{"id":87263,"date":"2020-05-02T08:49:19","date_gmt":"2020-05-02T12:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=87263"},"modified":"2021-03-17T16:30:57","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T20:30:57","slug":"fantasy-football-2020-mock-draft-1-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/05\/02\/fantasy-football-2020-mock-draft-1-0\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy Football 2020 Mock Draft 1.0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NFL Draft is officially over, which means it\u2019s time for fantasy football mock draft season. The season is still a ways away, but it\u2019s never too early to start preparing for the upcoming season. Note that this mock draft was performed with the FantasyPros Mock Draft Simulator<\/a>, and I held the sixth overall pick. My picks are italicized, while the rest of the picks are in bold. Also note that this is a one-quarterback, three-receiver roster with half-point scoring.<\/p>\n

Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Fantasy Football 2020 Mock Draft 1.0: Post-NFL Draft<\/h2>\n

1.01 Christian McCaffrey<\/a>
\n1.02 Saquon Barkley<\/a>
\n1.03 Ezekiel Elliott<\/a>
\n1.04 Michael Thomas<\/a>
\n1.05 Dalvin Cook<\/a>
\n1.06 Derrick Henry<\/a>
\n1.07 Alvin Kamara<\/a>
\n<\/em>1.08 Joe Mixon<\/a>
\n1.09 Tyreek Hill<\/a>
\n1.10 Nick Chubb<\/a>
\n1.11 Davante Adams<\/a>
\n1.12 Kenny Golladay<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout the first two years of his career, Alvin Kamara dramatically overproduced in terms of efficiency. He was a redzone machine and his work in the passing game was second to none on a per-touch basis. That regressed in 2019, as Kamara battled injuries and actually produced less than what you\u2019d expect, given his workload. Now that he\u2019s healthy, he should be notably more effective this year than last. It\u2019s hard to imagine anyone overtaking Christian McCaffrey for the RB1, but Kamara has a decent shot to end the year as the RB2.<\/p>\n

Second Round<\/h3>\n

2.01 Julio Jones<\/a>
\n2.02 DeAndre Hopkins<\/a>
\n2.03 Josh Jacobs<\/a>
\n2.04 Mike Evans<\/a>
\n2.05 Leonard Fournette<\/a><\/strong>
\n2.06 Chris Godwin<\/a><\/em>
\n2.07 Travis Kelce<\/a>
\n2.08 Kenyan Drake<\/a>
\n2.09 Aaron Jones<\/a>
\n2.10 Clyde Edwards-Helaire<\/a>
\n2.11 Lamar Jackson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris Godwin might need a week or two to adjust to his new quarterback, but he should be one of fantasy\u2019s most dangerous weapons once the two hit their stride. Godwin proved to be one of the best receivers in football last year, and now he has the best quarterback in history throwing the ball. While Jameis Winston<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s turnover-heavy nature led to a lot of shootouts, Brady\u2019s efficient style of play should keep Godwin as one of the top receivers in fantasy. As previously discussed, Brady should be able to carry multiple fantasy-relevant targets throughout the season.<\/p>\n

Third Round<\/h3>\n

3.1 Miles Sanders<\/a>
\n3.2 Patrick Mahomes<\/a>
\n3.3 Mark Andrews<\/a>
\n3.4 Amari Cooper<\/a>
\n3.5 Odell Beckham<\/a>
\n3.6 Cooper Kupp<\/a>
\n3.7 Adam Thielen<\/a>
\n<\/em>3.8 Courtland Sutton<\/a>
\n3.9 Austin Ekeler<\/a>
\n3.10 A.J. Brown<\/a>
\n3.11 Juju Smith-Schuster<\/a>
\n3.12 Darren Waller<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Barring something completely unforeseen, Adam Thielen is going to be the only man in town next year. Rookie wide receivers typically need a season before they\u2019re ready to contribute, and that will be especially true with COVID-19 shortening offseason programs. Adam Thielen is going to see an absurd amount of targets, and he has a proven connection with quarterback Kirk Cousins<\/a><\/strong>. This volume alone makes him a safe bet for low-end WR1 status.<\/p>\n

