Physical traits, speed, agility, explosiveness attributes of Top WRs (What's the formula?)

Wide Receivers are constantly a hot topic on here. While doing some research I stumbled on an article from 2012 detailing using some physical attributes to determine NFL success as it pertains to predict top 25 WR in points per reception fantasy leagues. He was attempting to find something that worked for both fantasy sports and real life after all, the fantasy sports are based on real life stats and production.

https://dynastyleaguefootball.com/2012/06/14/wide-receiver-measurements/
I decided to delve into these questions by looking at what seems to be one of the most difficult positions to predict for fantasy players and NFL teams – the wide receiver. My goal was to figure out what measurements mean the most and see if there were any trends that might help us increase our odds of getting that next big receiver and lessen the chances of drafting yet another wide receiver bust.
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The author took the top 25 WRs for a PPR league and determined the following as physical attributes, then averaged them and awarded a point if the player was above the average, deducted a point for incoming rookies below the minimum and added a bonus point for a player drafted in the 1st round. Round drafted was the only non-physical attribute calculated.
According to his research the incoming 2012 class top rated WRs using this formula was Alshon Jeffrey and AJ Jenkins, both with a score of 7. Previous years had Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson with 10s, AJ Green and Larry Fitzgerald with 8s, Marques Colston was a 3. TY Hilton from the 2012 class was a -3 as he had quite a few deficiencies. The thought is you can overcome a deficiency if you are strong in another area whereas multiple deficiencies are more difficult to overcome.

I took this calculation add applied it to the top 25 reception leaders from the 2019 season while factoring in Tyreek Hill, so 26 players were averaged.

2019 Averages:
Height: 72.5 inches
Relative Body Size: 2.82 pounds
Hand Size: 9.53 inches
40 Yard Dash Time: 4.49 seconds
Vertical Leap: 36.27 inches
Broad Jump: 122.35 inches
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.18 seconds
3 Cone Drill: 6.87 seconds
Round Drafted: 2.5


2019 Minimums:
Height: 68 inches
Relative Body Size: 2.56
Hand Size: 8.5
40 Yard Dash Time: 4.65 seconds
Vertical Leap: 28.5 inches
Broad Jump: 110 inches
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.5 seconds
3 Cone Drill: 7.17 seconds
Round Drafted: UDFA

Below is how each WR scored. 8/25 1st round selections, 9/25 2nd round selections, 5/25 3rd round and only 3/25 were 4th round or later selections with 1 being a UDFA.

2019 Receptions Leaders:
Michael Thomas: 7 (largest hands at 10.5 inches)
Keenan Allen: 2 (missing vertical, broad jump, 20 yard shuttle and 3 cone)
DeAndre Hopkins: 6 (missing 3 cone, was the minimum or slowest on 20 yard shuttle at 4.5 seconds)
Julian Edelman: 5 (fastest 20 yard shuttle time)
Julio Jones: 9 (slower than the average on the 20 yard shuttle)
Allen Robinson: 6
Cooper Kupp: 3
Tyler Boyd: 3
Robert Woods: 1
DJ Moore: 8
Chris Godwin: 6
Davante Adams: 6
Jarvis Landry: 3 (mins on 40, vert, broad and missing data for 20 yard shuttle and 3 cone drill)
Tyler Lockett: 3
Amari Cooper: 8
Jamison Crowder: 1 (mins on height and 3 cone drill)
Larry Fitzgerald: 6 (10.5 inch hands, missing vert, broad, 20 yard shuttle and 3 cone)
Odell Beckham: 8
DJ Chark: 5 (3rd fastest 40 and 2nd highest vertical, missing data on 20 yard shuttle and 3 cone drill)
John Brown: 3 (minimum on relative body size)
DeVante Parker: 5 (missing data on 20 yard shuttle and 3 cone drill)
Courtland Sutton: 7
Christian Kirk: 4
Cole Beasley: 3 (missing hand size, minimums on height and relative body size)
Mike Evans: 6
Tyreke Hill: 4 (min on height, fastest 40, highest vertical, quickest 3 cone and below min hand size)

3 Rookies from 2019 class:
Deebo Samuel: 6 (10 inch hands)
AJ Brown: 5
DK Metcalf: 7 (fast 40 and min on 20 yard shuttle)

Current Saints:
Michael Thomas: 7 (largest hands at 10.5 inches)
TreQuan Smith: 6 (.03 off hand size from being average)
Keith Kirkwood: 2 (.01 off from 40 average, .03 off from hand size average, .02 off from relative body size average, 81 inch wing span)
Krishawn Hogan: 6 (.03 off from 20 yard shuttle average)
Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 1 (below minimum for 40 time)
Emmanuel Butler: 1 (10 inch hands, below min for 40 time, 20 yard shuttle and 3 cone) 20 yard shuttle is only .02 below the minimum.
Deonte Harris: 3 (below minimum for height)
Maurice Harris: 1 (below minimum for broad jump)
Tommylee Lewis: -2 (below minimum for hand size and height)
Alvin Kamara: 3 (calculated him just for reference to WRs)

I had planned to hold off and post after the combine and pro days, but there are some WRs who are already jumping out with limited data. The 40 times I have found are all estimated or from their recruiting numbers. A few WRs have had their hand size measured during recruiting. The numbers below are just based on height, weight, project 40 and if their hand size is available. No bonus points have been awarded for projected round drafted. These guys have a pretty good head start before being measured/timed.

Laviska Shenault Jr.: 3
Gabriel Davis: 3
Brandon Aiyuk: 3 (10 inch hands)
Chase Claypool: 4 (10 inch hands)
Antonio Gandy-Golden: 3
Donovan Peoples-Jones: 3
Tyrie Cleveland: 3
James Proche: 3
Austin Mack: 3 (10 inch hands)

Using this data and applying it to our current wide receivers and the roles they look to fill based on previous opportunities I project the following WRs making the 2020 roster leaving potentially 2 open positions to be filled through FA, trade, draft or UDFA.

Michael Thomas (Obvious lock, best in the game)
TreQuan Smith (Lock)
Keith Kirkwood
Krishawn Hogan
Deonte Harris

I took his thoughts from 2012 and applied them to current WRs to see how it would hold up. Overall, the top WRs based on receptions are above average in many of the attributes, have few if any deficiencies and are drafted in the top 3 rounds. However, as in the article this was just used to compare and project top WRs, the NFL is loaded with guys who are not at the top and perform for their respective team. This does not account for being able to catch, play football, run routes, learn a playbook, stay out of trouble, health, etc.