Pro Football Focus ranks Chase Claypool a Top 3 Rookie at Wide-Receiver in the NFL

Surprise, Surprise the 11th drafted wide-receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft is now ranked the Top 3 rookie wide receiver in the NFL. He was drafted at number 49 by the Steelers and bypassed by many other rookie wide-receivers currently playing in the NFL. Claypool was projected to be better at playing tight end according to some media that cover football. That projection has now been demolished. Claypool was announced the Fed Ex Air and Ground Player of the Week. He was the Snickers Hunger Player of the Week. This morning Claypool was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week in the NFL. That's incredible. PFF now has Chase Claypool ranked at an 82.7 overall grade higher than JuJu Smith-Schuster (70.9), James Washington (61.0), and Dionate Johnson (73.4). Here is why Pro Football Focus has named Chase Claypool as the 3rd best rookie wide receiver in the NFL.

Rounding out the top three rookie receivers thus far is the one they call “Mapletron.” Claypool, who some believed was far better suited at tight end, has demolished all expectations. He was predicted to come along slowly in a developmental role in his rookie season.

To hell with that, as Claypool absolutely erupted in Week 5 to the tune of four touchdowns and another 40-yard touchdown that was wiped off the board due to a tacky pass interference penalty. The Canadian has received only 19 targets on the season but has reeled in 13 of them for 261 receiving yards and a whopping four touchdowns. The big-bodied weapon has also hauled in three contested catches (ranks second among rookies) and is absolutely dominating with his 3.53 yards per route run figure, ranking second among all receivers in the NFL with 10-plus targets.

Claypool’s vicious start to his rookie season has resulted in a tremendous 82.7 overall PFF grade, which currently ranks seventh among all receivers in the NFL.