There's some hyperbole this time of year, of course. Injured players are all ahead of schedule in their rehab, youngsters are ready to break out. So some reports need to be taken with a grain of salt. But better that nice things are said than the alternative, so good to see Jay Gruden talking up second-year wideout Trey Quinn.
Washington lost Jamison Crowder in free agency, so they've got an opening at slot receiver. Quinn had a couple of 3-catch games last preseason, then battled injuries during the regular games. But he started a pair of games against Houston and Dallas, catching 4 for 49 against the Texans and 5 for 26 with a touchdown against the Cowboys.
Gruden says that's he's ready to watch Quinn "jump into the slot role and dominate." It might be a little ambitious, but with his limited chances as a rookie, Quinn was impressive.
His 9 catches in those two games last season came on 10 targets. That catch rate of 90 percent was the highest of any wideout with at least 10 targets last season. A really small sample set, but encouraging.
| WIDE RECEIVER CATCH RATES (10 TARGETS) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Tgt | Pct |
| Trey Quinn, Was. | 9 | 75 | 8.3 | 1 | 10 | 90.0 |
| Cameron Meredith, N.O. | 9 | 114 | 12.7 | 1 | 10 | 90.0 |
| DeAndre Carter, 2 tms | 22 | 216 | 9.8 | 0 | 25 | 88.0 |
| Eli Rogers, Pitt. | 12 | 79 | 6.6 | 0 | 14 | 85.7 |
| Michael Thomas, N.O. | 125 | 1405 | 11.2 | 9 | 147 | 85.0 |
| Ryan Switzer, Pitt. | 36 | 253 | 7.0 | 1 | 44 | 81.8 |
| Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 57 | 965 | 16.9 | 10 | 70 | 81.4 |
| Phillip Dorsett, N.E. | 32 | 290 | 9.1 | 3 | 42 | 76.2 |
| Chris Moore, Balt. | 19 | 196 | 10.3 | 1 | 25 | 76.0 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson, N.E. | 21 | 247 | 11.8 | 3 | 28 | 75.0 |
| Brandon LaFell, Oak. | 12 | 135 | 11.3 | 2 | 16 | 75.0 |
| Cole Beasley, Dall. | 65 | 672 | 10.3 | 3 | 87 | 74.7 |
| Danny Amendola, Mia. | 59 | 575 | 9.7 | 1 | 79 | 74.7 |
| Albert Wilson, Mia. | 26 | 391 | 15.0 | 4 | 35 | 74.3 |
| Adam Thielen, Min. | 113 | 1373 | 12.2 | 9 | 153 | 73.9 |
| Bruce Ellington, 2 tms | 31 | 224 | 7.2 | 1 | 42 | 73.8 |
| Jaron Brown, Sea. | 14 | 166 | 11.9 | 5 | 19 | 73.7 |
| Chester Rogers, Ind. | 53 | 485 | 9.2 | 2 | 72 | 73.6 |
| Rashard Higgins, Clev. | 39 | 572 | 14.7 | 4 | 53 | 73.6 |
| Darius Jennings, Ten. | 11 | 101 | 9.2 | 0 | 15 | 73.3 |
| TJ Jones, Det. | 19 | 190 | 10.0 | 2 | 26 | 73.1 |
| Jarius Wright, Car. | 43 | 447 | 10.4 | 1 | 59 | 72.9 |
| Cooper Kupp, LAR | 40 | 566 | 14.2 | 6 | 55 | 72.7 |
