Dynasty: Harvin vs. Maclin vs. Nicks

[The Lung]

I think most people have these players similarly rated. Do you feel very strongly towards one player over the others? Please state his case.

(I have the 1.06 and 1.07 picks in a rookie draft this year, which means I'll likely get the last of the "Big 5" RBs at 1.06, and will need to choose from one of these WRs at 1.07)

[TruNinerFan]

I have them ranked:
Maclin
Harvin
Nicks

I like Maclin because he plays in a pass happy offense. With Wetsy in the backfield and D JAX on the other side, he should be able to exploit some single coverage. Plus, he should be returning some punts. So, this is an added bonus if you get return yards. I expect him to have more of an impact than D JAX had last year

I worry about Harvin's character. I see him as a potential diva/troublemaker WR. The Qb situation in Minny is shaky, so this puts him under Maclin, IMO. If Rosenfels or Jackson play well at QB, then Harvin could be major steal. With the running game being so effective, he should be able to get open with the play action pass. Berrian on the other side also helps him get single coverage.

Nicks should be the the best red zone target out of all 3 because of his size. But, he dosen't have the speed of Maclin and Harvin. Bigger WR's are always a gamble. I am also not the biggest Eli fan and I don't expect the Giants to throw as much with their strong running game. Plus, the Giants are thin at WR. So, if Nicks is the real deal he will see a ton of double coverage.I think Nicks is more of a project, while the other 2 could make a big impact this year.

[LS2throwed]

I'm in the same situation as your Lung and plan to take the same course of action(Big 5 RB, then one of these guys later).


It's really tough to rank them, at least for me it is because they are so closely ranked.


Harvin has the most potential, Nicks is the safest pick, but throwing risk out and assuming everyone hits their full potential:

1. Percy Harvin
2. Jeremy Maclin
3. Hakeem Nicks


In order of the way I like them and would probably draft them:

1. Hakeem Nicks
2. Percy Harvin
3. Jeremy Maclin


Nicks is the more pure WR out of this bunch, he strikes me as the only guy who could reach 100 receptions, he runs the best routes and resembles Anquan Boldin alot of his style of play...Harvin while risky is on a Minnesota team who will be in need of huge plays and their going to get him the ball all sorts of ways, he probably won't be just a traditional WR...He'll line up in the slot, out of the backfield, in the wild cat, I think he'll be very valuable in Dynasty leagues but he does possess alot of risk with that upside because of the injury and character concerns, and the fact that he's pretty raw at WR...The QB situation doesn't bother me because he'll get the ball alot in the backfield and with swing passes and make the most of his plays himself.


I don't ever see him pulling in 90-100 balls like Nicks, but I can see him pulling in 10+ TD's in a variety of ways all over the field at his best, but he'll struggle at WR early on...I like Maclin also so me putting him 3rd doesn't mean I don't value him high, just not as much as the other two...Their going to spread the ball around in that offense, him and DeSean will both get looks and be a deep threat, but I can't see Maclin putting up WR1 dominant numbers, he seems like he'll produce as a very good WR2 at best to me...I do like him to be the better WR of the 2 out of DeSean Jackson, but I don't see him getting the targets or production that Nicks can get, nor do i think he'll be the game changer that Harvin can be, but I am still very high on him but I prefer the other two.

[bungle613]

It's actually getting tough to follow LS2 with these posts. Well thought out arguments and very knowledgable I just disagree slightly.

IN a Dynasty I look at history quite often. I look at the countless WR that have been drafted as the top 10 WR's off the board in their respective drafts. More than half make no impact.

Harvin has the most potential, Nicks is the safest pick, but throwing risk out and assuming everyone hits their full potential:

1. Percy Harvin
2. Jeremy Maclin
3. Hakeem Nicks

This I agree with completely. I think Harvin has the potential to be the #1 FF WR of this draft and by quite a margin. This is something I would have to gamble on and put him #1 by a wide margin, Crabtree is still the safe bet as a consistent fantasy producer.

Maclin comes down to is he better then DeSean Jackson. I can't say, but I do know that Jackson has at least made an impact at the NFL level. Is Maclin so much better that he diminishes Jackson's role...no. They will wash each other out in FF terms to a certain degree.

Nicks is a default. The Giants are going to have issues in my opinion. They have a fairly inaccurate QB and a group of WR's with limited experience in SMith, Hixon, Nicks and Barden. A solid secondary will have a field day with this group. Unless the Giants get some experience in this corps then I think it is a long season for them and for FF owners.

I haven't had a chance to do up my rookie rankings yet but I am not even sure Nicks and Maclin would be in my top 5. I know they had very good college careers but when you look at history, drafting WR's is a pure crap shoot. 1 of the 3 will be of fantasy relevance and I would put my money on Harvin. More options to be a success.



2006

Santonio Holmes WR Ohio State 1 25(25) Pittsburgh
Chad Jackson WR Florida 2 4(36) New England BUST
Sinorice Moss WR Miami (FL) 2 12(44) New York BUST
Greg Jennings WR Western Michigan 2 20(52) Green Bay
Travis Wilson WR Oklahoma 3 14(78) Cleveland BUST
Derek Hagan WR Arizona State 3 18(82) Miami BUST
Brandon Williams WR Wisconsin 3 20(84) San Francisco BUST
Maurice Stovall WR Notre Dame 3 26(90) Tampa Bay BUST
Willie Reid WR Florida State 3 31(95) Pittsburgh BUST
Brad Smith WR Missouri 4 6(103) New York


After the top 10... Brandon Marshall, Hixon and Colston.

2005

Braylon Edwards
Troy Williamson BUST
Mike Williams BUST
Matt Jones BUST
Mark Clayton BUST
Roddy White
Reggie Brown
Mark Bradley BUST
Roscoe Parrish BUST
Terrence Murphy BUST

After the top 10... Vincent Jackson. Lance Moore and Nate Washington were undrafted.

[LS2throwed]

I'm glad you posted that, because with WR's it is a big crap shoot so you never know what your going to get, that's why I bump up Nicks to an extent because I don't think he'll bust...But there is always a guy I like that never amounts to anything, Sidney Rice and Chad Jackson are a few of the recent ones, and look at that 06 draft you posted, the guy from Florida, Miami, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and all these big schools were bust, and the little Western Michigan guy is the star out of the bunch lol.


I guess like you said if your going to have the odds against you of drafting a hit then you may as well roll with the potential of Harvin that he provides and really, if you watch a highlight of Harvin there is no way you don't come away impressed...This Wr class was pretty deep though as far as 1st rounders, so we may see quite a few solid guys, but I like Nicks and Harvin to have a good shot at star potential.


