Alabama wide receiver rooms are always stacked with blue-chip talent, but every few years, someone flies under the radar and turns into a breakout star. In 2025, that someone might just be freshman wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks.
He wasn’t the highest-rated wide receiver in the Crimson Tide’s incoming class. However, his combination of high school production, early buzz from Tuscaloosa and explosive on-field traits makes him one of the most intriguing under-the-radar Devy fantasy football assets in the country.
Here’s why you need to know his name and draft him before your leaguemates do.
Alabama’s Lotzeir Brooks: The Devy Sleeper You Need To Draft Now
High School Dominance You Can’t Ignore
Brooks, from Millville, N.J., put up video-game numbers in high school:
- 4,600+ career receiving yards
- 67 total touchdowns
- South Jersey record: 3,355 receiving yards and 51 touchdowns
- Added six interceptions as a junior playing defense
Despite his dominance, Brooks was ranked as just a three-star recruit. Even though his production and play style speak volumes, Alabama clearly saw enough to bring him in as an early enrollee.
Immediate Buzz at Alabama
Since arriving in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in April, Brooks has been generating buzz during practices and workouts. Multiple clips from spring and summer sessions show him:
- Creating separation with ease
- Making acrobatic catches in traffic
- Getting open against Alabama’s talented secondary
He’s been turning heads, and that hype is starting to leak into the fantasy world. In a wide receiver room full of elite names, such as Ryan Williams, Isaiah Horton, Germie Bernard and four-star freshman Derek Meadows, it’s Brooks who’s quietly becoming the “Camp Darling.”
Scouting Profile: What Makes Lotzeir Brooks Special?
Brooks is a smooth, shifty receiver who plays much bigger than his listed 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame.
His most important traits include:
- Elite footwork and burst
- Advanced ball tracking and body control
- Natural hands and fearless over the middle
- Explosive Yards After Catch (YAC) ability
- Quick separation in short and intermediate routes
He’s the kind of receiver who can live in the slot or attack vertically, an ideal skill set for today’s spread-heavy offensive systems.
Play Style Comparisons
Brooks’ game draws some interesting stylistic comps. Think:
- Jaylen Waddle-lite (without the same top-end speed but with similar explosion in space)
- Zay Flowers, in terms of after-catch vision and route nuance
- Jamison Crowder, with more vertical upside
While he lacks elite size, Brooks brings polish, toughness and big-play ability. Coaches love receivers who can get open and make defenders miss. Brooks checks both boxes.
How Alabama Could Use Him Early: The Jaylen Waddle Blueprint
If Lotzeir Brooks sees the field as a true freshman, don’t expect him to dominate targets immediately. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t make an impact.
Think back to how Jaylen Waddle was used early in his Alabama career:
- Situational weapon
- Designed touches like jet sweeps, bubble screens and quick slants
- Return game involvement to maximize space
- Occasional deep shots to capitalize on mismatches
That’s the likely early-career role for Brooks, not volume-based but efficiency-based. He’s dynamic enough to flip field position or break a game open with just a few touches. In a deep receiver room, Brooks doesn’t need eight targets per game to flash his upside. A few snaps here and there in the right packages, motion, space and tempo that he could turn into highlight plays will help him earn more trust from the coaching staff.
If he capitalizes on those limited opportunities, much like Waddle did in his freshman season, it could fast-track his role and drastically increase his Devy value.
In other words, even a modest role early could be the spark for something bigger.
What He Needs To Improve
No player is a perfect prospect, and Brooks still has areas to develop:
- Needs to add muscle and bulk to handle SEC contact
- Must polish his route tree and continue improving against press coverage
- Recently spotted in a walking boot during early August camp (This is worth monitoring, but there are no long-term concerns yet)
He’ll be competing for reps in a deep receiver room, but the talent is undeniable.
Why You Should Draft Him in Devy Now
Here’s the real reason to care: His Devy value is still manageable, but that won’t last long.
- If Brooks earns early playing time, his stock will skyrocket
- If he starts slow or gets buried in the rotation? You may be able to acquire him mid-season for pennies
- Either way: low cost, massive upside
With Alabama’s new offensive scheme expected to feature more tempo and spread looks, depth receivers with explosive traits (like Brooks) could thrive, so don’t wait.
Final Take: Draft Lotzeir Brooks Before the Breakout
Lotzeir Brooks isn’t a household name… yet. Still, if you’re serious about finding value in Devy fantasy formats, this is the exact type of player you should be targeting:
- High production pedigree
- Underrated recruiting profile
- Early buzz at an elite program
- Explosive traits that translate to the next level
He’s a true breakout candidate. Draft him before it’s too late.
Related: Devy Dart Throw: Pittsburgh QB Eli Holstein (2025)
Thanks for reading my article on “How To Trade Effectively in Devy Fantasy Football!” For more Devy and College Fantasy Football content, follow me on Twitter/X @PoshplaysFF.
*Photo Credit: Gary Cosby Jr. – USA TODAY Sports*
