Dynasty Rookie Prospect Profile: Justyn Ross (2022 Fantasy Football)

Justyn Ross is a Senior wide receiver from Clemson University. He is from Phenix City, Ala., where he was the No. 1 rated player in Alabama in the 247Sports composite rankings. He paired that No. 1 state ranking with the Nation’s No. 45 overall ranking, seventh amongst wide receivers. Ross did the unthinkable and spurned the home state Crimson Tide to sign with the Clemson Tigers, where he joined the top-ranked overall player, quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Ross fits the prototypical wide receiver mold we’ve come to expect from Dabo Swinney’s Clemson program, big and tall with a long wingspan, coming in at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds. Ross’ career started immaculately at Clemson, breaking out with a 1,000-yard receiving campaign as a true freshman en route to Clemson’s 2018 National Championship. That incredible season was highlighted by absolutely dominant performances by Ross in the College Football Playoff; 6-148-2 against Notre Dame in the Semi-Finals and 6-153-1 against Alabama in the Championship Game.

2022 NFL Draft Projection: Third or fourth round

After such an incredible freshman year, Ross was widely considered the top wide receiver in his class, and rightfully so. His sophomore season was a small step back, though, as he was less productive despite having twenty more receptions than he did as a freshman. The rise of now Cincinnati Bengal Tee Higgins played a factor there as Higgins posted an insane 59-1167-13 season alongside Ross in 2019.

Justyn Ross College Statistics

Ross’s story changed in the spring of 2020 when he suffered a severe neck injury. NFL teams will be able to look past his ACL in high school and even his collegiate foot injury, but neck injuries are much more critical situations. Ross missed the entire 2020 season with that injury, but once he returned in 2021, he was not the same player he was pre-injury. In defense of his poor showing in 2021, he did come back to a downgrade at quarterback as the struggling D.J. Uiagelelei had taken over after Trevor Lawrence moved on to the NFL. Quarterback play aside, Ross didn’t look like the same level of athlete that we saw him demonstrate as an underclassman.

Justyn Ross Dynasty Fantasy Analysis

Fantasy managers’ opinions on Ross will be all over the place. A group of managers will ultimately be out on Ross due to the medicals, while another group won’t be able to let go of the freshman breakout and dominant run he had through the College Football Playoffs. A player that was once thought of as the top skill player in his class will now be happy to see day two of NFL Draft capital. So, which version of Ross will manifest in the NFL? It’s most likely somewhere in the middle.

The 2018 version of Ross is gone forever. Expecting that level of dominance after suffering a nearly career-ending injury is injudicious. On the contrary, chalking him up as a zero due to the injury is ill-advised. Ross is a big-bodied receiver that dominated a Power-5 conference as the youngest player on the field. If the medicals check out and he can regain even a fraction of the package he showcased as an underclassman, this is a solid NFL player that should have a long career. His reliable set of hands, versatility and contested-catch ability are still present in his game. Those traits, combined with his ability to manipulate defenders as a route runner, suggest a nice security blanket for any quarterback.

*Statistics referenced per PFF

*Post-Injury Ross played the slot much more than pre-injury Ross

Player Comp – Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, Thomas shares a similar physical build to Ross and a comparable toolbox of skills. Despite not being viewed as the top WR in his class, that’s what Thomas ended up being. As a prospect, dynasty managers preferred the likes of Laquon Treadwell, Corey Coleman and Josh Doctson, to name a few. In the 2022 class, Ross is far from the top group that will garner first-round rookie draft capital. Ross has the lingering medical concerns that Thomas did not have, but don’t be surprised to see Ross out-perform some of his higher-drafted peers if his health allows.

Landing Spot and Dynasty Outlook

In the end, Justyn Ross’s early collegiate production and breakout age (94th percentile) couldn’t outweigh the medical concerns. With a spinal surgery and stress fracture in his foot on the medical docket, Ross comes with risk. His UDFA destination to Kansas City will make him an attractive flier with a late pick in any draft but tread carefully. The Chiefs have little invested in Ross’s future. It’s not outside the realm of possibilities that he doesn’t even break camp with the team. There’s equity in selecting him based solely on the upside, but I wouldn’t go overboard in rookie drafts.

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