Your exactly right about the situation with the Giants this year though, I don't know why they preferred to take that route and take two rookies that are expected to be the main weapons when this team is ready to make a run, but Nicks should develop into the go to guy in a few years, but Harvin looks like a star.

[MadDog36]

Something about Harvin screams good versatile athelete. But will he be a TD machine? Can he be a Javon Walker (pre injury? Both running/catching threat?). Will Harvin fight drug issues his whole career? Will we on the cafe be talking about how much you cannot trust him he's already gotten into trouble?

Harvin ----> Good speed and vision, experienced at RB in HS and some in college. Dual-threat. Good wildcat option. He lacks elite size, so that is a little concerning. I am concerned with this pick after the Love Boat Incident (ha ?) To Harvin's defense: Harvin made some mistakes in high school but never once acted up in college. Urban Meyer is not the kind of coach who will put up with disrespectful players. He has zero tolerance for it. One thing that worries me with harvin is work ethic. he missed two games in college due to a sinus infection. Steve Smith played throwing up and running a fever of 101 (that's saying a lot about a true warrior as compared to an atheletic CREAM PUFF). Harvin has always been one of the quieter guys on the team as opposed to being the "locker room cancer" people have been describing him as lately. Two years ago he missed a couple of games because he was very sick with a sinus infection. Whether or not he was that sick is beyond me.He's also not quite as injury prone as people keep saying. He had a hurt heel that he played through the majority of the season. He did fine. He also had a high ankle sprain but he made an effort to return much quicker than people had expected him to.

He failed a drug test that he knew was coming, which is stupid, but you can't let that worry you. Harvin is, by far, the most talented receiver that was in the draft (yes, better than Crabtree). When Crabtree played legit defenses last season, he was shut down. Harvin was never shut down and he played far tougher defenses than Crabtree ever did. Crabtree is no where near as strong or fast and agile as Percy is, he's just taller and scouts like that. Do not be afraid of Harvin going up for the ball. He's got a set of hands and his route running gets better with every game. He's more of a Reggie Bush-type player, but any analyst who's seen him play will tell you that he's better than Reggie Bush. He's a faster, more agile Reggie Bush with better hands who, technically, is a receiver. Don't be afraid to put him in the backfield though or even have him take a few direct snaps. Aside from Adrian Peterson, this is the best player on your team. I don't think even the master of Spygate would want to see the Vikings right now.

After watching this kids official Vikings introduction, i was amazed. I didn't detect any arrogance, or a bad attitude. This kid seems like he is well grounded and a complete team player. He must have told reporters 4-5 times that he was just there to do what he was told to do and contribute to his new team. I admit that i was one who said we should go another direction in the draft, but after listening to everything that all of his ex-coaches had to say and actually listen to him speak i think we got the steal of the draft.

Overview
Harvin was the consummate dual threat at wide receiver and running back for the Gators, amassing 1,929 receiving yards to go with 1,852 yards on the ground. In just 36 games at Florida, he proved to be a dangerous open-field threat, finding the end zone 32 times. His yards per rush average of 9.55 shattered the previous school career record of 6.4 yards by Elijah Williams (1994-97).

The 2006 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year was one of the main reasons Florida captured two national championships during his three seasons at the university. He quickly became the favorite target of 2007 Heisman Trophy QB Tim Tebow, as that tandem hooked up on 19 touchdown passes.

Harvin was regarded as the nation's top wide receiver prospect by Scout.com following his four-year career at Landstown High School. He was also listed as the nation's top recruit according to Rivals.com and Scout.com. He earned Parade All-American honors as a senior and was selected to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Game after being named the 2004 National Junior of the Year by Rivals.com.

Harvin finished his prep career with 75 catches for 1,313 yards with 14 touchdowns, as he also rushed for 504 yards and 13 additional scores his senior season. He recorded a total of 33 touchdowns during his final campaign. He caught 58 passes for 1,016 yards (17.5 avg) and 17 touchdowns while rushing 68 times for 726 yards (10.7 avg) and 10 touchdowns as a junior, en route to helping lead Landstown to Group AAA state championship.

Named Offensive Player of the Year in the Beach District and Eastern Region in 2004, Harvin returned four punts for touchdowns as a junior. In addition to his exploits on the gridiron, he also served as captain of the basketball and excelled in track. He is the only athlete in Virginia history to claim five gold medals at the state track and field meet.

Harvin turned down scholarship offers from Florida State, Miami, Michigan and Southern California to enroll at Florida in 2006. He started five of the 13 games he played in, sitting out the Alabama clash after suffering a left ankle sprain vs. Tennessee. The Freshman All-American gained 427 yards with two scores on 34 receptions (12.6 avg) and ran 41 times for 428 yards (10.4 avg) and three touchdowns, averaging 65.77 all-purpose yards per game.

In 2007, Harvin started 10 of the 11 games he appeared in, sitting out vs. South Carolina and Florida Atlantic due to a sinus infection and migraine headaches. He was limited in fall camp by an Achilles tendon strain and left the Mississippi State clash with a hip pointer. Still, he amassed 1,622 all-purpose yards, grabbing 59 passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed for 764 yards and six scores on 83 attempts. In the Vanderbilt game, he became the first player in school history to total 100 yards rushing (113) and 100 yards receiving (110) in the same contest.

Harvin earned All-American honors as a specialist in 2008. He started 11 games, sitting out the SEC title game due to a right ankle sprain that he suffered during a mid-season contest vs. Arkansas. He had missed spring and fall drills after undergoing April surgery to correct a right heel problem from his high school days. He would manage 644 yards and seven touchdowns on 40 receptions and 660 yards on 70 carries (9.4 avg) that produced 10 more scores.

Scouting Report
GENERAL REPORT: GRADE: 7.44

Body Structure: Harvin has an angular frame, built along the lines of a sprinter (only athlete in Virginia history to claim five gold medals at the state track and field meet). He is split high, with long legs, high calves and decent arm muscle tone, but could use better upper body bulk and muscle definition. He has adequate chest and shoulder width and low body fat.