| Sammy Watkins, K.C. | 40 | 519 | 13.0 | 3 | 55 | 72.7 |
| Cameron Batson, Ten. | 8 | 82 | 10.3 | 0 | 11 | 72.7 |
| Jake Kumerow, G.B. | 8 | 103 | 12.9 | 1 | 11 | 72.7 |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 71 | 868 | 12.2 | 4 | 98 | 72.4 |
| Adam Humphries, T.B. | 76 | 816 | 10.7 | 5 | 105 | 72.4 |
| Taylor Gabriel, Chi. | 67 | 688 | 10.3 | 2 | 93 | 72.0 |
| Dontrelle Inman, Ind. | 28 | 304 | 10.9 | 3 | 39 | 71.8 |
| Jordy Nelson, Oak. | 63 | 739 | 11.7 | 3 | 88 | 71.6 |
| Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 20 | 300 | 15.0 | 2 | 28 | 71.4 |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 97 | 1196 | 12.3 | 6 | 136 | 71.3 |
| Will Fuller, Hou. | 32 | 503 | 15.7 | 4 | 45 | 71.1 |
| Alshon Jeffery, Phil. | 65 | 843 | 13.0 | 6 | 92 | 70.7 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 115 | 1572 | 13.7 | 11 | 163 | 70.6 |
| Tyler Boyd, Cin. | 76 | 1028 | 13.5 | 7 | 108 | 70.4 |
| Martavis Bryant, Oak. | 19 | 266 | 14.0 | 0 | 27 | 70.4 |
| Seth Roberts, Oak. | 45 | 494 | 11.0 | 2 | 64 | 70.3 |
| Mohamed Sanu, Atl. | 66 | 838 | 12.7 | 4 | 94 | 70.2 |
| Amari Cooper, 2 tms | 75 | 1005 | 13.4 | 7 | 107 | 70.1 |
| Calvin Ridley, Atl. | 64 | 821 | 12.8 | 10 | 92 | 69.6 |
| Alex Erickson, Cin. | 20 | 167 | 8.4 | 0 | 29 | 69.0 |
| Cody Latimer, NYG | 11 | 190 | 17.3 | 1 | 16 | 68.8 |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 74 | 850 | 11.5 | 6 | 108 | 68.5 |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 50 | 618 | 12.4 | 5 | 73 | 68.5 |
| Stefon Diggs, Min. | 102 | 1021 | 10.0 | 9 | 149 | 68.5 |
| Brandin Cooks, LAR | 80 | 1204 | 15.1 | 5 | 117 | 68.4 |
| Keke Coutee, Hou. | 28 | 287 | 10.3 | 1 | 41 | 68.3 |
| Trent Sherfield, Ariz. | 19 | 210 | 11.1 | 1 | 28 | 67.9 |
| Ryan Grant, Ind. | 35 | 334 | 9.5 | 1 | 52 | 67.3 |
| DJ Moore, Car. | 55 | 788 | 14.3 | 2 | 82 | 67.1 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt. | 111 | 1426 | 12.8 | 7 | 166 | 66.9 |
| DaeSean Hamilton, Den. | 30 | 243 | 8.1 | 2 | 45 | 66.7 |
| Demarcus Robinson, K.C. | 22 | 288 | 13.1 | 4 | 33 | 66.7 |
| Geronimo Allison, G.B. | 20 | 303 | 15.2 | 2 | 30 | 66.7 |
| Deontay Burnett, NYJ | 10 | 143 | 14.3 | 0 | 15 | 66.7 |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 113 | 1677 | 14.8 | 8 | 170 | 66.5 |
| Demaryius Thomas, 2 tms | 59 | 677 | 11.5 | 5 | 89 | 66.3 |
| Robert Woods, LAR | 86 | 1219 | 14.2 | 6 | 130 | 66.2 |
| Taywan Taylor, Ten. | 37 | 466 | 12.6 | 1 | 56 | 66.1 |
| Laquon Treadwell, Min. | 35 | 302 | 8.6 | 1 | 53 | 66.0 |
| Nelson Agholor, Phil. | 64 | 736 | 11.5 | 4 | 97 | 66.0 |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 111 | 1386 | 12.5 | 13 | 169 | 65.7 |
