Why Detroit Lions receiver Kenny Golladay is due for a breakout rookie year
By Kellen Voss
One under-the-radar rookie is due for a breakout year, and that rookie, Detroit Lions receiver Kenny Golladay, is ready to set the league on fire.
Zay Jones. Dalvin Cook. Juju Smith-Schuster. Whenever a fantasy football article makes the rounds on the internet, it mentions these three guys in the rookie section.
Most yearly guides, who have disrespected the Detroit Lions in the past, list all the quality rookies, usually sporting a list of 15-20 rookies with a couple sleepers listed, often including these three players at the top.
One name is routinely left off all of these lists, and its honestly quite insulting. Kenny Golladay, the Lions’ lanky third round receiver, will be the true impact fantasy rookie this season. And he will more than make up for the loss of Anquan Boldin in Detroit’s passing game.
I’m sure this lack of respect for Golladay has little to no impact on him. This has certainly not been the first time Kenny has been overlooked by so-called “scouts and experts”.
After a high school career filled with a bounty of highlights, hard work and old-fashioned determination, Golladay only received one scholarship offer coming out of high school, from North Dakota.
After two years and a five inch growth spurt, Golladay transferred to Northern Illinois, saying he “just wanted to play football” and “do what he had to do” to play the game he loved. He then posted an impressive 160 catches in 2 seasons, including 18 touchdowns and a measly five drops. He was the best receiver in the MAC this past year not named Corey Davis, the fifth overall pick in the draft.
I fell in love with Golladay on YouTube after he was drafted by the Lions. He can provide the Lions with a deep threat to open up the field, and his quickness and 6’4” frame allows him leverage over the average corner.