Athletic Ability: Harvin has that explosive playing burst to easily gain separation after the catch. He is shorter than ideal for a split end, but has good strength for a player his size and uses his hands well to defeat the press. His suddenness coming out of his stance will see him consistently gobble up the cushion and his acceleration and burst is most effective when utilized on the team's screens, as he shows that straight-line charge to instantly break free and the hip swerve to elude. He shows nice feet getting in and out of his cuts. Thanks to his above average lateral agility and balance when changing direction, he is very effective at locating and running through the cut back lanes when utilized as a ball carrier. He does an excellent job of extending for the ball and keeping his feet inbounds when working along the sidelines. He is a smooth open-field runner who accelerates instantly coming out of his breaks. He has the burst to quickly eat up the cushion and run by defensive backs consistently. He has loose hips and good feet to get in and out of his cuts. His quick first step lets him explode off the line. He also has the hip wiggle and head fakes to elude defenders after the catch. His second-level speed can rival any other receiver in the collegiate ranks. GRADE: 7.8

Football Sense: Harvin is a good student of the game, as he plays with solid awareness and instincts. He has that uncanny feel to adjust on the move and set up the defensive backs when trying to get open. The thing you notice on film is his ability to take the slip screen and turn in an instant. He is also quite effective at sitting down and uncovering, doing a good job of being alert to sticks and boundaries. He shows very good vision and hip snap to elude after the catch. He learns and retains plays with minimal reps. He has fine big-play quickness after the catch, as he consistently finds the open areas and works back to the ball, making nice adjustments to the poorly thrown pass. He plays with good field awareness and shows the feel needed to adjust on the move and set up the defensive backs in order to escape. He can easily uncover and displays good vision to locate the seam after the catch. He has no problems taking the plays from the chalkboard to the field. GRADE: 7.7

Character: Harvin has made a conscious effort to stay out of the spotlight at Florida. He had a series of run-ins during his high school days that had the Florida staff worrying about his character (first Virginia player banned this century from athletic competition during his prep days). He showed great maturity and solid work ethic, battling back from several injuries with only one desire - to return to the football field. GRADE: 6.2

Competitiveness: Harvin always gives total effort on the field. He might lack the bulk and strength to punish defenders, but will not hesitate to sacrifice his body in order to make the tough catch going over the middle. He has that fearless nature like Pittsburgh's Hines Ward, in that he willingly gives up his body to get to the ball. Once he secures the pass, he shows great drive and determination to gain positive yardage. Even with his less than ideal size and lack of bulk, he is developing into quite an effective crack blocker. He loves to play the game, will not hesitate to compete for the ball in a crowd and gives a consistently high effort. He plays with a nice effort and is best when giving up his body to make the downfield play. In crunch situations, he thrives by being the type who wants the ball when the game is on the line. GRADE: 7.5

Work Habits: Harvin proved his work ethic with his strong desire to get back on the field late last season. His right ankle sprain almost forced him to miss the BCS title game, but while his teammates went home for the Christmas break, he stayed on campus, working 15 hours a day with the trainers in a grueling rehab program. Coaches had to hide his helmet to limit him in practices leading up to the game, and despite not being fully recovered he was one of the big reasons for the team capturing the national title. Simply put, Harvin is one of those "first one to enter, last one to leave" types in the training room. GRADE: 8.0

ATHLETIC REPORT: GRADE: 7.44

Release: Harvin has outstanding straight-line quickness and builds to top speed in an instant. Even though he lacks great bulk, his hand usage and burst will generally see him defeat the press. He gets into his routes smoothly and excels at eating up the defender's cushion. Even when his speed fails to elude the defensive back, he has the hip wiggle and shake needed to prevent from being rerouted. He might not look physical enough to fight off the jam, but knows how to use his arm-over action to separate when the defender attempts to press. He shows a good urgency to get into his routes and is shifty in his release, knowing how to avoid the defender through route progression. To compensate for a lack of bulk, he does a very good job of utilizing a drop step and can generate a slight hitch in his release to surprise a lethargic cornerback. GRADE: 7.4

Acceleration: Harvin demonstrates a smooth running stride and excellent acceleration to instantly get deep. He runs crisp short-area routes (used mostly on slip screens) and has the vision and awareness to uncover. He also shows the loose hips and extension to adjust well working underneath. His suddenness, good separation ability and change of gear will beat his man and eat up the cushion. When he is used inside as a slot receiver, he shows a fearless attitude and good toughness in the middle. He has the quickness to separate along the perimeter and the "make you miss" burst to get downfield. His vertical speed is evident by his ability to consistently stretch the field and make good body adjustments to the ball. He can uncover and free up from his man working in the short area and is very good at getting on top of the defense, looking natural making plays on the ball downfield. His hands are one of his better assets, and even though he lacks great size he had just seven passes knocked out of his hands by a defender. He also has the burst to get under the ball and make the over-the-shoulder grab look routine. GRADE: 8.4

Quickness: Harvin hits top speed in an instant. He is explosive coming off the snap and that acceleration allows him to consistently beat the jam. Once he gets in the open, he can take the ball to daylight (scored 32 times in 36 games). He is very good at gobbling up the cushion, especially when working in the zone. His ability to gain advantage causes defenders to come out of their backpedal too early and most do not have the speed to mirror and recover. He is very capable of making short and sharp cuts in attempts to separate. GRADE: 8.0

Route Running: Harvin is an effective route runner who shows very loose lower body motion. He has the balance, body control and quickness, along with the strong and quick feet in his routes to separate out of his cuts. He needs to be a bit more focused attacking the deep third of the secondary (will sometimes drift on long patterns), but has developed crisp cut moves and refined his route running. His body control and quickness out of his breaks allows him to set up the defender, as he does a nice job of dropping his weight, sinking his hips and maintaining body control in and out of his cuts when separating. By staying at a low pad level, he is very effective at rapidly accelerating to get under the ball. GRADE: 6.7

Separation Ability: Harvin has that natural second gear and explosive acceleration to consistently separate downfield. He might drift some on longer routes (will lose focus and needs to do a better job of tracking the deep throws), but he is quite effective at gaining yards after the catch, turning slip and bubble screens into long gainers thanks to his loose hips and sudden burst once he gets the ball in his hands. He plays with very good awareness and can settle under the ball nicely. He still looks like a neophyte when asked to run his patterns, but he is alert to boundaries, doing a good job of setting up the outside defender before cutting back to the inside. His acceleration off the snap will consistently drive the defender back, as his opponent will then have to come out of the backpedal too early or get pushed back on their heels. With his timed speed, few defenders can maintain relationship with Harvin through the route, as he has made a nice living of going over the middle and then just racing past the opposition. He is the type who immediately gains a step over the safeties and linebackers when working underneath and also shows good hip wiggle and head fakes to beat the cornerback when working on the perimeter. He has that second gear and explosive speed that prevents the defender maintaining relationship with Harvin. He plays with good awareness and has the ability to settle in the soft spot in the zone. He accelerates well out of his breaks and has the excellent speed needed to maintain it. GRADE: 7.2

Ball Concentration: Harvin shows better vision and focus working underneath than he does on deep routes. He will make the tough grab in traffic and knows how to keep his feet along the sidelines, but needs to stay in his pattern better (drifts) when going for the deep ball. With his developing maturity, he is the type that even when he misses getting to the ball, he will make adjustments so he doesn't repeat that mistake. With his angular frame, you would expect him to shy away from contact, but the opposite is true. He shows the ability to keep his eyes on the ball, even when knowing the defender is about to deliver a crunching his over the middle. He has a good feel for the sticks and chains and makes good body adjustments on the move to uncover. When he competes for the ball in a crowd, he uses his arms to extend for the ball outside his frame. He is also quite effective at working back for the ball. He excels at keeping his feet in-bounds working along the sidelines and slipping through tight coverage. Harvin has a good working relationship with his quarterback and that timing and ability to stay in sync lets him come back when the pocket collapses. GRADE: 6.5.

