Pre-Draft Dynasty WR Rankings Countdown—No. 20, 19, 18 and 17
Bill Byrne, RosterWatch.com Featured Analyst

Here are my dynasty league pre-draft rankings for 2013’s wide receiver class. The class is both talented and deep. These rankings will bear little relation to which round I might think these guys will be drafted in. They are strictly evaluations for fantasy dynasty purposes, and are subject to radical adjustments post-draft depending on the situation they are drafted into.

For Numbers 17-20 Click Here
For Numbers 16-13 Click Here
For Numbers 12-9 Click Here
Number 8
Number 7
Number 6
Number 5
Number 4
Number 3
Number 2
Number 1

20. Marquise Goodwin, Texas, 5’8 7/8” 183 pounds, 4.27 –

Speed is the name of his game, but Goodwin often looks like a track guy trying to play wide receiver. Goodwin brings value to the table as a kickoff and punt returner in addition to what an NFL team may be able to get out of him as a receiver. He does have big play ability. In the Valero Alamo Bowl against Oregon State, he displayed both his versatility and his ability to take it to the house with a rushing touchdown on a 64-yard reverse and added a 36-yard receiving touchdown.

19. Rodney Smith, Florida State, 6′ 4 3/8″, 225 pounds, 4.51 –

With his ideal body type, Rodney Smith looks the part of a NFL starting receiver, and with time he may just become one. He was never asked to run many different routes at Florida State, so after four years in the program he is still very raw. He has better than decent speed for a big man, but he is not quick and lacks technique in his routes. His hands are also only average.

Smith did flash a little during the 2013 Shrine Game week. He especially seemed to take well to NFL style coaching, and he worked hard to improve his routes and get separation. He also adjusted well to the ball. What he did not do very well is attack the football in the air. Despite his size, he would allow a cornerback to out-muscle him far too often. He does not have strong hands or play with anywhere near the degree of physicality that befits his size.

Smith has underperformed his entire career for the Seminoles, but he stepped up a little bit last season with a career high 561 yards and four touchdowns. His best attribute right now is his ability to block as a receiver. Since he showed a desire at the Shrine Game to step up his game, I’m not ready to dismiss Rodney Smith. He is a project, but with solid NFL coaching, I believe he has the ability to make an impact in the NFL.

18. Keenan Davis, Iowa, 6′ 2 1/8″ 216 pounds, No Combine invite, 4.55 estimated –

Keenan Davis was not particularly productive in the very poor program at Iowa, but after his excellent work throughout the Shrine Game week, it was very disappointing that Davis did not get an invitation to the Scouting Combine.

With ideal size and length, Davis works very well over the middle of the field. He displayed good route-running skills over the entire route tree. Davis is very capable of selling his double-move and creating some separation on vertical routes, but he will probably never do really well working the outside of the field. He is somewhat elusive, and shows some power to break through tackles, but he is much less physical than his size would indicate. It is his ability to adjust to the ball in traffic, and extend to catch the ball away from his body that make him an intriguing receiver for working the middle of the field.

I could see Davis doing particularly well working underneath routes in a west-coast offense. He attacks the ball well in the air, and tracks the ball well vertically, but the knock on Davis is his lack of aggression for his size. He often loses to smaller cornerbacks on contested balls. Because of his good body control in the air and ability to highpoint the football, he will be an asset as a redzone threat.

Davis is a very good blocker who is able to create and sustain a seal against a defender downfield. But whether it was the coaching, his own laid-back personality, or the lackluster offensive supporting cast in Iowa City, he was a bit of an underachiever who did not show great improvement during his four years of college. Davis is good-character player who could easily be more productive at the next level. Last year, he was the only receiver that Iowa had who could consistently be counted on to run the correct route and catch the football. I believe he could have a bright future in the NFL if he will only begin to use that big body and become more physical when competing for the ball.

17. Uzoma Nwachukwu, Texas A&M, 5’ 11 1⁄4”, 198 pounds, No Combine invite, 4.44 estimated –

I really love the name, but judging from his work this year at the Texas Versus the Nation
All star week, he also has game. Nwachukwu was underutilized as a receiver and was overshadowed by teammate Ryan Swope during his career at Texas A & M, but he has the skills to play football in the NFL.

If you’re looking for a speed merchant, Nwachukwu is the man to take the top off of the coverage. For the most part, defensive backs were powerless during the All Star week to stop Nwachukwu from getting open downfield with his head fakes and double moves. He has the quicks and the strength to fight through press coverage. He flashes the ability to catch the ball in traffic and to win battles for contested balls He is a bit tight in the hips, but he showed he could run precise routes to create separation in the short and intermediate game.

When he gets open deep, Nwachukwu can track and catch the football over either shoulder. He sometimes drops the football when he fails to look the ball in or forgets to catch the ball with his hands. Nwachukwu’s hands and concentration might leave something to be desired, but his raw physical talent could make Nwachukwu a potential diamond in the rough.

Nwachukwu relies on his elite speed in the open field, and is not particularly creative after the catch. His Texas vs. Nation All Star week (where he caught everything thrown his way) capped off an impressive but underappreciated senior year with the Aggies, as he was used more as a downfield blocker for Johnny Manziel and Ryan Swope than as a receiver. Remember the name – UZOMA NWACHUKWU – and there is a good chance you will thank me later. Especially if you can get him in round four of your rookie dynasty draft.