While the Film vs. Analytics war typically rages on about certain prospects, everyone seems to agree on one Alabama receiver this year. Whether you grind his film, study the spreadsheets, or just watch his YouTube highlights at 3 a.m. in your bed, Jerry Jeudy looks like a bonafide stud. His career at Alabama was an impressive one. He didn’t post eye-popping numbers as an 18-year-old freshman, but he did finish second on the team in receiving yards behind Calvin Ridley. Granted it was only 264 receiving yards, but Jalen Hurts barely cleared 2,000 passing yards that season. Jeudy was the Crimson Tide’s No. 2 option at a young age and that matters.
Jerry Jeudy Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile w/ College Stats
In his sophomore season, Jeudy was gifted a more-than-capable quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa. He dominated the work in that offense, seeing a 20.8-percent Target Share and posting 1,315 yards with 14 scores. That stellar season gave him a 19.4 (82nd-percentile among qualified wide receivers) Breakout Age and secured him the Biletnikoff Award, the highest honor for a wide receiver. He also averaged an impressive 19.3 yards per reception that season, showing he has the ability to stretch the field with his speed. That is an incredibly valuable skill set at the next level, with lid-lifting deep threats opening up the entire field for their offenses. In his final collegiate season, Jeudy showed he could also dominate as a possession receiver. While his YPR came down to a modest 15.1, he continuously put defenders on skates with nasty jukes and impressive moves after the catch.
Check out Jerry Jeudy on PlayerProfiler’s Updated Rookie Rankings:
While Jeudy certainly didn’t hurt his stock at the NFL Combine, his performance was somewhat lackluster. He measured 6-1, 193-pounds for a slender 25.5 Body Mass Index. He also ran a modest 4.45 (80th-percentile) 40-yard dash when some people projected him to hit the 4.3’s. Those numbers make him look shockingly comparable to his former teammate Calvin Ridley, but Jeudy has a far better profile based on his overall production and Breakout Age. The Atlanta Falcons took Ridley with the No. 26 overall pick, so it’s safe to say that Jeudy should be a lock for the first round.
If Jeudy lands on a team with no bonafide alpha receiver, he should be an immediate-impact fantasy asset as a rookie. Ideal landing spots would be the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, and New York Jets. All are in desperate need of an alpha possession receiver and have good enough passers to actually get the ball to him. Even if he lands in a spot like New Orleans or Green Bay, he can still make a splash as a secondary option. Players like Deebo Samuel, Calvin Ridley, D.K. Metcalf, and Christian Kirk all put up notable rookie fantasy seasons despite landing in crowded receiver rooms. Expect him to have a floor similar to those guys.
Jeudy will be a hot commodity in dynasty leagues this season. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a shot at the stud rookie running backs, he’s a nice pivot in the back of the first round.
