Vegas is Fading This Highly-coveted Rookie WR
Vegas is Fading This Highly-coveted Rookie WR in 2024. Long-time Las Vegas gambler and ranked high-stakes fantasy player Frank Taddeo (@RespectedMoney on X) is always watching Vegas oddsmakers to identify best bets and fantasy values. THIS WR IS PROJECTED TO STRUGGLE FOR PRODUCTION. In my first installment of highlighting players witnessing significant movement in their 2024 NFL betting markets here at Fulltime Fantasy, we dove into a rookie running back expected to make a major impact in 2024. A major component of my success playing high-stakes fantasy football at the FFWC is incorporating player projections of oddsmakers into my NFL model. I began creating my model in 2010 when I created the only over-the-counter DFS program offered to date in a Las Vegas sportsbook. Today, we are going to focus on Chicago rookie wideout Rome Odunze. The former Washington Huskies standout was drafted ninth overall by the Bears after the club tabbed Caleb Williams first overall. The Bears envision the young tandem to become the face of the club’s offensive attack for the next decade and beyond. We could get used to this 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Ps02poArjz — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 30, 2024 Many fantasy managers are investing early draft capital in Chicago’s veteran wideouts D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen. In early FFWC drafts Moore owns an ADP of 25 / WR18, while Allen can be found with an ADP of 49 / WR31. Meanwhile, Odunze is coming off the board much later with an ADP of 84 / WR46. Check out the FullTime Fantasy Rookie Scouting Profile for Rome Odunze here. Moore and Allen are likely to grab the majority of the target share while new pass-catching running back D’Andre Swift will also snag looks out of the backfield resulting in Odunze struggling for targets in his first season. VEGAS ODDSMAKERS FADING POTENTIAL PRODUCTION Oddsmakers, who initially installed Odunze with a receiving yards betting projection of 825.5, have adjusted the rookie talent with the biggest move of any wideout in the receiving yards market. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound dynamic threat now only sits with a betting demand of 675.5 at DraftKings. In addition, oddsmakers are becoming less bullish on his red-zone involvement slicing his receiving touchdown projection from 5.5 to 4.5. “NEARLY A 200 YARD MOVE PRIOR TO TRAINING CAMP SHOULD SET OFF FANTASY ALARMS.” – Frank Taddeo When oddsmakers make this significant of a move, this far out before training camp and preseason games, fantasy managers need to be cognizant. Oduzne, who currently has an ADP of WR46, came off the board at 9.10 in a Circa Championship draft held on June 23. HE IS HIM‼️ Rome Odunze is the first Washington player since 2002-2003 to have back-to-back 1,000 rec yard seasons 🔥 @UW_Football pic.twitter.com/mK7UkZQvj6 — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 11, 2023 Odunze, who played four seasons at Washington, exploded over his final two years, hauling in 167 receptions for 2,745 yards and 20 touchdowns emerging as one of the best wide receivers in the nation. In Chicago, Odunze will have to battle Moore and Allen for targets while also sharing the middle of the field with two proven tight end receiving options in Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. Fantasy managers should not be afraid to invest in the rookie in Dynasty leagues. However, re-draft players may be better served pivoting to other wideout options demanding similar draft capital such as Jameson Williams, Keon Coleman, Josh Downs, Xavier Worthy, or Curtis Samuel. For the past 15 years, Football Contest Proxy has provided the leading service to submit picks in major Las Vegas football contests from anywhere in the world and built FootballContest.com into the top online destination for football contest info. All you need to do to enter is sign up in person sometime before football season kicks off. FCP does the rest as your proxy – it really is that easy. Simply plan your trip to Vegas and schedule a time with FCP to get signed up for whatever contest(s) you want to enter. As a proxy partner of FullTimeFantasy, you can also SAVE $50 through September 2 by clicking here. Just enter promo code FANTASY at checkout for instant savings, so make your best pick and go with the pros at FootballContest.com!
