2020 NFL Draft: Fantasy football fits for the top WR prospects

2020 NFL Draft: Fantasy football fits for the top WR prospects - SportsLine.com

In addition to these pre-draft preparations, Gibbs and Engel will be active on draft night this Thursday, providing up-to-the-minute analysis on the Fantasy outlook of each of the rookie QB, RB, WR, and TE selected. Be sure to check SportsLine's homepage on draft night!

CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
Best Fit: Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders

Lamb feels like a can't-miss talent. He was absolutely dominant at the collegiate level last year, scoring 15 touchdowns and recording an absurd 21.4 yards per reception. He's the highest-graded wide receiver prospect NFL.com has ranked since Amari Cooper in 2015, and PFF referenced Lamb as "the most advanced wide receiver prospect since we started grading college players six years ago." Popular NFL comparisons range from DeAndre Hopkins to Chad Johnson to Jerry Rice.

As the draft order stands right now, Lamb isn't going to fall to either the Eagles or Ravens, but both have been rumored to be interested in him. If either team makes a move up in the draft to select Lamb, it would solidify him as the top Fantasy receiver in this class.

Despite running just a 4.5 at the combine, Lamb was deadly as a deep ball weapon in 2019. He ranked 12th among wide receives in deep ball yardage last year, despite only seeing 22 deep targets. Lamb averaged a ludicrous 43.9 yards per catch on the 12 deep passes he hauled in, and he scored a touchdown on half of them. If Lamb joins former teammate Marquise Brown in Baltimore where he'd catch passes from MVP Lamar Jackson, he might end up as the consensus 1.01 for dynasty purposes. The other teams drafting in Lamb's projected range don't have passers capable or willing to push the ball downfield. However, both Lamar Jackson (eighth) and Carson Wentz (15th) ranked inside the top-half of the NFL in deep ball rate last year. In an ideal world, one of those teams will trade up and make Lamb their top wideout for 2020.

If neither Philly or Baltimore trade up, Lamb will most likely land with one of the Jets, Raiders, or 49ers. Of those teams, San Francisco seems like the worst landing spot for Lamb. The Niners already have a clear-cut number one weapon in George Kittle, and they are among the most run-heavy teams in the NFL. If Lamb finds himself in New York or Las Vegas, QB play could be an issue, but fighting for targets most certainly will not.

Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
Best Fit: Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos

Many have projected that it will be Jerry Jeudy, not CeeDee Lamb, who is the first receiver selected on Thursday. Jeudy's production at Alabama speaks for itself -- with double digit touchdowns and over 1,100 receiving yards to his name in each of the past two seasons.

It's not just the production, though. Jeudy combines deadly deep ball speed with unique acceleration in and out of routes that allows him to keep opposing defenders on their heels at all times. Some will point to a lack of contested catches as a weakness, and it could turn out to be an issue at the NFL level. But with routes that were as crisp as Jeudy's were at Alabama, he didn't need to make many contested catches because his defender was mostly out of the play by the time the ball arrived.

Personally, I have Lamb ranked ahead of Jeudy entering the draft. But, that could easily change based on their respective landing spots. If the Eagles trade up for Jeudy, it would be hard not to rank him as the WR1 in this class. He would fit in quite well with either Las Vegas or Denver, both of whom are rumored to be interested in using their first round selection on Alabama's star wideout.

In Denver, Jeudy would go to work alongside fellow route runner extraordinaire Courtland Sutton to give Drew Lock all the tools he needs to succeed. Over 700 yards and seven of Jeudy's touchdowns came from the slot in 2019, and he could frequently fill that position to create mismatches in Denver. For Las Vegas, 2019 rookie Hunter Renfrow ran the majority of his routes and was among the NFL's most efficient receivers from the slot. Still, Jeudy's path to a huge target market share would be slightly more clear in Las Vegas than Denver.

Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
Best Fit: Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos

For dynasty purposes, the best fit for Ruggs is clearly the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City has been rumored to be interested in trading up for Ruggs, but I'd be surprised if that came to fruition. Patrick Mahomes already has a plethora of more than capable pass-catchers, and the team invested a second-round selection into Mecole Hardman in 2019. Hardman was excellent as a rookie, finishing with a better yards per route run mark than the likes of Julian Edelman, Odell Beckham, Allen Robinson, and T.Y. Hilton. The team also retained Sammy Watkins, who many expected to be cut. Still, adding Ruggs' 4.27 speed to Mahomes' already velocious group of pass-catchers could result in Ruggs being the top long-term Fantasy bet of the illustrious 2020 rookie receiver group.

In addition to the general lack of production, Ruggs wasn't even a strong contributor at the thing he is specifically highly-regarded for -- using his 4.27 speed to beat defenders down the field. Per Scott Barrett, over the past two seasons, Tua Tagovailoa completed 49 deep passes. Jerry Jeudy led the way with 15 deep completions, while Ruggs pulled down just six deep passes.

Ruggs can contribute in ways other than just the deep ball, though, which should come as no surprise given his top-15 draft projection. He can work all three levels of the field, and his 42-inch vertical and soft hands give Ruggs the ability to go up and get balls in a way that few other receivers at his size can.

Ruggs' college production may seem lacking, but that has more to do with opportunity than ability. Targets weren't easy to come by while playing alongside three potential first-round talents at wide receiver. When he was targeted, Ruggs did not disappoint. QBs had a near-perfect passer rating of 151.4 when throwing Ruggs' way, and 24 of his 98 catches resulted in touchdowns.

Ruggs might actually have less competition for targets at the NFL level than he did in college, and that could very well be the case if the Eagles decide to trade up for him. Alshon Jeffrey's days of commanding targets appear to be behind him, as both he and DeSean Jackson have struggled to even stay on the field with any consistency. Outside of those two and Zach Ertz, Philly has no proven pass-catchers.

Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
Best Fit: New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers

At 6'1" and 227 pounds, Shenault is a handful for opposing defensive backs when he has the ball in his hands. Some have compared him to A.J. Brown, who we saw pile up yards after catch in his rookie season. PFF's Mike Renner compared Shenault to Saquon Barkley. He's that deadly with the ball in his hands. Shenault is not without a few red flags, though.

For starters, his production dropped off in a big way from his sophomore to junior season. After catching 86 passes for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns in just nine games as a sophomore, Shenault had just 56 catches for 764 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games as a junior. Injuries were also a problem in his time at Colorado.

The positives for Shenault certainly outweigh the negatives, though. In addition to having physical tools that can't be taught, Shenault described himself as an offensive Swiss Army Knife and lined up all over the field in his time at Colorado. The ability to create yards after the catch translates well from college to the pros, and if Shenault can add to his underdeveloped route tree, he could turn into a dangerous weapon for whichever NFL team drafts him.

The team most-often mocked to select Shenault is the New Orleans Saints. Given how much Sean Payton enjoys finding specific niches for players, it would make sense for him to be excited by the potential of adding Shenault's YAC-creating ability to his offense. If New Orleans invests an early pick in Shenault, he'll undoubtedly shoot up dynasty rookie rankings. New Orleans would be a terrific fit for Shenault, because there would be less pressure to perform immediately. As the third or fourth option behind Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and Emmanuel Sanders, Shenault would be allowed to develop the weaker areas of his game as a rookie. Regardless of which team he is drafted to, Shenault's ability to break tackles should allow him to find some level of success as a rookie.

Tee Higgins, Clemson
Best Fit: Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans

Some prefer USC's Michael Pittman over Tee Higgins as the premier "big" receiver from this class, but Higgins clearly stands out as the better prospect from what I can tell. Both have size in spades, measuring in at 6'4" and over 215 pounds. Pittman's athletic testing was slightly better than Higgins', but Higgins has the advantage when it comes to wingspan and age. Higgins' breakout came in just his age-19 season, while it took Pittman until his age-21 season to really produce at a high level.

