D.J. Moore was somewhat surprisingly the first wide receiver drafted, Carolina's first-round pick in April. But he's been drawing positive press throughout training camp, and he looked very good in the exhibition opener: 4 catches for 75 yards.
Carolina has Devin Funchess and Torrey Smith, but it won't be surprising if Moore starts right away. If so, it gives him the chance to be one of the rare rookie wideouts to put up significant fantasy numbers.
Looking at rookie wideouts from this century, there have been 31 that have finished the season as top-30 fantasy wideouts (1 point for every 10 yards and 6 for touchdowns), so nearly 2 per season. Stretch it out to top 50, and there have been 55 (about 3 per season). Not great odds, but given draft pedigree and opportunity, Moore looks like the favorite to be one of this year's representatives.
TOP-50 ROOKIE WIDEOUTS, 2000-2017 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | No | Yds | TD | FFPts | FFRk |
2003 | Anquan Boldin, Ariz. | 101 | 1377 | 8 | 189.7 | 4 |
2014 | Odell Beckham Jr., NYG | 91 | 1305 | 12 | 206.0 | 6 |
2016 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 92 | 1137 | 9 | 167.7 | 9 |
2016 | Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 61 | 593 | 12 | 158.0 | 11 |
2014 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 68 | 1051 | 12 | 177.1 | 11 |
2010 | Mike Williams, T.B. | 65 | 964 | 11 | 162.4 | 12 |
2017 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt. | 58 | 917 | 8 | 139.7 | 14 |
2011 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 65 | 1057 | 7 | 153.0 | 14 |
2006 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 70 | 1038 | 8 | 151.8 | 14 |
2004 | Michael Clayton, T.B. | 80 | 1193 | 7 | 164.3 | 14 |
2014 | Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 73 | 1008 | 9 | 154.8 | 16 |
2013 | Keenan Allen, S.D. | 71 | 1046 | 8 | 152.6 | 17 |
2011 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 54 | 959 | 8 | 149.5 | 17 |
2008 | Eddie Royal, Den. | 91 | 980 | 5 | 140.9 | 19 |
2009 | Percy Harvin, Minn. | 60 | 790 | 8 | 140.5 | 20 |
2015 | Amari Cooper, Oak. | 72 | 1070 | 6 | 142.7 | 23 |
2012 | T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 50 | 861 | 8 | 137.0 | 23 |
2011 | Torrey Smith, Balt. | 50 | 841 | 7 | 130.0 | 24 |
2004 | Lee Evans, Buff. | 48 | 843 | 9 | 146.8 | 24 |
2003 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 66 | 976 | 4 | 120.6 | 24 |
2014 | Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 67 | 872 | 8 | 135.2 | 25 |
2007 | Dwayne Bowe, K.C. | 70 | 995 | 5 | 129.5 | 25 |
2017 | Cooper Kupp, LAR | 62 | 869 | 5 | 116.9 | 26 |
2014 | Sammy Watkins, Buff. | 65 | 982 | 6 | 135.0 | 26 |
2008 | DeSean Jackson, Phil. | 62 | 912 | 4 | 124.8 | 26 |
2009 | Mike Wallace, Pitt. | 39 | 756 | 6 | 116.4 | 27 |
2000 | Peter Warrick, Cin. | 51 | 592 | 7 | 116.0 | 27 |
2009 | Hakeem Nicks, NYG | 47 | 790 | 6 | 115.8 | 28 |
2004 | Roy Williams, Det. | 54 | 817 | 8 | 129.8 | 29 |
2004 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 58 | 780 | 8 | 127.4 | 30 |
2001 | Chris Chambers, Mia. | 48 | 883 | 7 | 129.2 | 30 |
2013 | Cordarrelle Patterson, Minn. | 45 | 469 | 9 | 116.7 | 33 |
2000 | Darrell Jackson, Sea. | 53 | 713 | 6 | 107.2 | 33 |
2002 | Antonio Bryant, Dall. | 44 | 733 | 6 | 113.3 | 34 |
2016 | Sterling Shepard, NYG | 65 | 683 | 8 | 119.4 | 35 |
2015 | Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 51 | 664 | 8 | 116.4 | 35 |
2007 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 48 | 756 | 5 | 110.8 | 36 |
2012 | Josh Gordon, Clev. | 50 | 805 | 5 | 110.5 | 38 |
2013 | Terrance Williams, Dall. | 44 | 736 | 5 | 106.0 | 39 |
2001 | Rod Gardner, Wash. | 46 | 741 | 4 | 99.7 | 39 |
2011 | Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 51 | 788 | 4 | 102.6 | 40 |
2009 | Jeremy Maclin, Phil. | 55 | 762 | 4 | 99.5 | 40 |
2002 | Donte Stallworth, N.O. | 42 | 594 | 8 | 107.6 | 40 |
2017 | Keelan Cole, Jac. | 42 | 748 | 3 | 92.8 | 42 |
2014 | Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 84 | 758 | 5 | 105.4 | 42 |
2010 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 45 | 561 | 8 | 104.1 | 42 |
2014 | Martavis Bryant, Pitt. | 26 | 549 | 8 | 104.1 | 43 |
2014 | Allen Hurns, Jac. | 51 | 677 | 6 | 103.7 | 44 |
2015 | Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 52 | 720 | 4 | 97.3 | 46 |
2013 | Marlon Brown, Balt. | 49 | 524 | 7 | 96.2 | 46 |
2013 | Kenny Stills, N.O. | 32 | 641 | 5 | 95.1 | 48 |
2005 | Chris Henry, Cin. | 31 | 515 | 5 | 83.5 | 48 |
2014 | John Brown, Ariz. | 48 | 696 | 5 | 99.0 | 49 |
2013 | Tavon Austin, St.L. | 40 | 418 | 6 | 92.9 | 50 |
2009 | Kenny Britt, Tenn. | 42 | 701 | 3 | 88.1 | 50 |
Last year there were exactly two, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cooper Kupp, in the top 30, with a third, Keelan Cole, sneaking into the top 50. (Listed in bold.) Given the Steelers' history of bringing wide receivers along slowly, the Rams' previous ineptitude passing the ball, and Cole's undrafted status, none were expected. So maybe Moore will surprise? So far, so good.
--Andy Richardson