It’s officially time for the first ever Dynasty Detour Film Review. We’ve spent the offseason pouring over the tape so you don’t have to, and in the next few weeks we’re going to bring you our thoughts on the top 7-8 tight ends and top 14-15 wide receivers, before turning to the QBs and RBs. It’s a rookie scouting resource so simple, even everyone that clicked the link on Rashee Rice’s scam Instagram story will be able to head into their drafts with an edge on their league mates. Enough said…
Makai Lemon - WR USC
The question of the offseason seems to be “Is Makai Lemon the next Amon-Ra St. Brown?” I got to Lemon pretty late in the class (I like to save exciting ones for deeper in the process), so I’d already seen the comp everywhere and I fully expected to come here and tell you that it was pure helmet scouting. I wasn’t even sure what the next Amon-Ra looked like on tape necessarily, seeing as actual Amon-Ra’s tape landed him fourth round draft capital, but I was sure I was going to have to burst some bubbles when this dropped and tell you people were getting ahead of themselves. Before any kind of declaration, let’s look at Lemon himself:
The Great Stuff:
Burst off the line is the best in the class
Secures ball and turns into runner faster than most receivers I’ve ever seen
Strong, dependable hands that meet every ball at the earliest point they can
Attacks every YAC opportunity and can use physicality and/or elusiveness depending on situation
Age
The Good Stuff:
Route tree is decent, but not endless. Lots of repeated stuff, especially out of slot.
Separation is good, not great vs. man coverage and not quite elite vs. any coverage
Can play outside decently well but certainly not as elite as out of slot
Decent downfield speed but not blowing by DBs
Super willing, physical blocker but size sometimes limits his effectiveness
Concerns:
Can let physicality get him off of routes or limit his contested catches
I’ll dangle the bait no longer, Lemon’s ceiling is absolutely Amon-Ra St. Brown. Not only does tenacity ooze out of every rep, but what really sold me was the constant YAC threat that seems to intensify as games go on and the defense gets tired. He will try and run through a guy on one reception and swim under his arms on the next. Before we get too excited, though, there are some things he is currently lacking that will need to develop at the next level. He wasn’t the most impressive separator, even for the college level. He can get open, especially versus zone coverage, but I need to see a bit more from a guy that operates in such tight spaces before I’m going to guarantee he’s the second coming of a perennial fantasy WR1. The limitations to Lemon’s route tree may have been a contributor to this as well, and I think were a product more of lack of imagination in the scheme than an inability to run things from Lemon. Even still, we can’t guarantee he has these things until he shows us. I also would love to see just a bit more size. A lot of his broken tackles or best blocks were against smaller college players and a product of aggression more than power. I have faith that Lemon will improve as a pro. All reports are that he is an obsessive worker, and his passion shows on tape. That said, his list of flaws, should he not be able to improve upon them, remind me eerily of a prospect I did not like last year in Luther Burden II, who I’m calling Lemon’s floor. Burden’s lacking skill set before the catch greatly limits how much he can use his ability after the catch. I think Lemon’s already a better prospect than Burden, but if he fails to translate at the next level, it will be because of these limitations.
You may notice that this puts Lemon (8.13) above Jordyn Tyson (8.11) in our prospect rankings by a hair. Still more receivers to review in the coming weeks, though 👀 Stay tuned.
Malachi Fields - WR Notre Dame
It’s really interesting to me see Fields and Brazzell so high on people’s boards, especially because it’s usually both up there or neither. Another 6’4 long-strider, it’s pretty crazy how different Fields wins versus Brazzell. Here’s what I saw:
The Great Stuff:
Long strides and build-up speed make him an effective vertical threat in a way the 40 yard dash didn’t show
Catch radius specifically on jump balls is incredible, don’t think he’s as elite making grabs behind himself or low
Curl routes are effective because of vertical threat
Very fluid securing catches and turning to run
The Good Stuff:
YAC effort is present but often not super successful
Releases can be clean but routes often allow DB back into play
Super willing, often effective blocker with the occasional awkward loss
Concerns:
Easily off-balance when running routes, running after the catch, and blocking
Limited route tree with uninspiring lateral route running
Age
Any criticism of Fields is definitely going to include the word “awkward”, and for good reason. For all the good his size does him (making catches way above his frame, long strides, tough tackle for small guys), it certainly takes its toll as well. Fields has a high motor when doing things like route-running, blocking, and running after the catch, but sometimes his high center of gravity is exceptionally evident, even compared to other tall receivers. He’ll follow a good juke up with stumbling into a tackler, or get way off course trying to bend a route laterally. It’s tough to comp him for that reason, but in terms of potential, I’d say he reminds me of Cedric Tillman. Tillman’s another tall receiver that doesn’t have the same limitations, but is equally limited by his own. Still, wouldn’t surprise me to learn five years from now that either guy turned in a WR2 season in the right situation.
