Alex Johnson’s Top 50 2020 Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings
Nothing is normal in today’s world—not even the NFL Draft. But for three nights, the NFL will give us a distraction from this emotional and uncertain time. And for that, I am very grateful. I’m also grateful for the vast amount of talent the college football world is giving to us this year. It’s been so much fun digging into all of these prospects and writing about many of them as part of our 2020 Rookie Profiles series. It’s a class like no other and I’m excited to share with you my top-50 and how they translate to dynasty leagues. If I were to participate in a pre-NFL Draft rookie draft, this is the order I would select these players.
1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Jonathan Taylor is in a tier by himself atop this running back class. He dominated the NFL Combine and no other back came close to his on-field production. He still has some proving to do as a pass-catcher, but his 10.3-percent target share in 2019 and skill in pass protection induce confidence that he will carve out a three-down role in his rookie season. His fumbling issues can be corrected at the next level and there are no concerns about his durability given his college workload. The only question you should be asking about Jonathan Taylor in dynasty rookie drafts is who will you take at 1.02.
Jonathan Taylor: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
2. D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
While Taylor is the clear 1.01 for me, there are many respected analysts, including YPF’s own Fantasy Football Big Cat, who have D’Andre Swift atop their draft boards. Swift followed great Georgia running backs like Todd Gurley, Sony Michel, and Nick Chubb with two great seasons of his own. He was an efficient runner and displayed above average skills as a receiver. Swift is fast and explosive and will have the NFL draft capital to warrant a top-two pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
D’Andre Swift: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
3. Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
Akers ran for over 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019 despite playing behind one of the nation’s worst offensive lines. Imagine what he would’ve done with quality blocking. Akers was an immediate producer at Florida State with 1,025 rushing yards as a true freshman. He impressed at the Combine running a 4.47 at 217-pounds which lands him in the 89th-percentile for Speed Score—the most predictive metric for running backs. His three-down skill set will appeal to NFL teams and get him drafted on Day Two. He still remains undervalued in dynasty rookie drafts but is a locked-in top-three pick for me.
Cam Akers: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
4. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
Unfortunately we don’t have athletic testing on Dobbins but his dominance at Ohio State is enough to make him the final member of the 2020 Mount Rushmore running backs. He is a bit undersized but proved to be able to handle a major workload as both a runner and receiver. Draft capital should be in his favor, securing his spot as a top-five dynasty rookie selection.
JK Dobbins: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
5. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
CeeDee Lamb is a bit under-sized for a prototypical NFL alpha WR1 but his production profile and age-adjusted metrics are among the elite. He commands WR1 targets and is a weapon after the catch and as a returner. He has hands like snow shovels (in a good way) and possesses elite ball-tracking and sideline awareness. The latest NFL mock drafts have him comfortably inside the first round and, in some cases, inside the top-10. From a dynasty perspective, Lamb checks the most boxes in the class and should be the first wideout off the board in rookie drafts, regardless of landing spot.
CeeDee Lamb: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
6. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Jeudy had a tremendous career at Alabama with a young breakout age and an impressive career yards per reception average of over 17 yards. He ran fast at the Combine and, according to film scouts, is one of the best route runners to come out of college in recent memory. He has some of the best hands in the class and is slick after the catch. Jeudy has position flexibility but, like he did at Alabama, will do most of his work out of the slot at the next level. We can somewhat rationalize away his 36th-percentile dominator rating and ‘blah’ touchdown rate due to the fact that he played with other NFL quality wide receivers, but the reality is, true NFL alpha wide receivers are more often than not dominant WR1s on their college teams.
With that said, it will be a shock if Jeudy is still on the board after the first 20 picks on draft night and he may even be the first wide receiver to hear his name called. He projects as a high-end WR2 or low-end WR1 on an NFL depth chart, similar to his former teammate Calvin Ridley. In terms of dynasty, Jeudy is behind the class WR1 CeeDee Lamb but is securely in the top-three at the position. He is a locked-in first rounder in rookie drafts, no matter the landing spot.
Jerry Jeudy: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
7. Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Jalen Reagor certainly has room to grow as a technician and in learning the nuances of the position, but his profile is indicative of a wide receiver that will be highly successful at the next level. He is an elite athlete with upper-percentile age-adjusted production. While he saw a drop-off in raw statistics in 2019, his market share numbers remained excellent. In fact, if he had played at a bigger school with better quarterback play, we may be discussing him as the top receiver in the class. Reagor is a dynamic playmaker that will thrive in an offense directed by a creative offensive mind. He will be an impact player on special teams as well. Reagor is a lock for a first round selection in dynasty rookie drafts as a top-three wideout in the class.
