2020 NFL Draft: Evaluating the impact Fantasy rookies by position
Fantasy Hall of Famer Scott Engel takes an early look at which rookies could make an impact in 2020.
loading...
loading...
We take an in-depth look at which incoming rookies can possibly be expected to contribute the most in Fantasy football leagues this season. Of course, much will depend on which teams pick these highlighted players in the 2020 NFL Draft, but we preview where they might be headed and what we can expect in various scenarios.
Our primary focus will be on running backs, but there are some very alluring WR prospects to be aware of as well. Our look ahead to the 2020 NFL Draft from fantasy perspectives can start preparing you now for upcoming Fantasy football drafts.
This is the position where rookies have generally been considered to have the best potential to make a quick impact. Plus, this position dries up quickest in the early rounds in any format, so rookie RBs tend to be in high fantasy demand. This year's class might only produce only two first round NFL Draft choices this season, and possibly none at all,. Only Josh Jacobs was taken in the first round at RB last season. But most RBs selected in the first three rounds by NFL teams should be on your Fantasy radar right away in any type of league.
The most ideal landing spots for incoming RBs seem to be Miami and Tampa Bay. Those appear to be the best teams to possibly have opportunities to compete for lead or feature back roles right away. There also may be chances to earn quality first year playing time with the Rams, Chiefs, Cardinals, Chargers, Falcons, Lions, Bills and Eagles. Addressing RB depth could be considerations for Seattle, Houston, Pittsburgh and New England.
D'Andre Swift is widely considered the best RB prospect in this year's class, and may have the best chance of being picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. In Ryan Wilson's Mock Draft on CBSSports.com, he has Swift going to Detroit at 28 overall. That might not be the most ideal spot for Swift to land with Kerryon Johnson already in the picture. Swift is a versatile playmaker who can make one cut and run away from defenders. He can be an immediate contributor in the passing game and would be better off in Miami at No. 26 or 39. Tampa Bay ( at pick 45) is another prime destination for his potential to contribute quickly in fantasy football.
Jonathan Taylor is a top RB on some on other expert boards, and Wilson has him being selected at No. 28 by the Los Angeles Chargers, where could conceivably replace Melvin Gordon and complement Austin Ekeler. Taylor is a strong power runner with speed to boot and can wear down opponents when he gets into a rhythm. Wear and tear in college (300-plus touches in three seasons) could be a concern for dynasty owners. But he would complement Ekeler well in such a scenario, where he is not overworked but could still be productive for Fantasy purposes. He could have strong flex appeal immediately as a pro.
Zack Moss is a favorite of some analysts as a prime power prospect who can make defenders miss and is a master tackle-breaker. He has some promise to be a quality fantasy contributor as a rookie if he ends up with the right fit team-wise. If he slips to Kansas City, for instance, at 63, he would pair well with Damian Williams and could lead the backfield at times if Williams continues to deal with injuries.
So which players are poised for breakouts, which sleepers do you need to jump on, and which busts should you avoid at all costs in your Fantasy football league? Join SportsLine now to get early 2020 Fantasy football rankings, plus see which WR is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big time last season.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a dynamic pass-catcher who is smaller at 5-7, 207 but plays powerfully for his size. Wilson has Edwards-Helaire slotted at No. 45 to Tampa Bay, where Tom Brady can work well with a dual threat RB. Edwards-Helaire has some PPR promise early in his career. J.K. Dobbins projects to be a solid performer who can carry a healthy load. Depending on where he lands, he could be a respectable fantasy producer for some yardage and TDs as a rookie and may be an eventual quality RB2 type in fantasy.
Cam Akers has drawn some comparisons to Le'Veon Bell and Kareem Hunt, but he could make more of impact in his second or third year after dealing with coaching changes, blocking issues and fumbling problems at FSU. A.J. Dillon is a pure downhill, power type who could be a very good depth pick for teams such as the Falcons, Seahawks, Eagles or Cardinals .and he should be eyed more for later picks in seasonal fantasy leagues. Joshua Kelley is a potential value play with some versatility.
While those are our top choices to make possible impacts immediately in fantasy football, do keep a watch if some teams push less-heralded prospects up the board over who we list here. If you go for other positions early in your seasonal drafts, rookies with larger projected roles could start for you at RB in seasonal leagues. Last season I won a very important league with Josh Jacobs and Miles Sanders as my top two RBs.
Last season's rookie class at wideout was very impressive, as four wideouts (A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel) finished in the Top 31 in fantasy scoring at the position and were considered frequent starters. This year's incoming group could be even deeper and more impactful. There are also seven teams in the first round with WR as a notable need – the Jaguars, Jets, Raiders, 49ers, Broncos Eagles and Vikings. We should expect at least a few wideouts to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. Two of the best ones could make an instant splash in fantasy leagues, while others may require some more patience.
CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy are considered the top two by many analysts, and Ryan Wilson has Lamb going to New York at 11. He is a yards after the catch demon who averaged 14 yards per reception ai Oklahoma. He does have some fantasy WR3 promise as a rookie if he ends up with a QB more accomplished than Sam Darnold. Jeudy is the best pure WR in the draft according to many experts. He has been hailed as the most complete all-around rookie WR with excellent route running skills and superstar potential. Wilson has him going to Denver at 15, but he is another incoming wideout you would prefer to see drafted on a team with a more proven QB.
Wilson has impressive speed merchant Henry Ruggs III being taken by the Niners at No. 13, and he would be a nifty new weapon for Jimmy Garoppolo. Ruggs may be a boom or bust type as a rookie and could be a good Best Ball target. Justin Jefferson's stock has been rising, and Wilson has him being taken by Philadelphia at No. 21. He is a projected slot receiver with a lot of promise for PPR dynasty leagues. He could also be a nifty late pick in seasonal formats. Denzel Mims is also starting to generate more buzz recently. He is a very intriguing package of size and speed but may need more polish at the pro level before he makes a true fantasy impact. Brandon Aiyuk has the potential to be a top WR for whoever drafts him, but he is also recovering from core muscle surgery. Laviska Shenault is a well-rounded playmaker who can function in various roles, but some scouts are skeptical on him, especially as an early contributor in his career, so he may be more of a dynasty play.
Tee Higgins has eventual upside as a red zone and TD target, and could be viable for someFantasy depth if he joins a team that needs a big target on key downs and on goal line situations. Michael Pittman Jr. eventually figures to become a productive PPR producer. Jalen Reagor is an electric playmaker that could outperform expectations if he lands in the right situation with a quality QB. Chase Claypool might be targeted as a TE by a few teams who are eyeing him, which would make for some interesting fantasy eligibility scenarios akin to Marques Colston in 2006.
These are the positions from which you can expect the least immediate fantasy contributions, especially at TE, which is infamous for having a significant pro learning curve. This year's class is not highly regarded in terms of top-level talents, either.
At QB, it's not out of the question for first-year players to make their presence felt in fantasy leagues right away, as we have seen in past years with the likes of Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott. But none of them will be drafted as starters, and in some cases, not at all in single QB formats. In two QB leagues, Joe Burrow can have some immediate upside if he starts right away for Cincinnati. Tua Tagovailoa could also start right away for a team like Miami and may have the ceiling of a high-end fantasy QB2. Justin Herbert, Jake Fromm and Jordan Love would have to prove themselves after a few games in the pros to warrant fantasy consideration.
Cole Kmet is easily and widely considered the best TE this year, but he was not much of a producer in his first two seasons at Notre Dame. He may go undrafted in many seasonal Fantasy leagues in 2020;
Written by Scott Engel
View expert profile