The 2018 NFL Draft Prospect series breaks down draft-eligible players, highlighting their college production as well as their NFL potential. It’s important for daily fantasy players to know about NFL rookies before they’ve played a down of professional football because they are among the most misvalued assets in all of DFS. People who know NFL rookies have a significant DFS edge. The draft will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, from April 26-28.
This piece is on Boise State wide receiver Cedrick Wilson.
For more on all the other receivers in the class, see our 2018 NFL draft wide receiver rankings.
Updated as of Mar. 8.
Senior | 6’2″ and 197 Pounds | Born March 10, 1995 (Age: 22) | Projection: Rounds 4-5
Combine numbers: 40-yard: 4.55 sec | bench reps: 9 | 3-cone: 6.89 sec | 20-yard shuttle: 4.23 | vertical: 37 in | broad: 121 in
Wilson is so under the radar that some sites still aren’t sure whether his first name is “Cedrick” or “Cedric.” Wilson likely won’t be selected before the fourth round — the NFL probably won’t like his non-Power Five pedigree and lack of bulk — but he has good height and an NFL heritage: Cedrick Wilson, Sr., played in the league for seven years and won a Super Bowl with the Steelers in 2005. A high school quarterback, Wilson went the junior college route and converted to wide receiver and return man at Coffeyville Community College. After learning the position as a freshman (and still catching 10 touchdowns in his first season), Wilson broke out as a sophomore, turning 66 receptions into 1,045 yards and 17 touchdowns in just nine games.
A Junior College All-American, Wilson was recruited to Boise State, where he immediately became a big-play receiver for the Broncos, balling out with a 1,129-11 season in 2016 while averaging 20.2 yards (and 7.7 yards after the catch) per reception (Pro Football Focus). He was second out of all 2018 draft-eligible wide receivers with his 3.74 yards per route. He regressed as a touchdown producer in 2017 with just seven scores — Boise State dealt with issues at quarterback — but Wilson still played well, accumulating 83 receptions for 1,511 yards and leading all receivers in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 4.58 yards per route against Power Five opponents. He was also second in the nation with 383 contested yards and 655 yards on deep passes. Across his three non-transitional seasons, Wilson averaged 105.9 yards and one touchdown receiving per game in 35 contests. He didn’t display good speed or strength at the combine, but his agility and explosiveness were passable. Given his production, physical profile, and likely draft range, Wilson looks like an older Marquess Wilson or slower Robby Anderson. He has NFL potential, but he’ll likely never be a No. 1 receiver.
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Matthew Freedman is the Editor-in-Chief of FantasyLabs. He has a dog and sometimes a British accent. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he’s known only as The Labyrinthian.
Photo Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
