The stand-out performances from the weekend’s Senior Bowl contributed to the rise of several players’ draft stocks. However, the game was not the only opportunity players had to show their worth. Many players increased their draft stock and earned some more money by how they performed and carried themselves during the week of practice.
While this year’s Senior Bowl invites contained a cast that was loaded in the trenches on both sides of the ball and stacked at the WR position, the crop of QBs was poor compared to recent years. Furthermore, it is difficult to impress in practice as an RB when full scrimmage reps are not available. For these reasons, no QB or RB made our list. Below are fantasy-relevant prospects who @dynastydiagnos1 and @DocFFFN felt helped themselves during their week of Senior Bowl practice.
D’Wayne Eskridge – WR Western Michigan
@dynastydiagnos1: He couldn’t be stopped in one-on-one’s or in any competitive drills this week in Mobile. Eskridge showed the world that despite playing against MAC competition and being older than practically everyone else on the field that his 4.33-second 40-yard dash time converts to game speed. Eskridge refused to be pressed at the line of scrimmage and created even more separation at the top of his breaks. Eskridge didn’t need to play in the game, he already earned his way to a top 50 selection grade in practices.
@DocFFFN: Several reports surfaced over the week of practice about the explosiveness and route-running ability of D’Wayne Eskridge. Eskridge dominated practice reps and routinely made catches on bad throws look easy. As a player whose competition is questioned, he needed to stand out. He was so impressive that he chose to sit out of the game. In a draft loaded with talented slot receivers, Eskridge boasts game-breaking speed and an ability to catch difficult balls thrown off-target. He is, however, a year or more older than the rest of the players he competed against during Senior Bowl week. He had the best week of practice of any WR and should hear his name called on day two in April, though I am not ready to commit to drafting him until I know his pro landing spot and situation.
@dynastydiagnos1: I agree with @DocFFN on the notion that I won’t be targeting Eskridge until the clear second and third-tier players have been selected. However, Eskridge is a great pick once you get to the part of your drafts where it becomes about focusing on upside and potential around round three.
@dynastydiagnos1: draft as early as round 3
@DocFFFN: mid-third to mid-fourth in dynasty drafts
Tylan Wallace – WR Oklahoma State
@dynastydiagnos1: Wallace was a player that I had a high level of doubt, despite his on-field success due to being a senior and playing against Big 12 defenses, which you could argue are worse than the MAC. Wallace was a technician at the line of scrimmage, he used his hands so well to keep defenders off him and then let his speed do the rest at the top of his routes. Wallace was constantly burning defenders and was very impressive doing so,
@DocFFFN: Tylan Wallace is a player I’ve held in high regard the last few seasons. I wrote about him this year in my seasonal Draft Stock Watch article. Wallace needed to come back strong in 2020 and prove he was healthy and capable of being the same player he was before his knee injury. He did just that, leading his team in receiving with 59 catches and 922 yards with six TDs in ten games. While I’m not a fan of his half-time opt-out during his team’s win over Miami in the Cheez-It Bowl, Wallace looks to be a player that will produce at the next level.
He also looked like that same player during Senior Bowl practice. He is an outstanding route runner, possesses strong hands, has adequate size, and can elevate to come down with high-throws and deep balls in traffic. Wallace looks to be a firm round two selection in April in my opinion and will be a player I look to draft in the same round in dynasty leagues.
@dynastydiagnos1: late-second at the earliest, but I’d rather trade back and get an extra dart throw
@DocFFFN: early-to-mid second in dynasty drafts
Austin Watkins Jr. – WR UAB
@dynastydiagnos1: Watkins, the cousin of Sammy, is a player that I’ve been high on and paid close attention to his season at UAB. Watkins looked like a man among boys with his frame, not that he was the biggest or the strongest wide receiver at the Senior Bowl, but that he was moving and creating separation like the “slot receivers”. At 6’1 and 207 lbs. Watkins is a player who can dominate smaller nickel corners, as well as go outside and beat cornerbacks. He is going to be a very valuable receiver for a lucky team to get him on Day 2.
@DocFFFN: Austin Watkins is a player I wrote about twice during this past season in my weekly Draft Stock Watch article. He is a player who stood out with NFL-type qualities back in 2019. Watkins is a WR, like so many of the others, that frustrated defensive backs during Senior Bowl practices. His size and the way he positions his body make it difficult for DBs to attack or get hands on the football. Also, he has shown acumen for tracking and reeling in the deep ball. Watkins is a lock to be drafted and if he runs well at his pro day may sneak into the end of the third round this April.
@dynastydiagnos1: mid-third I’d start considering Watkins
@DocFFFN: mid-fourth to fifth in dynasty drafts
Kadarius Toney – WR Florida
@dynastydiagnos1: Toney has an elite-level short-area burst, and it came to fruition as he was voted the WR MVP for the American team. Toney has shifted from being mocked in the first round of the NFL Draft as a parody to being a household name in the top-20 picks by the likes of the Mel Kiper’s and Aniel Jeremiah’s.
