Jerry Jeudy is a wide receiver for the Denver Broncos. He hails from Deerfield Beach, Florida, and was a star receiver at Deerfield Beach High School. He exited high school as a five-star recruit, the No. 3 ranked wide receiver recruit in his class, and the No. 21 prospect overall according to 24/7 Sports.
Jeudy played his college ball at the University of Alabama where he was part of a wide receiver room that included four eventual first-round picks. He played sparingly as a freshman but rattled off 145 receptions, 2,478 yards, and 24 touchdowns in his last two seasons in Tuscaloosa. That is just the beginning of Jeudy’s pristine prospect resume. His 17.2 college yards per reception ranks in the 82nd-percentile of wide receivers. His 25.1-percent College Target Share is in the 74th-percentile, and his 19.4 breakout age ranks in the 81st-percentile.
Sparkling college production, a 4.45 40-yard dash, and superior route-running prompted the Denver Broncos to draft Jeudy in the 1st round (1.15) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Jeudy’s rookie season was solid, but left plenty of meat on the bone. He finished No. 5 in Air Yards, but No. 2 in Unrealized Air Yards. Denver also dealt poor quarterback play and a revolving door at the position. As a result, Jeudy hauled in just 52 of his 113 targets for 856 yards and three touchdowns to finish as the WR45.
Fantasy gamers expected Jeudy to break out in 2021. His ADP was WR29. Those hopes were dashed quickly, however. After a six-reception, 72-yard half in Week 1, Jeudy suffered a high ankle sprain that forced him to miss the next six games. That ankle sprain hampered Jeudy and his production. He had only one game with more than the 72 yards he registered in Week 1. Jeudy ended up with a 19.9-percent Target Share, playing just 64.5-percent of Denver's snaps when available, and running only 232 routes. His 209 Yards After Catch ranked No. 48 among wide receivers and he still finished No. 27 among receivers with 2.01 Yards Per Route Run. His 2.45 yards of Target Separation topped all receivers but Jeudy finished the 2021 season with just 38 receptions for 467 yards and no touchdowns in 10 games. His 8.3 Yards Per Target lagged behind, at No. 44 among receivers. He ended the season as the WR98 in fantasy football scoring.
Denver’s offense took a step back in 2022 with new QB Russell Wilson and head coach Nathaniel Hackett at the helm. Jeudy earned 100 (No. 32) targets, finishing with 67 receptions for 972 receiving yards. Some of his best games happened after Week 13, getting a top-three fantasy finish in Weeks 14 and 18. Now with Sean Payton inserted, Jeudy will have a chance to produce as Denver’s WR1 in 2023.
