Carnell Tate Dynasty Value: Just Get Him the Dang Ball

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Carnell Tate’s college production doesn’t scream dynasty stud.

He never came close to leading Ohio State in catches or receiving yards.

Raw stats tell only part of the story, though. Tate battled elite target competition, maintained strong efficiency, and put translatable perimeter-WR traits on tape. It’s no surprise he has generated buzz as an early Round 1 draft pick.

Let’s examine Tate’s full profile and then project his dynasty value.

Carnell Tate Dynasty Values

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Carnell Tate Draft Profile

Carnell Tate Combine Results

WR Coach Spots Early Potential

Tate joined Ohio State as a four-star prospect, and his summer practices drew praise from WR coach Brian Hartline.

"Carnell has done a great job," Hartline said via 247Sports. "As a football player, he is very mature. … He's definitely put himself in position to play very, very meaningful reps.”

Opportunities were limited, though.

The Buckeyes returned Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as starting WRs. Add senior Julian Fleming to the mix, and Tate settled into a rotational role in one of the nation’s deepest WR rooms.

Tate finished his freshman season with 18 catches, 264 yards, and 1 TD. His best outing came at Purdue: 3 catches for 79 yards with Egbuka sidelined.

Harrison left for the NFL in 2024, but Tate’s path to targets didn’t improve.

Tate Faces a New (and Immovable) Hurdle

Ohio State welcomed freshman WR Jeremiah Smith in 2024. Quickly, the five-star recruit emerged as one of the nation’s top playmakers.

That left Tate competing for targets alongside two terrific talents. The Buckeyes’ conservative passing volume didn’t help, either, providing just 28.4 attempts per game. 

Here’s how the trio compared:

Note: Tate played one fewer game than his teammates. He sat out the Iowa matchup as a precaution.

Tate’s per-game production still lagged, but that’s understandable. Egbuka already looks like a future NFL star, while Smith is on track for top-5 draft capital.

Tate’s efficiency remained strong. He posted a 77.6% catch rate on 14.1 yards per reception. And he peaked in the semifinals vs. Texas, tallying team highs in catches (7) and yards (87).

Egbuka’s move to the NFL gave Tate a shot at more targets in 2025.

Injury Interrupts a Breakout Season

Tate appeared set for a dominant junior season.

Through eight games, he tallied 39 catches, 711 yards, and 7 TDs. That’s 4.9 catches, 88.8 yards, and 0.9 TDs per game … in another low-volume passing attack.

Then, a calf injury forced three absences. 

"It was just a little injury that was nagging me," Tate said via 247Sports. "The rest and that time out served me well." 

Tate Returns to Cement Excellent 2025

Tate returned with 5 catches for 82 yards and a TD at Michigan. He followed that with 4-45-1 vs. Indiana before a quieter showing in the postseason loss to Miami (3-37-0). 

Overall, Tate delivered a strong junior season. He thrived as a downfield perimeter threat, scoring five TDs of 40+ yards. At 6’3, he showed impressive physicality, converting 85.7% of his contested targets and recording zero drops.

Tate also posted a 77.3% catch rate despite his average target depth jumping 3.3 yards (11.3 to 14.6).

Next, let’s review the film and see what Tate’s skill set means for dynasty managers.

Carnell Tate Highlights

Games Watched: Oregon (2024 Playoff), Indiana (2024), Texas (2024), Notre Dame (2024), Texas (2025), Washington (2025), Minnesota (2025), Penn State (2025), Michigan (2025), Indiana (2025), Miami (2025)

Crafty Release Gets Tate Open

Tate beats a press alignment and slips past soft contact off the line. He uses subtle footwork and hip movement to fake inside, freezing the CB. That gives Tate separation as he accelerates downfield.

Tate tracks the ball and prepares for the catch. The pass comes in underthrown, so Tate stops and adjusts late to keep the CB from reading the play. He then elevates to create a catch point above the defender and se

The adjustment results in a TD catch.

Tate’s nuanced route running, especially on deep routes, should translate to any NFL system. His ability to create separation and win contested catches allows an offense to lean on him as a primary receiver. That means more targets and more fantasy points.

Tate Wins Deep Without Burner Speed

Tate faces single-high off coverage with a clear chance to score if he beats the CB. A subtle outside step forces the defender to open his hips, allowing Tate to break inside. Tate fights through contact and separates downfield.

Despite his modest 4.53-second 40 time, Tate excels at running deep routes. He often beats faster DBs with savvy route technique and subtle movement that forces defenders to guess.

If Tate lands next to another talented WR, he could see more one-on-one matchups to generate big plays. That could lead to immediate fantasy production as a rookie.

Sideline Reliability Makes Tate a Chain Mover

Tate runs a comeback route and works back to the sideline pass. His catch radius and ball skills show up as he reaches out to catch the pass and secure a 20-yard gain.

He even keeps both feet in bounds (instead of just one required for a catch in college). That makes this a catch at any level.

Ohio State leaned on Tate on third downs to move the chains with throws along the sideline. Reliability on third down should keep Tate on the field for a high snap count in any offense.

Tate Turns Tough Catches Into Big Plays

Tate runs a smooth in-route against the blitz for what should be a quick completion. The pass arrives slightly overthrown, but Tate extends and secures it with strong ball skills. He then sidesteps the safety, breaks the tackle, and keeps his balance to add 30 more yards.

Because Tate often worked downfield in 2025, his after-catch ability gets overlooked. His vision and power after the catch should translate well to the NFL. That skill set could also boost his target volume in PPR leagues. Tate’s new team should use him on shorter routes than Ohio State, which can translate into more targets than just being a deep threat.

Carnell Tate Team Fit: New Orleans Saints

The Saints might have found their long-term QB in Tyler Shough. They’ve already invested heavily in the O-line. Now, attention shifts to WR. 

Chris Olave leads a depth chart that includes Devaughn Vele, Mason Tipton, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Kevin Austin Jr. Beyond Olave, only Vele has registered a 40-catch season (2024).

Olave is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2026. Even if the Saints extend him, this offense lacks a second option to stress opposing defenses.

Enter Tate, who could see the volume to become a fantasy WR3 right away.

Dynasty Value Conclusion: Big-Play Traits and WR2 Upside

Tate joins the NFL with a better dynasty case than his counting stats suggest. 

Ohio State’s loaded WR room kept him from ever commanding a dominant target share, but the efficiency proved excellent. He exits college with a 75.2% catch rate and 15.5 yards per catch.

The film backs up his production, especially on vertical routes, sideline work, and difficult adjustments at the catch point. Tate doesn’t have high-end speed, and he showed it at the Combine with a 4.53 forty time. Still, his tape proved that he can win downfield without being a burner.

His ball skills should also earn early trust from his QB.

Tate sits second in our dynasty rookie WR rankings, making him a target at the 1.03 of 1-QB rookie drafts and the 1.04 in superflex.

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Kevin English, Senior Analyst

Kevin brings 15+ years of experience as a fantasy analyst and mid-stakes competitor across various formats (redraft, best ball, dynasty, DFS). He finished 1st in FantasyPros Draft Accuracy competition in 2024. Kevin's work has been featured in The Mercury News, NBC Sports/Rotoworld, and FantasyPros.