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Second-round wide receivers

Can 2018 class join 2014 group?

There were only two wide receivers selected in the first round back in April, but it's not as if there's not some talent there. Six were drafted in the second round, which is twice as many as in any of the last three seasons. The last time six were taken in that round was 2014, and that class turned out pretty well.

Davante Adams, Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry have all put up at least one great season since being drafted. Two are now with new teams, but a pretty good group. The other three (Marqise Lee, Jordan Matthews and Paul Richardson) have all had their moments as well; could be significant fantasy performers in 2018.

It makes sense, then, to have a healthy interest in the six wideouts drafted this year. Anthony Miller and Christian Kirk could (maybe) be starters in Chicago and Arizona, respectively. Dante Pettis (San Francisco) has got some positive press. Opportunity is there -- though maybe more as down the road options -- for Courtland Sutton in Denver, D.J. Chark in Jacksonville and James Washington in Pittsburgh. Four years from now, maybe we'll be looking at them as favorably as the 2014 class.

But as far as making a rookie-year impact, you're probably just hoping that one or two of them, at most, does anything noteworthy. Including that 2014 class, there have been 42 wide receivers selected in the second round of the draft over the previous 10 years. Only seven have put up top-40 fantasy numbers in their rookie seasons. (Those players are in bold.)

2ND-ROUND ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVERS, 2008-2017
YearPkPlayerNoYdsTDFFRk
201737Zay Jones, Buff.27316289th
201740Curtis Samuel, Car.15115099th+
201762JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt.58917815th
201640Sterling Shepard, NYG65683835th
201647Michael Thomas, N.O.92113798th
201655Tyler Boyd, Cin.54603170th
201537Devin Smith, NYJ9115199th+
201540Dorial Green-Beckham, Tenn.32549455th
201541Devin Funchess, Car.31473557th
201439Marqise Lee, Jac.37422193rd
201442Jordan Matthews, Phil.67872825th
201445Paul Richardson, Sea.29271199th+
201453Davante Adams, G.B.38446377th
201456Cody Latimer, Den.223099th+
201461Allen Robinson, Jac.48548267th
201463Jarvis Landry, Mia.84758542nd
201334Justin Hunter, Tenn.18354475th
201341Robert Woods, Buff.40587357th
201359Aaron Dobson, N.E.37519459th
201233Brian Quick, St.L.111562114th
201243Stephen Hill, NYJ21252393rd
201245Alshon Jeffery, Chi.24367381st
201254Ryan Broyles, Det.22310295th
201263Rueben Randle, NYG19298388th
201144Titus Young, Det.48607644th
201158Torrey Smith, Balt.50841724th
201159Greg Little, Clev.61709253rd
201164Randall Cobb, G.B.25375179th
201036Dexter McCluster, K.C.21209199th+
201039Arrelious Benn, T.B.25395290th
201060Golden Tate, Sea.21227099th+
200936Brian Robiskie, Clev.7106099th+
200950Mohamed Massaquoi, Clev.34624359th
200833Donnie Avery, St.L.53674342nd
200834Devin Thomas, Wash.15120199th+
200836Jordy Nelson, G.B.33366284th
200841James Hardy, Buff.987299th+
200842Eddie Royal, Den.91980519th
200846Jerome Simpson, Cin.12099th+
200849DeSean Jackson, Phil.62912426th
200851Malcolm Kelly, Wash.318099th+
200853Limas Sweed, Pitt.664099th+

It's early, but Miller -- likely vying with Taylor Gabriel for No. 2 snaps in Chicago -- is the best bet for a rookie year impact. But we'll see; maybe Kirk wins the job across from Larry Fitzgerald, or Chark steps up in Jacksonville. Watching these youngster will be one of the main reasons to watch the exhibition games over the next month.

—Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index