Higgins' impressive height and catch radius make him an imposing weapon in the red zone, as evidenced by his 26 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He has had no struggles with drops and doesn't get jammed at the line as easily as Pittman does. Higgins doesn't just dominate at the point of the catch, either -- he broke double digit tackles in both 2018 and 2019. He is a complete receiver with size that would make him the WR1 prospect in most draft classes.

Among Higgins' realistic landing spots near the back of the first or early second round, the Colts would be my preference. Philip Rivers is sure to help T.Y. Hilton and the rest of Indy's offense in 2020, and he would be an excellent fit with Higgins' skillset. Rivers is not afraid to throw into coverage, and his accuracy when throwing into tight coverage was 5.1 percent above the league average in 2019. He's supported other "big" types whose strength is winning at the point of catch, like Mike Williams, Hunter Henry, and Antonio Gates. Indy is in search of a receiver to complement the aging and oft-injured Hilton, and Higgins seems like the best fit among the 2020 class.

Justin Jefferson, LSU
Best Fit: Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles

Jefferson primarily played on the perimeter as a sophomore, and it wasn't until his move to the slot (nearly 80 percent of his snaps came from the slot in 2019) that his play really stood out. Playing with Joe Burrow clearly inflated Jefferson's numbers somewhat, but still, you can't pile up 1,540 yards and 18 receiving touchdowns in a season without some serious talent.

Jefferson's ability to make contested catches and create yards after the catch should translate well at the NFL level, but his ability to get open could be a concern if drafted by a team with an already established slot receiver. Jefferson was rarely pressed while running routes from the slot, and much of his production came as a result of routes designed to simply find a hole in the middle of opposing zone defenses. Jefferson would seem to have all the physical tools to be an above average route runner, but given his extremely advantageous role in college, there are reasonable questions as to whether he'll be able to play a different role at the pro level.

Given those questions, an ideal landing spot would seem to be one where Jefferson can start his career running routes from the slot -- preferably for a team that already has an established number one receiver. The two most logical "home run" landing spots for Jefferson are Green Bay and Indianapolis, where he could rely on Davante Adams or T.Y. Hilton to draw attention and allow him to thrive from the slot.

Jalen Reagor, TCU
Best Fit: Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings

Reagor's play fell off in a big way from 2018 to 2019, but it's tough to be too critical of him. TCU's quarterback situation wasn't great in 2018, and it was among the nation's absolute worst in 2019.

Reagor has the makings of an early Day 1 draft selection independent of his college statistical profile. If just looking at Reagor the prospect, rather than the receiver who finished with just 611 yards as a junior, he's right up there with Ruggs and Jeudy.

Most receivers require a couple years to adjust to a new level of competition -- Reagor's breakout age was 18. He led TCU in receiving as a true freshman and was responsible for over 40 percent of the team's receiving yardage as a sophomore. Opposing defenses knew that Reagor was going to have the ball fed to him, but they still couldn't stop it. In spit of below average QB play, Reagor piled up over 1,200 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns as a 19-year-old sophomore.

Reagor is short at 5'11", but he certainly doesn't play small. His solid build and 42-inch vertical allow Reagor to play surprisingly strong at the point of catch. His elite game speed and change of direction ability allows Reagor to get open with ease, and he is electric once the ball is in his hands.

Reagor could fill the "Randal Cobb role" in Green Bay quite nicely, and either Philly or Minnesota would make sense after moving on from their primary slot weapons from 2019. I'd prefer a higher volume passing attack like Green Bay or Philly for Reagor, but catching passes from Kirk Cousins and filling the role Stefon Diggs played in 2019 wouldn't be bad for his value either. Reagor's skills should translate at the NFL level, and I would not be surprised to see him to be in the running for WR1 out of this 2020 group if he lands in the right spot.

Denzel Mims, Baylor
Best Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs

Mims is an awesome project, but he still has a lot of work to do to maximize his ability. He stands at 6'3" and 215 pounds, while also boasting a 39-inch vertical and massive wingspan. Combine that with a 4.38 40-time that is 98th percentile for someone of his size, and it is clear why scouts were salivating over Mims' 19-year-old breakout season in 2017.

