Rookie Scouting Profile: WR John Metchie

John Metchie (WR) Alabama

Height	Weight	40-Time	DOB	NFL Draft	Dynasty ADP	NFL Comp
5-11	187	4.36	07/18/2000	Day 2	2.06	Jaylen Waddle

College Production

Metchie got his first real opportunity at Alabama when Jaylen Waddle went down in 2020. He stepped into his role to start 11 games and caught 55 passes for 916 yards and six touchdowns. In 2021, his role expanded as he caught a team-high 96 passes for 1,142 yards and eight TDs. This was enough to get him named second-team All-SEC. Unfortunately, in the SEC Championship, he tore his ACL which of course forced him to miss the playoffs and offseason activities. He appeared to be locked in as a first-rounder before the injury now it looks like he will slip to Day 2.

Strengths

Excellent route runner.
Complete route tree.
Impressive instincts.
Outstanding footwork.
Good hands.
Elite balance.
Elusive with and without the ball.
Tough player, both as a pass-catcher and blocker.

Weaknesses

Torn ACL.
Diagnosed with an enlarged heart in high school.
Lacks ideal size.
Can be outmuscled on contested catches.
Not overly explosive.
Let’s ball get into his body at times.

Fantasy Outlook

Anything you get out of Metchie this year has to be considered a bonus. Not only is he coming off a late-season torn ACL, but he’s a rookie who will most likely miss the majority, if not all, of camp and preseason. It’s unclear when he will be ready physically and even less clear when he will be ready mentally. He should be viewed as a dynasty asset, but nothing more than a guy to watch on the waiver wire in redraft.

I expect him to fit in as a slot receiver in the NFL. He could develop into a big-time PPR guy at the next level. He’d fit well in Buffalo, Miami, or New England. All three AFC East teams could use a guy like him in the slot. However, after whiffing on Braxton Berrios in free agency the ideal landing spot has to be New England. Their offense fits his skill set the best and Mac Jones has the accuracy to help him excel. The duo also worked well together in 2020 on route to a championship. His ACL injury makes him a candidate to land anywhere in this year’s draft though.

Post-Draft Recap

Metchie was the ninth wide receiver drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, selected by Houston with the 44th pick. While the rebuilding Texans leave a lot to be desired, Houston has precious little depth after Brandin Cooks. This opens the door for Metchie, when healthy, to compete for WR2 duties as early as Year One. Keep an eye on reports of his injury recovery. If all progresses well, Metchie could easily surpass 80 targets and return WR4/5 value as a rookie. This makes the rookie an excellent value in the later rounds of all formats at his currently discounted ADP.