Rookie Profile: Ja’Lynn Polk Wide Receiver, New England Patriots
Welcome to Rookie Profile: Ja’Lynn Polk, University of Washington sophomore wide receiver. Polk grew up in Lufkin, Texas, and attended Lufkin High School. There, he amassed 131 receptions for 2412 yards and 24 touchdowns.
As a 3-star recruit, Polk joined Texas Tech and played with the Red Raiders for one season, with modest production. After transferring to Washington in 2021, he played two full seasons for the Huskies, breaking out in 2023 with 69 receptions for 1159 yards and 9 scores.
Polk, like the rest of his teammates, had a disappointing National Championship game. However, he was instrumental in the semifinal win against Texas. Showing up on the big stage was yet another sign that he’s ready for the NFL and should be taken within the first two rounds of this year’s draft.
Measurables
Draft Capital & Landing Spot
Draft Capital- Round 2 Pick 5
- This is a sizeable investment from the New England Patriots on what was viewed as a slightly above-average wide receiver. A massive run on offensive players in the 2024 NFL Draft saw the receiving position depleted quickly, so it’s no surprise that the Patriots were forced to jump up and perhaps over-draft Polk.
- Regardless of whether you believe in Polk or not, a day-two selection is more than enough to allow him a shot to blossom and be the most productive wide receiver in this wide-open Patriot’s receiving room.
Landing Spot- New England Patriots
- This landing spot can be viewed in several ways. On one hand, the Patriots were one of the league’s worst offenses in 2023 and project to be even worse this season, but that’s what everyone said about the Houston Texans last season, so stranger things have happened and in the NFL, things can change quickly.
- The upside to this landing spot is that there is no receiver on this roster with a defined role and Polk has a limitless ceiling based solely on how much of a role he can win.
Team Depth Chart
Expected Role: Developmental Quarterback/Backup
Depth Chart via Fantasy Pros
Fantasy Impact
The fantasy impact here is interesting. He is projected to be a mediocre receiver with only a slightly above-average ceiling, and he joins what is projected to be a bottom-level offense. So as far as the upside is concerned, Polk is probably not a great target for elite potential.
The sole upside for his fantasy impact is the fact that he may be the lone capable receiver on the Patriots and can walk into a massive target share if he shows out in training camp.
Polk has a massive range of outcomes. He could be a total bust and waste of a pick or he could find himself as a target monster on a team with very few other options.
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe Sneak Peek Video of Ja’Lynn Polk.
Check out our 2024 Rookie Rankings Page for a full breakdown of this rookie class.
