As I watched the early parts of day two of the 2020 NFL Draft, the excitement began to build in my nether regions. Denzel Mims was slipping and my Bears were only a couple picks away in the second round. When the Bears were on the clock and Mims was still there my loins reached maximum tingle. But in a move which surprised absolutely no one, Ryan Pace drafted the Bears tenth tight end in Cole Kmet.
Seven picks later the Bears were back on the clock and Mims was still there! Of course, Mr. Pace again passed. Guess us Bears fans should just be happy we didn’t draft another tight end. That was the point where I decided watching a Real Housewives of New Jersey marathon with my imaginary girlfriend would be a less painful way to spend the rest of my Friday night. Later that night I went ahead and poked my eyes out. Anyway, I gave you my updated top 10 dynasty rookies yesterday, so here’s my updated top 20 rookies for 2020 PPR dynasty leagues:Â
Tier 4 (cont’d)
11. Denzel Mims | WR | Jets | Round 2 Pick 59
Previous Rank: 6
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: B-
This was disappointing on more than one level. Really thought at least one team would think highly enough of Mims for him to go day one. Maybe this ends up being the steal of the draft for the Jets or maybe Mims just isn’t as good as I think. On the plus side, I like Sam Darnold’s chances of taking a step forward in 2020 and beyond. It’s just hard to get too excited about any of the pieces in an Adam Gase system, but then again maybe the madman Gase won’t be around too much longer.
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: C+
Jamison Crowder’s target share isn’t going anywhere, but post-hype 2019 breakout (with Tampa Bay) Breshad Perriman doesn’t exactly have a stranglehold on the WR2 spot. Mims could be an elite deep threat and touchdown machine, there’s a chance Darnold falls in love with him this summer.
12. Henry Ruggs III | WR | Raiders | Round 1 Pick 12
Previous Rank: 13
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: B
I’m sure I’ll continue to take some heat on Ruggs, some people love him even more than I love Kerryon. I get it, he’s really really fast and could be the next Tyreek Hill. Unfortunately, as I’ve said before, I think he’s more one-dimensional than Tyreek, and Derek Carr isn’t quite Patrick Mahomes. On the other hand the competition for targets in Vegas isn’t super impressive unless you’re impressed by how much Hunter Renfrow is able to get out of his 40-year old dad bod—who am I kidding, it’s very impressive.
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: B+
Chucky should pull the Ruggs immediately and see what he’s got in Henry the third. I could be proven wrong with this ranking quickly (Kerryon Johnson-style) but it’s not like I’m ranking Ruggs outside my top 20 or anything.
13. A.J. Dillon | RB | Packers | Round 2 Pick 62
Previous Rank: 9
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: B+
Dropping Dillon four spots is much more about who rose above him than Dillon falling because of his own landing spot. I said in my pre-draft top 10 rookies that Dillon would likely take some patience and that’s the case here. Aaron Jones is actually a free agent this coming off season and if Dillon shows well— and I think he will—then we could be seeing a lot of A.J. Dillon’s beautiful legs up galloping across the frozen tundra come 2021.
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: C+
It’s a crowded backfield for this year with Jones and Jamaal Williams still around, but don’t sleep on Dillon right out of the gate. The tractor’s an ideal best ball target and deep league attrition play with huge touchdown upside. The Packers believe in Dillon enough to spend a 2nd rounder even though RB wasn’t an immediate need. Â
Tier 5
14. Zack Moss | RB | Bills | Round 3 Pick 86
Previous Rank: 11
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: B
I said several times over the offseason that I didn’t think Devin Singletary would be given a feature back workload and I expected the Bills to pony up a decent draft pick for help. I hope you took the opportunity to sell Singletary over the offseason when people were valuing him as a top 25 dynasty asset. Anyway, the bruiser Moss should bulldoze his way into a committee and takeover the goal line role in short order. If he can stay healthy, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we’re ranking Moss ahead of Singletary come next offseason.
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: B
I’m going to own Moss on a lot of redraft teams this year as a later round option. Just crossing my fingers he can stay healthy after an extensive collegiate injury history.
