Ray-Ray McCloud joins the Atlanta Falcons as his fifth team in his seventh year in the NFL. A sixth-round selection in the 2018 NFL draft, McCloud began his prolific special teams career as a Buffalo Bill. He was most recently a 49er where he played on a two-year contract. The 49ers allowed McCloud’s deal to expire, leaving the Falcons’ to pick him up on a new deal this past spring. McCloud is now under a two-year $5 million contract.
McCloud enters his age-28 season with 3,764 kick and punt return yards under his belt. This dwarfs his 960 yards from scrimmage earned on the ground and the air. Despite his long history of returning kicks, he has only amassed two career touchdowns, both on offense. At only 5 foot 9 and 190 pounds, the former Clemson Tiger has been relegated mostly to return duty his entire NFL career, despite being a more prolific pass-catcher in college. With teammate Rondale Moore suffering a season-ending knee injury, McCloud may be up for offensive snaps of his long career.
Ray-Ray McCloud 2023 Stats and Fantasy Production
Playing for the NFC-best San Francisco 49ers, Ray-Ray McCloud only caught 12 balls for 135 yards on 15 targets. He earned 30 yards on the ground, and he had no scores. He had a total of 34 kick and punt returns for 428 yards. This amounted to a paltry 22.5 half-PPR points at a rate of 1.9 points per game, good for fantasy’s WR143 on the season. With such a low finish, he should be low on anybody’s radar.
At 19.61% of offensive snaps according to Pro-Football-Reference, McCloud was fourth in 49ers’ WR snaps, but eighth in skill player snaps, falling behind two tight ends and a fullback. Given McCloud’s penchant for returns, he was behind fellow WR Ronnie Bell in special teams snaps. He led the team in returns, although he did not have exclusive work. With decreasing production and no meaningful offensive presence, there was no reason for the 49ers to keep the receiver.
Ray-Ray McCloud 2024 Outlook
Ray-Ray McCloud leaves an NFC team surrounded by a glut of offensive weaponry only to trade it for another. He’ll be entering the Falcons’ offense having to share space with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Kyle Pitts.
Only a few weeks ago, McCloud looked poise for another offensive campaign relegated to little more than return work. However, teammate Rondale Moore going down for the season may open up new opportunities. Both Ourlads and Atlanta’s team website list McCloud starting in three-WR sets and punt returns.
With 491 pass attempts in 2023, the hyper-efficient 49ers were dead last in pass attempts per game. McCloud will now be catching passes from Kirk Cousins, who has thrown 600+ balls three times in his career. Averaging 34.5 pass attempts per game in his career, the Cousins-McCloud connection could be the best yet.
With the path open to the WR3 spot, ESPN projects Ray-Ray McCloud for 32-331-2 and 50.83 fantasy points while FantasyPros projects 33.4-343.7-2.6 for 55.3 points. I’m right in line, personally projecting 34-342.7-1, good for WR101 in half-PPR. His current ADP is WR99 in redraft and WR106 in best ball.
Final Thoughts on Ray-Ray McCloud
With a low ADoT, small frame, and heavy need as a return specialist, Ray-Ray McCloud does not fit anybody’s profile for a successful fantasy season. Chances are still decent that this could be his best year yet as he begins to age out of the NFL.
His role on the team is secure and he’ll be active every game day. However, it’s not skill, but opportunity that has elevated his draft stock in recent days. While running backs are replaceable at the deepest level, wide receivers are not. There are far better options being drafted around him with a greater ceiling.
Ray-Ray McCloud is a safe bet to beat payoff at ADP, but he has atrociously low ceiling potential. At that point in the draft, you’re only looking for dart throws with upside. I am making big bets on the entire Atlanta offense, so I think McCloud is an acceptable last-round best ball pick exclusively to complete Cousins’ stacks.
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