – mainly because both players are tall and thin receivers who excel at making plays downfield. They have comparable speed and athleticism.

PROJECTED RANGE FOR ROOKIE DRAFTS

With a Rookie ADP of 45.00, Wilson is currently being drafted around the end of the fourth-round in rookie drafts. He’s usually anywhere between the 20th-25th wide receiver off the board in most rookie drafts. Honestly, I would rather draft Justin Watson or even Chase Edmonds ahead of him. Both of those players present more upside and could have a chance to be fantasy relevant this season if the dominoes fall their way.

No matter how you slice the bread, Wilson is an intriguing prospect you can get late in rookie drafts. The risk associated with him is minimal considering his price tag is close to free.

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