Jalen Reagor: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
8. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is one of the more polarizing running backs in the 2020 draft class. For every argument against him, there can be a strong case made for him, and vice versa. He is small in stature, but at 207-pounds, has the BMI to be a successful NFL back. His poor speed score is a concern but he possesses elite burst. Edwards-Helaire projects as a lead back that would be best paired with a running mate at the NFL level. His superior skill as a receiver gives him three-down potential but his struggles in pass protection will cap his upside early on. Once his coaching staff trusts him as a blocker, CEH will thrive as a versatile weapon in all phases of an offense. Select Edwards-Helaire between picks 7-9 in your dynasty rookie drafts.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
9. Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Mims is still a bit raw, despite playing four seasons at Baylor, but he has the upside to become a dangerous Z-receiver at the next level. Mims checks a ton of the boxes that we look for in a wide receiver prospect. He possesses elite athleticism and a production profile to back it up. While his step backwards in his junior season and the decision to stay in school are a bit concerning, Mims’ age-19 breakout and dominant sophomore season are big factors in his favor. After his spectacular outing at the NFL Combine, Mims has been projected as a late first-round pick in several NFL Mock drafts. If he is an NFL first-rounder he will undoubtedly be a top-12 pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
Denzel Mims: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
10. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Jefferson projects as a versatile inside/outside WR2 or WR3 at the NFL level. He was highly productive in the LSU offense even while battling emerging star Ja’Mar Chase for targets. He is a natural pass-catcher with a knack for coming down with contested catches. Jefferson should find draft capital in the late first or early second round and should be the fourth or fifth wide receiver off the board in dynasty rookie drafts.
Justin Jefferson: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
11. Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
There is so much to unwrap with Edwards’ profile to understand what kind of dynasty prospect he is, especially considering his lack of athletic testing. He is a senior/non-early declare, however will be 21-years-old at the start of his rookie season and he broke out at age 17(!!). His low yards per reception and target distance numbers and his reliance on screen passes to compile receptions are concerning, but his market share numbers are some of the most impressive in the 2020 class.
The bottom line is, there is more to like in Edwards’ profile than not. He projects as a complimentary starter/WR2 who will play a “big slot” role at the next level. He is a dynamic player that will receive carries on jet sweeps and end-arounds and will be available as a returner, helping him get on the field and make an immediate impact as a rookie.
Bryan Edwards: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
12. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Well, now we know why Tee Higgins sat out the Combine. He is not quite the explosive athlete we were hoping he’d be. While he remains firmly among the top-10 wide receivers, he can’t be in the top-five conversation any longer. We still like his age-adjusted production and there is alpha upside, but the floor is much lower than had he tested as a size-speed freak. Draft capital will be important in determining his final rookie draft value.
Tee Higgins: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
13. Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
Ruggs is arguably the most polarizing prospect in this year’s draft class. Sure, he possesses elite speed but the red flags are undeniable, particularly his lack of a breakout age. While he can be forgiven somewhat based on the other receivers he had to compete with for targets, the historical data is not in his favor. According to a study by Jesse Reeves (@JesseReevesFF), since 2003, 131 wide receivers have entered the draft process without ever breaking out in college. Only 10 (7.6%) have gone on to post a top-24 PPR season.
The bottom line is, Ruggs is a one-dimensional field-stretcher who doesn’t have the size or production profile to be an NFL WR1. He will likely have a respectable real-life career, but will be unpredictable and unreliable in fantasy. He has weekly boom-bust written all over him. I want someone I can feel good about plugging in my lineup and Ruggs is just not that guy.
Henry Ruggs: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
14. Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
There are concerns about Shenualt because of his injury history and he even left the NFL Combine after his first 40 with an apparent injury. Shenualt then had surgery on March 3 for a core muscle injury that he played through in 2019. But, a strong case can still be made for Shenault as one of the better wide receivers in the 2020 draft class. He has an incredible combination of size, speed, and strength that will translate into a versatile role at the next level. NFL teams will have a field day moving Shenault all around the formation, including in the backfield. He could have a similar year-one impact as Deebo Samuel.
