The final part of Sportsnet’s post-NFL combine fantasy football rookie prospect watch focuses on the quarterbacks and tight ends. These two crops of players have fewer immediate impact fantasy options for 2020 compared to the receivers and running backs, but there are plenty of long-term gems to keep an eye on.
The widely regarded top pair of quarterbacks in this draft class did not participate in the combine activities for different reasons. LSU’s Joe Burrow because he really had nothing to prove after tossing 60 touchdowns, winning a national championship, and taking home the Heisman Trophy this past season. Meanwhile, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa is recovering from hip surgery and is hoping to be healthy enough to participate at his pro day next month.
Burrow is the most complete NFL-ready quarterback to come out since Andrew Luck, even if he only had one full year of elite-level production. Tua has never finished a full college season healthy and his arm’s length list of injuries cannot be overlooked. We’ll have more on this duo of gunslingers closer to the NFL draft in April.
As for tight ends, avoid rookies like the plague when it comes to counting on one for your fantasy team. It’s a position that generally takes two to three years to grow into. The most recent examples are in 2019 when the weekly output of stud prospects T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant was unpredictable.
However, there remains definite value in keeper leagues for drafting and stashing future TE1 stars. This group certainly has a few of those.
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QUARTERBACKS
Justin Herbert, Oregon (6’6”, 236 lbs.)
Combine Results
40-yard dash: 4.68 seconds
Hand size: 10 inches
• Elite size and arm strength for the NFL.
• Accurate passer with nice zip and touch on deep balls. Needs to be more consistent on timing for intermediate throws, but can make every type of pass needed at the pro level.
• Sneaky athleticism allows Herbert to make plays with his legs if needed.
• Displayed good drop back and setting of feet during the combine drills for someone who was exclusively out of the shotgun in college.
• Herbert needs to up his aggressiveness and quicken decision-making. He can be too cautious and aims instead of letting the ball rip. This could lead to defensive backs anticipating and resulting in turnovers.
• Besides Joe Burrow, this Oregon Duck provides the highest fantasy ceiling of any quarterback in this rookie class.
Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (6’1”, 222 lbs.)
Combine Results
40-yard dash: 4.5 -seconds
Hand size: 9 ¾ inches
• Quarterback who rose up our NFL draft board the most when adding his combine results to game footage.
• Hurts is much more than a run-first QB after seeing the development of his footwork. His six-step drop, quick-step drop, and calm feet in the pocket look pro-ready.
• In 2019, he threw for 3,851 yards for 32 TDs to eight INTs and scored 20 TDs on the ground for 1,248 rushing yards.
• Showcased better arm strength and touch on deep balls during drills than expected, plus he leads receivers so they can catch and run in stride.
• Hurts still needs to improve his anticipation and get threw progressions faster.
• In the right offence, Hurts can going to be a fantasy stud sooner than later.
Jordan Love, Utah State (6’4”, 224 lbs.)
Combine Results
40-yard dash: 4.74 seconds
Hand size: 10.5 inches
• Not as impressed with him as some who compare Love to a raw Patrick Mahomes.
• Footwork in the pocket is still a bit sloppy, which led to some inconsistent placement on intermediate-level passes during combine.
• Effortless deep ball with enough air underneath to allow receivers to run underneath. He throws a tight spiral and can vary velocity depending on the route
• Slippery in the pocket and looks to throw rather than take off running at the first sign of trouble.
• Love’s stats from last season won’t wow you. To be fair though, his receivers were awful and that led to him forcing passes and making poor decisions, which led to interceptions.
• Definitely needs a red-shirt year behind an established quarterback. More of a fantasy keeper league target for 2021 instead of this season.
Future sleepers to track
Jacob Eason, Washington (6’6”, 231 lbs., 9.5-inch hands)
• A raw talent with a canon for an arm and a quick release.
• Needs to develop better awareness of power and placement on short-to-intermediate throws.
• Worth a stash in keeper leagues if you have room, but will likely be at least a couple years away from being considered a starter.
Cole McDonald, Hawaii (6’3”, 215 lbs., 9 ¾-inch hands)
• Big and fast with a powerful delivery.
• Can make all the necessary NFL throws at all three levels, but doesn’t do it consistently.
• Dual-threat possibility as he ran for seven touchdowns and threw for 33.
TIGHT ENDS
Cole Kmet, Notre Dame (6’6”, 262 lbs.)
Combine Results
40-yard dash: 4.70 seconds
Vertical leap: 37 inches
• Measurables that scouts drool over and an obvious mismatch nightmare for any defender.
• Highest vertical of any of the tight ends tested, which is great news for end-zone fades.
• Kmet’s a poor blocker and will need to work on that part of his game to be able to stay on the field for three downs.
• Struggles to get separation, but bulldozes through tacklers and can still be a dominant goal-line target.
• No. 1 tight end to snag for fantasy keeper leagues.
Colby Parkinson, Stanford (6’7”, 252 lbs.)
Combine Results
40-yard dash: 4.77 seconds
Vertical leap: 32.5 inches
• A mountain of a man at six-foot-seven, Parkinson showed versatility as an outside receiver as well as TE at Stanford.
• Natural pass-catcher who can move the chains, win jump balls and be a downfield threat.
• Parkinson’s an uninspired blocker who can vanish for stretches during games. Convincing NFL teams that he can show more competitiveness will be key.
Brycen Hopkins, Purdue (6’4”, 245 lbs.)
Combine Results
40-yard dash: 4.66 seconds
Vertical leap: 33.5 inches
• Second among FBS tight ends in 2019 for receptions and yards.
• Frustrating inconsistency as a receiver. Hopkins can make catches look easy (like hauling in some difficult over-the-shoulder passes at the combine) then have stretches of concentration drops.
• A crisp route runner who doesn’t shy away from contact and is a willing blocker.
Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri (6’5”, 258 lbs.)
Combine Results
40-yard dash: 4.49 seconds
Vertical leap: N/A
• You read that 40-yard dash time correctly – a six-foot-five, 258-pound tight end clocked in at 4.49 seconds, which was tops in the position group at the combine.
• A raw freak of an athlete with ideal size, adequate hands and a nose for the end zone.
• Consecutive seasons with shoulder injuries bring up durability concerns.
• A boom-or-bust fantasy and real-life football prospect.
Deep fantasy sleepers to follow
Thaddeus Moss, LSU (6’2”, 250 lbs.)
Notes: Son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss
Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech (6’4”, 253 lbs.)
Notes: A strong blocker and reliable pass-catcher