Although we do not yet know which teams the rookies entering the NFL in 2020 will be playing for, doing creating rankings for dynasty leagues now is still quite useful. Doing so gives us a baseline, apart from landing spot, for the relative potential and upside of these players.
If, for example, we have a particular player as a highly-rated, first-round talent in this mock draft, we must be careful not to bump him up our board too far if he lands in what is perceived as an excellent landing spot. For example, last year many had N’Keal Harry as a B or C player entering the NFL Draft, yet many bumped him way up their boards when he was drafted by the Patriots. Conversely, A.J. Brown was knocked way back to the end of the first round of most rookie drafts because he landed on the Titans, but that looks to have been a mistake. How each player will pan out long-term is still certainly unknown, but such large shifts based on landing spots are one of the primary reasons players get both over-drafted and under-drafted.
Below you’ll find my top 36 rookie players entering the NFL in the form of a mock draft. These are the players I see making a huge fantasy impact. The rankings are based on what these players have shown on tape, what was seen and learned from the combine, and how their skills and athletic talent translate to the NFL level.
Let’s check out Round 1:
Round 1
1.1 – Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor – Taylor is a unique blend of speed, power, and vision. He is not exactly Saquon or Gurley, but he has elements of both in his game. I believe he will have an immediate impact and will start for whatever team drafts him from Week 1.
1.2 – Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb – Lamb has a bit of DeAndre Hopkins to his game, but he actually looks to be a more explosive and sudden as an athlete. Both have ridiculous leaping ability and great hands. Lamb is a cornerstone piece for your dynasty team.
1.3 – Georgia RB DeAndre Swift – Swift is smaller than Taylor but has excellent quickness and long speed, to go along with great balance. His NFL coaches will work on him to bounce it outside less, but that is nitpicking, as he is ready and able to be a three-down back right away.
1.4 – LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire – CEH looks like Ray Rice, with a short and stout frame. He also is excellent at catching the ball and is extremely sudden, both traits Rice also had. If his coaching staff trusts him in pass protection, which is his only real weakness on tape, he could be a three-down threat soon.
1.5 – Baylor WR Denzel Mims – Mims was in my top-five wide receivers entering the combine. As I watched his tape I was blown away by his combination of speed, size, leaping ability, and overall athleticism. Then he proved it in a bigger way than I imagined in Indianapolis with an excellent performance in drills and workouts.
1.6 – Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy – Jeudy is a phenomenal route runner, and is excellent at finding space after he catches the ball with his quickness and start-stop ability. He also had good long speed at the Combine (4.45 40-yard dash). The biggest knock on him is that he’s under 200 pounds and doesn’t play that physically, but that hasn’t stopped players like Odell Beckham from thriving.
1.7 – Florida State RB Cam Akers – Akers is difficult to pin down because he played on a poor Florida St. offense, but he looks to be an athletic freak. He also looks to have good burst, balance, and vision on runs where it’s possible to evaluate him. If he lands in the right spot and gets a chance to carry the load, he could become an NFL stud.
1.8 – TCU WR Jalen Reagor – Speaking of athletic freaks, Reagor is another one. His Combine numbers as a whole were ridiculous, and many thought he’d be faster than his 4.47 based on what they saw on tape. He has Tyreek Hill-upside if he ends up with a top quarterback.
1.9 – Arizona State RB Eno Benjamin – He reminds me of Devin Singletary. He doesn’t look the biggest or the fastest, but he is a smart runner and takes what is there. He has great balance and vision and runs with a rugged, “I will win” mentality.
1.10 – Vanderbilt RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Vaughn and Benjamin are very close for me, and fairly similar prospects. Vaughn also has a rugged running style, with good vision and balance. He is not as fluid when he must change directions, but still has a ton of potential to be a three-down back.
1.11 – Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk – Aiyuk popped on film for his combination of short-area quickness and long speed. He also showed the ability to play both out wide and in the slot, and seems to be a perfect fit for today’s NFL. I think he has an immense upside in fantasy football.
1.12 – Liberty WR Antonio Gandy-Golden – This guy ran a 4.6 at the Combine, so many will think he is not that athletic. Nothing could be more incorrect; he is an incredibly well-rounded athlete who is quick and extremely physical after the catch. He also has the ridiculous body control to go get jump balls. He could become a top NFL receiver.
