Jahan Dotson was drafted by the Washington Commanders with the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The rookie will compete with Terry McLaurin for targets from the Commanders new quarterback, Carson Wentz. Dotson is one of those wide receiver prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft class who plays a lot bigger than he's listed and what he actually measured in at the NFL Combine -- both from a height and weight standpoint. And when you throw on his game film at Penn State, you are in some ways reminded of former Penn State turned NFL star Allen Robinson. Like Robinson, Dotson boasts three key NFL-caliber traits -- separation skills underneath via route running, elite body control to adjust to off-target throws and the ability to high-point the football in contested-catch situations. The more you watch Dotson, the more you see him making plays using all three of these traits -- and it's easy to like him.
With that said, at 5-11 and 178 pounds, Dotson doesn't have the same Robinson frame and projecting where he fits at the next level is a bit trickier. He plays bigger than his size, but some feel Dotson may be limited to the slot at the next level with a height in the 22nd percentile and weight in just the 7th percentile among all receivers. Dotson's ability to separate from coverage with a variety of head fakes and nifty footwork, plus his leaping ability and contested-catch prowess lead me to project that he'll be able to compete on the outside as a boundary receiver in the NFL. And that's incredibly important when it comes to projecting his short and long-term playing time and role.
Age as of Week 1: 22 | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 178 | 40-time: 4.43
Comparable body-type to: Odell Beckham Jr.
We're breaking down everything you need to know about Dotson from a Fantasy manager perspective, including best fits, Dynasty outlook, measurables, scouting report, key stats and an NFL comparison.
Best Fantasy fits
It's hard to be optimistic about this landing spot. Terry McLaurin will still likely be the No. 1 wide receiver in this offense and Carson Wentz is an average quarterback at best who has no longterm guarantee. In Dynasty that offers some hope that Dotson could get a star quarterback as early as next year, in redraft it makes it hard to see how this offense is good enough, and Dotson's role is big enough, to make a Fantasy impact. He shouldn't be drafted in the single-digit rounds.
Dynasty outlook
The draft capital the Commanders spent on Dotson is enough to guarantee he'll be a Round 1 pick in rookie-only drafts, but he's a tier (at least) behind the guys who were drafted ahead of him. Dotson is a high-end WR3 in Dynasty with upside that's dependent on his development and an improved situation around him. Dotson will likely fall to the point in rookie drafts where it's better to see if you can get a random 2023 first as opposed to drafting him.
Scouting report
Strengths
- Dotson plays much bigger than his actual frame.
- One of the best contested-catch receivers in the class -- from high-pointing to plucking away from his frame -- his tape has everything you're looking for when it comes to battling for 50/50 passes in traffic.
- Impressive catch radius despite his size -- throw it anywhere near him and he'll make a play.
- Operated as the No. 1 option in the Penn State offense in 2020 and thrived in that role.
- Can play outside -- and did so for most of his career -- but might be an even better fit in the slot at the NFL level.
- Has experience and success a returner.
- Sudden and snappy footwork allows him to create separation with a wide variety of routes without almost any wasted motion.
- Dynamic after the catch when he gets some space -- looks like a return man once the ball is in his hands on routine underneath throws.
Concerns
- Dotson is a late breakout (became the player he is during junior 2020 season at Penn State) and he'll enter the NFL at age 22.
- Size is not ideal for an outside boundary receiver,- though we've seen receivers make this work with similar builds like Odell Beckham.
- Not as straight-line fast as you expect him to be based on his 40 time, and not as fast game speed on vertical routes.
- Can struggle to stack the corner and create separation when running the vertical route tree -- this could impact his translation to the NFL level unless he plays the slot.
Stats breakdown
| G | Rec | ReYds | Avg | TD | |
| 2021 | 12 | 91 | 1182 | 13.0 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 | 52 | 884 | 17.0 | 8 |
| Career | 42 | 91 | 2757 | 15.1 | 26 |
Advanced stats to know
- 2.2% drop rate in 2021 -- he catches what's thrown his way.
- 13.0 career yards per catch
NFL comparison
Dotson reminds me in some ways of a rich man's DaeSean Hamilton, and not just because both receivers played at Penn State. Dotson's ability to create in the open field and his impressive catch radius should make him a great fit in any West Coast offense, but there are certainly concerns about his long-term fit as a boundary receiver on the outside.