2016 NFL Rookie Predictions: Corey Coleman

Bench presses counted. Cone drills clocked. And tape reviewed. While NFL scouts have been scribbling in their notebooks for months, fantasy owners are just now examining this year’s incoming class. In order to keep fans of the virtual game fully informed and a step ahead of the competition, the Roto Arcade crew is here to provide you with the necessary goods. Today’s college stud under the microscope is Baylor WR Corey Coleman.

College Highlights: A three-sport athlete in high school, Coleman took home top honors in football, basketball, and track. Dedicated to the gridiron, the Dallas-area native committed to Baylor in 2012. His CFB career slowly built momentum until finishing in an incredible crescendo. Winner of the 2015 Biletnikoff Award as the country’s best wideout, Coleman reeled in 74 catches for 1,363 yards and twenty TDs.

Pluses: Two words: Speed. Demon. Coleman possesses immediate quicks that leave defenders (and spectators) dizzy. He exhibits impressive balance and body control as well as the ability to change direction with precision. Playing with more burst than a pack of Mentos in a liter of pop, the award-winning sprinter and jumper has literally hurtled defenders for long gains. His footwork and hands technique are top-notch. Plus, he has experience as a punt returner and was used as a rusher out of the backfield (in both high school and college).

Minuses: At 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds, Coleman lacks the size to excel on the outside. Yet that’s where he does his best work. In fact, the majority of his drops came from routes that led him to the middle of the field. Speaking of drops, Coleman’s lapses in concentration cost his team a total of ten balls in 2015. According to the 2016 PFF Draft Guide, he had the fifth highest drop rate of any wideout in this class. Furthermore, he ran a limited number of rather simplistic routes in college.

Pro-Comp(s): John Brown, Kendall Wright

Team Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans

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Fearless Forecast: I understand why the bulk of analysts and draftniks have Coleman ranked so high. His workout stats could make even the least metric-savvy fan swoon. Clocking a 40-yard-dash time of 4.37 seconds at his Pro Day and nabbing a vert score of 40.5 inches at the combine, his athleticism is tantalizing. But as a speed guy without much size, his production is going to rely heavily on timing and his rapport with his quarterback. Plus, he’s coming off of a hernia surgery. It’s going to take this guy some time to find his sea legs. From a fantasy standpoint, I’d rather have Josh Doctson or Laquon Treadwell, who have the height to bring down six in the end zone. Coleman may end up the best receiver in this class, but his 2016 numbers won’t reflect that.

Follow LIz on Twitter @LizLoza_FF. And if you’re local to the Windy City, come hang with her and the rest of the Yahoo Fantasy crew at Ditka’s in downtown Chicago for the NFL Draft April 28-29.

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