Last week I went over the top 25 for 2020 dynasty football. I’m still reeling from the harassment my Kerryon Johnson ranking provoked, yet the show must go on. But first, to answer a few questions from the audience regarding my top 25: Yes, I am an idiot; No, Joe Mixon did not kick my puppy; Yes, Kerryon Johnson is my cousin; And no, I’m not involved in a sexual relationship with my cousin, Kerryon Johnson. Anyway, today I’ll take a break from the intensive Peyronie’s Disease treatment I’m now receiving and go over the top 50 for 2020 dynasty football PPR leagues:
Rank. Player | Position | Age on 9/1/2020 | Free Agency Year
26. Joe Mixon | RB | 24 | 2021Â
27. Aaron Jones | RB | 25 | 2021Â
28. Austin Ekeler | RB | 25 | 2020Â
When I dropped the top 25 there were a few snubs you, the readers, weren’t pleased about. Joe Mixon‘s omission was the number one complaint. I get it, he’s only 24 next year and Mixon will have the opportunity to leave the Bungles in 2021. But his 646 career carries are starting to pile up and the long term value depends heavily on landing spot. Still, I have him ranked #26 overall which isn’t all that different than top 25!
The Razzball fantasy baseball prospect writer, The Itch, messaged me after I dropped the top 25 voicing his displeasure with Aaron Jones‘ absence. I told him, you can’t fit 30 players into a top 25—I tried! I like Jones, who has a lot of tread left with only 402 career carries, but I don’t love the boom or bust fantasy player the Packers have turned him into. And free agency question marks loom in 2021.
I do love Austin Ekeler, especially in PPR leagues, and was pounding the buy-low table when Melvin Gordon announced his return date. Ekeler’s been nothing short of a league winner this season (#3 PPR RB) averaging over 20 points per game and I’ll be anxiously awaiting the news of his landing spot this offseason.
29. Kenny Golladay | WR | 26 | 2021
30. Cooper Kupp | WR | 27 | 2021
31. A.J. Brown | WR | 23 | 2023
32. D.K. Metcalf | WR | 22 | 2023
Another player the public thought I squanched on in the top 25 was Kenny Golladay. I enjoy the dulcet tones of Kenny G as much as the next Donkey. There’s just other dudes I like a little more. I’m allowed to like more than one dude, right? Or is that only allowed in Utah? Anyway, I wouldn’t argue with Golladay as high as #20, feels like we’re splitting hairs here.
For some reason Cooper Kupp gets little respect from the mainstream. Even I might be disrespecting him with this ranking. Over the past two seasons Kupp has 14 touchdowns in 22 games while averaging 5.6 catches and 72 yards per game. Hopefully he’s extended by the Rams in 2021, the Goff to Kupp chemistry is explosive.
I’ve been flip flopping on A.J. Brown versus D.K. Metcalf. I finally came to a realization that Metcalf’s abdominals and pectorals clouded my judgement. AJB has earned himself the top spot among this years spectacular rookie wide receiver class, but D.K. is an absolute physical specimen in his own right and I think he has the realistic upside of #1 on this list.
33. D.J. Chark | WR | 23 | 2022Â
34. Calvin Ridley | WR | 25 | 2022
35. Keenan Allen | WR | 28 | 2021
Is Uncle Rico Minshew a long term solution in Jacksonville? Let’s hope so, football is better with Uncle Rico launching the leather over the mountains. D.J. Chark and Minshew have a bond that’s beyond words; kind of like Napoleon and Pedro. Vote for Minshew.
Julio Jones—#24 from the top 25—is still a beast and I think he’s the type who could play at a high level well into his late 30s. Calvin Ridley will never reach Julio-caliber but, if he’s extended in ATL come 2022, he’ll be the perfect Julio-complement for years to come.
I had brainwashed myself into thinking Keenan Allen is super injury prone and the earth is round. But I found out it’s all a big lie. Allen hasn’t missed a game since 2016 but there’s some QB uncertainty on the San Angeles flat-earth-horizon.
36. Miles Sanders | RB | 23 | 2023Â
37. David Montgomery | RB | 23 | 2023
38. Marlon Mack | RB | 24 | 2021
39. James Conner | RB | 25| 2021
Jordan Howard’s a free agent this offseason and Miles Sanders is getting an extended audition for the job. One iteration of my top 25 included Sexy Sanders, but then I didn’t like his usage in Howard’s absence at first. But then week 15 was really fun. But then I don’t trust Doug Pederson. But then I saw a squirrel run by. Just goes to show you how fluid fantasy football rankings can be and how easily distracted Donkeys can be.