Ball Adjustment: Harvin has that lithe frame and good extension to get to the ball outside his frame. He uses his timing and leaping ability to battle for the throw at its highest point and shows the natural hands and ball skills to make smooth adjustments on the move. The thing that allows him to gain so much yardage on screens is his ability to maintain stride after the catch. He has the hip snap to make the adjustments when the throws are behind him. Few receivers can get the rise in their leap or contort their body and make adjustments in the air to get to the high ball like Harvin can. Even on poorly thrown passes, he has the body control to change direction, work back or extend to get the ball into his hands. His flexibility and turning ability lets him find a way to the off-target throws. GRADE: 7.4

Leaping Ability: Harvin has the reach and leaping ability to get to the ball at its highest point, but is best served when catching the ball in stride (will gather some when he has to elevate). He has the arm extension, good ball concentration and leaping ability to get to the balls thrown into a crowd. He has good explosion in his jumps and shows precise timing to get to the pass in flight. GRADE: 7.5

Hands: As good as Harvin's speed is, his hands are his best asset. He does not have large baskets for mitts, but is perfectly capable of looking the ball in and securing it before heading upfield. He looks very natural plucking the ball out of the air and even though he drifts on long patterns, he will make proper body adjustments to settle under those throws. Harvin is capable of plucking the ball cleanly and almost never uses his body to make the play. He is able to extend and catch away from his frame and is a natural catcher with soft hands. He shows very good timing that allows him to get to the ball in what seems like the last second. GRADE: 8.2

Run After the Catch: Harvin is not only slippery; he also has the vision to elude in the open field. He has excellent acceleration after the catch, not even having to break stride when working on underneath routes. He has an array of moves and precise cutting ability to set up and make the defender miss. He does a very good job of breaking arm tackles, bouncing off defenders and redirecting. He knows he does not have the raw strength to run over his opponent, but with his vision and burst, he can hit the seam in an instant. He twists, turns and spins to slide away from contact and can use the defender's body well to push off and gain separation. He is a make you miss type who can take a short throw and turn it into a big play. He is good at eluding on the move, but also demonstrates the suddenness to stop and start up again immediately after securing the ball. GRADE: 8.0

Blocking Ability: Harvin is not going to frighten anyone, but he is a pester-type that will occupy a defensive back at the line of scrimmage. He is a decent crack blocker who does a good job of firing low to take out the defender's legs. He shows good explosion behind his hits, just lacking the power to blow his man up. He is an effective open-field cutter because of his ability to attack the defender low and use his hands to mirror and sustain. A lethargic defender is soon surprised by Harvin's quickness and explosion using his hands to lock on and steer. GRADE: 6.5

Compares To: ERIC METCALF, ex-San Diego/Cleveland -- It is hard to find a present day comparison to Harvin among NFL players. Some compare him to the Saints' Reggie Bush, but he is not really much of a returner and is a better big play threat than the New Orleans multi-purpose back. Harvin has the vision and moxie that Metcalf showed, as both are fearless going for the ball. He might not be the greatest route runner, especially getting to the deep ball, but on bubble and slip screens he is a fan favorite, as he can turn those short throws into big gains better than any other player in this class of WR.

OVERALL GRADE: 7.44

Funny thing - I wonder if Al Davis would trade for Maclin simply because he is a burner! LOL!

Scouting report on Maclin:

Projects as slot receiver: just two seasons at Missouri, Maclin established himself as one of college football's most dangerous offensive threats. Whether lining up in the slot, at split end, flanker or coming out of the backfield, the talented sophomore's vision and superb quickness forced the defense to account for him on every play.

In addition to his exploits as the team's clutch receiver and third-down specialist (22 of his 55 first-down catches in 2008 came on third-down snaps), Maclin also provided Tiger fans with the opportunity of seeing one of the most explosive kickoff and punt returners in the collegiate game. He would go on to be the only player in school history to score on a reception, a rushing attempt, a punt return and kickoff return.

All told, Maclin found the end zone a total of 32 times in 28 contests. He is just the third player in NCAA history to average more than 200 all-purpose yards per game during a career (202.36 ypg). His 2,776 all-purpose yards in 2007 set a major college single-season record for freshmen. The following season, he became the sixth player in NCAA annals to amass more than 2,800 all-purpose yards in a season (2,833).

Maclin's 1,346 yards in total kick returns in 2007 was two yards shy of the NCAA single-season record. He joined Derek Abney of Kentucky (2000-03) as the only major college players to ever gain more than 2,000 yards receiving and more than 2,000 yards in kickoff returns during a career, with Maclin accomplishing that feat in only two seasons.

Maclin's average of 73.18 yards per game gained on kickoff returns is the best since Steve Odom of Utah set the NCAA record (78.24 ypg, 1971-73). In addition to that kickoff return average, the multi-talented athlete averaged 82.68 yards per game receiving, 20.61 yards on punt returns and 23.86 yards rushing during his time with the Tigers.

At Kirkwood High School, Maclin was an outstanding two-sport athlete who was considered the top wide receiver and one of the top overall prospects to come out of the state of Missouri in 2006. The star receiver, safety and punt returner was ranked as the nation's 24th-best wide receiver prospect by Rivals.com and was listed as the third-best overall prospect in Missouri by the same outlet.

He earned first-team All-State honors as a receiver in 2005, after catching 41 passes for 1,042 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging an impressive 25.4 yards per catch. He also carried the ball 36 times for 293 yards and four scores, adding two more touchdowns throwing the ball. He proved to be a dangerous return man, as he took 11 punts back for an average of 24.6 yards per return, with one going for a touchdown.

On defense, Maclin was named All-Conference as a safety, as he notched 55 tackles and added four interceptions, including one that he returned for a score. As a junior, he earned first-team All-State honors, as he caught 58 passes for 1,184 yards and 18 touchdowns, while rushing for two scores and also returning one kickoff for a touchdown. He also added 59 tackles and six interceptions. Maclin was a second-team All-Conference pick as a sophomore, catching 33 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns, as he also averaged 25 yards per punt return and 30 yards per kickoff return that year.

