A Wide Receiver to Target in Each Round of Your Fantasy Football Draft
Charles Johnson, Minnesota Vikings
ADP: 84 (7.10)
Everyone loves a Cinderella story.
Starting his NFL career as a seventh-round draft pick by the Packers before being placed on the Cleveland Browns practice squad, Charles Johnson would eventually be signed onto the Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster.
And in less than a season, Johnson would find himself transformed from Cleveland cast-off into someone that, according to offensive coordinator Norv Turner, was "Far and away [the Vikings] best receiver."
And despite the recent acquisition of Mike Wallace from the Miami Dolphins, I don't think that's changed.
Early reports suggest Johnson is coming into 2015 one step above his 2014 form. Adam Caplan recently came away from Vikings camp impressed by Johnson, calling him the "real deal."
While Johnson was certainly a pleasant surprise for Minnesota, what's even more impressive is that his production came while he was still recovering from a knee injury that cost him a roster spot on the Cleveland Browns earlier in the year.
Now nearly two years removed from his ACL tear from 2013, Johnson can focus on honing his craft. On this note, Johnson has bulked up his 6' 2" frame to 225 pounds in an effort to be a physically dominant target for second year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
This size combined with his 4.4-speed makes for a scary combination that places him in the same company as elite wide receivers Julio Jones (6' 3"/220/4.38) and Demaryius Thomas (6' 3"/230/4.38).
As I wrote early last season, Johnson displays amazing hands, can catch the ball away from his body with incredible ease, and displays excellent body control.
While his seventh-round ADP makes him a bit of a risky proposition, his upside and flashes of brilliance last season despite his circumstances makes him well worth the cost.