The fantasy football season is growing closer, and a strong offensive rookie class is about to take the league by storm. Rookies offer a lot of boom-or-bust potential in fantasy football, and paying close attention to the incoming group of players offers a lot of value for standard leagues and dynasty leagues.
As a draft analyst, I always have a little fun with my fantasy football rookie rankings, and end up drafting a team of ONLY rookies to compete in a standard league. The results often don’t go well, but it’s a fun way to put your preseason predictions to the test. There’s no redraft, after all.
We’ll rank our top NFL rookies by position for both standard leagues and dynasty leagues.
These rankings are simply my opinions given my knowledge of the 2020 NFL Draft Prospects and Fantasy Football. A lot can happen over the course of the NFL season, and this year is even harder to predict given the delayed workouts and uncertainty. In short, I’m sure you’ll disagree with some of the rankings. I’d love to hear your opinions in the comment section below!
Rankings last updated: July 12, 2020
Use the Quick Links below to find the Rookie Rankings that apply to you:
Standard: QB | Standard: WR | Standard: RB | Standard: TE | Standard: K | Standard: OVR
Dynasty: QB | Dynasty: WR | Dynasty: RB | Dynasty: TE | Dynasty: K | Dynasty: OVR
Remember that a lot goes into fantasy football rankings. Player skill is far from the only factor to consider, as opportunity is more important than anything in fantasy football. A bad #1 quarterback will always be better than a talented #2 QB, after all. That’s why I found it necessary to include dynasty rankings, as these pay slightly less attention to current system fit and allows players who are raw to develop into their prime.
Lastly, this will only consider true rookies. Players who appeared in the 2020 NFL Draft class.
With initial explanation out of the way, let’s start ranking the best rookies for Fantasy Football in the 2020 season.
Standard Rookie Fantasy Rankings
Rookie Quarterback Rankings (Standard)
Opportunity is a necessary component for quarterbacks, as only 1 will see the field for most teams in a normal game. Our fantasy football rankings for the current rookie quarterbacks are as follows:
- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (Week 9 Bye)
- Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (11)
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (9)
- Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (5)
- Jacob Eason, Indianapolis Colts (7)
- Jake Fromm, Buffalo Bills (11)
I only ranked 7 quarterbacks because these are the only 7 players who are near-locks to make their respective teams.
If you’re hoping for someone to help you throughout the 2020 fantasy season, the obvious #1 is Joe Burrow. He is the only rookie quarterback who is guaranteed to be a starter in week 1, and he earned the right to go #1 overall after putting up a truly legendary season at LSU.
It has been a while since the first quarterback taken has actually turned out to be the best. The main reason for that: The highest you’re picked, the worse your supporting cast. This is especially true for #1 overall picks at quarterback. And unfortunately, QBs in today’s age have a very short leash and get their confidence (and that of the fans) shaken all too fast. I don’t expect that with Burrow. The Bengals were horrible last year, but he’ll actually have plenty of weapons. AJ Green (if healthy) is one of the best in the league, Tyler Boyd is starting caliber, John Ross still has potential, and Tee Higgins joins the mix. Joe Mixon out of the backfield is also a great thing for Burrow. While the offensive line is nowhere near what he had in college, his confidence and talented playmakers should help him be at least solid from the start, and he won’t lose his starting job any time soon.
Two more quarterbacks should be expected to start at some point in the season. Tua will be great if he’s totally healthy, and by the 2021-2022 season might be better than Burrow. For now, the Dolphins know they’re in the midst of a multi-year rebuild, and they’re not going to rush Tua into action week 1, even if he claims to be 100%. Having him not start all year makes him a step below Burrow.
Herbert will likely open the season backing up Tyrod Taylor, who I personally love. It would be a little surprising if Herbert doesn’t take over at Tyrod’s first struggles, however. I’m not sure about how Herbert will play in the NFL, and I wouldn’t be too confident in him making an impact for your fantasy team even if he does earn starts.
After the top 3, there are 4 quarterbacks who are locks to be the #2 quarterback on the team. You then have to consider who has the best chance of playing. Jalen Hurts, backing up the injury prone Carson Wentz, will almost certainly get a chance during the 2020 season. His dual threat style can also help him put up a lot of fantasy points, and if he’s named the starter for a week he might end up being projected more points than Burrow on any given week.
Jordan Love has insane potential, but he’s not at all ready to play in 2020. If Rodgers gets hurt and Love’s forced into action, I’d still expect an admirable performance given the offensive system and o-line in Green Bay.
Eason and Fromm are backups to durable quarterback in Phillip Rivers and Josh Allen. While Fromm might have a better chance to get into games due to injury, Eason has the higher ceiling, even for year 1.
Rookie Wide Receiver Rankings (Standard)
This draft class was legendary for its wide receiver depth, and I expect a few players to become weekly starters in a standard or PPR league. These rankings take into account player skill, system fit, player health, depth chart position, and QB strength.
- CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (Week 10 Bye)
- Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos (8)
- Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders (6)
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (7)
- Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles (9)
- Denzel Mims, New York Jets (11)
- Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (7)
- Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers (11)
- Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (9)
- Laviska Shenault Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
- Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens (8)
- Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams (9)
- Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13)
- KJ Hamler, Denver Broncos (8)
- Bryan Edwards, Las Vegas Raiders (6)
- Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (8)
- Antonio Gandy-Golden, Washington Redskins (8)
- Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns (9)
- KJ Hill, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Quintez Cephus, Detroit Lions (5)
- Joe Reed, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills (11)
- John Hightower, Philadelphia Eagles (9)
- Collin Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
- Isaiah Hodgins, Buffalo Bills (11)
- James Proche, Baltimore Ravens (8)
- Marquez Callaway, New Orleans Saints (6)
- Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears (11)
- Freddie Swain, Seattle Seahawks (6)
- Isaiah Coulter, Houston Texans (7)
- Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers (11)
- KJ Osborn, Minnesota Vikings (7)
- Desmon Patton, Indianapolis Colts (7)
- Quez Watkins, Philadelphia Eagles (9)
- Quartney Davis, Minnesota Vikings (7)
As was the case in the draft, two wide receivers stand atop the class in my rankings: CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy. While these two are quite different on the field, they’d definitely be receiving an identical Madden rating were I in charge of that.
With talent being relatively equal, it comes down to opportunity. Lamb is in Dallas, and Jeudy is in Denver. The Cowboys have a definite #1 receiver in Amari Cooper, so CeeDee will be the #2 option to open the season. While Cooper is a great talent, he’s not going to be used like Michael Thomas where he’s the go-to receiver on every pass play. This means there’s plenty of opportunities for 2 productive receivers in the offense. The only receiver standing in the way of CeeDee being the #2 option is Michael Gallup, and Lamb easily wins that matchup. In terms of the quarterback situation, Dak Prescott is a pretty solid quarterback who’s capable of putting up big yardage.
In Denver, Jeudy has a slightly better chance at being the #1 option, although he’ll likely start at the #2 option behind Courtland Sutton. While Jeudy is closer to the #1 spot than CeeDee is, he’s hurt by having a much less proven QB. Drew Lock might end up having a good season, but he’ll need to show it first. Jeudy is definitely a more risky choice because of the quarterback situation, and that gives the slight edge to CeeDee Lamb at the top spot.
