Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Hakeem Butler, WR ARI

Levi Chappell Posted On June 10, 2019

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Name: Hakeem Butler

Position: Wide Receiver

Pro Team: Arizona Cardinals

College Team: Iowa State Cyclones

Draft Status: Round four, 103rd overall

Video Highlights

Combine Review

Height: 6’5”
Weight: 228 pounds
Arms: 35 1/4”
Hands: 10 3/4”
40-Yard Dash: 4.48
Bench Press: 18
Vertical Jump: 36”
Broad Jump: 128”

Strengths

Obvious size and length
Good top-end speed for size and weight
Tough to bring down after the catch
Bullies defensive backs on 50/50 balls
Big-play threat

Weaknesses

Lacks acceleration and quickness off the line
Telegraphs routes
Breaks on routes can be sloppy
Lots of dropped passes
Body catches a lot of passes

Opportunities

Butler was not a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school. Part of that was his continued struggle with academics. Iowa State did offer him a scholarship, where he had a minimal impact as a freshman. He made honorable mention in his red-shirt sophomore season in the Big 12 after a 41-697-7 stat line.

He took a big leap forward his junior year, finishing in the top ten in the nation for receiving yards (60-1,318-9). Maybe even more impressive than that stat line was his 22 yards per reception average which also ranked in the top ten nationally. Butler showed that he could be a big-play threat at the next level.

The Arizona Cardinals selected him with the first pick in the fourth round to pair with other rookies Andy Isabella (second-round pick) and KeeSean Johnson (sixth-round pick). The rookies joined soon to be Hall-of-Famer Larry Fitzgerald and second-year wideout Christian Kirk in what is projected to be a pass-heavy offense.

The opportunity for Butler comes in a couple of different ways. Before the NFL Draft, the Cardinals were one of the more wide receiver-needy teams, which they addressed. Going to a team with a need is always a boost for a rookie. The bad news was that Butler was not the first receiver drafted by the Cardinals, or the last one.

The good news is that the Cards are planning to throw the ball a lot with new franchise quarterback Kyler Murray. I would not be surprised to see four wide receiver sets on a regular basis, and no one on the team is physically built like Butler is.

Threats

As I listed above. Butler most likely starts as the fourth receiver on the team. Fitzgerald and Kirk are penciled in as the starters while Isabella, Butler, Johnson, and even Kevin“Remember me?” White will fight for the remaining snaps. Being the fourth or fifth passing option on a team doesn’t typically warrant much fantasy value, but we will have to wait and see what the new Arizona Air Raid offense looks like.

Short-Term Expectations

There is good and bad news here – cup half empty or half full.

Cup half full would see that Butler is a physical specimen who stands head and shoulders above the other wide receivers. If you can make Larry Fitzgerald look small, you know you possess some serious size. This most likely means Butler will be utilized in the red zone.

The cup half empty would say Butler will most likely see a small number of targets and may not regularly see the field unless there is an injury to Fitz, Kirk, or Isabella. A stat line of 35-450-5 would be a relatively conservative projection.

Long-Term Expectations

Projecting Butler’s long-term value is tough. The good news is that Fitzgerald has to retire someday… I think. Maybe in a decade or so. When that happens, that should free up a starting spot for the big man. Butler has all the tools and physical gifts to excel, but will he be able to adjust to the pro game? I’m not completely sold.

Butler’s May DLF ADP sits at 85, behind Alshon Jeffery, and just in front of fellow rookie receivers Parris Campbell and Deebo Samuel. I prefer Samuel over Butler due to the role he should be able to fill in San Francisco. I also prefer Campbell simply from a prospect and overall talent perspective.

ADP 85 is quite a bit higher than I have Butler ranked, simply because I am not willing to acquire an asset that early with the amount of unknowns. Again, Butler has everything you would want from a physical standpoint to be a good NFL receiver but question marks about his inconsistent hands and knowledge of a playbook could hurt his chances.

NFL Player Comparison

Butler reminds me of two players I have watched film on. The first player is Mike Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers. Williams displayed last year that he may be one of the best 50/50 ball catchers in the league, especially in the end zone. Williams excels at straight-line speed, making difficult catches, and being tough to bring down, which are all things that Butler does well. Williams also struggles with catching the ball consistently and is still developing as a route runner.

The other player Butler reminds me of is Demaryius Thomas. Thomas’ NFL.com profile before entering into the NFL draft said: “Possesses elite size and physicality for the receiver position. Has good top-end speed. Really good catching the ball in a crowd. Will rise up above defenders and shield players with his large frame.”

Sound familiar? Thomas refined his route running and improved his hands as he got older, and was one of the better receivers of the last decade. If Butler can smooth out his game like Thomas was able to, you are looking at a matchup nightmare for teams.

Projected Rookie Draft Range

Per DLF Rookie ADP, Butler is being drafted as the 13th rookie off the board (WR6). He was drafted as early as five and as late as 16. Butler’s ADP in rookie drafts varies quite a bit more than players like Parris Campbell or JJ Arcega-Whiteside. I think that can tell you a lot about a player. Butler figures to have a low floor, but a high ceiling due to his physical size and athletic makeup.

Drafting Butler with a late first/early second round rookie pick is too rich for my blood but then again, what do I know? I devy’d Marquez North (a MockDraftable comparison to Butler) five-six years ago.

Cheers to rookie draft season!

Follow me on Twitter @LeviChappell.

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Levi Chappell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Fueled by coffee, Levi spends most of his days in the real estate industry. When not in the real estate world, he is engulfed in dynasty and other sports. When other kids were playing with lincoln logs and legos, Levi was reading sports almanacs... for fun. "Too much fantasy" is not in his vocabulary.