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The buzz around the NFL's 2024 rookie class has been building like a crescendo, and as we edge closer to the kickoff of Week 1, the hype doesn’t seem to be taking a breather anytime soon. This surge in excitement isn’t just fan chatter -- it’s bolstered by the clarity brought on by the NFL Draft in April, putting fresh faces in definitive places. For fantasy football aficionados and die-hard NFL fans alike, understanding where these rookies have landed offers a clearer picture of what to anticipate this season as NFL teams have begun reporting to training camp.
Among these fresh talents is Malachi Corley, a standout wide receiver from Western Kentucky, who has been snatched up by the New York Jets. His robust frame and explosive ability to break tackles and rack up yards after the catch drew comparisons to none other than Deebo Samuel Sr. of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL Scouting Combine, hinting at a promising fit within the Jets' offensive playbook.
As rookie drafts in dynasty leagues have already heated up, fantasy managers are eyeing prospects like Corley, betting on their transition from college heroes to NFL playmakers. With his demonstrated prowess in clutch catches and yards-after-catch scenarios, Corley has the chance to be a significant asset even as a rookie. As training camps progress and preseason games unfold, keep a keen eye on this young receiver -- his blend of size, speed, and agility could very well make him a potential standout rookie in 2024.
Malachi Corley - NFL Rookie Profile
Team: New York Jets
Position: Wide Receiver
College: Western Kentucky
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 22.3
Arm Length: 32 1/8"
Hand Size: 9 1/8"
2024 NFL Draft: Round 3, Pick 65
A Productive College Career
A native of Orange City, Florida, Corley was a multiple-sport athlete in high school, but only received one FBS offer, which was to Western Kentucky. Though his inaugural season in 2020 was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Corley’s collegiate track record was nothing short of impressive, boasting 236 receptions, racking up 2,826 yards, and dancing into the end zone 27 times from 2021-2023.
Corley is best after the catch as a runner with the ball in his hands. He can break tackles and make defenders miss in space, as evidenced by his 55 forced missed tackles over his last two collegiate seasons. Corley ended his career at WKU in the top three of every receiving category as well.
Rookie WR Malachi Corley in the gauntlet. #Jets pic.twitter.com/Jr2Vml0auL
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) June 11, 2024
Corley flashed an exceptional 9.2 YAC (yards after the catch) during the last two seasons and has been referred to by many as the "YAC King."
Where Does Corley Fit in the Jets Offense?
If there's one weakness that Corley will need to improve on at the NFL level, it will be running a bigger route tree as a large number of his touches in college were manufactured near the line of scrimmage. In fact, Corley's career aDOT (average depth of target) in college was just 6.3 yards, one of the lowest of any of the wide receivers in the 2024 draft class.
Per NFL scout Dane Brugler of The Athletic,"Corley is a shorter target with an average catch radius who wasn't consistently used as a downfield target, and his deep-track skills downfield are unproven." Corley also played 91.5% of his career snaps in college out of the slot, per PFF.
The good news for Corley is that this fits in well with the current Jets receiving corps featuring the talented Garrett Wilson and veteran Mike Williams, who both primarily line up on the outside. There isn't much depth behind them in a receiving corps that also features Xavier Gipson, Allen Lazard, and Jason Brownlee. As of now, Corley's main competition for playing time in the slot will be Gipson.
A bit of tactical nuance to go along with the physicality of Malachi Corley
Sound🆙 pic.twitter.com/cvI8byaN7w
— AngeloFF (@angelo_fantasy) February 10, 2024
As we know, the entire fortunes of the Jets' 2024 season completely hinge on the health and ability of 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Last season, Rodgers' Week 1 debut was cut short by an Achilles injury, and now he's in the trenches working on a comeback that has fans and pundits alike holding their breath.
The Jets, notorious for their quarterback carousels, are putting a lot on the line with Rodgers. He could either revive the magical arm that made him a perennial MVP candidate or, quite possibly, find that the sands of time have left his tank perilously close to empty.
Rodgers' saga adds an intriguing layer of suspense to the Jets' offensive outlook for 2024, marking it with a particularly wide range of potential outcomes. If Rodgers can channel some of that old Lambeau magic, he's got the tools and the tenacity to lift the Jets to heights they've not seen in quite some time.
However, the specter of age and injuries could just as easily spell a different tale, one of struggles and what-ifs. The Jets' season hangs in the balance on the threads of Rodgers' health and form, making every snap, every throw, and every game a critical piece of the larger puzzle as they chase glory in the notoriously unforgiving gridiron of the NFL.
Malachi Corley - 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Running back Breece Hall was electric in 2023 with 1,585 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns, which says a lot considering how bad the offense was with Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Trevor Siemian under center. The Jets front office made some sound decisions in the offseason, signing veteran tackle Tyron Smith as well as drafting offensive tackle Olu Fashanu with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Corley has a chance to be the team's primary slot receiver immediately as he is only competing with Gipson at this time. While we know the lion's share of the targets will go to Wilson, there is plenty of room for Corley to see some targets thrown his way. The hope is that the Jets want to take advantage of his athleticism and ability as a ball-carrier by dialing up some manufactured touches for him via bubble screens, jet sweeps, and motion.
Screen target rates from the 2024 WR class, Malachi Corley big YAC guy. pic.twitter.com/WjjEoUzjiC
— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) May 22, 2024
While he still needs to develop as a wide receiver and expand his route tree, Corley does have some exciting ability as a playmaker and was taken early in the third round of the draft by the Jets. Given some of the other offensive stars on their roster, there won't be a lot of pressure for Corley to be "the guy" early on and he could thrive in an ancillary role as a complement to Wilson and Hall.
Being that it didn't have a second-round pick from the prior trade for Rodgers, New York will need to squeeze everything it can out of Corley and move the ball down the field. His success as a rookie will come down to how he is used and how much he can improve as a receiver during training camp. Given that the Jets will be featured in prime-time games six times this season, we should all be hoping that's the case!
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