2024 Dynasty Rookie Post-Draft Update: Tahj Washington
The NFL Draft is behind us, rookie drafts are taking place, and as dynasty managers we are looking ahead to the upcoming season. In our Dynasty Rookie Post-Draft Update series, we break down all the incoming fantasy-relevant rookies, looking at their profiles and where they fit. The basis of the rookie profile involves the usage of STORM analysis, focusing on five key components: Situation, Talent, Opportunity, Risk, and Market.
Situation
Name: Tahj Washington
Position: Wide Receiver
Pro Team: Miami Dolphins
College Team: USC (transferred from Memphis)
Draft Status: Round 7; Pick 241
If you are going to have a skill position player go late on day three, you want them to go to a team you trust knows how best to utilize its offensive talent. The Dolphins are one such team, as they have moved the ball at will since Mike McDaniel took over.
Tua Tagovailoa has been a high-level distributor, getting the football to his stars as the Dolphins work to funnel their targets to their pair of star receivers. While Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will soak up the key volume, there is a need for a third option in Miami, and the team attempted to put a band-aid on the ailment by acquiring the now well-traveled Odell Beckham Jr.
Miami selected two day three receivers, adding Malik Washington (no relation) in addition to Tahj. Neither profiles as an immediate contributor, though both have an opportunity to carve out long-term roles despite minimal draft capital. As a bonus, Tahj Washington has experience as a return man, and has the skills to take advantage of the new kickoff rules as he makes his mark on special teams.
Talent
Tahj Washington’s Combine results:
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 174
- Arm: 29 1/8”
- Hand: 8 3/8”
- 40-Yard Dash: N/A
- 10-Yard Split: N/A
- Vertical Jump: 35”
- Broad Jump: 10’ 2”
- Three Cone: N/A
- Bench Press: N/A
Washington is neither a big receiver nor a particularly athletic one, a combination that can often eliminate a prospect from the fantasy football zeitgeist altogether. Washington did participate in further testing at his Pro Day, though I am more interested in what players do at the Combine, where they are on equal footing with all other prospects.
The good news is Washington does everything required to succeed despite pedestrian measurables. He is fearless over the middle of the field, winning in contested situations despite often being physically overmatched. He has the tools to make an impact out of the slot and gets his nose dirty no matter what the situation.
Washington could earn his roster spot on special teams, an underrated skill when it comes to getting on the Final 53 and working your way up the depth chart. The overall upside is capped, but there is a pathway to deep league appeal for the former Memphis Tiger and USC Trojan.
Opportunity
Courtesy of 4for4 Depth Charts.
The Dolphins have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle locked up for the foreseeable future, but we are not really considering Washington a threat to their place atop the hierarchy. The opportunity lies beyond those two, where the Dolphins have very little, at least in terms of long-term talent. Both Odell Beckham Jr and tight end Jonnu Smith could be significant contributors in 2024, yet neither figures to nestle into the depth chart for a long duration.
Tahj Washington figures to battle Malik Washington, Erik Ezukanma and Browns castoff Anthony Schwartz for not only looks but a roster spot. It is very possible none of the above are the answer to the question “Who is the Dolphins’ third-best receiver?”, but this is far from an intimidating depth chart when you get beyond Hill and Waddle.
Risk
The risk with any late-round selection is they fail to crack the roster, thus sending their career into the catacombs of the fantasy annals. There is a tangible risk training camp shows Washington lacks the tools to compete at the NFL level and they expose him to their practice squad without losing sleep about the notion of losing him to waivers.
Of course, the lack of draft capital means the investment in Washington is minimal. The risk in the profile is great; the risk in the cost is non-existent. If you are a Washington stan or simply a USC fanatic looking for one of your own to hit, he is a fine dart throw late in rookie drafts.
Market
Courtesy of DLF’s May Rookie ADP
Washington is sneaking into the late rounds of a few drafts and going undrafted in many. The end of rookie drafts are really a pick-your-flavor type of situation so we are never going to see Washington go highly unless we get some camp buzz and your rookie draft is held late in the summer.
There is really not much to find in DLF’s Trade Analyzer when it comes to Washington; he is just not going to be included in too many trades as a player often not even on rosters. The best comparables are going to be the names you see around him in rookie ADP, later-round picks who teams are stashing at the end of their benches. The odds Washington makes a fantasy impact are long, and most will set reasonable expectations for him. As far as your longshots, however, I feel Washington is among the better bets. His compete level and general toughness make him a player who could find a niche as a slot receiver who exceeds expectations. Stashing him at the end of your bench – assuming rosters are relatively deep – is a perfectly fine long-term play as we wait to see how things shake out in Miami.
- 2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Omarion Hampton, RB North Carolina - January 20, 2025
- Devy Conference Review: SEC - January 17, 2025
- 2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Tyler Warren, TE Penn State - January 14, 2025
