I know its early, but,.................how did we all miss this guy? He was never mentioned ever in this forum!! http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/9420/jordan-matthews The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jimmy Kempski opines that Eagles second-round WR Jordan Matthews has "looked like the best receiver on the team" during OTAs, "and it hasn't been close." This isn't the first we've read about Matthews starring at OTAs. Kempski's colleague, Jeff McLane, singled out Matthews, saying the No. 42 overall pick has yet to drop a pass as the slot receiver with the second-team offense. Jeremy Maclin is still knocking off the rust from his torn ACL, and Riley Cooper played better than many expected last season. Anticipate Cooper taking on more of a blocking role in 2014. He's a candidate to be over-drafted in fantasy. Matthews is a hard worker and could have some re-draft appeal in the later rounds. Jun 10 - 1:17 PM Source: Jimmy Kempski on Twitter
He was joking. Matthews was one of 5 or so receivers that received a lot of attention from the posters here prior to the draft. He had a couple of threads devoted to him and a lot of conversation.
He was definitely mentioned in a LOT of draft threads and by quite a few of us. You evidently just missed those posts. I don't recall seeing you posting a lot during the lead up to the draft. I wrote a number of articles about WRs and Matthews was one of three WRs I really wanted to get.
There are a good dozen receivers in this draft who could wind up being the best receiver. Odds are good that a guy not taken in the 1st round this year will be that guy. I wouldn't be surprised if Davante Adams was the best guy. Or Lee or Matthews or Robinson or... We can just go on forever on that one. Obviously I won't be surprised if Sammy Watkins is the best WR out of the 2014 draft, however he probably has only a 20% chance or so to be that guy. The reason is not only that he might fail but also that there are so many other guys in this draft who were good #1's for their college team. There's a really good argument that the people throwing to the WR's in this draft will be the guys who decide who is great and who is not. Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson caliber players weren't available in this draft. Just a bunch of very good prospects.
You may be right in terms of monolithic alpha receivers, but with the proliferation of talent at the position this year in the draft, it's almost likely that the top few receivers drafted come from round 2 or later, and you're absolutely correct that QB will play a large part in the equation. Hell, nobody thought there were any locks for success aside from Blackmon in what seemed to be an average pool of talent in 2012 at WR, and the prize pigs ended up being Jeffrey in the 2nd and Hilton in the 3rd.
If I was in the "best WR" sweepstakes for the 2014 draft I'd rather have Aaron Rodgers throwing me the ball that anybody else at this point. He's the best QB who you can project as being around for 4 or 5 years at this point. That's why I mentioned Davante Adams above. He has a golden opportunity to excel given his talents and who is throwing him the ball.
I think you're confusing "best" with "most productive". That's the big difference that a great QB can throw into the mix.
Best and most productive are the same thing in the general public consciousness. Inside Baseball type fans can distinguish between production and talent when there is a difference but most fans canot and will gravitate towards the guy with better numbers over time.
No, Best and Most Productive aren't always the same, and you are smart enough to realize that. CJ and AJ ranked high in receiving yards and receptions only a couple of times since 2009. You were the one that mentioned them as the draft standard. Explain that. I'm not going to bother talking about baseball because it is the absolute perfect definition of apples and oranges in this argument, I'm not even sure why you bothered with that angle.
Nobody in CJ or AJ's draft classes has come close to either of them in receiving yards and receptions. For their draft classes they are both the best and the most productive. Overall CJ has averaged over 6 catches a game the last 3 seasons. He has averaged at least 6 catches a game in each of those seasons. That puts him in the elite tier of receivers in the NFL. He is one of the 3 best receivers in the NFL and he is also in the top 5 or 6 in overall production. AJ has an even longer track record of both excellence and production. He's topped 100 catches in 5 separate seasons including the last 2 seasons. He's averaged 6 catches a game for a 154 game career. There are maybe a half dozen players in NFL history who have done better than that. CJ and AJ are the two active leaders in receiving yards per game during their careers. What was your issue here again? On the Inside Baseball reference, that's a common way of describing the statistically tied in fan who can also see beyond the numbers and recognize the puffery and hidden contributions often present in a player's stat line.
