{"id":86904,"date":"2020-04-27T08:00:53","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T12:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=86904"},"modified":"2021-03-14T17:05:18","modified_gmt":"2021-03-14T21:05:18","slug":"fantasy-football-rookie-rankings-2020-dynasty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/04\/27\/fantasy-football-rookie-rankings-2020-dynasty\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: 2020 Dynasty"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2020 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, which means it\u2019s time to start looking at the fantasy football rookie rankings for dynasty leagues. Last week\u2019s virtual event brought in several new faces that should make a fantasy impact, regardless of format. Note that this list was made using a presumed one-quarterback, half-PPR dynasty format. Needless to say, if you\u2019re in a two-quarterback dynasty league, guys like Joe Burrow<\/strong> and Tua Tagovailoa<\/strong> are going to be a little higher on your personal list.<\/p>\n

2020 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tier One: Alone at the Top<\/h3>\n

Clyde Edwards-Helaire<\/a>, RB, Kansas City<\/p>\n

This is a no-brainer. Any running back receiving snaps in Kansas City\u2019s offense is going to be a major fantasy star, and Clyde Edward-Helaire<\/strong> should have full control of the backfield. Head coach Andy Reid<\/a> <\/strong>prefers to use one bellcow running back but couldn\u2019t do it last year thanks to the lack of talent at the position. Edwards-Helaire should play all three downs and receive plenty of touches in the NFL\u2019s most explosive offense. He\u2019s the clear 1.01 in any dynasty format and will probably finish the season as a top-12 running back.<\/p>\n

Tier Two: Star Talent\/Immediate Starters<\/h3>\n

J.K. Dobbins<\/a>, RB, Baltimore
\nJonathan Taylor<\/a>, RB, Indianapolis
\nCam Akers<\/a>, RB, Los Angeles Rams
\nCeeDee Lamb<\/a>, WR, Dallas
\nJerry Jeudy<\/a>, WR, Denver
\nJalen Reagor<\/a>, WR, Philadelphia<\/p>\n

Running back success has more to do with scheme than talent, and J.K. Dobbins<\/strong> finds himself in one of the best situations out there. Mark Ingram<\/a><\/strong> isn\u2019t getting any younger, and the analytically-driven Ravens wouldn\u2019t draft a running back early if they weren\u2019t going to use him. Baltimore\u2019s offense will regress a bit from a season ago, but it will still be a run-heavy attack with plenty of scoring opportunities.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Taylor<\/strong> is considerably more talented than Marlon Mack<\/a><\/strong> and should earn the starting job sooner rather than later. Philip Rivers<\/a><\/strong> loves targeting running backs in the passing game, but the long-term uncertainty at quarterback keeps Taylor from being second on this list. Cam Akers<\/strong> probably has the highest odds of starting for Los Angeles, but this offense isn\u2019t quite as great as it used to be. The good news is that Sean McVay<\/strong> likes to use a workhorse back, so Akers should be a week-in, week-out fantasy play if he can win the job.<\/p>\n

CeeDee Lamb<\/strong> might start off as the third option in Dallas, but head coach Mike McCarthy<\/strong> loves to throw the ball. That shouldn\u2019t change with this loaded supporting cast and Lamb could easily pass Michael Gallup<\/a><\/strong> on the depth chart. It\u2019s worth noting that Amari Cooper<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s new contract doesn\u2019t carry any guaranteed money after 2021, so Lamb has a fantastic long-term outlook.<\/p>\n

Jerry Jeudy<\/strong> is as talented as they come, and he\u2019ll certainly demand a large share of targets. However, the presence of Courtland Sutton<\/a><\/strong> combined with the quarterback uncertainty of Drew Lock<\/a><\/strong> pushes him to WR2 among the rookies. Jalen Reagor<\/strong> is in a perfect situation with a good quarterback in Carson Wentz<\/a><\/strong>, a smart offensive mind in Doug Pederson<\/a><\/strong>, and literally no other receivers to challenge for targets.<\/p>\n

Tier Three: Path to Stardom<\/h3>\n

Henry Ruggs<\/a>, WR, Las Vegas
\nJustin Jefferson<\/a>, WR, Minnesota
\nD\u2019Andre Swift<\/a>, RB, Detroit
\nJoe Burrow<\/a>, QB, Cincinnati
\nTua Tagovailoa<\/a>, QB, Miami<\/p>\n

Henry Ruggs<\/strong> is more talented than Reagor, but his situation pushes him down this list. Ruggs excels at making plays down the field, and his speed combined with Derek Carr<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s conservative style of play is a match made in hell. This connection will take time to develop, and the Raiders are probably going to begin their quarterback search anew in 2021. Ultimately, there\u2019s just too much risk to justify too early of a pick on Ruggs.<\/p>\n