Maclin was also a standout on the hardwood, as he averaged 11.2 points, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game for Kirkwood's basketball team. He was an honorable-mention All-State and first-team All-Conference guard as a junior, averaging 13.3 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 steals per game.

After red-shirting in 2006 at Missouri, Maclin burst onto the scene in 2007, becoming the first freshman in school history to earn All-American first-team honors. He set the NCAA freshman single-season record with 2,776 all-purpose yards, scoring a total of 16 times on 199 touches.

He was second on the squad with 80 receptions for 1,055 yards (13.2 avg) and nine scores, adding 375 yards and four touchdowns on 51 carries (7.4 avg), two more scores with a 12.3-yard average on 25 punt returns and averaged 24.2 yards on 43 kickoff returns, including another touchdown.

In 2008, Maclin continued his assault on the school, Big 12 Conference and NCAA record books. The All-American first-team choice was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver. He became the sixth player in league history to catch more than 100 passes (102) in a season, gaining 1,260 yards (12.4 avg) with 13 touchdowns.

Maclin was second on the team with 293 yards and two scores on 40 carries (7.3 avg) and tallied 270 yards on 23 punt returns (11.7 avg) that included another score. With his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, he became the first Big 12 player to score on a kickoff return, punt return, rushing attempt and reception in more than one season. He would also become only the second major college player to gain more than 1,000 kickoff return yards (1,010) in back-to-back seasons.

GENERAL REPORT: GRADE: 7.58

Body Structure: Maclin has a lean and muscular frame with room to add more bulk without it affecting his excellent quickness. He displays a tight waist, defined legs (thighs, calves and ankles), developed abdomen and high cut legs with well-developed hamstrings. He possesses good width in his shoulders and chest and low body fat.

Athletic Ability: Maclin has good overall muscle development and appears to have more than enough strength to defeat the jam. He demonstrates an explosive burst coming off the snap and the loose hips to make defenders miss when weaving through traffic. He shows that second gear to turn a slant pass into a long gainer, and with his exceptional playing speed and burst he can proudly proclaim that he has never been tackled from behind during his career. He is much more than just a receiver, as he has the lower body power to handle the rushing load and break tackles working through the pile. He also displays the vision and patience to follow his blockers and then turn on the after-burners to beat the defense down the sidelines. He has outstanding hip snap and agility to elude in attempts to gain big yardage after the catch. He makes smooth body adjustments and possesses solid hands and extension to catch away from his frame. He has outstanding balance, speed and change-of-direction agility. He shows the second-level speed and explosiveness with a fluid natural running motion to run past most defenders in isolated coverage. GRADE-8.5

Football Sense: Maclin has incredible vision and a great feel for locating the soft spots on the field. He might take his eyes off the ball a few times, but is quick to recover and settle under the pass. He needs route refinement, but is alert to pocket pressure and works back quickly when the quarterback is flushed out. He shows keen awareness on the field, especially with keeping his feet along the sidelines. He is quick to settle into the holes in the zone and is very effective as a cut blocker because of his feel for taking angles. He finds the open areas quickly and does a nice job of working back for the ball, but at this stage of the game he relies more on his speed rather than football experience. He is a good learner who needs just a few reps, thanks to solid retention skills. GRADE: 7.4

Character: Maclin is outgoing and warm-hearted, displaying a work ethic that even the most impatient coach will fall in love with. He has no character issues and even though he was an underclassman, he did a good job of concentrating on academics. GRADE: 7.4

Competitiveness: Maclin is not the type who plays with a swagger, letting his final statistics speak volumes for his competitive nature. He is fearless going for the ball in traffic and will sacrifice himself without hesitation to make the play. He loves to compete and is very confident with producing when his number is called during crunch time (came up with four game-winning plays in 28 contests). He is very tough and aggressive going for the ball, but you would like to see him take a more aggressive approach when facing up as a blocker. When on his game, he will give a good, consistently high effort and he always comes prepared to play, but will sometimes frustrate the coaches by taking the ball out of bounds rather than attempt to drive through the defender. He will perform through pain. GRADE: 7.1

Work Habits: To Maclin, football is important. He is a good worker in all areas, a team-first guy who is generally the last to leave the practice field. He is not the type who needs to be pushed a bit in the weight room, an area that he always embraces. While most draft eligibles left home in January to work at training facilities in preparation for the Combine, Maclin was a regular visitor at the Missouri training facility, preferring to work out on his own. That work ethic produced one of the better Combine results by a player in 2009. GRADE-7.5

ATHLETIC REPORT: GRADE: 7.44

Release: Maclin simply explodes out of his stance and past a lethargic defender to instantly get into his patterns. He has that natural second gear to gobble up the cushion and get behind cornerbacks on deep routes. He needs to sink his pads more (gets too erect at times), but it is hard to mirror him once he gets past his opponent. He also generates decent hand usage to beat the press. He shows outstanding foot quickness and hip shake with suddenness when trying to change direction (very good at freezing defenders at the line of scrimmage). The thing you notice mostly on film is his exceptional acceleration to get up field once he creates the lane. Unlike most speedsters, he does not dance too much at the line and that allows him to show outstanding quickness in his release, with the shiftiness and avoidance ability at the line of scrimmage to defeat the press. Even though he is still developing strength, he does a good job of pushing off the defender and quickly eludes with his swim move. GRADE: 8.6.

Acceleration: Maclin's burst has that "catch me if you can" label for defenders to view as he races by. Once he gets a clean release and into the second level, it is nearly impossible to slow him down. He has great body control and adjustment skills to maintain stride and speed running through tight quarters. He might not look like he has size to run through traffic, but with his strength and burst, he easily creates separation to turn the slants and fades into big gainers. He is reliable catching the ball (secured a nation-high 79.07 percent of the passes thrown to him in 2008). His exceptional speed is more evident on deep patterns, where he consistently gets behind the defender. He has good leaping ability, but just adequate timing, leading to the defense batting away 14 of the 27 balls he did not catch last season. If a defender hesitates, Maclin can change gears and beat his man. He is quick to uncover and even quicker to separate on short patterns. He shows exceptional ability to get open deep, displaying that superb speed needed to take the ball to the house. GRADE: 8.7

Quickness: Maclin is blessed with outstanding quickness on the field. He makes short and sharp cuts without having to break stride and his initial burst is sudden, especially when left uncontested. He can avoid defenders on the move, create lanes and get upfield in an instant once he gets a clean release. It is rare to see him get too busy with the press corners at the line of scrimmage and he quickly gains advantage on the defender due to his speed. He has a good feel for knowing when to gear down in order to prevent from out-running the ball. GRADE: 8.5

