Leonard Hankerson to the Redskins: Fantasy Impact

Leonard Hankerson has a chance to make quite the impact for the Washington Redskins and may start the season as the number one receiver if Santana Moss is not retained.

Even if Santana is retained there is reason to believe that the Shannahan’s will push for Hankerson to get the number one reps as he is an excellent vertical option who averaged 16.1 yards per catch in his final season of college.

ESPN the magazine also reports that Hankerson had a better ypa on short passes that the much more heralded Julio Jones and that he also gained 575 yards on vertical passes (10 yards or more) to Julio’s 502.

Fantasy Impact:

As mentioned above Hankerson has a good shot to be functioning as the Redskins number one receiver from week one.

It is hard to peg Hankerson’s potential in his rookie season not understanding what the rest of the roster is going to look like but on his own merit he has 70 reception, 1,120 yard, 7 TD upside this season.

The total yards may sound like a lot but he has proven a reliable vertical option and at 16 yards per catch at 70 receptions he will end up with 1,120 yards on the season.

If Hankerson somehow fails to crack the starting lineup his upside is closer to 50 receptions, 800 yards receiving and 6 TDS.

Hankerson deserves to be the third to fifth rookie receiver off the board in redraft leagues and we currently have him ranked as the number three dynasty receiver with the understanding that he may very well be the Redskins number one from day one.

The Redskins have needed a true number one receiver and red-zone weapon for years and they have potentially got their man in Leonard Hankerson after striking out with Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas.