The Los Angeles Chargers selected Joe Reed, Wide Receiver, out of the University of Virginia. He was the fifth pick of the fifth round and was the 19th wide receiver drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Biography
Joe Reed is 6’1” and 224 pounds. He played four years at Virginia and will be 22 years old at the beginning of the 2020 NFL season. Reed, a converted running back, switched to receiver in college. He was the seventh overall player in kick return yards in the FBS for 2019. Some NFL teams have asked Reed if he would be willing to switch back to running back in the NFL.
College Production
Joe Reed broke out at the age of 20 (age during their first season with a 20% receiving dominator rating) in his third season for the Cavaliers. Reed’s best season was his senior season at 21 years old. Reed had 77 receptions, for 721 receiving yards, and seven scrimmage touchdowns for a receiving dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s receiving yards and receiving touchdowns) of 24.3% (27th percentile). Reed had unremarkable age-adjusted production. He averaged 409.3 scrimmage yards (20th percentile) and 4.3 scrimmage touchdowns (38th percentile) per season for an average scrimmage dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s scrimmage yards and scrimmage touchdowns) per season of 8.8% (31st percentile). Reed wasn’t efficient either and averaged 0.43 scrimmage yards per team play (20th percentile). Reed was one of the top kick returners in college football throughout his career. He had 106 returns, for 3,042 return yards, and five return touchdowns.
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Athleticism
Joe Reed has an elite height-adjusted speed score of 112.2 (94th percentile) after running a 4.47-second 40-yard time at the NFL Combine. He has a great burst score of 126.1 (77th percentile). Reed is a well-built wide receiver who turns into a running back with the ball in his hands. His speed and quickness for his size will make him dangerous returning NFL kicks or stretching the field as a receiver.
NFL Landing Spot
Los Angeles Chargers: Philip Rivers is gone. The man the Bolts infamously moved on from Drew Brees for has blown town. For now, Tyrod Taylor is starting quarterback, but the Chargers are a favorite to take a quarterback with their first round pick at six. When Taylor was last a starter for the Bills in 2017 he was serviceable. Finishing with a passer rating of 89.2, Taylor struggled when targeting some areas of the field but found success playing to his strengths down the sidelines. The Chargers offense took a major step back last season. Falling from a 2018 rank of seventh, the Chargers finished with the 21st ranked offense. They ran the 23rd least plays, but still threw on 63.3% of them. This is an offense that should find its way again with Austin Ekeler signed to an extension and Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Hunter Henry running routes. And while that may seem like a solid core, there is more opportunity there than meets the eye. Yes, Keenan Allen did account for 25% of the team targets, and yes, 47% of the team targets went to non-WR players. But of that remaining 28%, Mike Williams accounted for 15% of those targets. Beyond that on the depth chart is a who’s who of role players, and 2019 sixth round pick Dylan Cantrell who missed his entire rookie season. Mike Williams is proving to be a field stretcher who doesn’t get a ton of volume, Hunter Henry has a lengthy injury history, and Keenan Allen will be a UFA after this season (although the Bolts will likely extend him). This is a team with no WR3 or TE2, leaving plenty of room for a new WR to carve out a role behind those three players. If something happens to Allen, Williams, and/or Henry (it will) someone new to the roster can easily become fantasy relevant.
Rivals’ Rapid Analysis
Joe Reed had below-average age-adjusted production after switching his position to wide receiver in college. He has excellent speed and burst that will be able to stretch the field and use his skills carrying the ball to create yards after the catch in the NFL. The Chargers invested fifth round draft capital into Reed. He has some degree of opportunity and will compete with Allen, Ekeler, Williams, and Henry for targets from Taylor and/or Herbert.
Joe Reed is an unranked wide receiver for Dave and he will not be targeting him in rookie drafts. Reed had an uninspiring production profile despite excellent athleticism. His dynamism on special teams is impressive and illustrates he is very good with the ball in his hands. The Chargers are an attractive long term landing spot, however he will have little immediate opportunity in Los Angeles. Unproductive wide receivers that will serve primarily as kick returners are never a good bet as late round targets in rookie drafts.
Joe Reed didn’t rank in Shawn’s top 30 receiver. His production potential in college was uninspired and he doesn’t project to be much for than a filler piece for the Chargers. Allen, Williams and Henry have had some injuries in the past, but this also a team that favors passing to the RBs. Reed is barely a blip on the Chargers radar and should be even less of one on yours.
This article was written in collaboration with Shawn Kennedy. For more analysis check out Dave and Shawn’s previous articles at Dynasty Football Factory. Additionally, you can also find Dave’s dynasty superflex rankings at Dynasty Football Factory. Stay tuned for more rookie wide receiver rapid reaction articles from us throughout the entire NFL Draft. We will also give you instant reactions for priority UDFA wide receivers to help you try and find the next Adam Thielen. Interact with Dave and Shawn on Twitter @ff_spaceman and @ff_walrus. You can listen to our rivalry on our podcast @ATaleofTwoRivals with @ff_banterman.
Information found in this article was gathered from @ff_spaceman’s College Prospect Database, PlayerProfiler.com, Sports-Reference.com, AirYards.com, and a prospect’s college team website.
