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NFL Draft Fantasy Recap: Round 1



By Doug Orth | 4/30/22 |



1.08 - WR Drake London, Falcons (Draft Profile)

Team Fit: Atlanta's projected starters at receiver before his pick: Auden Tate, Damiere Byrd and Olamide Zacchaeus. Bypassing Garrett Wilson here suggests the Falcons are hoping for Calvin Ridley to return from suspension next year because London and his 6-4 frame provide a very nice complement to Ridley's quickness and fluidity. It also gives Atlanta a pair of power forwards (along with 6-5 TE Kyle Pitts) to play over the top of most secondaries. Creating separation was a problem for London at USC, but he should be a very solid No. 2 receiver in Atlanta if Ridley remains a Falcon long-term. A good expectation for what London initially might be would be late-career Larry Fitzgerald (after he became more of a full-time slot).

What does it mean in redraft (12 teams)? Pitts figures to be the main man for the foreseeable future in Atlanta, but London should have no issue being the top receiver immediately (he better not). Nevertheless, with Marcus Mariota expected to be his quarterback in 2022, London will likely struggle to be much more than a middling WR4 most weeks.

Where should I expect him to go in my rookie drafts? Check back on the website next week.

1.10 - WR Garrett Wilson, Jets (Draft Profile)

Team Fit: Wilson's Stefon Diggs-like upside makes up for his landing spot, as Zach Wilson's viability as a potential stud is still very much in question. Elijah Moore emerged in a big way as a rookie, and he is likely the long-term answer in the slot for Gang Green. Garrett Wilson may be a bit undersized, but he is more than capable of winning on the outside and makes for a fine complement to Corey Davis for now. While his speed and quickness should make him a viable Day 1 starter at Z, the Ohio State product's best feature at the pro level right away may be his ability to win in contested-catch situations. Look for Garrett Wilson to team up with Elijah Moore long-term as Davis slowly fades into the background over the next year or two.

What does it mean in redraft (12 teams)? It should be interesting to see if Moore or Wilson takes hold of the No.1 receiving spot in New York. However, finding enough targets for both of them - and trying to justify Davis' big free-agent contract from last year - may be too much for Wilson to overcome as a rookie. Treat Wilson as a WR4 with significant upside if Davis or Moore gets hurt.

Where should I expect him to go in my rookie drafts? Check back on the website next week.

1.11 - WR Chris Olave, Saints (Draft Profile)

Team Fit: Olave is a high-level route-runner with great hands who just happens to run a sub-4.4 40. He does not do much after the catch, but he makes a ton of sense for a team with a screaming need for a dependable receiver - hopefully opposite a healthy Michael Thomas - that believes it can challenge for a Super Bowl. He is a high-floor prospect at worst with the potential to be something approaching Calvin Ridley in a few years. For the foreseeable future, Olave will likely be much more useful in between the 20s than near the end zone simply because his relative lack of athleticism is not going to make him an attractive target on back-shoulder or high-point throws.

What does it mean in redraft (12 teams)? Olave figures to start immediately over Marquez Callaway, but he will be hard-pressed to be much more than a WR4 with a healthy Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara ahead of him in the pecking order.

Where should I expect him to go in my rookie drafts? Check back on the website next week.

1.12 - WR Jameson Williams, Lions (Draft Profile)

Team Fit: The Lions believe they have their alpha in Amon-Ra St. Brown. They added D.J. Chark in free agency, and now they get a receiver who should become one of the league's most feared deep threats very quickly. Chark does not present a huge obstacle long-term (he signed a one-year deal), but the presence of St. Brown and T.J. Hockenson will likely limit Williams' targets (and potential alpha target share) for the foreseeable future. Being tied to Jared Goff is probably the bigger issue, as the former No. 1 overall pick is not one of the league's strongest-armed quarterbacks capable of maximizing Williams' game-changing speed.

What does it mean in redraft (12 teams)? Williams may not be ready until late October at the earliest due to his expected recovery time from a torn ACL. While will be a great high-upside stash in leagues with IR spots, it could be a tall order for him to be anything more than the third option behind St. Brown and Hockenson - especially without the benefit of a training camp to get his timing down with Goff.

Where should I expect him to go in my rookie drafts? Check back on the website next week.

1.16 - WR Jahan Dotson, Commanders (Draft Profile)

Team Fit: The selection of Dotson gives Washington a dynamic slot option that should be able to take advantage of all the open space Terry McLaurin and (hopefully) Curtis Samuel can give him. The Penn State product has some of the best hands in this draft class, and his ability to create space and change directions effortlessly should ease his transition to the pros. As a player who profiles as a more sure-handed Diontae Johnson, Dotson should thrive in Washington sooner than later if Carson Wentz doesn't completely meltdown. Dotson has good speed (4.43) and a large catch radius, meaning he should be productive even if Wentz doesn't buck his aggressive tendencies.

What does it mean in redraft (12 teams)? The presence of McLaurin and Samuel will give Dotson some time to adjust to the pro game if he needs it, while Logan Thomas and J.D. McKissic will be around to pick up the short stuff. Barring injury to one of the aforementioned players, it is hard to see Dotson serving as anything more than a WR5 this year.

Where should I expect him to go in my rookie drafts? Check back on the website next week.

Treylon Burks

1.18 - WR Treylon Burks, Titans (Draft Profile)

Team Fit: The Titans did the unthinkable and traded A.J. Brown, presumably because they were not willing to pay him $20+ million per season. Therefore, they did the only thing they could: draft the prospect who they hope can be a cheaper and (slightly) younger version. Burks has alpha wideout traits and could eventually grow into that role early in his career if he works tirelessly on his route-running. However, it is far from a sure thing that Burks will provide the same "dog mentality" to the Titans that Brown did. Thankfully, the addition of Robert Woods earlier this offseason gives Burks some time to settle in and learn from a consummate pro. Nevertheless, the Brown-Burks swap (Burks and a third-rounder for Brown) still feels like a gut punch for a team that may only have one or two more years of Derrick Henry in his prime.

What does it mean in redraft (12 teams)? The Titans undoubtedly expect Burks to take on a big role immediately, so a strong case can be made that he should be viewed as a WR3 with huge upside.

Where should I expect him to go in my rookie drafts? Check back on the website next week.

1.20 - QB Kenny Pickett, Steelers (Draft Profile)

Team Fit: Pickett is the most pro-ready QB in the class with Kirk Cousins-level upside. Following Big Ben's retirement, Pittsburgh had little choice but to go quarterback with only Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph serving as legitimate options. Pickett emerged in a big way in his third season under the tutelage of former OC Mark Whipple, appearing very comfortable working through his progressions and throwing his receivers open downfield. While he lacks elite athleticism, he brings more than enough rushing upside to the table that OC Matt Canada should be able to implement the style of offense he could not last year with Big Ben still around.

What does it mean in redraft (12 teams)? Low-end QB2, assuming he wins the starting job in camp.

Where should I expect him to go in my rookie drafts? Check back on the website next week.


Doug Orth has written for FF Today since 2006 and been featured in USA Today's Fantasy Football Preview magazine since 2010. He hosted USA Today's hour-long, pre-kickoff fantasy football internet chat every Sunday in 2012-13 and appears as a guest analyst on a number of national sports radio shows, including Sirius XM's "Fantasy Drive". Doug is also a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.