Past Production
In 2019 Gerald Everett looked to be on his way to his break-out season, nine games into his third year in the league, until a knee injury forced him off the field. Through those first nine games, Everett compiled 37 receptions for 408 yards and two TDs on 59 targets. He ran as the Rams’ every-down receiving threat from the tight end position in those games. The lingering knee injury allowed fellow tight end Tyler Higbee to enjoy an abbreviated five-game break-out of his own to close the season, as he assumed Everett’s role in the offense.
Still, Everett finished 2019 with a strong PFF grade of 76.0. Over the first 12 weeks of the season (in which he only played 11 games) he amassed a PFF receiving grade of 78.9, good for 7th-best among all TEs who received 50 or more targets. Everett has proven he is an effective playmaker at a position that provides a great advantage to an NFL team.
2020 OUTLOOK
The Rams chose to doll out a 4-year, $31-million-contract to Higbee last season.
It is well-documented that Higbee is a complete TE, effective playing in the true “Y’ role. He is the superior blocker on the team and a contract of this magnitude signals a long term-future with the Rams is not in the cards for Everett. While Everett does possess superior athleticism (according to PFF, he forced 13 missed tackles on just 37 receptions) and a higher draft pedigree as a former 2nd-round pick, he has never eclipsed the 408-yard mark he posted in last season’s injury-shortened campaign.
Even last season in his 11 games (disregarding the 4 snaps he played in weeks 16 and 17), Everett served as a better fantasy asset for BestBall leagues. He logged an equal number of games (4) in which he received either eight or more targets or two or fewer targets. It goes without saying that his most productive games for fantasy purposes were the four games in which he received eight or more targets. This 2020 season is shaping up to be a similarly frustrating season for Everett owners, as both he and Higbee will be competing for QB Jared Goff’s TE targets.
DYNASTY ANALYSIS
Los Angeles just selected rookie TE Brycen Hopkins—who is has been a receiving specialist in college—in the 4th-round of the 2020 NFL Draft this offseason. This further supports the theory that Gerald Everett will not have a future with the Rams. Just two months ago Everett shared this cryptic message to Twitter:
While the majority of this profile has been gloomy, Everett is actually my favorite buy-low option at TE in dynasty leagues. The Rams will be facing a number of financial decisions with wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, safety John Johnson, and Everett all entering the final season of their rookie contracts. The Rams could explore moving Everett in a deal before the trade deadline in an attempt to bolster their pass rush or improve their offensive line.
There are many other teams that Everett could play for and have an immediate opportunity to become a TE1, whether that be the result of a mid-season trade or signing a contract in free agency this offseason. In recent 14 team start-ups (some TE premium and some start 2TE) I have been able to draft Everett in the round 14-18 range, and I have been trying to acquire him in leagues via trade where I can. Everett just turned 26 this summer and should have an opportunity to earn a featured receiving role for a new team for the 2021 season and moving forward.
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