| Golden Tate, 2 tms | 74 | 795 | 10.7 | 4 | 113 | 65.5 |
| Dede Westbrook, Jac. | 66 | 717 | 10.9 | 5 | 101 | 65.3 |
| Willie Snead, Balt. | 62 | 651 | 10.5 | 1 | 95 | 65.3 |
| Mike Williams, LAC | 43 | 664 | 15.4 | 10 | 66 | 65.2 |
| Damion Ratley, Clev. | 13 | 144 | 11.1 | 0 | 20 | 65.0 |
| Brandon Powell, Det. | 11 | 129 | 11.7 | 0 | 17 | 64.7 |
| Richie James, S.F. | 9 | 130 | 14.4 | 1 | 14 | 64.3 |
| Austin Carr, N.O. | 9 | 97 | 10.8 | 2 | 14 | 64.3 |
| Breshad Perriman, Clev. | 16 | 340 | 21.3 | 2 | 25 | 64.0 |
| Kendrick Bourne, S.F. | 42 | 487 | 11.6 | 4 | 66 | 63.6 |
| Chris Hogan, N.E. | 35 | 532 | 15.2 | 3 | 55 | 63.6 |
| Tre'Quan Smith, N.O. | 28 | 427 | 15.3 | 5 | 44 | 63.6 |
| Justin Hardy, Atl. | 14 | 133 | 9.5 | 2 | 22 | 63.6 |
| Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 87 | 1479 | 17.0 | 12 | 137 | 63.5 |
| Trent Taylor, S.F. | 26 | 215 | 8.3 | 1 | 41 | 63.4 |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 76 | 1270 | 16.7 | 6 | 120 | 63.3 |
| Christian Kirk, Ariz. | 43 | 590 | 13.7 | 3 | 68 | 63.2 |
| Tyrell Williams, LAC | 41 | 653 | 15.9 | 5 | 65 | 63.1 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 86 | 1524 | 17.7 | 8 | 138 | 62.3 |
| Randall Cobb, G.B. | 38 | 383 | 10.1 | 2 | 61 | 62.3 |
| Chris Godwin, T.B. | 59 | 842 | 14.3 | 7 | 95 | 62.1 |
| Odell Beckham, NYG | 77 | 1052 | 13.7 | 6 | 124 | 62.1 |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 104 | 1297 | 12.5 | 15 | 168 | 61.9 |
| Keith Kirkwood, N.O. | 13 | 209 | 16.1 | 2 | 21 | 61.9 |
| Jakeem Grant, Mia. | 21 | 268 | 12.8 | 2 | 34 | 61.8 |
| Sterling Shepard, NYG | 66 | 872 | 13.2 | 4 | 107 | 61.7 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 69 | 734 | 10.6 | 6 | 112 | 61.6 |
| Chris Conley, K.C. | 32 | 334 | 10.4 | 5 | 52 | 61.5 |
| Tavon Austin, Dall. | 8 | 140 | 17.5 | 2 | 13 | 61.5 |
| Robert Foster, Buff. | 27 | 541 | 20.0 | 3 | 44 | 61.4 |
| Anthony Miller, Chi. | 33 | 423 | 12.8 | 7 | 54 | 61.1 |
| Curtis Samuel, Car. | 39 | 494 | 12.7 | 5 | 65 | 60.0 |
| Dante Pettis, S.F. | 27 | 467 | 17.3 | 5 | 45 | 60.0 |
| Isaiah McKenzie, 2 tms | 18 | 179 | 9.9 | 0 | 30 | 60.0 |
| Russell Gage, Atl. | 6 | 63 | 10.5 | 0 | 10 | 60.0 |
| Brice Butler, 2 tms | 6 | 60 | 10.0 | 1 | 10 | 60.0 |
There's a lot of offseason to go. Quinn will need to stay healthy, and definitively secure that slot job. But reasonable I think to make sure he's on a roster in dynasty formats at a minimum, and maybe spend a late-round pick on him in best-ball drafts (PPR scoring).
--Andy Richardson