Fourth Round<\/h3>\n

4.01 Jonathan Taylor<\/a>
\n4.02 Todd Gurley<\/a>
\n4.03 Allen Robinson<\/a>
\n4.04 D.J. Moore<\/a>
\n4.05 Terry McLaurin<\/a>
\n4.06 Chris Carson<\/a><\/em>
\n4.07 DeVante Parker<\/a>
\n4.08 Tyler Lockett<\/a>
\n4.09 Stefon Diggs<\/a>
\n4.10 Robert Woods<\/a>
\n4.11 Calvin Ridley<\/a>
\n4.12 Keenan Allen<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris Carson isn\u2019t the sexy pick, but he remains the top option in a run-heavy offense that should put up a ton of points. Rashaad Penny<\/a> <\/strong>started to steal carries toward the end of 2019, but he tore his ACL and probably won\u2019t be ready for a full workload right out of the gate. As long as Carson can keep from fumbling, he should have a strong hold on the job.<\/p>\n

Fifth Round<\/h3>\n

5.01 D.K. Metcalf<\/a>
\n5.02 Deebo Samuel<\/a>
\n5.03 T.Y. Hilton<\/a>
\n5.04 Mark Ingram<\/a>
\n5.05 Russell Wilson<\/a>
\n5.06 Michael Gallup<\/a>
\n5.07 Le\u2019Veon Bell<\/a><\/em>
\n5.08 Zach Ertz<\/a>
\n5.09 Ke\u2019Shawn Vaughn<\/a>
\n5.10 A.J. Green<\/a>
\n5.11 D\u2019Andre Swift<\/a>
\n5.12 David Johnson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking of unsexy names with guaranteed workloads, Le\u2019Veon Bell is the third running back on my squad. He was insanely inefficient last season, but has complete control of the backfield. The Jets bolstered the offensive line and didn\u2019t bring any competition of note to compete for Bell\u2019s job. He\u2019s going to see a lot of work, and he should have more running lanes in 2020. Combine that with Sam Darnold<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s presumed growth in the system and you have a potential steal in the fifth round.<\/p>\n

Sixth Round<\/h3>\n

6.1 D.J. Chark
\n6.2 Dak Prescott<\/a>
\n6.3 Kyler Murray<\/a>
\n6.4 Evan Engram<\/a>
\n6.5 Deshaun Watson<\/a><\/strong>
\n6.6 Raheem Mostert<\/a>
\n<\/em>6.7 Melvin Gordon<\/a>
\n6.8 Jarvis Landry<\/a>
\n6.9 Aaron Rodgers<\/a>
\n6.10 Josh Allen<\/a>
\n6.11 Cam Akers<\/a>
\n6.12 Hunter Henry<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kyle Shanahan<\/strong>\u2019s top running back is going to be a fantasy superstar. However, predicting which running back that\u2019s going to be is never easy. For now, Raheem Mostert appears to have the inside track for the job. If he can fend off Tevin Coleman<\/a><\/strong>, he has top-12 upside in this offense. However, even if this turns into a timeshare, the loss of Matt Breida<\/a><\/strong> ensures that he\u2019ll have some type of a workload in the upcoming season.<\/p>\n

Seventh Round<\/h3>\n

7.01 Julian Edelman<\/a>
\n7.02 Jamison Crowder<\/a>
\n7.03 Darius Slayton<\/a>
\n7.04 David Montgomery<\/a>
\n7.05 Devin Singletary<\/a>
\n7.06 Drew Brees<\/a>
\n7.07 Will Fuller<\/a><\/em>
\n7.08 Justin Jefferson<\/a>
\n7.09 James Conner<\/a>
\n7.10 Sony Michel<\/a>
\n7.11 Marvin Jones<\/a>
\n7.12 Jordan Howard<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I felt good about my team through the first six rounds, so I went for a high-risk, high-upside pick. With DeAndre Hopkins out of town, Will Fuller becomes the de-facto top option in what should be a powerful offense. Brandin Cooks<\/a><\/strong> and Randall Cobb<\/a><\/strong> are both past their primes and probably won\u2019t be able to contribute once the season starts. If Fuller stays healthy, his big-play potential along with his target share should make him a weekly start. However, history tells us he probably won\u2019t stay healthy for a full 16-game season.<\/p>\n

