Intro
I’ve been doing this series of free dynasty profiles on 2020 rookies. I love the dynasty profile format, as it provides quick-hitting information in a short and digestible form. My previous work in this series is all found in links at the bottom of the page. Let’s jump straight into my next entry, Bryan Edwards.
College Profile
Edwards had a successful career at South Carolina. He broke out as a freshman, going for 44 receptions, 590 yards, and four touchdowns. Considering that Edwards didn’t even turn 18 until November of his freshman year, that performance was rather impressive. I’m certainly not a devy analyst, but I remember hearing Edwards’ name as a top receiver prospect after his freshman season.
He then continued his success as a sophomore and junior, putting him in prime position for the 2019 NFL Draft. However, Edwards decided to return for his senior season, where he had 71 catches for 816 yards and six touchdowns. Unfortunately, Edwards broke his foot in the pre-draft process, causing him to miss the NFL Combine. Therefore, Edwards fell in the NFL Draft, where the Raiders selected him at 81st overall in the third round.
Past Production
We heard the positive buzz surrounding Edwards during training camp, especially once the Raiders placed Tyrell Williams on injured reserve. After that injury, the Raiders promoted Edwards to starting outside wide receiver, opposite Henry Ruggs, and with slot receiver Hunter Renfrow.
Edwards started the first three games, playing starter’s snaps. He only totaled five receptions on six targets for 99 yards, but I thought it was amazing that a third-round rookie started from the jump. Edwards even out-snapped Ruggs in Weeks 1 and 2 when they played together. However, Edwards suffered a nasty ankle injury in Week 3, ruling him out until Week 9.
While Edwards played in every game from Week 9 to Week 17, he wasn’t fully healthy. The Raiders had also discovered veteran Nelson Agholor, and both Ruggs and Renfrow had more experience and chemistry in the offense than Edwards. Therefore, Edwards played solely as a depth option throughout the second half of the 2020 season.
Here are Edwards’ full rookie year stats.
| Year | Games | Targets | Receptions | Yards | TDs | Fantasy Finish | Fantasy PPG | PPG Rank |
| 2020 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 193 | 1 | WR133 | 3.0 | N/A |
As you can see, Edwards barely did anything over the final nine weeks, totaling just six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown, similar to his stats from the first three games. Luckily, Edwards scored a touchdown in Week 17, leaving a good taste in dynasty owners’ mouths to close the season.
Dynasty Analysis
I love Edwards as a dynasty buy going into 2021. In the first three weeks, the Raiders treated him like a starter, and I believe he would have remained a starter if he hadn’t gotten hurt. Edwards only turned 22 years old in November, so he’s still a young player with plenty of room to grow. I think we should look at his usage in the first three weeks to predict Edwards’ future, not what happened when he struggled through injuries during the second half of 2020.
I expect the Raiders to move on from Nelson Agholor and Tyrell Williams, leaving a starting slot open for Edwards in 2021. Now is the time to trade for Edwards before he begins to receive hype during the Raiders’ offseason program. If you have a late second-round rookie pick, I would happily send that selection in exchange for Edwards. The Raiders need an outside target to complement Darren Waller, and Edwards represents precisely that.
Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.
