Jerry Jeudy is arguably the top wide receiver in this years draft. A draft that’s wide receiver depth is the hallmark of the entire class. There is a school of thought that you can get the same caliber of receiver later on in the draft. That is why some people are shying away from taking Jeudy so high. But should they?
Jeudy is a ridiculously talented player. He has the look of Julio Jones and the skill set of Odell Beckham Jr. Here, see for yourself if you’re not familiar with his work, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SaqK1ONNcU
Jeudy is an absolute monster. Sure, he had the luxury of playing with NCAA all time completion leader Tua Tagovailoa, but one could argue that Jeudy was just as much a part of Tagovailoa success as Jeudy was to his. Either way you slice it, the two are one of the most dangerous and successful combinations in NCAA football history.
Let’s get back to Jeudy and how he compares to the problematic, but elite receiver by the name of OBJ. The two play the game very similar. High impact, high intensity, with highlight plays coming at any moment. Both played in the tough SEC, and for three years each. But their final statistical totals may surprise you. Jeudy finished his career with the Crimson Tide with 228 catches for 3,463 yards, 31 touchdowns and 15.2 yards per catch. Beckham Jr. finished his career with the Tigers with 143 catches for 2,340 yards, 12 touchdowns and 16.4 yards per reception. Jeudy is clearly the superior NCAA football player, but will he have the same fantasy impact as OBJ?
Where Jeudy is drafted obviously plays a huge role in how his career turns out, and when you are projected to go high in the NFL draft, you usually aren’t going to be taken by a solid franchise. A lot of mocks have him going to Jacksonville where he will be a part of the now practically dead, MinshewMania.I personally think this is where a Jeudy is taken and I believe he can thrive from a fantasy perspective. Minshew is a solid, but average QB. However, he is serviceable from a fantasy football perspective because he has the arm to get his guys the ball and Jeudy will get the ball thrown to him constantly. With DJ Chark on the other side of him, the Jacksonville wide receiver corp may be the only bright spot there all year. And unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Jacksonville will be going into full tank mode this year for the next great QB prospect; Trevor Lawrence. So, moving forward Jeudy could be catching balls from the player some scouts are calling the next Tom Brady (insert eye roll here).
The new Las Vegas Raiders (that’s going to take a lot of getting used too) are also heavily rumored to be in on Jeudy if he slips out of the top 10. Another solid landing spot in an offense starving for a number one wide receiver. His targets would be record breaking as Gruden and the Raiders are looking to make a name in Vegas, and will try to do so so quickly, by propping up their new shiny rookie superstar and giving him as many targets as he can handle. Another option is the New York Jets. Gang green will most likely go for help on the offensive line, but the dark horse pick of Jeudy would provide Sam Darnold with a go to option that has a talent level he has frankly never played with before. And Jeudy would benefit from playing with arguably the next great QB of this generation.
All are solid options, but no matter where Jeudy goes I have him pegged as a WR2 with high upside in his rookie year. In two years he will be taken in the top 10 of Fantasy Football drafts, but for now if you can steal Jeudy in the fourth or fifth round, where it is normally slim pickings for game changing talent, then you are at a huge advantage going into 2020.
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