Laviska Shenault: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
15. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
Vaughn is one of the more landing spot-dependent running backs in the class. He possesses many ‘good’ traits but he isn’t special in any particular area. Therefore, he must be drafted in a favorable situation with an opportunity for early snaps if he is to be a reliable fantasy asset. Otherwise, he will be delegated to RB2 duties with a handcuff designation. Vaughn is best fit for a one-cut zone scheme at the NFL level. He has three-down upside and his exceptional dominator rating and 10.0-percent target rate prove just that. If he earns quality draft capital with a good landing spot, he will be worthy of consideration as the top RB after the “big four” and a second round rookie pick. Otherwise, he is a third rounder with the hope he earns an opportunity down the line.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
16. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
The appeal of a guy like Michael Pittman in dynasty rookie drafts is that he is in position to be an immediate plug-and-play WR2/WR3 on an NFL depth chart. He has the full route tree in his arsenal and can play both X-receiver or as a big slot. He is a quarterback-friendly, big-bodied possession receiver with solid contested catch ability. There are some big red flags in his production profile, though. His late breakout and lack of a meaningful role in the USC offense until his junior and senior seasons is concerning. With that said, there is enough to like about Pittman to consider him a top-10 WR in this class and a solid second-round selection in dynasty rookie drafts this spring.
Michael Pittman Jr.: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
17. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
For Aiyuk to reach his full potential at the next level, he must become more physical on routes and improve his contested catch ability. His production profile is a concern, with just one year of quality production and an age-21.5 breakout. His yards after the catch ability, coupled with his explosiveness in the return game, will help Aiyuk have an immediate impact at the NFL level, even if it means he won’t be useful in fantasy. Aiyuk’s long-term upside is as a WR3 or WR2 on a thin depth chart.
Brandon Aiyuk: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
18. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Tua Tagovailoa was great before we even knew the name Joe Burrow. Of course the injuries are concerning but he is back to health and ready to contribute to an NFL franchise in 2020. Wherever he lands, they will be getting an impact player behind center that will instantly make the team better. It’s close between the top two quarterbacks but the edge goes to the kid from Alabama.
19. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Burrow is coming off of arguably the best season by a quarterback in college football history. The likely 1.01 pick to Cincinnati will enjoy Bengals weaponry in the form of A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Joe Mixon, and John Ross, giving him a great chance to succeed. He will make an immediate impact and be one of the better quarterbacks in the league for a long time.
20. Antonio Gibson, RB, Memphis
Gibson is still learning the running back position and may take time to develop his vision, patience, and feel for the position. The good news is, his impact in the return game and above average skills as a pass-catcher will help him find the field and carve out a role while he develops as a running back. He has the size and athleticism to be an elite dual-threat runner and his versatility makes him a (2016) David Johnson-like chess piece for an offense. Like Johnson, we will likely have to wait to see a return on investment, but if/when that development happens, Antonio Gibson will pay off big time for dynasty owners who were willing to practice patience with this raw stud.
Antonio Gibson: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
21. Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA
There are things in Kelley’s profile (Speed Score and Market Share numbers) that suggest he could make an immediate impact at the NFL level, but he will need decent draft capital and a favorable landing spot/situation to see that come to fruition. Long-term, Kelley projects as a short-yardage specialist that will share a backfield with one or two other more talented runners. He can catch dump-offs and screen passes but will not be confused for a dynamic threat out of the backfield. Kelley’s style is running into defenders rather than running around them and he struggled to break tackles at the college level. If he finds the right situation he’ll be a solid late second or third round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
Joshua Kelley: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
22. Lynn Bowden, WR, Kentucky
Lynn Bowden is one of the most interesting and exciting prospects in the 2020 draft class. His growth as a wide receiver was stunted in 2019 with his move to quarterback halfway through the campaign. But, his market share numbers from 2018 when he was playing receiver full-time are intriguing. In the short-term, Bowden projects as a hybrid running back/slot receiver who will be used primarily in the return game and as a gadget player. If he can develop his receiving skills, he can become an electric receiver out of the slot. He will likely come off the board in the middle rounds on draft weekend and will be an exciting high-upside selection in the late rounds of dynasty rookie drafts. I will own a lot of Bowden in dynasty.
Lynn Bowden Jr.: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
23. A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College
Dillon shocked the fantasy and draft community with his impressive combination of size, speed, and explosion in the drills at the Combine. Put that together with his dominance over three seasons at Boston College and we have ourselves a fast-riser up draft boards. Of course, that rise is capped by the major red flag that is his lack of production in the passing game. Dillon failed to display natural abilities as a pass-catcher at Boston College with just 21 receptions in three seasons.
