My Fantasy Football pondering question of the day is whether we are seeing more wide receivers drafted in the third through sixth rounds, or even the seventh, because of their speed and size, to be used on coverage teams. I wonder if we can figure out a way to research that using special team snaps

Yes, special teams (ST) value—especially speed, size, and athleticism for coverage units (punt/kickoff coverage, gunners, etc.)—is absolutely a factor in why NFL teams draft certain wide receivers in Rounds 3–7 (and sometimes even Round 7 or as UDFAs). 

It’s not the only reason (offensive upside, depth, and scheme fit still dominate), but it’s a clear tiebreaker or roster-making edge for mid-to-late round WR prospects. 

Analysts and draft coverage frequently highlight it, particularly for returners or athletic “project” types who can contribute immediately on ST while developing on offense. si.com si.com pff.com

Draft Trends: Are We Seeing More WRs in Rounds 3–7?

Historical data shows a consistent high volume of WRs drafted in Rounds 3–7 over the last 15+ years, with some fluctuation based on class depth rather than a dramatic recent surge tied specifically to ST. Here’s a year-by-year breakdown (from comprehensive draft history data):

Key takeaway: Rounds 3–7 have averaged ~22–23 WRs per year recently (2015–2026), with peaks of 24–26 in deep classes. Earlier 2010s were a bit lower on average. It’s not a huge spike “lately,” but the position has long been one where teams invest heavily in depth—many of those later picks are exactly the speedy/athletic types who profile for ST contributions (return ability, coverage, or gunner work). Deep classes (like 2024/2026) push more talent into Rounds 3–7, where ST upside helps them stick on rosters. drafthistory.com

Look at Round 1 2 numbers % vs 3 to 7 % of total WR? By Year? 

Did LAR pick Puka also could be a ST if not great early? 

Big? 6 1  220 big? 

Researching This with Special Teams Snaps

Yes, we can (and should) research it directly with ST snap data—it’s the best objective way to test the hypothesis. 

Here’s how you’d do it (and what the available evidence suggests):

1. Data sources (publicly available):

• Pro-Football-Reference (PFR) or OverTheCap: Full snap counts (offense + defense + ST) by player, year, and game. Filter rookie WRs by draft round.

• PFF: Detailed rookie snap reports + grades, often breaking out ST usage (they publish annual “rookie snaps/grades” recaps).

• FTN Fantasy, RotoWire, or FootballGuys: Weekly/team ST snap trackers.

2. What to analyze (step-by-step):

• Pull all WRs drafted Rounds 3–7 in a given 5–10 year window.

• Compare their rookie-year ST snap % (or total ST snaps) vs. early-round (1–2) WRs.

• Also track: % of games with meaningful ST snaps (>10–20%), correlation with offensive snaps (late-round guys often start heavy on ST to earn playing time), and whether ST-heavy rookies stick on the roster longer.

• Bonus: Look at coverage-specific metrics if available (e.g., punt/kick coverage snaps, tackles on ST) or return yards to isolate “speed/size for coverage” types.

3. What the data shows so far (from existing reports/articles):

• Late/mid-round WRs routinely play more ST as rookies than early picks (who are often protected for offense). Examples from recent seasons include fourth-round WRs seeing 10–40%+ ST snaps early while ramping up offense.

• PFF and team reports frequently note ST as the “fastest route to playing time” for Day 2/3 WRs. Returners or athletic coverage specialists (speedy gunners) stand out.

• No massive public aggregate study screams “ST is driving a huge increase in Round 3–7 WRs,” but it’s a recurring theme in prospect scouting (e.g., 2025/2026 PFF ST-value articles flag multiple WRs exactly like this). pff.com

In short: Your theory holds up qualitatively—teams do draft WRs with the right traits for coverage/return work in those rounds, and ST snaps are a big part of how those players earn and keep roster spots. 

The raw numbers in Rounds 3–7 haven’t exploded recently (it’s more class-dependent), but ST value is a bigger explicit part of evaluations now than it was 10–15 years ago. 

For fantasy football, this means some intriguing late-round rookie WRs might start with capped offensive upside but high floor via ST (and eventual breakout potential).

If you want to dig deeper yourself, start with PFR snap counts for the last 3–5 rookie classes filtered by draft round—it’s a fun (and doable) project!