The next tier includes the #3-#5 fantasy rookie receivers, Henry Ruggs, Justin Jefferson, and Jalen Reagor.
As far as I see it, Ruggs is by far the best receiver in Las Vegas. Derek Carr is on a similar confidence level as Drew Lock, but Ruggs is almost certainly the #1 option at the receiver spot. The reason I don’t have him higher is because there’s a lot of depth here, including Tyrell Williams, Nelson Aghholor, Zay Jones, Hunter Renfrow, and a couple great receiving tight ends. I see them spreading the ball around a lot, lowering Ruggs’ usage.
I’ve been critical of Justin Jefferson’s fit in the Viking offense, but I rank him #4 because they are guaranteed to give him an insanely high usage rate. His insane senior season was thanks largely to Burrow and his move to the slot, and he’ll likely be playing on the outside for the Vikings since Thielen mans the slot. Still, Jefferson is talented enough to play out there. With Thielen being the only other starting caliber receiver on the roster, the Vikings are going to make sure Jefferson gets his touches.
Jalen Reagor is less safe than Jefferson, but offers a lot of potential upside. The Eagles had major issues at receiver last year, and there’s a chance he can be the #1 WR option if things go perfectly. Alshon Jeffery is healthy but aging, DeSean Jackson is aging and having some off-field issues, and than simply leaves Reagor (and 2 great receiving tight ends). I don’t have the best feeling about him for this season since he’s changed his body so much since college, but he has a very high ceiling for 2020.
The third tier of players includes #6-#10 in the rankings, including Mims, Pittman, Aiyuk, Higgins, and Shenault.
Denzel Mims was one of my draft sleepers, and I think he has a chance to turn into the most talented receiver in this class. He’s already the most talented receiver option on the Jets, and should be the #1 target for Sam Darnold from day 1. The problem: It’s the Jets.
Michael Pittman falls right after Mims, but he’s in a much better position with Philip Rivers at QB. I expect Pittman to be the #3 option in Indianapolis, and I don’t think the Colts #3 is better than the Jets #1. There’s a chance Pittman could be targeted more than slot receiver Parris Campbell, but I’m not as high on Pittman as others due to his upright route running.
Brandon Aiyuk is a very interesting situation. His hands aren’t great and he could be described as raw, but he’s a dynamic athlete who fits perfectly into the 49ers offense. He should be the #3 option behind Deebo Samuel (who’s rehabbing a foot injury), and George Kittle at tight end. He ranks at 8 because he has a high ceiling but might take a while to get going.
The 9th best fantasy football rookie receiver is Tee Higgins in Cincinnati. After an incredible career at Clemson, Tee Higgins gets to team up with the QB that took him down in the championship, Joe Burrow. Higgins is interesting because his success will be directly tied to the health of AJ Green. If Green is injured, Higgins will fill his exact role as a big body WR. If Green is healthy, they’ll likely go with a speed option like John Ross.
Laviska Shenault is also an x-factor with boom-or-bust potential in 2020. The Jaguar could fall anywhere from #1 to #4 on the depth chart depending on his chemistry with Minshew. DJ Chark broke out last year and will likely be the #1 option, while Chris Conley, Dede Westbrook, and even Keelan Cole have been highly productive. Shenault is a dynamic talent, but it’s a hard spot to be in when the ball is going to be spread around a lot on a run-first team.
Tier 4 includes players ranked #11-#14: Devin Duvernay, Van Jefferson, Tyler Johnson, and KJ Hamler.
Duvernay is underrated entering 2020, but I was tempted to put him higher. I’ve never been a big fan of Hollywood Brown in Baltimore because he’s under 170 pounds and can get crushed on any given play. Duvernay is the handcuff to Marquise Brown, and complements Miles Boykin well. He’s easily the 3rd best, if not 2nd best receiver on the team and fits perfectly in the system.
Van Jefferson was shooting up draft boards before an offseason injury, which caused him to miss workouts and drop a little bit on draft night. The Rams will love his route running, and he actually plays pretty similar to Cooper Kupp. I see him as the 3rd best receiver on the team over Josh Reynolds and should see plenty of Goff passes in the spread.
Tyler Johnson has no chance on being a top 2 target in Tampa considering they have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and now Gronk. Johnson is clearly the 3rd best wide receiver, and Tom Brady loves to spread the ball around. He puts on route running clinics and will get open, which means Tom Brady will find him for plenty of receptions all season long.
KJ Hamler is the #3 receiver in Denver, and will man the slot for Drew Lock’s offense. He is shifty and underrated as a receiver, and could be the type of slot receiver who demands receptions since he’ll constantly get open.
Once you reach #15 in the rankings, things start to open up a lot. We’ll brush by some of these guys quickly.
Bryan Edwards is a pwoerful outside receiver who was highly productive in college, but he doesn’t have incredible separation ability which will hurt him in the deep receiver corps of Oakland.
Chase Claypool is a big, freakish athlete. As of now, he’s more of a raw talent who doesn’t have a clear spot on the team. I don’t expect him to see as many snaps as any of the guys above him, which is why he falls to #16.
Gandy-Golden is another big bodied receiver, on a team that really needs one. He doesn’t have elite separation ability but will get long looks as a potential starter due to his play style complementing Terry McLaurin.
Peoples-Jones is a great talent with massive potential, but he doesn’t have a clear path to playing time in Cleveland. With two phenomenal receivers starting and two great tight ends, there’s not many more receptions to go around.
Chargers KJ Hill at #19 and Joe Reed at #21 are interesting, because Reed was a 5th round pick while Hill was taken in the 7th. Hill is ranked higher because he is as NFL-ready as he’ll ever be. After finishing his Buckeye career as their all-time receptions leader, he seems like a perfect compliment to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Joe Reed has better potential and is a great return man, but Hill has an edge on him now.
Returning to #20, Quintez Cephus lacks speed but plays with power and does the little things right. While I don’t think he’s good enough of a receiver to see the field normally, his willingness to run block will get him plenty of snaps in a Lions offense that is now using two running backs.
Among the final 14 prospects, the most interesting to me are John Hightower, Collin Johnson, and Marquez Callaway.
Hightower was a 5th-round pick of the Eagles with big boom-or-bust potential due to his speed and ability on deep routes. He is effectively a handcuff for DeSean Jackson, and could be good for a few explosive plays throughout the season. He’s the type of player to have 3 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown one week, then no receptions the next.
Collin Johnson falls into the crowded Jaguars receiver corps that I mentioned for Laviska Shenault, but standing over 6’5″ will help him literally stand out from the rest. While Chark is a big guy at 6’3″, if Minshew likes big targets there’s a chance Johnson could find significant playing time.
Marquez Callaway could find himself as the #4 receiver in New Orleans, and an injury to Emmanuel Sanders, Tre’Quan Smith, or god-forbid to Michael Thomas could give him plenty of targets from Hall of Famer Drew Brees.
There are so many other receivers I could touch on and about a dozen I skipped over, but all these players are unlikely to become starters in the 2020 season unless there’s a number of injuries on a single team.
