2020 Post-NFL Draft Rookie Mock Draft (Fantasy Football)

Prior to the start of the NFL Draft, the Fantasy Footballers writing staff put participated in a rookie mock draft. At the time, we didn’t know landing spots, so things have changed quite a bit. I encourage you to check out our Pre-NFL Draft rookie mock draft to get an idea of how things have changed now that we have landing spots. For example, Clyde Edwards-Helaire jumped all the way from the 1.08 to the 1.01 after being taken in the first round by the Chiefs. The full results of our 3-round, single QB rookie mock draft are below, along with an explanation regarding the rationale behind each selection.

Round 1

1.01 – Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
You take the next Hunt, McCoy, and weapon for Patty Mayonaise. – Andy Holloway

1.02 – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
From a dynasty fantasy football standpoint, Jonathan Taylor was many people’s favorite rookie entering the draft. He’s an explosive player that showed massive college production, and he has the potential to be a 3-down back. He was drafted by the Colts early in the second round, which means he is guaranteed to have a solid workload behind an elite offensive line (ranked 3rd in 2019 according to PFF). While Marlon Mack has been productive for the Colts in years past, he’s not special like Taylor. Taylor should deliver fantasy production day 1 and will hopefully become a three-down back for the Colts early in the season. Jonathan Taylor is a valuable dynasty asset and has the ceiling of a top-5 RB for years to come. – Jeff Greenwood

1.03 – Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams
I like De’Andre Swift, but I’ve gotten burned so many times by Detroit RBs. I like Akers as a prospect and I think Akers has a great shot at being The guy on a McVay offense. – Eric Ludwig

1.04 – J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Before the NFL draft, it would’ve been hard to imagine picking Dobbins before Jeudy, Lamb, and Swift, but landing spot is everything. He joins an aging Mark Ingram in Baltimore, where he’ll eventually become the lead back on a team that just broke the team rushing record. – Aaron Larson

1.05 – D’Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions
Swift was my top rated RB going into the NFL Draft, and now he has the draft capital in the 2nd round to support the talent. He’ll join Kerryon Johnson in the backfield, but he has a good shot to earn the starting role in Detroit. Swift is a do it all back with a three-down skillset. – Matthew Betz

1.06 – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
It was really close between CeeDee and Ke’Shawn Vaughn, but ultimately I’m drafting who I believe is the best WR in this class at the 6th spot. – Jason Moore

1.07 – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy has a legitimate shot at having an immediate impact in 2020 with Drew Lock and Courtland Sutton. His ability to play slot allows him to carve out a role with fellow rookie K.J. Hamler who still needs to work on his ball catching skills in the offseason. – Lauren Carpenter

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1.08 – Jalen Reagor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Reagor’s film shows a quick and electric playmaker that has the ability to high point the football and make tough catches in traffic. Performing at an early age has proven to be a solid indicator for future WR success and Reagor posted 33 receptions for 576 yards and eight TDs as a true freshman back in 2017. I’m a big fan of Reagor and happy to land him here in the back half of the first round just as the Eagles did in the NFL Draft. –Ben Cummins

1.09 – Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I mentioned how crucial pass-catching backs are in the modern NFL in our first mock draft, and that was the primary reason I stole Clyde Edwards-Helaire at the 1.08. It appears the Chiefs agreed. Ke’Shawn Vaughn landed in a dream spot, where he should immediately compete for the starting job on an explosive offense. He was the first running back taken in the Tompa Bay era, and that’s worth taking seriously. Brady has always demanded strong pass catchers in his backfield, and Arians has a history of seeking the same. Brady’s arm strength is fading, and his tendency to check down gets stronger every year. Vaughn’s draft capital is solid, and most notably – he’s the third highest-rated pass protector in this class. Brady will need him to stay on the field. Ronald Jones is just a guy. Vaughn is a safe pick that comes with upside at the back end of round one. – Robert Wilson

1.10 – Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders
Did I just draft the next Tyreek Hill? Did I just draft the next Darrius Heyward-Bey? What a fun game this is. The Raiders needed a WR1 and made Ruggs the 1st WR off the board. His college production isn’t as flashy as others but his RAC is enough to make anyone salivate. I like the player, I like the fit. – Ryan Weisse