Many have compared him to Derrick Henry, who caught just 17 passes in his Alabama career, but even Henry has to lead the league in rushing on one of the few remaining run-first offenses to be a top-scorer in PPR formats. Henry is Dillon’s absolute ceiling in a wide range of outcomes. We can’t count on him hitting that. After all, there is only one Derrick Henry. Therefore, we must also consider the floor which is a one-dimensional short-yardage specialist. If I had to bet, I would place Dillon somewhere in between. A solid two-down starter that shares a backfield with a pass-catching savant. Draft capital will be key and Dillon is likely to see his name called in the middle rounds. Consider him a solid mid-late second round pick in rookie drafts and hope he hits the over.
AJ Dillon: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
24. Zack Moss, RB, Utah
The reason why the film-scout community loves Moss so much is for his tackle-breaking ability. And give him credit, Moss was a tackle-breaking machine at Utah. But let’s be real, how many future lawyers and car salesmen are really bringing down a 223-pound bowling ball? Not many. The bottom line is he’s slow, and slow running backs with low speed scores don’t hit at the NFL level at a high rate. Moss fits into the top-10 running backs in this class, but barely. He will likely see Day Two draft capital which will help his dynasty value especially if he lands in a situation that will lend him an opportunity to carve out an early role, a la David Montgomery in 2019. But like Montgomery, it will serve dynasty gamers well to sell high at first chance.
Zack Moss: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
25. Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State
Eno Benjamin didn’t exactly run fast at the NFL Combine but he made up for it with great burst and agility scores. He weighed in at 207-pounds which is big enough to carve out a role as a team’s RB2 and primary pass-catching back, a la Duke Johnson in Cleveland.
Eno Benjamin: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
26. Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
As a member of #TeamAnalytics, it pains me to rank Tyler Johnson this low. But the reality is, the NFL is not as high on Johnson as the analytics community and draft capital is a big concern. If somehow he comes off the board on Day Two, he will skyrocket up these rankings. Otherwise, I’ll let others over-draft him and just trade for him later.
Tyler Johnson: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
27. Anthony McFarland, RB, Maryland
McFarland’s best comparable player via the PlayerProfiler database—which aggregates physical attributes, college production, and workout metrics to find the closest comparison—is former Raiders running back DeAndre Washington. It’s a perfect comp as that’s exactly the type of role I envision McFarland sliding into. He’s not a bellcow and he’s not particularly dominant in any area. But, he brings solid receiving skills to the table and a nose for long runs. He may not carve out a significant role early on, but his long-term prospects are as a satellite or breather back that can step into a temporary starting role in a pinch. The ceiling here is Devonta Freeman but draft capital will have to be in his favor and I just don’t see that happening. McFarland will likely come off the board on Day Three, restricting him to an upside third round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
Anthony McFarland: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
28. Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
Hurts has been one of the fastest risers up my draft board. With rumors he could garner first round draft capital, I’m all over this dual threat quarterback. His rushing ability provides a nice floor if he can just get the opportunity. All it takes is one team to give him a chance for this konami code QB to be unlocked.
Since 2000 —
List of all CFB QBs with passer rating of 190+ in a season with 250+ passing attempts
Russell Wilson
Baker Mayfield
Kyler Murray
Tua Tagovailoa
Joe Burrow
and
Jalen Hurts— Curtis Patrick (@CPatrickNFL) April 10, 2020
29. Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State
Darrynton Evans is an undersized small school prospect but has the speed, explosion, and skill to make it at the next level. He proved to have a three-down skill set at Appalachian State but will probably be viewed as more of a change-of-pace option in the NFL or as part of a committee paired with a heavier back. His best fit is in an outside zone scheme that will help him get to the edge and take advantage of his track speed. Evans will likely be a Day Three selection in the NFL Draft and perhaps earlier if a team falls in love with his speed and kick return ability. He makes for an intriguing high-upside pick in the later rounds of dynasty rookie drafts and is one of my favorite sleepers.
Darrynton Evans: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
30. K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
KJ Hamler played almost exclusively from the slot (616 of 694 snaps in 2019) at Penn State and that is expected to continue at the NFL level based on his small stature. Speaking of his undersized 5-11, 178-pound frame, Hamler will have to be an outlier to be a significant producer in the NFL. Since 2000, there have been just three wide receivers that weighed under 180-pounds and experienced at least one 1,000-yard season. Therefore, it’s hard to project Hamler as anything more than a tactical field-stretcher that has boom-bust appeal from a fantasy perspective. Just like I wrote with Henry Ruggs, that is just not the type of player I want to spend early-round draft capital on in dynasty rookie drafts. With that said, once it hits the third round, Hamler becomes a solid upside pick.
