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PFF: Best YAC WRs in this class
Posted on 4/12/21 at 8:54 am
Posted on 4/12/21 at 8:54 am
quote:
The Best YAC Receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft
1. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
No Power 5 wide receiver with 100-plus receptions since 2014 averaged more yards after the catch per reception than Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle (9.8). After averaging a stellar 8.0 yards after the catch per reception as a true freshman in 2018, Waddle cleared 10.0 in both his true sophomore (12.2) and true junior (10.1) seasons in Tuscaloosa. The 5-foot-10, 182-pounder is a stick of dynamite with the ball in his hands with absurd straight-line speed and dynamism.
2. Kadarius Toney, Florida
Get the ball in Kadarius Toney’s hands, and good things happen. The 6-foot, 193-pound Florida product is one of two receivers in this class that ranked inside the 90th percentile for both yards after the catch per reception (8.77) and forced missed tackles per reception (0.358). In fact, no Power 5 wideout with 100-plus receptions over the past seven collegiate seasons (2014-20) has forced more missed tackles per reception than Toney.
3. Rondale Moore, Purdue
4. DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Probably one of the more underrated parts of DeVonta Smith’s game is his ability to create yards after the catch. His 8.77 YAC per reception average across his collegiate career ranks in the 97th percentile among Power 5 wideouts with 100-plus receptions since 2014, and his numbers stand out even further when controlling for reception depth.
5. Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
Ja’Marr Chase’s play strength and overall ability to bully receivers shows up big time before and after the catch. At just 19 years old in his true sophomore season (2019), Chase ranked seventh in yards after the catch per reception (8.1) and sixth in forced missed tackles per reception (0.262). His career YAC per reception average (6.92) ranks in the 83rd percentile, and his forced missed tackle per reception average (0.252) ranks in the 93rd.
Really Fast but Missed the Cut
Anthony Schwartz, Auburn
Anthony Schwartz is in a similar spot as Tutu Atwell (Louisville) — the kid can fly but that’s about it. At 6-foot and 186 pounds, Schwartz clocked a 4.26 40-yard dash (99th percentile) but failed to clear the 65th percentile in vertical, broad, short shuttle and three-cone drills. He also recorded just 0.09 forced missed tackles per reception, ranking in the 12th percentile.
PFF.com
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Posted on 4/12/21 at 9:00 am to paperwasp
quote:
Anthony Schwartz, Auburn
Maybe not too late to go back to training for track
Posted on 4/12/21 at 9:09 am to BowlJackson
Some of these numbers have to do with how they are utilized in their respective offenses, but the data is still very interesting.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 9:21 am to paperwasp
quote:
YAC
Just a question about how YAC is calculated. If a guy catches a TD in the endzone, or it's a long pass he catches only a couple of yards out of the endzone and goes in untouched, do those factor in and bring down his average? A high number obviously is a big plus. But a guy could have a TD with only 2 yards after the catch which could have been 15 yards after if the LOS had been 15 yards farther out.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 9:24 am to BamaGradinTn
quote:
But a guy could have a TD with only 2 yards after the catch
Good point. A possession-type receiver might obviously not have a strong YAC, but could be seen as being very valuable nonetheless.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 9:56 am to paperwasp
Waddle is amazing with the ball.
He’ll also be a great return man.
He’ll also be a great return man.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 9:57 am to paperwasp
quote:
Ja’Marr Chase’s play strength and overall ability to bully receivers
Doesn’t seem ideal for the offense
Posted on 4/12/21 at 10:01 am to geauxnavybeatbama
quote:
Doesn’t seem ideal for the offense
Good catch.
Pun intended.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 10:36 am to paperwasp
Jesus so 1 QB had 2 WR that had 10 YAC?
Posted on 4/12/21 at 10:38 am to Solo Cam
quote:
Jesus so 1 QB had 2 WR that had 10 YAC?
Probably because his ball placement was that good, amirite
Posted on 4/12/21 at 11:07 am to BamaGradinTn
This made me think of that game when Gehrig Dieter had a weird stat line where he had more touchdowns than yards receiving. I think he caught 3 passes for 1 yard and 2 touchdowns because they were all on the goal line. 
Posted on 4/12/21 at 11:30 am to paperwasp
I think Waddle is one of the best receivers in the draft. Just depends on if his injury is fully healed or if he lost a step
Posted on 4/12/21 at 11:30 am to paperwasp
As a true soph, Chase was a guy you could throw to when he’s covered because he was strong enough to overpower the DB and and had the body control go up and get even poor throws that were contested. Those catches do little for YAC stats, but are extremely valuable to the offense. He’s may also be the most complete receiver to ever come out of the SEC because he has great hands and enough speed to be a legit deep threat. No one has ever done what he did in his first two years in the SEC. You have to compare him to 3-5 year players to find someone close.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 11:35 am to olgoi khorkhoi
Chase will be the first WR drafted, but he isn't really a YAC guy
Posted on 4/12/21 at 1:30 pm to ColoradoAg
quote:
he isn't really a YAC guy
Sure he is. 7th in the nation in YAC as a true soph, 2.5 missed tackles forced per reception and 4.4 speed. We only got to see him after one full offseason program. He was not even close to physically mature in ‘19. That’s why the comparisons are a little silly. Most guys that are dominating are doing it in years 3-5 because kids mature so much between 18-22.
This post was edited on 4/12/21 at 1:51 pm
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