This shift has already been happening before this year's class. Tank is just another (tremendous) data point. I think Devonta Smith was probably the last time that the size-ists truly took a stand on these boards... and since then, we've had successive drafts of a new breed of target hog WR that is taking over the league, and (most of us) have adjusted.tstafford wrote: ↑Wed Nov 29, 2023 3:27 am Size: used to be that small WRs struggled to deliver FF value. Moore, Atwell, Austin, etc, etc. I think NFL systems (and rules) have changed that. This seems pretty obvious and an adjustment we need to make in rookie rankings.
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Any POVs on how Dell/Puka/Downs will change draft strategies?
No longer is the alpha receiver strictly the domain of 220lb X-receivers (though they are still out there, and are still awesome to have in their own right) - many of these new-breed space receivers taking over the game are sub-200lb guys with outrageous skill, twitch, and body control - Devonta Smith (175lbs), Olave (187lbs), Garrett Wilson (188lbs) were all successive 1st rounders the last 3 years - and now Dell (165lbs) joins this illustrious list as the lightest hit yet to this degree of production.
The NFL agrees with you, too, and is getting better at spotting these guys, and being open to drafting lighter and lighter. Look no further than two of the more "keyed in" organisations selecting Jordan Addison (173lbs) and Zay Flowers (182lbs) in the first round this year - the lightest 1st round receiver hits yet.