15. Laviska Shenault Jr. | WR | Jaguars | Round 2 Pick 42
Previous Rank: 15
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: B+
If you’ve read my stuff before then you know I’m a big fan of Uncle Rico. I mean how many guys have thrown a football over a mountain? I’m also a big fan of Gardner Minshew and believe he’s the real deal. If Shenault can stay healthy—big if—then this could be a fun connection for years to come.
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: B
Minshew and Chark had a strong connection in 2019, but Dede Westbrook never really got into the mix. There’s opportunity for Viska to swoop in and snag the number two job. His versatility and ability in the run game should make him an immediate factor. I’m thinking a Deebo Samuel type season is possible, health permitting.
Tier 6
16. Tee Higgins | WR | Bengals | Round 2 Pick 33
Previous Rank: 14
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: C+
A lot of folks think Joe Burrow could be great. I’m a little skeptical, but remember I also had Kerryon Johnson in my top 10 dynasty running backs just last week so what do I know. Higgins has been comp’d to A.J. Green and the similarities are easy to see.
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: D
It’s a crowded receiving core with Tyler Boyd, A.J. Green and Auden Tate already battling for targets. Maybe Green is shipped out of town or maybe he holds out, if not I don’t see much hope for Higgy’s fantasy stock in 2020.
17. Michael Pittman | WR | Colts | Round 2 Pick 34
Previous Rank: 16
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: B-
T.Y. Hilton hits free agency next off season which could open up the opportunity for Pittman to compete for the Colts’ #1 WR spot. Philip Rivers is on a one-year deal, but if all goes well, odds are he’s back in 2021. If all goes Trubisky then this year’s 4th rounder, Jacob Eason, is on tap for 2021. At least there’s some upside with Eason.
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: B
Hilton will command a lot of targets if healthy, and many have been calling for a year two breakout for 2019 2nd round pick Parris Campbell. But Campbell missed time last year with a slew of injuries and T.Y. has missed eight games over the past two seasons. Pittman could excel with Rivers in a Mike Williams type role.
18. Brandon Aiyuk | WR | 49ers | Round 1 Pick 25
Previous Rank: Unranked
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: C-
I wasn’t excited about Aiyuk coming into the draft, but you can only drop a first round receiver so far. We do have to keep sight that part of his value to the 49ers is tied to his explosive ability in the return game. It’s hard to imagine Aiyuk becoming more than the #3 option in a run first offense that already features young studs George Kittle and Deebo Samuel gobbling targets in the pass game.
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: C+
Trading away Marquise Goodwin seems to signal the 9ers intention to get Aiyuk in the mix right away. And Shanahan wasn’t too shy with Deebo’s usage in 2019. It’s not the worst landing spot.
Tier 7
19. Darrynton Evans | RB | Titans | Round 3 Pick 93
Previous Rank: Unranked
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: B-
Odds seem to be in favor of Derrick Henry signing a long-term extension with the Titans at some point. If he doesn’t, there’s a chance for Evans to take the job if he shows well in 2020 but he’ll never be a workhorse. More likely he’s looked at as a complementary back in Tennessee.Â
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: B-
Dion Lewis is finally gone, opening up work for the youngster right off the bat. His game complements Henry well as a potential passing down specialist with a chance for much more if the Predator goes down—remember Henry is coming off an enormous 2019 workload. Grab Evans in deep PPR leagues.
20. Bryan Edwards | WR | Raiders | Round 3 Pick 81
Previous Rank: 17
Long-Term Landing Spot Grade: C+
Las Vegas’ receiving room is suddenly more crowded than Caesar’s Palace on free-money-giveaway night. The crew includes Gruden favorite Hunter Renfrow, vet Tyrell Williams, free agent signing Nelson Agholor, first rounder Henry Ruggs and Edwards’ fellow third rounder Lynn Bowden Jr. That said, Edwards is an exciting upside play in dynasty leagues, just know his floor is non-existent. Â
Short-Term Landing Spot Grade: D+
Hard to image Edwards having much of an immediate impact with all of these mouths for Derek Carr to feed, but it’s not out of the question that he leaps the boring names in the pecking order.