That first-round shows how stocked this draft is with top running back and wide receiver talent. It included five receivers and seven backs. We will see our first quarterback and tight end in round 2.
Round 2
2.1 – Alabama WR Henry Ruggs – Many will have Ruggs far higher than this, and that’s fine. I think he could certainly develop into a DeSean Jackson-type talent, but he simply hasn’t proven it yet from a production standpoint. He is ridiculously fast, and I think he has the potential to develop in his route-running and physicality, but that is an open question.
2.2 – Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins – Another prospect I am far lower on than consensus, and my reasoning here is not at all about production, as Dobbins was very productive at Ohio State. Rather I am basing this on what I saw on tape. He is fast but seems to lack the size, physicality, and vision to be a top back in the league. He could still develop into a useful fantasy option, but I’d temper expectations. Jonathan Taylor, he is not.
2.3 – USC WR Michael Pittman, Jr. – Pittman is one of the players I think could become one of the top two or three rookies in this draft when all is said and done. I see flashes of Michael Thomas in his game, though he is far from a finished product. He has excellent length and is a good route runner, with good speed for his size. If he lands in a good offense, he could be a steal in rookie drafts.
2.4 – Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet – Our first tight end, Kmet has the prototypical size you want in a tight end at 6-feet-6 and 260 pounds. He isn’t the athlete some of the top tight ends in the NFL are, but he has shown good hands and enough speed to be a useful weapon. He is also physical after the catch and fights for extra yards.
2.5 – LSU WR Justin Jefferson – Jefferson was on my top-20 bubble entering the Combine. His 4.43 answered questions about whether he has enough speed to make noise in the slot in the NFL since that is where he played almost exclusively at LSU. More and more NFL offenses are running 11 personnel the vast majority of the time, meaning there are three receivers on the field for almost every play. This opens the door for receivers like Jefferson to make a big impact, even if he doesn’t play outside.
2.6 – Clemson WR Tee Higgins – Another prospect many have higher, and I also had him higher before his pro day was a bit of a disappointment. He reminds me of A.J. Green, with great length and poise coming down with the ball in traffic. I just worry he does not have the athletic explosiveness to consistently beat corners on the outside. I think he’ll become a consistent starter, but it might take a year or two.
2.7 – Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa – I have Tua as the top QB in this class, despite the epic season put up by Joe Burrow, because of Tua’s intelligence and accuracy. Burrow has those traits too, but I give him the edge for dynasty because I think he will become a stud at the position in a longer-lasting way than Burrow.
2.8 – Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans – Evans was right around here on my board pre-Combine, and he did just about what I expected there. He is a ridiculous athlete and that shows up on tape. Although he went to little Appalachian State and is a relative unknown, he has incredible speed, impressive strength for his size, and great vision as a runner. He may start as a passing-down specialist, but I think he has the skills to be a three-down back.
2.9 – UCF WR Gabriel Davis – Davis plays much bigger than his listed height of 6-feet-2, and what I saw on tape is the reason I have him above receivers with more recognizable names. Davis looks like Mike Evans on the field; he looks like a man among boys. He fights for the ball, and he is also a good route-runner and a rugged ball-carrier after the catch. I think he will pop in year 1.
2.10 – LSU QB Joe Burrow – I typically do not take QBs in rookie dynasty drafts, but Tua and Burrow are likely to be worth a second-round choice. They both seem to be NFL-ready from a mental and physical standpoint, assuming Tua’s hip gets to full health. Burrow is likely to end up in Cincinnati, which isn’t the best landing spot, but he is talented enough to do something great on any team.
2.11 – Notre Dame WR Chase Claypool – Claypool was not in my top 15 receivers before the Combine, but he vaulted up into my second round with that Combine performance. Running a 4.42 at 6-feet-4, 238 pounds is ridiculous, and he also impressed with a vertical over 40 inches. He will take some seasoning to become a good NFL route-runner, but he certainly has the tools to produce.
2.12 – UCLA RB Joshua Kelley – Kelley is a name many will not have in their top three rounds, no less their top two. But I really like what I saw out of him on tape, and then he popped at the Combine. He has good vision and toughness, and he is very quick in and out of breaks. His 3-cone and short shuttle times show that quickness. He’ll need to earn a crack at significant playing time, so you’ll have to be patient with him. But I think the investment could pay off.