Route Running: This is probably Maclin's weakest area. He routes his cuts at times and will drift in and out on long patterns. But, if you need a receiver to fly off the line, especially on posts, this is where he excels. He needs to improve his ability on comeback routes, but compensates with good urgency working back when the QB is flushed. He displays excellent quickness and foot speed in and out of his breaks. When he plays at a low pad level, he gets into his routes immediately. He shows good set up and body control and knows how to use his hands to prevent the defender from attacking him and trying to reroute him with a strong push. GRADE: 5.9

Separation Ability: Maclin showed improvement sinking his hips and exploding out of his breaks as a sophomore, but does struggle to separate when he comes off the snap with an erect stance. He is better served as a slot receiver, as he excels at taking slants and crossers for big yardage rather than lining out wide. He is still a work in progress when it comes to setting up defenders, as he lacks good head and shoulder fakes, relying more on his burst and second gear to elude. Still, that speed and burst allows him to consistently get past defenders. He is very quick out of his breaks, especially when trying to pull and separate with vertical routes and short runs, but must be more conscious of playing with a low pad level. GRADE: 6.5

Ball Concentration: Maclin shows consistency with his body control and quick ball reaction skills to extend and snatch passes along the sidelines, but the coaches wish he would not take the ball out of bounds so much when working along the outside. He has the hands, arm length and extension agility to dig out the low throws, but is most comfortable tracking the ball over his outside shoulder, doing so without having to throttle down and break stride. He has good concentration and keeps his keep eyes on the ball in flight. He still needs to do a better job of being aware of the sticks, but is very adept at working his way back for the pass. GRADE: 7.6

Ball Adjustment: Maclin shows good courage going up for the ball to high point the pass in traffic. He has the functional strength to hold up to punishing hits he takes going over the middle. He shows the ability to make proper adjustments on ball and is very athletic to turn his body around as he tracks the ball well. His flexibility and ability to turn allows him to excel at adjusting to the off-target passes. GRADE: 7.8

Leaping Ability: Maclin runs hot and cold in this category. For a player with his impressive vertical jump in workouts and for one with decent size (shade over six feet), it is puzzling to see all the passes he had batted away from him in 2008 (14 of the 27 passes he failed to get to were broken up by the opposition). He has very good leaping ability, showing the proper explosiveness to go get the ball and out jump, especially on deep patterns, but needs to time his leaps better to be more efficient. GRADE: 6.4.

Hands: Maclin has the natural hands and good ball security skills to excel as a receiver, on the reverse and when returning kicks. He looks natural getting elevation and extension to catch outside his frame and if he drops a pass, it is usually the result of momentarily losing focus. He has soft, natural hands, extending well to catch away from the body's framework. He will revert to body catching, at times, but is a soft hands catcher who just needs to learn how to time his leaps properly to get to the pass at its highest point. GRADE: 8.0.

Run After the Catch: Maclin is an exciting and electrifying open-field runner. He shows outstanding skill set in terms of speed, quickness, agility and change of direction. He is tough to bring down in isolated coverage and does a nice job of sidestepping low tackles. When he is out in front, he will generally win most foot races (never caught from behind in college). GRADE: 8.3

Blocking Ability: Maclin is an effective cut blocker, but does not show great desire to face up to blitzers working in the backfield or along the line. He is more of a pester type, but needs to do a better job of seeking out and neutralizing defenders, especially in the backfield.

GRADE: 8.3.

Compares To: STEVE BREASTON, Arizona -- It is hard to find one NFL player that Maclin is similar to. He has the receiving skills of former Rams standout Torry Holt, but as a slot receiver and returner also draws comparisons to Breaston, even though he is a bit bigger and stronger. He still needs to refine his route running, but much like Carolina's Steve Smith, once he gets that ball in his hands he becomes the most dangerous weapon on the field.

OVERALL GRADE-7.46

Report on Hakeem Nicks:
The first Tar Heel underclassman to declare for the NFL Draft since defensive end Julius Peppers in 2001, Nicks left his mark in the school and Atlantic Coast Conference record books before bolting for the National Football League. He established North Carolina career records for receptions (181), receiving yards (2,840) and touchdown catches (21). He also holds the school single-season records with twelve touchdown receptions and 1,222 yards receiving in 2008, having set the single-season record for catches (74) the previous year.

Nicks' numbers also found him ranking 13th all-time in the Atlantic Coast Conference for receptions and 11th for receiving yards. Among active ACC players, his 10 100-yard receiving performances tops the league, as his 181 receptions rank second and his 2,840 yards is a league best.

Nicks was a Super Prep and EA Sports first-team All-American at Independence High School, where he was ranked the eighth-best player in North Carolina and the 22nd-best wide receiver in the country by Super Prep as a senior. He was named MVP of the Class 4-AA state championship game after leading Independence (15-0) to a 38-19 win over New Bern, coming up with eight receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns (11 and 80 yards) in Independence's 92nd consecutive victory. He never lost a game in his high school career.

Nicks was a North Carolina Associated Press All-State and Charlotte Observer Offensive Player of the Year choice. Rivals.com rated him the state's fourth-best prospect as he received membership to North Carolina's Shrine Bowl team, where he caught a 37-yard touchdown pass among his three catches for 42 yards. In his final season, he led the state with 93 receptions for 1,819 yards and 20 touchdowns, including 10 in the playoffs. That year, he had three straight games with 10 or more catches.

As a true freshman at North Carolina, Nicks earned Freshman All-American and Freshman All-ACC first-team honors from The Sporting News. He started all 11 games he appeared in, sitting out the South Florida clash with an ankle sprain. He led the team and set school single-season records for freshman, catching 39 passes for 660 yards (16.9 avg) that included four touchdowns. His average of 60.0 yards receiving per game ranked third in the conference.

In 2007, Nicks earned All-ACC first-team and All-American honorable mention from The NFL Draft Report. He set the school single-season record with 74 receptions, gaining 958 yards (12.9 avg) with five touchdowns. He went over 100 receiving yards three times as a sophomore and had at least five catches in 10 contests, ranking third in the league with an average of 6.17 catches and second with 79.83 yards receiving per game.

As a junior, Nicks was again named All-American honorable mention and All-ACC first-team. For the third time, he paced the Tar Heels with 68 catches, setting school single-season records with 1,222 yards (18.0 avg) and 12 touchdowns. He also picked up 34 yards and a score on six reverses and helped out on special teams, returning seven kickoffs for 134 yards (19.0 avg) to go with two solo tackles.

