2020 Pre-NFL Draft Rookie Mock Draft (Fantasy Football)
The Fantasy Footballers writing staff has been grinding the tape, researching the 2020 NFL Draft rookie class. You can find our detailed 2020 rookie profiles here, along with Matt Harmon’s Reception Perception profiles to help you get ready for your dynasty rookie drafts.
Editor’s Note: For more on the 2020 rookie class, check out all of our 2020 NFL Draft content and stay tuned to the Fantasy Footballers podcast for April’s Rookie Preview show where the Ballers breakdown each position heading into the draft.
Our staff recently completed a 2-round rookie mock draft. Of course, landing spots in the NFL Draft are likely to shake up this order, but here are the results of our recent mock draft with an explanation of why each player was selected.
Round 1
1.01 – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Not sure how much narrative is needed here. Taylor is a complete player and should have a Josh Jacobs-esque rookie year, regardless of the landing spot. While WR tends to be the safer pick, without knowing where they end up, any WR in this draft is far riskier than Taylor. – Ryan Weisse
1.02 – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Once the draft happens, this pick certainly could change into one of the other top-tier RBs like Swift or Dobbins. Impact landing spots for RBs are actually very limited compared to WR spots. Lamb’s production profile and eye test combine into an elite prospect. The NFL (and fantasy) has certainly had some big letdowns at the WR position recently, but if I have to bet on which WR is going to hit and become an impact player I’m betting on Lamb. – Mike Wright
1.03 – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Jeudy is a dynamic and polished WR that can win on both the outside and in the slot. That skill set translates to the pros and should be somewhat landing spot dependent. That’s a good thing since we drafted before the NFL Draft. – Ben Cummins
1.04 – Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
This is tough because if D’Andre Swift lands in an ideal spot, like Tampa Bay, he’d be my pick here. Since we don’t have that information yet, give me Ruggs. He isn’t just a “speed guy”, he’s a good receiver with elite speed. He has the route-running and ball-tracking skills to get him on an NFL field and the world-class speed to set him apart. – Aaron Larson
1.05 – D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
Swift projects to be drafted in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft and could be the first running back off the board. He’s a three-down back who is electric with the ball in space, and he’s arguably the most agile and elusive back in this class. With high draft capital, Swift should get an opportunity to produce right away. – Matthew Betz
1.06 – J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
Dobbins was a production monster at Ohio State last year totaling over 2,000(!) rushing yards and 21 rushing TDs. He looked like the best player on the field in the College Football Playoff semi-final against Clemson totaling over 200 yards of offense. Depending on his landing spot, I could see him go as high as 1.03 for me in a rookie draft. He’s right behind Taylor and honestly ahead of a WR like Ruggs if he steps into a high leverage role from the get-go. The dream scenario is that Tampa Bay selects him and Bruce Arians and Tom Brady see that he is able to step into passing downs work as well. – Kyle Borgognoni
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
1.07 – Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
Cam Akers has had three productive seasons at Florida State University (FSU), racking up 2,875 rushing yards and 486 receiving yards over the course of three seasons. Akers is coming off an 18 touchdown season averaging five yards per carry on a mediocre football team. Akers is a hard runner who can block and catch. While he is not in the top tier of rookie running backs, Akers will likely be in a position to deliver fantasy value immediately and could become a solid RB2 if he lands in the right offense. – Jeff Greenwood
1.08 – Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
The running back position dominates fantasy football, but the modern RB1 dominates in the passing game. Zeke, CMC, Gurley, Mixon, Bell, Barkley…..the list goes on. If you have a truly special fantasy asset, you usually have a great pass catcher. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is arguably the best pass-catching back in this draft, and his pure rushing ability is more than adequate to handle a workhorse role in the right system since OL play matters more in today’s game anyway. His draft pedigree isn’t as strong as Swift or Taylor, but he may end up on a much better offense because of it. Devonte Freeman is a reasonable comp in my opinion, and that’s more than worth the pick here. Snagging him at the eight spot feels like a dream for dynasty owners. – Robert Wilson
1.09 – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
This is the part of the draft that will be heavily determined by landing spots. I’m not sure Jefferson can be an elite option like some of the other receivers in this class, but he has great size and athleticism. Worked best from the slot on LSUs high powered offense and I’m hoping he finds a team that uses him similar to Cooper Kupp. – Eric Ludwig
1.10 – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Produced one of the best QB seasons of all time with LSU. He may be the only player left who can be a Week 1 fantasy starter. – Jay Griz
