Fantasy Upside
When Cleveland selected Baylor receiver Corey Coleman with the 15th pick in the first round, the Texans had to call an audible, and GM Rick Smith responded by trading up in the first round for the first time in his 10 years of overseeing the draft. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Texans had Coleman and Fuller as the wide receivers they coveted the most -- big-time playmakers with blazing speed and game-changing ability. To guarantee he could select Fuller, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 at the scouting combine and 4.28 at his pro day, Smith gave up one of the Texans two sixth-round draft choices in 2017 to Washington to move up one spot. Fuller, a two-year starter who scored 30 touchdowns at Notre Dame, fills a need. He gives the Texans a weapon who can stretch defenses opposite DeAndre Hopkins, who developed into one of the best in the NFL last season when he caught 111 passes for 1,521 yards (13.7 per game average) and 11 touchdowns.
Fantasy Downside
Fuller dropped 10 passes during his final collegiate season, so he'll have to improve in that area under new receivers coach Sean Ryan. He'll also have to quickly master Bill O'Brien's fairly complex offense along with incoming QB Brock Osweiler.
2016 Bottom Line
Fuller is going to be a popular pick in Dynasty formats and a flier in redraft leagues. As a receiver last season, he had 34 plays of at least 20 yards. But owners in redraft leagues shouldn't be in a rush to secure his services until we see signs he's picking up the offense sufficiently to carve out a role as an immediate contributor.