Eighth Round<\/h3>\n

8.01 Darrell Henderson<\/a>
\n8.02 Kerryon Johnson<\/a>
\n8.03 Matt Breida
\n8.04 Derrius Guice<\/a>
\n8.05 Duke Johnson<\/a>
\n8.06 Tyler Boyd<\/a>
\n<\/em>8.07 J.K. Dobbins<\/a>
\n8.08 Kareem Hunt<\/a>
\n8.09 Marlon Mack<\/a>
\n8.10 Marquise Brown<\/a>
\n8.11 Zack Moss<\/a>
\n8.12 Phillip Lindsay<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Joe Burrow<\/strong> is going to be the guy in Cincinnati, and Tyler Boyd will probably be his top option, as least in the early going. A.J. Green<\/strong> hasn\u2019t been able to stay healthy in quite some time, and Boyd runs the safe underneath routes that rookie quarterbacks love to target. Boyd carries a decent amount of risk, since his production is tied to an NFL unknown in Burrow. However, he should be a solid WR2-3 if Burrow can play at a league-average level.<\/p>\n

Ninth Round<\/h3>\n

9.01 Sterling Shepard<\/a>
\n9.02 Jalen Reagor<\/a>
\n9.03 49ers Defense
\n9.04 Devonta Freeman<\/a>
\n9.05 John Brown<\/a>
\n9.06 Breshad Perriman<\/a>
\n9.07 Tyler Higbee<\/a><\/em>
\n9.08 CeeDee Lamb<\/a>
\n9.09 Tom Brady<\/a>
\n9.10 Damien Williams<\/a>
\n9.11 Brandin Cooks
\n9.12 Mike Williams<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no reason to draft a tight end early if Tyler Higbee is going to be there in the ninth round. The Los Angeles Rams tight end was one of the most unstoppable forces in the league during his late-season run and should carry that momentum into 2020. Betting on a small sample can be dangerous, but it\u2019s a risk worth taking in the ninth round.<\/p>\n

10th<\/sup> Round<\/h3>\n

10.01 Ronald Jones<\/a>
\n10.02 Christian Kirk<\/a>
\n10.03 Emmanuel Sanders<\/a>
\n10.04 Henry Ruggs<\/a>
\n10.05 Devin Duvernay<\/a>
\n10.06 Matt Ryan<\/a>
\n<\/em>10.07 Boston Scott
\n10.08 Jerry Jeudy<\/a>
\n10.09 Alshon Jeffery<\/a>
\n10.10 James White<\/a>
\n10.11 A.J. Dillon<\/a>
\n10.12 Robby Anderson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The wheels will eventually fall off with Matt Ryan, but it shouldn\u2019t happen this year. Ryan still has the arm to succeed, combined with a fantastic supporting cast in Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Atlanta\u2019s defense will probably be a mess again, which means more shootouts and more passing yards. Combine that with the fact Ryan is entering his second year in the same system, and he should be one of the better fantasy quarterbacks in the league.<\/p>\n

11th<\/sup> Round<\/h3>\n

11.01 Latavius Murray<\/a>
\n11.02 Anthony Miller<\/a>
\n11.03 Diontae Johnson<\/a>
\n11.04 Jamaal Williams<\/a>
\n11.05 Preston Williams<\/a>
\n11.06 Mecole Hardman<\/a>
\n11.07 Tevin Coleman
\n<\/em>11.08 Golden Tate<\/a>
\n11.09 Carson Wentz<\/a>
\n11.10 Jared Cook<\/a>
\n11.11 Tarik Cohen<\/a>
\n11.12 Matthew Stafford<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

One way or another, this team will have the top running back on the San Francisco 49ers. Finding Coleman this late in the mock was something of a surprise and might not be accurate to what actually happens in your fantasy football draft. However, there is a chance he falls this far and he\u2019s easily worth pulling the trigger on.<\/p>\n