1.11 – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Higgins could very well end up his QBs best friend. He is a big target that finds ways to get open and catches the ball when thrown his way. He’ll be better suited as a complimentary WR2 lining up opposite of a field-stretcher, so landing spot will make a huge difference in his 2020 value but he has the size and ball skills to be a red-zone threat early in his career. – Ryan Weisse
1.12 – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Heading into the NFL Combine, Jalen Reagor was rumored to run close to a 4.30 40-yard dash. Instead, he “disappointed” with a 4.47. Don’t be fooled, however, as he is still plenty fast, and it shows up on tape. He’s a dynamic playmaker who is dangerous with the ball in his hands. – Matthew Betz
Round 2
2.01 – Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
If this were SuperFlex, I would’ve jumped on Tua or Herbert here, assuming they were still available. But in a 1QB league, I’m looking for playmakers and Shenault is most definitely that. Shenault ended his college career with 17 TDs and seven of those came on the ground. He is a threat to score any time he touches the ball and that is an asset you want on your fantasy team. Injuries are a concern and hurt his combine but if that means he falls to a better landing spot, all the better. – Ryan Weisse
2.02 – Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Mims’ athletic profile at his size is impressive, and now he’s getting 1st round NFL Draft buzz. If Mims lands with a team in the first round, he’ll have the draft capital and the athletic profile to succeed. – Mike Wright
Sean Gardner/Getty Images
2.03 – A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College
I’m taking a chance on potential volume at the RB position here with a guy who posted a ridiculous size-adjusted 40-time at the NFL Combine. – Ben Cummins
2.04 – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
These rookie mocks are tough to complete without full context. If there are a few quarterback-needy teams in the league, there is no way Tua lasts this long. Remember “Tank for Tua”? If it weren’t for injury concerns, he may be the consensus QB1 in this class. His workout videos that blew up draft-Twitter help ease those concerns. – Aaron Larson
2.05 – Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
Edwards showed up to South Carolina and made an immediate impact, compiling almost 600 receiving yards as a true freshman. Edwards recorded a breakout age of 17 years old, an impressive feat for a college prospect. He broke his foot while training for the NFL Combine, so, unfortunately, we don’t have his athletic testing data to compare, but the tape is impressive. – Matthew Betz
2.06 – Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
Vaughn is getting literally no buzz right now as many have overlooked the quietly productive college career he had in the SEC after transferring to Vanderbilt. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry over his final two seasons and ran for 130 yards and two TDs against eventual National Champion LSU in 2019. At 5’10”, 214 lbs, he has the frame you want to take punishment in the NFL. Film-wise, he’s probably the 6th or 7th RB in this class for me but likely will be drafted later than that. Hoping he is drafted to work in a committee and ends up usurping someone else to take the starter role sometime before the end of the season. –Kyle Borgognoni
2.07 – Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Zack Moss is a running back who played four seasons at the University of Utah. In the past three seasons, Moss averaged 1,228 rushing yards (5.9 yards per carry), 227 receiving yards. , and 13 touchdowns. Moss has a good shot of being fantasy relevant at some point in 2020 and may even become a week to week starter depending on the landing spot. – Jeff Greenwood
2.08 – Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
Johnson is a ticking time bomb, in a good way. He had outstanding production in college, a solid combine, and passes the eye test with ease. Anyone who watched Johnson on Saturday’s could tell he was the best talent on the field. He’ll need to land in a favorable spot with target share opportunity, but his potential is sky-high. There’s a legitimate chance he morphs into a top option on an NFL team faster than most people think. – Robert Wilson
2.09 – Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
Playmaker with the ball in his hands. Exceptional at gaining YAC. – Eric Ludwig
2.10 – Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA
Jay Griz is a big fan of the UCLA Bruins (no surprise there) and their productive RB. Kelley has above-average athleticism without any glaring weaknesses in his game. – Jay Griz
2.11 – Michael Pittman, WR, USC
Doubling down on possession receivers, putting Pittman together with Higgins. Like Higgins, Pittman is big and has no problem finding the endzone. His production jump from 2018 to 2019 was crazy, going from 41 receptions as a Jr to 101 as a Sr. He scored 11 TDs last season and could be another guy who plays the early role of red-zone threat for his QB. – Ryan Weisse
2.12 – Anthony McFarland Jr., RB, Maryland
McFarland struggled with injuries early at Maryland, but he flashed upside in his first season on the field. Then in 2019, McFarland battled a high ankle sprain, limiting his production on the field. He’s got the speed (4.44 40-yard dash) and athleticism to make him a high upside late 2nd round rookie pick. – Matthew Betz
Comments
I’m in a half ppr start up dynasty and I’m hoping I can get cam akers with my 1.10. I don’t have a 2nd round pick so if akers is gone I might pick either Donvan People’s Jones or Michael Pittman jr.