Preview: 2021 Rookie Wide Receivers Outlook – 1 of 2
Members enjoy this outlook of 2021 Rookie Wide Receivers Outlook to prepare you for your upcoming rookie dynasty drafts by our NFL Scouting Analyst Riley Bymaster. This Rookie Profile Feature is MEMBER ONLY and designed to help dynasty fantasy players evaluate the incoming crop of NFL Rookies. We’ll be releasing rookie profiles for all the prominent dynasty rookies, including Dynasty ADP, Dynasty Rankings, draft boards and more. Subscribe today and use the Promo TD30 for 30% off your first two months! The play of the 2020 rookie wide receiver class quickly rivaled that of the loaded 2014 class that included Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, and Allen Robinson. Coming off of a season where the world was formally introduced to Ceedee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, and Tee Higgins, among others, there is another set of uber-high expectations for the incoming rookie class. Be careful with going all in on the so-called depth of this group of wideouts as there are several well-known players who carry higher bust potentials than the community may believe. However, these first six receivers carry the top-heavy class. Ja’Marr Chase – LSU / 6’0” – 201 lbs Having opted out of the 2020 season, Chase left us salivating about his phenomenal 2019 year where compiled a whopping 1,780 yards on 84 receptions and 20 touchdowns. His teammate at the time, Vikings’ soon-to-be sophomore Justin Jefferson, was the clear-cut second option for the 2019 Tigers. Chase brings his running back-like frame to the position and is likely headed for the title of first receiver off the board in this year’s draft. On the field, Chase leaves little to be desired as he shows game-in and game-out what he brings to the table as an alpha wide receiver. He shows incredible hands and the ability to snatch and tuck the ball away quickly and safely. Chase’s ability to high-point the football and play above the rim is the best in the class, which will immediately translate to the NFL. He is solid after the catch and will shake a good number of tackles with the ball in his hands. Chase needs to improve the quickness in and out of his breaks, but he brings a well-rounded, elite skillset to the table. Grade: Elite starter Draft Projection: Top 10 Projected DFWC ADP: 1.02 Comparison: AJ Brown with a sprinkle of DJ Moore Bottom Line: Chase will enter the league and immediately become one of the top receivers in all the NFL. He is a sure-fire top 5 pick in every fantasy format with the potential of being a perennial All-Pro. Don’t pass on Ja’Marr Chase. Rashod Bateman – Minnesota/ 6’0” – 190 lbs The Minnesota product sat out most of the 2020 campaign after being diagnosed with COVID and losing 10 pounds in the process. After breaking out as a freshman with 700 yards and six touchdowns, Bateman and teammate Tyler Johnson roasted the rest of the BIG 10 throughout the 2019 season. Totaling over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns, Bateman proved to be a go-to receiver with significant room to grow. Bateman’s route running and ability to separate with ease will easily translate to the next level. He snags passes away from his frame and keeps his momentum in the process. He shows clean footwork in his releases off the line of scrimmage, which will give cover corners problems in the NFL. Bateman may struggle with fighting through contact with physical, handsy corner backs. He dominates in the short and middle areas of the field, but we would like to see him win vertically a bit more before he can take the next step into the elite group of NFL receivers. Grade: ???? Draft Projection: ???? Projected DFWC ADP: ???? Comparison: ???? Bottom Line: ???? This is reserved for our Premium Members. Click here to read the Member version or click here to subscribe. DeVonta Smith – Alabama / 6’1” – 170 lbs Deemed the “Slim Reaper” by many in the fantasy community, Smith is the newest product of the Crimson Tide wide receiver factory. After a Heisman-winning campaign in 2020 where he accounted for just under 1,900 yards, 117 catches, and 23 touchdowns, fewer concerns were raised about Smith’s razor-thin frame. He proved his worthiness of a first-round pick by dominating every single Saturday against tough SEC defenses. Smith is a fast player who likely falls between Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs on the explosion scale. He holds the biggest catch radius in the class as he’s able to catch any pass within a 10-foot radius. Smith has elite body control and has no issues adjusting to back shoulder or poorly thrown balls. He is a shifty runner after the catch and was used quite often on smoke and tunnel screens. His run blocking vastly improved from 2019 to 2020. Smith’s only concern is slightly leaning into his breaks when running deep posts or digs, but his NFL receiver’s coach should be able to tighten the screws relatively easily. Grade: Solid starter Draft Projection: 1st Round Projected DFWC ADP: 1.04 Comparison: Calvin Ridley on theoretical steroids Bottom Line: Smith is a natural playmaker whose weight will matter less than many may believe. He is best suited to play opposite of another elite receiver and may take a season to develop into his full potential. He is no worse than a top-three receiver in the 2021 class. Jaylen Waddle – Alabama / 5’10” – 180 lbs One of the most debated prospects in recent years, Waddle’s best collegiate season came during his first year on campus where he totaled 848 yards and seven scores on 45 receptions. Keep in mind this came on a loaded offense with Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith, and Josh Jacobs. He suffered a brutal ankle injury against Tennessee during the 2020 season, which kept him off the field for the majority of the year. He hobbled his way through the national championship game which likely provided ambivalent feelings from scouts and NFL personnel.