2024 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR Washington
The Washington Huskies of 2023-24 embarked on a Cinderella journey of epic proportions, and despite their run falling one game short, this offense showed it has several NFL-caliber players.
Wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk may not be the most highly touted of their offensive weapons, but he could be a great value to managers in 2024 rookie drafts.
Recruitment
Polk received a three-star rating from 247 Sports coming from Lufkin High School in Texas. He received a long list of offers to high-level collegiate programs including Arkansas, Arizona, Baylor, Illinois, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Minnesota, and Texas.
Courtesy of 247 Sports.
He entered college as the 76th-ranked wide receiver and despite his numerous offers, eventually opted to commit to Texas Tech for the 2020 season.
Collegiate Career
Courtesy of Sports Reference.
Polk got off to a slow start in his freshman campaign. He appeared in ten games for the Raiders, recording 28 receptions, 263 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. He then transferred to Washington where he appeared in only three games as a sophomore. In his limited playing time, he recorded five receptions for 114 yards and one touchdown.
In 2022 he saw an increase in playing time and appeared in 12 games. This increase in playing time led to his first major increase in production. As a junior, he totaled 38 receptions, 649 yards and six touchdowns.
His true breakout came in 2023, as a senior. He appeared in 13 games where he hauled in 60 passes for 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns, all collegiate career highs.
Strengths
- Excellent playmaking and ball tracking when operating outside the numbers. He doesn’t get lost on perimeter routes and has a great feel for the sideline.
- Puts out maximum effort when used in a blocking role.
- Great ability to avoid and break tackles when in open space. Is difficult to bring down in open space and frequently requires multiple tacklers.
- Has good size, speed, and acceleration for a receiver of his size.
- Versatile and able to be effective in both the slot and on the perimeter.
Weaknesses
- Struggles against zone coverage and lacks the feel for finding the soft spots.
- Despite his size, he is average at best when it comes to contested catch situations.
- Gives great effort as a blocker but needs to refine his raw blocking technique.
Draft Value
Courtesy of Mock Draft Database.
In most years, Polk would find himself vying for the WR3 slot at worst, but in a loaded 2023 rookie class, he currently finds himself sitting as WR11 in expert consensus mock drafts.
Many analysts believe him to be a mid-to-late second-round pick, with projections sending him to the Cleveland Browns at 54th overall.
There is, however, a small group that sees Polk going as high as the end of the first round, slotting him into either Baltimore at 29th overall or Kansas City at 31st overall.
Dynasty Outlook
Courtesy of DLF Dynasty Rookie Rankings.
While it is still early in the off-season, and the NFL Combine and 2024 NFL Draft are sure to shake things up, the early DLF Rookie Rankings have Polk valued as WR10 and 18th overall in superflex rookie rankings.
This is one of the most loaded wide receiver classes in recent memory and as a result, Polk is slipping far later in drafts than anyone would have expected given his size and speed.
In the end, Polk may not have the flash of the top tier of receivers, but in the back half of the second round, he could prove to be the steal of rookie drafts. He has Rashee Rice written all over him.
- Aaron St. Denis: Dynasty Fantasy Football Superflex Rankings Explained - March 15, 2024
- NFL Scouting Combine: IDP Dynasty Winners and Losers - March 5, 2024
- Past/Present/Future Rookie Pick Value: 2024 Mid 3rd - February 25, 2024