@DocFFFN: After bouncing back from several dropped passes early in the week, Toney was named the WR of the week for the American squad. He then decided to opt-out of the Senior Bowl, just as he did with the Cotton Bowl. Toney showed the speed, quickness, and explosiveness that won scouts over throughout the 2020 season. For me, he is nearly a direct copy of Percy Harvin, and not just because he wears the same number and played at the same school.
Like Harvin, Toney’s ceiling as a route runner appears limited and his lack of size will keep him lined up primarily in the slot or backfield. His short-area skills will influence the defense no matter where he lines up in the formation or motions to. Admittedly, Harvin was asked to run between the tackles more often in college, and also was a year younger entering the draft. I like Toney the prospect, but not where he is currently being mocked by analysts. He is a player I will target in the mid-second round of dynasty drafts, and subsequently, will not own many shares of.
@dynastydiagnos1: fade unless his stock plummets
@DocFFFN: fade (at current price)
Hunter Long – TE Boston College
@dynastydiagnos1: As a Bostonian, we knew what Hunter Long could do; it was just a matter of getting the right supporting cast around him. After B.C. transitioned from their power running scheme with A.J. Dillon to their pass-happy attack with former Fighting Irish transfer Phil Jurkovic at the helm, it was wheels up for Hunter Long and his sophomore receiver Zay Flowers. Long’s Senior Bowl practice performances earned him the National Team’s tight end MVP, voted by the linebackers and safeties. What makes this more impressive is that he beat out Ole Miss’s athletic tight end Kenny Yeboah and Virginia physical freak Tony Poljian. By the end of Day Two, Bucky Brooke elevated Long to his rookie TE2 spot behind only Kyle Pitts.
@DocFFFN: A true in-line TE that serves as a competent blocker, as well as a receiver, is just about as rare as a unicorn in the modern NFL. However, Hunter Long is exactly that. A throw-back style of player who is an eager and capable blocker, Long actually led the nation in targets and receptions as a TE in 2020, to the surprise of many. Long continued to impress scouts during practice leading up to the Senior Bowl, where he showed the ability to move easily in and out of breaks when running routes and even displayed acumen in pass pro. Long is not a superior athlete, but if he adds strength and continues to refine his technique, he should be on the field for a high percentage of plays for whichever team drafts him. He will be a better real-life football player than he will be a fantasy asset, but I hope he continues to be overlooked and I will draft him all over the third and fourth rounds in dynasty leagues.
@dynastydiagnos1: draft, draft him everywhere
@DocFFFN: draft as early as round three
Cade Johnson – WR South Dakota State
@dynastydiagnos1: The senior Jackrabbits wide receiver, made himself a lot of money at the Senior Bowl. He didn’t get on the field much besides special teams during the game, but the practices are where Johnson really stood out. In the one-on-one drills, Johnson was consistently breaking defenders ankles and making easy uncontested catches or making one-handed grabs when the defensive back was able to stay with him. This shouldn’t be over-emphasized, because, in theory, the receiver should always beat the defender in one-on-one situations. For me, like many, this was the first that I saw of Johnson. The 5’10” 185 lbs. The speedster will have to earn his keep on an NFL roster by being one of the top players on a special teams unit. Through this Johnson may have the opportunity to get in an offense and see if his yards-after-catch ability can stand the test of NFL competition, rather than against FCS defenders. Johnson is unlikely to be selected in rookie drafts this offseason, but worth a free agency pick-up if your league has extended taxi squad spots so Johnson has the time to develop in the NFL.
@DocFFFN: Another standout slot receiver in this 2021 draft class, Cade Johnson stood out amongst his peers during his week of practice in Mobile. For a player that did not get to play this past season, he showed no signs of rust or slowing down, routinely beating defenders in one on ones and creating massive separation. He and Eskridge displayed more quickness and separation than any other receivers during practice. Additionally, Johnson’s strong route-running contributes to that separation.
He dominated FBS competition through two seasons at SDSU, racking up 1,300 and 1,200 yards respectively. This is important because his small frame (5’10”, 175 lbs.) will be questioned at the next level. Again, this draft class is not only outstanding at the WR position, but is also oversaturated with great slot receivers. Unless an individual team GM or head coach falls in love with him, I expect him to be drafted on day three.
@dynastydiagnos1: agree 100% with the below
@DocFFFN: priority waiver claim post-draft
In Closure
This concludes the 2021 Senior Bowl practice week standouts! While @DocFFFN and @dynastydiagnos1 sometimes differ in opinion, they do provide valuable insights to help guide your decisions surrounding these players. We hope you enjoyed this devy think-tank of two analysts with different approaches and perspectives on dynasty, as we enjoyed working together on this piece. Follow @DocFFFN for his expert devy and IDP perspective, as well as his ability to put you in situations to win fantasy leagues early and often. Also, please follow @dynastydiagnos1 for his devy perspective and long term value approach to dynasty leagues.
