Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Keke Coutee, WR HOU
Name: Keke Coutee
Position: Wide Receiver
Pro Team: Houston Texans
College Team: Texas Tech
Draft Status: Fourth round, 103rd overall
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
COMBINE REVIEW
- Height: 5’10’’
- Weight: 181 pounds
- Arm Length: 29 7/8’’
- Hands: 8 3/8’’
- 40-yard Dash: 4.43
- Bench Press: 14 reps
- Three Cone Drill: 6.93
- Vertical Jump: 34 1/2’’
- Broad Jump: 113’’
- 20-yard Shuttle: 4.15
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STRENGTHS
Coutee is versatile and was utilized in the return game as well as a receiver. He has the speed to separate vertically and in and out of breaks. He has the top-end speed to close on defensive backs and open up the defense deep. His big-play ability, with home run speed, means he can score from any spot on the field. The ability to attack the cushion defenders give him is a plus. Within the Texans offense, he will be able to find the open zone and could be utilized in option routes in tandem with the team’s top-flight receivers. He has an added dynamic as a returner on special teams.
WEAKNESSES
In the Texas Tech offense, Coutee ran a limited route tree. With a small size and frame, he will need to work on his ability to beat press coverage. Because he comes from the wide-open schemed offense, I wonder if he will be able to create on his own at the next level. He’s showed issues with contested catches at times. Coutee utilizes his speed to create separation and will need to work on his route running at the next level to be more than just a straight-line burner. At times will body catch and basket-catch the ball rather than trusting his hands to make the catch.
OPPORTUNITIES
Coutee will have to battle with DeAndre Hopkins and fellow speedster, Will Fuller, for targets in the Texans offense. Houston has high hopes for Coutee coming in and working with Deshaun Watson. After injuries to Fuller last season and Bruce Ellington not maxing out his talent like the team had hoped for, there existed a great opportunity for Coutee to see early work. Braxton Miller has had a slight resurgence at camp according to early reports and caught three passes for 28 receiving yards.
Coutee suffered a hamstring early in camp however and at this time it is worried that he might miss a majority of training camp. If Coutee can stay healthy, he can easily fit in as the team’s slot receiver and be in line for a passing offense that became highly efficient with Watson at the helm. As defenses attempt to cover Hopkins and Fuller, it should allow Coutee freedom to operate in the slot in a role where Ellington saw 50 targets in 2017.
THREATS
The biggest threat to Coutee will be his health and falling behind the other receivers on the depth chart if he can’t get on the field. Coutee was drafted in the fourth round for a reason and has the draft capital to take over the slot role from Ellington who spent the most time of any Texans receiver in that role in 2017.
Few players have the speed that Coutee possesses, but his ability to remain healthy and get work with the first team offense will be what makes or breaks his early contribution with the team. Both Miller and Ellington have upper echelon agility scores from their Combine workouts but with the drafting of Coutee, it becomes apparent the team isn’t pleased with their contributions. A team that was in desperate need of offensive line help targeted Coutee with one of its first four picks in the draft.
SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS
Ellington was able to see 50 targets in 2017. Even DeAndrew White and Cobi Hamilton saw targets in Houston this past season due to injuries and inconsistency. If Coutee can get healthy and take over Ellington’s role, he can easily step into 50 targets in 2018. However, hamstrings are notoriously tricky and an injury that warrants monitoring. Titans rookie Corey Davis lost significant playing time to hamstring injuries in 2017. Hopefully, Coutee can avoid that same fate.
LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS
Coutee will be limited by his size and role within the Texans offense. He could become a solid contributor, but in offense with Hopkins who commands a majority of targets, opportunity will be tough to come by. An improved, see healthy, Texans defense could also limit the number of opportunities that the offense will provide to Coutee and the other Houston wideouts.
NFL COMPARISON
The commonly easy comparison is to Tyreek Hill, but Coutee doesn’t have that same level of speed. I really like the comparison that Matt Miller made to Tyler Lockett for Coutee. Both have speed but seem to play even faster with the ball in their hands.
PROJECTED RANGE FOR ROOKIE DRAFTS
With a rookie ADP of 37.47, you’ll likely be able to draft Coutee in the early half of the third round. In what some see as a rather weak wide receiver draft class, Coutee can be targeted later in the draft for owners who want to focus on running backs early. In dynasty startup drafts he has an ADP of 186.50 in August, right around John Brown and J’Mon Moore.
Coutee’s value likely continues to drop if can’t get on the field as drafts approach. I would only be targeting him in Dynasty and rookie drafts. He likely holds little value in redraft unless you are participating in a best ball format draft and can capitalize on him extremely late in drafts. We will just have to see if the Texans love Keke if he’s riding, if he’ll never ever leave from beside them, cause he wants them, and if he’s down for them always.
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Pete is a Western Washington University (Go Vikings! Undefeated at Football since 2009!) History grad with a doctorate in dynasty football, from a certificate he bought online. He prefers stats and analytics but realizes film grinding is an important part of the process. Dabbles in "Mild Takes" and believes in the process.
