First Down Blog: Boykin one of many late-round leviathans

Below crested whitecaps descending deep into frigid waters, a world of perceived science fiction exists.

Straight out of a passage from Jules Verne, haunting creatures with unusual features slither through blackness. Frilled sharks, vampire squid, humpback anglerfish and giant spider crabs scavenge in the sub-photic zone, a bottom layer devoid of resources, light and, for any living thing with a normal bladder, survivable barometric pressure. Prehistoric, eyeless and equipped with nightmarish teeth, they’re evolutionary masterpieces with designs that trigger the heebie-jeebies. 

Though horrifying to ponder, there is beauty in the darkness.

Via bioluminescence, the ability for an organism to generate light through chemical reactions, deep sea species, such as the viperfish, electrify to illuminate paths, attract mates or entice prey. These remarkable beacons brighten an otherwise impenetrable shadow. …

Every year in the deepest, darkest corners of fantasy drafts, a monster waits to be discovered. Whether uncovered due to predecessor injury or ineptitude, these beasts of the free agent pool ascend to the surface, beam brilliant fluorescence and swallow victims whole. 

Last year, Breshad Perriman was that tentacled villain. With Chris Godwin and Mike Evans ailing, the Tampa receiver stepped in and delivered box-score tilting numbers, finally living up to his Round 1 promise from the 2015 NFL Draft. As Jameis Winston’s primary target in Weeks 13-17, he averaged 5.0 catches and 101.2 yards per game, adding five total touchdowns. More spectacularly, despite ranking No. 106 in catchable target percentage, he netted 20.2 yards per catch and a 19.2 average depth of target. Waiver wire explorers who scored him likely sunk the competition. 

What phosphorescent fantasy picks could be this year’s Perriman? Hopping into the submarine, below is an overview of my favorite late-round leviathans in drafts this season. RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

(ADP: QB39, 241.3)

Yes, Carson Wentz is the unrivaled starter in Philadelphia and a popular QB1 selection, but the rookie from Oklahoma needs to be on your radar. He owns supreme scoring duality, a passer who can pulverize the competition via air or land. And, no, he’s not another Taysom Hill. Think a poor man’s Lamar Jackson or a more accurate version of Josh Allen. 

Transferring from Alabama to Oklahoma for his senior season in 2019, Hurts plunged daggers into the competition slicing and dicing secondaries with lethal force. Yes, Big 12 defenses couldn’t prevent a club team from Lake Superior State hanging 30 on the scoreboard, but on a per-throw basis, the Sooner boomed. In Lincoln Riley’s Air Raid system, he ranked No. 9 among all FBS QBs in adjusted completion percentage and posted a 116.5 or better passer rating on every throw, whether short, intermediate or deep. Pinpoint, judicious and blessed with a high-velo hose, he was nothing shy of dynamite vertically. 

Sexiest for fantasy devices, Hurts throttled defenses on the ground. Within Oklahoma’s zone read, he rolled up 1,298 rushing yards with 20 TDs. Forged from steel at 6-foot-2, 218 pounds and blessed with Atlas strength — he squatted the weight of nearly two Vince Wilforks (585 pounds) — he has a shot to be the virtual game’s next multidimensional superstar. 

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DeAndre Washington, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

(RB57, 176.2)

Among the 69 opt-outs, none was more fantasy impactful than Damien Williams. His choice to sit out the 2020 season ignited a fervor for Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Overnight, the rookie went from popular Round 2-3 pick in 12-team 0.5 PPR drafts to a top-10, or in some maniacal situations a No. 1 overall, selection. The fevered pitch ranked up there with any party offering “FREE BEER!” 

The hype enveloping CEH is warranted. Very likely to emerge from camp atop the depth chart of the league’s most potent offense, he could easily deliver a top-five line. However, don’t sleep too hard on his backfield compadre, Washington. The former Raider may take on a larger than expected presence, at least early on, roughly supplanting His Helaireness some 8-10 times per game. The former Raider, however, recently admitted he’s in a similar situation as last year when Josh Jacobs pushed him down the depth chart. 

Late last season when a shoulder injury derailed Jacobs’ ROY campaign, Washington stepped in and delivered consecutive 100-yard performances against the Chargers and Broncos. Capable of flattening tacklers and exhibiting useful hands (90.0% catch percentage in ‘19), he’s a prized bench back with enormous upside. If CEH is felled, Washington would instantly vault into the position’s top-10. 

Miles Boykin, WR, Baltimore Ravens

(WR87, 235.7)

Stare at Boykin’s workout metrics and it’s difficult to not get aroused. In every category imaginable, he ranks in the upper 11th-percentile among wide receivers. Speed, burst, agility, catch radius — from a pure talent perspective, he’s a SPARQ stud. 

Though overshadowed by Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews in Greg Roman’s pound-you-into-submission offense, the receiver sporadically flashed in his inaugural campaign. He enticed only 22 targets but recorded a stratospheric 17.9-yard average depth of target and 15.2 yards per catch. Most alluring, out of the 22 tosses seen from Jackson, 12 were of the red-zone variety. Yum. 

No team ran the rock more than Baltimore in 2019 and Boykin has plenty of competition for looks — bulked-up Brown and tight end Andrews the stiffest — but in a game with constant turnover, he’s a deep-round flier who could blossom at some point this year.

Will Dissly, TE, Seattle Seahawks

(TE30, 228.4)

Here’s what’s known about bears: 1) They’re voracious, 2) They poop in the woods, 3) They don’t give two craps about breaking into random homes and engaging into paw-to-hand combat with humans for a sleeve of Preos. Dissly is a kinder, gentler grizzly — he’s from Montana — but he enters the season with claws bared. 

Before a nasty patellar tendon injury cost him his 2019 season only six games in, Dissly was on pace to become the breakout sensation at his position. In Weeks 1-5, he hauled in 23 catches (on 27 targets) for 262 yards and four touchdowns. His subsequent 0.30 fantasy points per snap during that stretch trailed only Andrews and Austin Hooper at the position. Extra spicy, Russell Wilson tallied a 142.6 passer rating when targeting him. 

Seattle may rival the Chicago Bears in number of tight ends rostered. However, the established chemistry between Wilson and Dissly can’t be overlooked. Let someone else chase Greg Olsen or Jacob Hollister — the Behemoth from Bozeman, fully recovered and primed to pick up where he left off, is the ‘Hawks TE to target.