The New York Jets added a speedy playmaker to the outside on Friday, selecting Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore with the No. 34 overall pick in the second round of the NFL draft.
Fantasy football players will be wondering what type of fantasy impact Moore will have as a rookie. And the answer, as always with rookie wideouts, is to keep your expectations tempered.
Moore had a superb junior season in 2020, registering 86 catches for 1,193 yards and eight scores. He'll immediately add a big-play threat to a Jets offense that needs one for rookie quarterback Zach Wilson.
Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network ranked Moore as the No. 26 player on his final big board, calling him a "an undersized wideout with outstanding versatility, quickness and toughness" who "gets a lot of quick hitters, and he's very elusive after the catch. He also makes some huge plays over the top, tracking the ball naturally and showing reliable hands."
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. was even higher on Moore, ranking him 16th in the 2021 draft class and calling him "one of the most pro-ready receivers in this class, a slot target who can run every route."
The slot aspect of Moore's game is an interesting wrinkle, however, considering the presence of Jamison Crowder on New York's roster (assuming he doesn't get traded or cut). Moore has more upside and explosiveness than Crowder, but the veteran is as steady and reliable as they come when healthy, averaging 4.2 catches and 6.4 targets per game in his career.
The Jets will surely get creative in an effort to get both players on the field and will likely find unique ways to get the ball in Moore's hands with gadget plays and quick-hitters, given his ability to make big plays after the catch.
It's a safe bet that Corey Davis and Crowder will see a lot of targets for the Jets. And given how rare it is for rookie wideouts to reach the WR1 or WR2 tiers in fantasy football, players like JaMarr Chase or DeVonta Smith seem like better bets to have a major impact than Moore.
Rookie receiver plus a rookie quarterback more than likely does not equal elite fantasy production from Moore. Look for him to have a WR4 ceiling and likely a WR5 output.