Henry Ruggs is Much More Than Speed

[FantasyFreak]

To me, week 4 further emphasizes that Ruggs is nothing more than speed. When Ruggs can be used successfully on plays other than go routes, then he will show advancement as a player, like the crossing route that was unsuccessful yesterday.
On a positive side, Ruggs is on pace for 100+ targets, which should keep him in WR3 territory.

Through 4 weeks, Ruggs is looking like a boom or bust WR3 type player.

For fantasy stats;

1 week of WR1 numbers.
2 weeks if WR3 numbers.
1 week of garbage.

I'll take what we've seen since Week 1. He still has to continue developing to become a more rounded WR and get those opportunities, but he is at least becoming a much more reliable player and making tougher catches in traffic. Ruggs won three times deep. Carr got him once, he drew DPI on another, and Carr missed him on the other.

My takeaway from the last three weeks wouldn't be that he is just speed though, but it's certainly something they need to open up the offense. Either way, he looks like he's taking a notable step this year.

He's caught passes all over the field this year. He's caught quit hitters inside 5 yards of the LOS, and made plays in the intermediate range as well, for example last week vs Miami, vs X Howard on the crosser, and the plays along the sideline, with the great toe tap action, multiple times. 14/297/1. Over a 16 game Fantasy Season that's 56/1188/4. Small sample size, but in year 2, this is what you want to see IMO. Big improvement in usage and production from his rookie year. He's still only 22 years old.

[Cameron Giles]

To me, week 4 further emphasizes that Ruggs is nothing more than speed. When Ruggs can be used successfully on plays other than go routes, then he will show advancement as a player, like the crossing route that was unsuccessful yesterday.
On a positive side, Ruggs is on pace for 100+ targets, which should keep him in WR3 territory.

Through 4 weeks, Ruggs is looking like a boom or bust WR3 type player.

For fantasy stats;

1 week of WR1 numbers.
2 weeks if WR3 numbers.
1 week of garbage.

I'll take what we've seen since Week 1. He still has to continue developing to become a more rounded WR and get those opportunities, but he is at least becoming a much more reliable player and making tougher catches in traffic. Ruggs won three times deep. Carr got him once, he drew DPI on another, and Carr missed him on the other.

My takeaway from the last three weeks wouldn't be that he is just speed though, but it's certainly something they need to open up the offense. Either way, he looks like he's taking a notable step this year.

He's caught passes all over the field this year. He's caught quit hitters inside 5 yards of the LOS, and made plays in the intermediate range as well, for example last week vs Miami, vs X Howard on the crosser, and the plays along the sideline, with the great toe tap action, multiple times. 14/297/1. Over a 16 game Fantasy Season that's 56/1188/4. Small sample size, but in year 2, this is what you want to see IMO. Big improvement in usage and production from his rookie year. He's still only 22 years old.

Yep, we'll see if he stays around the pace, but after a shaky Week 1, it does look like the game has slowed down for him and he's playing with much better confidence. He easily could've had a big day yesterday if Carr hadn't missed him on a few of those passes down field

[FantasyFreak]

I'll take what we've seen since Week 1. He still has to continue developing to become a more rounded WR and get those opportunities, but he is at least becoming a much more reliable player and making tougher catches in traffic. Ruggs won three times deep. Carr got him once, he drew DPI on another, and Carr missed him on the other.

My takeaway from the last three weeks wouldn't be that he is just speed though, but it's certainly something they need to open up the offense. Either way, he looks like he's taking a notable step this year.

He's caught passes all over the field this year. He's caught quit hitters inside 5 yards of the LOS, and made plays in the intermediate range as well, for example last week vs Miami, vs X Howard on the crosser, and the plays along the sideline, with the great toe tap action, multiple times. 14/297/1. Over a 16 game Fantasy Season that's 56/1188/4. Small sample size, but in year 2, this is what you want to see IMO. Big improvement in usage and production from his rookie year. He's still only 22 years old.