Rookie Running Back Rankings (Standard)
A number of running backs will get a chance to turn into no-brainer fantasy starters, it’s only a matter of who actually gets that opportunity. Again, system and depth chart position are just as important as talent.
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (Week 10 Bye)
- Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (7)
- Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams (9)
- JK Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens (8)
- D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (5)
- Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13)
- Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills (11)
- Darrynton Evans, Tennessee Titans (7)
- AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers (5)
- Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Anthony McFarland Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers (8)
- Antonio Gibson, Washington Redskins (8)
- Eno Benjamin, Arizona Cardinals (8)
- Lynn Bowden Jr., Las Vegas Raiders (6)
- Lamical Perine, New York Jets (11)
- DeeJay Dallas, Seattle Seahawks (6)
- Raymond Calais, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13)
- Jason Huntley, Detroit Lions (5)
- Salvon Ahmed, San Francisco 49ers (11)
- James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
Perhaps the easiest part of this article was ranking Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the #1 fantasy football rookie running back. Whether you use PPR or traditional scoring, CEH easily leads the group given the system he’s in and clear spot on the depth chart. I wasn’t nearly as high on him as others were entering the draft, but his ability as a receiver and runner makes him the perfect fit to compliment the air raid of the Chiefs. Expect him to put up a lot of touchdown both in the rushing and receiving game.
The next 4 running backs are fairly close in their ranking, but there’s two that stand out for me. Jonathan Taylor may not be a surprise, but I love Cam Akers at #3.
As for Taylor, he’s the most talented pure runner we’ve seen in a really long time. Fumbling could be a possible issue, and his receiving isn’t elite. But there’s a reason why he was possibly the most dominant running back in college football history. With his talent, I expect him to overtake Marlon Mack and become the #1 running back for the Colts. Every starting running back is worthy of getting drafted fairly early in your fantasy league.
Cam Akers falls at #3 because I also expect him to be a starting running back. The Rams lost Todd Gurley, and need a new back to fill that void. Darrell Henderson did little as a rookie but could claim the spot, and Malcolm Brown is currently chalked in as the starter. Henderson is a bit undersized to be an every down back, and Brown is simply not that good. Akers has experience playing behind a poor offensive line in college, and is used to having to create his own yardage. He looked great in workouts and showed why he earned a 5 star recruiting ranking entering college. Akers is the most underated rookie running back in fantasy football this year, no doubt in my mind.
#4 and #5 are big names in JK Dobbins and D’Andre Swift.
Dobbins is coming off a stellar year at Ohio State, and will jump right into a significant role in the explosive Ravens offense. He has a chance to be the #1 running back by the end of the year since Mark Ingram is aging, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes him a while to get going.
D’Andre Swift I’ve never been too high on, and I’m not a fan of his fit with the Lions. Ranking him #5 instead of #6 is more a sign of respect to other analysts who repeatedly claim he’ll be great. I see him as an undersized change of pace back more than an every down guy, and I don’t think he is nearly as good as Kerryon Johnson. In my eyes he’s a clear cut #2 running back in an offense with an abysmal running game over the past decade. He’ll have a little more value in PPR leagues since he’ll likely be more of a receiving back to start.
#6 was also an easy selection for me, as Ke’Shawn Vaughn has a chance to be the #1 running back in a weak Buccaneers backfield. His lack of receiving productivity is what makes him fall to 6, but Vaughn is a talented running back with the size to get red zone and short distance carries in Tom Brady’s new look offense.
Zack Moss was a steady force out of the backfield for Utah, and will be competing with TJ Yeldon for the #2 spot in Buffalo behind Devin Singletary. Should he win it, he’ll be a short yardage runner and see a lot of goal line opportunities Bills.
Once you get to #8 in the fantasy football rookie running back rankings, you’re looking at guys that you’d only take with one of your very last picks or in an extra large league.
#8 is Darrynton Evans, an extremely shifty back out of Appalachian State who relies on elusiveness and speed. The Titans are going to give most of the carries to Derrick Henry, but Evans is a capable receiver and can step into the role that Dion Lewis held for several years. I’d expect him to be the change of pace back from week 1.
AJ Dillon at #9 is incredibly interesting. The 2nd round pick of the Packers was a massive surprise given they like both their running backs. Dillon will offer something that Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams don’t: Size. The 3-time All-ACC 1st Team honoree weighs in at nearly 250 pounds, and have great speed for his size. The problem is very poor hands and little experience blocking. While he has a chance to get a lot of carries in the red zone, his competition and lack of ability in passing situations could hurt his opportunity to get snaps.
Joshua Kelley might be the most interesting running back to watch, and has a lot of boom or bust potential in fantasy football simply because of his situation. I could see a scenario where Kelley is the #1 running back, but he could very easily be #3. At 212 pounds, Kelley isn’t exactly a power runner, but he offers more power than his competition. Most teams go with a speed back and a power back, and who’s the power back for the Chargers? The options at RB right now are Austin Ekeler (191 pounds), Justin Jackson (199 pounds), and Joshua Kelley (212 pounds). Just like Jamaal Williams in Green Bay was forced into the power role, Kelley might have to do the same thing which would give him a lot of touches. I didn’t rank him higher because there’s also a very significant chance he’s the little used #3 back.
Anthony McFarland sits at #11, offering a much speed element to the Steelers offense. As mentioned with Kelley, most teams go with one power back and one speed back. James Conner is a great running back when healthy, and he’s a big guy at 230+ pounds. The other backs in Pittsburgh are Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell, who are each in the 225 pound range. McFarland is clearly the best change of pace back on the team, because he’s the only one. The problem for him is that he’s clearly the 4th most talented running back on the team, and Pittsburgh will try to find a way to get more touches to power backups like Samuels and Snell.
Antonio Gibson at #12 is probably the last of the bigger-name running backs. Gibson was a receiver at Memphis, and has incredible speed for a running back over 220 pounds. He has great potential due to his size, athleticism, and receiving ability. Despite this, I think he has a lot more value in dynasty leagues than standard leagues. Gibson will be behind Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice, and isn’t a lock to be the #3 in front of Bryce Love, JD McKissic, or Peyton Barber. He has a potentially high ceiling even for this season, but I expect him to be riding the bench (and fantasy football free agency) for 2020.
The next tier of backs include the #13-#16 players, including Eno Benjamin, Lamical Perine, Lynn Bowden, and DeeJay Dallas. These are the only running backs that I’m confident will make a team, with the #17-#20 guys being potentially cut.
Eno Benjamin at #13 is another underrated prospect, and I was shocked to see him fall to the 7th round in the draft given how much Sun Devils HC Herm Edwards raved about him. Kenyan Drake was great to close out the season with the Cardinals, and Chase Edmonds had a few really big games. Eno Benjamin sits at #3, but I think he has a chance to unseat Edmonds as the #2 back. Even if he doesn’t, he should perform admirably if he fills in after an injury.