I meant to say "highest" instead of high, and now I am stuck with doing some research to take care of that mistake. As far as my "issue", I guess it is your penchant for trying to move the goalposts. 2003 Receptions - Holt Rcving Yds - Holt Rcving TDs - Moss Long Rcptn - Dunn Yds/Rcptn - Galloway RcvYds/Game - Holt 2004 Receptions - Gonzalez Rcving Yds - Muhammad Rcving TDs - Muhammad Long Rcptn - Davis Yds/Rcptn - Lelie RcvYds/Game - Muhammad 2005 Receptions - Fitzgerald Rcving Yds - Smith Rcving TDs - Harrison Long Rcptn - Owens Yds/Rcptn - Lelie RcvYds/Game - Boldin 2006 Receptions - A. Johnson Rcving Yds - Ch. Johnson Rcving TDs - Owens Long Rcptn - Baskett Yds/Rcptn - Henderson RcvYds/Game - Ch. Johnson 2007 Receptions - Housh Rcving Yds - Wayne Rcving TDs - Moss Long Rcptn - R. Williams Yds/Rcptn - Holmes RcvYds/Game - A. Johnson 2008 Receptions - A. Johnson Rcving Yds - A. Johnson Rcving TDs - Fizgerald Long Rcptn - Berrian Yds/Rcptn - Henderson RcvYds/Game - Smith 2009 Receptions - Welker Rcving Yds - A. Johnson Rcving TDs - Fizgerald/Davis/Moss Long Rcptn - Berrian Yds/Rcptn - Wallace RcvYds/Game - A. Johnson 2010 Receptions - White Rcving Yds - Lloyd Rcving TDs - Bowe Long Rcptn - Manningham Yds/Rcptn - Jackson RcvYds/Game - A. Johnson 2011 Receptions - Welker Rcving Yds - Ca. Johnson Rcving TDs - Gronk Long Rcptn - Cruz Yds/Rcptn - Floyd RcvYds/Game - Ca. Johnson 2012 Receptions - Ca. Johnson Rcving Yds - Ca. Johnson Rcving TDs - Jones Long Rcptn - Jackson Yds/Rcptn - Floyd RcvYds/Game - Ca. Johnson 2013 Receptions - Garcon Rcving Yds - Gordon Rcving TDs - Graham Long Rcptn - Gordon Yds/Rcptn - Stills RcvYds/Game - Gordon These are the most productive receivers in the NFL in any given year. Their situations change each year depending on team situation, but they are the ones that have thee Most Productive tag when it comes down to it. Look at the number of times AJ and CJ show up here. Not often, even though they are widely regarded as the two best receivers in the league for the past number of years. You yourself said that QB can help the value of a receiver, it's true. It can also help the productivity of a receiver, without taking away from the value of the Best Receivers in the game.
Matthews is the most pro ready receiver from this class IMO, and if he gets a starting gig out the gate then it's full steam ahead. The OTA reports were nice but if I had to bet I'd predict that he works his way into significant playing time as the season goes on. The wr who will be most immediately productive is Brandin Cooks. Perfect situation with Brees and he'll be an important piece of the offense from opening day. Watkins can be argued as the best of the class but he has the worst team/qb situation of the 3 and this will hamper his production. I'm not a Davante Adams fan but he could definitely do some damage with Rodgers, I expect he can step in to James Jones role and put up similar numbers. I never thought Jones was all that great either but he did produce. Anyone that went to the Jags is dead to me. A situation to keep an eye on is the one in Tampa. Evans, Jackson, ASJ are all giant freak athlete targets. It will be interesting to see the TD distribution.
They're #1 and #2 in receiving yards per game among ALL active NFL receivers for their career at this point. NFL receivers with at least 5 years in the game: CJ - 88 yards per game. AJ - 82.2 yards per game. Brandon Marshall 73.6 yards per game. Larry Fitzgerald 72.9 yards per game. Anquan Boldin 72.7 yards per game. I can't believe you're still arguing here. You honestly believe that the top 2 active WR's in yards per game for their career aren't the best and most productive WR's in the NFL at this point? Even though they are widely seen as 2 of the top 3 active receivers over the era they've played in with only Larry Fitzgerald widely seen as in their class?
Just to clarify, - I was joking (hence the winking yellow smiley). Jordan Matthews was the most frequently mentioned WR prospect in the Jets draft forum.
