* - How well does his skill set carry over
to the fantasy game? For receivers, a player needs to be a realistic
threat for 70 catches and 1,000 receiving yards at some point
early in their career to be a candidate for a perfect grade. Positional
scarcity at the pro level is also a part of the equation.
Positives
Not a lot of wasted motion in his releases; able to reach
top speed in a hurry and can restart quickly after slowing down,
which makes him devastatingly good on double moves.
Nearly impossible to guard on in- or out-breaking routes;
poker-face route-runner who sets up his defenders in a variety
of ways, utilizing everything from stride length variation to
using an assortment of shoulder and head fakes.
Surprisingly good after the catch for his size and generally
maximizes those opportunities; equally good on change-up opportunities
such as end-arounds or reverses (13 career carries for 216 yards
and four touchdowns).
High football intelligence; almost guaranteed to find the
soft spot against zone coverage and understands the importance
of being where his quarterback needs him to be.
Contrary to popular belief, he is not limited to slot duties
(career-low 21.3 percent slot rate in 2023).
Offers special teams utility (returned 21 punts for 279 yards
in college and covered kicks/punts).
Negatives
Packaged in an everyday man's body; likely already maxed
out in terms of adding the kind of muscle he needs to counter
physical defensive backs - be it against press or during his
route.
Average size and short arms (30 1/4 inches) make him a bad
bet in contested-catch situations against bigger cornerbacks.
Charged with 10 drops on 158 catchable career targets; focus
drops were his biggest problem, although he corrected the issue
in 2023 (six drops in 2022, two last season).
Unafraid to be physical, but he lacks the power and contact
balance to withstand the blow.
Toe and knee injuries limited him in 2022 (no missed games),
while back and ankle injuries cost him five games in 2023.
Bottom Line
McConkey may not look overly imposing at 6-0 and 186 pounds,
but he has a skill set that will probably always have a place
in the NFL. Most casual observers will realize he has speed based
entirely on his 40 time at the Combine (4.39), but it is often
a receiver's ability to use his speed as one of the tools in his
toolbox - and not rely solely upon it - that often determines
his ability to have an impactful pro career. Such should be the
case with McConkey, who may possess the best blend of speed, quickness
and intelligence in this draft class. The former three-star recruit
may not win in the most aesthetically pleasing or highlight-worthy
way, but his ability to make a defender think one thing and do
another will probably allow him to enjoy a long (and successful)
career at the next level.
Virtually every "shortcoming" McConkey brings to the
table is the product of being an average-sized guy in a big man's
world. He will probably always struggle against physicality and
may never be great in contested-catch situations in the NFL. He
is unlikely to hold up week after week if he continues to play
with the same reckless abandon he did at Georgia. However, it
is easy to forget that McConkey enters the league with essentially
the same measurables as Garrett Wilson. It would also be unwise
to discount him for something as simple as not posting gaudy numbers
for a Georgia program that won two national championships and
went 42-2 in the three seasons he played in Athens.
Although McConkey is a longshot to be a true alpha in the NFL,
he should have no issue becoming one of his new quarterback's
two favorite targets on third downs. While the slot may end up
being his primary home, he stands a good chance to make a name
for himself as a perimeter receiver as well. So long as his new
team has a plan to keep him away from physical corners as much
as possible, he has a chance to be a very good complementary receiver
in the NFL.
Doug Orth has written for FFToday since 2006 and been featured
in USA TODAY's Fantasy Football Preview magazine since 2010. He
is also a high-stakes player who often appears as a guest analyst
on a number of national sports radio shows, such as Sirius XM’s
“Fantasy Drive." Doug is also a member of the Fantasy
Sports Writers Association.
