Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Bryan Edwards, WR LV

The NFL Draft is behind us, rookie drafts are taking place, and as dynasty owners, we are looking ahead to the upcoming season. In the Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update series, we break down all the incoming fantasy-relevant rookies, looking at their profile and where they fit.

Name: Bryan Edwards

Position: Wide receiver

Pro Team: Las Vegas Raiders

College Team: South Carolina Gamecocks

Draft Status: Round three, 81st overall

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70nKWAaBhsI

COMBINE REVIEW

• Height: 6’3″
• Weight: 212 lbs
• Arms: 32 1/4″
• Hands: 9 1/2”

Edwards did not partake in the athletic drills due to a foot injury.

STRENGTHS

• Refined and clean route runner
• Incredibly strong hands
• Great in contested catches – rarely loses 50-50 balls
• Plays hard every play – loves to engage when blocking
• Uses hips, body, and hands all together well to create separation and leverage
• Good at all three levels of the field
• Phenomenal short-area quickness and burst
• Doesn’t have elite speed yet still has great run-after-catch ability

WEAKNESSES

• Physical corners could cause problems. Must work on generating initial separation when pressed
• Decent speed but not sudden – needs time to build up speed
• Solid but not overwhelming athlete – could struggle to stand out at NFL level
• Needs to be more fluid in routes and explode out of cuts better
• Ball can get into his frame at times – needs to get better at catching away from body

OPPORTUNITIES

The Raiders revamped their entire receiving corps in the draft and Edwards was the second receiver taken by the team. As well as Edwards, Henry Ruggs was taken in the first round and Lynn Bowden Jr. was selected in the third.

Las Vegas only had 11.6% of targets vacated from 2019 per 4for4Sports, the tenth-lowest in the NFL. As a team, they attempted 523 passes which ranked 21st in the NFL. The team also had 70.2% completion rate which was second-best in the NFL. The team’s 245.4 passing yards per game ranked ninth-best. Derek Carr threw for just over 4,000 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The Raiders have set him up to exceed the numbers with a new set of weapons.

Edwards can fill several roles for the team. He can be a sure X-receiver who mans the outside slot and leads the receiving corps. He can line up opposite the X-spot and be a sure-handed possession receiver who garners tons of targets. Even the slot is not out of the question but the Raiders have other options who fit the role better.

THREATS

There is a lot of competition for the targets in the offense and it starts with the tight end. The team was led by Darren Waller with 90 catches for 1,145 yards but he only had three scores. They also added veteran Jason Witten, who caught 62 passes last year for the Cowboys.

Hunter Renfrow led the wide receivers with 49 catches and Tyrell Williams followed with 42. Both players are still on the team and have a rapport with Carr. They could start the season atop the depth chart. Edwards’ versatility is a key here as he would fit in opposite Williams and his experience would be beneficial. The other rookies drafted will also work into the offense and demand targets.

SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS

After producing for four seasons in South Carolina, Edwards could slide in easily and garner targets early. The shortage of off-season activity time could hinder the incoming rookies but Edwards could still excel. His versatility and maturity will get him on the field and he will gain Carr’s trust quickly.

The Raiders need a sure-handed reliable receiver and Edwards is that. He is a vastly underrated prospect who may end up as one of the most productive in the class. I think a realistic prediction for a rookie stat line is 80-800-5 for a ceiling, and he should have a safe weekly WR3/WR4 floor.

LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS

The stat line mentioned above is the floor for Edwards most of his career. He will be a solid producer in the NFL and has the upside to be more. The ceiling is an every-season WR2 and a possession receiver who excels at every level of the field. The Raiders have been searching for stability and he can provide it.

I don’t see Edwards ever being an elite receiver and one capable of being a true WR1 for fantasy consistently. He will have big weeks and he will have a safe floor from week to week. His game will allow him to fill in wherever the offense needs him. His versatility and technical ability make him one of the most reliable targets for Carr or whoever the Raiders quarterback is if they move on.

NFL PLAYER COMPARISON

I struggle with comparisons and I see a lot of many receivers in his game. The upside and absolute ceiling for Edwards’ game is the late-career of Larry Fitzgerald, and it is predicated on Edwards refining his game.

I also see a lot of Michael Crabtree in his game – a sound and solid receiver with reliable hands. Crabtree filled the role opposite Amari Cooper, and Edwards could play a similar role here. Both have similar size and a lot of the same strengths. I could see Edwards producing similarly as long as he can avoid the career pitfalls of Crabtree.

PROJECTED ROOKIE DRAFT RANGE

In June rookie draft ADP, Edwards is being drafted at 17th overall as the WR11. In overall ADP, he is going at the 100 spot. Other receivers in the same range are veterans TY Hilton and AJ Green.

On a contender, those veterans may be worth more but I would still rather have Edwards. A safer option – perhaps without as high of an upside – with long-term potential is a sound choice. Grabbing Edwards in the latter half of the second round of rookie drafts is a no-brainer. He has a great opportunity and the skill set to maximize the opportunity. He should provide a safe return and be a solid long-term asset for your fantasy squads.