Rookie Report Card: Preston Williams and Olabisi Johnson
Each week throughout the season, I’ll cover at least two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and try to always include the biggest performers from that particular week. On top of reviewing my expectations for each player coming into the league and how well he’s lived up to those expectations at the NFL level to this point, I’ll grade the player in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, 2019 potential and long term upside.
The series continues this week as spotlight the starting wide receivers for Colorado State a year ago, Preston Williams and Olabisi Johnson.
Preston Williams, WR MIA
Week Seven Stats: Six receptions, 82 yards (eight targets)
Considered by some to be a top-five wide receiver in the 2019 NFL Draft based strictly on his skills on the field, Preston Williams was overlooked by many NFL general managers due to off the field issues as well as a poor showing at his pro day where he posted disappointing numbers in the 40-yard dash (4.55), broad jump (9’-8”) and vertical jump (31.5 inches.)
Those numbers – all of which would have ranked in the bottom third of the wide receivers at the combine had he been invited – along with his going undrafted made him an afterthought to most dynasty owners during rookie draft season as well, as Williams settled in as a fourth-round selection in most rookie drafts. That came despite his big season for Colorado State in 2018 when he caught 96 passes for 1,345 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Watching Williams at CSU, he appeared much faster than the 40-time he posted would suggest. Quick off the line of scrimmage and and even more explosive at the top of his routes, he profiled as a plus route runner with an extra gear while tracking the ball over his shoulder and great leaping ability to make catches “above the rim.” Even his occasional drops – particularly on deep balls where he was forced to adjust to make catches over his outside shoulder or slow down considerably for an underthrown pass – along with those disappointing pro day numbers and off-the-field history, it surprised many to see him go undrafted.
After signing with the Dolphins, Williams made an immediate impression. Following glowing reports during OTAs and a very impressive preseason debut which saw him catch four passes for 97 yards, he earned a starting job and has been one of the only bright spots coming out of Miami for dynasty owners.
Through his first six games as a pro, Williams is second among rookie wide receivers behind only Terry McLaurin in catches (23) and is sixth in receiving yards (314) with a touchdown. Averaging a respectable 10.07 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues, he’s already established himself as a fringe-flex worthy option to dynasty owners in deep leagues and coming off his biggest game against a tough Buffalo defense where he caught six passes for 82 yards, the arrow is pointing up for the rookie.
His biggest play of the game on Sunday came on a beautiful 30-yard, over-the-shoulder catch that featured a great inside move at the line of scrimmage to get off the jam, excellent leverage to bend his route to the boundary and stay away from the safety, and a solid catch on a rainbow pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick. It highlighted all parts of his game that made him such a great playmaker last season at Colorado State.
While it’s clear that Williams has already proven he has a far higher upside than going undrafted in the NFL draft or being selected in the fourth or fifth round of rookie drafts would suggest, there are still a lot of red flags in the way of him realizing that potential. In the short-term, he’ll continue to be in the WR4/flex play conversation as long as Fitzpatrick is under center. In the long term, however, it appears that Williams has the type of playmaking ability and skill set usually reserved for a WR2. Unless the Dolphins find a long-lasting solution at quarterback and fix their offensive line problems, however, reaching his top-25 potential at the position may never happen.
Until those things come to fruition, he’ll be nothing more than a young receiver that offers good depth and upside for dynasty owners. If you think the Dolphins will turn things around however, Williams is an excellent trade target.
Olabisi Johnson, WR MIN
Week Seven Stats: Four receptions, 40 yards, one touchdown (eight targets)
Playing in the shadows of former Colorado State wide receivers Michael Gallup, Rashard Higgins and Preston Williams, Olabisi Johnson was seen by most as a solid – but not spectacular – wide receiver prospect. With average size (6’-0”, 200 pounds) and speed (4.51 40-yard dash), he showed above-average route running and good hands as a Ram. Regularly using subtle shoulder shakes and head-fakes at the top of his routes, he depended on those moves and his instincts to get open which worked well in the Mountain West Conference.
Most likely, Johnson was drafted in the seventh round by the Vikings because he showed at Colorado State that he was a scrappy player, making plays on special teams as a gunner. Since arriving in Minnesota however, he’s slowly moved up the receiver depth chart due to the ineffectiveness of Laquon Treadwell and the injury to slot receiver Chad Beebe. After playing just 22 snaps in his first three games, his playing time has increased over the last month as he’s played just over half of the teams’ snaps.
In week seven against the Lions, he filled in the injured Adam Thielen, playing 84% of the teams’ snaps and hauling in four of eight targets for 40 yards and a one-yard touchdown. His afternoon in Detroit was solid, although – once again – unspectacular.
Johnson’s touchdown came on a designed play for him after a play-action fake to Dalvin Cook at the goal line where he was wide open but his nicest play was a 19-yard dig route against man coverage early in the third quarter. At the snap, he got on cornerback Rashaan Melvin – who was in off coverage – quickly, bent his route to the outside slightly to make the defender turn his hips to the boundary and cut back suddenly to the inside before catching the pass in the middle of the field. The play perfectly showcased Johnson’s route running instincts. Unfortunately, it also showed his limitations. Many receivers would use separation at the top of his route to explode into a big play, pulling away from the defender but Johnson doesn’t possess that type of playmaking ability so he was quickly wrapped up on the play after the catch.
At this point, the hamstring injury Thielen suffered appears like it will keep him out of the lineup for at least a week, which makes Johnson a worthwhile waiver claim and potentially even flex-worthy considering a strong matchup against Washington (and Kansas City in week nine if Thielen stays sidelined.). Long-term, however, it’s unlikely that Johnson will develop into anything more than an end-of-the-roster WR7 for dynasty owners that could become roster worthy if everything breaks right.
Although I’m putting in waiver claims for Johnson, I’m not expecting much long-term upside and would absolutely trade him for anything I could get if another owner was interested – especially if he has another noteworthy game against the Redskins and Theilen’s injury lingers.
- League Tycoon: Dynasty Salary Cap Fantasy Football - December 15, 2023
- Final Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Wide Receivers, Part Two - March 22, 2023
- 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Offensive Player Dynasty Review - March 10, 2023
