Rookie Spotlight: Treylon Burks, Arkansas (photo via Arkansas Athletics)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 225
Hands: 9 7/8″
Arm: 33 1/2″
40 yard dash: 4.55
NFL Comparison: AJ Brown

College Production (Final Season)
32% team receptions
40% team receiving yards
48% team receiving TDs

Breakout Age: 20

Pros
– one of the most productive WRs in football during 2021
– terrific hands
– capable of taking over football games
– crazy size/speed combination
– good length and ability to go get it
– consistent “my-ball” mentality
– beast after-catch with the ball in his hands, a tone-setter with his physicality
– showed capability to win one-on-one contested battles versus SEC corners consistently
– versatile player who can line up all over the field
– SEC academic honor roll

Cons
– not a crafty/savvy/natural route runner; it’s not how he beat opponents in college
– best creating separation out of the slot
– didn’t get to see a ton of him outside versus press coverage

Scouting Notes: Burks is an obvious size/speed specimen who showcases elite athleticism, size-adjusted speed and hands with his ability to win in contested catch situations and dominate in the open field as a ball-carrier and tackle-breaker after-catch. He played all over the field at Arkansas, lining up quite a bit in the slot, but also outside and even out of the backfield. The Arkansas staff clearly did everything possible to get the ball from QB KJ Jefferson to Burks on a consistent basis, as Burks was a clear spark-plug and tone-setter for the Razorbacks. The type of player who can get on a hot streak and begin taking over football games. With the ball in his hands, Burks is a nightmare and a mismatch for opposing DBs faced with an open-field tackle situation in the mold of an AJ Brown. Also like AJ Brown, there will be questions about Burks’ use out of the slot against SEC play — and if he will be capable of getting off press coverage at the NFL level. Burks is not a route-running virtuoso, but has numerous other ways he can naturally create separation. Given his unique blend of speed, size, physicality and ball skills, it’s easy to err on the side of optimism with Burks in regard to projecting him to an alpha role in the NFL.

Fantasy Outlook: He’s going to be a Top 5 pick in most dynasty rookie drafts (1 QB and Superflex) barring epic disaster at the NFL combine or otherwise during draft season, and will likely also come into play for redraft purposes in his rookie season, although his ADP likely will not settle into any real predictable zone until we know his NFL landing spot. Burks has all the looks of an instant difference-maker and should certainly be squarely on the radars of fantasy gamers across all formats.