Fantasy Upside
Henry Ruggs is the fastest rookie this season, and that speed showed up both on tape and at the combine, where he ran a 4.27-second 40-yard-dash. Ruggs is more than a speed demon however, exhibiting great hands and decent route-running. He can stop-and-start on a dime and is experienced going against top corners, due to opposing defenses choosing to play more man against Ruggs, while double-teaming Jerry Jeudy. He’ll join a Raiders team with a strong offensive line and a head coach who likes to run the ball and throw deep. Derek Carr was actually 16th in the league last season in Air Yards, according to Sports Info Solutions, and that was with limited downfield options. There’s potential for Ruggs to seize the WR1 job immediately in Las Vegas.
Fantasy Downside
Ruggs doesn’t use his slight frame well enough to wall off defenders, often just blowing by instead, which could be a problem for him if he wants to be the primary target instead of just a field-stretcher. The Raiders also prefer a ground-and-pound approach. They ranked 21st in pass attempts last season and 11th in rushing attempts. While they do like to throw deep, which should give Ruggs plenty of opportunities for big plays, he may not get the target share to become a super consistent fantasy option at the top end of drafts.
2020 Bottom Line
Ultimately, Ruggs’ speed, playmaking and excellent hands should make him a success at the next level, but he’ll need to be a true WR1 if he’s going to be a fantasy stud. Jon Gruden offenses have rarely produced an elite fantasy wide receiver and even more scarcely multiple options. As such, it’s risky to bank on him over some of the other options being drafted near his 11th-round ADP. However, if he slips to the back end of the draft instead of the deep-middle, he’s worth grabbing due to his likely position atop the depth chart.