Scouting Report
GENERAL REPORT: GRADE: 7.2

Body Structure: Nicks has a well-built frame with good arm length, tight abdomen, thick thighs and well-developed calves. He shows good upper body muscle definition, especially in his chest and shoulders. He has toned arms, long torso and good flexibility, balance and knee bend.

Athletic Ability: Nicks lacks blazing speed, but it is rare to see him struggle vs. the jam as he has more than enough power and good hand usage to get a clean release off the snap. He shows excellent balance and crisp cutting ability, demonstrating the agility and flexibility to make adjustments in his route without having to throttle down. He has very good body control, doing a nice job of settling in the soft areas and displays the vision and burst to come back when the pocket is pressured. He is effective when used on the reverse, keeping his pads down to drive hard with his legs in attempts to break arm tackles. He is a bit of a long strider, but shows above average foot quickness in his patterns. He is fluid in his movements and has sharp stop-and-go action. GRADE: 7.7

Football Sense: Nicks only needs normal reps to learn and retain plays. He shows good awareness and instincts and understands the game and coverages. He adjusts well on the move and has no problems dealing with classroom work. When he gets open, he knows what his job is - to move the chains. GRADE: 7.3

Character: Nicks is highly respected, considered a good guy and is highly recommended by his coaches. There are no off-field issues or skeletons hidden in his closet. He has a quiet, yet friendly personality and is a self-starter with confidence in his ability to get the job done. He's the type of player coaches know will need no structure and is actually used as a mentor for the younger players due to his advanced maturity. Talk to coach Bruce Davis and you will hear the enthusiasm in his voice talking about what Nicks meant to the team. GRADE: 7.8

Competitiveness: Nicks is a good competitor with a strong desire to come out victorious. After never losing a game during his prep days, he knows what it takes to play with swagger. He is the type who thrives getting the ball in his hand in pressure situations. He has enough competitiveness for the position and plays with toughness, competing on every down. He plays at an even tempo and rarely gets rattled on the field. He will not hesitate to extend and sacrifice his body to make the play. Yet, he does lose points for his lack of desire and marginal aggressiveness as a blocker. GRADE: 6.3

Work Habits: Nicks applies himself in practices and games. He is a self-starter in the training room and an adequate student. He is a team leader and takes pride in that role, but is not the rah-rah type who needs to shout to get his point across. "We thought all along that Nicks was among the very special players," Davis said. "He's a fluid, talented player, and that, combined with the progress he's showing, is encouraging. He's a guy who can develop even further." GRADE: 6.9

ATHLETIC REPORT: GRADE: 7.36

Release: Nance has adequate quickness. He is a bit long legged and needs to build to top speed, but has that stride to gobble up the cushion once he gets into gear. He won't be the type who will explode out of his stance, but he has no problems beating the press with his upper body strength and hand usage. For a player his size, he does a nice job of dropping his weight to get small working in the short areas. He won't win many long distance foot races vs. the NFL cornerbacks, but he excels at tracking down the deep ball, knowing how to get into position to make the catch without breaking stride. Even with his average quickness, he shows the elusiveness to avoid the bump-&-run coming off the line. He shows good hand usage to defeat the jam and will use his size to his advantage to gain separation, as his power and strength are some of his better assets. GRADE: 6.8

Acceleration: Nance isn't capable of simply exploding past defenders. He plays a physical game with good field savvy and shows enough deceptive speed to surprise a lethargic cornerback. He is crisp in his cuts and comes out of his breaks with no wasted motion, giving him the opportunity to separate on slants. He has that rare size and strength, along with strong hands to excel getting to the ball in a crowd. He is more of a build up speed type on deep patterns, making some scouts feel he will be best served in an intermediate game, but he sees the ball very well, showing outstanding hand/eye coordination, very good hand placement and moves well, whether left or right. He excels at making body adjustments when going up for the ball in flight. Nicks has good running numbers and shows great separation on film. GRADE: 7.1

Quickness: Nicks shows good quickness once he builds up in his stride. He has deceptive speed to eat up the cushion and looks very smooth getting into his routes. He compensates for a lack of blazing speed with his excellent body control, balance and agility to gain valid yardage after the catch. He shows good urgency coming off the snap and has very light feet, showing flashes of quickness working underneath. GRADE: 6.9

Route Running: Nicks is never going to be able to generate the explosion needed to simply separate, but he is a precise route runner who comes out of his breaks cleanly, doing a nice job of generating YAC when used on slants. For a player of his size, he gets in and out of his cuts so well, thanks to his ability to drop and sink his weight. He is shifty in the open and uses solid head and shoulder fakes to con his man on his patterns. He shows the vision and balance to come back for the ball and stay square. He is best when working on slant and option routes. His savvy moves usually gets cornerbacks to come out of their backpedal and commit too early. He gets a very good push off the defender with his hand usage. He has decent speed, but with his long stride it looks deceptive. He shows good fluid movement and the ability to accelerate out of his breaks. One of his best assets is his double-cut ability. He has no problems sinking and planting coming out of his breaks, especially on the bubble-screen, one of his best plays. GRADE: 7.8

Separation Ability: Nicks' footwork is well above average when trying to separate. He uses his power well to get a clean release and while he is not going to gobble up the cushion on every deep pattern, he has enough of a short-area burst to settle in the soft spots. Even though he does not have the ideal deep speed, he can get vertical, but is best served working on comeback routes. He shows above average sideline awareness, good alertness and field presence. He gets in and out of his breaks fluidly and shows decent ability to accelerate after the catch. GRADE: 7.4

Ball Concentration: Nicks does a nice job of maintaining focus on the ball in flight. Because he will not be able to suddenly run under every ball, maintaining position and tracking the ball is what he does best to compensate. He knows how to open up his hips and sink his pads to get to off-target throws or passes from behind him. The thing you see on film is his ability to make plays in all areas, whether fighting for the ball in the short area or to elevate and snatch the ball at its highest point. GRADE: 7.8

Ball Adjustment: Nicks is a contortionist, as he is always twisting and turning his frame to get into position to make the catch. His long arms let him adjust to the balls thrown down low and he has the extension to get to the high throws outside his frame. You can see on film that he will simply go over people to get to the ball. He is one of the better adjustors to off-line throws and also excels at coming up with the big play working in a crowd. He will sometimes body trap, but his hands are soft enough to compensate. GRADE: 7.7

Leaping Ability: Nicks shows solid leaping ability, as he has made it a regular habit to fly over defenders and get vertical to secure the ball in a crowd. He times his leaps well and has confidence in his ability to reach for the throw at the high point. He knows how to get vertical when he has to and will not hesitate to fight for a high throw. GRADE: 7.4