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1.11 – Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Despite it feeling like going chalk here with Jefferson, which to be fair it kind of is, it’s not just a simple insert WR drafted in the 1st round for me. A few more very interesting WRs were taken right away in the 2nd, guys like Michael Pittman and Tee Higgins who have solid outlooks. The Vikings taking JJ could be viewed as a team reaching for need after they traded away Diggs. However to me this is just a perfect alignment of talent and need meeting in the 1st round. Jefferson should see plenty of work starting in Week 1. – Mike Wright

1.12 – Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
When a QB slides this far and you have a chance to get a starter for the next 5-7 years, you take it. Yes, QB value is depressed when you start only one but I couldn’t pass up on this. He was the No. 1 pick for a reason and the weapons in Cincinnati are more than adequate. Zac Taylor should run 3WR sets often which lets me know Burrow won’t be running too much out of I-formation. He’ll be a perennial top-10 QB with some sneaky rushing upside. – Kyle Borgognoni

Round 2

2.01 – Denzel Mims, WR, New York Jets
Eat it Ruggs. All he has to do is jump over journeyman Breshad Perriman to become Sam Darnold’s WR1. Consider it done. –Andy Holloway

2.02 – Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins had a productive college career as a wide receiver for Clemson, tying both DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins for the most receiving touchdowns in Clemson history (27). He was drafted at pick 2.01 by the Bengals. While A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd are the top receivers in Cincinnati this season, Higgins has the skillset and draft pedigree to make an impact on a Joe Burrow led offense in the coming years. When it comes to dynasty fantasy football, picking Higgins is a long term fantasy investment because of the WR talent in front of him on the Bengals, but I’ll take a gamble on a player who has a ceiling as Joe Burrow’s favorite receiver in a couple of years. – Jeff Greenwood

2.03 – Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
The last first-round WR standing. It might take a while to carve out a significant role in the SF offense, but I think this is exactly the type of player I want early in the second round of rookie drafts. – Eric Ludwig

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2.04 – Laviska Shenault, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Shenault can line up anywhere on the field and take it to the house anytime he gets the ball in his hands. He has massive upside if offensive coordinator Jay Gruden can find creative ways to get him touches in Jacksonville. – Aaron Larson

2.05 – Michael Pittman Jr, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Pittman is a big-bodied WR out of USC who was extremely productive in his final season in college, hauling in over 100 receptions and 11 TD. He has an immediate path to targets in Indianapolis and the draft capital in the early second round to believe he could start opposite of T.Y. Hilton as early as Week 1. – Matthew Betz

2.06 – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
Once we get to the middle of the 2nd round most prospects won’t actually have a legit NFL career, statistically speaking. Tua is a near-lock to be an NFL starter for multiple years. – Jason Moore

2.07 – Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Chase Claypool has the kind of bruising build he can use to overpower defenders in contested catches. He could legitimately play either WR or TE and I love the dual-threat identity he brings to the table. With TE position weak on the Steelers, Claypool has the opportunity to either develop into the TE position or give a healthy Big Ben a large target for easy passes. – Lauren Carpenter

2.08 – Bryan Edwards, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
I’m not sure how high Bryan Edward’s ceiling is but I do firmly believe he can be a solid starter on the outside for years to come. Edwards posted a 100th-percentile Breakout Age of 17.8 according to Player Profiler by catching 44 passes for 590 yards and four TDs as a true Freshman back in 2016. And although Edwards is coming out after his Senior season, he’s still young as he’ll be 21 years old until November. In Las Vegas, he lands in a favorable situation for an early career playing time. –Ben Cummins

2.09 – Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills
Devin Singletary is one of my favorite players to roster, and this was expected. Frank Gore is long gone, and Singletary doesn’t have the size or frame to be a true workhorse. It was a nice dream, but unlikely. Moss is a downhill runner and a strong back who should do wonders at the goal line. He should slight right into the Frank Gore role on an offense determined to run the ball. He’s a safe, low ceiling pick at this point in the draft. – Robert Wilson

2.10 – Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
There are a lot of lottery ticket RBs and WRs still left but I feel better taking a QB that was drafted in 1st Round. There are many knocks on Herbert but his arm strength makes up for most, if not all of them. He comes into an offense with two great WRs, a great TE, and one of the best pass-catching RBs in the league. And he only has to beat out Tyrod Taylor. I’ll take that all day in the 2nd Round. – Ryan Weisse

