Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Gary Jennings, WR SEA

Name: Gary Jennings

Position: Wide Receiver

Pro Team: Seattle Seahawks

College Team: West Virginia Mountaineers

Draft Status: Fourth round, 120th overall

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

COMBINE REVIEW

• Height: 6’1”
• Weight: 214 pounds
• Arms: 32 ½ ”
• Hands: 9 5/8 ”
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds
• Bench press: 20 reps
• Vertical Jump: 37”
• Broad Jump: 127”
• 3-Cone Drill: 7.32 seconds
• 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.15 seconds
• 60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

STRENGTHS

• Strong hands, great catch strength
• Finishes catches well and concentrates in traffic
• Reliable possession receiver – catches everything
• Uses body well to protect ball
• Invites physical coverage and excels beating it
• Tough player. Loves to block and hit people too
• Ran faster than expected – speed is there

WEAKNESSES

• Doesn’t separate initially with speed or acceleration
• Route running needs refinement. Turns and breaks are slower
• Needs to adjust better to ball in the air – puts himself out of position
• Doesn’t possess moves that lead to dynamic run after catches numbers

OPPORTUNITIES

Gary Jennings earned a starting role his last two seasons in Morgantown, eclipsing 1,000 yards receiving his junior season while only catching one touchdown – before catching 13 touchdowns his senior season. He caught 54 balls for 917 yards in 2018 and displayed a big-play connection with fellow 2019 draftee Will Grier. He averaged 17 yards a grab. While he was more of a possession receiver in 2017, Jennings showed he can get deep and catch touchdowns as well in his senior season.

The NFL Scouting Combine brought an opportunity for him to showcase his skills. He started with a fast 40-yard dash time of 4.42 seconds and posted solid jumps but an unspectacular 7.32 three-cone drill highlighted one of his bigger weaknesses – movement and fluidity of hips. He did look crisp in drills and showcased his strong hands.

Day three of the NFL draft started and before long, the Seahawks called his name, where he joins a team that was almost devoid of passing options before the draft. He was the second wide receiver drafted to the Pacific Northwest behind DK Metcalf and before the third, John Ursua.

Jennings joins a locker room which has Tyler Lockett and a mishmash of uninspiring options as well as the other drafted duo at the wideout position. The Seahawks have been a run-heavy team the past few seasons but the trio drafted could help the offense be more balanced again.

THREATS

Lockett and Metcalf will enter training camp as the presumed starters but the Seahawks have already stated they will move Lockett all over the formation to create mismatches – leaving opportunity for another wide receiver to step up. Jennings could fill in outside occasionally or in the slot for newly re-signed quarterback Russell Wilson to throw the ball to.

However, David Moore, Jaron Brown, and Amara Darboh could stand in the way and Jennings won’t be handed the job by any means. It may take a season or two for him to stand out and beat the other receivers to grab a lead role.

SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS

2019 will be a season of adjusting to the NFL and I don’t see Jennings producing a lot. He will get some snaps and looks, a few targets a game, and will work his way into more of those as the year goes along. He will need to learn to refine route running and it won’t be as easy for him to get open and make plays as it was at West Virginia.

Jennings will provide a weapon and challenge those around him with his game. His strong hands and reliability will be an asset to the Seahawks and they will find ways to get him involved as his game improves.

LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS

Beyond 2019, Jennings will have an opportunity to establish himself as the Y or slot receiver working with Metcalf and Lockett and could produce low WR2- high WR3 numbers for many seasons with the Seahawks. If Metcalf doesn’t pan out, Jennings could see himself in line for an even larger role.

He’s a steady receiver with strong hands and could have a safe floor for many years. Statistically, a projection of 65 catches for 800 yards and six touchdowns is a realistic ceiling going forward. There could be stronger seasons due to lack of competition around him and if he develops into a better route runner, the numbers would be higher and his ceiling would increase as well.

Jennings should be a solid WR3 for your fantasy teams with the capability of a few more productive weeks occasionally.

NFL PLAYER COMPARISON

There is a bit of Doug Baldwin in Jennings’ game. He has great hands and is capable of big plays. I also saw comparisons to Cordarelle Patterson but hopefully, Jennings is more valuable for the Seahawks from a receiver standpoint. The big-play ability was evident in college but he was in an Air Raid offense and able to create instant separation with wide open spaces to run.

Jennings can also be a possession guy and develop as a better route runner. His skill set right now limits his comparisons to successful NFL players but he does have room to become better with refinement of his game.

PROJECTED ROOKIE DRAFT RANGE

According to our Rookie ADP, Jennings is currently ranked 41.20 in May rookie mock drafts. He is the 17th receiver drafted on average during rookie drafts. He is consistently being drafted in the third round or later. The opportunity in Seattle is a good one and Jennings is one of the more enticing late round targets.