Justin Jefferson<\/strong> should receive a decent amount of targets in Minnesota, but he\u2019ll never pass Adam Theilen <\/strong>on the depth chart. Additionally, he works out of the slot, which isn\u2019t great for per-target fantasy production. The Vikings want to be a running team, so he probably won\u2019t see the high workload that makes other slot targets around the league so valuable. D\u2019Andre Swift<\/strong> is a phenomenal talent that is going to be splitting snaps with another talented back in Kerryon Johnson<\/a><\/strong>. Additionally, Matthew Stafford<\/a><\/strong> isn\u2019t getting any younger and the Lions will probably fire Matt Patricia<\/strong> if Detroit has another underwhelming campaign.<\/p>\n

Joe Burrow<\/strong> is actually in a pretty decent situation. The Bengals have a solid receiving core in Tyler Boyd<\/a>, A.J. Green<\/a><\/strong>, and Tee Higgins<\/strong>, a great running back in Joe Mixon<\/a><\/strong>, and are getting tons of help on the offensive line. He won\u2019t challenge Patrick Mahomes<\/a><\/strong> for QB1 any time soon, but he has a clear path to being a solid fantasy starter. The Dolphins did a fantastic job rebuilding through the draft and free agency and Tua Tagovailoa<\/strong> should be successful when on the field. That said, the Dolphins won\u2019t hesitate to start Ryan Fitzpatrick<\/a> <\/strong>early in the season, and Tua has a long history of injuries.<\/p>\n

Tier Four: Role Players<\/h3>\n

Michael Pittman<\/a>, WR, Indianapolis
\nTee Higgins<\/a>, WR, Cincinnati
\nDenzel Mims<\/a>, WR, New York
\nBrandon Aiyuk<\/a>, WR, San Francisco
\nZack Moss<\/a>, RB, Buffalo
\nLaviska Shenault<\/a>, WR, Jacksonville
\nKe\u2019Shawn Vaughn<\/a>, RB, Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Michael Pittman<\/strong> is a great talent and has a clear path to playing time opposite T.Y. Hilton<\/a><\/strong>. He\u2019ll still need to beat out 2019 second-round pick Parris Campbell<\/a><\/strong>, and the short-term nature of Philip Rivers adds another layer of uncertainty. Tee Higgins<\/strong> is going to start his career behind A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd, and he\u2019ll only be as good as the untested Joe Burrow allows him to be.<\/p>\n

Denzel Mims<\/strong> is the de-facto guy in a pretty underwhelming offense led by an objectively bad head coach in Adam Gase<\/strong>. Brandon Aiyuk<\/strong> might struggle to find targets out of the gate, but he\u2019s a deadly weapon in the open field, and nobody\u2019s better at scheming guys open than Kyle Shanahan<\/strong>. Zack Moss<\/strong> probably won\u2019t beat out Devin Singletary<\/a><\/strong> but should still see a decent chunk of the workload, based on comments out of Buffalo. Laviska Shenault<\/strong> is a solid gadget player with good potential, but everything about Jacksonville is a fantasy nightmare for a young receiver. Ke\u2019Shawn Vaughn<\/strong> isn\u2019t the pass-catching back Tampa Bay needed and will probably spend the early portion of his career backing up Ronald Jones<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings – Tier Five: Worth a Shot<\/h3>\n

Anthony McFarland<\/a>, RB, Pittsburgh
\nJustin Herbert<\/a>, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
\nAntonio Gibson<\/a>, RB, Washington
\nBryan Edwards<\/a>, WR, Las Vegas
\nJoshua Kelley<\/a>, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
\nDevin Asiasi<\/a>, TE, New England Patriots<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh\u2019s running back situation is absolutely fascinating. James Conner<\/a>, Benny Snell<\/a><\/strong>, and Anthony McFarland<\/strong> all have a decent shot for the job, and whoever the winner is will carry some fantasy relevance. However, it\u2019s hard to get too excited about an offense led by a 38-year old coming off an arm injury. Justin Herbert<\/strong> wasn\u2019t my favorite prospect by any stretch of the imagination, but he\u2019s worth a shot for the quarterback-needy team.<\/p>\n

Antonio Gibson<\/strong> is a plug-and-play replacement for Chris Thompson<\/a><\/strong>. Thompson never carried too much fantasy value, and it\u2019s hard to imagine Gibson doing much of anything with Dwayne Haskins<\/a><\/strong> at quarterback. Bryan Edwards<\/strong> would be a more exciting selection if the Raiders didn\u2019t take Henry Ruggs earlier in the draft. Joshua Kelley<\/strong> figures to be the thunder to Austin Ekeler<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s lightning, although he\u2019ll probably be more Justin Jefferson<\/strong> than Melvin Gordon<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Cole Kmet<\/strong> might be the consensus TE1 in rookie drafts, but Devin Asiasi <\/strong>has a clearer path to playing time. Jarrett Stidham<\/a><\/strong> can\u2019t be less reliable than Mitchell Trubisky<\/a><\/strong> and Nick Foles<\/a><\/strong>, and Chicago could clear house if they have another bad season in 2020. Even if Stidham is bad, Bill Belichick<\/strong> isn\u2019t going anywhere.<\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>