Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Dalton Schultz, TE DAL

Name: Dalton Schultz

Position: Tight End

Pro Team: Dallas Cowboys

College Team: Stanford Cardinal

Draft Position: Round four, 137th overall

Video Highlights

Combine Review

• Height: 6’6”
• Weight: 244 pounds
• Hands: 9 1/2”
• Arm Length: 31 1/4″
• Bench Press: 15 Reps
• 40 Yard Dash: 4.75 Seconds
• 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.4 Seconds
• 3 Cone Drill: 7.0 Seconds
• Vertical Jump: 32 Inches
• Broad Jump: 120 Inches (10’0”)

[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]

Strengths

Dalton Schultz has somehow continually been underrated throughout this entire off-season, but it doesn’t make any sense. Schultz boasts near perfect size for the modern NFL tight end at 6’6”, 244 pounds. He’s big enough to hold his blocking leverage but lean enough to smoothly accelerate out of his breaks in receiving routes. Thanks to Stanford’s run-heavy approach Schultz was able to develop as one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL Draft this year. That will earn him some early snaps. But he also knows how to sit down in zone coverage, sell play fakes, and is even quick enough to take a shovel pass up the middle for a nice gain. He boasts a pro ready, balanced skill set, but that’s just not sexy enough for many dynasty owners.

Weaknesses

Schultz may possess a balanced skill set, but doesn’t seem to have any one elite attribute. Yes, he is quick for his size, but Schultz definitely does not possess ideal long speed. His 4.75-second forty is riding the line between viable receiving threat and pure blocking tight end. He also simply does not have an incredibly significant receiving profile as a tight end prospect. College tight end production can certainly be illusive for many good tight ends, but the great options typically do more than Schultz. In fact, Schultz may not have even been the best receiving tight end on Stanford in 2017 (Kaden Smith produced more than him). He has okay hands, but Schultz never showed an elaborate route tree. Schultz simply is just “adequate” as a receiver (currently), which for fantasy purposes doesn’t get many people excited.

Opportunities

Here’s where things should get interesting. The tight end competition in Dallas right now is just dreadfully embarrassing. Rico Gathers is a huge basketball player still somehow figuring out the position. He likely never makes a splash (sorry, truthers). Blake Jarwin is a former undrafted free agent who has apparently been leading the pack of misfit tight ends for the Cowboys. He, like Schultz, possesses a balanced skillset without any elite attributes. However, coming from Oklahoma State, he wasn’t asked to block to the extent that Schultz was at Stanford. And then lastly, there’s Geoff Swaim who presents quite literally zero threat in any way, shape, or form.

All Schultz has to do is get up to speed with the Cowboys offensive system and he’ll immediately be in a battle with Jarwin for the lead role. Schultz likely has a slight edge in the receiving department as far as his resume goes. He also likely has more blocking reps to his name than Jarwin when you compare their college experience. The upside of any Cowboys tight end may be limited in 2018, but Schultz has virtually no competition in his way for earning first-team reps and he costs essentially nothing in dynasty.

Threats

The biggest threat to success for Schultz is a likely replacement tight end joining the Cowboys in 2019. That draft class certainly isn’t stacked, but there are at least three or four tight ends worth worrying about. If no Cowboys tight end truly stands out this year, Noah Fant, Albert Okwuegbunam, Caleb Wilson, or even Schultz’ former teammate Kaden Smith could come in and be the immediate starter. You could say Blake Jarwin is a threat, but if he indeed shows to be better than Schultz then a replacement will be joining the team shortly anyway.

Short-Term Expectations

Let’s be realistic here. The Cowboys offense is going to be a run-first, “punch you in the mouth” style force this year with Ezekiel Elliott leading the way. Even if Schultz wins over the lead role at some point his year one impact may not be more than 25 or 30 receptions. However, I would project the Cowboys figure out that he’s their best option as a blocker and receiver by about week six. At that point, he could present back-end TE1 upside if he finds the end zone.

Long-Term Expectations

The NFL Draft next spring will tell us a lot about how the Cowboys perceive Schultz. He was only a fourth-round draft pick, so they don’t have a ton invested in him. However, since he is so cheap to retain he should, at the very least, maintain a roster spot for the duration of his rookie contract. His balanced blocking and receiving adequacy could earn him some decent dynasty value for a few years even if he doesn’t officially hit from a production standpoint. If he does continue to develop and is embraced fully by the Cowboys, he truly could creep into the back-end TE1 discussion for years to come.

NFL Player Comparison

If everything goes right for Dalton Schultz we could see a Jack Doyle kind of player succeeding in the Cowboys offense. He isn’t the fastest. Defenses won’t exactly ever key on stopping him. There’s nothing flashy to his game. He’s just a physical blocker who can contribute right away. And just like Doyle, it may take him a few seasons of continuously showing his worth as “Mr. Consistent” to truly give him the reigns as the go-to trusted receiving tight end.

Projected Rookie Draft Range

Most rookie drafts are likely wrapped up by now, but he’s never cost more than a fourth-round rookie pick all summer according to current Rookie Dynasty ADP. Most dynasty leagues without a tight end premium could possibly even have him still on waivers. Go grab this cheap tight end option who could grow into your future starter!

As always, find me on Twitter @FF_TravisM. Look for videos from me using the hashtag #TouchdownTime. And yes, I love to chat about these players. I want to learn from you! Thanks for reading, and keeping living that Dynasty Life!

[/am4show]