Player Profile: Terry McLaurin

Terry McLaurin was one of the bright spots for Washington in 2019. The Ohio State product was taken in Third Round of the draft, and made a big splash as a rookie. But it was something of a lost season for Washington, which finally moved on from head coach Jay Gruden and finished 3–13, second worst in the NFL.

Washington made a lot of changes in the off-season, including bringing in head coach Ron Rivera and new offensive coordinator Scott Turner. But McLaurin remains the best of a thin and young receiving corps. Alongside second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins, can McLaurin continue his ascension as one of the best young receivers in the game? Let’s weigh the evidence.

Year Two in the Nation’s Capital

McLaurin had a huge year for Washington as a rookie. He played in only 14 games, but still led the team with 93 targets for 58 receptions, 919 yards and seven TDs. He was something of a fantasy darling early in the season with veteran Case Keenum. He had at least five receptions and a touchdown in each of his first three games. In Week 6, he caught four passes for 100 yards and two TDs. But that was followed by a slow middle stretch. Then McLaurin’s college teammate, and potential franchise quarterback, Haskins took over, starting the seven games in the back half of the season.

Haskins had his struggles, finishing with a 2–5 record and throwing for just 1,365 yards, seven TDs and seven INTs. The offense struggled to put up points during that time, too. And that has led to some hesitations about the Washington passing attack heading into 2020. In fact, it’s fair to say that hopes for McLaurin are in large part tied to Haskins, who might have some competition from newly signed backup Kyle Allen, formerly with Rivera in Carolina.

But while Haskins wasn’t great, throwing for more than 200 yards only twice in seven starts, he did manage to find McLaurin. This was particularly true down the stretch, in Week 12 to Week 16. In Week 12 against Detroit, Haskins connected with McLaurin for 72 yards on five receptions. In Week 14 against Green Bay, the pair connected for 57 yards on four receptions and a touchdown. A week later, in Week 15 against the Eagles, McLaurin caught five passes for 130 yards and a TD from Haskins. And in their final game together, Week 16 against the Giants, McLaurin had six passes from Haskins for 86 yards. That shows that Haskins was looking for McLaurin and finding success when he targeted him.

McLaurin also remains the best option in the passing game. Behind him Washington has Trey Quinn, rookie Antonio Gandy-Golden and Steven Sims, Jr., on the depth chart, along with a tight end group led by Jeremy Sprinkle, Thad Moss and Logan Thomas. Promising receiver Kelvin Harmon was lost for the season with a knee injury this week, leaving the receiving corps even thinner. This is largely the same group as 2019, where McLaurin was by far the leader in targets and receptions. It was a performance strong enough to help him to a WR29 finish in 2019.

The Bottom Line

McLaurin is a talent and figures to be the top target again. In Dynasty it isn’t a question he should be taken in the first part of the draft. But looking at 2020, it’s fair to have concerns based on what the team looked like in 2019. But Haskins had a better connection to McLaurin than you remember, and new offensive coordinator Turner helped guide Allen to a solid season in Carolina last year despite a lack of starting experience.

McLaurin is currently going as WR27 in PPR and WR29 in Standard. That feels like a good spot, since he finished in that range in 2019 despite being a rookie and playing in just 14 games. With a full season, and a little bit of growth, he could easily jump into the WR2 conversation (Top 24 in 12-team leagues), which gives him some value as an every week starter at receiver or flex. I like McLaurin’s talent, and I expect him to take a step forward, whether or not the team is more competitive.