Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR PHI

Name: JJ Arcega-Whiteside

Position: Wide Receiver

Pro Team: Philadelphia Eagles

College Team: Stanford Cardinal

Draft Status: Round two, 57th overall

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKTFWa5zrxw

COMBINE REVIEW

• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 225 pounds
• Arms: 33 1/4”
• Hands: 9.5”
• Wingspan: 79 7/8”
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.49* (pro day)
• Vertical Jump: 34.0” (pro day)
• Broad Jump: 118.0” (pro day)
• 3-Cone Drill: 7.23* (pro day)
• 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.41 (pro day)

STRENGTHS

• Ridiculously dominant at the catch point
• Boxes out defenders without pushing off
• Tremendous red zone weapon
• Difficult to bring down in tight spaces
• Exceptional body control
• Great length for the position
• Terrific touchdown production in his career
• Technically refined route runner
• Competitive blocker

WEAKNESSES

• Tested faster than his play speed – lacks true deep speed
• Not stiff, but not particularly agile, fluid, or elusive
• Can struggle to separate vertically
• Route tree at Stanford was somewhat limited
• Suffers from occasional concentration drops
• No major injury concerns, but has missed at least one game each season

OPPORTUNITIES

If it sounds like all of Arcega-Whiteside’s strengths are related, it’s because they are. Stanford’s opponents knew that the ball was going to Arcega-Whiteside in the red zone, but he was nearly impossible to stop anyway. This is a trump card that will ensure he sees playing time in the red zone early in his career regardless of the competition on the depth chart.

He should be in the mix to win Philadelphia’s number three receiver role right away with the opportunity to learn from a similar receiver in Alshon Jeffery.

THREATS

Arcega-Whiteside will be competing with Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor, Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, and Miles Sanders for targets. Regardless of formation, it will be difficult for Arcega-Whiteside to provide a huge immediate impact.

The Eagles have lots of pass-catchers on the roster, and many of them excel in the same areas Arcega-Whiteside does. Jeffery, Ertz, and Goedert are all assets in the red zone and will provide competition for targets in the area Arcega-Whiteside is best.

SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS

Philadelphia has vacated 114 targets (19.2%) and 846 air yards (19%) from their 2018 roster. When accounting for the addition of DeSean Jackson, it feels quite reasonable to project Jackson for the majority of those open looks. Because of this, Arcega-Whiteside is likely to have a limited role in his rookie campaign.

However, based on recent news, the Eagles seem eager to shop Nelson Agholor. If Agholor is moved, that will open up 97 additional targets and 953 air yards, and will make Arcega-Whiteside the clear favorite to win the number three receiver role. Despite this, Philadelphia continues to talk up Dallas Goedert and wants to find ways to get him and Ertz on the field together. Running 12 personnel (a two-tight end set with a running back on the field) means only two receivers will be on the field, so it’s likely that Arcega-Whiteside will be on the sidelines when this happens.

However, Jeffery has played just one sixteen-game season over the past four years. If he’s forced to miss more time, Arcega-Whiteside would be the logical choice to jump into that role.

LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS

The 29-year-old Jeffery is in the final year of his contract and DeSean Jackson turns 33 years old this season. While Jackson remains one of the best deep threats in the NFL, Jeffery’s potential departure in 2020 would allow Arcega-Whiteside the opportunity to step directly into Jeffery’s current role as the lead target for Carson Wentz.

Philadelphia has their franchise quarterback and a competent, rational coaching staff and front office, so Arcega-Whiteside is entering one of the most stable situations in the league. The Eagles have positioned themselves well if Jeffery moves on in 2020, and if so, Arcega-Whiteside has long-term WR2 upside as a possession receiver with massive touchdown potential on a good offense.

NFL PLAYER COMPARISON

Arcega-Whiteside is a unique player whose play style is different than most receivers in the league. He shares quite a few similarities with Jordy Nelson, but is notably slower on the field.

His ability to box out defenders in tight quarters is reminiscent of a less-athletic Marques Colston.

PROJECTED ROOKIE DRAFT RANGE

According to our Rookie ADP, Arcega-Whiteside is a first rounder in nearly every draft. He comes in at ninth overall and on average, is the fifth receiver off the board, behind just N’Keal Harry, AJ Brown, DK Metcalf, and Parris Campbell. Arcega-Whiteside was drafted no later than 13th in any of the ten mock drafts run and went as early as sixth in one draft.

In superflex or 2QB formats, Arcega-Whiteside is likely to land as a late first-rounder or early second-rounder. Our Superflex Rookie ADP has Arcega-Whiteside 15th overall, going in the first round of just one of six drafts.