KJ Hamler: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
31. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
Albert Okwuegbunam is a high upside prospect that may struggle to find the field early in his career. But when he does, he presents a vertical threat that is best suited for a role as a move tight end, at least until he develops as a blocker. Athleticism holds a greater weight for tight end prospects than any of the other positions and Okwuegbunam passes that test with flying colors. That, plus his 90th-percentile dominator rating, firmly cements him among the top-three tight ends in this class and at least puts him in the discussion for the TE1.
Albert Okwuegbunam: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
32. Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
The TE1-B to Albert O’s TE1-A. Trautman was dominant at Dayton but will likely take some time to fully develop into his potential at the NFL level. He’s going to be a good one, but he’s years away from reliable fantasy production.
Adam Trautman: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
33. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Many have him as their QB3 and he has the higher floor compared to Jalen Hurts pre-NFL Draft. Herbert is a lock to go in the first round and likely won’t make it out of the top-10.
34. Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
From a route running and nuances of the position perspective, Antonio Gandy-Golden is still a work in progress. His production profile is promising but we have to account for the fact that he did it playing at Liberty. He is not dynamic whatsoever and is a limited threat after the catch. He is a nearly identical prospect to Philadelphia Eagles bust J.J. Arcega-Whiteside who could not produce despite an injury-ravaged wide receiver depth chart in 2019. AGG will be a complimentary player with limited upside as a red zone/contested catch specialist. With likely day three draft capital, he is a low ceiling-low floor third round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
Antonio Gandy-Golden: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
35. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
Outside of his impressive athletic numbers, it’s hard to make a case for Donovan Peoples-Jones as anything more than a Day Three flier in the NFL Draft. His stats over three years are worse than what some of his 2020 classmates did in 2019 alone. And sure, he didn’t exactly have great quarterback play at Michigan, but his market share numbers are equally disappointing. He’s big and athletic with punt return skills and that’s about it. He should go off the board no earlier than the middle third round of dynasty rookie drafts and even then you are drafting strictly on potential—potential he never realized at Michigan and is unlikely to at the NFL level either.
Donovan Peoples-Jones: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
36. Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
While Claypool sure impressed at the Combine, it appears he is more athlete than wide receiver. In fact, many scouts and analysts believe he would be best suited for a position change from receiver to tight end, and I agree. Claypool has good hands but is far from a natural technician. He struggles to create consistent separation and could barely get on the field on offense until his junior season. He is anything but dynamic and he got by on sheer size and athleticism at Notre Dame, something that won’t work at the NFL level.
A move to tight end is possible because he is already nearly 240-pounds and a good blocker. He could bulk up to 250-255-pounds and be the next Darren Waller. He would be the TE1 in the class if he went that route. If he chooses to stick it out at wide receiver, Claypool will be best suited for a big slot role as a part-time receiver and special teams ace. Luckily for him, his abilities on kick coverage will help him stick on an NFL roster long enough to develop his skills on the offense, whatever the position.
Claypool is likely to find draft capital sometime between the fourth and fifth rounds. It will be interesting to see if the team selecting him announces him as a wide receiver or tight end. As a dynasty asset, Chase Claypool will likely be over-drafted based on his Combine performance, but is best left on the board until the late rounds as nothing but a dart throw.
Chase Claypool: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
37. Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas
Despite his 4.39 speed, Duvernay was rarely utilized in the deep quadrants of the field at Texas, as evidenced by his low 7.9-yard average target distance and 13.1 yards per reception. In fact, Duvernay was rarely used in any area of the field before his senior season. He caught just 70 passes and averaged 361 yards in his first three seasons and didn’t break out until age 22. And even when he did, 40-percent of his receptions came at or behind the line of scrimmage.
There is some level of upside with Duvernay based on his speed and final season production and market share numbers, but there are major red flags concerning his age-adjusted metrics. He will likely come off the board sometime early on Day Three to a team looking to add a developmental athlete in the slot. In dynasty rookie drafts, Duvernay makes for a decent pick with a low floor and limited ceiling in the early fourth round.
