In The Blitz, RotoViz writers react to the latest news and help you place it within the context of our 2020 research and recommendations.
This rookie class is turning out to be as good as advertised through the first quarter of the season. Heading into Week 5, four different rookie wideouts find themselves inside the top 40 at the position. These include CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Laviska Shenault, and Jerry Jeudy. We’ve also seen exciting potential from Brandon Aiyuk and Tee Higgins. Toss in the future outlook for injured players like Henry Ruggs and Jalen Reagor, and we could be looking at one of the best wide receiver classes in some time.
Another rookie wide receiver broke through this week. Tyler Johnson capitalized on an increased opportunity due to injuries in Week 5 and hauled in his first career receptions.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tyler Johnson finished the Week 5 loss to Chicago with four receptions for 61 yards on six targets. The 2020 fifth-round pick stepped up with Chris Godwin and Justin Watson out due to injuries. Johnson did not record anything in the previous four games, meaning he is well off the fantasy radar at this point as the return of the other receivers will minimize his role.
What Could Have Been
There will always be this “what if” question surrounding Johnson. The fifth-round pick by the Buccaneers probably should have declared after his junior season in Minnesota. He followed up a sophomore campaign that saw him post a Dominator Rating of 62% by topping 1,300 yards, scoring 13 touchdowns, and recording a DR of 51%.
Blair Andrews found that declaring early is a significant indicator of future success for young wide receivers. Even older college prospects who declare early have a strong track record of success.
His senior season wasn’t bad, but he failed to truly separate himself from an already loaded class of wide receivers. Teammate Rashod Bateman exploded last season as well, which certainly capped Johnson’s upside in 2019.
Johnson may have fallen to the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but his strong production profile, which included three straight seasons of a 40% Dominator Rating or higher, offers fantasy owners some hope.