12th<\/sup> Round<\/h3>\n

12.01 Joe Burrow<\/a>
\n12.02 T.J. Hockenson<\/a>
\n12.03 Tee Higgins<\/a>
\n12.04 Nyheim Hines<\/a>
\n12.05 Tyrod Taylor<\/a>
\n12.06 Ryquell Armstead<\/a>
\n<\/em>12.07 Ryan Tannehill<\/a>
\n12.08 Rob Gronkowski<\/a>
\n12.09 Curtis Samuel<\/a>
\n12.10 Tony Pollard<\/a>
\n12.11 Laviska Shenault<\/a>
\n12.12 Sammy Watkins<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Jacksonville Jaguars do not want Leonard Fournette on their football team. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, they are not alone in that assessment. Fournette appears to be in line for a heavy workload, but that work falls to Ryquell Armstead if Fournette is out of the picture. Armstead is easily worth the risk, as he\u2019s guaranteed to carry fantasy relevance if the Jaguars finally get their wish and move on from Leonard Fournette.<\/p>\n

13th<\/sup> Round<\/h3>\n

13.01 Alexander Mattison<\/a>
\n13.02 Antonio Gibson<\/a>
\n13.03 DeSean Jackson<\/a>
\n13.04 Austin Hooper<\/a>
\n13.05 Ben Roethlisberger<\/a>
\n13.06 Gus Edwards<\/a>
\n13.07 N\u2019Keal Harry
\n<\/em>13.08 Michael Pittman<\/a>
\n13.09 Pittsburgh Defense
\n13.10 Hayden Hurst<\/a>
\n13.11 Adrian Peterson<\/a>
\n13.12 Denzel Mims<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

N\u2019Keal Harry was a massive disappointment as a rookie, but he could have a Courtland Sutton type of bounce back in 2020. The Patriots passed on wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft, and somebody needs to catch passes for Jarrett Stidham<\/a><\/strong>. Julian Edelman is entering his age-34 season, and Mohamed Sanu<\/a><\/strong> is also over 30 and could easily be a cap casualty. By process of elimination, N\u2019Keal Harry is going to see some targets.<\/p>\n

14th<\/sup> Round<\/h3>\n

14.01 Ravens Defense
\n14.02 Bills Defense
\n14.03 Bears Defense
\n14.04 Parris Campbell<\/a>
\n14.05 Patriots Defense
\n14.06 Benny Snell<\/a><\/em>
\n14.07 Rams Defense
\n14.08 Harrison Butker<\/a>
\n14.09 Chiefs Defense
\n14.10 Jimmy Garoppolo<\/a>
\n14.11 Vikings Defense
\n14.12 Justin Tucker<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t draft kickers or defense in your fantasy football mock draft. Those types of positions are easy to find, and it\u2019s better to spend the last few rounds drafting high-upside depth pieces. Ben Roethlisberger is coming back for at least one more season, and everyone knows that Pittsburgh\u2019s starting running back always carries fantasy value when Mason Rudolph<\/a><\/strong> isn\u2019t throwing the football. Benny Snell has a decent chance to win the job if he can build on his promising rookie season. Even if he starts the year as a backup, James Conner has a long injury history and Snell should see the field before long.<\/p>\n

15th<\/sup> Round<\/h3>\n

15.01 Saints Defense
\n15.02 Will Lutz
\n15.03 Greg Zuerlein<\/a>
\n15.04 Matt Gay<\/a>
\n15.05 Chargers Defense
\n15.06 Robbie Gould<\/a>
\n15.07 Allen Lazard<\/a>
\n<\/em>15.08 Matt Prater<\/a>
\n15.09 Michael Badgley<\/a>
\n15.10 Zane Gonzalez<\/a>
\n15.11 Mason Crosby<\/a>
\n15.12 Ka\u2019imi Fairburn<\/strong><\/p>\n

Allen Lazard is not a talented receiver, but the Green Bay Packers didn\u2019t add any competition in the NFL Draft. He\u2019s going to battle Devin Funchess<\/a> <\/strong>for the starting job opposite Davante Adams, and I think he can win that battle. Aaron Rodgers might not be the quarterback he once was, but he\u2019s still capable of making Lazard an interesting bench piece.<\/p>\n

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