Speaking of fluids, Sanders’ fellow rookie David Montgomery gets my fluids pumping as a Bears fan. Full Monty’s usage should only continue to increase in 2020, and hopefully the Bears offense will bring more saaaasage to the fest.
Two more talented running backs with relatively low career carries round out this RB tier. Unless something changes over the next few months, Marlon Mack—504 career carries—and James Conner—357 career carries—will both land much higher in my redraft rankings but the uncertainty of their looming 2021 free agencies keep them depressed a bit on this list.Â
40. Deshaun Watson | QB | 24 | 2022
41. Marquise Brown | WR | 23 | 2024
42. Deebo Samuel | WR | 24 | 2023
If you’re unable to acquire the dreamy Mahomie—#16 in the top 25—or LJax—#17 in top 25—then Deshaun Watson is a nice consolation prize. 25 spots lower seems like a lot for another great QB but it’s a full tier down to him and then another tier down from Watson to DangeRuss.
Let’s hope Antonio’s cousin, Marquise Brown, inherited a little less of the crazy gene. Hollywood is young, lightning fast and shows great early rapport with Smiley Face. All the same goes for Brown’s fellow rookie receiver, Deebo Samuel, who’s connected well with Jimmy GQ. I’m buying both rookies.
43. Allen Robinson | WR | 26 | 2021
44. Stefon Diggs | WR | 26 | 2024
45. Travis Kelce | TE | 30 | 2022
46. Hunter Henry | TE | 25 | 2020
As a Bears fan I can’t overstate how bad this year’s Chicago offense would’ve been without Allen Robinson. ARob will only be 26 this coming season and while normally I don’t love the uncertainty of upcoming free agency it’s usually not as big of deal with receivers, especially ones like Robinson who are already handcuffed in less than ideal offenses.
I had Stefon Diggs a bit higher at one point, then I realized Kirk Cousins will be a free agent in 2021. If you haven’t noticed, I shy away from uncertainty whenever possible. I think it’s a side-effect of the Peyronie’s Disease. Also, Diggs has disappointed with his large target share while Adam Thielen missed a decent chunk of the season. Still, he only just turned 26 and I wouldn’t bet against the talent.
If you’re in your contention window, feel free to bump Travis Kelce up the list a bit. He’s quickly aging, but the luxury of an elite passer slinging it his way for at least three more seasons is worth a premium. On the other end of the tight end spectrum we have the studly youngster Hunter Henry, who would rank a little higher if it weren’t for the injury prone label he wears after missing 23 games in his first four seasons.Â
47. Melvin Gordon | RB | 27 | 2020
48. Le’Veon Bell | RB | 28 | 2023Â
49. Todd Gurley | RB | 26 | 2024Â
50. Juju Smith-Schuster| WR | 23 | 2021
We’ll have a second free agent Charger RB this offseason in Melvin Gordon, who could move a ways up this list if his final destination is a sunny one. But not too far, he’s over 1,000 career carries and I wouldn’t be shocked if Melly turns out to be the fast aging type.
While Le’Veon Bell did take a full season off, I’m still surprised to see his tally of 1,433 carries isn’t that far ahead of Zeke Elliott’s (#7 in top 25) 1,138 career carries—I maintain Dallas is going to regret that 9 year contract. The Jets on the other hand are already trying to unload Bell’s freshly minted contracted and seem likely opt out if he’s still on the team after 2020. Aging running backs with heavy mileage and team uncertainty aren’t the type of assets I seek out in my dynasty investment portfolio.
Todd Gurley has shown he’s still got it when McVay gives him the rock, but there’s a reason the Ram’s limited him for much of the season. It’s called old man knees. Grandpa-Donk has them too and he doesn’t run well these days. The Rams can get out of Gurley’s contract after 2021 and, considering those knees, there’s a decent chance they take the out.
The final reader uproar from the top 25 was the exclusion of Juju Smith-Schuster. My barn was egged on Saturday, toilet papered on Sunday and Crap-o-lantern’d on Monday. Well, those readers won’t be thrilled to hear that JuJu came dangerously close to missing my top 50. He isn’t the same player without AB ripping farts on the opposite side and we’ve seen what happens when Big Ben is out. There’s no guarantee Roethlisberger returns as the same player after his age 37 elbow surgery. And even then he might retire after 2020, he’s been considering it for the past several seasons. I won’t deny Smith-Schuster’s upside, and he’s only 23, but this ranking still feels generous. Please direct this week’s hate mail to my assistant, [email protected].