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2.11 – A.J. Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
Yes, the Packers had a bizarre draft. Yes, the selection of a 2nd round RB seemed unnecessary and annoying to Aaron Jones’ value. In dynasty, it’s not just about this year. Both Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are on the last year of their contracts. It may be chasing too far down narrative street here but Coach LaFleur did come over from the Titans and AJ Dillon is kind of Derrick Henry clone in terms of size and athletic measurables. Dillon isn’t a pick to help your fantasy team this year, but next year he could be the leader of the Titans North. –  Mike Wright

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2.12 – Darrynton Evans, RB, Tennessee Titans
I’ll take Derrick Henry’s backup from Appalachian State. Evans was selected before some other higher profile RBs from larger schools (Zack Moss, Joshua Kelley, Anthony McFarland Jr.) because of his home run speed and ability to force missed tackles. He also profiles as a solid pass catcher so he’s more than just a handcuff. –Kyle Borgognoni

Round 3

3.01 – Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears
Because he’s the best of the ten TEs they have! – Andy Holloway

3.02 – Van Jefferson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Jefferson was drafted by the Rams in the second round of the draft. He has the potential to become a productive receiver now that Brandin Cooks is out of the picture. It wasn’t too long ago that the Rams passing offense supported three solid receivers. Jefferson is a bit of a dart throw, but he has upside. It also doesn’t hurt that his father is a wide receiver coach for the Jets and was a former NFL player himself. – Jeff Greenwood

3.03 – Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona Cardinals
It’s a tough place in the rookie draft. I’m not sure why Benjamin slid to the 7th Round of the NFL draft, but he’s a great fit in the Arizona offense and there’s a path to production with Drake only on a one-year deal. – Eric Ludwig

3.04 – Tyler Johnson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Johnson was massively productive in college and is headed to one of the most hyped offenses in the NFL. Yes, he’ll be way down the pecking order for the Bucs, but he should also get the softest coverage if he can work his way onto the field in three-receiver sets. – Aaron Larson

3.05 – Anthony McFarland Jr, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
McFarland is a jitterbug with the ball in his hands, and he’s got game-breaking speed. James Conner should continue to get the first crack at the lead job in 2020, but the backfield is wide open after that. Moreover, as we’ve seen in recent years, Conner has struggled to stay healthy, and if he should miss any time, I would expect McFarland to be the next man up. – Matthew Betz

3.06 – Joshua Kelley, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Joshua Kelley wasn’t a pre-draft darling, but he landed in one of the best situations. The Chargers lost Melvin Gordon and spent a 4th round pick to bring in a new RB. I’ll take that in the 3rd round. – Jason Moore

3.07 – Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
This pick is a safe choice as a backup in case of injury to the Eagles’ signal-callers. There is an opportunity for Hurts to see playing time in the future, but for now Hurts will be a backup both on my fantasy team as well as in real football. – Lauren Carpenter

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3.08 – Antonio Gibson, RB/WR, Washington Redskins
He was a freak athlete at Memphis and has a chance to quickly move up the depth chart. Other than Terry McLaurin, there is no-one else who truly demands our attention longterm in Washington. Take a shot on someone with the measurables and kick return pedigree, a skill that has shown to translate to success wiht many others in the NFL. –Ben Cummins

3.09 – Devin Duvernay, WR, Baltimore Ravens
I covered Duvernay in my recap of rounds 3 and 4, and I stand by those claims. He has blazing speed, solid hands, and opportunity. Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown are excellent players, but neither are target hogs. The Ravens need a second receiver, and John Harbaugh knows how to use Duvernay’s unique inside skillset. If you don’t believe me, go watch the video of how he reacted when they were able to draft Duvernay, because he assumed Bill Belichick would snag him first. – Robert Wilson

3.10 – Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Washington Redskins
As far as landing spots go, Washington for a WR was near the top of the list. AGG is a small school prospect that dominated the lesser competition. He is big, fast, and will make the perfect WR2 opposite Terry McLaurin. – Ryan Weisse

3.11 – Deejay Dallas, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Solid player. Will Carson or Penny really be healthy? – Mike Wright

3.12 – Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Cleveland Browns
DPJ! He was all the rage coming into Michigan as a 5-star prospect but if you choose to believe his lack of big-time prdocution was the porous QB play, maybe DPJ can come into his own in Cleveland. Some scouts had him as a top-10 WR coming into the draft process but he fell all the way to the top of the 6th round. He is the tallest (6’2″) of the Browns wide receiving corps and could have a chance to assert himself ahead of Damion Ratley as the WR3 in the near future. –Kyle Borgognoni