Jack Bech Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

College Production

Bech had a somewhat odd run in college.

He started well, with a 43-489-3 true-freshman line that led a star-studded LSU roster in receptions. Bech outperformed future pros Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Trey Palmer, among others.

That dipped to just 16 sophomore-year catches after a coaching change, though. And Bech then endured a quiet 2023 after his transfer to TCU.

He closed out with a strong final line of 62 catches, 1,034 yards, and 9 TDs, leading the Horned Frogs in all three categories. Bech’s 16.7 yards per catch beat his previous high by 4.2.

Usage & Role

Bech worked as a TE-WR combo in his LSU debut. According to Pro Football Focus, he spent:

• 66.3% of his pass snaps in the slot
• 25.1% inline (typically a TE position)
• 8.7% out wide

Bech worked almost exclusively from the slot (95.7%) for his limited second season at LSU, and primarily from that position in his first TCU campaign (75.7%).

He spent 71.8% of his snaps outside last year, though, compared with 26.8% in the slot.

Efficiency Metrics

Bech’s stark increase in yards per catch came primarily thanks to a big shift in average depth of target. His aDOTs by year (according to PFF) went:

• 8.0 in 2021
• 8.9 in 2022
• 8.4 in 2023
• 13.3 in 2024

Bech posted a sparkling 2.9% drop rate for his college career, dropping just four of 200 targets.

Among 260 FBS WRs with 50+ targets in 2024, he ranked:

• 19th in passer rating on throws his way
• 33rd in contested-catch rate
• T-46th in yards per route

Injury History

Bech dealt with multiple issues across the past three seasons.

First came a 2022 injury that appears to have gone unspecified but lingered from his LSU time through his first spring at TCU.

A high-ankle sprain in 2023 cost him three games and required tightrope surgery. Bech didn’t show effects from that last season but did end his final year early thanks to a Nov. 30 MCL injury.

He returned from that to take part in the Senior Bowl.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

Check out the Raiders’ target leaders from last season:

• Brock Bowers 153
• Jakobi Meyers 129
• Tre Tucker 81

After that came a pair of RBs in the high 40s, and then TE Michael Mayer, who missed six games with a personal issue.

These Raiders entered the offseason in serious need of WR help. It’s noteworthy, of course, that they chose Bech in Round 2 as the first addition to address that need.

He arrives with a clear path to at least a top-3 spot at WR, with Meyers and Tucker as the other two. Vegas followed Bech by drafting Dont’e Thornton Jr. in Round 4 and Tommy Mellott in Round 6.

Thornton caught just 65 career passes across four seasons split between Oregon and Tennessee. Mellott played QB in college before starting what the Raiders hope will be his Julian Edelman fairy tale.

In short: Bech should find about as much target share available to him as he can prove worthy to receive.

Where Will He Line Up?

This will be the biggest question for Bech. Although he finished his career working primarily outside, his lackluster speed might make Bech a better fit inside in the pros.

The fact that he arrives with experience in both areas opens the possibilities for a Raiders coaching staff that just need to get good players on the field however they can.

Supporting Cast

The Geno Smith arrival probably didn’t excite many, but he’s a clear – and probably tremendous – upgrade over the previous QB situation. Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell combined to “lead” an offense that ranked 31st in the NFL in PFF passing grade last year (ahead of only the Titans).

Smith’s Seahawks ranked seventh in that category, as well as 11th in 2023 and 12th in 2022 (his previous two starting seasons). Those first two Seattle years, of course, came with Carroll as his HC.

The pass-catching depth remains sparse, although the Raiders probably present more TE talent than any other team in the league. Bowers’ rookie season speaks for itself. Mayer has opened his career quietly but arrived just one pick after Sam LaPorta (35th overall) in 2023.

Ashton Jeanty dramatically upgrades a backfield that still sports modest depth behind him.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

New OC Chip Kelly is typically best known for his teams’ rushing success, but he oversaw solid passing efficiency despite limited QB talent across three years as Eagles HC, 2013 to 2015.

Kelly’s first season there found LeSean McCoy leading the league in carries and rushing yards per game, but also Nick Foles leading the NFL in TD rate, yards per pass attempt, and passer rating.

His four NFL offenses have combined for a 56.2% passing rate that would have ranked 20th-highest in the league last year.