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Factoid

Third-round wide receivers

Will Zachariah or Zavion be viable rookies?

Ian published an article the other day about how often third-round wide receivers develop into solid pros. Working on the update this week, I came across a number of camp reports involving wideouts selected in that round. I wondered how often they hit as rookies.

The Falcons have talked up Zachariah Branch, while the Bears have had good things to say about Zavion Thomas. Malachi Fields with the Giants, Ja'Kobi Lane with the Ravens and Ted Hurst with Tampa Bay -- all have got some positive press. In most cases, they're on teams where they could (either because of depth issues, modest veterans ahead of them, or injuries) open as a top-3 wide receiver right away.

Draftable in redraft fantasy leagues? That's a little less likely, though it does happen.

Looking at the last 15 years of wide receivers selected in the third round, I see 66 players who got on the field; a little over 4 per season. Of those 66, just 6 posted top 40 numbers (PPR) in their rookie seasons; just 2 finished in the top 25.

Every once in a while you get a Keenan Allen or Cooper Kupp, but doesn't seem like anyone should get too excited about these players, at least in their rookie seasons. Takes some time for them to emerge as fantasy factors.

Table shows the top 50 third-round rookies from the last 15 years, sorted by rank in PPR leagues in that first season. Last year's five (very modest) representatives are in bold.

3RD-ROUND ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVERS, 2011-2025
YearPlayerTgtRecYdsTDRk
2013Keenan Allen, S.D.105711046818
2017Cooper Kupp, LAR9462869525
2012T.Y. Hilton, Ind.9050861828
2019Terry McLaurin, Was.9358919730
2023Tank Dell, Hou.7547709739
2019Diontae Johnson, Pitt.9259680639
2015Tyler Lockett, Sea.6951664841
2023Josh Downs, Ind.9868771244
2013Terrance Williams, Dall.7444736545
2014John Brown, Ari.10248696553
2024Jalen McMillan, T.B.5837461855
2023Michael Wilson, Ari.5838565360
2017Kenny Golladay, Det.4828477370
2017Chris Godwin, T.B.5534525172
2018TreQuan Smith, N.O.4428427573
2021Joshua Palmer, LAC4933353476
2018Michael Gallup, Dall.6833507278
2014Donte Moncrief, Ind.4932444379
2025Isaac TeSlaa, Det.2716239682
2025Pat Bryant, Den.4931378185
2021Nico Collins, Hou.6133446187
2012T.J. Graham, Buff.5831322188
2023Tre Tucker, L.V.3419331289
2025Jaylin Noel, Hou.3526292292
2012Mohamed Sanu, Cin.2516154496
2011Vincent Brown, S.D.4019329298
2013Marquise Goodwin, Buff.32172833100
2023Jalin Hyatt, NYG40233730101
2019Miles Boykin, Balt.22131983107
2017Taywan Taylor, Ten.28162311110
2011Austin Pettis, St.L.48272560110
2015Jaelen Strong, Hou.24141613111
2025Kyle Williams, N.E.21102093113
2013Stedman Bailey, St.L.25172261113
2020Lynn Bowden, Mia.37282110115
2020Devin Duvernay, Balt.26202011117
2023Cedric Tillman, Cle.44212240118
2015Chris Conley, K.C.31171991120
2022David Bell, Cle.35242140121
2015Ty Montgomery, G.B.19151362122
2011Leonard Hankerson, Was.20131630125
2024Luke McCaffrey, Was.24181680126
2022Velus Jones, Chi.1471072126
2014Josh Huff, Phil.188981131
2016Braxton Miller, Hou.2815991133
2020Bryan Edwards, L.V.15111931134
2021Anthony Schwartz, Cle.23101351138
2025Savion Williams, G.B.1010781143
2021Dyami Brown, Was.25121650147
2017ArDarius Stewart, NYJ136820148

If one of these rookies is a factor this season, I'm throwing my lot with Branch (pictured). In Atlanta, Drake, Bijan and Pitts will be the top 3 targets, but the wide receivers are a question mark otherwise. Jahan Dotson should be the No. 2, with Olamide Zaccheaus the journeyman veteran in the slot who Branch needs to beat out. Branch can handle a busy role; he caught 81 passes for Georgia last year. But realistically, probably a modest rookie impact.

--Andy Richardson

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