Rookie Watch Josh Doctson WR WAS

If you’re building around a young quarterback there are two “musts” – providing stable pass protection and talent at the receiver position. Washington made Kirk Cousins its quarterback this offseason by turning its back to Robert Griffin III and handing Cousins a bigger check. Then the team made TCU’s Josh Doctson its first round draft choice. It’s a solid move, and one fantasy owners may see instant results from.

The Redskins ranked 11th in passing yards last season (4,095) and tied for 13th in touchdowns (30). The team does have a running game, but the heart of this attack will continue to be Cousins’ arm (whether Washington wants it to be or not). Doctson has a ton of talent and showed at TCU that he can produce near the goal line. Not particularly fast, he has good speed for an average-sized receiver. What he does better than anyone in this draft class is find the ball in traffic; his hands and knack for coming down for the football could make him a favorite among Washington fans.

Dissecting the depth chart: It’s not as if the cupboard is bare. Two Redskins receivers tallied 100 or more targets in 2015 (Pierre Garcon and tight end Jordan Reed). Reed will probably be the top weapon in this passing attack again this season, but Garcon will soon turn 30, and while not the sour age it is for running backs it’s still an age to be wary of for any skill position player. Clearly the Redskins would like to get younger at the position. The team invested a mid-round pick in Jamison Crowder last year and was rewarded with encouraging results (59 catches). And, of course, the Redskins still have DeSean Jackson to stretch defenses, although Jackson’s production is not what it was a few years ago (just one 100-yard game in 2015).

Just the stats: Doctson caught 35 passes in 2011 as a freshman for Wyoming, including five for touchdowns. Those numbers attracted bigger schools and Doctson transferred to his home school of TCU, where he resumed playing in 2013. He had more than 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons with the Horned Frogs and a combined 25 touchdown catches. Despite missing the final three games of the 2015 season due to a wrist injury he still managed to rack up 1,327 yards. At one point in his final collegiate season Doctson rattled off six consecutive games with 125-plus yards and at least two scores. That streak included games against Texas Tech, Texas, Kansas State and West Virginia.

2016 Projection: 63 receptions, 898 yards, 5 TDs

2015 rookie comparison: Amari Cooper

Doctson is not as dynamic or gifted as Cooper, but someone has to compare with 2015’s top rookie wide receiver, so might as well be Doctson. Cooper gained more than 1,000 yards in his first NFL season and finished second on the team in catches (72) and touchdowns (six). Cooper also had five 100-yard games.

Interesting fact that won’t help you: Doctson was a member of TCU’s Bleacher Creatures as a young boy.

What he’s worth: He could be worth a No. 3 in standard leagues if camp goes well in the Nation’s Capital. Right now Doctson has the most opportunity of the 2016 rookie wide receivers.

Follow Mike Beacom on Twitter @mikebeacom