As we close in toward a new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy football values constantly on the move, and nothing shakes up the league like the recently finished NFL Draft, where young rookies begin their NFL careers.
Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of New York Giants rookie WR Jalin Hyatt.
Jalin Hyatt’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
Were there other teams I would’ve preferred to have seen Hyatt selected by during the NFL Draft? Yes. I would’ve loved seeing him with the Chargers, but I must say I am a fan of Hyatt joining the Giants.
At 6’0″ and 176 pounds, Hyatt is a leverage changer and forces defenses to adjust on the field due to his vertical speed. He was the preeminent vertical threat in college football last year, averaging a whopping 41.8 yards per touchdown reception in 2022.
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Hyatt thrived in Josh Heupel’s offense, which maximized the lateral space on the field and placed Hyatt in a choice/option scheme where all he had to do was read the leverage over the top and adjust his route accordingly.
So long as he and Hendon Hooker were on the same page, it was lights out, as demonstrated in Week 7 against Alabama, where Hyatt caught six of eight targets for 207 yards and five touchdowns. Despite losing Hooker midseason due to an ACL tear, Hyatt ended the 2022 campaign with 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns on 67 of 89 receiving.
Outside of Tank Dell, no one in this class has the play speed of Hyatt. However, he is more than just speed and flash, something Hyatt wanted to prove during his pro day workout.
Hyatt Is Not a One-Trick Pony
Just because Hyatt was asked to do a particular role at Tennessee doesn’t mean he can’t run routes. Go back and look at his touchdowns in 2022. His first touchdown of the season came from the slot, and after a delayed release, he cut across the face of the DB and scored on a 4-yard slant. The other one came off a delayed release with an inside jab step, running a slot fade to the back pylon and flashed his hands late to secure the catch.
There’s nuance to his game. Hyatt finished fourth in YPRR against zone coverage last season (3.51) and likely will step into the Darius Slayton role, which is more valuable than you might think. Last year, Slayton was 12th in deep targets, 15th in yards per target, and 10th in yards per reception. Those deep posts will now go to Hyatt, who will have a far better time maximizing the per-opportunity upside of those looks coming his way.
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The Giants needed a legit No. 1 wide receiver, and the jury is out on Wan’Dale Robinson, who is recovering from an ACL tear that he had surgery to repair on Dec. 14.
While I don’t know if that will be Hyatt when the dust settles, he’s likely a better route runner than being given credit for due to Tennessee’s scheme. He is in the top two in this class in terms of best hands and is a natural catcher, attacking the ball away from his body rather than letting it come into his pads.
All I know is I would not want to be a linebacker or cornerback trying to cover him. With an aggressive Daniel Jones, plus Darren Waller drawing coverage, Hyatt is going to turn some heads in 2023, both in real life and in fantasy.
Jalin Hyatt’s Fantasy Ranking
New York has been steadily fixing the errors of past regimes, but as noted above, wide receiver remains an enigma. They have a ton of undersized slot receivers on their roster, with Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder, and Robinson. Even Slayton and Sterling Shepard played over 30% of their snaps in the slot.
Although New York was -5.6% in passing rate over expectation, we saw them open up the passing game more under Brian Daboll, with Jones finishing as the QB9 and earning a contract extension. He only averaged 200.3 passing yards per game and threw 15 touchdowns in 15 starts, but a good portion of this is likely the pass-catching talent at his disposal.
The additions of Hyatt and Waller at tight end should help move the Giants toward league average, if not flirt with the top 10. Additionally, it will help sustain drives, especially ones that reach scoring range (inside 35), where the Giants’ 35% third-down conversion rate was tied for the 10th worst last season.
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I am still realistic with Hyatt, as there are some unknowns in his game, but as the WR55 in dynasty, there’s a ton of upside baked into his current value. I’ve seen Hyatt ranked as high as the WR5 of this class, and for me, he is the WR9 in the same tier as Marvin Mims and Rashee Rice.
A second-round pick in most dynasty rookie drafts, Hyatt will be a value across the board in 2023, and I expect it to carry into the fall with Hyatt in the back half of the draft.
Wherever his initial ADP starts, I will expect him to rise two to three rounds by the time the season begins, as headlines coming out of camp will likely push more managers to become bullish on Hyatt. If you feel this is possible, I suggest investing in Hyatt now before his price rises over the summer and roster one of the few leverage changers in the 2023 rookie class.