Lynn Bowden is one of the more interesting names to watch, as he did a bit of everything his final season as Kentucky. Despite entering the season as the team’s #1 receiving option, he was forced into action as a quarterback. Now, the receiver-turned-quarterback with be a running back. Josh Jacobs is the obvious #1 options, and Bowden could fall anywhere from #2 to #4 on the depth chart, competing with veterans Devontae Booker and Jalen Richard. His receiving ability, elusiveness, and work ethic should help him get a roster spot and come up with at least a few big plays this season.
Some people really like Perine at #15, but he has an upfield battle to see playing time. He has a balanced approach to the position, offering both elusiveness and power. But he sits behind Le’Veon Bell, Frank Gore, and the best change of pace option in Trenton Cannon.
DeeJay Dallas looks like the #4 option in Seattle, who suddenly has a lot of depth at the position. As a 4th round pick, it’s unlikely he’ll get cut. He’s a very solid blocker for a rookie which could help him see some snaps during passing downs.
Raymond Calais, Jason Huntley, Salvon Ahmed, and James Robinson should are all hopefuls to earn a spot on the final roster. But don’t expect much on the field from them unless there’s some injuries.
Rookie Tight End Rankings (Standard)
Rookie tights end rarely make an impact in fantasy football, and with a lack of superstar power in the 2020 tight end draft class, I don’t expect any different this year. If you need to dig deep for a tight end, here are the rookie rankings:
- Devin Asiasi, New England Patriots (6)
- Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (11)
- Adam Trautman, New Orleans Saints (6)
- Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos (8)
- Brycen Hopkins, Los Angeles Rams (9)
- Harrison Bryant, Cleveland Browns (9)
- Dalton Keene, New England Patriots (6)
- Colby Parkinson, Seattle Seahawks (6)
- Thaddeus Moss, Washington Redskins (8)
- Jared Pinkney, Atlanta Falcons (10)
- Charlie Woerner, San Francisco 49ers (11)
- Hunter Bryant, Detroit Lions (5)
- Josiah Deguara, Green Bay Packers (5)
- Stephen Sullivan, Seattle Seahawks (6)
Cole Kmet was the unanimous #1 TE in the 2020 draft class, and was the only tight end taken in the first 90 picks (43rd overall). Despite this I somehow found myself putting Devin Asiasi, who I gave a late 4th round grade to, as my top rookie fantasy football tight end.
Skill level definitely earns you opportunities, but the roster around you is even more important. Someone has to play tight end after all. The Patriots will have 3 tight ends competing for the starting job: 3rd round rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, along with Matt LaCosse who has just 403 career receiving yards since his career began in 2015. Asiasi is the best among this group. With a completely revamped offense and subpar group of wide receivers, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots start emphasizing tight ends in their passing game. New QB Cam Newton has always loved throwing to Greg Olsen, and he’ll be looking for a tight end he can target. Asiasi isn’t an elite athlete, but he has soft hands and is a pretty good route runner for his age. He’s the only guy in this group who I expect to be regularly targeted.
Look at the history of #1 tight ends and you’ll see that they’re rarely starters in year one. Cole Kmet is a solid receiver, but his high ranking was largely based off potential. Jimmy Graham was brought in to help in the receiving game, and Kmet will start the season as the #2 option. In an offense that has struggled to pass the ball, he’ll likely be the type of player who either catches a touchdown or gets you 0-1 points per week. Still, he’s guaranteed to at least get some opportunities, and there’s a chance that he becomes the #1 tight end by the end of the year.
I wasn’t a fan of Adam Trautman, the former Dayton Flyer, out of college. The Pioneer league is by far the worth conference in the FCS so his production doesn’t impress me, and he’s never had to block a linebacker or defensive end who is anywhere near NFL caliber. Still, he is a great fit for the Saints offense who desperately needed a young tight end they could groom. I still don’t think he’ll turn into a great NFL player, but he could be the recipient of some big plays for the always-explosive Saints.
Albert “O” has insane potential given his 4.49 speed in a 6’5″ 260 pound frame. After catching 23 touchdowns for Missouri, the Broncos will try to spread him around the field similar to how they use Noah Fant. Despite his size, his blocking leaves a lot to be desired which will make it hard to see the field. Down the road he has a chance to turn into a pro bowl receiver, but there’s plenty of receivers in Denver and not enough Drew Lock passes to go around. I do still think there’s a modest chance he ends up leading all rookie tight ends in fantasy points by the end of the year, especially if Fant has an injury.
I see a significant drop off after #4, with the Rams’ Brycen Hopkins coming in next. Hopkins has potential as a player and is already a great receiver which is why he comes in at #5, but will likely open the season as the #3 tight end on the depth chart behind Higbee and Everett. There’s still a chance he could be the #2 tight end, which also helps him remain somewhat relevant in the Fantasy discussion.
Harrison Bryant ranks at #6 simply based on talent. He’s a great player and deserves to see the field. The problem? He sits behind David Njoku and Austin Hooper, two of the better receiving tight ends in the league. Bryant is an advanced blocker for his age, which could be his way onto the field. He’s also helped by the reports the Njoku has requested a trade, meaning Bryant could become the #2 tight end after all. Even if he is, the Browns have two stellar receivers and a tight end who need their touches.
Dalton Keene strikes me more as a blocker, but has a modest chance of becoming the starter for the Patriots this season. If he is, maybe he’s worth a roster spot in a deep league. Most likely he’ll be the #3 tight end option.
After #7, your options become pretty abysmal.
Colby Parkinson sits at #8 and has the size and talent be a really good fantasy football tight end if he gets his opportunities. The Seahawks have a lot of tight ends on their roster, including Greg Olsen, Will Dissly, Luke Willson, and fellow rookie Stephen Sullivan (ranked #14 here).
Thaddeus Moss at #9 went undrafted due to his inability to block, but I don’t like the tight end options for Washington. Jeremy Sprinkle and Richard Rodgers aren’t starting caliber, and Logan Thomas is the current #3. I think Moss has a great chance to make the team and could turn into a Charles Clay style receiver in an ideal situation. The odds of him getting playing time are slim, but more possible than the guys below him. If he does get playing time, bad blocking doesn’t hurt him in fantasy football.
The Falcons replaced Austin Hooper with a solid player in Hayden Hurst, but they don’t have a great #2 tight end. Jared Pinkney was dominant at Vanderbilt in the 2018-2019 college football season, and if the Falcons can unlock that potential in camp he has an outside chance to not only make the team, but be #2 on the depth chart.
Charlie Woerner was one of my favorite draft sleepers, and I identified him as a potential George Kittle style player if he lands in the right system and gets a chance. Low and behold, he’s drafted in the 6th round by the 49ers. Woerner was the blocking tight end at Georgia last year, and blocking could help him see the field right away. At the NFLPA collegiate bowl, he looked dominant as a receiver. I thoroughly expect him to make the team, and wouldn’t be surprised to see him be the #2 receiver by the end of the year. But I need to hamper my bias and admit that #3 is more likely.
Like Thaddeus Moss, Hunter Bryant is a WR masquerading as a tight end. After going undrafted he has an uphill battle to make the team, but he is a great receiver who can catch some passes if he gets on the field due to injury.
