Week 7 - Top Return on Investment Wide Receivers for FBS and DIII

Updated Wide Receiver Return on Investment 

Focusing on draft eligible players in at least their fourth year of school, here is the updated ROI for Week 7 (ending 10/14) for FBS and Division III ahead of today's action.  For a detailed explanation of ROI, please review this article.

FBS Top 20 

Qualified receivers had receptions within 1 standard deviation from the average of the top 150 total yardage WRs.

And Then There Were 4

After a ho-hum game vs. USC Darren Carrington of Utah is off the list, leaving Cedrick Wilson, James Washington, Tyre Brady and Vic Wharton III as the receivers who have represented on each of the Top 20 lists so far this year. 

Don't Call it a Comeback

Once off the list, players do make their ways back: Jalen Harvey, Davon Grayson and Alfonso Onunwor were on the list earlier this season and then fell off, only to return this week. 

Carolina Kids

Davon Grayson and Trevon Brown from East Carolina are the rare example of two players from one team making the Top 20.  What makes this all the more interesting is their Team Passing Completion % is the second lowest in the survey at 51.7%, about 20% worse than the FBS average of 61.6%.  QB Adjusted ROI (part of the ROI calculation) considers QB completion %.

A Few New Entry Comments

• D.J. Chark - This kid doesn't play around.  He did not qualify in previous weeks but last week he debuted at #1 - that's pretty impressive.  The highly touted 2x All-State (LA) honorable mention out of Alexandria HS was rated as high as a four-star recruit.  After a long wait playing behind 2 future NFL WRs, the kid has a lot of motivation to make it to the next level.  Considered by some the top WR prospect in this year's draft.  His HS footage shows the fundamentals and  skills he brought with him to LSU. 
• Jester Weah - A big fan of this young man.   All-State out of Madison Memorial HS (WI) despite only playing organized football for 3 years. Was deemed #2 WR prospect in the state. Tri-sport; Basketball and Track, state champion in both.  Although he might be considered a project, he has some good habits to build upon.  
• Keith Kirkwood - Interesting story:  1 year of football out of Neptune HS (NJ), decorated with All-County honors.  Main sport is basketball where his HS team reached States twice.  He was a McDonald's All American nominee.  Started out at Hawai'i (2013) as a wide out with decent production. Transferred to Temple and was able to play on a hardship waiver (homesick?); was first to earn a single digit number which the coach will bestow only on the hardest working, gutsiest player on the team.  Solid citizen in class room and in the community.  Still tracking down decent footage to share.
• Marcus Green - 1st Team All State out of N. Pontotoc (MS) in football where  he amassed > 1,900 all purpose yards in back to back seasons (each of which included at least 55 rushes). A dual sportsman, he also earned five basketball letters and left Pontotoc as the all time leading hoops scorer. Solid HS video. 

Division III

Pierre Garcon, Cecil Shorts, Ali Marpet and I have one thing in common: we all went to Division III schools.  The struggle is real but for those who rise to the challenge, we persevere and anything is possible.  Here are the D3 Top ROI receivers (note, only 19 are included because that many had above average ROIs).

Notes:

• Koree Reed - Let's talk about Mr. Reed.  He is listed at 6'1" 185lbs, which is on the big side for most D3 WRs. All-State (NY) out of Baldwinsville HS.in Central NY. In his first year on Hartwick after transferring from Central Connecticut State, he lead Division III in receiving yards and was named was an AP 1st Team All American (he was also added to other All-American lists).   Pre-season All American designee for 2017 - has not disappointed yet by leading the Division in receiving yards so far in 2017.Hard to find a lot on some D3 prospects, not so with Reed...here is his 2016 video.  Definitely looking forward to see what team does their homework on Reed for NFL Draft 2018.
• Deontez Alexander- An Indianapolis kid listed at 6'3" and a narrow 180 lbs, he started off at in-state Anderson University before transferring to Franklin which kept him in Indiana. A touchdown machine, he had a total of 15 with at least one in each of his 10 games in 2016 leading to his all-conference selection.  He continues finding the end zone at a ridiculous rate of one TD for every 2.7 receptions - I've never seen such a rate since I started tracking these numbers over the last 2 years in any division of college football.  If he can complete the year at less then 3:1 Rec/TDs, I have to believe more than one NFL scout will at least take a long look at Alexander.
• Malik Jackson - Solid ROI WR who brings a solid multi sport background to the table.  Jackson was state runner (MD) in wrestling and all county football player.  His toughness and willingness to mix it up is evident in his videos which also shows his ability to manipulate DBs with his route running and gain separation.  He seems to really "get it" when it comes to the purpose of each step in a route to set up his opponents..  Also, his Physics/Optics selection of majors tells you his ability to grasp information will be absolutely no issue whatsoever. When you have a genius level athlete, a responsible scout owes it to his organization to look at the total package he offers. 

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