Devin Duvernay: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
38. Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Jordan Love checks all the physical boxes from his prototypical size to his arm strength and athleticism. But, in three seasons at Utah State, Love posted a 59.8 (11th-percentile) College QBR and 7.9 (41st-percentile) yards per attempt, numbers that just don’t matchup to successful starting quarterbacks in the NFL. With that said, his potential to land first round draft capital and a starting gig, make him an easy choice as the QB5 in this class.
39. Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington
Hunter Bryant’s path to fantasy production is detached from the formation as a move tight end. He is not a prototype by any means, but he is one of the youngest prospects in the class and was highly productive in his final season at Washington.
Hunter Bryant: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
40. James Robinson, RB, Illinois State
James Robinson is a small school prospect with an impressive college production profile and true NFL workhorse size. While we like his 92nd-percentile Burst and 69th-percentile Agility, his below average output in the most predictive metric—Speed Score—is concerning. It’s hard to get overly excited about a slow small school running back who was an inefficient compiler at Illinois State. Robinson will likely have to wait until Day Three to hear his name called by an NFL team and is a late-round flier in dynasty rookie drafts.
James Robinson: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
41. Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
While his size, college production profile, and market share numbers are encouraging, Gabriel Davis is a developmental project at the NFL level. He ran a limited route tree and the lower level competition allowed him to get away with poor route running and lean on his NFL size and strength to get open. He’s not dynamic at all and is little threat after the catch. Davis projects as a special teamer and depth receiver early in his career with long-term upside as a vertical threat if he can develop his route tree. With draft capital likely coming sometime on Day Three, Davis is nothing but a late-round flier in dynasty rookie drafts. There are several other prospects I’d rather roll the dice on in the third and fourth rounds.
Gabriel Davis: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
42. Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Cole Kmer is a big man. And he ran well enough at the Combine to draw intrigue.
Cole Kmet: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
43. Rico Dowdle, RB, South Carolina
Rico Dowdle is an intriguing late-round prospect in dynasty rookie drafts. That’s if he can find the NFL draft capital. He’s a tough one to project as he could go off the board as early as the fifth round or find himself without a seat when the music stops. Dowdle has the size, speed, burst, and skill set to play on all three downs and could become a decent fantasy handcuff as a team’s RB2 or as part of a committee. If he’s drafted before the seventh round and into a decent situation, Dowdle will remain a solid flier for your dynasty team. Even if he goes undrafted you may still want to draft him for his badass name.
Rico Dowdle: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
44. Lamical Perine, RB, Florida
Perine had an impressive 11.8-percent target share and 12.6-percent reception share in 2019. There’s really not much else in his profile to get excited about. He was inefficient as a runner, held a 22.2-percent (41st-percentile) dominator rating, and is below average in speed, burst, and agility.
45. Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU
Stephen Sullivan didn’t produce much at LSU but he did enough to pique interest when you consider his size, speed, and burst. That’s really all we can ask for from a tight end prospect, especially one coming out of a loaded offense.
46. JaMycal Hasty, RB, Baylor
Let’s just rip the band-aid off—there are a lot of reasons to not like JaMycal Hasty. He never broke out at Baylor, he’s old, he has a college dominator rating in the 13th-percentile, and a below average speed score. He never even led the team in rushing yards. With that said, he performed well in the explosion drills at the Combine and proved to be a quality receiver out of the backfield. Hasty has good size and could earn a backup role and eventually emerge as a team’s top pass-catching running back if the chips fall in his favor.
47. Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue
Hopkins broke out in his redshirt senior season at Purdue, nearly doubling his target share from the 2018 campaign. He proved to be an above average athlete at the Combine and could emerge as a receiving threat in the NFL.
48. Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU
We don’t know a whole lot about Thaddeus Moss as he did not participate at the NFL Combine due to a foot injury. His 2019 season at LSU was his only productive season. He caught 47-of-51 targets for over 500 yards and four touchdowns. Moss, the son of the great wide receiver Randy Moss, is a low-risk flier at the end of rookie drafts in deeper dynasty leagues.
49. Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic
Bryant was an elite producer at Florida Atlantic but lacks the measurables and athletic profile to be a team’s TE1.
50. Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Jake Fromm is an old-school quarterback who relies on his intelligence and decision-making. He does not have a big arm or out-of-pocket mobility, but he wins with intangibles and accuracy. Fromm led the Bulldogs to a National Title Game appearance as a freshman but fell just short. He will likely be the sixth quarterback off the board on draft weekend and will have to settle into a backup job with the hopes of earning a starting gig down the line.
