2022 Rookie Wide Receiver Ranking Week 1: Washington’s Jahan Dotson doubles up

Last season we did our weekly rookie quarterback tracker, but with only one taken in the first round in 2022, we’ve moved onto another highly coveted position. This season we’ll keep up with all six first-round wide receivers and track their progress throughout the year. In Week 1, we’ve already seen some of these guys impact their new teams positively.

The one exception on the list for at least the first few weeks of the season will be Detroit Lions No. 1 pick, Jameson Williams, from Alabama. Williams tore his ACL in last year’s National Championship game but is on track to make his debut for the Lions this season.

Let’s see how this year’s crop of rookies stacks up.

Gone ’til November.

It’s going to be a long rookie campaign for Garrett Wilson, although he may have plenty of chances to catch the ball. He just won’t be doing it with really any chance of winning. The Jets allowed Joe Flacco to drop back and pass the ball 59 times in this game. Eight of those attempts were aimed at Wilson, and he caught four of them for 52 yards. The good news is Wilson should get plenty of chances to prove himself even while Zach Wilson is sidelined with a knee injury.

Treylon Burks started his NFL career on the losing end of a close game against the New York Giants. Burks played well and averaged 18.3 yards per reception in this game, although he caught just three passes. With A.J. Brown, playing in Philly, whoever steps up most in these early weeks of the season could become the true No. 1 target in Tennessee. Burks’ three catches for 55 yards weren’t mind-blowing, but it was a good start.

New Orleans got a slow start to this game and caught fire late, scoring 17 of their 27 points in the fourth quarter in completing the comeback win. Olave didn’t have a big day catching the ball, though he did capitalize on all his opportunities. He was targeted three times and ended the game with three catches for 41 yards in the Saints’ 27-26 victory, including hauling in a two-point conversion.

Based on what Olave was given, that’s a decent way to start one’s NFL career. But Olave is the third wide receiver option at best on a team that features the returning Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry. In Week 1, Landry was the standout of the group, torching the Falcons for seven receptions and 114 yards receiving.

Not a bad showing for Olave, as he was on the field for more than 70 percent of the team’s offensive plays. Indeed, as the season goes on and Jameis Winston becomes more comfortable throwing to him, and that relationship grows, so will his targets.

Drake London might sound like a stage name, but his game is no act. London looked legit in the Falcons’ Week 1 nail-biter against the Saints. He led the team in receptions (5) and yards (74), along with being targeted the same number of times (7) as second-year tight end Kyle Pitts.

London also had a 31-yard reception, the longest of the day for Atlanta, and the longest for any other first-round rookie WR in Week 1.

No Falcons receiver found their way into the end zone Sunday, but Drake could be a huge part of the offense in his rookie year.

Dotson had the most memorable day of these rookies as he’s the only one that scored a touchdown. In fact, Dotson, the fifth receiver taken in April’s draft, grabbed the first two TD receptions of his professional career in Washington’s 28-22 win over Jacksonville. One of Dotson’s TD catches was a 24-yarder in the left corner of the end zone with a defensive back draped all over him. That TD reception represented the go-ahead score. Dotson showed poise and that the moment wasn’t too big for him. Looks like the Commanders have found another weapon for Carson Wentz to distribute the ball to in this offense.