The Player
Darius Powe is about as "watch list" as you can get.
The undrafted receiver out of Cal was Jared Goff's second target in 2015 but finished with only 560 yards in what was his best collegiate season. The silver lining, however, would be the the eight touchdowns he also scored.
While much of the preseason hype in New York is (deservedly) heading in the direction of fellow rookie Sterling Shepard, Powe possesses something that Shepard and superstar Odell Beckham Jr. do not: size.
Standing 6'3 and 220 pounds, Powe is an imposing target with a catch radius that is hard for defenders to match. But this isn't just a big, slow guy who can win a jump ball; Powe possesses legitimate NFL speed and athletic measurables that place him on par with some of the NFL's premier targets:
| Name | Hght | Wght | 40 yd | 10 yd | Vert | Broad | 3Cone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darius Powe | 6' 3" | 220 | 4.49 | 1.59 | 34½" | 120" | 6.94 |
| Michael Floyd | 6' 3" | 220 | 4.47 | 1.57 | 36" | 122" | 7.11 |
| Alshon Jeffery | 6' 2⅞" | 216 | 4.48 | 1.64 | 36½" | 122" | 6.71 |
| Larry Fitzgerald | 6' 2⅞" | 225 | 4.48 | 38" | 6.94 | ||
| Kenny Britt | 6' 3" | 218 | 4.49 | 1.56 | 37" | 124" | |
| Jordy Nelson | 6' 3" | 217 | 4.51 | 1.5 | 31" | 123" | 7.03 |
| Dwayne Bowe | 6' 2" | 221 | 4.51 | 1.53 | 33" | 125" | 6.81 |
| Josh Gordon | 6' 3" | 224 | 4.52 | 36" | 121" | ||
| Dez Bryant | 6' 2" | 225 | 4.52 | 1.4 | 38" | 133" | 7.21 |
| Eric Decker | 6' 3" | 217 | 4.54 |
Consistently switching positions and being overlooked in college clearly impacted his overall numbers, but this is an athlete with the size, speed, hands, and work ethic to become a Marques Colston or Eric Decker style receiver: unafraid to do the dirty work and always a favorable target in the red zone.
The Opportunity
Absent a monster preseason, Powe is likely headed for the practice squad for the start of his NFL career. Beckham and Shepard are locked in as the top two receivers, with Dwayne Harris occupying a valuable role on special teams and in the slot.
Victor Cruz's return could be the difference between making the 53-man roster and being stashed away until the team needs him. And with Cruz continuing to battle either new or compensatory injuries in camp, it forces you to wonder if his career might be over.
After Cruz, Powe will battle several other camp bodies for the final spots on the roster and potentially a role in what has proved to be an explosive passing offense under third-year offensive coordinator and now head coach Ben McAdoo. Under the coach's tutelage, Manning has averaged 4,421 passing yards and 32.5 touchdowns a season.
While it is easy to view offenses as a stagnant conglomeration of numbers, don't underestimate the ability of Manning to improve as he gains more familiarity in this offense and as the weapons around him improve. And as that statistical pie grows, so obviously does the opportunity for additional players to have fantasy relevance.
If Powe can earn the trust of his coaches and of Manning, he is a player to watch heading into the 2016 season.