Fantasy Football: 2019 NFL Draft WR Landing Spots Part 3
Eric Ludwig did a great job breaking down the landing spots of the WRs selected in Rounds 1-3 , but we know that fantasy contributors can be found in every round of the NFL Draft. Here’s a look at the WRs taken in Rounds 4-7 and their fantasy outlook moving forward.
Editor’s Note: Check back for all Rookie Landing Spot articles as they become available.
Hakeem Butler – Arizona Cardinals
Round 4, Pick 1 (103rd Overall)
It was a shock to me that Butler was still here on the board at the top of Round 4. He was my No. 2 ranked WR going into the draft process and reportedly fell due to drop concerns. (19 drops the past two seasons at Iowa State) However, he’s a big-bodied receiver who is an incredible athlete and should provide Kyler Murray a target in the red zone moving forward. I love the fit in Arizona.
2019 Competition: Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk, Kevin White, Andy Isabella, Chad Williams
The Cardinals just drafted a player out of a video game.
DO NOT SLEEP on Hakeem Butler 😤😤😤 @410Keem pic.twitter.com/3Ybl703SIa
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) April 27, 2019
Gary Jennings – Seattle Seahawks
Round 4, Pick 18 (120th Overall)
The Seahawks go out and get another freak athlete to pair with their earlier selection of D.K. Metcalf. While Jennings performed very well at the combine, there isn’t much on tape to suggest that he was worthy of this high of a selection. However, the Seahawks are showing that they want to have size at the WR position and Jennings fits that mold. We’ll have to wait and see if he turns into something, but I’m not overly fond of the selection and landing spot for Jennings here.
2019 Competition: Doug Baldwin*, Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, David Moore, Jaron Brown
Riley Ridley – Chicago Bears
Round 4, Pick 24 (126th Overall)
The younger brother of Calvin Ridley, Riley is a refined route runner and that shows up consistently on tape. The landing spot of the Bears is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time…it’s good because he’s a natural fit in that offense and should be very productive in it. It’s a bad thing for fantasy football because he is going to have to wait for a couple of years until he can be a starter. Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller are all locked up for the next couple of years. He’ll need to wait and develop, while contributing on special teams and coming in on certain packages.
2019 Competition: Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, Javon Wims
Riley Ridley displaying some superb route running.
You may have heard of his brother, Calvin. pic.twitter.com/tkDYYInJ1H— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) October 13, 2018
Hunter Renfrow – Oakland Raiders
Round 5, Pick 11 (149th Overall)
Hunter Renfrow is an ideal slot receiver at the next level. Despite having small hands, he catches almost everything thrown at him and is tough over the middle of the field. While Antonio Brown can play in the slot, the Raiders were missing that true slot receiver that can provide an easy outlet for Derek Carr. Renfrow isn’t the most athletic guy in the world, but he has great short area quickness and should make an impact in year one in this offense. There’s a path to relevancy for him if he can beat out J.J. Nelson for snaps, which I fully expect him to be able to do. Good pick by the Raiders.
2019 Competition: Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, JJ Nelson
Darius Slayton – New York Giants
Round 5, Pick 33 (171st Overall)
Darius Slayton was able to turn some heads at the NFL Combine with his size/speed combination. While he struggled with drops at Auburn, he’s able to win against press coverage on the outside and stretch the field with a sub-4.4 40 Yard Dash. This is exactly what the Giants needed in their offense after the Odell Beckham, Jr. trade. Obviously, Slayton is not anywhere close to the talent level of OBJ. However, the remaining Giants WRs mostly played slot roles and there was no one left to excel in an outside role in the Pat Shurmur offense. Slayton has a real possibility to walk into some targets and a starting role here in New York in 2019 and beyond.
2019 Competition: Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, Cody Latimer, Corey Coleman
Kelvin Harmon – Washington Redskins
Round 6, Pick 34 (206th Overall)
While there were other wide receivers taken before Harmon (we won’t be able to talk about every receiver taken on Day 3), I wanted to talk about this draft selection. Harmon was No. 5 on my WR pre-draft rankings because he consistently made contested catches on tape and was heavily relied on by his quarterback at N.C. State. Somehow, Harmon fell to the 6th Round in the NFL Draft and 22 other WRs were drafted before him. This would typically indicate that most fantasy owners shouldn’t pay attention to Harmon in Washington, but I disagree. While Harmon does not possess elite speed, that’s not what he relies on to win as a receiver. He wins in the short to intermediate passing game with good positioning, creating his own separation by “hand fighting” with DBs and being able to bring down the 50/50 balls that a lot of these other receivers are unable to haul in. Additionally, Harmon has a path to fantasy relevancy in Washington. Josh Doctson may not be long for the Redskins organization and the only other established WR is Paul Richardson. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Harmon beat out Richardson in training camp and Josh Doctson allowed to walk in free agency next offseason. Dwayne Haskins could have Terry McLaurin and Harmon as the two main boundary receivers in 2020 and beyond. I’ll buy low on that probability now in my Dynasty rookie drafts…
2019 Competition: Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, Trey Quinn, Brian Quick, Terry McLaurin
The @Redskins are going to LOVE what Kelvin Harmon will do for them on the outside! 💪😤#1Pack1Goal🐺(@Wide_Receiver3, @PackFootball) pic.twitter.com/Dl8MI7Fd0w
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) April 27, 2019
Editor’s Note: Check back for all Rookie Landing Spot articles as they become available.