The second round included three backs, six receivers, two quarterbacks, and a tight end. We still have many big-name players left, showing the depth of this draft. Let’s move to the third round of our mock draft.
Round 3
3.1 – South Carolina WR Bryan Edwards – Edwards is highly thought of by many of the draftniks I respect, but it’s difficult to tell what the future holds for him. He is currently injured, and starting with an injury is not what you want. On top of that, the injury took away our ability to assess him at the Combine. Based on the skills he showed on tape, he is worth a third-round flier in dynasty drafts.
3.2 – Dayton TE Adam Trautman – Trautman is also difficult to assess, but in his case, it’s because he played for Dayton and did not face much top-tier competition. However, he showed well at the Combine, and on tape he flashes very nice route running and hands. It typically takes a couple years for tight ends to get up to speed and make an impact; as soon as he does, I think Trautman has a chance to be special.
3.3 – Boston College RB A.J. Dillon – After his excellent showing at the Combine, including running a 4.53 at 247 pounds, many will push Dillon much higher than this. While he did show he’s a great athlete, on tape he still appears stiff when he runs and does not appear able to change directions quickly and fluidly, a major key for running backs.
3.4 – Colorado WR Laviska Shenault, Jr – Shenault played all over the field for Colorado, including in the backfield, out wide, and in the slot. He is an excellent athlete but reminds me of a more athletic Denard Robinson – I cannot tell where he fits. He seems to be good at most things but may struggle to find a niche where he can become truly great. On top of that, he is injured often. He could explode in the right situation, and the landing spot could move him up for me. For now, he’s a risk.
3.5 – Minnesota WR Tyler Johnson – Johnson is another receiver I could see moving a lot higher if a team invests heavy draft capital in him. He certainly shows excellent route running, body control, and ball skills on tape, but he looks a bit limited athletically. I think he could be a great No. 2 on a team, where he wouldn’t have to face a top corner and could contribute with timely big plays.
3.6 – Utah RB Zack Moss – Moss is a rugged runner capable of breaking tackles, and he also showed good vision. He is another player I think might be athletically limited, but then again his 4.65 40-yard dash is adequate. Many rank him as a top-10 rookie in this class, so it’s entirely possible I may be too low on him. I just didn’t see enough “wow” plays.
3.7 – Texas WR Collin Johnson – Johnson impresses with his 6-feet-6 frame, and is excellent at going up and getting the ball. He did not work out at the Combine beyond the bench press due to a hip flexor injury, so that makes it difficult to know for sure what his athletic potential is. But on tape he profiles as an excellent red-zone target, with potential for more.
3.8 – Ole Miss RB Scottie Phillips – I was higher on Phillips before the Combine, but he failed to impress there. His great footwork struck me on tape, but he had several poor times on the drills like the three-cone and the short shuttle. Since those drills show quickness, that was confusing. Perhaps even this is ranking him too highly, but I’ll take a chance on him here based on what I saw – not only great footwork but also good vision and anticipation.
3.9 – Washington TE Hunter Bryant – Bryant reminds me of Gerald Everett. He is small for the position but looks like a bulky receiver out there. He is tough and will fight for yards, and is willing to fight for the ball. Like Everett, he likely will need some time to produce in the NFL, but he is worth a shot in your rookie draft if you need a tight end.
3.10 – Penn State WR K.J. Hamler – Hamler is small but very quick. He is one I wish would have worked out at the Combine, as I think he would have run a very nice 40-yard dash. But teams will struggle with his size at 5-feet-9 and 178 pounds. Yes, he is small, but he is dynamic enough to take any catch to the house. He is worth a shot in the third round of your rookie draft for sure.
3.11 – Maryland RB Anthony McFarland – McFarland tends to bounce runs outside too often, as is common with college runners accustomed to depending on their athleticism. He will need to work on this and show he is willing to punch it up inside in the correct hole. If he can, he can show off his 4.44 speed without costing his team with too many rushes for loss.
3.12 – Texas WR Devin Duvernay – Duvernay is another player who showed off at the Combine, running at 4.39 and also impressing in the other events. He is another player with a mix of skills, good at many things but perhaps not dominant at any. With his athletic baseline, if he can develop into a top-tier route runner he could end up being a steal in your dynasty rookie drafts.
Kevin Scott has been playing fantasy football for 20 years and plays in far too many leagues each year. He has written for SI, 4for4, FFToday, and other sites.