Josiah Deguara made little sense to me when the Packers selected him in the 3rd round. There’s a reason I had a 7th round grade on him: He’s undersized which will limit his blocking, he doesn’t run great routes, and he doesn’t have great hands. I don’t expect him to factor into the Packer offense even though he’s a near lock to make the team.
Sullivan is unlikely to make the Seahawks roster, and might start the season on the practice squad. If he ends up seeing the field, he’s a transitioned receiver who can make some plays.
Rookie Kicker Rankings (Standard)
This kicker class was really bad, and the results of the draft were very surprising. I wouldn’t recommend drafting any of these kickers in your fantasy league, but I still have my predictions:
- Rodrigo Blankenship, Indianapolis Colts (Week 7 Bye)
- Justin Rohrwasser, New England Patriots (6)
- Sam Sloman, Los Angeles Rams (9)
- Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills (11)
This is an interesting situation. As I’ve preached this whole time, Fantasy Football is all about opportunity, and a starting kicker will certainly get more points than a free agent. These rankings are basically who will play in the most games in 2020-2021. With that in mind, Rohrwasser seems like the obvious choice for #1, as he’s the only rookie kicker currently chalked in as a starter.
While Justin Rohrwasser is the only kicker on the Patriots roster, I still don’t expect him to be the starter. He performed very poorly most of his college career, and I anticipate the Patriots will sign someone who is waived by another team. Plain and simply, Rohrwasser doesn’t look like an NFL kicker to me. While his senior season was good, he was just 2-for-7 from 40+ yards in his junior and sophomore seasons combined (with a long of 42 yards). His inconsistency is not a good trait for NFL kickers.
Blankenship strikes me as the clear cut #1 kicker in the class. His current competition in Indianapolis is Chase McLaughlin, a battle he could certainly win. Even if he’s waived, other teams will be tempted after a couple of kickers inevitably struggle in the preseason. Rohrwasser might have a slightly better chance of making a team day 1, but I think Blankenship has significantly better odds to be an NFL starter by the end of the season.
Sam Sloman was a 7th round pick, and is in an open competition of 3 kickers in LA. I don’t think he wins the job, but he certainly has a shot.
Tyler Bass is the other name worth mentioning. Stephen Hauschka is the current starter for Buffalo, who is solid but not stellar. Bass was the #2 kicker in the draft class, and was also the second kicker drafted. He’ll get a very fair shot at winning the job, but I’m not extremely confident in him doing so.
Overall Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings (Standard)
Now that we’ve covered all the positional rankings, some of you will be looking for overall rankings.
This is my current big board that I expect to use when I draft my All-Rookie Fantasy Football Team for the 2020 season. Obviously, this is subject to change with injuries, roster changes, opinion changes, etc.
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB1, Kansas City Chiefs
- Jonathan Taylor, RB2, Indianapolis Colts
- Cam Akers, RB3, Los Angeles Rams
- JK Dobbins, RB4, Baltimore Ravens
- CeeDee Lamb, WR1, Dallas Cowboys
- Jerry Jeudy, WR2, Denver Broncos
- D’Andre Swift, RB5, Detroit Lions
- Henry Ruggs III, WR3, Las Vegas Raiders
- Justin Jefferson, WR4, Minnesota Vikings
- Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB6, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Jalen Reagor, WR5, Philadelphia Eagles
- Denzel Mims, WR6, New York Jets
- Michael Pittman Jr., WR7, Indianapolis Colts
- Brandon Aiyuk, WR8, San Francisco 49ers
- Laviska Shenault Jr., WR10, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Joe Burrow, QB1, Cincinnati Bengals
- Zack Moss, RB7, Buffalo Bills
- Devin Duvernay, WR11, Baltimore Ravens
- Darrynton Evans, RB8, Tennessee Titans
- Tee Higgins, WR9, Cincinnati Bengals
- AJ Dillon, RB9, Green Bay Packers
- Tua Tagovailoa, QB2, Miami Dolphins
- Joshua Kelley, RB10, Los Angeles Chargers
- Van Jefferson, WR12, Los Angeles Rams
- Anthony McFarland Jr., RB11, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Devin Asiasi, TE1, New England Patriots
- Tyler Johnson, WR13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- KJ Hamler, WR14, Denver Broncos
- Antonio Gibson, RB12, Washington Redskins
- Bryan Edwards, WR15, Las Vegas Raiders
- Justin Herbert, QB3, Los Angeles Chargers
- Cole Kmet, TE2, Chicago Bears
- Eno Benjamin, RB13, Arizona Cardinals
- Chase Claypool, WR16, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Rodrigo Blankenship, K1, Indianapolis Colts
- Adam Trautman, TE3, New Orleans Saints
- Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR17, Washington Redskins (8)
- Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR18, Cleveland Browns (9)
- Lynn Bowden Jr., RB14, Las Vegas Raiders (6)
- Albert Okwuegbunam, TE4, Denver Broncos (8)
- KJ Hill, WR19, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Jalen Hurts, QB4, Philadelphia Eagles (9)
- Lamical Perine, RB15, New York Jets (11)
- Justin Rohrwasser, K2, New England Patriots
- Jordan Love, QB5, Green Bay Packers (5)
- Quintez Cephus, WR20, Detroit Lions (5)
- Joe Reed, WR21, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Brycen Hopkins, TE5, Los Angeles Rams (9)
- DeeJay Dallas, RB16, Seattle Seahawks (6)
- Harrison Bryant, TE6, Cleveland Browns (9)
Evaluation of individual prospects can be found in their respective positional rankings.
The top 4 players on the list on running backs, as a starting running back is almost always better than a #2 wide receiver (I know that’s a drastic oversimplification of drafting strategy).
I’d say there’s at least 8 players who are good enough to be starters on your team during week 1, assuming you’re in a standard 10 team league. The top 6 players, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers, JK Dobbins, CeeDee Lamb, and Jerry Jeudy, are likely locks to start in my mind.
You’ll notice there’s very little stock placed in the quarterbacks, tight ends, and kickers. I doubt that’ll surprise many of you. Joe Burrow is definitely an NFL starter, but he’s not going to be a top 1o fantasy quarterback so he shouldn’t be starting for your team. If you’re feeling particularly confident in him, maybe he’s good enough to be a backup, but I probably wouldn’t go that far either.
I’m always a proponent of drafting at least one boom-or-bust player to close out your team. After all, you’ll likely pick up a few free agents throughout the course of the season and will need someone to drop. Either they reach their ceiling and you already have rights to them, or they don’t and you can drop someone without worry. With this in mind, I’d say the top 15 players in these rankings I’d gladly take on my normal fantasy team.
Rookie Fantasy Football Rankings – Dynasty Leagues
Rookie QB Rankings (Dynasty)
When it comes to a Dynasty League fantasy quarterback, all that matters is how many games they’ll start and how well they’ll play. Guys who are likely to be career backups are therefore less valuable than someone who has even a slight chance to become a QB1. Here are the rookie rankings for quarterbacks in dynasty leagues:
- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (Week 9 Bye)
- Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (11)
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (5)
- Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (9)
- Jacob Eason, Indianapolis Colts (7)
- Jake Fromm, Buffalo Bills (11)
- Cole McDonald, Tennessee Titans (7)
- James Morgan, New York Jets (11)
- Jake Luton, Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
- Anthony Gordon, Seattle Seahawks (6)
In order to avoid repeating myself too much, I’m going to mostly focus analysis on the future and limit mentions of the 2020 season. To see how the quarterbacks project for the upcoming season, click here.
