It's that time of year when we get rookie reports from team beat writers, what kind of reps they're getting at OTAs and what initial impressions are. Important time for those of us in dynasty leagues, to see if guys are looking like they belong (or already battling hamstring injuries).
San Francisco fourth-rounder Jordan Watkins got a positive report yesterday, so I dutifully checked my dynasty waiver wire to see if he was available. He was, so I added him, sticking him on the roster to see if it pays off in the future.
The odds aren't great, but it happens. In the last 10 years, there have been 41 wide receivers drafted in the fourth round. Everyone knows the best of these players: Amon-Ra St. Brown, who's quickly emerged as one of the league's best wide receivers. Aside from him, well, it's a pretty modest group.
Of the other 40, I find four players who have had a top-40 season (PPR) at some point in their careers so far. Jamison Crowder has had some viable production over the past decade, and Romeo Doubs has been an occasional starter in fantasy leagues. Gabe Davis and Dede Westbrook are the others. Not a group of league-winners, but some recognizable names on the list.
Table shows the best seasons from each of those fourth-round wideouts from the past 10 years. Four of them -- Denver's Troy Franklin, New England's Javon Baker, Baltimore's Devontez Walker and another 49er, Jacob Cowing -- were drafted just last year, so too early to say how those guys will turn out. But we can say that the hit rate as far as emerging as a quality starter is kind of low. A lot more Gabe Davis types (or more commonly, not even that good) than Amon-Ra St. Brown ones.
| FOURTH-ROUND WRS, BEST SEASONS (2015-2024) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Rk |
| 2024 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 115 | 1263 | 12 | 2 |
| 2016 | Jamison Crowder, Was. | 67 | 847 | 8 | 25 |
| 2018 | Dede Westbrook, Jac. | 66 | 717 | 6 | 30 |
| 2022 | Gabe Davis, Buff. | 48 | 836 | 7 | 35 |
| 2023 | Romeo Doubs, G.B. | 59 | 674 | 8 | 37 |
| 2022 | Mack Hollins, L.V. | 57 | 690 | 4 | 46 |
| 2018 | Antonio Callaway, Cle. | 43 | 586 | 5 | 54 |
| 2023 | Josh Reynolds, Det. | 40 | 608 | 5 | 55 |
| 2024 | Demarcus Robinson, LAR | 31 | 505 | 7 | 62 |
| 2022 | Chris Moore, Hou. | 48 | 548 | 2 | 63 |
| 2024 | Calvin Austin, Pitt. | 36 | 548 | 5 | 68 |
| 2016 | Malcolm Mitchell, N.E. | 32 | 401 | 4 | 82 |
| 2020 | Keke Coutee, Hou. | 33 | 400 | 3 | 86 |
| 2019 | DaeSean Hamilton, Den. | 28 | 297 | 1 | 95 |
| 2017 | Ricardo Louis, Cle. | 27 | 357 | 0 | 95 |
| 2018 | Ryan Switzer, Pitt. | 36 | 253 | 1 | 97 |
| 2017 | Justin Hardy, Atl. | 20 | 221 | 3 | 98 |
| 2024 | Troy Franklin, Den. | 28 | 263 | 2 | 98 |
| 2019 | Pharoh Cooper, 2TM | 25 | 243 | 1 | 104 |
| 2024 | Derius Davis, LAC | 13 | 112 | 2 | 120 |
| 2020 | Chad Hansen, Hou. | 17 | 236 | 1 | 123 |
| 2024 | Tylan Wallace, Balt. | 11 | 193 | 1 | 123 |
| 2023 | Tyler Scott, Chi. | 17 | 168 | 0 | 127 |
| 2017 | Josh Malone, Cin. | 6 | 63 | 1 | 141 |
| 2023 | Charlie Jones, Cin. | 7 | 64 | 1 | 159 |
| 2019 | Riley Ridley, Chi. | 6 | 69 | 0 | 159 |
| 2021 | Dez Fitzpatrick, Ten. | 5 | 49 | 1 | 165 |
| 2024 | Jacob Cowing, S.F. | 4 | 80 | 0 | 166 |
| 2024 | Devontez Walker, Balt. | 1 | 21 | 1 | 172 |
| 2021 | Jaelon Darden, T.B. | 6 | 43 | 0 | 175 |
| 2017 | Jehu Chesson, K.C. | 2 | 18 | 0 | 182 |
| 2016 | DeAndre Smelter, S.F. | 1 | 23 | 0 | 183 |
| 2018 | J'Mon Moore, G.B. | 2 | 15 | 0 | 189 |
| 2023 | Erik Ezukanma, Mia. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 197 |
| 2024 | Javon Baker, N.E. | 1 | 12 | 0 | 203 |
| 2020 | Antonio Gandy-Golden, Was. | 1 | 3 | 0 | 204 |
| 2020 | Jaleel Scott, NYJ | 1 | 16 | 0 | 209 |
| 2023 | Jacob Harris, Jac. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 220 |
| 2019 | Gary Jennings, Mia. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 999 |
| 2020 | Hakeem Butler, Phil. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 999 |
Watkins, out of Ole Miss, helped himself at the combine by running a 4.37, 6th-fastest among wideouts in attendance. The other athletic numbers weren't special, but there's some quickness. He caught 9 TDs as Jaxson Dart's No. 2 (Tre Harris, selected by the Chargers two rounds earlier, was the top target). When Harris sat out the Gator Bowl, Watkins had a monster game: 7 catches for 180 yards and 2 TDs. That definitely helped his case on draft day. (And produced an awesome photo, above.)
The other clear plus with Watkins is opportunity in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Deebo Samuel is gone, Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a torn ACL. There's Jauan Jennings and last year's first-round Ricky Pearsall, and Pearsall is reportedly dealing with a hamstring injury. So Watkins will definitely be getting some reps over the next couple of months.
Not going to make too strong a case for him, but a worthy dynasty stash for those looking for a player at the position.
--Andy Richardson