Skyler Bell Analytical NFL Draft Profile

Sep 20, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell (1) runs the ball against et Ball State Cardinals in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Film Profile | Analytical Profile

Prospect Information

College: Connecticut
Height/Weight: 6'0"/187
Hands: 9 1/4"
Age: 22 (at the time of the 2026 season opener)

Important NFL Combine/Pro Day Numbers

40-Yard Dash: 4.41
Vertical Jump: 39.5"
Broad Jump: 10'4"
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A

Model Overview

My Wide Receiver Rookie Model evaluates receiver prospects through the traits that historically translate best to fantasy production. The model weighs target earning, market-share production, route efficiency, role deployment, ball skills, athletic translation, age, breakout timing, teammate competition, team context and historical outcome trends.

Bell stands out as a versatile receiver with a fantasy-friendly usage profile, useful target-earning traits and enough athletic support to project into multiple NFL roles. He does not win with rare size, but the model likes his all-around receiving profile and the ways he can create value from different alignments.

The model views Bell as a flexible movement receiver whose fantasy appeal comes from alignment versatility, target-earning ability and a profile that can fit both slot-heavy and mixed-deployment roles.

Model Derived Athletic Scores

BMI: 26.0
Speed Score: 99.4
Burst Score: 45.8
Agility Score: 0.69
Composite Athleticism Score: 0.14
Historical Athleticism Percentile: 68th

Understanding the Athleticism Score

The Composite Athleticism Score blends size-adjusted speed, burst, agility and model-derived translation when full testing is unavailable. The percentile compares Bell to historical wide receiver prospects in the database.

Bell projects as an above-average functional athlete in this model. He is not built around rare size or overwhelming perimeter traits, but his movement profile supports the type of usage versatility that can create NFL and fantasy utility.

Receiving Efficiency Metrics

Yards per Route Run: 2.12
Yards per Target: 8.9
Touchdowns per Target: 7.4%
First Downs per Route: 0.110
Targets per Route: 0.276

Bell's efficiency profile is strongest in the target-earning categories. His targets per route run stands out as the kind of signal the model likes because it points to a receiver who consistently found ways to earn opportunity rather than relying only on schemed touches.

Usage and Alignment

Average Depth of Target: 9.8
Catch Rate: 70.4%
Contested Catch Rate: 47.1%
Contested Target Rate: 12.6%
Drop Rate: 2.9%
Yards After Catch per Reception: 6.1
Slot Rate: 48.8%
Wide Rate: 49.7%

Bell's deployment was one of the more flexible ones in the class. He worked both inside and outside at meaningful rates, which gives him a broader projection path than some of the more role-specific receivers on the board. That kind of versatility matters for early playing time.

Production Snapshot

2025
Games: 12
Targets: 94
Receptions: 66
Receiving Yards: 838
Receiving Touchdowns: 7
Routes Run: 341
Yards per Game: 69.8
Touchdowns per Game: 0.58

Target Share: 23.4%
Yard Share: 25.7%
TD Share: 26.9%
Dominator Rating: 26.3%
Yards per Team Pass Attempt: 1.92

Bell's 2025 season gives him a solid production foundation. He handled useful volume, produced efficiently enough to matter and posted respectable all-team market-share numbers. That profile is not as flashy as the top of the class, but it is strong enough to keep him in the mix.

Positive Indicators

Strong target-earning profile

Bell's 2025 volume and targets per route run both point to a receiver who earned the football at a healthy rate.

Alignment versatility

His balanced slot and wide usage gives him multiple paths to finding NFL snaps and fantasy relevance.

Above-average movement-based athleticism

The model likes Bell's functional athletic profile, which supports his ability to separate, create after the catch and contribute in multiple roles.

Areas of Concern

Not built around one dominant trait

Bell's profile is balanced, but it does not have one overwhelming feature that guarantees a high-end projection.

Ceiling may be role-dependent

His best fantasy outcomes likely come in offenses that lean into his versatility rather than using him as a low-volume complementary piece.

Less physical margin than bigger perimeter receivers

He does not get the same size-based boost that some of the outside receivers in the class carry.

Historical Model Comps

Jayden Reed
Christian Kirk
Wan'Dale Robinson
Ricky Pearsall
Josh Downs

This comp cluster reflects versatile movement receivers whose fantasy value is tied to target earning, alignment flexibility and the ability to generate efficient touches.

Historical Fantasy Tier Outcomes

WR1 (Top 12): 18.7%
WR2 (13—24): 16.4%
WR3 (25—36): 13.7%
WR4 (37—48): 6.8%
Outside WR4 / Bust: 44.4%

These outcomes are exclusive and sum to 100%. Bell's distribution points to a usable fantasy profile with multiple starter-level paths, though much of the upside depends on role quality and target consistency.

Early Career Fantasy Outlook

Year 1: WR35'WR50
Year 2'3: WR22'WR38

Bell projects as an early complementary contributor with the upside to become a useful fantasy starter if his NFL team gives him steady multi-alignment usage and enough target volume.

Dynasty Translation

Bell profiles as an intriguing dynasty target for managers who value flexible receiver roles and functional movement ability.

He brings useful 2025 production, strong target-earning support and enough athletic translation to project into multiple NFL usage paths. That gives him a believable route to fantasy relevance even without a classic alpha profile.

The model sees Bell as a receiver who can become a useful fantasy piece if his NFL team leans into his versatility and allows his movement-based strengths to create consistent opportunity.

This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Skyler Bell Rookie Profile: Fantasy Football Outlook for 2026