1 quarterback is expected to be a starter to begin 2020. To begin 2021, 3 quarterbacks are expected to be starters. And then there’s the Jordan Love situation.
I expect Joe Burrow to be a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback. His team may have “earned” the #1 pick in the draft, but he has a surprising amount of offensive weapons and shouldn’t be ruined by mediocre teammates like what’s happened with some former #1 picks. I think there’s a really good chance that Burrow is a top 10 fantasy QB in the near future, and distant future.
Tua has as high of a ceiling as Burrow, maybe even higher. People seem to have forgotten just how dominant he was in college, but he’ll get his chance to show his insane arm once again. Still, injuries hold him back from the #1 quarterback ranking in dynasty leagues. If he stays healthy I’m pretty confident he’ll a franchise guy, but he’ll have to stay on the field. Remember that the Dolphins weren’t planning on a 1 year rebuild, this is a multiyear process and they have a long way to go before they can provide him with much help. They aren’t going to rush him into action unless they can guarantee he’s 100+% healthy. I still expect him to be a starter for the next 15 years, even if he doesn’t start until 2021.
Justin Herbert has the highest bust potential of the 3 because he struggles to switch gears from aggressive throws to conservative throws. While he doesn’t throw many interceptions, his decision making is extremely questionable and he hasn’t really shown that killer mentality that elite QBs have. His arm talent gives him pro bowl potential, and he’ll likely be the Week 1 starter in 2021 for the Chargers.
Jordan Love is the interesting one here. Aaron Rodgers will turn 37 in December 2020, but who knows how long he’ll be playing. Recent cases like Drew Brees and Tom Brady suggest that 37 is plenty young to get it done. If Rodgers decides to play for 3-4 more years, will they actually let him go like they did with Favre? There’s a murky future for Love, but the Packers know what they’re doing with quarterbacks. Love has next-level potential, but also a good chance to never become a starter. If you already have a young stud like Mahomes on your team, this pick is probably worth the risk. But if your QBs are all aging or inconsistent, I wouldn’t recommend waiting until 2022 (at the earliest) for him to potentially be great.
#5-#11 is all about who has the best chance to become a starter at some point in their career. 2 players stand out as having good chances of becoming a starter one day: Jalen Hurts and Jacob Eason.
Jalen Hurts will start his career behind injury prone Carson Wentz, which means he might get an opportunity right away. While there’s some problems in his game, his dual threat style of play can result in some huge weeks for fantasy owners. He is a natural leader and will certainly stick around the league for at least a dozen years.
Jacob Eason is a classic boom-or-bust quarterback with a big arm. As of right now, he’s the heir to the quarterback throne in Indy after Philip Rivers is done there. His football IQ and leadership aren’t particularly impressive which is why I rank him below Hurts. Eason is no more likely than Hurts to become a starter, and has a great bust potential.
Jake Fromm is a talented player, but lacks the arm strength to be a stud. If he becomes a starter, it will be as a game manager who doesn’t put up a lot of fantasy points.
Cole McDonald, James Morgan, Jake Luton, and Anthony Gordon will all try to make a career as a backup. They’re ranked in order of likelihood they reach their ceiling and become a starter.
Rookie WR Rankings (Dynasty)
The top of this receiver group has a number of guys who might turn into elite NFL receivers. I’d encourage all dynasty team owners to carefully evaluate the top 10 names on this list and come to your own opinion, because literally all of them have the potential to turn into a pro bowl caliber receiver. Of course, current fit is also taken into account.
- CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (Week 10 Bye)
- Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos (8)
- Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders (6)
- Denzel Mims, New York Jets (11)
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (7)
- Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles (9)
- Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (9)
- Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers (11)
- Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (7)
- Laviska Shenault Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
- KJ Hamler, Denver Broncos (8)
- Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams (9)
- Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens (8)
- Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns (9)
- Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (8)
- KJ Hill, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills (11)
- Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13)
- Bryan Edwards, Las Vegas Raiders (6)
- John Hightower, Philadelphia Eagles (9)
- Joe Reed, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Antonio Gandy-Golden, Washington Redskins (8)
- Quintez Cephus, Detroit Lions (5)
- Collin Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
- James Proche, Baltimore Ravens (8)
- Freddie Swain, Seattle Seahawks (6)
- Isaiah Hodgins, Buffalo Bills (11)
- Marquez Callaway, New Orleans Saints (6)
- Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears (11)
- Zimari Manning, Denver Broncos (8)
With so many receivers to write about and a lot of overlapping themes, I’m going to mostly focus analysis on the future and limit mentions of the 2020 season. To see how the receivers project for the upcoming season, click here.
You can’t go wrong with any of the top 4 receivers in this group. CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy will be top-10 fantasy receivers before too long, as they each have undeniable talent and were drafted into pretty good situations.
Henry Ruggs is the rare speedster who doesn’t drop passes. He has Tyreek Hill level talent and speed, and is a pretty good route runner. He sits at #3 because he’s not in as good of a situation to start, and will have a harder time recovering from an injury than the two guys above him.
I think Denzel Mims is a future stud. His route running is good but not elite, but he has an insane size-speed combination, makes circus catches, and will be the #1 option from day 1 in the NFL.
Justin Jefferson will need some time to adjust to a new role with the Vikings, but he’s the heir apparent to their #1 receiver spot. The Vikings only have 2 starting caliber receiver, Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Thielen will already be 30 by the start of the 2020 season, which is starting to get “up there” for WR’s. He’s got the talent to be a pro bowler, but there’s also a chance the Vikings moving him out of the slot will mess up his career trajectory.
Jalen Reagor at #6 and Brandon Aiyuk at #8 will need are speedsters with a couple red flags that hold them back. Aiyuk is raw but dynamic and in a great situation to start his career, while Reagor is a dynamic athlete who failed to progress throughout his college career.
#7 and #9, Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr., are big bodied receivers with a lot of college productivity. Big receivers can struggle with separation, meaning fewer targets and fewer fantasy points. They each have the route running ability to get a little space, and can turn into studs in the right situation. They also have very little bust potential.
Laviska Shenault is the last of the superstars. An offseason injuries plagued his draft workouts, but he showed a diverse skillset at Colorado and has some Dez Bryant traits with his play strength. Getting an opportunity while in Jacksonville will be the hardest part for his future, but the talent is there for a long career as a starter.
For the next 20 players, rankings are indicative of how likely they are to become starting caliber (a #1 or #2 option).
KJ Hamler is the best of the rest, with good hands and shifty route running out of the slot. He can easily be a regular in PPR scoring leagues.
Van Jefferson is an elite route runner who will get open. It’s unlikely that he’ll become a #1 receiver due to a lack of elite physical traits, but he’ll regularly get open.
Duvernay is one of those speedy receivers who sometimes explode and sometimes fade into oblivion. He’s starting in a perfect system, so the scales tip towards “boom” and a long career.