Hands: What separate Nicks from the other two North Carolina receivers eligible for the draft (Brooks Foster, Brandon Tate) is his natural hands. He is a natural pass catcher and keeps on getting better. His soft hands let him snatch and pluck. He also makes very good body adjustments to deliver the over-the-shoulder grabs. His concentration skills are above average and it is rare to see him drop the ball due to a lack of focus. He does a fine job of catching away from his body and is fearless going for the ball in a crowd. He does a very good job of using his frame to shield the ball from the defender. GRADE: 8.5

Run After the Catch: Nance has that raw, natural power to turn a quick slant into huge real estate. Once he gets his clean release, he is a load to bring down after the catch. He goes full speed at the defender, knowing that he can easily break arm tackles with his strength. He has that peripheral vision and feel for coverages to weave in and out of traffic. At times, he can generate enough of a big burst, especially running the flash screen. He has more than enough acceleration to pick up extra yardage and shows the body control needed to turn up field. His acceleration after the catch will regularly make the slower tacklers miss him. GRADE: 8.2

Blocking Ability: This is a hard area to gauge Nicks in. Whether it is a lack of desire or poor technique, it is rare to see him throw a block for a teammate in the open field. He will face up with aggression at the line of scrimmage, but does not always give total effort. With his size and strength, he could develop into a good position and pester-type who will stalk, but he has to become more involved in this area. GRADE: 5.4

Compares To: RODDY WHITE, Atlanta -- Actually, Hicks looks more like a smaller version of Keyshawn Johnson. He has very good power and runs precise routes, displaying some of the best hands in this draft. He won't beat a cornerback on deep patterns using pure speed, but he's a savvy route runner who is also light on his feet for a player his size.

OVERALL GRADE: 7.33

So your comparing Eric Meltcalf with Roddy White with Steve Breaston (according to CBS) although on upside, Harvin appears to be the most explosive, Maclin the most versatile, and Hakeem the most upside for TDs. This might simply come down to your league's scoring and go with the WR that best suits your league's scoring system.

Personally, I enjoyed watching Hakeem Nicks play on occasion both in person and on TV. The kid can absolutely fly and has good hands. He made some serious highlight reel catches. What HE compares to me is Muhsin Mohammed (antoher Carolina WR, great hands, power, size, sneaky speed (if you disrespect him he'll burn you) and ability to make some WOW catches.

[bungle613]

Wow.... a new record for biggest post????

[LS2throwed]

Personally, I enjoyed watching Hakeem Nicks play on occasion both in person and on TV. The kid can absolutely fly and has good hands. He made some serious highlight reel catches. What HE compares to me is Muhsin Mohammed (antoher Carolina WR, great hands, power, size, sneaky speed (if you disrespect him he'll burn you) and ability to make some WOW catches.

To me Hakeem Nicks=Michael Irvin, to the T.


He'll be perceived as a guy who doesn't have much upside but people felt that way about Anquan Boldin also or else he wouldn't of slipped out of the 1st.

[Free Bagel]

I don't ever see him pulling in 90-100 balls like Nicks

See, I think Harvin could end up filling an Eddie Royal type player that catches a ton of passes underneath.

Really, when you consider it, the similarities are nearly endless.

Royal wasn't used as a pure WR in college, and came into the league with people doubting his ability to fill that role. Route running, etc were questioned, but he's a gifted physical athlete with good hands. Harvin fits the exact same mold.

Denver had a good running game (even without a standout back, they were top 5 in the league in rushing), and a good deep threat in Marshall. This freed up Royal to have single coverage on the underneath routes. Minnesota fits the same mold. Good running game, good deep threat (Berrian's biggest problem is that he's ONLY good at going deep), freeing up Harvin for single coverage underneath.

Also, like Royal, Harvin actually lacks elite speed, but has beyond elite quickness and burst. People think Harvin is one of the fastest guys out there. At his top end, he's not, and he got run down from behind several times in college. He appears to be one of the fastest guys out there because his burst is unreal. I'm convinced that if there were such thing as a 10 yard dash at the combine, Harvin would have run one of the fastest times ever. This skill translates greatly for a WR, and is much more important than top-end speed IMHO.

Think about it. If the coaches can teach Harvin to run crisp routes (and scouts were enamored with his route running at his pro day and at the combine, we just didn't get to see a lot of it on game film because of the role he was asked to play), he'could be unbelievable. He already has great hands. Against Minnesota, teams will need an extra safety in the box for Peterson and an extra safety over the top for Berrian. That leaves one guy underneath on Harvin. Now put yourself in that guy's position. Harvin runs up to you, with the cutting ability and burst of few you've ever lined up against before, and at this point he could break into a slant, he could break into an out, he could break into an in, etc. There's no way you can cover that if he has a QB that can throw a 5 yard in when the WR has several yards of separation, which I think Sage can do.

[thriftyrocker]

Harvin - Always dominated the competition. Never carried the load unless asked to (championship game, vs. Ole Miss, etc.). The best and worst of Santana Moss with a learning curve and bad habits. His playmaking will translate to the NFL, but it could just be as a returner and gadget play option. I would not be surprised if he turned into a good sell high opportunity early, but biggest risk.

Nicks - Safest but lowest ceiling. Route running should be a go-to option for deciding between WRs and he is really the only one of the 3 who is even used to running routes, plus he is good at it. That said, I watched UNC a bit, and I don't think he'll be a PPR beast in the NFL. His skill set is closer to the other Steve Smith than Boldin or Reggie Wayne. I think he adds to the team's collection of capable but meh WRs. Even if he is Reggie Wayne, he's Eli's Reggie Wayne.

Maclin - Best blend of athletic ability and WR ability. Decent opportunity to grow into #1 slot in great offense as I think he fits the Eagles better than DeSean (quick passing as slot in spread -> quick passing in WCO). I don't think he'll make the immediate impact that DeSean did given there's less of a vacuum of talent than there was last year. He will be heavily involved early but with Curtis and DeSean also there, the ball will be spread around. I would not count on consistency until the situation shakes out, but that will take a while as I'd expect Curtis to play out his contract and DeSean to get an extension offer.

My homerism makes me like Maclin best and I think he has the most talent. Nicks is a good safe bet if you are starved for a warm body. Really I don't think any of these are worth picking at 1.6. I would be looking to the QB-starved owner to try to get a more established WR or trying to make a deal or look at the guy with 1.4 and ask him how much more he really wants Brown over Greene. A 1.4+2.4 for 1.6+1.7 deal would work great in your favor. You can still get a warm body at WR like Mike Thomas, plus get the RB you want.

I'm in a similar position in one league. Picks 1.5+1.6 but roster limits mean I can only add one RB. I will probably draft Stafford if I can't trade up.