After the runaway success of the 2014 rookie wide receiver class (five rookies in the top 25), fantasy enthusiasts are likely itching to see what the 2015 class has to offer. The consensus top prospects from 2015 are Amari Cooper and Kevin White, both of whom I'll profile over the next two days. Today's film dive took a look at White's remarkable senior season to see what he might bring to the fantasy table.
Strengths
» Ideal NFL frame
» Great feet and quickness
» Natural at high-pointing the ball
» Strong after-the-catch runner
The first thing you notice when watching Kevin White is he just looks like an NFL wide receiver. His body, speed, the way he catches the ball, all appear to be NFL ready. Add into that his naturally explosive physical gifts, and it's easy to see why NFL scouts are salivating over White's potential.
White showed more polish than I expected on his routes, consistently beating defensive backs with his precision and cuts rather than just speed. He's still raw, but he has the foundation for early NFL success. One of the former Mountaineer's best attributes is his ability to high-point the football and beat tight coverage for a catch, using every inch of his 6-foot-3 frame.
Weaknesses
» Could be quicker off the line
» Not very shifty in open field
» Only one really productive season
It's a small knock on White's game, but he will need to improve his quickness off the line of scrimmage, especially against press coverage. His positional coach and offensive coordinator in the NFL should have no problem helping him refine this portion of his game. Likewise, White has great quickness for cuts and top-end speed, but it'd be nice to see him get a little shiftier in the open field.
Some people are concerned that White has had only one productive collegiate season and seems to still be learning the position. However, if what he put on tape in 2014 is only him scratching the surface as he learns the position more deeply, the sky could be the limit for this kid in the pros.
Ideal NFL fantasy fits
With Brandon Marshall now a New York Jet, Alshon Jeffrey needs a new running mate, and Kevin White would make an excellent partner. Derek Carr would benefit from having the uber-talented White by his side, and the two would have a chance to grow together as leaders of the Oakland offense. Odell Beckham Jr. and Kevin White? Yes please.
Early fantasy draft projection
The hype around Kevin White is real, and as long as he doesn't land in a fantasy wasteland, he should make an instant impact for his NFL team and fantasy teams as well. He'll definitely be worth a pick as a fourth or fifth wide receiver in redrafts, and would make a fine target in the first round of dyansty rookie drafts after the top running backs are off the board.
-- Follow Alex on Twitter @AlexGelhar