Omar Cooper Jr. - WR Indiana
I’m not going to lie I’m nervous writing this. I’ve been scouring the internet since I graded Cooper and I still have yet to find a soul that has him this high in the class (currently my WR4). I’m not sure what they’re missing, but I know what I see. I don’t know if it’s that he doesn’t seem that quick off the line or they thought he was buoyed by a dominant team but I genuinely don’t get it. Here’s what he brings to the table:
The Great Stuff:
Reliable hands, strong at the catch point
Deceptively lethal acceleration and powerful changes of direction
Body control running routes, making catches, and after the catch allow for crazy plays
Pretty expansive route tree with wins at all three levels
Some disgusting footwork at line of scrimmage footwork and in routes though felt like playbook restricted them
The Good Stuff:
Get off at line of scrimmage can be shifty against off coverage
Played slot frequently but can move anywhere, even gadget out of backfield
Concerns:
Low block effort sometimes when not primary blocker
Can lose physical battles at line of scrimmage versus press coverage
I think people just feel like he wasn’t flashy enough, but this Indiana passing attack was so old school I just think he didn’t get a chance to route guys up or make many crazy catches because of the offense’s love of checking it down if downfield wasn’t open. That said, here’s a reminder of the guy they think doesn’t have the flash in his game:
The thing I find most impressive is that despite not having all the physical tools, he just always seems to have control over the situation. His ceiling for me is Amari Cooper for this reason. Cooper wasn’t an athletic specimen, but he was so good at setting the tempo, using leverage, and making just the right move at the top of the route when his defender is vulnerable. Now, Omar won’t be drafted nearly as high as Amari because I don’t think he got to flash this rare ability often in a timing based offense, but I really do feel like there is little weakness and a ton of potential to his game. Even should he not show the same surgical precision at the next level, I think his fundamentals are enough to give him a floor in the neighborhood of Jayden Reed. Not elite, obviously, but has been serviceable sans injuries and still with potential to improve.
Skyler Bell - WR UConn
The stats are absolutely eye-popping. The tape… wasn’t. Obviously you have to be decent at the position to have numbers like those in a college season, but I can assure you there’s not a crazy amount to love here. Let’s break him down:
The Great Stuff:
Can play slot and outside and was motioned around a lot into a number of route types with success in all of them
The Good Stuff:
Hands were reliable on accurate throws
Had some strong releases and routes but some weaker ones too
Decently quick and solid changing direction
Concerns:
Almost no display of elusiveness or physicality in the open field
Very little in the way of contested catches or difficult grabs away from his body
Lost some blocking matchups, not the most aggressive blocker
Age
I mean there’s not a whole lot to say. A lot of his stuff is okay, good even. I don’t think outside of him getting pushed around a bit as a blocker or his lack of displayed catch radius or ability to win jump balls there’s anything super concerning, I just also didn’t really see anything I liked. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he get’s okay draft capital, and he may even have some good two or three game stretches depending on his situation, but there is absolutely a ceiling to what he can turn out and it is not super high. His game and his potential for fantasy points reminds me a lot of his official comp from me: Devin Duvernay. There wasn’t a ton to hate about Duvernay coming out, but an lack of an elite win condition or even just an identity to his game put a cap on him that showed at the pro level.
And like that, we’re officially halfway through every receiver you might see in the first three rounds of your dynasty drafts. Our last tight end drop caught the attention of not one, but two of the prospects’ parents (shoutout Mr. Endries and Ms. Joly), so if you’re one of these guys’ parents, I hope your son balls out, even if I could’ve been nicer. Tune in next week for the second half of the tight end class, and thanks for reading.
-- Dynasty Detour Ryan
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