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Walker, Burton look to rebound after forgettable first seasons

I see in these final OTA workouts that Jermaine Burton and Devontez Walker are looking a lot better now than they did as rookies. It reminds me that some receivers are able to rebound after underwhelming first seasons.

Antonio Brown, as a prominent example, caught only 16 passes as a rookie before putting together a string of seasons about as good as any in league history. K.J. Osborn didn’t catch any passes as a rookie.

With our current guys, Walker didn’t get on the field much for the Ravens, catching only 1 pass all year. But he’s still the same guy they picked in the fourth round. He’s reportedly been getting a lot of reps with the first- and second-string units. I’m not suggesting Walker should be rostered in any fantasy format I can think of right now, but conceivable that he could turn things around. Possible that DeAndre Hopkins is simply cooked.

With Burton, he’s a talent. If not for off-field issues, he probably would have been drafted in the second round. And he had 47- and 41-yard catches in limited playing time as a rookie. But he also annoyed the team enough last year to be suspended twice. He was a no-show for a Saturday walkthrough, he was evicted in December and he was accused of assaulting a woman in early January. In college, he hit a fan on the field after a game.

Reports suggest Burton is ready to stop being a jackass. If that’s the case, he’ll probably emerge as Cincinnati’s third receiver. He’s a lot more talented than Andrei Iosivas. And if Tee Higgins were to miss time (like he always does)? That looks like a plausible route to relevance.

While a crappy rookie season is less than ideal, others have managed to turn things around. In the last 10 years, 13 wide receivers haven’t put up top-80 numbers in their first season (using PPR scoring) but have then moved up into the top 50 at their position.

2ND-YEAR RECEIVERS MAKING BIG JUMPS (last 10 yrs)
YearPlayerRdNoYdsTDPPRRkPrevious
2021K.J. Osborn, Min.5506557158.5400-0-0
2021Marquez Callaway, N.O.FA466986151.84321-213-0
2021Van Jefferson, LAR2508026168.23619-220-1
2019DJ Chark, Jac.27310088225.81814-174-0
2018Mike Williams, LAC14366411180.23311-95-0
2018Curtis Samuel, Car.2394947138.84715-115-0
2018Dede Westbrook, Jac.4667176183.53027-339-1
2018Zay Jones, Buff.2566527165.23527-316-2
2018Corey Davis, Ten.1658914183.62934-375-0
2016Tyrell Williams, S.D.FA6910597216.9192-90-1
2016Cameron Meredith, Chi.FA668884183.53811-120-0
2016Quincy Enunwa, NYJ6588574168.94522-315-0
2015Willie Snead, N.O.FA699843185.4320-0-0

Previously in the 32-team era, I see 23 other wide receivers who didn’t put up top-80 receivers in their first season but moved up into the top 50 in their second year. (Again, PPR scoring, and looking at the 2002-14 seasons).

2ND-YEAR RECEIVERS MAKING BIG JUMPS (2002-14)
YearPlayerRdNoYdsTDPPRRkPrevious
2013Marvin Jones, Cin.55171210188.72918-201-1
2013Alshon Jeffery, Chi.28914217285.6824-367-3
2012Cecil Shorts, Jac.4559797194.5262-30-1
2012Jeremy Kerley, NYJ5568273159.64229-314-1
2012Randall Cobb, G.B.2809549242.61625-375-3
2011Victor Cruz, NYGFA8215369289.930-0-0
2011Eric Decker, Den.3446129159.3376-106-1
2011Antonio Brown, Pitt.66911083201.92316-167-1
2011David Nelson, Buff.FA616585156.83931-353-3
2010Danny Amendola, St.L.FA856893180.03043-326-1
2009Earl Bennett, Chi.3547173145.7420-0-0
2009Mario Manningham, NYG3578225169.2304-26-0
2009Pierre Garcon, Ind.6477654148.5394-23-0
2008Steve Breaston, Ari.57710063196.4258-92-1
2008Greg Camarillo, Mia.FA556132128.4508-160-2
2007Brandon Marshall, Den.410213257282.2920-309-2
2005Antonio Chatman, G.B.FA495495137.34322-246-1
2005Ernest Wilford, Jac.4416817151.14019-271-2
2004Ronald Curry, Oak.7506796153.6425-31-0
2004Brandon Lloyd, S.F.4435656137.54614-212-2
2003Javon Walker, G.B.1417169166.72723-319-1
2002Derrius Thompson, Was.FA537734162.0423-52-1
2002Steve Smith, Car.3548725170.83810-154-3

—Ian Allan

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