Since then, Mims hasn't shown the progression that many hoped for. Drops have been a real concern over the past two seasons, as is the limited route tree he ran at Baylor. The talent is there for Mims to be one of the best skill position players from this draft class, but he could just as easily be forgotten if his abilities aren't polished over the ensuing years.

If Pittsburgh is serious about not re-signing JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mims would make a ton of sense as a priority target for them in this draft. The pressure wouldn't be overwhelming to contribute as a rookie, and he could learn from coaches that have aided in the development of several elite wideouts. New Orleans, Indy, Green Bay, and Kansas City all would be great landing spots for similar reasons. For his dynasty value, I'd much rather see Mims have time to further develop his craft than end up selected by a team like the Jets, Giants, Eagles, or Titans, where there would be pressure to contribute as a rookie.

Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
Best Fit: Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings

Among a wide receiver class loaded with explosive athletes, Brandon Aiyuk's explosiveness still stands out. He has a 92nd percentile burst score thanks to the 40-inch vertical and 128-inch broad jump, and it shows on the field. That burst helps Aiyuk play much faster than his 4.5 40-time would suggest.

Aiyuk transferred to Arizona State after two years of junior college, and he didn't contribute much in his first year with the Sun Devils. Aiyuk erupted in his senior season, though, catching 65 passes for 1,192 yards (18.3 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns.

In spite of excellent leaping ability, Aiyuk struggled at the point of catch while at Arizona State. He has the agility and explosiveness to put together deadly double moves to create separation and is difficult to bring down once the ball is in his hands. But if playing for an inaccurate quarterback, Aiyuk's inability to consistently bring down contested catches may prevent him from shining.

With one of the league's more accurate passers like Rodgers, Wentz, or Cousins, Aiyuk could enjoy a highly productive rookie season. His routes are effective enough to create separation at the NFL level, and his ability to find yards after the catch is always going to be there.

Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
Best Fit: Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles

Chase Claypool is one of the most intriguing players in the draft at any position. His high school playing days took place in British Columbia, and it took Claypool several years to even earn consistent playing time at Notre Dame. He played second fiddle to Myles Boykin his junior year, but when Claypool got his chance to shine as a senior, he took it.

Claypool is a true physical freak -- more so than any other receiver I have mentioned thus far. At 6'4" and 238 pounds, his 4.42 40-time qualified as 99th percentile. He combines a massive frame with a 40.5-inch vertical to make his catch radius simply unfair for opposing defenders. That much was fully evident in Claypool's first season as the leading man at Notre Dame, when he recorded 1,037 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.

The closest recent comparisons for Claypool phyiscally are Darren Waller or George Kittle. Both dudes are a little bit bigger than Claypool, but big receivers such as Devin Funchess, Mike Evans, and Brandon Marshall didn't test out nearly as well athletically. It's difficult to overstate just how physically dominant Claypool is for someone who moves as well as he does. And from a production standpoint, what Claypool did in 2019 is more impressive than any single season we saw from Waller, Kittle, Funchess, Marshall, or Dorial Green-Beckham -- another popular Claypool comp.

Personally, I believe Claypool's talents have been a bit overshadowed because he only came onto the national spotlight within the past year. Many of the receivers in this class have been highly touted for multiple seasons. Claypool clearly seems to be undervalued as we enter the draft. If he falls into the right situation, Claypool could be a surprise candidate to sneak into the top-five rookie wide receivers for Fantasy purposes.

Most teams could use a 6'4" red zone weapon, but the Houston Texans in particular make sense as a landing spot for Claypool. After replacing DeAndre Hopkins with Brandin Cooks, Houston has few receivers who stand out as capable red zone threats for Deshaun Watson. Cooks, Will Fuller, and Kenny Stills all prefer to make their money on the deep ball, and Randall Cobb has appeared to be washed for multiple seasons. Claypool could slide into a meaningful role immediately, especially if any of Houston's injury prone quartet has to spend extended time on the sideline.

2020 NFL Draft: Fantasy football fits for the top WR prospects

Fantasy expert Jacob Gibbs highlights the top options at the WR position and details some of the best potential landing spots heading up to Thursday's NFL Draft.