The “Arizona Air Raid” is one of 2019’s most intriguing offenses and fantasy storylines. Early on, all we knew was the pace will be fast and the pass attempts plentiful. Now, we’re beginning to get a better-picture of who’ll be feasting on this juicy “Aerial Pie.”
Christian Kirk, Larry Fitzgerald, and David Johnson were all locks for healthy target totals. Still, in an offense expected to roll out four WRs (10 Personnel) as its base formation, more mouths will be fed.
Thus far, rookie WR KeeSean Johnson is the early favorite to emerge with the third-WR spot. Despite falling below Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler on Draft Day, Johnson is making the greatest camp impact.
He may lack the athleticism of his rookie compadres, but Johnson’s received the most first-team reps due to reliable hands and route-running. Any meaningful piece of this potential Air Bonanza is worth a fantasy stab. As a likely starter, the largely undrafted Johnson needs more fantasy love.
Though his timed speed (4.6 forty) may be lacking, Johnson’s game speed and “smoothness” in his routes have been routinely praised. GM Steve Keim gushed: “Early on, KeeSean Johnson has looked fantastic.. He’s a guy that, I think, could break out as a rookie. He’s a really natural route-runner.”
Meanwhile, HC Kliff Kingsbury raved:
“He’s picked up the system really, really quickly… We thought he was one of the top two pure route-runners in the draft, and it shows.
“He can get in and out of breaks. Great hands, competitive catches, as you’ve seen throughout the first couple days… he’s off to a solid start.”
Meanwhile, rookie competitor Isabella has struggled with drops, while Butler’s limited route tree has been evident. Both have also made plays, but neither has matched Johnson’s consistency. This has allowed Johnson to form a strong bond with Kyler Murray. The pair has “found some great synergy,” with Johnson “a frequent target of Murray, particularly on underneath, crossing routes.”
Despite besting Davante Adams records in high school and college, Johnson, a fellow Fresno State product, has routinely been overlooked — hence his sixth round selection. Your fantasy team will benefit if you buck this trend and buy Johnson in your later rounds.
