Washington Redskins prediction: Josh Doctson will break out in 2017
By Donny Starr
Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Doctson missed his rookie campaign due to injury, but seems due for a breakout year in 2017.
Is Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Doctson finally ready to play? According to Washington Post beat writer Master Tesfatsion, fans may finally see the former TCU standout in action. He’s a full participant in OTAs and should get up to speed and ready to take the field in 2017 after working in the offseason.
Doctson gave fans a eye’s blink of what he could do last season, bringing in two catches for 66 yards before returning to the bench with Achilles issues. Both catches came in heartbreaking losses for the Redskins.
He caught his first ball for nine yards in the Redskins’ 38-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. His second was a week later for 57 yards in the 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. While these numbers are far from conversation starters, there are a few observations to highlight.
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To begin with, there’s no doubt that Doctson will be a target in 2017. In the wideout’s second game, Kirk Cousins targeted him five times. The catch he made was a deep ball, an area the Redskins are often very conservative. Cousins rarely throws deep, averaging fewer than 10 yards per attempt. That’s not for a lack of ability, but rather just by design.
What’s more, Doctson’s height adds to a sizable receiving corps currently on the roster. At over 6-0, the former Horned Frog will provide a nice possession target in addition to being a deep threat. He’s a playmaker, simply put.
Doctson needs to secure the starting role and justify everyone’s patience. People have been salivating to see this young man have a breakout year. Head coach Jay Gruden never faltered on his high expectations for Doctson. The guy just needed to get healthy.
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The Redskins will likely give him every opportunity in the preseason to show what he’s got to offer. If Doctson can impress, he’ll keep his No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind newcomer Terrelle Pryor. And if he’s on the field, he has the talent to impress every time out.