Denzel Mims Dynasty Rookie Analysis
- Position: WR | School: Baylor
- Height: 6’3” | Weight: 207 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 4.38 seconds
- 2020 Age: 23 | Class: Senior
- Recruitment Stars: 3-4
- Draft Position: 2.59 (Jets)
Denzel Mims’ Fantasy Fit with Jets
Someone had to go to the Jets. Unfortunately for Mims, it's hims.
Denzel Mims: Dynasty Analysis
Mims is usually grouped into a second tier of wide receivers along with Tee Higgins (Clemson), Jalen Reagor (Texas Christian) and Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State), and possibly others. But Mims might be my favorite of the group: Of the receivers in this tier, he’s the most complete.
Unlike Higgins, Mims is an elite athlete, as evidenced by his otherworldly 4.38-second 40-yard dash and position-best 6.66-second three-cone drill.
Unlike Reagor, Mims has the size to compete on contested catches and didn’t regress in his final season of college.
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And unlike Aiyuk, Mims has multiple seasons of notable production at the FBS level (61-1,087-8 receiving in 2017; 66-1,020-12 receiving in 2019).
Mims isn’t a polished receiver. Coming from Baylor, he has a limited route tree. And over the past two seasons, he’s had an unsightly 12.9% drop rate (per Pro Football Focus). But with his athleticism and skill set, he could be a top-five fantasy receiver in three years.
He has Chris Godwin-like potential.
If Mims wins in the NFL, it probably won’t be because he’s a smooth technician with jaw-dropping routes. It will be because he’s just so dominant as an athlete and aggressive at the catch point: In 2019, he finished No. 2 in the nation with 20 contested catches (per PFF).
Even a little improvement in his routes could go a long way. An outright track star, Mims needs to work on his release, sharpen his cuts and expand his repertoire beyond curls, fades and slants. Essentially, he needs to transition from a sprinter to a receiver.
And it wouldn't hurt if he got more work in the slot. In 2019, he played just 49 snaps in the interior; in 2018, zero. He's an outside-only receiver, and that restriction might limit his upside.
But even with his technical flaws, Mims is an enticing player. He can produce at all levels of the field, and with just a little more development, he could be a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver.
Because he's raw, he could certainly disappoint. He might never get even 800 yards in a season. But because of his talent, he might become a smaller Julio Jones-esque playmaker with a peak campaign of 1,600 yards.
NFL Prospect Comp: Martavis Bryant but with much more production
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Matthew Freedman is the Editor-in-Chief of FantasyLabs, part of The Action Network.