Peoples-Jones at #14 has a lot of potential, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if he develops into a low level #1 receiver, certainly worthy of being drafted in fantasy football each year.
Chase Claypool at #15 is an insane athlete, but he has no clear path to being a starter and isn’t a great route runner. He’s one of my picks for probable-busts in this draft class.
KJ Hill is the last player I’ll spend time on, as he’s entering the league as NFL-ready as he’ll ever be. If you draft him, expect production in 2020 or 2021. Barring injury, his 2021 form will probably be the most productive he’ll ever be for fantasy owners given his low ceiling yet advanced ability.
The final 14 players are unlikely in my eyes to be a top 2 receiver on a solid team due to physical traits. They can still have some productive years, but shouldn’t necessarily be counted on year in and year out.
Rookie RB Rankings (Dynasty)
Running backs can occasionally pop out of nowhere, and can be difficult to rank for dynasty fantasy leagues due to injury issues and overall shorter careers. Still, there’s a number of very solid running backs in this year’s class that dynasty owners need to know.
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (Week 10 Bye)
- Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (7)
- JK Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens (8)
- Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams (9)
- D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (5)
- Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13)
- Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills (11)
- Antonio Gibson, Washington Redskins (8)
- AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers (5)
- Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers (10)
- Darrynton Evans, Tennessee Titans (7)
- Anthony McFarland Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers (8)
- Lynn Bowden Jr., Las Vegas Raiders (6)
- Eno Benjamin, Arizona Cardinals (8)
- Lamical Perine, New York Jets (11)
- DeeJay Dallas, Seattle Seahawks (6)
- James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
- Raymond Calais, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13)
- Jason Huntley, Detroit Lions (5)
- Adrian Killins Jr., Philadelphia Eagles (9)
For more detailed analysis of how these rookie running backs project for the 2020 fantasy football season, click here.
The top 5 fantasy football rookie running backs are all really close for dynasty league owners. While it was easy to rank Clyde Edwards-Helaire the #1 overall rookie for 2020, it was a lot harder here. I decided to go with CEH over Jonathan Taylor because of guaranteed production. There are few guarantees with running backs because they have short careers and can be easily taken down by injuries. Edwards-Helaire is primed for huge production over the next few seasons. In an offense as insanely explosive as the Chiefs have, he’ll have no problem proving he’s starting caliber and putting up great numbers for running backs. Who knows which of these players will be healthy 3 or 4 years from now, so production in the first few years is the most important factor to consider.
At the same time, I think Jonathan Taylor is the best running back in the class. He has a great offensive line to start his career behind, and I expect him to break 1000 yards rushing on multiple occasions in his career. He was also incredibly durable in college, which gives me some confidence that he’ll be out there week in week out.
Behind those two, JK Dobbins could be one of the best running backs in the league by 2021. Mark Ingram is getting old, and the dynamic Ravens offense will be ready for Dobbins to take over. I see a little bit of Le’Veon Bell there, but that’s a best case scenario.
I’m very high on Cam Akers, as I mentioned above. I expect him to take over the starting job for the Rams this season and be a solid starter for at least several years.
D’Andre Swift will have to find a role behind another very good young running back in Kerryon Johnson. I expect Swift to never see the bulk of carries during his prime, so he’s probably destined for a career as a FLEX option on your fantasy team.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn sits only behind Ronald Jones II on the depth chart, and has a chance to get most of the carries in Tampa one of these soon years. He doesn’t rank higher because he simply isn’t as talented as the previous 5 players.
Zack Moss is a steady and productive player who plays a little like Frank Gore, who he’s replacing in Buffalo as the compliment to Devin Singletary. Since he doesn’t rely heavily on speed, it’d be easier for him to get back to full form after an injury and can remain productive later in his career. He has as much of a chance as anyone in this dynasty league running back class to have a 10 year career.
Antonio Gibson has boom-or-bust potential, but isn’t in a great situation to start his career in Washington. As a converted wide receiver, his receiving ability makes him an attractive fantasy option. He’ll need to refine his approach to the position if he wants to actually see the field, but he has the potential to become a top 10 fantasy running back. It’s just not likely.
AJ Dillon is a huge running back in the wrong era. There’s a chance he could become a #1 running back since he definitely has the size to stay healthy and maintain a long career. But his lack of receiving ability and minimal shiftiness will limit him from superstar potential at any point. He could be capable of a lot of touchdowns in his career, however.
Joshua Kelley is a pure football player who is easy to like. You can’t underestimate how important that is when it comes to maintaining a long career. Unless he gets a devastating injury, I’d expect him to have a pretty long career.
Darrynton Evans, Anthony McFarland, and Lynn Bowden are classic change of pace running backs who hope to make an impact right away. While they’re both fast, neither of them are elite receivers which takes away the greatest fantasy asset of a speed back.
The rest of these rookie running backs will need to fight hard to maintain a long career, but have enough skill to break out in the right situation.
Rookie TE Rankings (Dynasty)
While tight ends usually take some time to develop, identifying and drafting the next George Kittle or Travis Kelce can be a huge boost to your fantasy team for years to come. This is how we’d rank the best tight ends from the 2020 draft class:
- Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (Week 11 Bye)
- Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos (8)
- Devin Asiasi, New England Patriots (6)
- Adam Trautman, New Orleans Saints (6)
- Brycen Hopkins, Los Angeles Rams (9)
- Harrison Bryant, Cleveland Browns (9)
- Charlie Woerner, San Francisco 49ers (11)
- Colby Parkinson, Seattle Seahawks (6)
- Dalton Keene, New England Patriots (6)
- Hunter Bryant, Detroit Lions (5)
- Jacob Breeland, Baltimore Ravens (8)
- Stephen Sullivan, Seattle Seahawks (6)
- Thaddeus Moss, Washington Redskins (8)
- Josiah Deguara, Green Bay Packers (5)
- Jared Pinkney, Atlanta Falcons (10)
Despite not being the best option in 2020, Cole Kmet definitely has the best chance to turn into a great receiving tight end. Jimmy Graham is currently above him on the depth chart, but I’d expect to see Kmet used in heavy doses as soon as the Bears figure out their passing game. I wouldn’t worry too much about Trubisky throwing him the ball, because if he doesn’t improve this year he’s gone. In other words, he shouldn’t hurt Kmet’s ability to be a great fantasy football tight end option starting around the 2022 season.
Albert Okwuegbunam has insane potential, as I mentioned above. I’m not sure what his future holds in Denver when he has to compete with a very similar player in Noah Fant, but with his physical traits he has the potential to become one of the best receiving tight ends in the league.
Generally dynasty league rankings don’t put much stock into current opportunity, but many tight ends never get the opportunity to be featured. Asiasi will get that chance in 2020 as a potential week 1 starter for the Patriots. He’s a talented receiver with the most to offer in 2020, and still has a little bit of room to progress in the future.
Adam Trautman is currently in position to take over the Saints’ starting tight end position at some point in the future with an aging Jared Cook currently manning the spot. I don’t think he has the talent to hold the position, and Drew Brees is nearing the end of his career.
