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Lukewarm results for Jerry Jeudy

When the Broncos selected Jerry Jeudy in the first round, John Elway said he was the top wide receiver prospect on their board. But as the season comes to a close, the results have been lukewarm at best.

Jeudy has caught 47 passes for 716 yards, which aren’t bad numbers, but there have been too many miscues and not enough big plays. He’s scored only 2 TDs. Sunday’s game against the Chargers was his worst, with 5 dropped passes, including one at the end that would have set up the team for a close-range field goal to tie it.

The Broncos have had him in the starting lineup all along, and they’ve fired a decent number of balls his way. (He saw 15 targets on Sunday.) But they haven’t been connecting on enough of them. For the season, he’s caught only 47 of the 106 passes thrown his way.

In the past 20 years, 35 other rookie wide receivers have seen at least 100 targets in their first season. Only two caught a lower rate of those pass attempts. (One of them, at least, was Greg Jennings, who went on to have a great career.)

Three other rookie wide receivers selected within 20 picks of Jeudy also have been used heavily, and they’ve all had a lot more success – Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Tee Higgins.

Catch rate isn’t everything, of course. Jeudy’s tended to run more downfield routes, which has played a role in him having a lower hit rate on passes. And he’s been working with a modest quarterback. But early returns aren’t great on a player that many considered to be a safe, solid receiving prospect.

ROOKIE RECEIVERS: CATCH PERCENTAGES
YearPlayerTgtRecYdsAvgTDPct
2016Michael Thomas, N.O.121921,13712.4976.0%
2014Jarvis Landry, Mia.112847589.0575.0%
2008Eddie Royal, Den.1299198010.8570.5%
2014Odell Beckham, NYG130911,30514.31270.0%
2020• Justin Jefferson, Min.113791,26716.0769.9%
2013Keenan Allen, S.D.105711,04614.7867.6%
2020• CeeDee Lamb, Dall.1046989212.9566.3%
2004Michael Clayton, T.B.122801,19314.9765.6%
2014Jordan Matthews, Phil.1036787213.0865.0%
2020• Tee Higgins, Cin.1076790813.6662.6%
2016Sterling Shepard, NYG1056568310.5861.9%
2012Kendall Wright, Ten.104646269.8461.5%
2003Anquan Boldin, Ariz.1651011,37713.6861.2%
2006Marques Colston, N.O.115701,03814.8860.9%
2007Dwayne Bowe, K.C.1167099514.2560.3%
2019DK Metcalf, Sea.1005890015.5758.0%
2011A.J. Green, Cin.115651,05716.3756.5%
2014Mike Evans, T.B.122681,05115.51255.7%
2017Evan Engram, NYG1156472211.3655.7%
2003Andre Johnson, Hou.1196697614.8455.5%
2015Amari Cooper, Oak.130721,07014.9655.4%
2008Donnie Avery, St.L.1025367412.7352.0%
2008DeSean Jackson, Phil.1206291214.7251.7%
2011Greg Little, Cle.1196170911.6251.3%
2014Sammy Watkins, Buff.1286598215.1650.8%
2004Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.1155878013.5850.4%
2010Mike Williams, T.B.1296596414.81150.4%
2014Kelvin Benjamin, Car.145731,00813.8950.3%
2012Justin Blackmon, Jac.1326486513.5548.5%
2014John Brown, Ariz.1024869614.5547.1%
2004Roy Williams, Det.1185481715.1845.8%
2000Sylvester Morris, K.C.1054867814.1345.7%
2001Rod Gardner, Was.1014674116.1445.5%
2020Jerry Jeudy, Den.1064771615.2244.3%
2006Greg Jennings, G.B.1044563214.0343.3%
2000Peter Warrick, Cin.1265159211.6440.5%

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index