Young quarterbacks love their college pass catchers—it’s a love story as old as time. Chemistry takes time to master, and a head start is invaluable.
Troy Franklin was Bo Nix’s top target at the University of Oregon for two seasons. The pair helped elevate the Ducks into a perennial National Contender threat. Nix got all the headlines, but Franklin ended his collegiate tenure as the most decorated receiver in school history. In 2023, he set single-season program records in yards and touchdowns while earning 1st Team All-Pac-12 honors.
That historic campaign helped him get drafted in the 4th round this past April. Denver surely picked him because of his own merits, but the preestablished connection with Nix definitely didn’t hurt.
The transition to the pros can be treacherous for a rookie wideout, as the game is more condensed and methodical. Across his first four outings, he had 12 targets but just 29 yards. Despite hardly seeing the field, Franklin was getting looks because of the familiarity with his quarterback and how gifted of a route runner he is. For a moment, the breakout looked inevitable as Nix launched a gorgeous 50-yard ball down the sideline, which…slipped through a wide-open Franklin’s hands.
Rather than benching him for his crucial blunder, Broncos‘ coach Sean Payton trusted the talent would shine through. In the most recent contest against the Chargers, Franklin played 65% of his club’s offensive snaps, including most in the second half. Denver was down 23-0, which prompted them to exclusively pass late, but the fact that he was part of the valiant comeback effort speaks volumes.
Franklin finished the afternoon with just two catches for 31 yards but found the endzone for the first time in his young career. His cohesion with Nix increases his chance to get an increased workload over time, which is half the battle. Nix has shown he is better in high-tempo with gun formation, where he can act as a point guard from the pocket. That plays perfectly into Franklin’s strengths, which helps uncap his ceiling.
In deeper leagues, it’s best to check Franklin’s availability before he fully bursts onto the scene. In more traditional formats, he projects better if you’re on the bottom of the waiver wire and want a low-risk, high-reward move. He has little DFS value right now, but I expect that to change in the near future.
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