Brycen Hopkins will sit behind Tyler Higbee, a player who is very similar to him. This could help him develop, but it will also limit his opportunities. He’s a solid receiver and has enough athleticism to turn into a legitimate target if he gets his chance.
Harrison Bryant is one of the best tight ends in the draft class, but it’ll be hard for him to see the field early in his career. It’s also tough to bet on Cleveland Browns players in fantasy football given their reputation.
Charlie Woerner is my sleeper. I personally wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being the best tight end in this class. The reason I rank him #7 instead of higher is he has an uphill battle getting playing time after being a 6th round pick, and if he never gets his chance in a game then he could easily fade out of the league without reaching his potential. While he is known as a blocker, watching the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl will show his well rounded game.
Colby Parkinson has a lot of potential as a fantasy tight end, as he has a big frame and good hands that can make him an excellent red zone target. He’ll need to toughen up in the blocking game to see more playing time and expand his role beyond just a red zone option.
Dalton Keene is the type of player that screams “long time backup tight end” to me. He’s a pretty good blocker, solid athlete, and capable receiver, but he doesn’t have a big calling card. This will keep him relevant for a while, but he has very little chance to be a top 10 fantasy football tight end at any point in his career.
The final 6 rookie tight ends are guys who are unlikely to become starters in their career, and also have a chance to have very short careers. Jacob Breeland is a guy to watch, as he is recovering from an injury that hurt his draft stock. Before getting hurt, he was a dominant receiver for the Oregon Ducks.
Rookie K Rankings (Dynasty)
There’s a very distinct possibility that zero rookies kickers maintain NFL careers. Still, it’d be surprising if none of these guys were a starter at some point of their careers. I wouldn’t recommend bidding on a kicker in your dynasty league draft, but if you are inclined, here are the rankings:
- Rodrigo Blankenship, Indianapolis Colts (Week 7 Bye)
- Justin Rohrwasser, New England Patriots (6)
- Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills (11)
- Sam Sloman, Los Angeles Rams (9)
- Tucker McCann, Tennessee Titans (7)
Being a kicker is a cutthroat job, and a couple of bad weeks can completely derail a career. With that being said, I’m not putting too much stock in current opportunity. This is all about who is actually the best kicker.
Blankenship was the best kicker in the draft, and it was likely his decreased accuracy in pressure situations that caused him to go undrafted. Now that he’s on a 90-man roster, his natural ability will help him have the best career of anyone in this group.
Rohrwasser is an exception to my claim of putting less stock in opportunity. I mentioned above that I don’t think Rohrwasser will be the kicker for the Patriots in 2020 despite being the only one currently on the roster. Still, it’s definitely a possibility, and he’ll get to work with some of the best special teams coaches in football. Him opening his career as a possible starter isn’t what earns him number two, it’s who his coach is.
Bass and Sloman each have a slight chance to earn the starting job. While Sloman has better odds for 2020, Bass is the better kicker and the more likely of the two to find a new team if they’re both cut.
McCann is in an interesting situation in Tennessee as he sits behind only Greg Joseph, and will get plenty of opportunities early on. Of all the other kickers from the 2020 draft, McCann is most likely to get the attention of NFL coaching staffs.
Dynasty League Rankings Overall
When it comes to drafting for your fantasy football team, overall rankings are most important since they cover the critical first couple of rounds.
There’s so much to consider with overall rankings for dynasty leagues, and it can be difficult to rank across positions. Here are the best players to draft for your dynasty fantasy football league in 2020:
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB1, Kansas City Chiefs
- Jonathan Taylor, RB2, Indianapolis Colts
- JK Dobbins, RB3, Baltimore Ravens
- CeeDee Lamb, WR1, Dallas Cowboys
- Jerry Jeudy, WR2, Denver Broncos
- Henry Ruggs III, WR3, Las Vegas Raiders
- Cam Akers, RB4, Los Angeles Rams
- Joe Burrow, QB1, Cincinnati Bengals
- Tua Tagovailoa, QB2, Miami Dolphins
- D’Andre Swift, RB5, Detroit Lions
- Denzel Mims, WR4, New York Jets
- Justin Jefferson, WR5, Minnesota Vikings
- Jalen Reagor, WR6, Philadelphia Eagles
- Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB6, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tee Higgins, WR7, Cincinnati Bengals
- Brandon Aiyuk, WR8, San Francisco 49ers
- Justin Herbert, QB3, Los Angeles Chargers
- Jordan Love, QB4, Green Bay Packers
- Michael Pittman Jr., WR9, Indianapolis Colts
- Laviska Shenault Jr., WR10, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Zack Moss, RB7, Buffalo Bills
- Cole Kmet, TE1, Chicago Bears
- Antonio Gibson, RB8, Washington Redskins
- KJ Hamler, WR11, Denver Broncos
- AJ Dillon, RB9, Green Bay Packers
- Albert Okwuegbunam, TE2, Denver Broncos
- Van Jefferson, WR12, Los Angeles Rams
- Devin Duvernay, WR13, Baltimore Ravens
- Joshua Kelley, RB10, Los Angeles Chargers
- Devin Asiasi, TE3, New England Patriots
- Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR14, Cleveland Browns
- Chase Claypool, WR15, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jalen Hurts, QB5, Philadelphia Eagles
- Darrynton Evans, RB11, Tennessee Titans
- Anthony McFarland Jr., RB12, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jacob Eason, QB6, Indianapolis Colts
- Lynn Bowden Jr., RB13, Las Vegas Raiders
- Adam Trautman, TE4, New Orleans Saints
- KJ Hill, WR16, Los Angeles Chargers
- Gabriel Davis, WR17, Buffalo Bills
- Tyler Johnson, WR18, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Brycen Hopkins, TE5, Los Angeles Rams
- Bryan Edwards, WR19, Las Vegas Raiders
- John Hightower, WR20, Philadelphia Eagles
- Joe Reed, WR21, Los Angeles Chargers
- Eno Benjamin, RB14, Arizona Cardinals
- Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR22, Washington Redskins
- Rodrigo Blankenship, K1, Indianapolis Colts
- Lamical Perine, RB15, New York Jets
- Harrison Bryant, TE6, Cleveland Browns
How you decide to approach the rookie class as a whole should depend on the current makeup of your fantasy team.
Overall, grabbing one of the top 4 or 5 running backs will almost certainly get you a great player for the next several years. You can invest less capital in the receivers because there are a whopping TEN players who will likely be a #1 or #2 option in the near future, all with fairly little bust potential. It should be easy to find someone who slips through the cracks.
Another thing to keep in mind that nobody wants to think about is that dynasty leagues don’t last forever. Running backs offer the most short term benefit, and will help your team the most in the next couple of years. Selecting a starting running back who can be a top-20 fantasy performer right away is much better than grabbing a quarterback who won’t be top-10 in his position group for at least several years.
Get Ready for 2020 Fantasy Football
I hope you were able to take something away from BNB Football’s Ultimate Guide to Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings in 2020.
Obviously your rankings will differ from some of the rankings I have here, and I’d love to hear your opinions in the comments section below.
The 2020 season will be here before you know it! Bookmark BNB Football to stay up to date with football news year round!