Yep, we'll see if he stays around the pace, but after a shaky Week 1, it does look like the game has slowed down for him and he's playing with much better confidence. He easily could've had a big day yesterday if Carr hadn't missed him on a few of those passes down field

Just want to provide some additional context. One of them he would have had if the defender hadn't interfered with him. I think it was intentionally under thrown, and it caused the DPI, but Ruggs nearly came down with it. I wouldn't put that on Carr or Ruggs. The last one, was a really difficult throw to make. He was on the run towards the sidelines, and it was almost 60 yards in the air, and there were 2 defenders to account for down there. If the OL could have held up, that was a TD, IMO. Bosa just beat the rookie RT and made it a much more difficult completion. I am thinking there may be some times this year where Ruggs gets clear, but they can't connect, due to the OL problems they have been having. It hasn't just been 1 game. The OL, as a whole, has been hit by injuries and poor play.

[Space Cowboy]

He doesn't look like much more than speed yet, but he's turned the corner for sure.

[Cameron Giles]

This mini breakout continues.

[Kmani6]

Ruggs has more yards than Lamb on the season. Who would've thought...

Edit: that didn't last long

[Sriracha]

He doesn't look like much more than speed yet, but he's turned the corner for sure.

x 2

It is good to see him succeed as a deep threat, though.

[Cameron Giles]

He doesn't look like much more than speed yet, but he's turned the corner for sure.

x 2

It is good to see him succeed as a deep threat, though.

I'm hoping for more route versatility next season, but he's definitely playing with a confidence he didn't have last season and showing the contested catch potential alluded to in the OP. But, until the route versatility returns, I'm looking at it as a mini breakout.

Currently on pace for 56/1260/5. Definitely has a chance to hit 1K this season.

[DJB]

To me, week 4 further emphasizes that Ruggs is nothing more than speed. When Ruggs can be used successfully on plays other than go routes, then he will show advancement as a player, like the crossing route that was unsuccessful yesterday.
On a positive side, Ruggs is on pace for 100+ targets, which should keep him in WR3 territory.

Through 4 weeks, Ruggs is looking like a boom or bust WR3 type player.

For fantasy stats;

1 week of WR1 numbers.
2 weeks if WR3 numbers.
1 week of garbage.

I'll take what we've seen since Week 1. He still has to continue developing to become a more rounded WR and get those opportunities, but he is at least becoming a much more reliable player and making tougher catches in traffic. Ruggs won three times deep. Carr got him once, he drew DPI on another, and Carr missed him on the other.

My takeaway from the last three weeks wouldn't be that he is just speed though, but it's certainly something they need to open up the offense. Either way, he looks like he's taking a notable step this year.

He's caught passes all over the field this year. He's caught quit hitters inside 5 yards of the LOS, and made plays in the intermediate range as well, for example last week vs Miami, vs X Howard on the crosser, and the plays along the sideline, with the great toe tap action, multiple times. 14/297/1. Over a 16 game Fantasy Season that's 56/1188/4. Small sample size, but in year 2, this is what you want to see IMO. Big improvement in usage and production from his rookie year. He's still only 22 years old.

Hes finally starting to be used properly which is good. Hitches and screens is where he will make his money.

[ArrylT]

I traded Elijah Moore in a league for Henry Ruggs but unfortunately forgot to put him in my lineup haah.

[Space Cowboy]

Ashley Lelie II. Only teasing

He went something like 110th in a startup I did over the summer. 16 team, 1 QB, 53 man full IDP. I was targeting him with him 120.

[Ice]

Sounds like Ruggs still has plenty of haters but the reality is; He is playing way better than last year.

He is bigger and stronger this season and healthy which matters.

Last year in a 16 game fantasy season he averaged 6.7 points and had a total of 80.5 points with only 2 double digit contests in the 12 games forgettable season he actually played over that span. He had 26 receptions for 452 yards.

This season he already has 20 receptions for 445 yards in 1/2 the games played. He is averaging 12.9 points.

Ruggs is already a legit WR3 on most fantasy teams with plenty of upside.

Some of us constantly preach most WR's take time to develop. Ruggs may be on the slow side of the curve to many but only Chase and Waddle from this past class are putting up better numbers YTD than Ruggs.

He isn't playing at all like the bust so many predicted this season.

[blemly]

Hate to resurface this thread due to non football related news, but TMZ just reported that Ruggs was involved in a serious car accident early this morning. Hope all is OK with him.

[FantasyFreak]

Hate to resurface this thread due to non football related news, but TMZ just reported that Ruggs was involved in a serious car accident early this morning. Hope all is OK with him.

Ugh. Me too.

[abloom]

Atleast one fatality being reported but no identification of the person yet.