Dynasty League Spotlight: Brandon Coleman, WR Rutgers University – 2014 NFL Draft
The Trashman, RosterWatch.com

 Brandon Coleman, WR Rutgers

Height: 6’6″
Weight: 225 pounds
40 yard dash:  4.56 (Combine)
NFL Comparison: Marques Colston

Scouting Notes:

You’re not going to come across many more physically imposing receivers in this year’s draft than Brandon Coleman. At 6’6″ and 225 pounds, his size alone makes him draft-worthy, as he will enter the league as an automatic mismatch for smaller cornerbacks. He’s especially adept at shielding his body from defenders when catching and tracking the ball, and that bodes well for end-zone action.

Coleman himself is the only thing that gets in the way of him making catches on a consistent basis. His hands aren’t great, and he knows it – often catching the ball in his chest, which is a big no no for NFL play. RosterWatch noticed a good number of body-catches live at his Combine performance, and a kind of slow “deliberateness” which is a perfect way of describing periods of Coleman’s play on film.

Coleman could also use significant improvement in his route running, which is pretty pedestrian. Yet, with all his minor shortcomings, Coleman has the innate ability to come down with the ball in traffic, and though he’s not a speedster, he often is able to burst out of said traffic for significant gains. His 2013 totals were nothing special (43 receptions, 718 yards and 10 TDs), but that was due in part to a knee procedure Coleman underwent, which he’ll have to prove to teams isn’t going to impede his progression as an NFL receiver.

Fantasy Outlook: 

With the way that teams are starting to use lanky red zone threats to take defensive pressure from their star players a la Alshon Jeffery in Chicago, I could see a second-receiver-needy (Carolina?) team taking a chance on Coleman. His ability to to make big plays despite not having groundbreaking speed makes him an attractive option. Former Scarlet Knight and current Buccaneer Tiquan Underwood thinks Coleman is “a beast,” and “could play in the NFL right now with his size alone.” It should be no surprise that Bill Belichick and the Patriots met with him at the 2014 Scouting Combine as Belichick’s love for Schiano-era Rutgers athletes knows no bounds. Coleman could be a touchdown magnet from day one, and that makes his deficiencies fade into the background. He’s a nice stash in dynasty formats.