2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: 2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Xavier Worthy, WR Texas
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Xavier Worthy, University of Texas junior wide receiver. Worthy hails from Fresno, California, attending Central East High School. He was named to the All-American team in his senior year.
Worthy was a 4-star recruit and initially committed to the University of Michigan before eventually enrolling at Texas. His freshman year was arguably his best, as he hauled in 62 receptions for 962 yards and 12 scores. The Big-12 Freshman of the year followed up his breakout campaign with a solid sophomore season. His junior year saw more volume but he was only able to post 5 touchdowns all season, a career low.
Despite Worthy’s decline in production from his freshman year, he saw more volume and posted the most yardage of his career in 2023. A high school track star, Worthy is also expected to boast the fastest 40 times of any wide receiver in his class. This makes him an immediate deep threat and field stretcher in the NFL, a role he’s proven he can occupy during his time at Texas.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2021 | Texas | Big 12 | FR | WR | 12 | 62 | 981 | 15.8 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 63 | 988 | 15.7 | 12 |
| *2022 | Texas | Big 12 | SO | 13 | 60 | 760 | 12.7 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 0 | 62 | 774 | 12.5 | 9 | |
| *2023 | Texas | Big 12 | JR | WR | 14 | 75 | 1014 | 13.5 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 0 | 79 | 1049 | 13.3 | 5 |
| Career | Texas | 197 | 2755 | 14.0 | 26 | 7 | 56 | 8.0 | 0 | 204 | 2811 | 13.8 | 26 | ||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Elite speed with one of the fastest expected 40s in this class
- The initial burst is impressive
- Impressive YAC ability given speed and quickness
- Deadly on deep shots and crossers, also good in the screen game
- Adjusts well to ball in the air with good body control
- Tracks deep ball well
Weaknesses
- Has been shut down by elite corner play
- Never matched the completeness of his freshman-year production
- Can be out-muscled by more physical defenders
- Drops are an issue
- Difficulty with contested catches
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Early/Mid 2nd Round
Ideal Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals
The Falcons have pick 43 overall in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft. While I think this is the likeliest landing spot for Worthy, a potential better spot is the Cincinnati Bengals. With their 49th pick, Worthy could still be available as a replacement for Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, both of whom could be on their way out. If so, Worthy can immediately command targets as the far-and-away number two target in a great offense.
If the Bengals choose to move on from Higgins, Worthy would immediately become fantasy-relevant. He’s a deep threat for sure, who can also take pressure off of Ja’Marr Chase. Of course, Tyler Boyd, Irv Smith, and Chase Brown can all elevate their usage to become threats in the short to intermediate areas of the field. This would be ideal to allow Worthy to work the deep middle and boundaries while Chase runs amok wherever there’s space.
We know Joe Burrow is an elite QB. We also know Higgins earned a fantasy-relevant share even when lining up with Chase. If the stars align, Cincy should be a very favorable spot for whichever rookie wide receiver ends up a Bengal.
Post-Draft Analysis
Pick 1.28 to the Kansas City Chiefs
Worthy
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe video breakdown of Xavier Worthy below.
